A torn labrum closed one door for Todd McCall — and opened another that would shape the lives of thousands of athletes.

In this episode, we sit down with Todd, now Head Athletic Trainer at Southern Miss, to trace his journey from small-town Alabama catcher to Division I leader. Along the way: powerhouse programs in Alabama, Marshall’s resilient football culture, the altitude extremes of Wyoming, and the quiet, relentless work that keeps college sports alive long after the stadium lights dim.

You’ll hear sideline stories from the Gene Stallings era, including a legendary exchange with a referee, but the moments that linger aren’t about scoreboards. They’re about Friday night hospital visits with John Mark Stallings. The birth of RISE schools for children with disabilities. The way teams learn to carry more than a playbook.

We unpack how sports medicine has evolved, from modern labral repairs to the normalization of Tommy John elbow surgery, and why prevention starts long before a scholarship offer. Youth pitch counts. Movement quality. Recovery discipline. Ownership.

Todd also pulls back the curtain on what a head athletic trainer really does: coordinating care with more than forty physicians, overseeing pre-participation screenings, building rehab plans athletes actually believe in, and navigating the constant tide of internet diagnoses with patience and clarity.

His philosophy is simple — and demanding:
Athletes own the work.
Trainers build the path.
Trust makes the difference.

If you’ve ever wondered what truly happens between injury and return to play, this conversation takes you inside the room where doubt becomes discipline and small wins stack into comeback seasons.

Subscribe, share with a friend who loves radio, and leave a review to help more listeners find these stories. Your voice keeps this community strong.

Links to Stephen's incredible novels:

The Death Letter
The Bondage of Innocents

The Scene That Stopped Her Cold: How Kristen Illarmo Writes Duologies That Burn Bright and Fast

What happens when a character takes the reins, and you’re brave enough to follow? In this episode, YA sci-fi and fantasy author Kristen Illarmo reveals how a poetry-loving kid from South Carolina became a New Orleans novelist crafting propulsive two-book series with heart, heat, and high stakes.

Kristen opens up about the scene that stalled her for years, and how she finally broke through. We talk about:

Writing Process & Story Craft

• Why outlines fail her (but ruthless synopses don’t)
• How she sniffs out plot holes at the exact midpoint
• The moment she stopped writing for an “imaginary reader” and found her voice

Building Worlds & Characters

• How travel shaped Enzo Cruz and the eco-drama at the story’s core
• Why pairing him with Maddie sparked the story’s tension and soul
• Astral projection, solar flares, and genre-bending sci-fi/fantasy blends

Creative Confidence & Craft Fears

• What to do when a scary scene blocks you for years
• How motherhood cracked open her imagination
• Her refreshingly honest take on revision, character agency, and trusting your gut

Indie Author Life

• Meeting readers IRL at book fests and art markets
• Tools she swears by: StoryOrigin, BookFunnel, Voracious Readers, and more
• Her marketing mix: TikTok, Facebook ads, newsletters, and knowing when to call in an editor

Plus: What she’s reading now (hi, Marie Lu!), why she chooses duologies over trilogies, and how a sky-high TBR pile can feel like a promise instead of pressure.

The best way to reach Kristen is via her website.

If you're a writer, reader, or process nerd, this one’s packed with insight and inspiration. Hit play, then tell us: what’s the hardest scene you ever had to write?

👉 Subscribe, share with your writing crew, and leave a review to help more storytellers find the show!

Subscribe, share with a friend who loves radio, and leave a review to help more listeners find these stories. Your voice keeps this community strong.

Links to Stephen's incredible novels:

The Death Letter
The Bondage of Innocents

A life can be measured in songs cued, flags saluted, and nights under stadium lights. We sit down with radio mainstay Ted Tibbett to trace the winding road from a childhood spent in studios and parades to a draft notice in 1968, a detour to South Korea, and a homecoming that turned into four decades behind a high school press box mic. Ted’s stories are vivid and generous: a father who sang and read poetry on the air before World War II, a small-town talent show where Elvis Presley placed third, and the early shifts where cab fare cost more than the paycheck but the dream was worth it.

