Walnut GroveCast

Mark invited the wonderful Bonnie Bartlett onto the show to talk about her time on Little House on the Prairie.  We discuss so much including her book which is an eye opening and wonderful inside peek of her life as well as the darker side of Hollywood.    You may purchase a copy of Bonnie’s book, Middle of the Rainbow at her website https://www.bonniesmiddleoftherainbow.com T...

I thought it would be a great time to share something that I have been working on, a collection of covers of the Little House on the Prairie theme song!   I hope you enjoy these 14 gems, which includes our very own C Christina Pederson! If you know of any other interesting covers or if you have any ideas please feel free to reach out to me! mark@walnutgrovecast.com   I hope all of you ha...

Merry Christmas Everyone! I love doing roundtable discussions!  This time around I had the pleasure of discussing Christmas at Plum Creek with Aimee, Christina from the AvonleaCast Podcast , Josh from the Hot Red Shorts! Podcast and Karyne!  I had such a great time and we discussed just about everything!   “Christmas is coming and everyone is saying that it is a time for secre...

Karyne returns to Walnut GroveCast to help me deconstruct this amazingly dramatic episode!    “Mr. Stark has gotten himself so far in debt that he has lost his mind. He goes home and shoots his wife and daughter. Then he goes off and ends up at Laura’s house. He mistakes Laura and Jenny for his wife and daughter, but when he sees Rose, he thinks that his daughter has had a ba...

Kelly Mielke from the Dr. QuinnCast Podcast joins me to go through every facet of this unforgettable TV movie about Michael Landon! This was so much fun and I hope you all enjoy it!    “Drama based on the true story of actor Michael Landon, whose affair with a younger woman almost destroyed his family. When Michael breaks the news of his terminal illness to his family, his children...

Christina from the AvonleaCast Podcast joins me to discuss this strange episode where Jesse James comes to visit the folks in Walnut Grove!    “As Walnut Grove school begins to study the Civil War, Mary Ingalls unexpectedly learns firsthand information when she starts running errands for two mysterious newcomers who sided with the South. But Mr. Hobbs and Mr. Dankworth are hiding m...

Karyne swings by the podcast to discuss this unforgettable episode.    “On Rev. Alden’s recommendation, Mary is hired as a teacher in a small backwoods community called Willow Run. There, she is met with pure hatred from its town leader, Miss Peel, an elderly woman who is fiercely opposed to the school. Miss Peel’s determination to drive Mary from town proves to be a se...

Kelly from the Dr. QuinnCast Podcast joins me to discuss a super entertaining Highway to Heaven episode!  “Jonathan and Mark journey back in time to save Mark’s grandfather’s (John McLiam) farm from repossession. “ Highway to Heaven’s episode Going Home originally aired on January 23, 1985   If you have an interest in talking about Little House and your memo...

Lydia Kikuchi returns to the show to discuss this Willie-centric episode!  Looks like Willie has grown up!   “Mrs Oleson is far from happy when Willie announces his engagement to Rachel. She definitely wants to prevent her son’s wedding, but suddenly she experiences a new thing – Willie defies his mother.”   May I Have This Dance originally aired on March 14,...

Lorie Dorrian returns to the podcast to discuss this sometimes tragic and sometimes hilarious episode!    “The telephone comes to Walnut Grove, and Mrs. Olesen is hired as the switchboard operator. She takes advantage of her responsibilities to engage in her favorite pastime: gathering gossip. It will have a very damaging effect on the Garveys’ marriage when she learns about...

Kelly Mielke from the Dr. QuinnCast Podcast joins me to review this painful and unforgettable episode.  I think we did an incredible job covering and deconstrucing this two-parter!   Part I “New student Sylvia Webb, who has physically matured faster than most of her classmates, piques the physical curiosity of some of her male classmates. Albert goes along at first, but quickly bec...

I am honored to bring Olivia Barash onto the show for a discussion of her life before, during and after Little House on the Prairie. We discuss so much including her opinion of the Actors strike and the upcoming 50th Reunion!   I hope you enjoy this discussion! The opening song “Albert” is written and performed by the amazing Norwegian band, Project Brundlefly and is used with per...

