On Carlson Drive, a dusty little dirt road of memories from the wit and whimsy of storyteller Wendy Bonifield, is a podcast that invites you to settle in, pull up a chair, and get to know Wendy and her family as she takes us on a journey of stories.
Featuring accounts of life, love, and family as well as conversations with the characters who bring them to life, On Carlson Drive takes a look at the tales we tell and the people we get to know through the stories they share.
This is the story of how a simple walk can turn into a lifelong friendship. Featuring a conversation with Wendy's walking buddy, Donna, this episode is a reminder that sometimes friendships can develop and deepen in three-mile increments.
Come take a walk in the park with us On Carlson Drive.
Life has its fill of defining moments. Some (well, most) you just can't control. And it seems they can either break you down or build you up, but either way you end up with a tale to tell. This is the story of a morning that startled a sleeping mom and altered a daughter's life.
Come take a walk with us On Carlson Drive.
Everyone's story begins a little bit the same way, yet all of them are remarkably different. From the very start, the way we come into the world becomes part of the story our parents tell about us. In this week's episode, we explore three birth stories trying to outdo the other. Featuring a sweet conversation of life, loss, and "framily" with our lifelong friend, Lori.
Come take a walk with us On Carlson Drive.
Our generation's shared story was 20 years ago from the day this episode was released. Everyone old enough to remember knows where they were when it happened. And we all have stories that connect to that world-changing Tuesday morning. Included in this episode are the reflections of ten individuals who share the same story from their own unique viewpoint.
Join us as we relive and remind one another of the events of that day. Come take a walk with us On Carlson Drive.
Camping together turned into a new adventure - buying land and building a cabin. The shores of Lake Michigan became the destination and a lifetime of memories followed. Joined once again by "Uncle" Harry, we take a look at summer vacations and long walks on the beach.
Come take a walk with us On Carlson Drive.
Tents, campers, campgrounds, skits, and s'mores around the campfire. In another life, it seems, these were signs of summer. And almost all of them were accompanied by lifelong family friends Harry and Barb, their boys Steve and Kevin, and Biscuit the family dog. Join us as we recount the fun (and sometimes not-so-fun) memories of camping trips gone by. And then, stayed tuned as we introduce you to "Uncle" Harry.
Come take a walk with us On Carlson Drive.
In the 80s, the 15-passenger van was a staple in the lives of those whose parents worked for a church. And so it goes for Wendy...youth retreats, camp trips, and learning to drive were all part of the unique experience of having a "van in the family." And it all ends with a wonderfully tangential conversation with our local van aficionado, Dan.
Come take a drive with us On Carlson Drive.
Summer is the time of year that shouts, "CAMP!" - as in summer camp - for those of us who grew up going to church camp. This episode reflects on a lifetime of summers at camp, from parents being on staff to becoming a camper to working at camp to leading camp. Join us as we visit our old friend, summer camp, and all the shenanigans that created a lifetime of memories.
Come take a walk with us On Carlson Drive.
Sometimes we forget that a person we have known for a very long time has a backstory. We see them as what they are...in this moment...as the person right in front of us. But behind every person we meet there is so much more. We have no idea the places they've visited or the challenges they have faced or the dreams they were pursuing when life took a different turn. It certainly adds credence to Allen Saunders' widely misappropriated adage that "Life is what happens to us while we are making other plans."
And some of the best stories we know are of those who took those turns and made something beautiful out of them. Which is the perfect phrase to describe Wendy's mom, Phyllis. In this episode, we meet Wendy's mother and hear about a couple turns that shaped her beautiful life.
Come take a walk with us On Carlson Drive.
"She's out of your league," they said. Some guys, though, are either brave or stupid and just don't let attitudes like those get in their way. Ladies and gentlemen, meet Bennett. Every married couple has their "how-we-got-together" story and this one makes us smile. A lot. So join us as we take a walk down Jayhawk Boulevard with Erin and Bennett On Carlson Drive.
