Once There Was a Podcast

Ep20: To Destroy the Moon! (A Villain's Monologue)

Welcome to our next Storytime episode.  On the off weeks from interviews, there are shorter, storytime episodes.  These episodes will share one or two stories and the story behind them. This week I share a comedic piece I wrote for a student to perform for their acting category in Speech.  It’s one of the most off-the-wall, Month Python-esque things I’ve ever written.  I hope it brings a smile to your face.  Enjoy!
 
Special Thanks to:
James Halverson
My Brother for his well-timed, blurry picture of the moon that he sent me two days before this episode published.  
Alex (my sound guru)
My Wife and Daughter
You
 
Instagram: 
oncetherewasapod
Facebook:
Once There Was a Podcast
 
Additional Audio and Music:
Franz Gordon/Morning Blues/Courtesy of Epidemic Sound
Stationary Sign/Hope They Don’t See Us/Courtesy of Epidemic Sound
Stolen & Concealed/T. Morri/Courtesy of Epidemic Sound

Ep19: There Was a Reminder That Your Story Is Not Over

It’s National Suicide Prevention Month. Our guest this week is Alyssa Cobie-Nuss!  Join us as we discuss how she became a passionate advocate for suicide prevention, her work as a 988 crisis counselor, mental health counseling, and how someone can support suicide prevention organizations.  Please, if you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, reach out to 988.  Check out the links below for more information:  
 
988 Chat Lifeline Link
211
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
National Alliance on Mental Illness
QPR 
Alive and Running Iowa
Storytime: Your Story is Not Over
 
Special Thanks to:
Alyssa Cobie-Nuss
Alex (my sound guru)
My Wife and Daughter
You
 
Instagram: 
oncetherewasapod
 
Facebook:
Once There Was a Podcast
 
Additional Audio and Music:
Franz Gordon/Morning Blues/Courtesy of Epidemic Sound
High School Crowd 1/Courtesy of Epidemic Sound

Ep18: Storytime- The Letter

Welcome to our next Storytime episode.  On the off weeks from interviews, there are shorter, storytime episodes.  These episodes will share one or two stories and the story behind them. This week I share a letter that is very near and dear to my heart.  A letter of wise words and other wisdom that brings a smile to my face any time I read it.  
 
Special Thanks to:
My Cousin Joyce
Alex (my sound guru)
My Wife and Daughter
You
 
Instagram: 
oncetherewasapod
Facebook:
Once There Was a Podcast
 
Additional Audio and Music:
Franz Gordon/Morning Blues/Courtesy of Epidemic Sound

Ep17: There Was a Fellow Podcaster

Ep17: There Was a Fellow Podcaster
Our guest this week is Jon Francois!  Join us as we discuss how he got into radio, shifted into podcasting, and now helps people reminisce about one of their favorite 90s sitcoms.  After listening to this episode, check out the Delicious Recap: a Family Matters Rewatch Podcast!
 
Storytime: Making the Best of a Bad Situation
 
Special Thanks to:
Jon Francois
Alex (my sound guru)
My Wife and Daughter
You
 
Instagram: 
oncetherewasapod
The Delicious Recap
 
Facebook:
Once There Was a Podcast
 
Additional Audio and Music:
Franz Gordon/Morning Blues/Courtesy of Epidemic Sound
High School Crowd 1/Courtesy of Epidemic Sound

Ep16: Storytime- Those Who Can't

Welcome to our next Storytime episode.  On the off weeks from interviews, there are shorter, storytime episodes.  These episodes will share one or two stories and the story behind them. This week I share a story that is an homage to teachers everywhere.  I love teaching and all those who give their time to teach.  This is my shoutout to teachers to let them know that their efforts do not go unseen and they are appreciated! 
 
Special Thanks to:
TEACHERS!
Alex (my sound guru)
My Wife and Daughter
You
 
Instagram: 
oncetherewasapod
Facebook:
Once There Was a Podcast
 
Additional Audio and Music:
Franz Gordon/Morning Blues/Courtesy of Epidemic Sound

Announcement: Iowa Podcast Awards

Hello Listeners!  I have a quick but exciting announcement!  Once There Was a Podcast was nominated for an honors award from the Iowa Podcast Awards!  Once There Was a Podcast is eligible for the Emerging Podcast Award among other awards!  The Honors Awards will be voted upon by a panel of Iowa Podcasters.  In addition to that, any and all nominees for any of the Iowa Podcast Awards are eligible for the People’s Choice award.  If you would like to vote for Once There was a Podcast or any other Iowa podcast that has been nominated, you can go to the website iowapodcastawards.com/vote.  You may vote for up to THREE podcasts that you would like to see win the award but you may only fill out the poll one time. 

