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Our country’s problems will never be solved by a bunch of fancy people in nice suits talking big words on CNN and Fox, but by An Army of Normal Folks just deciding “hey, I can help.” Hosted by Coach Bill Courtney from the Oscar-winning Undefeated, this podcast is building the Army and celebrating its extraordinary members. New episodes are released every Tuesday and Friday.

An Army of Normal Folks

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.org

Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

HIGHLIGHTS: This State Is Solving The Foster Care Crisis (Here's How)

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.org

Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This State Is Solving The Foster Care Crisis (Here's How)

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.org

Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

America Is Running Out of Friends

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/#join

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why Half of America Is Socially Disconnected—and What You Can Do About It (Pt 1)

Why Half of America Is Socially Disconnected—and What You Can Do About It (Pt 2)

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 @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/#join

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Pyramid That Explains Almost Everything

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 @ArmyofNormalFolks

Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 36 Year-Old Single Woman Who's Fostered 67 Kids—And Will Change Your Life (Pt 1)

The 36 Year-Old Single Woman Who's Fostered 67 Kids—And Will Change Your Life (Pt 2)

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/#join

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Hero’s Journey (and Why Ours Starts With Normal Folks)

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.com

Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Hero’s Journey (and Why Ours Starts With Normal Folks)

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