Crazy Good Turns

29/10/2025

When the steel mill closed in Venice, Illinois, the town nearly shuttered too -- it lost two-thirds of its population, all grocery stores, and even its only school.

That's when Ed Hightower, an award-winning college basketball referee and school superintendent, stepped in to help.

He used $3.5 million of his own money as an investment for a new grocery store in Venice, just 20 miles from where he grew up.

These and other transformative investments will hopefully mean the town begins to grow and flourish again.

Read more here:

This Illinois community lost two-thirds of its population, before seeing its last remaining grocery store close, and even its only school.

29/10/2025

There are 5x more coupons available now than during peak newspaper coupon years.

And they're easier to use.

Hear Coupon Mom Stephanie Nelson explain.



https://overcast.fm/+G9NPlqIc0/38:52

28/10/2025

"To sit in a movie theater and watch George Clooney read lines from a book you've written is a thrill."

Walter Kirn wrote the bestseller, "Up in the Air," which was later turned into a blockbuster movie starring
the handsome, talented, and charismatic George Clooney.

Listen to the crazy good turn that the actor did for Walter while the movie was filming to ensure Walter got a cameo.



https://overcast.fm/+G9NNZr5OA/43:15

27/10/2025

Every hour, visitors post 1,600 positive messages to CaringBridge pages.

Since the earliest days of the internet, it has been the go-to site for people to offer – and request – support and help when a loved one is going through a health challenge.

Hear how CaringBridge was founded by a woman helping a friend 27 years ago, and meet a cancer survivor who says she wouldn’t be here without it.

Click here: https://crazygoodturns.org/episodes/caringbridge

27/10/2025

In 2020, journalist Shirley Leung was working full-time on the biggest story of her career.

And homeschooling her two kids.

And managing her household.

And trying to spend time some time with her family during a frightening pandemic.

And then she burned out - fatigue, brain fog, and more.

She had to speak up to her bosses about what was going on.

What she learned can help you, too.



https://overcast.fm/+G9NPaHVBE/5:50

24/10/2025

"It felt like the whole world was rooting for Jill."

When Jill Olecki was critically ill in intensive care, her family turned to CaringBridge.

The platform became a vital tool to receive prayers and help, and to keep people informed.

Hear Jill and her husband Dave explain.



https://overcast.fm/+G9NMDtxS4/16:08

23/10/2025

You know him as the famous voice of Motel 6.

But you probably don't know that before he was a writer and radio personality, Tom Bodett was a tradesman.

He spent about a decade as an independent contractor, building more than a dozen houses.

Hear him tell the story about his hammer that's probably still on a roof in Homer, Alaska.



https://overcast.fm/+G9NPTdm8o/18:14

22/10/2025

This week, Veterans Community Project broke ground on its sixth tiny home village across the United States to help veterans transition out of homelessness.

The organization has an 85% success rate for helping vets complete the program and move to sustainable permanent housing in about a year.

When this village is complete, the project will boast 240 homes in six states.

Read about it here:

Construction is set to begin soon for a project in Milwaukee aimed at getting homeless veterans off the street and into housing.

22/10/2025

For people in poverty, what's better than a handout?

An investment in their success.

That's what Allie Amoroso and Rose Women's Foundation are doing in Kenya.

The nonprofit teaches women how to create and run their own businesses.

Because it's better to reinvest in the future, and work to guarantee income.

Hear Allie explain what ROSE is doing in this video.



https://overcast.fm/+G9NM-LhW4/10:51

21/10/2025

"We looked at each other and said, what now?"

Helping pregnant women who are in prison is hard.

It wasn't something Amy Ard ever planned to do.

But she saw a need, and felt called to help.

Hear Amy describe what led to the moment where she was standing in a prison and asked "what now?"

Motherhood Beyond Bars

https://overcast.fm/+G9NP0JfFQ/17:44

20/10/2025

“When Jill was really sick and we were doing those daily updates and getting all the support in return, I remember telling somebody that it felt like every person in the world was praying for and rooting for Jill, and that made such a huge difference to get through that tough time.”

Jill Olecki spent two years battling an aggressive form of non-Hodgkins lymphoma, including multiple relapses, a septic infection, and the amputation of both of her legs.

During the worst times, her family relied on the nonprofit site CaringBridge to keep loved ones around the world updated on her condition, and ask for prayers.

Hear Jill and her husband Dave describe why CaringBridge was instrumental in Jill’s survival and recovery: https://crazygoodturns.org/episodes/caringbridge

It’s a story about the best of the internet. A place 100 million people visit every year and post 1,600 positive messages every hour. It’s CaringBridge. And the support and connection it makes possible can be truly life-saving. “Definitely I wouldn’t b…

20/10/2025

Rural and indigenous populations face unique challenges when it comes to healthcare.

Access, discrimination, and culture differences are just a few.

Dr. Douglas Nolan, who grew up on a native reservation and became a doctor, is serving his own.

He is associate dean of the nation's first medical school partnered with the Cherokee Nation.

Hear him describe why he felt this was his calling.

Cherokee Nation Oklahoma State University

https://overcast.fm/+G9NPOihuE/39:13