Michael Johnathon: Calling Us Home to the Front Porch Again

Vicki Reed: How One Caring Adult Can Save a Child's Life

Join Kevin and Paschal with reform powerhouse and gold-medal-winning author Vicki Reed. After decades in child welfare—from opening Lexington's first youth shelter to shaping statewide juvenile justice reform—Vicki has turned her frontline experience into impactful fiction. We dive into her award-winning debut, The Car Thief, and her release this spring: Sleight of Hand. The book follows a youth caught in a common nightmare: a relentless cycle of foster care moves. Her books reveal a profound truth from decades of working with troubled youth: it often takes just one caring adult to turn their lives around. Connect with Vicki Reed: · Websites: https://vreedauthor.com [https://vreedauthor.com], https://middletonbooks.com [https://middletonbooks.com] · Books: Available on Amazon · Support a Cause: Learn more about becoming Court Appointed Special Advocate volunteer to change the lives of abused and neglected children at https://casaoflexington.org [https://casaoflexington.org]

Sim Bates: A 900-mile Run to Stop Trafficking

Ultramarathoner Simeon Bates joins Grace, Grit & Hope to share the story behind his extraordinary 900‑mile run for justice. Determined to support Freedom Firm's mission to end child sex trafficking in India, Sim ran 30 miles a day for 30 days across Kentucky's Red River Gorge. His faith fueled him through the pain, helping raise $100,000 for an organization that has rescued over 1,000 survivors. Sim's journey is a reminder that one person's courage can spark real change. This episode will move you.

The Doom Scrollin' Blues

Join Paschal and Kevin as they trade their dignity for a Wi-Fi signal in this hilariously honest dive into our doom-scrolling insanity. From coffee shops filled with silent phone zombies to students walking on campus while staring into devices, they poke fun at themselves and our nation's collective trance by featuring Kevin's original song:"The Doom Scrollin' Blues." This episode is a front-porch intervention for our screen-obsessed nation. Break the spell, interrupt the trance, and have a good, hard laugh about the inescapable conclusion: we've all gone bonkers from screens, mobile phones and 24/7 negative news.

Michael Johnathon: Calling Us Home to the Front Porch Again

Folksinger Michael Johnathon tells his life story and calls us to reclaim the soul of American music: the spirit of the front porch. He reflects on Pete Seeger's belief that the audience is the true star and warns that today's world of commercial music has lost its soul. From his Walden‑like years in Mousie, KY to founding WoodSongs Old-Time Radio Hour, he champions community, simplicity and the power of shared songs. He contrasts the inclusive front‑porch stage with the isolating commercial stage. He celebrates the brilliance of WoodSongs Kids and reminds us that love — not money — is the greatest transaction of the arts. His message is clear: America needs our front‑porch soul restored.

True Grit: Resilience to Outlast Every Life Storm

Paschal Baute has spent nearly a century forging grit. A 96‑year‑old veteran who served with four branches of the military, he is also a former monk, retired psychologist, and author of 50 books on resilience and hope. He has survived cancer, adapted to blindness, and recently endured the loss of his wife of 57 years. From childhood bullying to boxing in Guam, from military school to catastrophic disability, Paschal reveals how to choose courage over despair. This conversation is a masterclass about grit from a man who has spent his entire life drawing upon it.