The conversation delves into what local radio brings to a town: companionship, context, and a familiar voice when the weather turns or the Tigers take the field. Ted shares lessons learned during a rookie hurricane broadcast about who calls the shots, the delicate boundary between personality and professionalism, and the grit it takes to keep a station alive.

You’ll hear outrageous, laugh-out-loud moments with a mercurial owner who once boomed “TIbbett! They’re naked!” at a Broadway show, along with tender reflections on veterans’ service, civic leadership, and why the national anthem still brings a tear.

We also pull back the curtain on today’s talk radio, including conservative news talk, the economics of satellite programming, and how to maintain a local heartbeat when syndication pays the bills.

Ted guests range from members of Congress to SEC legends. He also reveals why time, temperature, and the Powerball update still matter more than algorithms. If you care about media that sounds like where you live—Hattiesburg, the Pine Belt, or any town with a signal—you’ll find wisdom and warmth here.

Subscribe, share with a friend who loves radio, and leave a review to help more listeners find these stories. Your voice keeps this community strong.

Links to Stephen's incredible novels:

The Death Letter

Subscribe, share with a friend who loves radio, and leave a review to help more listeners find these stories. Your voice keeps this community strong.

Links to Stephen's incredible novels:

The Death Letter
The Bondage of Innocents

This is a special (bonus) episode of Stories From Cold Springs. We've been asking our guest to share their favorite Christmas memories. Here are some of our favorites.

A castoff tree becomes a masterpiece. A heaterless Ford carries a homesick soldier down a freezing highway. A prank chair turns a nervous daughter-in-law into family. These are the moments that define Christmas in our world: kindness at midnight, laughter that sticks, and simple gifts that outlast their batteries.

We gather voices from across our first season (and upcoming second season) for a special holiday tapestry.

Dawn Beam remembers a year so lean that her family prayed for a tree that miraculously appeared, and made beautiful with cookies, popcorn, and borrowed lights.

Ted Tibbett relives 1965—stuck with a late radio shift, a chance meeting at a truck stop, and a dirt road rescue capped by two mules and a sunrise reunion.

Kym Garraway-Braley shares the infamous camo seat with the hidden remote, proof that humor can knit a family faster than any perfect present.

Father Tommy brings Irish cadence—Santa on Christmas Eve, church on morning, cards by the fire, and St. Stephen’s Day songs at neighbors’ doors—celebrations built on ritual, service, and shared delight.

Kristen Illarmo talks about finding her way back to wonder through her kids and the sanity-saving tradition of giving books.

Todd McCall maps the logistics of love across grandparents’ tables and a rotating family Christmas that waits for him to get home from college athletics.

Stubbs Lucus honors a father who couldn’t wait to give, handing out presents early so the kids had more time to play.

Host J. Stephen Beam closes with twin battery bulldozers, a crack in the hood, and a lasting lesson: joy doesn’t require perfect things, only present people.

If you crave stories that feel like a warm room on a cold night, this collection is for you. Press play, remember your own best Christmas, and share it with us. Subscribe, leave a review to help others find the show, and tell a friend who could use a little light today.

This episode was sponsored by MCS Homecenter, Bellevue.

Subscribe, share with a friend who loves radio, and leave a review to help more listeners find these stories. Your voice keeps this community strong.

Links to Stephen's incredible novels:

The Death Letter
The Bondage of Innocents

A priest’s journey rarely begins at the pulpit. Ours starts on a small Irish farm in County Galway, where thirteen children, a barter ledger at the grocer, and a windowless scullery kept life running without cash or convenience. Father Tommy Conway opens up about a way of life built on chores, prayer, and community—then shows how Ireland’s commitment to free education and EU investment vaulted a rural nation into a global workforce. The contrast is striking: horses and harrows traded among neighbors become modern careers at Boston Scientific and Pfizer, yet the heart of that village life remains.

