Signs of Our Time

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Hi friends,

I've enjoyed producing this podcast.  It's been very interesting to explore the story behind the story from historical markers.  

I am taking a break from production to focus on other projects.  

You can hear more about what I am working on through this episode.

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If today’s episode has resonated with you or helped you in any way, and you’d like to support the show so we can continue to bring you new and free content, I’ve set up an account on Buy Me a Coffee. Through this easy-to-use donation-based tool, you can support the podcast with monetary donations in increments of $5. I truly apprecite your support. All donations receive a shoutout as a way of saying thank you.

I also invite you to leave me feedback by clicking on the "Send Us a Text" tab at the top of this discription.

Safe Travels!

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Clara Barton earned the nickname "The Angel of the Battlefield" during the American Civil War, but her greatest achievement may have been bringing the Red Cross movement to America. 

In this episode of Signs of Our Time, we explore the remarkable life of the woman who transformed compassion into action and established a legacy that continues to bring hope during disasters and emergencies around the world.

Support the show

If today’s episode has resonated with you or helped you in any way, and you’d like to support the show so we can continue to bring you new and free content, I’ve set up an account on Buy Me a Coffee. Through this easy-to-use donation-based tool, you can support the podcast with monetary donations in increments of $5. I truly apprecite your support. All donations receive a shoutout as a way of saying thank you.

I also invite you to leave me feedback by clicking on the "Send Us a Text" tab at the top of this discription.

Safe Travels!

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Today, we're visiting Latrobe, Pennsylvania, home of a historical marker that celebrates one of America's sweetest creations. What began as a simple experiment at a small-town soda fountain became a dessert enjoyed by generations of families across the country.

So grab a seat, bring your sweet tooth, and join me as we explore the fascinating history behind the invention of the banana split.

Support the show

If today’s episode has resonated with you or helped you in any way, and you’d like to support the show so we can continue to bring you new and free content, I’ve set up an account on Buy Me a Coffee. Through this easy-to-use donation-based tool, you can support the podcast with monetary donations in increments of $5. I truly apprecite your support. All donations receive a shoutout as a way of saying thank you.

I also invite you to leave me feedback by clicking on the "Send Us a Text" tab at the top of this discription.

Safe Travels!

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History is often shaped by individuals who refuse to accept the limitations placed upon them. They see a need, recognize an opportunity to serve, and step forward with courage and determination. Their lives become signposts, pointing future generations toward what is possible.

 In today's episode, we'll meet a woman who did exactly that. During a time when women faced enormous barriers in professional life, she became a physician, served on the front lines of the American Civil War, endured capture as a prisoner of war, and earned the nation's highest military honor. Her name was Dr. Mary Walker.

Support the show

If today’s episode has resonated with you or helped you in any way, and you’d like to support the show so we can continue to bring you new and free content, I’ve set up an account on Buy Me a Coffee. Through this easy-to-use donation-based tool, you can support the podcast with monetary donations in increments of $5. I truly apprecite your support. All donations receive a shoutout as a way of saying thank you.

I also invite you to leave me feedback by clicking on the "Send Us a Text" tab at the top of this discription.

Safe Travels!

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Now every once in a while, history gives us a figure remembered for courage… leadership… innovation… or sacrifice.

 And sometimes… history remembers a man because of his sideburns.

That’s right. Today we’re talking about a Civil War general whose facial hair became so famous it literally entered the English language. Somewhere along the way, General Ambrose Burnside managed to accomplish something very few people ever achieve. He turned a grooming choice into a dictionary word.

 I suppose that means every barber shop in America owes him a small historical plaque.

So settle in as we travel back to the days of steam engines, battlefield strategy, and whiskers bold enough to survive the Civil War itself.

 This is Signs of Our Time, and today we discover how one man’s facial hair became an American landmark.”

Support the show

If today’s episode has resonated with you or helped you in any way, and you’d like to support the show so we can continue to bring you new and free content, I’ve set up an account on Buy Me a Coffee. Through this easy-to-use donation-based tool, you can support the podcast with monetary donations in increments of $5. I truly apprecite your support. All donations receive a shoutout as a way of saying thank you.

I also invite you to leave me feedback by clicking on the "Send Us a Text" tab at the top of this discription.

Safe Travels!

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Today, we journey into the heart of Alabama, where the waters of Lake Martin flow beneath the shadow of Kowaliga Bridge, a place where steel and timber meet memory and music. For many, it is simply a crossing over beautiful Southern waters. But for others, Kowaliga carries the spirit of one of country music’s greatest voices: Hank Williams.

