Army of Normal Folks

Episodi

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  How $1 Can Erase $100 of Medical Debt in Your Community 18.08.2026 1h 15min

  1 out of every 3 Americans carries medical debt. It's the #1 cause of bankruptcy in the country - and the single greatest predictor of whether you end up in it isn't your income or your insurance. It's whether or not you get sick. Allison Sesso is a normal person leading an abnormal (and awesome) nonprofit doing something about it. Undue Medical Debt has erased nearly $50 billion in medical debt for over 31 million people!  In this episode, she breaks down exactly what to do if you get a bill you can't afford, why you should never put medical debt on a credit card, how debt collectors acquire debt for pennies on the dollar, how they’ve flipped this very same model on its head to abolish debt, and how you can partner with them to erase a crazy amount of medical debt in your community. ARMY ACTIONS Subscribe to the podcast and rate & review us! Signup to join the Army, visit NormalFolks.org Follow us on social media @ArmyofNormalFolks Join or start an ANF local service club at https://normalfolks.org/service-clubs/ Take The 10 Level Challenge, "the hero's journey for service" at 10LevelChallenge.orgSupport the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  HIGHLIGHTS: How $1 Can Erase $100 of Medical Debt in Your Community 18.08.2026 37min

  1 out of every 3 Americans carries medical debt. It's the #1 cause of bankruptcy in the country - and the single greatest predictor of whether you end up in it isn't your income or your insurance. It's whether or not you get sick. Allison Sesso is a normal person leading an abnormal (and awesome) nonprofit doing something about it. Undue Medical Debt has erased nearly $50 billion in medical debt for over 31 million people!  In this episode, she breaks down exactly what to do if you get a bill you can't afford, why you should never put medical debt on a credit card, how debt collectors acquire debt for pennies on the dollar, how they’ve flipped this very same model on its head to abolish debt, and how you can partner with them to erase a crazy amount of medical debt in your community. ARMY ACTIONS Subscribe to the podcast and rate & review us! Signup to join the Army, visit NormalFolks.org Follow us on social media @ArmyofNormalFolks Join or start an ANF local service club at https://normalfolks.org/service-clubs/ Take The 10 Level Challenge, "the hero's journey for service" at 10LevelChallenge.orgSupport the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  The Lost Art of Talking to Strangers 14.08.2026 16min

  53% of Americans ages 18-29 say talking to strangers is exhausting. But small interactions with everyday strangers actually make your life more meaningful. In this Shop Talk, Bill and Alex dig into why everyday human connection has declined and how you can integrate it into your life. This one is a reminder that community isn't always built through grand gestures, it starts with just saying hello. You weren't designed for isolation, you were designed to be in community with others.  ARMY ACTIONS Subscribe to the podcast and rate & review us! Signup to join the Army, visit NormalFolks.org Follow us on social media @ArmyofNormalFolks Join or start an ANF local service club at https://normalfolks.org/service-clubs/ Take The 10 Level Challenge, "the hero's journey for service" at 10LevelChallenge.orgSupport the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Inside the Town Run Entirely By 10-Year-Olds | Junior Achievement 11.08.2026 1h 18min

  Economic mobility has dropped 45% in recent decades. The American Dream - doing better than your parents did - is getting harder to reach. But Leigh Mansberg and Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South are doing something about it. In this conversation with Bill, Leigh breaks down how Junior Achievement uses experiential learning to unlock economic mobility for kids K-12 - and why giving a child hope might be the most important thing a community can do. This episode will change how you think about education, opportunity, and what it means to invest in the next generation. This episode is for everyone who wants to see the American Dream continue on through future generations. ARMY ACTIONS Subscribe to the podcast and rate & review us! Signup to join the Army, visit NormalFolks.org Follow us on social media @ArmyofNormalFolks Join or start an ANF local service club at https://normalfolks.org/service-clubs/ Take The 10 Level Challenge, "the hero's journey for service" at 10LevelChallenge.org  Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  HIGHLIGHTS: Inside the Town Run Entirely By 10-Year-Olds | Junior Achievement 11.08.2026 35min

