- fighting for respect Randell Jones lives in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He is the author of several award-winning history books, including In the Footsteps of Daniel Boone, and two videos. Since 2007, he has served as an invited member of the Road Scholars Speakers Bureau of the North Carolina Humanities Council. He writes, speaks, and publish…

This week, we chat with Bart van den Akker, the man behind one of Europe’s largest retro computer collections at The HomeComputerMuseum in the Netherlands. Learn about the unique features and challenges of maintaining and restoring vintage machines, including the day when a 6-meter truck delivered the world's largest PC-Games collection. Bart share…

– Oh, the lagging path between words and actions! For me, the motion of the bike was just the right pace. Emily Rosen, 97, lives in Boca Raton, Florida, where for over 20 years and until her 95th birthday, she instructed classes in memoir writing, publishing two anthologies of stories from her classes, and the book, Who Am I? For two decades until …

July 13, 2024 - Pros and cons of buy now pay later by VOCMBy VOCM

This week we sit down with industry legends Mark Webley and Gary Carr! From Gary's start at Palace Software working on the classic Barbarian, to Mark's entry into Bullfrog, working on classics like Syndicate, Theme Park and Theme Hospital. Plus, how they continued this legacy with the making of Two Point Hospital and Two Point Campus. Contents: 00:…

– revenge of the 6-year-old A wronged child welcomes home the prodigal parents with a flood of retribution. As an author, Tonya is moved by the effect humor and narratives have on readers. She is enthusiastic about crafting stories with beguiling characters, adding dashes of humor, and engaging dialogue that leaves her fingerprint on each page. She…

July 6th - St. John's Farmers Market ED Pam Anstey by VOCMBy VOCM

– Never was the real answer. I left disappointed and broken-hearted. Mother started me on an adventure and took me into a mystery. Martha Rowe Vaughn lives in Mount Airy, North Carolina and is a member of a local writers group that has been meeting for over 15 years. During that time, she has published two books: Grandma’s Trunk (non-fiction) and C…

This week we’re joined by fellow podcaster, author, and huge Amiga fan, Paul Driscoll, AKA The Drisk. Paul is the host of the RGDS podcast and the author of several incredible free books on retro gaming. We chat about his new book, "Amiga Top 50 Games: Book One - 50 to 26". We explore what made the Amiga such a standout machine, relive classic game…

– “I could have died happily in Florence.” “I’ll mind the kids. You take the trip. I’ve seen all the world I need to see.” A published news journalist and a practiced lawyer, Cherie Cox calls North Carolina home. Awards include the Charlotte Writers’ Club first place in poetry. Published short stories, essays, professional legal articles and poetry…

June 29, 2024 - Tightwads & spendthrifts: navigating the money minefield In real relationships by VOCMBy VOCM

June 29th - Author Stephen Randell - Navigating Through Your Child's Addiction by VOCMBy VOCM

– “I have your back.” She knows by my face not to ask why. Barbara Reese Yager is a writer who draws inspiration from life on her farm with dogs and horses and her love for her family and friends. She was a winner of the Charlotte Writers Ruth Moose Fiction contest. Barbara’s work appeared in an anthology of non-fiction, Sooner or Later by the Pers…

This week, we chat to Darlene Lacey, a trailblazer in game design and narrative development. Starting with her early experiences in arcades and her passion for story writing, Darlene shares her fascinating journey into the world of Advanced Microcomputer Systems. Learn about her pivotal role in the creation of iconic games like Dragon's Lair and Sp…

– Her incantations were rhythmic and hypnotic. “If you don’t care, I don’t care.” Award-winning author Bob Amason is a retired US Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and college professor. A Florida Writer’s Association member, Bob writes under his pen name, Frank A. Mason. His Journeyman Chronicles series of American Revolutionary War novels are Amazon.c…

June 22, 2024 - Financial Planning Canada's 2024 financial stress index by VOCMBy VOCM

June 22nd - Steve Jones, President Of Stingray Radio by VOCMBy VOCM

– He wore torment like a red velvet cape. A familiar sense of frustration and self-deprecation crept upon me, strengthening the loneliness of grief. Edith Gettes has worked as a violinist, teacher, and psychiatrist, as well as mother of four daughters. She has lectured about learning, trauma, and motherhood at several international conferences. In …

This week, we hear the fascinating career of Ian Oliver as he shares insider stories from founding Real Time Games Software, including the development of the groundbreaking Carrier Command and creating development systems for Sega. From the humble beginnings of 3D Tank Duel on the ZX Spectrum to navigating the complexities of the Sega Dreamcast era…

– Technicolor visions rapidly appeared out of the haze. I didn’t look back or cry. I disappeared into the forest. Ginny Grulke lives in Lexington, Kentucky, where she has discovered a community of like-minded writers through the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning. She has been writing non-fiction for her family and friends to enjoy. Her stor…

