Exempla

It’s funny what matters to a little kid. When my son was two years old he loved nothing more than a fire truck, or tow truck, or police cruiser with flashing lights. But take those lights away? In this replay of an episode from season 1, I share a story from when my son was two and his tears taught me something about God’s perspective on my life.

Transcript: https://exemplapodcast.com/2024/07/27/brighter-lights-replay/

Think you know the story of the Frog Prince? Think again. The story was actually originally called “Iron Henry”. In this replay of an episode from season 1, I’ll introduce you to Henry. Henry’s is an odd tale with a surprisingly challenging lesson to teach us.

Transcript/source: https://exemplapodcast.com/2024/07/13/faithful-henry-replay/

Wheeler Lipes didn’t join the navy so he could perform emergency surgery while onboard a submarine, but sometimes life brings us challenges we don't expect. Lipes wasn’t qualified to save the day, but the situation left him no choice. Listen to the Lipes’s story and learn the lesson he teaches us about doing what needs to be done even when you’re not the right man for the job.

Pictures, sources, and transcript: https://exemplapodcast.com/2024/06/29/not-convenient-replay/

What does Exempla mean? And what does an ancient Jewish feast have to do with the importance of storytelling? This replay of the very first episode of Exempla explains why I started this podcast and where its unusual name came from.

Transcript and sources: https://exemplapodcast.com/2024/06/15/my-exempla-replay/

When he was just twenty-five years old, Julius Caesar got captured by pirates. But it was the pirates, not Caesar, who got more than they bargained for. Listen to the unbelievable story and learn a valuable lesson about the power of words.

Transcript and sources: https://exemplapodcast.com/2024/06/01/caesar-and-the-pirates/

When I was a kid, there was a place that was, hands down, my favorite place on earth. It was a little yellow house in the mountains of western Massachusetts. Recently, I went back to that magical place. I want to tell you about that visit and what it taught me.

Transcript and pictures: https://exemplapodcast.com/2024/05/18/ode-to-a-small-yellow-house/

In the fall of 1941, a spy came to the United States to warn us about the attack on Pearl Harbor, but records suggest that his warning was largely ignored. Learn why as I tell his story in this episode. We’ll also consider what we can learn from this apparent missed opportunity.

Transcript and sources: https://exemplapodcast.com/2024/05/04/a-spys-warning-for-pearl-harbor/

When the animals and birds went to war, the bats had a choice to make. Would they side with their fellow furry animals or with their winged companions the birds? Find out in this adaptation of one of Aesop’s fables that teaches us a valuable lesson about loyalty and convictions.

Transcript and source: https://exemplapodcast.com/2024/04/20/why-bats-live-in-caves/

It's easy to make peanut butter. Just grind up a bunch of peanuts and... Voila! But if you try to market and sell your peanut butter in the United States, you'll discover surprisingly strict regulations. In this episode, I'll tell you the story behind some of those rules and the woman who helped make them a reality.

Transcript and sources: https://exemplapodcast.com/2024/04/06/peanut-butter-on-trial/

In the fall of 2020, my wife and I found ourselves needing to buy a house. The housing market was crazy and it felt like an impossible task, but through our process of house-hunting, I learned a valuable lesson about how we tell the stories of our lives.

Transcript and picture: https://exemplapodcast.com/2024/03/16/fine-time-to-buy-a-house/