Hoot & Holler Radio

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 and courage shape who we are and how we connect with others.

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 demanding certainty from the future.

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, courage, community, and the hard work of starting over.

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 interviews that dig into how those moments shaped their lives, and how small objects and chance encounters can open the door to healing and home.

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 Grandin Theatre and follow-up interviews in the Hoot and Holler studio, offering a hopeful, human look at resilience, acceptance, and the power of being seen.

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-performance conversation about the ethics of reporting, the power of presence, and the lessons learned from connection and compassion.

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 both storytellers, where they reflect on craft, community, and how their life experiences shaped these performances.