Stories from Cold Springs

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A life can be measured in songs cued, flags saluted, and nights under stadium lights. We sit down with radio mainstay Ted Tibbett to trace the winding road from a childhood spent in studios and parades to a draft notice in 1968, a detour to South Korea, and a homecoming that turned into four decades behind a high school press box mic. Ted’s stories are vivid and generous: a father who sang and read poetry on the air before World War II, a small-town talent show where Elvis Presley placed third, an...

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This is a special (bonus) episode of Stories From Cold Springs. We've been asking our guest to share their favorite Christmas memories. Here are some of our favorites.

A castoff tree becomes a masterpiece. A heaterless Ford carries a homesick soldier down a freezing highway. A prank chair turns a nervous daughter-in-law into family. These are the moments that define Christmas in our world: kindness at midnight, laughter that sticks, and simple gifts that outlast their batteries.

We gather voices from across our first season (and upcoming second season...

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A priest’s journey rarely begins at the pulpit. Ours starts on a small Irish farm in County Galway, where thirteen children, a barter ledger at the grocer, and a windowless scullery kept life running without cash or convenience. Father Tommy Conway opens up about a way of life built on chores, prayer, and community—then shows how Ireland’s commitment to free education and EU investment vaulted a rural nation into a global workforce. The contrast is striking: horses and harrows traded among neighbors become modern careers at Boston Scientific and Pfizer, yet th...

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What happens when a classically-trained violinist breaks her neck and loses her musical identity for over a decade? Alexis Frenette's remarkable journey takes us from a defining childhood moment in Connecticut to finding her place as a fiddle player in Mississippi.

Alexis shares the pivotal experience of discovering her passion at just five years old during a school assembly featuring young Suzuki method violinists. "I remember the exact moment that I decided I was going to play the violin for the rest of my life," she recalls with clarity. This decisive...

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Ever wonder how a Sunday sermon lands so close to home, it feels like it was written just for you? Methodist minister David Sellers takes us inside that mysterious, surprisingly creative, and sacred process in this warm and insightful episode of Stories from Cold Springs.

From his humble beginnings as a “surprise baby” in Mississippi to his hard-earned nickname “farm prone” (you’ll see why), Sellers shares a life shaped by calling, community, and quiet transformation. Whether he’s preaching to a packed sanctuary or a rural church where dogs join their dairy...

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Courtesy Content Notice: This episode contains true stories about hunting, animal injuries/death, and butchering animals for food. It is not unnecessarily graphic, but may not be suitable for individuals who are not comfortable hearing about such topics. Please use discretion; we respect your choices.

Stubbs (Lucus) returns to the Stories from Cold Springs podcast with a collection of vibrant tales that transport listeners to the backroads and rural communities of a bygone era. His natural storytelling ability shines as he recounts adventures with remarkable detail, humor, and authentic southern charm.<...

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Authenticity and craftsmanship shine through every moment of our conversation with Daniel "Stubbs" Lucus, whose remarkable journey from rural poverty to HGTV recognition captivates from start to finish.

Stubbs (only his mamma calls him Daniel) takes us back to his childhood, where, at just 10 years old, he started his first business—growing and selling peas with help from his grandfather's mule. 

His entrepreneurial spirit defined his unconventional path through life. When traditional education wasn't working, he convinced school officials to let him attend vocational training as an eighth-grader by thr...

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Garfield Moore didn’t set out to become a cellist. But sometimes the right moment finds you—and for him, it happened in a school assembly, when a beloved guitar teacher revealed she was, in fact, a cellist. That quiet surprise would tune the rest of his life.

In this moving episode of Stories from Cold Springs, Moore shares a remarkable musical journey—one shaped by legacy, resilience, and joy. Born into a family of groundbreaking Black professionals—his grandfather the first African American OB-GYN professor in Chicago, his father the first Bl...

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Every storyteller starts somewhere. For J. Stephen Beam, it began in the red clay hills of northeast Mississippi, where stories were passed around like heirloom recipes—spoken with reverence, humor, and heart. In this premiere episode of Stories from Cold Springs, Stephen steps out from behind the narrator’s chair and into the spotlight to share his own story—one rooted in family, hard work, and a lifelong yearning to create.

Interviewed by his wife, Dawn Beam—an accomplished judge and podcast host herself—Stephen opens up with gentle candor about his windin...

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J Stephen Beam introduces listeners to his new podcast and explains his WHY! This teaser will make you want to grab a cup of sweet tea and settle into a wooden swing on a farmhouse porch in Mississippi.

You'll never think about storytelling and creativity the same way.

Subscribe, share with a friend who loves radio, and leave a review to help more listeners find these stories. Your voice keeps this community strong.

Links to Stephen's incredible novels:

The Death Letter
The Bondage of...