We explore pivotal moments that chiseled character: a house fire that flattened the family home during a church revival, the struggle of high school, the joy of seminary friendships, and the unexpected call to serve in Mississippi. Tommy recalls early assignments on the Gulf Coast, years as a university chaplain, and a habit of answering every hospital request without checking denomination. The story blends humor and candor—yes, bacon and cabbage, not corned beef—and paints a tender picture of homesickness that never fully leaves, even as new roots take hold in Hattiesburg.

The capstone is the founding of St. Fabian in West Hattiesburg: donated land with a name that honors a beloved nun, a bishop’s simple “You decide,” and a parish that now hums with dozens of ministries. Local artist Kim Garraway Braille’s 21-foot “happy Jesus” mural turns a sanctuary into a welcome, a landmark that signals joy to anyone walking through the doors.

Suppose you’re curious about Irish rural traditions, the power of education, Catholic ministry in the American South, or how a person builds communities. In that case, this story delivers a warm, grounded look at service and belonging.

Enjoyed the conversation? Follow the show, share this episode with a friend, and leave a quick review to help more listeners find Stories from Cold Springs. Your support keeps these voices alive.

Be sure to listen on Christmas Eve for a special episode of Stories from Cold Springs. Your favorite SFCS guests share their favorite Christmas memories!

Subscribe, share with a friend who loves radio, and leave a review to help more listeners find these stories. Your voice keeps this community strong.

Links to Stephen's incredible novels:

The Death Letter
The Bondage of Innocents

What happens when a classically-trained violinist breaks her neck and loses her musical identity for over a decade? Alexis Frenette's remarkable journey takes us from a defining childhood moment in Connecticut to finding her place as a fiddle player in Mississippi.

Alexis shares the pivotal experience of discovering her passion at just five years old during a school assembly featuring young Suzuki method violinists. "I remember the exact moment that I decided I was going to play the violin for the rest of my life," she recalls with clarity. This decisive childhood moment set her on a path of serious musical training, eventually positioning her for a promising career.

Growing up with a Mississippi-born mother while living in the Northeast created a fascinating cultural hybrid. We explore how Alexis navigated between seemingly contradictory worlds: mastering the formal precision of classical violin while embracing the improvisational freedom of Southern fiddle playing. Her illuminating explanation of the differences between violin and fiddle playing offers listeners genuine insight into these distinct musical traditions.

The heart of Alexis's story emerges when she describes the devastating car accident that broke her neck at age 20, robbing her of the ability to play properly for twelve years. "It's like losing your identity," she confesses. Yet what follows is an extraordinary account of healing, perseverance, and rediscovery that speaks to the resilience of the human spirit and the profound connection between musicians and their instruments.

Today, Alexis runs a music school with her brother in Laurel, Mississippi, passing on their musical knowledge to the next generation. The episode concludes with her moving performance of "Ashokan Farewell," the hauntingly beautiful piece made famous by Ken Burns' Civil War documentary.

Whether you're a musician, a teacher, or simply someone who appreciates stories of triumph over adversity, this conversation will resonate with its themes of identity, healing, and the transformative power of artistic expression. Subscribe now and share your thoughts on this powerful musical journey.

WE WANT YOUR STORIES! Have a country or small town-themed true story for us? Please send it to our producer at hillary@hillkane.com. Put SFCS-Holiday in the subject line. By submitting your story, you are permitting us to read it on air. Please let us know if you prefer us to use your name or a pseudonym/alias. If we get enough stories, we can have a " Stories from Our Listeners episode!!

Links to Stephen's incredible novels:

Subscribe, share with a friend who loves radio, and leave a review to help more listeners find these stories. Your voice keeps this community strong.

Links to Stephen's incredible novels:

The Death Letter
The Bondage of Innocents

Ever wonder how a Sunday sermon lands so close to home, it feels like it was written just for you? Methodist minister David Sellers takes us inside that mysterious, surprisingly creative, and sacred process in this warm and insightful episode of Stories from Cold Springs.

