What does it mean to truly welcome someone who has nowhere else to go? In this episode, Amy sits down with Rene Platten to talk about Room in the Inn, a Memphis ministry that provides people experiencing homelessness with a safe place to sleep, a warm meal, and something just as important—a sense of dignity, connection, and belonging. Rene shares how one encounter with a man waiting for a bed changed the course of her life and inspired her to help create more shelter for people in need.

Rene explains how Room in the Inn began, how the ministry has grown in Memphis, and why the need extends far beyond what many people realize. She and Amy discuss the growing number of families and children experiencing homelessness, the realities of the working poor, and the many circumstances—including job loss, rising rents, domestic violence, illness, and family crises—that can leave someone without a home. They also challenge common stereotypes about homelessness and emphasize the importance of seeing the person rather than simply seeing their circumstances.

The conversation also explores the powerful impact Room in the Inn has on its volunteers. From preparing meals and making beds to doing laundry or simply sitting down and sharing a meal with a guest, there are countless ways to help. Rene explains why the goal isn't to change people overnight, but simply to love them, while Amy reflects on the unexpected blessings, gratitude, and human connection she has experienced through the ministry. Most importantly, they offer a challenge to listeners: step outside your comfort zone, stop stereotyping, and consider how you can help provide someone with a safe place to land.

Quote of the Episode

"Our job is not to change them, it's to love them." -Rene Platten

Guest Links

Room in the Inn Memphis – https://ritimemphis.org

Topics Covered

Homelessness | Room in the Inn | Memphis | Families experiencing homelessness | Children and homelessness | Working poor | Affordable housing | Domestic violence | Volunteer opportunities | Faith | Community | Compassion | Breaking stereotypes | Helping others

Connect

Visit our website: amykeyspodcast.com

Follow on Facebook: facebook.com/groups/amykeyspodcast

Have a story to share? Email: [email protected]

If you enjoy Just a Thought with Amy Keys, be sure to follow the podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who loves inspiring stories about family, history, travel, and personal growth.

What do you do when life keeps handing you one challenge after another? For Brittany Chance, the answer has been to keep fighting, trust God, and look for the positive—even when circumstances seem overwhelming. In this deeply personal conversation, Brittany shares the extraordinary journey of raising four boys while navigating serious medical challenges, including two sons facing life-threatening illnesses, a premature birth, and her own unexpected diagnosis with a potentially dangerous blood-clotting condition.

Brittany opens up about the six weeks she spent in the hospital with her son Jack after meningitis led to brain swelling and a massive blood clot, and how refusing to give up helped get him the care he needed. She also shares how Jack's medical journey ultimately led to genetic testing that revealed Brittany had the same clotting genes—and a potentially life-threatening blockage that she never knew she had. Along the way, she talks about her youngest son's premature birth, her father's battle with early-onset Alzheimer's, and the role her husband, family, friends, and community have played through every difficult season.

Through it all, Brittany's faith remains at the center of her story. She talks about learning to turn to God immediately in moments of crisis, becoming more resilient through adversity, setting boundaries as a parent, making time for her marriage, and finding ways to keep moving forward when life doesn't go according to plan. Her story is a powerful reminder that we may not be able to choose our circumstances, but we can choose how we respond to them.

Quote of the Episode

"Never stop fighting. Just never give up, because God gave you that gut instinct, that inner fire within you to just fight." -Brittany Chance

Guest Links

None

Topics Covered

Motherhood | Parenting | Faith | Resilience | Raising boys | Medical challenges | Family | Marriage | Early-onset Alzheimer's | Advocacy | Hope | Overcoming adversity | Self-care | Pilates

Connect

Visit our website: amykeyspodcast.com

Follow on Facebook: facebook.com/groups/amykeyspodcast

Have a story to share? Email: [email protected]

If you enjoy Just a Thought with Amy Keys, be sure to follow the podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who loves inspiring stories about family, history, travel, and personal growth.

What if living a healthier, more fulfilling life isn't about doing more—but about doing less, slowing down, and being more intentional about the choices we make? In this episode, Amy sits down with Tina Beard of Home Sweet Homespun to explore natural living, sustainability, and the simple practices that have shaped the way Tina approaches food, family, work, and everyday life.