June 15, 2024 - Safeguarding your credit score by VOCMBy VOCM

June 15th - RSJR Hall Of Fame Rower & Coxswain Mike Power by VOCMBy VOCM

– Quiet, please. This is a sacred space. What if authorities in Ecuador allowed Basilica-like crowds to swarm the Galapagos? Kenneth Chamlee’s work has appeared in five previous Personal Story Publishing Project anthologies. His latest collections are If Not These Things (Kelsay Books, 2022) and The Best Material for the Artist in the World, a poet…

This week, we chat with Randell Jesup, former Senior Software Engineer at Commodore Amiga Inc. From his pioneering work with 80's online gaming platform PlayNET and the revolutionary Amiga OS. Discover how PlayNET evolved into Quantum Link and AOL, the challenges of developing high-performance drivers, and the innovative spirit that drove Amiga's s…

– Breeding for a silver dapple is a bit of a gamble. I was planning on it, laughingly saying I was going to ride until I was 95. Bio Janet K. Baxter lives in Kings Mountain, North Carolina, and is a member of the Charlotte Writer’s Club and Scribblers, a memoir critique group. Her stories, “Horse Whispering for the Average Woman,” “Southern Blues,”…

June 8th - Comedian John Sheehan by VOCMBy VOCM

June 8, 2024 - Author Laura Tamblyn Watts - aging parents & financial wellness by VOCMBy VOCM

Winston-Salem-native Mick Scott worked in the Winston-Salem Journal’s editorial department for 20 years, the last five of those as editorial-page editor. During that time, he churned out thousands of editorials and opinion columns on tight deadline and received numerous first- and second-place awards from the N.C. Press Association. He is the autho…

This week, we chat with legendary game developer David Jones, the creative mind behind the iconic Magic Knight series. David delves into the fascinating history of creating some of the most beloved 8-bit adventure games of the 1980s, from his innovative use of the TRS-80 Model III for Spectrum development to developing the storytelling and gameplay…

This story is offered for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, June 6, 1944. It is the experience that day of my next-door neighbor as he wrote it years later. He passed away in February 2024 after turning 100 on Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor Day. This version of the story ran four years ago when he was 96. It first ran when he was 95. A few years ago he learned …

June 1, 2024 - Elder financial abuse by VOCMBy VOCM

Phyllis Castelli returned home to Henderson, North Carolina, after retirement from her music career. She spends time with her lifetime special interests: writing, music, photography, a pollinator garden, and Black Labrador Retrievers. Phyllis loves to create projects that knit together the beauty of those favorites. Phyllis’s poems and essays have …

We sit down with Paul Hartnoll of the legendary electronic duo Orbital. Paul takes us on a nostalgic journey, sharing his first gaming experiences and the early home systems that sparked his passion for technology. Plus the impact of Orbital's music featuring on classics like Wipeout, Test Drive 4 and creating music on the Atari ST. 00:00 - The Wee…

Constant writer and occasional author M. J. Norwood lives in East Bend, North Carolina. Her work has appeared in previous Personal Story Publishing Project publications Curious Stuff and Twists and Turns. A member of the North Carolina Writers’ Network, and active in Yadkin County’s Between the Covers Book Club, she is currently writing her third n…

May 25, 2024 - Reasons for increased food costs & ways to save at the checkout by VOCMBy VOCM

Akira Odani lives in the ancient city of St. Augustine, Florida. He belongs to Taste Life Twice Writers and the Florida Writers Association. Born in Tokyo, he had written extensively for the Japanese media. Still, more recently, his interest has turned to writing in English and subjects related to his experiences interacting with the two cultures. …

This week, we're joined by legendary game designer and artist Mark Healey. From his early days with a Commodore 64, working on the classic KGB Super Spy, to his pivotal role in iconic Bullfrog titles like Theme Park and Dungeon Keeper, Mark shares the stories and inspirations behind his work. Hear about his experiences with industry giants like the…

Ellen Zaroff lives in New York City and has recently published three books: A Layered Tress, A Tree’s Tale, and Once, Upon Reflection. Her fourth book is due out soon. She runs a small foundation and travels trying to help community projects while collecting stories and sharing stories from around the world.…

May 18, 2024 - Money management by VOCMBy VOCM

May 18th - Singer-Song Writer & Host Of Our Songs On VOCM Chris Andrews by VOCMBy VOCM

S. G. (Sandy) Benson lives in Warne, North Carolina, where she is a member of the North Carolina Writers Network-West. Her work has appeared in numerous magazines and newspapers and received awards from the Nebraska Press Women. She published her first book in 2021, My Mother’s Keeper: One Family’s Journey Through Dementia. Her next book, Dear Folk…