From his humble beginnings as a “surprise baby” in Mississippi to his hard-earned nickname “farm prone” (you’ll see why), Sellers shares a life shaped by calling, community, and quiet transformation. Whether he’s preaching to a packed sanctuary or a rural church where dogs join their dairy farmer owner in the last pew, Sellers brings humor, honesty, and a deep sense of purpose to his work.

At the heart of this episode is the sermon itself—how it’s built, breathed into, and brought to life. Sellers breaks down his weekly rhythm, from Monday’s scripture study to Sunday’s delivery. He shares how dyslexia shaped his process (spoiler: he dictates while walking outdoors), and why the best moments in ministry often come when you think you’ve missed the mark—only to have someone say, “That was exactly what I needed.”

Whether you're curious about spiritual leadership, the creative process, or simply love a good Southern story, this episode reveals that ministry isn’t just about preaching—it’s about listening, living, and loving people where they are.

WE WANT YOUR STORIES! Have a country or small town-themed true story for us? Please send it to our producer at hillary@hillkane.com. Put SFCS-Holiday in the subject line. By submitting your story, you are permitting us to read it on air. Please let us know if you prefer us to use your name or a pseudonym/alias. If we get enough stories, we can have a " Stories from Our Listeners episode!!

Links to Stephen's incredible novels:

The Death Letter
The Bondage of Innocents

Subscribe, share with a friend who loves radio, and leave a review to help more listeners find these stories. Your voice keeps this community strong.

Links to Stephen's incredible novels:

The Death Letter
The Bondage of Innocents

Courtesy Content Notice: This episode contains true stories about hunting, animal injuries/death, and butchering animals for food. It is not unnecessarily graphic, but may not be suitable for individuals who are not comfortable hearing about such topics. Please use discretion; we respect your choices.

Stubbs (Lucus) returns to the Stories from Cold Springs podcast with a collection of vibrant tales that transport listeners to the backroads and rural communities of a bygone era. His natural storytelling ability shines as he recounts adventures with remarkable detail, humor, and authentic southern charm.

Take a journey to Arkansas as Stubbs describes an unforgettable road trip, riding six hours on the tailgate of a 1965 Chevy pickup with a Corvette engine, all to purchase a prestigious Finley River Chief coon dog puppy. The colorful cast of characters they meet along the way, including some modern-day "Cheech and Chong" types at a coon dog gathering, paints a vivid picture of rural Americana in the late 1970s.

The tension ratchets up when Stubbs recounts camping on Blue Mountain and being awakened by mysterious motorcyclists in the dead of night. With no weapons and plenty of adrenaline, Stubbs prepared to defend himself with nothing but a battery-powered spotlight, leading to what he and his friends would forever call "the Crucifying Cruisers" incident.

Beyond the adventures, Stubbs offers cultural insights about traditions like coon hunting, explaining its practical origins in protecting corn crops and the sport that evolved around it. His description of climbing trees to shake raccoons out so dogs could chase them again reveals how these rural activities were often more about camaraderie and skill than hunting.

The conversation takes a thoughtful turn when "Doc" shares his own powerful childhood memory of his first hog-killing experience and the unforgettable breakfast that followed: fresh sausage, homemade biscuits, and cane syrup. (What we city folk call molasses.) This exchange highlights how food traditions created lasting bonds and memories in rural communities, with Stubbs extending a heartfelt invitation to experience modern-day cane syrup making.

These stories preserve a disappearing way of American life, one where adventure was found in everyday experiences, communities were tightly knit, and simple pleasures were deeply appreciated. Join us for this authentic celebration of rural storytelling and the characters who made these communities so memorable.

Subscribe to Stories from Cold Springs to hear more tales that capture the heart of American rural traditions and the unforgettable characters who lived them.

We are already planning incredible Christmas episodes.

WE WANT YOUR

Subscribe, share with a friend who loves radio, and leave a review to help more listeners find these stories. Your voice keeps this community strong.

Links to Stephen's incredible novels:

The Death Letter
The Bondage of Innocents