Tina shares how growing up in Maine and becoming a mother led her down a path of learning about natural ingredients, gardening, herbal remedies, homemade soap, seasonal foods, and sustainable living. She explains why she makes her own soap without synthetic fragrances or colors, the renewed interest in tallow, what raising chickens has taught her about food production, and why she believes small, practical changes are more sustainable than trying to completely overhaul your life overnight.

The conversation also goes beyond food and products to explore something many of us struggle with: how to slow down in a culture that constantly tells us to keep going. Tina shares her approach to setting boundaries, protecting quiet time, improving sleep, using herbs as part of her daily routine, and noticing the small moments of beauty that we often miss when we're rushing through life. Whether you're interested in natural living or simply looking for ways to simplify and make more intentional choices, this conversation offers practical ideas and a refreshing reminder that you don't have to do everything perfectly.

Quote of the Episode

"If you can find one thing that in a slow moment makes you happy, that's all that you need. And then you can handle the hard stuff." -Tina Beard

Guest Links

Home Sweet Homespun - https://homespunsoaps.com

Topics Covered

Natural living | Sustainability | Homemade soap | Tallow | Gardening | Chickens | Seasonal living | Herbs | Natural skincare | Self-care | Boundaries | Sleep | Simplifying | Mindful living

Connect

Visit our website: amykeyspodcast.com

Follow on Facebook: facebook.com/groups/amykeyspodcast

Have a story to share? Email: [email protected]

If you enjoy Just a Thought with Amy Keys, be sure to follow the podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who loves inspiring stories about family, history, travel, and personal growth.

Mahjong is having a moment—and if you haven't played yet, Paula Brown and Melissa Taylor are here to explain why so many people are getting hooked. In this fun and lively episode, Amy sits down with the women who taught her how to play American Mahjong to talk about the history of the game, how it works, and what makes it so much more than a game of tiles, strategy, and luck.

Paula and Melissa share how they discovered Mahjong, why they became teachers, and what makes learning the game less intimidating than it may first appear. They explain the basics of the card, the Charleston, strategy, skill and luck, and some of the terminology and etiquette that can make Mahjong seem complicated to newcomers. They also share their advice for anyone who is curious about learning to play.

But the real story may be what happens around the table. The three friends talk about the friendships, fellowship, laughter, mental focus, and sense of community that Mahjong can create. From open play and tournaments to family games and beautifully designed tiles, this conversation explores why Mahjong is attracting players of all ages and why Paula and Melissa believe the game is here to stay.

Whether you've been playing for years, are thinking about taking your first lesson, or have simply wondered what all the Mahjong fuss is about, this episode might just convince you to pull up a chair and play a hand.

Quote of the Episode

"I swear I'm happier after I've played.” -Amy Keys

Guest Links

Truffle Pig – Mahjong classes and more: https://shoptrufflepig.com/

Mahjong Ya’ll email – [email protected]

Topics Covered

Mahjong | American Mahjong | Mahjong strategy | Learning Mahjong | Mahjong history | Skill and luck | Mahjong etiquette | Friendship | Fellowship | Brain health | Community | Hobbies

Connect

Visit our website: amykeyspodcast.com

Follow on Facebook: facebook.com/groups/amykeyspodcast

Have a story to share? Email: [email protected]

If you enjoy Just a Thought with Amy Keys, be sure to follow the podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who loves inspiring stories about family, history, travel, and personal growth.

Finding the right care for a loved one is one of the most emotional and overwhelming decisions a family can face. In this episode, Amy sits down with Heather Bryant, founder of Trua Mid-South, to discuss how her family's heartbreaking experiences caring for both her special needs brother and her father inspired her to leave a successful corporate career and create a business dedicated to helping families navigate senior living options.

Heather shares the personal journey that became her "why", explains the hidden signs that a loved one may no longer be safe living alone, and offers practical advice for starting difficult conversations about assisted living. Together, Amy and Heather explore common misconceptions about senior care, the importance of finding the right community—not just any community—and how the right environment can improve safety, independence, and quality of life. She also explains how Trua Mid-South helps families find the right senior living community by matching a loved one's unique needs with communities best equipped to meet them.