Kelly from the Dr. QuinnCast Podcast joins me to discuss a super entertaining Highway to Heaven episode!  “Mr Crook, convinced he is King Arthur, is in danger of being declared incompetent by his son. Can Jonathan work a reconciliation while preventing the demolition of a veterinary clinic. “ Highway to Heaven’s episode A Divine Madness originally aired on November 7, 1984 I...

A few months ago Kelly Mielke had a very interesting idea, “wouldn’t it be fun to discuss each of our favorite characters from Little House in the Prairie in a somewhat serious and analytical way?”   Kelly Mielke joins me to discuss the Almanzo Wilder character in this very entertaining character study! I hope you enjoy! We hope you enjoy this journey into the Almanzo Wilder...

Christina joins me from Norway to discuss this strange and very fun episode!   “Nellie comes home for a visit and discovers that Nancy is more of a spoiled brat than she ever was. Nancy doesn’t want to have anything to do with Nellie and snubs her every chance she gets. Laura and Nellie act like they are best friends. Everyone is paying attention to Nellie because it’s her b...

Kelly from the Dr. QuinnCast Podcast joins me to discuss a super entertaining Highway to Heaven episode!  “ While working for Linda Blackwell, a beautiful movie star with a very low opinion of men, Mark and Linda both wish “to God” that each could have the other’s life … with the result that “The Boss” takes them at their word and switches Mark and Li...

Kelly Mielke joins me to discuss this classic episode!    “The Ingalls family as well as many people from Walnut Grove travel to the annual fair. Mary comes to the fair to be with John but is quickly sidetracked by the handsome hot air balloon pilot. Laura is too busy to take Carrie on some rides, she becomes bored and decides to climb into the basket of a hot air balloon for a nap...

Cristina Pederson returns to the show to discuss this episode that may as well have been a different series. This is the second time in this shortened season that Jenny almost drowns and is saved by Jeb Carter. This time, though, it was an accident and she suffers injury. Because of lack of oxygen, her body is weakened and her speech is affected. Laura and Almanzo are told there’s nothing mo...

Cheyenne returns to the podcast to discuss this tragic episode but don’t worry, we still found a lot to laugh at!    “After eleven year old Ellen Taylor accidentally drowns while swimming with the Ingalls girls, her grief-stricken mother, Eloise begins to imagine that Laura is Ellen.”   My Ellen originally Aired on September 26, 1977 The opening song “Albert&...

Christie Havey returns to the podcast to tackle this episode! Although Chris Hasler and I reviewed this episode many years ago it was great to speak to Christie and get her POV of this amazing episode! I hope you enjoy it!   “Albert claims that he is tall and athletic in a letter to his pen pal while she has fabrications of her own to conceal her paralysis.”   My Dearest Albe...

Wendi Lou Lee returns to the Walnut GroveCast podcast to discuss her newest book, Red Tail Feathers!  We discuss so many things about her newest book and have a lot of laughs!  I hope you enjoy this discussion!  Red Tail Feathers can be purchased right now! Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Red-Tail-Feathers-Discover-Beauty/dp/B0C7SGCWR Autographed! https://wendiloulee.com/books/ Please...

Lydia joins me to discuss this short lived Michael Landon written and produced television show. “John Murphy leads a struggle against a mining boss causing some children to be orphaned. Assuming responsibility, he poses as a priest to circumvent authorities. He and schoolteacher Mae struggle to provide everyday needs for two dozen children.” The Pilot for Father Murphy originally aired...

Maryann joins me to discuss this episode which takes us outside of Walnut Grove to help a group of people who are going through an influenza outbreak!    “Caroline travels to an influenza-ridden mining camp with Dr. Baker after she receives a plea for help from an old friend who is pregnant and desperately ill. After realizing that her friend will die and that the baby’s fath...

Chantelle returns to Walnut GroveCast to help me tackle this early two-parter!  I hope you enjoy this as much as we did while recording!    “Jealous of the attention Charles showers on his newborn son, Laura longs for the place she believes she’s lost in her pa’s affections and angrily refuses to pray for her little brother to get well when the baby becomes serious...

Stacy and Shannon Clark join me for a wonderful ride as we discuss so much about Little House on the Prairie and all of the personal memories that they cherish. Shannon Clark and his family have a really great band named, Shannon Clark and the Sugar and you can find all about them here https://www.shannonclarksugar.com/ If you have an interest in talking about Little House and your memories, pleas...