  Economic mobility has dropped 45% in recent decades. The American Dream - doing better than your parents did - is getting harder to reach. But Leigh Mansberg and Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South are doing something about it. In this conversation with Bill, Leigh breaks down how Junior Achievement uses experiential learning to unlock economic mobility for kids K-12 - and why giving a child hope might be the most important thing a community can do. This episode will change how you think about education, opportunity, and what it means to invest in the next generation. This episode is for everyone who wants to see the American Dream continue on through future generations. ARMY ACTIONS Subscribe to the podcast and rate & review us! Signup to join the Army, visit NormalFolks.org Follow us on social media @ArmyofNormalFolks Join or start an ANF local service club at https://normalfolks.org/service-clubs/ Take The 10 Level Challenge, "the hero's journey for service" at 10LevelChallenge.org  Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Meet The Ordinary Radicals 07.08.2026 21min

  What if the most radical thing you could do was just show up? In this Shop Talk, Bill and Alex dive into Shane Claiborne's book The Irresistible Revolution - and the idea that changing the world has never required extraordinary people. Just ordinary ones who refuse to look away. They talk about what it really means to let your life answer the question, why the most important move you can make is toward broken places instead of away from them, and what it looks like when normal folks stop asking "why doesn't someone do something?" and start asking "what can I do?" This one isn't a call to be louder or more impressive. It's a reminder that the life you're already living might be exactly the one the world needs. ARMY ACTIONS Subscribe to the podcast and rate & review us! Signup to join the Army, visit NormalFolks.org Follow us on social media @ArmyofNormalFolks Join or start an ANF local service club at https://normalfolks.org/service-clubs/ Take The 10 Level Challenge, "the hero's journey for service" at 10LevelChallenge.org  Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  The 100,000-Man Movement That Will Change Your Life 04.08.2026 1h 10min

  Frank Schwartz is the CEO of F3 Nation, a 100,000-man volunteer led movement built around fitness, fellowship, and faith. Men at 5,000+ locations worldwide show up at 5:30am - no matter if it’s raining, snowing, or freezing - for free peer-led workouts. But the workout is just the entry point. What F3 is really doing is cultivating a brotherhood and teaching men how to lead, so they can take that home to their families and community. If you've ever felt like there has to be more than just going through the motions of life, then this episode is for you. And if there's a man in your life who needs to hear this, send it to him. Find an F3 workout near you at F3Nation.com. They’re free and open to all men. ARMY ACTIONS Subscribe to the podcast and rate & review us! Signup to join the Army, visit NormalFolks.org Follow us on social media @ArmyofNormalFolks Join or start an ANF local service club at https://normalfolks.org/service-clubs/ Take The 10 Level Challenge, "the hero's journey for service" at 10LevelChallenge.org  Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  HIGHLIGHTS: The 100,000-Man Movement That Will Change Your Life 04.08.2026 36min

  Frank Schwartz is the CEO of F3 Nation, a 100,000-man volunteer led movement built around fitness, fellowship, and faith. Men at 5,000+ locations worldwide show up at 5:30am - no matter if it’s raining, snowing, or freezing - for free peer-led workouts. But the workout is just the entry point. What F3 is really doing is cultivating a brotherhood and teaching men how to lead, so they can take that home to their families and community. If you've ever felt like there has to be more than just going through the motions of life, then this episode is for you. And if there's a man in your life who needs to hear this, send it to him. Find an F3 workout near you at F3Nation.com. They’re free and open to all men. ARMY ACTIONS Subscribe to the podcast and rate & review us! Signup to join the Army, visit NormalFolks.org Follow us on social media @ArmyofNormalFolks Join or start an ANF local service club at https://normalfolks.org/service-clubs/ Take The 10 Level Challenge, "the hero's journey for service" at 10LevelChallenge.org  Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  What 40 Million Tax Returns Reveal About America 31.07.2026 18min