Whether you're currently caring for aging parents, helping a loved one navigate the next stage of life, or simply planning ahead, this conversation offers compassionate guidance, practical advice, and reassurance that you don't have to navigate the journey alone.

Quote of the Episode

"I just had this nagging sensation that I need to do more, I need to give back, I need to help others get through this process because it's so overwhelming and isolating." –Heather Bryant

Guest Links

Trua Mid-South: https://truacares.com/trua-midsouth/

Topics Covered

Senior living | Assisted living | Memory care | Aging parents | Family caregiving | Alzheimer's | Caregiver support | Memphis | Trua Mid-South

Connect

Visit our website: amykeyspodcast.com

Follow on Facebook: facebook.com/groups/amykeyspodcast

Have a story to share? Email: [email protected]

If you enjoy Just a Thought with Amy Keys, be sure to follow the podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who loves inspiring stories about family, history, travel, and personal growth.

Social media keeps us connected like never before—but is it bringing us closer together or quietly pulling us apart? In this episode, Amy is joined once again by friends Kelly Henderson and Karyn Whittington for an honest, funny, and thought-provoking conversation about the role social media and texting play in our everyday lives.

From the positive impact of networking, fundraising, and staying connected during life's biggest moments to the challenges of comparison, political posts, keyboard courage, and the pressure to always be available, the three friends explore both sides of our digital world. They also share practical insights on texting etiquette, AI-generated content, online privacy, and why it's so easy to misunderstand someone's tone through a screen.

Packed with personal stories, nostalgic memories of life before smartphones, and plenty of laughs during a rapid-fire round, this episode is a reminder that while technology is an incredible tool, real relationships still thrive best through kindness, grace, and genuine human connection. Sometimes the healthiest thing we can do is put the phone down, look up, and be fully present with the people around us.

Quote of the Episode

"Look up from your phones and say hi to your friends. They want to see your sweet faces." -Amy Keys

Guest Links

None

Topics Covered

Social media | Texting | AI | Online privacy | Digital wellness | Human connection | Communication | Digital etiquette | Relationships

Connect

Visit our website: amykeyspodcast.com

Follow on Facebook: facebook.com/groups/amykeyspodcast

Have a story to share? Email: [email protected]

If you enjoy Just a Thought with Amy Keys, be sure to follow the podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who loves inspiring stories about family, history, travel, and personal growth.

Finding hope in the middle of life's greatest challenges isn't easy, but Chuck and Cindy Brantley have spent nearly two decades doing just that. In this episode, they share the remarkable story of Chuck's sudden illness at just 29 years old, the months-long journey that led to a life-saving heart transplant, and the years that followed—including a kidney transplant, kidney cancer, vision loss, and countless other unexpected obstacles.

Rather than allowing hardship to define them, Chuck and Cindy have chosen faith, teamwork, humor, and gratitude. They reflect on the emotional highs and lows of waiting for organ transplants, the importance of staying positive through uncertainty, and how their marriage has been strengthened by facing every challenge together. Their story is a powerful reminder that resilience isn't about pretending life is easy - it's about refusing to let difficult circumstances have the final word.

Amy also shares the deeply personal story of a childhood friend whose decision to become an organ donor saved five lives, reinforcing the life-changing impact of organ donation. Whether you're facing a health crisis, supporting someone you love, or simply looking for encouragement, this conversation is a moving reminder that hope, faith, and perseverance can carry us through even life's most difficult seasons.

Quote of the Episode

"Panicking or freaking out helps nothing. You are in survival mode, and you do what you have to do to survive. And you do it together." – Cindy Brantley

Guest Links

None

Topics Covered

Organ donation | Heart transplant | Kidney transplant | Resilience | Faith | Marriage | Caregiving | Family | Chronic illness | Positive mindset | Teamwork

Connect

Visit our website: amykeyspodcast.com

Follow on Facebook: facebook.com/groups/amykeyspodcast

Have a story to share? Email: [email protected]

If you enjoy Just a Thought with Amy Keys, be sure to follow the podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who loves inspiring stories about family, history, travel, and personal growth.

