Front Porch Radio - History's Hook

The honorable Holly Kirby is a Tennessean that inspires.  After earning degrees in engineering and law, she went on to practice law in Memphis before being appointed to the bench in the Tennessee Court of Appeals, the first woman to sit on that Court.  After spending nearly 19 years there, she was sworn into the Tennessee Supreme Court in 2014.  Join Tom and co-host Judge Chris Sockwell as they le...

What does it feel like to be in control of enough firepower to obliterate a continent?  Join host Tom Price as he interviews former ballistic missile sub commander Ronald Ladd.  After growing up on a farm in rural Maury County, TN, Ron Ladd attended Rice University for math and engineering on a Navy ROTC scholarship.  Following his graduation, he was commissioned as an officer in the navy, where a...

Episode 10: The Cold War Spy: Part 2 Join host Tom Price and former Cold War NSA spy Bob Jones, as they explore the world of espionage in Europe in the early 1950’s. Mr. Jones will tell his harrowing stories of intelligence gathering against America’s enemies and allies as the United States and the Soviet Union vied for global domination.

In 1954, Mr. Bob Jones was just 21 years old, but already an experienced spy for the American National Security Agency. One of the very first NSA field agents, his missions frequently brought him to Europe where he was tasked with gathering information about America’s allies as well as its enemies. His is a story full of intrigue, violence, and espionage. Mr. Jones has recorded his incredible stor...

Mr. James Rushing is an accomplished songwriter.  He has written hit songs in the genres of country, bluegrass and gospel music.  His songs have been recorded by such artists as Garth Brooks, Dolly Parton, Ricky Scaggs, Charlie Pride, and many others.  Mr. Rushing was nominated to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in both 2017 and 2018.  Mr. Rushing is also a military veteran, having served i...

In this episode Tom and Jo Ann speak to retired professional boxer Sammy Sparkman.  Born and raised in Columbia, TN, Mr. Sparkman began boxing when he was just seven years old.  Following some time away from the sport, Mr. Sparkman spent six years in amateur boxing before turning pro in 1997.  He fought in the ring all over the United States and the world including Poland, Canada, Denmark, Italy,...

Historian Tom Price and guest host Judge Christopher Sockwell interview Dave Hathcock, who played his NFL rookie year with the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl I under the great Vince Lombardi! Listen to hear amazing stories from an amazing man, right here on History's Hook!

Eugene Heller Dwight Fox

Join host Tom Price as History's Hook explores a story 80 years in the making.  Tom brings together two people who had no idea about their connection to Haynes Ayres, who was killed when his ship, the USAT Dorchester, was sunk by a German U-boat in 1943.  Listen to Winder Heller and John Whiteside tell their sides of the story and see how history connects people across space and time.

Learning the basic principles of engineering on a farm in Maury County, Tennessee, Mr. Rick Burt parlayed that experience into nuclear and aerospace engineering.  He worked his way up at NASA working on rocket systems, to become chief of testing and safety.  Today, he is Deputy Director of the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL, where he is working on the next generation of space vehic...

Join Tom, Jo Ann McClellan, and Dr. Barry Gidcomb as they collaborate with Columbia State Community College and discuss the award-winning book Beloved by Toni Morrison.  Listen as the hosts and guests break down the literary and historical importance of this critically acclaimed book about the effects of enslavement.

Mr. Cecil Whiteside has spent most of his life in Hampshire, Tennessee with the exception of the years 1942-1945, when he was a member of the Navy Armed Guards, protecting cargo ships as they transported men and materiel all over the world. Join Tom and Dr. Gidcomb as they speak to Mr. Whiteside and his son Jeff, who has documented the life of a remarkable Tennessean.

Jefferson Street in Nashville was a nexus of African American culture, education, and entrepreneurship.  The music that emanated from that space from 1950-1970 forever changed American music.  Join Tom and Jo Ann as they speak to the curator of the Jefferson Street Sound Museum, Lorenzo Washington.

This episode revolves around emancipation, slavery, and the life of Elias Polk, former slave of President James K Polk. Co-hosts Joann McClellan and Barry Gitcomb, with special guest Zachary Kinslow.

In this episode, we explore the extraordinary life of Jermain Loguen.  Born into slavery in Davidson County, Tennessee to an enslaved mother and her white owner, Loguen would eventually be moved to Maury County, Tennessee before he finally made his escape from slavery to the North.  He eventually settled in Upstate New York, where his efforts to assist the enslaved out of bondage, made him known a...

With guest Harriet Hamilton

Judge Baxter Segregated Schools RM Ep 06-26-2020

Presidents Andrew Jackson, Marsha Mullin

Historian Tom Price and guest host Judge Christopher Sockwell interview Dave Hathcock, who played his NFL rookie year with the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl I under the great Vince Lombardi! Listen to hear amazing stories from an amazing man, right here on History's Hook!

Starting life off from the humblest beginnings, Andrew Johnson rose from a simple tailor to a statesman. The only Southerner to remain in the Senate following secession, Johnson was chosen by Abraham Lincoln as his vice-president in 1864. Following Lincoln’s assassination a few months later, Johnson found himself hated by many of his fellow Tennesseans and distrusted by the Washington establishmen...

Hosts Tom Price and Jo Ann McClellan speak with Ms. Sandra Seaton. Ms. Seaton is an award winning author, playwright, and librettist. Her plays have been performed in cities throughout the country, including New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, and her libretto for the solo opera “From the Diary of Sally Hemings,” set to music by Pulitzer Prize, Grammy Award winning, 2007 composer of the year winne...