Ordinary Celebrity

After a two-year hiatus, this episode introduces you to a miniature artist, or rather an artist who draws miniatures. Blake Gore lives in southwest Virginia and is an Ole Miss alum. At age 37, Blake completely changed his career track as the result of a Twitter challenge. Episode links: blakegore.com WSLS NBC 10 Roanoke Interview  Virginia Living Interview  NBC 6 South Florida Interview   Strathmo...

This episode features a well-loved member of the Texas Country music scene. Mike Graham has been song-writing and performing since the mid 1990s. His debut album was released in 1999. Mike took a hiatus from the music scene for almost a decade, but he returned in 2020 with a seven-song EP Sunset/Sunrise . The self-explanatory first track is titled Good to be Back . Mike's next album is due out...

This episode features George Schroder. Schroeder was a sports journalist for over 30 years, working for newspapers and in broad and podcasting. After being caught up in a round of layoffs at USA Today , he charted a career change which led him to a church in Colorado. This is his story. Notes & Links : Gridiron & The Gospel - A Faith & College Football Podcast New Podcast ‘Gridiron And...

This episode features Dr. Terrence Ferguson and Dr. Vernard Hodges, veterinarians at Critter Fixer Veterinary Hospital in Georgia. Dr. Ferguson and Dr. Hodges have been healing, helping and serving families and animals since 1999. In 2020, they were added to the lineup of National Geographic shows and which are available on Disney+. In this episode, the vets answer questions about dealing with cel...

This episode features author and artist Elle Luna. Elle published an article on Medium.com in 2014. After she hit "publish," she went to a birthday dinner with her father. She left her phone at home. Little did she that things blew up. In the next few months, her article, "The Crossroads of Should and Must" was shared over 5 million times on Twitter and read over 250,000 on Medium.com. It became a...

This episode features a collegiate ministry guru. David James served as the director of Arkansas Baptist Collegiate Ministries for over 30 years. His life and ministry spanned two centuries of college students, and his leadership style has been lauded by those who served with and under him. Listen and learn what observations David has about culture, college, and the mission of the church to reach...

This episode features Dr. Jamie Sanchez , a faculty member of Biola University in California . She is the Program Director of the PhD in Intercultural Studies in the Graduate Department and is currently has research involved in Critical Refugee Studies.   Jamie is a dynamic thinker, leader and practitioner of Christian discipleship . You'll hear some of her thoughts on the pros and cons of in...

This episode features Emily Kraines, a single mother of two, who became a follower of Jesus Christ in college and soon after that met the man she would marry. You'll learn about Emily and Peter's dating life, the powerful example they set, and how a subsequent military training exercise took Peter's life and what lessons Emily has learned throughout.   Show Notes:  USAF Special Tact...

Ryan Metz is a senior at Virginia Tech. He's majoring in mechanical engineering, and he's a pitcher for the Hokies baseball team. Listen in as he shares the insights and challenges he faces as a Christian student-athlete. Ryan also finds time for his own podcast - The Christian Athlete Paradox . LINKS : Ryan's athlete's page with hokiesports.com The Christian Athlete Paradox podcast

Jeremy Woodall is the Baptist campus minister at the University of Arkansas at Monticello. This is his fifth year in serving in his university hometown. This past fall as a way to make a difference during the pandemic, Jeremy hiked 223 miles on the Ouachita Trail, from Oklahoma to Arkansas, to raise money for children's homes and foster care. This is part of his story. Tune in and learn about the...

With more consecutive #1 hits than the Beatles , contemporary Christian music's Point of Grace has made history along the way. In this episode of Ordinary Celebrity, Jeff interviewed college classmates Denise Jones and Shelley Breen, two of the four founding members of the group. They cover everything from celebrity crushes to being in the music industry as it navigated the digital revolution.&nbs...

This episode introduces you to Jeff's son, Sam Noble, who is on Young Life staff in North Carolina. This episode examines how Sam started a fantasy football podcast, got his nickname "Bear," and also how he and his Young Life team are doing youth ministry in the middle of a pandemic. His life is worthy of celebration, and not just because he's related to Jeff! Links : Sam and his cohosts fantasy f...

This episode features Mitch Bettis, President and Publisher of Arkansas Business Publishing Group — the award-winning digital marketing and media company founded in 1995. He has more than 30 years of experience in management and publishing. Mitch and I met just prior to our freshman year in college at Ouachita Baptist University, became best friends, prank collaborators and later business partners...

Jonathan Kabongo is a man of many dimensions. On full scholarship for basketball at Virginia Tech, he learned some disheartening news about his health at the end of his freshman year. Yet, he's not defined by sports. Listen in on this podcast to discover the man of faith, music and depth that makes him an ordinary celebrity. Show notes : Other podcasts/videos you can find Jonathan: UNCUT Blacksbur...

Paul Robertson works in the data security industry. From owning a Christian bookstore owner (that had to shut down due to the internet and big box stores) to receiving an electrical engineering degree at the same time his daughter was in college to later deciding to pursue writing himself, Paul's life is bright. His five books are wonderful reads, though they are mostly unknown. Paul is most remar...

The launch episode of Ordinary Celebrity explains the concept, who's behind the mic, and invites you to help identify and participate in the adventure of celebrating the ordinary... in all of us. Links from the episode : Tom Cruise's presidential announcement video Tom Cruise's reaction to his supposed presidential announcement video