  Researchers at Harvard analyzed the tax records of 40 million Americans to answer one of the most debated questions in the country: does the American Dream still exist? The good news is that the dream is alive, but where you grow up dramatically shapes your odds of reaching it. In this Shop Talk, Bill breaks down the 4 factors researchers found that consistently predict whether children will flourish. Turns out, 3 of them aren't programs or policies. They're things that An Army of Normal Folks can actually help build for our families and for those most at-risk of not achieving their dreams!  ARMY ACTIONS Subscribe to the podcast and rate & review us! Signup to join the Army, visit NormalFolks.org Follow us on social media @ArmyofNormalFolks Join or start an ANF local service club at https://normalfolks.org/service-clubs/ Take The 10 Level Challenge, "the hero's journey for service" at 10LevelChallenge.org  Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  HIGHLIGHTS: This State Is Solving The Foster Care Crisis (Here's How) 28.07.2026 36min

  This is the shorter "highlights" version of the episode. Coach Bill Courtney sits down with Chris Campbell, Executive Director of Oklahoma's 111 Project, to unpack how Oklahoma has cut the number of children in foster care nearly in half—from 11,500 to 6,000—and what communities across America can learn from their success. Rather than pointing fingers at government, Chris shares how churches, nonprofits, everyday citizens, and public agencies began working together to build practical pathways for people to help. From recruiting foster families to preventing children from entering foster care in the first place, this conversation is full of ideas that any community can adopt. Chris also shares the deeply personal moment that changed the course of his life: holding a two-day-old baby with nowhere to go. In this episode: Why America has a foster parent shortage—and the consequences for children. How Oklahoma dramatically reduced the number of kids in foster care. Why prevention is just as important as recruiting foster families. The story behind CarePortal and how a simple app is helping keep families together. Why supporting struggling families often matters more than removing children. The surprising role churches can play in solving one of America's biggest challenges. If An Army of Normal Folks each did what we can, this is one problem we really can solve. Check out the resources below! RESOURCES Learn more about 111 Project at 111Project.org | One Church, One Family, One Purpose Follow 111 Project on socials @111projectok Interested in fostering? Search for foster parent classes in your community and join them. No commitment required. Exploration is the first step.  Want to help prevent kids from unnecessarily entering foster care? Sign up for CarePortal at https://www.careportal.org/ ARMY ACTIONS Subscribe to the podcast and rate & review us! Signup to join the Army, visit NormalFolks.org Follow us on social media @ArmyofNormalFolks Join or start an ANF local service club at https://normalfolks.org/service-clubs/ Take The 10 Level Challenge, "the hero's journey for service" at 10LevelChallenge.orgSupport the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  This State Is Solving The Foster Care Crisis (Here's How) 28.07.2026 1h 35min

  Coach Bill Courtney sits down with Chris Campbell, Executive Director of Oklahoma's 111 Project, to unpack how Oklahoma has cut the number of children in foster care nearly in half—from 11,500 to 6,000—and what communities across America can learn from their success. Rather than pointing fingers at government, Chris shares how churches, nonprofits, everyday citizens, and public agencies began working together to build practical pathways for people to help. From recruiting foster families to preventing children from entering foster care in the first place, this conversation is full of ideas that any community can adopt. Chris also shares the deeply personal moment that changed the course of his life: holding a two-day-old baby with nowhere to go. In this episode: Why America has a foster parent shortage—and the consequences for children. How Oklahoma dramatically reduced the number of kids in foster care. Why prevention is just as important as recruiting foster families. The story behind CarePortal and how a simple app is helping keep families together. Why supporting struggling families often matters more than removing children. The surprising role churches can play in solving one of America's biggest challenges. If An Army of Normal Folks each did what we can, this is one problem we really can solve. Check out the resources below! RESOURCES Learn more about 111 Project at 111Project.org | One Church, One Family, One Purpose Follow 111 Project on socials @111projectok Interested in fostering? Search for foster parent classes in your community and join them. No commitment required. Exploration is the first step.  Want to help prevent kids from unnecessarily entering foster care? Sign up for CarePortal at https://www.careportal.org/ ARMY ACTIONS Subscribe to the podcast and rate & review us! Signup to join the Army, visit NormalFolks.org Follow us on social media @ArmyofNormalFolks Join or start an ANF local service club at https://normalfolks.org/service-clubs/ Take The 10 Level Challenge, "the hero's journey for service" at 10LevelChallenge.orgSupport the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  America Is Running Out of Friends 24.07.2026 15min