 Join us as we explore the legend of Kowaliga, the bridge, the lake, and the song that helped keep Hank Williams’ voice rolling like Alabama waters through the decades. Because sometimes, the signs we pass are not just markers of where we are... they are reminders of who we have been.

Support the show

If today’s episode has resonated with you or helped you in any way, and you’d like to support the show so we can continue to bring you new and free content, I’ve set up an account on Buy Me a Coffee. Through this easy-to-use donation-based tool, you can support the podcast with monetary donations in increments of $5. I truly apprecite your support. All donations receive a shoutout as a way of saying thank you.

I also invite you to leave me feedback by clicking on the "Send Us a Text" tab at the top of this discription.

Safe Travels!

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Beneath the clear waters of the Florida Keys rests the story of a mighty ship once caught in the fury of nature.

In 1733, the San Pedro, part of Spain’s great treasure fleet, was driven onto the reefs by a devastating hurricane, joining one of history’s most dramatic maritime disasters. Today, its remains lie preserved beneath the sea, marked not by roadside stone, but by an underwater memorial that invites us to remember.

In this episode of Signs of Our Time, we dive below the surface to uncover the story behind the San Pedro, its tragic final voyage, the treasures it carried, and the powerful lessons still resting on the ocean floor.

Join us as we explore a shipwreck where history, tragedy, and time itself still speak.

Support the show

If today’s episode has resonated with you or helped you in any way, and you’d like to support the show so we can continue to bring you new and free content, I’ve set up an account on Buy Me a Coffee. Through this easy-to-use donation-based tool, you can support the podcast with monetary donations in increments of $5. I truly apprecite your support. All donations receive a shoutout as a way of saying thank you.

I also invite you to leave me feedback by clicking on the "Send Us a Text" tab at the top of this discription.

Safe Travels!

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In this episode I explore the story behind the story of one of America's most unusual named cities.  We're going to learn about the story behind the name of the town, Toad Suck, Arkansas.  Yes… Toad. Suck.

Now before you reach for the map to double-check, let me assure you, this is not a typo, a prank, or a dare gone wrong. This is a real place, with a real history, and a name that has confused travelers, amused locals, and raised eyebrows for generations.

You might be wondering, who named it? Why did it stick? And perhaps most importantly… what exactly were they thinking? 

Well, that’s exactly what we’re about to find out.

Support the show

If today’s episode has resonated with you or helped you in any way, and you’d like to support the show so we can continue to bring you new and free content, I’ve set up an account on Buy Me a Coffee. Through this easy-to-use donation-based tool, you can support the podcast with monetary donations in increments of $5. I truly apprecite your support. All donations receive a shoutout as a way of saying thank you.

I also invite you to leave me feedback by clicking on the "Send Us a Text" tab at the top of this discription.

Safe Travels!

Send us Fan Mail

 Before instant messages and smartphones, connection came at a gallop. In this episode of Signs of Our Time, we explore the legendary Pony Express, a daring mail system that carried messages across nearly 2,000 miles in just 10 days. Discover the courage of its riders, the urgency of a divided nation, and what this short-lived experiment reveals about our enduring desire to connect. 

Support the show

If today’s episode has resonated with you or helped you in any way, and you’d like to support the show so we can continue to bring you new and free content, I’ve set up an account on Buy Me a Coffee. Through this easy-to-use donation-based tool, you can support the podcast with monetary donations in increments of $5. I truly apprecite your support. All donations receive a shoutout as a way of saying thank you.

I also invite you to leave me feedback by clicking on the "Send Us a Text" tab at the top of this discription.

Safe Travels!

Send us Fan Mail

They say if you stand along this old road at dusk… you can still hear it.

 Hoofbeats. Wheels turning. A stagecoach that never arrived. Today on Signs of Our Time, we explore the mystery, and the message of the Marshall–Shreveport road.

Support the show

If today’s episode has resonated with you or helped you in any way, and you’d like to support the show so we can continue to bring you new and free content, I’ve set up an account on Buy Me a Coffee. Through this easy-to-use donation-based tool, you can support the podcast with monetary donations in increments of $5. I truly apprecite your support. All donations receive a shoutout as a way of saying thank you.

I also invite you to leave me feedback by clicking on the "Send Us a Text" tab at the top of this discription.

Safe Travels!