Story with a Message

We love stories. Many stories have a message. Some inspire us, teach us, challenge us and motivate us. Some make us think. Some make us laugh. Some lead to personal reflection. Others simply have a seed of wisdom. It's my hope you'll be able to identify with the stories told in this podcast and the connection will open windows of spiritual inspiration.

Go To Rome Anyway 07/19/2026

Go To Rome Anyway A woman is excitedly preparing for a long-awaited trip to Rome—until her hairdresser gives her a very different perspective on the adventure ahead. What begins as a series of gloomy predictions turns into an unexpected lesson about pessimism, possibility, and the danger of letting someone else define the size of your world. Sometimes, the only way to discover what’s waiting for you is to go anyway. Want to contact me? Send an email to . The intro and outro tune was adapted from royalty-free music provided by on . /episode/index/show/storywithamessage/id/42140715

The Running Nun 07/12/2026

The Running Nun Sometimes the most unexpected detours reveal the clearest direction. In this episode, you’ll hear how one woman’s journey carried her from competition to compassion, reshaping both her life and the community around her. It’s a story about calling, courage, and the quiet power of showing up. Want to contact me? Send an email to . The intro and outro tune was adapted from royalty-free music provided by on . /episode/index/show/storywithamessage/id/42046280

The Brightest Fireworks 07/05/2026

The Brightest Fireworks This Fourth of July, eight-year-old Caleb can't wait for the fireworks to begin. As the sky fills with dazzling colors, he thinks he's witnessing the best part of the holiday. But before the evening is over, he'll receive some grandfatherly advice that will that will point him toward a brightness he never expected. Want to contact me? Send an email to . The intro and outro tune was adapted from royalty-free music provided by on . /episode/index/show/storywithamessage/id/41964865

The Grocery Line Gospel 06/28/2026

The Grocery Line Gospel You never know when standing in line at the grocery store can change your life perspective. A moment that seems routine suddenly transforms into something tender, unexpected, and deeply human. By the time you reach the conveyor belt, you realize the line has given you more than groceries. Want to contact me? Send an email to . The intro and outro tune was adapted from royalty-free music provided by on . /episode/index/show/storywithamessage/id/41850935

From Patching Pants to Fulfilling Dreams 06/21/2026

From Patching Pants to Fulfilling Dreams For decades, he lived quietly, worked hard, and asked for very little. Most people saw an ordinary man with a simple job, never imagining the remarkable story being written behind the scenes. In this episode, discover how one life of humility and purpose created opportunities that would change countless futures. Want to contact me? Send an email to . The intro and outro tune was adapted from royalty-free music provided by on . /episode/index/show/storywithamessage/id/41712845

Tick Tock Meets Tech 06/14/2026

Tick Tock Meets Tech Two very different keepers of time share the same quiet room — one old, one new — and a single unexpected moment reveals which one truly endures. This short fable offers a gentle reminder that reliability always shows up at the right time. Want to contact me? Send an email to . The intro and outro tune was adapted from royalty-free music provided by on . /episode/index/show/storywithamessage/id/41636725

Mrs. Rohlf's Last Lesson 06/07/2026

Mrs. Rohlf's Last Lesson A beloved second‑grade teacher prepares to close the door on her long career, but not before leaving her students with something far more lasting than a lesson plan. As the school year winds down, her classroom fills with small moments of joy, tenderness, and the kind of love that can only be stitched together over time. What she gives them in those final days becomes a quiet reminder that goodbyes can be gifts too. Want to contact me? Send an email to . The intro and outro tune was adapted from royalty-free music provided by on . /episode/index/show/storywithamessage/id/41561620

The Trouble With Being Nice 05/31/2026

The Trouble With Being Nice A familiar character named Nice starts to wonder whether the world still has room for him. As louder forces push him aside, he begins to doubt his place. But what he discovers is something we all need to remember too. Want to contact me? Send an email to . The intro and outro tune was adapted from royalty-free music provided by on . /episode/index/show/storywithamessage/id/41480045

A Prize That Time Will Never Tarnish 05/24/2026

A Prize That Time Will Never Tarnish A championship hangs in the balance, but something far more lasting is at stake. In a single moment, a young athlete faces a choice that will follow her long after the crowd goes home. What she walks away with isn’t the prize anyone expected. Want to contact me? Send an email to . The intro and outro tune was adapted from royalty-free music provided by on . /episode/index/show/storywithamessage/id/41405295

The Right Thing to Do 05/10/2026

The Right Thing to Do One ordinary shift at a neighborhood restaurant took an unexpected turn when a server stumbled onto something most people only dream of seeing. In the split second where temptation could have quietly rewritten the story, a single choice revealed a kind of character that rarely makes headlines anymore. The Right Thing to Do is a reminder that integrity still lives in the ordinary places, carried by ordinary people who refuse to let the moment change them. Want to contact me? Send an email to . The intro and outro tune was adapted from royalty-free music provided by on . /episode/index/show/storywithamessage/id/41237640

The Juice Box 05/03/2026

The Juice Box A stubborn juice box pushes a grown man to the brink, and the results are equal parts ridiculous and revealing. It turned into an unexpected test of patience and perspective. Sometimes the smallest battles tell the biggest truths. Want to contact me? Send an email to . The intro and outro tune was adapted from royalty-free music provided by on . /episode/index/show/storywithamessage/id/41129955

The Professor's Parable 04/26/2026

The Professor's Parable A professor raises a glass of water in class, and gives an unlikely presentation his students will never forget. This short, enduring parable has been shared for years because its message lands quickly and stays with you. It's a little story with a big truth. Want to contact me? Send an email to . The intro and outro tune was adapted from royalty-free music provided by on . /episode/index/show/storywithamessage/id/41017315

A Monkey with an Unlikely Mother 04/19/2026

A Monkey with an Unlikely Mother Punch didn’t get the start he needed, but he did get help from a source no one could have predicted. His journey reminds us that care sometimes arrives in the strangest forms, and that even the smallest creature can teach us something about resilience. Want to contact me? Send an email to . The intro and outro tune was adapted from royalty-free music provided by on . /episode/index/show/storywithamessage/id/40924560

A Bright Spot on the Moon 04/12/2026

A Bright Spot on the Moon In the middle of Artemis II’s steady, scripted journey, something unexpected happened—something no checklist could have prepared us for. This episode lingers on that moment, a quiet surprise that became a bright spot in the mission’s historic trip around the Moon. Want to contact me? Send an email to . The intro and outro tune was adapted from royalty-free music provided by on . /episode/index/show/storywithamessage/id/40814905

Leo's Easter Egg Hunt 04/05/2026

Leo's Easter Egg Hunt You know by now, I love stories about children. We can learn so much from them. In this original tale, what starts out as an ordinary Easter egg hunt becomes a quiet lesson in generosity and childhood grace. One small choice sends two families home with a whole lot more than candy. Want to contact me? Send an email to . The intro and outro tune was adapted from royalty-free music provided by on . /episode/index/show/storywithamessage/id/40733370

The Boomer-Zoomer Project 03/29/2026

The Boomer-Zoomer Project A bright yellow payphone connects a college kid in Boston with a retiree in Reno, and what unfolds is far more human than experimental. A Boomer and a Zoomer trade life advice, laughter, and a little unexpected wisdom. This story reminds us how quickly strangers can become something more. Want to contact me? Send an email to . The intro and outro tune was adapted from royalty-free music provided by on . /episode/index/show/storywithamessage/id/40654935

Three Steps Toward Kindness 03/22/2026

Three Steps Toward Kindness It starts with a routine DoorDash delivery and a moment caught on camera. It leads to a question and a story that has a ripple effect that no one saw coming. By the end, it’s a reminder of how quickly the ordinary can turn into something extraordinary when someone chooses to truly see another person. Want to contact me? Send an email to . The intro and outro tune was adapted from royalty-free music provided by on . /episode/index/show/storywithamessage/id/40570135

A New Twist On An Old Story 03/15/2026

A New Twist On An Old Story An ancient parable. A modern retelling. And a truth that hits home in a delightfully uncomfortable kind of way. It just might change the lens through which you see others. Want to contact me? Send an email to . The intro and outro tune was adapted from royalty-free music provided by on . /episode/index/show/storywithamessage/id/40485235

Full Circle 03/08/2026

Full Circle Sometimes the past circles back in ways that feel almost scripted. This week's podcast follows a story that begins simply, unfolds slowly, and lands somewhere that can only be described as surprise. Want to contact me? Send an email to . The intro and outro tune was adapted from royalty-free music provided by on . /episode/index/show/storywithamessage/id/40354370

Eating Crow 03/01/2026

Eating Crow Ever met someone who’s absolutely certain they’re the best—no questions asked? In a quiet little town, one proud rooster is about to learn that boastfulness and truth aren’t always the same thing. This story has humor, heart, and a lesson that might hit closer to home than we’d like. Sometimes, the hardest thing to swallow… isn’t defeat—it’s humility Want to contact me? Send an email to . The intro and outro tune was adapted from royalty-free music provided by on . /episode/index/show/storywithamessage/id/40266130