  The number of Americans with no close friends has increased fivefold since 1990. But this isn't just a loneliness crisis. It's a community crisis. And the data suggests we may be further from fixing it than we think. In this Shop Talk, Bill dives into a striking report on the collapse of American friendship and reflects on what it reveals about the way we live today. Fewer close friends, shrinking social circles, and young men who are more likely to call their parents than a friend when life gets hard. The numbers are sobering, but the solution might be closer than you think. This one isn't just about what's broken. It's a reminder that community doesn't build itself. But, the good news is that we have the power to start building community today, right where we are. ARMY ACTIONS Subscribe to the podcast and rate & review us! Signup to join the Army, visit NormalFolks.org Follow us on social media @ArmyofNormalFolks Join or start an ANF local service club at https://normalfolks.org/service-clubs/ Take The 10 Level Challenge, "the hero's journey for service" at 10LevelChallenge.orgSupport the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Why Half of America Is Socially Disconnected—and What You Can Do About It (Pt 1) 21.07.2026 35min

  More than half of Americans are socially disconnected. But what if the problem isn't so much that we've forgotten how to connect—it's that we've stopped building the kinds of communities where connection naturally happens? In this thought-provoking conversation, Coach Bill Courtney sits down with Aaron Hurst, founder of the U.S. Chamber of Connection, to explore one of the largest challenges facing America today: the collapse of real human connection. After spending his career helping others build community, Aaron had a startling realization at age 50—he had very few close friends himself. That personal wake-up call launched a nationwide mission to understand why so many Americans feel disconnected and what ordinary people can do to rebuild community. Together, Bill and Aaron discuss: The six simple ingredients every thriving community needs Why serving together is one of the fastest ways to build lasting friendships Practical ways you can strengthen your community such as joining the "Welcome Committee" or starting a local Chamber of Connection  This isn't just a conversation about what's broken—it's a blueprint for rebuilding the relationships and communities we all need. If you've ever wished you felt more connected or wondered how to make a real difference where you live, this episode is for you.Learn more and take action: ChamberofConnection.org Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Why Half of America Is Socially Disconnected—and What You Can Do About It (Pt 2) 21.07.2026 1h 8min

  More than half of Americans are socially disconnected. But what if the problem isn't so much that we've forgotten how to connect—it's that we've stopped building the kinds of communities where connection naturally happens? In this thought-provoking conversation, Coach Bill Courtney sits down with Aaron Hurst, founder of the U.S. Chamber of Connection, to explore one of the largest challenges facing America today: the collapse of real human connection. After spending his career helping others build community, Aaron had a startling realization at age 50—he had very few close friends himself. That personal wake-up call launched a nationwide mission to understand why so many Americans feel disconnected and what ordinary people can do to rebuild community. Together, Bill and Aaron discuss: The six simple ingredients every thriving community needs Why serving together is one of the fastest ways to build lasting friendships Practical ways you can strengthen your community such as joining the "Welcome Committee" or starting a local Chamber of Connection  This isn't just a conversation about what's broken—it's a blueprint for rebuilding the relationships and communities we all need. If you've ever wished you felt more connected or wondered how to make a real difference where you live, this episode is for you.Learn more and take action: ChamberofConnection.org Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  The Pyramid That Explains Almost Everything 17.07.2026 16min

  In this Shop Talk, Coach Bill dives into one of his favorite topics, Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs! An Army of Normal Folks diving into Maslow's pyramid is one of the most important things you can do too, as it reveals how people truly flourish and how you can help empower the most vulnerable Americans to do so at increasingly higher levels. ARMY ACTIONS Subscribe to the podcast and rate & review us! Signup to join the Army, visit NormalFolks.org Follow us on social media @ArmyofNormalFolksJoin or start an ANF local service club at https://normalfolks.org/service-clubs/ Take The 10 Level Challenge, "the hero's journey for service at 10LevelChallenge.org   Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  The 36 Year-Old Single Woman Who's Fostered 67 Kids—And Will Change Your Life (Pt 1) 14.07.2026 35min