Ep15: There Was an Emerging New Writer

Our guest this week is Mariya Yasinovska!  Join us as we discuss how she discovered her love of writing, shifting from Law to English, writing and editing for a paper, and finding stories to tell. Also, as we’ve been discussing for the past month, there might be a little speech talk involved as well. 
 
Storytime: A Creation Story
 
Special Thanks to:
Mariya Yasinovska
Alex (my sound guru)
My Wife and Daughter
You
 
Instagram: 
oncetherewasapod
mariyayasinovska
 
Facebook:
Once There Was a Podcast
 
Additional Audio and Music:
Franz Gordon/Morning Blues/Courtesy of Epidemic Sound
High School Crowd 1/Courtesy of Epidemic Sound

Ep14: Storyview- For the Love of Speech (A Bromance Story)

What’s this listeners?!? It’s a storytime week but it sounds like an interview?!? Welcome to the first-ever “Storyview” episode.  It was meant to be an interview episode but in hindsight, it’s definitely a story.  It is a story of two people developing an enduring friendship (one might even say a bromance) over a shared passion. So, this week we welcome Shawn Peterson back as he and I swap stories about our love of speech and coaching the next generation of storytellers.   We also share the story of how our “bromance” came to be.   
 
We hope you find this episode a fun little peak behind the curtain at the world of coaches of IHSSA Speech.  We also hope you find a way to support your local speech, theater, and debate programs as these are the programs that create more storytellers!  (How else will I keep this podcast alive without new storytellers stepping up?!?) 
 
Special Thanks to:
Shawn Peterson
All of our former Speech Students (We really do love and miss you all!)
Alex (my sound guru)
My Wife and Daughter (CJ herself) 
You
 
Instagram: 
oncetherewasapod
Facebook:
Once There Was a Podcast
Email:
oncetherewasapod@gmail.com
 
Additional Audio and Music:
Franz Gordon/Morning Blues/Courtesy of Epidemic Sound

Ep13: There Was a Former Professional Wrestler

Buckle in Listeners!  We’ve got a long one! Our guest this week is Shawn Peterson and he’s got stories to tell!  Join us as we discuss how he discovered his love of professional wrestling, found his way into the business, and learned how to tell a story in the ring!  If you’ve never watched professional wrestling before, you might just have a new understanding and appreciation for it!  
 
Storytime: Adam Saves the Day
 
Special Thanks to:
Shawn Peterson
Alex (my sound guru)
My Wife and Daughter
You
 
Instagram: 
oncetherewasapod
 
Facebook:
Once There Was a Podcast
 
Additional Audio and Music:
Franz Gordon/Morning Blues/Courtesy of Epidemic Sound
High School Crowd 1/Courtesy of Epidemic Sound

Ep12: Storytime- CJ

See the Author's Note Below for some extra information:
Welcome to our next Storytime episode.  On the off weeks from interviews, there are shorter, storytime episodes.  These episodes will share one or two stories and the story behind them. This week I have Claire Britt coming back to narrate two stories that are very personal to me: CJ’s Day Gets Ruined and CJ and her Blanket.  These stories were inspired by my daughter and were written for Claire to perform during her high school speech career.  She is and always will be my narrator for these stories.    
 
AUTHOR'S NOTE: In the second story, CJ and her Blanket, you might catch a sudden change in pronouns related to our bully.  That's a remnant of the original script.  The bully was originally meant to be a young boy before Claire and I discussed changing the bully to a girl.  I did not get all of the pronouns changed in the original script as Claire had it memorized anyway.  A year and a half later, Claire read from the script that still had a few errors and in the closing paragraphs our bully gets referred to as "he".  Please excuse my error.  Or don't. Either way, enjoy!  
 
Special Thanks to:
Claire Britt
Alex (my sound guru)
My Wife and Daughter (CJ herself) 
You
 
Instagram: 
oncetherewasapod
Facebook:
Once There Was a Podcast
 
Additional Audio and Music:
Franz Gordon/Morning Blues/Courtesy of Epidemic Sound