The Sunny Side of Life with Troy Thompson

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This week, Troy visits with the local Veterans Service Officer, MaryLou Kleveland of the Winnebago County Veterans Affairs to discuss the role of a Veteran's Service Officer at the local level, the importance of communicating with veterans at the local level to assist with benefits and entitlements, the opportunities to serve those who have served us, and the myriad steps involved with getting benefits applications for pensions, health benefits and survivor benefits through the state and federal systems.

For more information, visit your local county Veterans Affairs VSO in your county nationwide.

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This week, Troy takes a stab at the problem in the Holy Land. What's the solution? Well, there is one but don't expect much to change.

We have a unique gift of choice, but what (or better yet, WHO) will we choose?

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This week, Dr. Bob Alsop stops by Sunnyside to celebrate the 120th Anniversary of Waldorf University, Troy's Alma Mater. 

Find out what it takes to keep a small liberal arts college going for 120 years - it's not easy - but there have been blessings at every fork in the road. It's a great conversation about higher education, the future of liberal arts, classrooms, student life, expectations, college costs, and more - all from the the Sunnyside of Life!

For more information about any of Waldorf University's residential or on-line programs, simply visit: https://www.waldorf.edu

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This week, Troy is joined by Nate Forsberg and Donovan Johnson - the three directors of the BrickStreet Theatre's December 2023 one of a kind production of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever! 

Listen in to the processes these three have created to produce the most unique and inspirational performance of a childhood classic about the story of the nativity, redemption, and the folks that make it happen.

Mark your calendars: tickets go on sale November 8th here: https://brickstreettheatre.org

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This week, Troy ruminates over the incredible turn-out for casting auditions of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, the Christmas show he's directing for BrickStreet Community Theatre. He updates us on the goings-on at Sunnyside including his encounter with a nailing gun which left a pretty good impression on him - especially his arm! 

And, it turns out Troy has been notified he's receiving the local volunteer of the year award...what?

This and more, on The Sunnyside of Life!

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On this episode of the Sunnyside of Life, Troy shares his take on recent travels to Mackinac Island, the ups and downs of dressing up, directing the Best Christmas Pageant Ever, and the analogy of playing your irons.

Also an update on the happenings on the homestead, running into regulations, the beauty of porches and the virtue of hiding the garage.

Thanks for stopping by and Cheers to being the Sunnyside of someone else's life...

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This week, Ron Simmons drops by Sunnyside to share his story detailed in his book: Life Lessons from the Little Red Wagon. 

Ron is a successful retirement investments CEO, a former member of the Texas House of Representatives for three terms, the current chairman of the Texas Mutual Insurance  Company. He also serves an advisor to the Heritage Foundation and the Texas Public Policy Foundation.

Find out from Ron what it means to be intentional, how not having to jump in front of the parade but work with people from every walk of life gets things done, and how building trust "one Bob Wilson" at a time carries over from business to politics. We'll hear how life can be like that little red wagon with which we're all so familiar, how a foundation in faith sets us all up for success, and the lessons learned from winning and losing in politics and finding victory regardless.

Plus, the upside down "Beto Effect", opinions on DEI, ESG, Equity v. Equality, who the "show ponies, the plow horses, and the work horses" are in politics and what that means to the voter and much, much more. It's a great conversation and one that leads to yet another way to be the Sunnyside of someone else's life.

For more information about Ron, to buy his book visit: https://ronsimmons.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ronfortexas
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RonSimmonsforTexas

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This week we welcome to Sunnyside, Professor Sumatra Ray, MD/Registered Nutritionist; Director of Research in Food Security, Health and Society, University of Cambridge.

Troy met Dr. Ray (and his amazing daughter - Nikki) in the hotel lobby while visiting Washington, DC and we're glad he did. Let's dive into worldwide nutrition issues and solutions. What if we were to scientifically re-imagine the local recipes of the world to achieve the best taste and nutritional value? Learn about the double burden of malnutrition, micronutrient deficiency also known as "hidden hunger", what is the body's "training weight", metabolic health, and pictorial recipes.

Meet Nikki, the Junior Ambassador who's ideas for getting children involved worldwide with nutrition via the Mobile Teaching Kitchen, the Kids Kitchen Club Challenge, the Little Literacy Library, and cultural programs are interesting and innovative.

For more information or to lend support to the programs discussed in this episode, follow the links and be the Sunnyside of someone else's life (and in this case, maybe your own...)

https://www.nnedpro.org.uk
https://www.mtki.org/support-us
https://www.nnedpro.org.uk/15

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Happy Labor Day from Sunnyside!

We hope you're enjoying your time off and being useful in some way...like this week's guest, Zach Smith, founder of The Stock Cropper, co-inventor of the Cluster Cluck, and advocate of alternative farming practices from the homestead scaleable to corporate farming.

Find out how Zach and friends came up with this innovative ag production system, the highs and lows, and where they're headed next (hint: the big screen.)

Check out The Stock Cropper here https://thestockcropper.com and stay in the know with Zach by following him on Twitter @zebulousprime and check out his YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheStockCropper

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This week, Troy shares who's coming up in the next couple weeks. He covers the debates and provides some solutions to this fentanyl problem we keep hearing about.

But, it's football that he really loves and when it comes to the future - well, let's just say the farm studios will be a little busier starting in January...

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