  At 25 years old, while many young people are still trying to way their way in life, MK Hill made one of the most mature decisions you can make—to foster a child. Today, at just 36 years old, the single woman has fostered 67 children, adopted six, and has built a home where kids who have experienced unimaginable trauma can find safety, love, and belonging. Even if we never reach MK’s level of righteous craziness, her story will show you how we’re far more capable than we allow ourselves to believe. And support foster and adoptive families like hers.  Support MK's nonprofit Many Arrows: https://arrowsnest.givingfuel.com/arrows-nest Follow MK on socials @manyarrowsmama Subscribe to the podcast, join the Army at NormalFolks.org, and follow us on social media @ArmyofNormalFolksSupport the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  The 36 Year-Old Single Woman Who's Fostered 67 Kids—And Will Change Your Life (Pt 2) 14.07.2026 39min

  At 25 years old, while many young people are still trying to way their way in life, MK Hill made one of the most mature decisions you can make—to foster a child. Today, at just 36 years old, the single woman has fostered 67 children, adopted six, and has built a home where kids who have experienced unimaginable trauma can find safety, love, and belonging. Even if we never reach MK’s level of righteous craziness, her story will show you how we’re far more capable than we allow ourselves to believe. And support foster and adoptive families like hers.  Support MK's nonprofit Many Arrows: https://arrowsnest.givingfuel.com/arrows-nest Follow MK on socials @manyarrowsmama Subscribe to the podcast, join the Army at NormalFolks.org, and follow us on social media @ArmyofNormalFolksSupport the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  The Hero’s Journey (and Why Ours Starts With Normal Folks) 09.07.2026 17min

  The Hero's Journey isn't just the formula behind Star Wars, Rocky, Pixar classics, and countless Hollywood blockbusters. It's the oldest pattern found in real-life heroic action—and true across cultures, centuries, and civilizations. And it always begins the same way: with an ordinary person. Someone like you. In this episode, Bill and Alex unpack why the timeless archetype matters and introduce "The 10 Level Challenge"—our new Hero's Journey for service that you can dare to venture on and designed to help you engage your community, discover your purpose, and become someone who shows up. Start your journey at TenLevelChallenge.org.Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  The Secret Coffee Club That Can Heal Your Community (Pt 1) 07.07.2026 38min

  What if one of the biggest solutions to loneliness, toxic division, and disconnection isn't another app or social media platform—but a simple cup of coffee? Ron Sparks and his friend Adam Foster started inviting small groups of people to semi-secret coffee gatherings in beautiful outdoor spaces. There was no agenda. No networking. No politics. Just coffee, conversation, and community. What began as a quirky idea has grown into a movement, inspiring over 60 people from across the world to apply to host a "Hush Hush Nomadic Cafe" in their community.  In this conversation with Ron, you'll discover: Why small gatherings are often more powerful than big events How to create genuine community wherever you live That crazy things can sometimes happen—if you just start  If you've ever wished your community felt more connected, welcoming, or your own life had more meaningful relationships, this episode is for you. 🔗 Learn more about Hush Hush Coffee and the Nomadic Café movement: https://hushhushcoffee.comSupport the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  The Secret Coffee Club That Can Heal Your Community (Pt 2) 07.07.2026 44min

  What if one of the biggest solutions to loneliness, toxic division, and disconnection isn't another app or social media platform—but a simple cup of coffee? Ron Sparks and his friend Adam Foster started inviting small groups of people to semi-secret coffee gatherings in beautiful outdoor spaces. There was no agenda. No networking. No politics. Just coffee, conversation, and community. What began as a quirky idea has grown into a movement, inspiring over 60 people from across the world to apply to host a "Hush Hush Nomadic Cafe" in their community.  In this conversation with Ron, you'll discover: Why small gatherings are often more powerful than big events How to create genuine community wherever you live That crazy things can sometimes happen—if you just start  If you've ever wished your community felt more connected, welcoming, or your own life had more meaningful relationships, this episode is for you. 🔗 Learn more about Hush Hush Coffee and the Nomadic Café movement: https://hushhushcoffee.comSupport the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.