Hoot & Holler Radio

In this episode of Hoot and Holler Radio, Lizzetta Staplefoot delivers a heartfelt love letter to Robert Smith and The Cure, describing how their music became a refuge, a community, and a soundtrack for life’s ups and downs. Later, Cameron McKenzie reflects on family and memory in “Early Bird,” connecting childhood impressions of his uncle to encounters with a neighbor and exploring the surprising...

Host Lee Hunsaker presents two true spooky tales from the Grandin Theatre stage: Hettie Farley recounts a late-night dorm room encounter with a sorrowful woman in white, and John Jackson tells the story of nosy neighbor Caroline, her mysterious disappearance, and the unsettling aftermath, including a psychic reading. The episode features post-performance interviews with both storytellers and captu...

On Hoot and Holler Radio, storytellers Alicia Bell and Cory Howard share eerie, personal tales rooted in Appalachian folklore and family memory. Alicia recounts a haunted painting, lilac-bush legends, and the ghosts and haints that shaped her family's history.   Cory explores childhood superstitions, a mysterious red ribbon, and recurring premonitions that lead to a terrifying car scare and a surp...

Ami Trowell recounts a desperate attempt to save her marriage during a Myrtle Beach vacation that turns into a swirling ordeal, while Chris Henson shares a chaotic night rescuing a cat from under a toddler’s bed that spirals into a comic medical emergency.

In this Breast Cancer Awareness episode of Hoot and Holler Radio, Tracy Rothschild Lynch and community members share honest, personal stories about diagnosis, treatment, and the emotional journey of redefining femininity after breast cancer. Listeners offer perspectives of grief, resilience, community support, and practical lessons—reminding us of the power of storytelling during recovery and surv...

Two storytellers explore encounters with the unknown: Bob Schmucker recalls 1970s college experiments in hypnosis and past-life regression, while Christine Kimel shares a profound vision after the miscarriage of her infant, Colleen. The episode examines faith, grief, and the possibility of life beyond our senses, offering a thoughtful and hopeful look at mystery and healing.

In this episode Lizetta Staplefoote recounts growing up with her mother Pearl, the shock of loss, and how returning to the woods brought healing and renewed purpose. Youth Poet Laureate Elani Spencer shares how poetry gave her a voice to speak about identity, mental health, and living with chronic illness. Together their stories celebrate nature, resilience, and the power of speaking your truth.

Host Lee Hunsaker presents two personal stories about self‑expression and survival. Bil Bond traces his love of fashion from well‑dressed Southern grandmothers to a distinctive New York style and sober identity. Marj Easterling recalls her days as an exotic dancer in Japan, a risky encounter with organized crime, and a narrow escape aided by a broken heel. Both storytellers explore how clothing an...

Chad Hutchinson reads a music‑soaked, intimate memoir set in a Texas dive bar about friendship, plans to move abroad, and the losses that reshape belonging. Then Matt Chittum shares a hilarious, everything‑goes‑wrong road trip—an aging Subaru, a shocking bison photo, a Kansas storm, and a string of misadventures that turn disaster into story.

This episode features Margaret Terry's tender memoir about a lifelong obsession with France, a visit to Vincent van Gogh's room in Saint-Rémy, and an emotional reconnection with her mother's creativity and pain. Also included is Casadie Smith's story about tarot, the Wheel of Fortune card, and her struggle with obsessive thoughts and anxiety, ultimately learning to sit in the present rather than d...

Host Lee Hunsaker presents two powerful onstage stories: Shannon Dominguez recounts leaving the Jehovah's Witnesses and an abusive marriage, facing shunning and her father’s suicide, then rebuilding her life and career; Tess Wortinger reflects on growing up on an Iowa family farm, the song that sustained her, and the bittersweet work of clearing a childhood home. Together they explore grief, coura...

Two storytellers take the Grandin stage: Brooke Saul boards a Greyhound to Roanoke chasing first love, only to find a new, unexpected life with Adam; Brent Stevens reflects on his father through an old trench coat and the soundtrack of his college years. Both stories explore love, loss, and transformation. After each performance, the storytellers join the Hoot and Holler studio for intimate interv...