What happens when life doesn't unfold the way you expected? In this inspiring episode, Amy sits down with her longtime friend Mandi Anderson to share the remarkable story of her son, Rémy, who was born with one of the most severe forms of bilateral cleft lip and palate.

Mandi candidly discusses the emotional journey from receiving the diagnosis during pregnancy to navigating countless surgeries, therapies, and everyday challenges. Along the way, she offers an honest look at the strength required to advocate for a child with medical needs while celebrating every milestone—from Rémy saying "Mama" for the first time to growing into a kind, magnetic young man who inspires everyone he meets.

The conversation also highlights Rémy 's Ranch, Mandi's handmade ornament business that helps support families facing similar journeys. More than a story about medical challenges, this episode is a reminder that kindness, resilience, and compassion can transform even the hardest circumstances into opportunities to serve others and give hope.

Quote of the Episode

"This journey teaches you patience you never knew you needed to have, but it also teaches you a different kind of strength in being a mom."

Guest Links

Email - [email protected]

Rémy 's Ranch Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/245918432740815/

Connect

If you know someone who has a story, mission, or message, reach out at [email protected].  Your voice deserves to be heard!

If you enjoy Just a Thought with Amy Keys, be sure to follow, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who loves inspiring stories about family, history, travel, and personal growth.

Follow us on Facebook - ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/amykeyspodcast

What makes a friendship last a lifetime? In this heartfelt episode, Amy is joined by two of her closest friends, Kelly Henderson and Karyn Whittington, for an honest conversation about the beauty, complexity, and purpose of friendship.

Together, they explore how friendships evolve through different seasons of life, the importance of surrounding yourself with people who make you better, and why no one friend is meant to meet every need. Amy introduces her "U-shaped friendship" philosophy—leaving room for new people to enter your life—and a memorable "Gobstopper" analogy that illustrates the different layers of friendships, from lifelong ride-or-die friends to the people who enrich our lives in everyday moments.

The conversation also dives into navigating conflict, setting healthy boundaries, dealing with friendship breakups, the impact of social media, and learning to appreciate friends who think differently than we do. Through personal stories, laughter, and vulnerability, Amy, Kelly, and Karyn remind us that meaningful friendships require grace, honesty, intentionality, and prayer.

The episode closes with a simple but powerful challenge: reach out to a friend this week. Whether it's a text, coffee, lunch, a walk, or simply letting someone know you're thinking of them, small acts of intentional connection can create lasting impact.

Quote of the Episode

"The first rule of friendship is to be a friend."

Guest Links

None

Connect

If you know someone who has a story, mission, or message, reach out at [email protected]. Your voice deserves to be heard!

If you enjoy Just a Thought with Amy Keys, be sure to follow, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who loves inspiring stories about family, history, travel, and personal growth.

Travel isn't just about checking destinations off a list - it's about creating memories that last a lifetime. In this episode, Amy sits down with Christy and Richie Willard of Willard Travel Company to talk about how their passion for exploring the world turned into helping others experience unforgettable vacations.

The conversation is filled with practical travel advice, including airport strategies, hotel safety tips, must-pack travel essentials, passport recommendations, and ways to avoid common travel headaches. Amy also shares some of her own memorable travel stories—from snorkeling in the Florida Keys and hiking in Colorado to her quirky hotel room routines and favorite vacation traditions.

Richie offers a heartfelt reminder to "go do the thing," inspired by a conversation he overheard in a coffee shop. It's a powerful message about making memories while you can and investing in experiences that you'll treasure long after the trip is over.

Whether you're planning your next vacation, dreaming about a bucket-list destination, or simply love hearing great travel stories, this episode is packed with inspiration, laughter, and practical advice to help you travel with confidence.

Quote of the Episode

"Go do the thing. Five years from now you won't remember what you spent—you'll remember the experience."

Guest Links

Willard Travel Company – https://trips.willardtravelco.com/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/WillardTravelCompany/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/willardtravelco

Connect

If you know someone who has a story, mission, or message, reach out at [email protected].  Your voice deserves to be heard!

If you enjoy Just a Thought with Amy Keys, be sure to follow, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who loves inspiring stories about family, history, travel, and personal growth.