The Sunny Side of Life with Troy Thompson

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This week Troy sits down in studio with friend and neighbor from just down the road, Todd Lewis. Todd dropped his graduation cap and gown from high school in the backseat of his parent's car following commencement in 1995 and hit the road in his pickup. That winding road took him from fly fishing guide, to SnoCat operator, to Hot Shot HeliTack Firefighter and eventually, full circle, to the family farm just up the road.

You won't want to miss the adventurous and poignant conversation about life, adventure, faith, family, the farm, and the future!

For a great film on the work and danger of Wildland Firefighting, Todd recommends: Only the Brave.  Check it out here: https://www.sonypictures.com/movies/onlythebrave

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This week on The Sunnyside of Life, Troy talks about the new dog - Knox, the value of Charity, Shame, Guilt, and small communities. 

We've also found the guy who should get the Republican nomination, in case anyone is paying attention - that North Dakota Governor, Doug Burgum. Crazy, right?

Oh, and there's a special visit to the Joseph R. Biden Presidential Library of the future, an update on how the Walk 4 Water event went and a few opportunities to support the teams on the Homefront.

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This week on the Sunnyside of Life, Troy returns from Washington DC and covers the highlight of the week long family trip to our nation's capital including stops at Gettysburg and Mount Vernon. 

He actually read the Wallstreet Journal and learned a few things about the status of Chief Diversity Officers. 

He has a solution to draining the swamp and some input on the loving nature of our small towns.

Don't forget to join us Sunday the 13th at Pilot Knob State Park for the Walk 4 Water event - donate to the Sunnyside of Life Team here: https://support.h4ki.org/team/514227

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This week, Scott Bertelsen stops by the studio. It's not the first time he's been here though. Turns out, he's been working for a couple months on creating his own podcast with Sunnyside Farm Studios and the reveal is just around the corner! 

Listen in to what 40 (well, really 39) years of teaching, directing, and inspiring young people - including Troy - is all about. Get a preview of his upcoming podcast: Mr. B's Dinner Party, and enjoy a series of wonderful sketches about folks desperate for our attention in the "Sunnyside Dog and Phony Show"! And, of course, the story behind that laugh...

Don't forget to join our team to help build that deep water well in Uganda - there's still time! The Walk4Water event will be Sunday, August 13th at Pilot Knob State Park but you can help out financially regardless by joining The Sunnyside of Life Team here: https://support.h4ki.org/team/514227

Thanks for stopping by Sunnyside!

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Holy cow! What a week it was! We cut, raked and baled our own oat hay here at Sunnyside - find out how that went: the good, bad, sentimental, and indifferent.

New this week: Wicked Limericks....hmm.

Thank God for great weather and helpful family and friends!

Speaking of friends, it was Troy's 30th high school class reunion and Sunnyside played host for one of two parts of time together with classmates.

Then, Troy takes note of the corrupt beginning of our current President. Was it Hoffa's union that made it happen in acts vaguely familiar to the corrupt manipulation of the media today? Technology may change, but it seems people stay the same.

And finally, Troy has a chat with Brook Price, missionary teacher to students in Bolivia. She's a great young lady making a difference in the world for Christ.

You can join her newsletter for monthly updates by sending her an email to: [email protected]

Support Brook and her educational ministry here https://nics.org/donate under the staff support page, enter her project number: 004344

And don't forget to help us build a deep water well in Uganda by joining or donating to our team The Sunnyside of Life Team in the Hope4Kids/Walk4Water Campaign happening August 13th: https://support.h4ki.org/team/514227

Thanks for stopping by The Sunnyside of Life!

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This week Cory Schmitt drops by the studio. Cory is a doctoral of musical arts candidate at the University of Iowa and the most recent former band instructor at Forest City High School and Waldorf University. Cory shares his journey in music education, teaching our kids the importance of "breathing together" to create something excellent. He has "calloused ears" from many band lessons and shares virtues of promoting music education, the consequences of COVID on programs nationwide, and his five "non-negotiables". Enjoy the conversation with a man determined to imbue future music educators with the passion that builds the love for music, art and character. 

Stay tuned for "Mr. Schmitt's Opus" and more this week, on The Sunnyside of Life.

Don't forget to join and/or donate to the Sunnyside of Life Team as we walk for water to help build a well in Uganda. Join here and make a difference: https://support.h4ki.org/team/514227

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Here's a stand alone version of the segment featuring Nate Forsberg discussing the Hope4Kids Deep Water Well project and Walk 4 Water event in August. You can join our team: The Sunnyside of Life Team to walk or donate funds in any amount to help build a deep water well in Uganda.

Visit here to donate: https://support.h4ki.org/team/514227

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This week, Uncle Wes Koskela stops by Sunnyside on his way to the races in North Dakota. Meet the Ringmaster of the Spectacle this week on The Sunnyside of Life!

Wes began as a small-time announcer for truck and tractor pulls in North Dakota but through moxy and creativity he found a way to make an entire career out of announcing, promoting, and boosting truck and tractor pulls, monster trucks, combine demolition derbies, hot rods and even women's professional mud wrestling all over North America. This is truly a pursuit which makes one happy and there are lots of great stories and lessons along the road he's happy to share with us all. Journey back with us as we wax on about making fairs great again and discover how amazingly "creative you can become when you're hungry." As Wes says, "I could tell 'em anything and they'd believe it!"

Also, we hear from our good friend, Nate Forsberg who shares with us an opportunity to help build a well in Uganda for kids in need of clean, fresh water. You can even join The Sunnyside of Life team in-person to walk with us August 13th or just by providing your donation by clicking here https://support.h4ki.org/team/514227 Let's make Nate do as many jumping jacks as we can and in the process do God's work for kids in need!

Also, check out these links to the film "American Harvest" mentioned in the show https://youtu.be/Edt1nplrHqk as well as https://lifest.com for great Christian summer entertainment for the whole family and https://dressagirlaroundtheworld.com to help clothe girls worldwide with your donations!

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Happy Birthday, America! 

This week, Ben Anderson visits the Sunnyside of Life. Ben's the head pastor of Christ Church Nashville, an old friend, talented musician, family man and man of God. Listen to his story and share in the laughter of days gone by in the old quartet, the Nashville music scene, the happenings in today's church, from song to Psalm - this is the message of true freedom and independence.

Come learn in "the laboratory of life" and find out why you "can't just tell them, you have to show them" this week on the Sunnyside of Life.

And don't miss two new skits: "Cowboy Boots, Masks, Digital Clocks and Automatic Toilets" and "Church Clothes".

Plus, a special deep track of "Deep River Woman" from Three Men and A Mike.

You can find out more about Ben and Christ Church Nashville right here: https://christchurchnashville.org

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This week, Troy catches us up on the progress at Sunnyside, his little brother visits Vietnam, and we discover the origin story of Sunnyside and what was supposed to by Sunnyside Social Club #1. He also discusses the Oceangate Titan V sad outcome, RFK Jr., Hunter Biden, Trump and a little suggestion about India. Also, a film review and recommendation for The Lost King.

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