The Best Part of Waking Up *IS* Waking Up

2/21/25

 Celebrating Uncle Scott. Can NOT be a coincidence that our friend with the most beautiful, genuine Good Stuff heart was BORN on Valentine’s Day.  … and the world was about to become a much kinder place. The “now you know the rest of the story;”;) story about Uncle Scott Wentz live 2/21 8am here on The Best Part of Waking Up *IS* Waking Up. 

2/14/25

 Isaiah 54:10 reminds us that we have obstacles and messiness to overcome, but we don't do it alone!  Join us around the gratitude table to appreciate the obstacles that we overcome TOGETHER...we can!  Together we will! 

2/7/25

Friday morning… Means we’re all back to take a seat around the virtual Gratitude Table. Today we’re celebrating the 80th Birthday!!! of our the Good Stuff Family friend, Don Cockroft and some Together We Can… Together We Will candid talk about dementia.  Don is counting it all for Good. His family, showing up as Good Stuff examples as they navigate through it in love. A look at Ephesians 2:10 through The Cockroft Family Story. What are you grateful for? Want to grab a cup of coffee and join us?  Because of all the things we don’t understand… Of this much we’re sure…. We're Better Together. 

1/31/25

Friday morning… Means we’re all back to take a seat around the virtual Gratitude Table. “Bigger than the bike”.  I LOVE THIS! Wait till you see the Good Stuff/God Stuff our young friend, 10-year-Huck Kurinsky is doing BEYOND his **THREE** BMX Freestyle National Championships! It's "The Good Work" God has called Huck to that Paul writes about in Phil 1:6. Even if you don’t have a bike;)… There is such a great lesson to be learned here from our friend Huck (and his amazing Good Stuff family:)  We’re so much bigger than any assigned titles. Good or bad. Earned or undeserved.  Who needs this today? So GRATEFUL for the GIFT of Huck Kurinsky and his family! What are you grateful for? Want to grab a cup of coffee and join us?  Because of all the things we don’t understand… Of this much we’re sure…. We're Better Together. 

1/24/25

Friday morning… Means we’re all back to take a seat around the virtual Gratitude Table. So PROUD of Incarnate Word Academy legendary record  breaking basketball teams and beyond. A ***141***game winning streak just snapped, but the story goes way beyond IWA’s basketball powerhouse accolades.  Dan Rolfes is a living, breathing walking miracle (cue the Matthew West song😉 It’s powerful FAITH and HOPE bigger than Hoops.  A story that stirred huge numbers of people watching around the world to say “I’ll have what coach Dan Rolfes is having;) What are you grateful for? Want to grab a cup of coffee and join us?  Because of all the things we don’t understand… Of this much we’re sure…. We are Better Together. 

1/17/25

Friday morning… Means we’re all back to take a seat around the virtual Gratitude Table. Today I’m grateful for: -Tony, Chris and Josh.  May never seen them again a day in my life… but will remember how they made me feel. The story of how strangers stepped up in a pinch. -USAA insurance. We go way back… to the day I first got my license.. and again… in 2025 they showed up (literally) when I really needed them. Inspired by their Above and Beyond culture. -Brothers Ryan, Aidan and dad Dan… who showed up with shovels during St. Louis snowmageddon. -For the way my friend Chappelle SAW people even without eyes that worked.. as we remember him and his Good Stuff legacy 5 years after he passed. January 15, 2020 we’re pretty sure he was fitted with angel wings  What will our legacy be?  What are you grateful for? Want to grab a cup of coffee and join us?  Because of all the things we don’t understand… Of this much we’re sure…. We are Better Together. 

1/10/25

A funny thing happened on the way to prep for the podcast this morning. Similar maybe to Breaking News protocol when I was a reporter…but it sure felt like God was the assignment editor today.  The planned agenda scrapped for what feels like an impromptu program pulled together by Divine Design.   Have you all had those moments?… where you’re like “Gotta be God at Work.”   Maybe you’re going through even the *not so* Good Stuff.   But everywhere we go…THERE HE IS.  This morning was ALL Good Stuff/GOD Stuff!   Listen in /Watch at  https://www.youtube.com/live/r0KU0tgw...to hear the story of how the people who call quaint Medina Ohio home are raising the bar on SEE The Good/BE The Good for new friends from North Carolina who lost so much when Hurricane Helene rolled through 3 months ago.  THIS WEEKEND in Medina, It’s going to be “A Hallmark movie for real”. Medina to bring NC Helene victims to town for Christmas Akron Beacon Journal Akron Beacon Journal reporter, Craig Webb joins us to share why he’s loving covering this story so much  https://www.beaconjournal.com/.../med.... And my plugged in sister friend in faith @bebold_Kayleigh Kayleigh Keller joins us as well to share what she has seen first hand..the GOOD coming out of the devastation of Hurricane Helene. GET YOURSELVES TO MEDINA SQUARE THIS WEEKEND IF YOU CAN!!  To be immersed in what I’m calling “Christmas Part 2 2025” It’s The Good Stuff of “The Promise of Christmas.  Spreading Hope, Joy, and Christmas Magic to those who need it most.”  GRASSROOTS Good Stuff organized.  You guys, this is CLASSIC See The Good in others.  Be The Good for them. 

1/3/25

Friday morning… Means we’re all back to take a seat around the virtual Gratitude Table. A look back at the week’s stories and happenings that encouraged our souls and uplifted our hearts. Today I’M GRATEFUL FOR: Random Acts of Kindness and people who genuinely have COMPASSION as their compass in this journey called life. 

12/27/24

Friday morning… Means we’re all back to take a seat around the virtual Gratitude Table.❤️🙏🏻👏💪 A look back at the week’s stories and happenings that encouraged our souls and uplifted our hearts. Today I’M GRATEFUL FOR: -The birth of an Almighty Savior… worthy to save and simultaneously a supreme example of humility. Today I’M GRATEFUL FOR: -Lee and Clayton at Bommarito Ford in Hazelwood MO.  Good Stuff dudes X2 right here. For me, it felt like answered prayer as I had been praying for Patience, Perspective and Peace.  So we’ll talk this morning about those 3 P’s…  Patience, Perspective and Peace in the waiting.  We discuss real ENDURANCE and the OPPORTUNITY for it when our faith is tested. James 1:3-4 Then watch for Good Stuff/God Stuff people to show up. Real life opportunities to grow in faith. That’s what I’m grateful for today.  What are you grateful for? 

12/20/24

Friday morning… Means we’re all back to take a seat around the virtual Gratitude Table. A look back at the week’s stories and happenings that encouraged our souls and uplifted our hearts. Today I’M GRATEFUL FOR: The birth of an Almighty Savior who is simultaneously a supreme example of humility. I’m grateful for friends and family to celebrate CHRISTmas. Go Jesus!!! It’s your birthdaaayy! And our Santa friend, who’s summer home is in Middlefild OH celebrates Him too…  More than presents he’s bringing  a message of Hope to Families with sick kids.  Today we reflect back on The Good Stuff/God Stuff work he and Mrs. Claus are doing and take a look at some of the thousands of letters to Santa that they are personally responding to. Also a unique tribute to our friend, Bill Greenblatt, who passed away this week. Well known for more than the iconic pictures he’s captured in St. Louis. Also we reflect on our own favorite family Christmas memories… Honoring loved ones who’ve gone before. Legacy. Love. That’s what I’m grateful for today.  What are you grateful for? 

12/13/24

Friday morning… Means we’re all back to take a seat around the virtual Gratitude Table. A look back at the week’s stories and happenings that encouraged our souls and uplifted our hearts. Today I’M GRATEFUL FOR: Kevin Gaylord. Kevin is a friend from growing up in St. Louis. We’ve recently reconnected. He reached out with a POWERFUL Good Stuff/God Stuff story about how he and his family have had some serious “Reaaaly God???? REAALLY???” questions.  Most recently, a cancer diagnosis for him and a battle with brain tumors for his daughter Katherine. For Kevin… it’s been an iron clad, day by day, in the moment, every moment RELATIONSHIP with the God of the universe who leads Kevin’s steps.  It’s Kevin’s story for His glory. Reconnecting by #DivineDesign with old friends.  That’s what I’m grateful for today.  What are you grateful for? 