A Roadtrip Through Quirky America 02/22/2026

A Roadtrip Through Quirky America America is full of towns with names so quirky you’d think the mapmaker was a stand up comic — but behind every oddball name is a real community with a real story. Join me for a road trip through Quirky America, where the humor is the front porch and the message waits inside. Want to contact me? Send an email to . The intro and outro tune was adapted from royalty-free music provided by on . /episode/index/show/storywithamessage/id/40179375

Lindsey Vonn's Last Run 02/15/2026

Lindsey Vonn's Last Run “Lindsey Vonn’s Last Run” revisits the day a legend stepped onto the mountain knowing it would be her final run. It’s a story about grit meeting acceptance, and the strange peace that comes when you give everything you have left. Her last descent wasn’t about winning—it was about honoring the fire that carried her this far. This episode captures the beauty of finishing on your own terms. Want to contact me? Send an email to . The intro and outro tune was adapted from royalty-free music provided by on . /episode/index/show/storywithamessage/id/40112515

Ruthie's Race 02/08/2026

Ruthie's Race Everyone expected the fox, the bear, or the wolf to dominate the big cross-country skiing race at the Animal Winter Olympics. No one paid much attention to a small rabbit adjusting her goggles at the starting line. But sometimes the athlete you overlook is the one who changes everything. Want to contact me? Send an email to . The intro and outro tune was adapted from royalty-free music provided by on . /episode/index/show/storywithamessage/id/40031695

Episode 200: One Tale at a Time 02/01/2026

Episode 200: One Tale at a Time WooHoo! This is Episode #200. I can hardly believe it myself. Four years of telling stories — some borrowed, some lived, some stumbled upon by accident — and along the way I’ve picked up a few lessons worth passing on. So today, I'll be sharing them with you. Want to contact me? Send an email to . The intro and outro tune was adapted from royalty-free music provided by on . /episode/index/show/storywithamessage/id/39949100

The Canned Goods Catastrophe 01/25/2026

The Canned Goods Catastrophe A winter storm sends everyone scrambling for supplies, turning a simple grocery run into something closer to a survival mission. In the middle of the chaos, one small disaster brings the entire store to a standstill. What happens next isn’t about the weather at all, but about the surprising way people can shift from frantic to generous in a single magical moment. Want to contact me? Send an email to . The intro and outro tune was adapted from royalty-free music provided by on . /episode/index/show/storywithamessage/id/39865465

The Student Who Solved the Unsolvable 01/18/2026

The Student Who Solved the Unsolvable A late arrival to class. Two problems on a chalkboard. A misunderstanding that changes everything. This episode invites us to rethink what’s possible when doubt isn’t part of the equation. Want to contact me? Send an email to . The intro and outro tune was adapted from royalty-free music provided by on . /episode/index/show/storywithamessage/id/39770475

Counting Change, Changing Hearts 01/11/2026

Counting Change, Changing Hearts In a crowded checkout line, a man in a hurry meets a delay he didn’t see coming. What starts as irritation turns into something far more human—and it just might change the way you look at the people standing in front of you. Want to contact me? Send an email to . The intro and outro tune was adapted from royalty-free music provided by on . /episode/index/show/storywithamessage/id/39686190

The New Year's Lantern 01/04/2026

The New Year's Lantern A quiet New Year’s Eve. A familiar porch. A lantern that’s been part of Valley Road longer than most folks can remember. This week, a simple act of kindness sparks a story that glows brighter than anyone expected. Want to contact me? Send an email to . The intro and outro tune was adapted from royalty-free music provided by on . /episode/index/show/storywithamessage/id/39603020

The Christmas Keepsake Crisis 12/21/2025

The Christmas Keepsake Crisis Christmas can sometimes be a time of crisis, especially when a family is grieving and trying to hold on to what matters most. Even the smallest thing can stir up unexpected big feelings. What begins as a simple moment of sorting through memories turns into a full-blown Christmas keepsake crisis. Listen to find out what happened. Note: The original story can be found in Chicken Soup for the Soul: It's Christmas! Want to contact me? Send an email to . The intro and outro tune was adapted from royalty-free music provided by on . /episode/index/show/storywithamessage/id/39485140

Facebook Santa 12/14/2025

Facebook Santa A missing gift. A desperate late-night post. A stranger who did the unthinkable. This true holiday story proves that sometimes the real magic isn’t under the tree—it shows up when people choose kindness. Read the original story by Caroline Fanning in the latest edition of Reader's Digest (December 2025/January 2026). Want to contact me? Send an email to . The intro and outro tune was adapted from royalty-free music provided by on . /episode/index/show/storywithamessage/id/39398210

Story with a Message

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