Posts by Ron

Griddlesode S12-001: The Evangeline Connection

Posted by Ron on Dec 31, 2017 | Comments Off on Griddlesode S12-001: The Evangeline Connection

On April 5, 1840, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow…yes, that Henry Longfellow, entertaining two dinner guests. The first, Reverend Horace Connolly, you’ve probably never heard of. The second, you probably have. Nathaniel Hawthorne…yes, that Nathanial Hawthorne, had brought Connolly to meet Longfellow for one specific reason, to repeat a story. A tragic story. A true, almost forgotten story that happened over 85 years prior.

Hawthorne wasn’t interested in writing anything about the story, but he thought that Longfellow might. He guessed correctly because Wadsworth would publish an epic poem based on it called Evangeline. Sales of Evangeline were so brisk, that Longfellow became the most famous writer in America.

Evangeline is based on an event that happened over 260 years ago—a tiny blip in history that many people don’t know about. But the story that Horace Connolly told Longfellow has significance for this audience because without it, Griddlecakes Radio might not exist. Why you ask? Well, sit back and listen to a story that I call, the Evangeline Connection.

The music in this podcast comes from Kevin MacLeod. who releases all of his music under a Creative Commons license. In order of appearance are:

• Angel Share
• String Impromptu #1
• Floating Cities
• Gymnopedie
• Danse Macabre

Griddlesode S11-001: USS IOWA: Three Generations One Story

Posted by Ron on Nov 12, 2016 | Comments Off on Griddlesode S11-001: USS IOWA: Three Generations One Story

A few years ago, Ron volunteered for a project to bring the USS IOWA to the port of Los Angeles as a museum ship. During his time with the Pacific Battleship Center, he had the privilege of meeting three generations of sailors who served aboard her during WWII, the Korean War, and the Cold War. This is her story in their words.

Thanks to Bryan Moss (Korean War) and David Canfield (Cold War) for their interviews. And a special thank you to Kert VanderMeulen, who gave me permission to use his interviews with Joe Todaro. Check out Kert’s WWII Veteran’s Collection on Youtube.

Griddlesode S10-002: Put a Frame Around It

Posted by Ron on Dec 28, 2015 | 2 comments

Have you ever stood at the top of a mountain during a sunset? A vantage point that allowed you to see where the curvature of the earth met a multicolored sky? A scene so beautiful that you wanted to share it with your friends through a photograph, but when you did, the colors seemed muted, the earth less curved, and the experience far from how you remembered it?

My friend Rick once explained that it’s because you put a frame around it.

In this Griddlesode, Ron tells the story of the life lesson he learned from watching a popular 1950s, 60s, and 70s children’s television show.

The music in this Griddlesode comes courtesy of the band Narrow Plains. In order of appearance are Dreams, Keep you Anyway, and So Rewind.

If you want to learn more about Boomtown!, check out the documentary called Boomtown Gold.

Lastly, do you want to learn how I craft stories? Check out StoryHow.com and my latest publication, the StoryHow PitchDeck.

Griddlesode S10-001: Memories

Posted by Ron on Apr 23, 2015 | 4 comments

In this Griddlesode, Ron’s father shares his memories about growing up in the late 1940s and early 1950s.

During the interview, he speaks of Coates Island in Mallets Bay on Lake Champlain. Here is a link to the article that was mentioned:

On Coates Island, 140 years of stewardship (and fun)

Griddlesode S9-002: Windows to the Soul

Posted by Ron on Aug 9, 2014 | 6 comments

In this Griddlesode, Ron tells the story of loss and important life lessons.

On this Griddlesode, we featured the following songs: