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Host Lee Hunsaker presents two powerful true stories: Katie Elmore’s tale of grief, a psychic’s prediction, and two orange kittens who felt like a sign from the other side; and Jill Thompson’s harrowing account of a van plunging into a lake, the fight to survive underwater, and the bonds that saved her life.

On this episode of Naturally Curious, host Bruce C. Bryan talks with Maureen Best, the executive director of LEAP, about how the organization connects people with local food sources in Virginia. Maureen shares her background in agriculture and talks about her transition to becoming LEAP's first paid staff member back in 2013. The conversation covers the daily operations of the local food system, including fixed-site farmers markets, a mobile market that visits senior housing complexes, and an in-house kitchen that turns leftover produce into frozen soups. They also discuss the realities of funding a nonprofit, the value of community partnerships, and how programs like Virginia Fresh Match help local families stretch their grocery budgets.

On this episode of Naturally Curious, host Bruce C. Bryan sits down with Isabel Thornton, the executive director of Restoration Housing, to discuss the intersection of historic preservation and the affordable housing crisis. They explore the creative mechanics of transforming blighted, boarded-up properties into high-quality rental units, emphasizing how tools like historic tax credits can breathe new life into communities affected by industrial loss. The conversation shifts to a major milestone for the organization: the adaptive reuse of an old Methodist church into Trinity Commons, a 15-unit independent living space specifically designed to help local seniors age in place. Thornton also shares her perspective on intentional organizational growth, the importance of cultivating a strict work-life balance for working mothers, and how the power of a single restoration project can ripplingly uplift an entire neighborhood.

On this episode of Naturally Curious, host Bruce C. Bryan welcomes his long-time friend Bob Schmucker to the studio for a conversation that is bound to lift your spirits. Bob is the resident leader of the Third Street Coffeehouse in Roanoke's Old Southwest neighborhood, a volunteer-led acoustic venue celebrating its 40th year of bringing people together. He shares his journey from serving in the Air Force and working in the defense industry to picking up his old guitar again to help manage the stress of caregiving at home. Bob talks about the history behind co-founding Virginia's Veterans Parade, mobilizing local musicians to raise over thirty-two thousand dollars for the local food bank, and how a chance photograph in the morning paper led him to welcome a "bonus family" of Ukrainian refugees into his life. Plus, Bob breaks a major radio seal by becoming the very first guest to perform live music right in the studio, playing a couple of original songs that show exactly why his friends describe him as one of the kindest people you could ever meet.

Two heartfelt stories from the Grandin Theater: Bil Bond remembers his larger-than-life Southern mother with humor and grief, celebrating the grit and love that shaped him. Kyle Wright recounts his nail-biting experience on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.The episode pairs warm tribute and tense game-show nostalgia, followed by candid backstage interviews about storytelling, family, and life after the stage.

Host Lee Hunsaker presents two onstage stories at the Grandin Theater: Patrick Harrington shares how a robbery that took his Brooks Brothers suits led him to embrace business casual and a new sense of freedom, while Craig Dennis recounts a teenage counterfeit scheme using photocopied bills that spiraled into legal trouble.The episode also features studio interviews with Patrick and Craig reflecting on their performances, the personal aftermath, and how those moments shaped their lives.

In this episode of Hoot and Holler Radio, Katie Brooks shares her poetic journey of reviving the Eye planetarium—melding art, science and storytelling around a moth-inspired poem—and reflects on rebuilding community through immersive experiences.Adam Daniel recounts his feral childhood and a tense, transformative encounter with a black bear, drawing lessons about our connection to nature, courage, and the delicate webs that bind all life.

Two moving stories from Hoot and Holler Radio: 13-year-old Maddie McKee recounts how a last-minute plan to attend a Metallica concert kept her parents out of harm’s way when a truck smashed into their living room, and Lon Wagner reflects on how bluegrass music built a bridge to his father and helped preserve their connection through illness.Told onstage and followed by studio conversations, these personal tales explore fate, healing, and the enduring power of music to unite families.

In this episode of Hoot and Holler Radio, Katie Elmore shares a tender story of grief, a psychic’s prediction, and the surprising arrival of two Siberian kittens—one named Robbie—that helps her find hope after multiple losses. Later, Jill Thompson recounts a harrowing van accident in Canada where her team’s quick thinking and teamwork saved lives, giving her a second chance and a renewed belief in luck and human connection.

On this episode of Hoot and Holler Radio, married storytellers Aaron Conover and Hillary Hardison deliver two intimate live pieces: Aaron’s meditative hunting story about instinct, respect for animals, and choosing when to harvest; and Hillary’s memoir-like tale tracing a lifetime of art, clothing, and creative reinvention through loss and healing.The show also includes studio interviews with both storytellers, where they reflect on craft, community, and how their life experiences shaped these performances.