This episode of Hoot and Holler Radio features two courageous teenagers sharing honest stories about identity and belonging. Asher recounts discovering and embracing an autism diagnosis, finding friendship and confidence, while Ambrose describes coming out as transgender, finding compassionate community, and beginning medical transition. The show includes onstage performances recorded at the Grand...

On this episode of Hoot and Holler Radio, Matt Chittum recounts his early days as a reporter and how covering a tragic school bus accident became a defining moment in his journalism career. Later, John Wiercioch travels to Kenya and forges a life-changing friendship with a young man named Ibrahim, discovering unexpected joy and generosity amid hardship. Tune in for the storytellers’ post-performan...

On this episode of Hoot and Holler Radio, married storytellers Aaron Conover and Hillary Hardison deliver two intimate live pieces: Aaron’s meditative hunting story about instinct, respect for animals, and choosing when to harvest; and Hillary’s memoir-like tale tracing a lifetime of art, clothing, and creative reinvention through loss and healing. The show also includes studio interviews with bot...

Two heartfelt stories from the Grandin Theater: Bil Bond remembers his larger-than-life Southern mother with humor and grief, celebrating the grit and love that shaped him. Kyle Wright recounts his nail-biting experience on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. The episode pairs warm tribute and tense game-show nostalgia, followed by candid backstage interviews about storytelling, family, and life after...

In this episode of Hoot and Holler Radio, Katie Elmore shares a tender story of grief, a psychic’s prediction, and the surprising arrival of two Siberian kittens—one named Robbie—that helps her find hope after multiple losses. Later, Jill Thompson recounts a harrowing van accident in Canada where her team’s quick thinking and teamwork saved lives, giving her a second chance and a renewed belief in...

On this episode of Hoot and Holler Radio, Marilyn Moriarty recounts a funny and bewildering encounter with glowing orbs in her bedroom, and later explores explanations from ancestors to eye floaters and ball lightning. Stephanie Martin takes listeners to a Las Vegas bowling tournament packed with colorful characters, a surprising blackjack win, and a $20,000 prize as she navigates the chaos and ch...

Two storytellers take the Grandin stage: Heather O'Bryan recounts finding punk rock and defying the strict rules of a fundamentalist college, and Joe Stanley remembers a frugal, unforgettable cross-country bus trip with his stern grandmother. Interviews follow each story, reflecting on family, faith, and how those experiences shaped their lives.

Two moving stories from Hoot and Holler Radio: 13-year-old Maddie McKee recounts how a last-minute plan to attend a Metallica concert kept her parents out of harm’s way when a truck smashed into their living room, and Lon Wagner reflects on how bluegrass music built a bridge to his father and helped preserve their connection through illness. Told onstage and followed by studio conversations, these...

In this episode of Hoot and Holler Radio, Katie Brooks shares her poetic journey of reviving the Eye planetarium—melding art, science and storytelling around a moth-inspired poem—and reflects on rebuilding community through immersive experiences. Adam Daniel recounts his feral childhood and a tense, transformative encounter with a black bear, drawing lessons about our connection to nature, courage...

Host Lee Hunsaker presents two onstage stories at the Grandin Theater: Patrick Harrington shares how a robbery that took his Brooks Brothers suits led him to embrace business casual and a new sense of freedom, while Craig Dennis recounts a teenage counterfeit scheme using photocopied bills that spiraled into legal trouble. The episode also features studio interviews with Patrick and Craig reflecti...

Host Lee Hunsaker presents two powerful true stories: Katie Elmore’s tale of grief, a psychic’s prediction, and two orange kittens who felt like a sign from the other side; and Jill Thompson’s harrowing account of a van plunging into a lake, the fight to survive underwater, and the bonds that saved her life.

Two storytellers take the Grandin stage: Anastasia Giffin hilariously traces her Greek roots and Joe Mylan Jr. recounts his leap to become a writer in Seoul. Host Lee Hunsaker sits down with the tellers for candid post-show interviews about identity, craft, and the messy, beautiful work of telling your story.

Host Lee Hunsaker presents two intimate stories of grief, signs, and unexpected grace. Lindsay McKinnon recounts losing her two sons, a psychic prophecy that brought healing and serendipity. Writer Matthew Vollmer explores his mother’s decline into dementia and the mysterious lights that appeared near the family home. Through strange phenomena, a shaman’s reading, and his father’s changing life, M...