12/6/24

Friday morning… Means we’re all back to take a seat around the virtual Gratitude Table. A look back at the week’s stories and happenings that encouraged our souls and uplifted our hearts. Today I’M GRATEFUL FOR: Reconnecting by #DivineDesign with old friends.  We look back at a favorite news story with the Hogle family and why they’re the kind of The Good Stuff friends you want to keep close.  What’s Pope Francis most recently grateful for? I’m glad you asked;)  It may be his new car. As our friends at The Pour Over news letter pitched it;)…  Car shopping? If you like prominent swivel chairs, low speeds, the color white, and lead the Catholic Church… the new all-electric Popemobile is perfect.  What are you grateful for? 

12/6/24

 Thanksgiving 2024… Unpacking a seriously plugged in, beautiful day out and about with volunteers of the Peter Maurin Center in Akron.  Make new friends.  Keep the old. One is silver.  The other gold.  Not all have homes, but we all have hearts. Ours are full.  It’s Classic The Good Stuff/God Stuff that’s about so much more than food and feasting.  It’s #KingdomCurrencyI can’t wait to share with you what that looked like  on Thursday. 

11/22/24

Friday morning… Means we’re all back to take a seat around the virtual Gratitude Table. A look back at the week’s stories and happenings that encouraged our souls and uplifted our hearts. Today I’M GRATEFUL FOR: Sister friends who rise up (literally;) at the last minute.   I’m also GRATEFUL for the opportunity to work with Matthew and Pappa West’s POPWE people:) at Matthew’s Naperville concert at Calvary Church.  SOOOO PLUGGED IN!   I’m grateful for a life saving anniversary today for our friend Mike Phillips.  Hear Mike’s story and his personal testimony this morning of gratitude and huge faith in the storm.   This is The Good Stuff that lasts.   What are you grateful for? 

11/15/24

Friday morning… Means we’re all back to take a seat around the virtual Gratitude Table. A look back at the week’s stories and happenings that encouraged our souls and uplifted our hearts. Today I’M GRATEFUL FOR: -My life long friend Kath and her beautiful family. FOUR generations now of The Trampe/Oswald Family who I love like my own.  Visiting them this weekend in the quaint Chicago suburb of Elmhurst IL and all Kath has to say is, “There goes the neighborhood.”  I’m also GRATEFUL for the opportunity to work with Matthew and Pappa West’s POPWE people:) at Matthew’s Naperville concert last night at Calvary Church.  SOOOO PLUGGED IN!   This is The Good Stuff that lasts.  

11/8/24

See The Good in others. Be The Good for them. That was Jimmy Donovan. On Nov 7, 2024, Jimmy's family laid to rest the beloved, iconic voice of the Cleveland Browns. Jimmy Donovan was 68-years-old. This is a different kind of tribute to the Voice of the Browns who, behind the scenes spoke to the hearts of our friends Annmarie Peacock and Tyrone Peacock  Jimmy spoke to them from his heart, not from the mic. This is how we know Jimmy and why we love him. So we pulled this podcast up from the archives. Previously aired August 30th, the clip with the phone call between Jimmy and Annmarie and Tyrone was live on June 17, 2021. This morning in a previously recorded segment, we hope to show our love and appreciation for Jimmy Donovan and for the legacy he leaves beyond his last breath...And to hopefully encourage all of us to do the same. 

11/1/24

Friday morning… Means we’re all back to take a seat around the virtual Gratitude Table. A look back at the week’s stories and happenings that encouraged our souls and uplifted our hearts. Today I’M GRATEFUL FOR: -Charlie’s Letters A compilation of genuine, from the heart, relatable reflections on a life rooted in faith even through the things we could not and would not script.  Practical application of how leaning into God, His promises and His word… well, WORKS:)  Ministry to Men Director, Charlie Williams mentored many and led by example… even through the thick of it.  Including Alzheimer’s.  This is life. This is legacy. This is The Good Stuff that lasts. What are you grateful for?