Request For Your Help

The support that I receive for the show has been amazing. I ask for stories, you send them. I ask for feedback, you give it. Now, I am going to ask for more! Am I crazy? I don’t think so. I have two new segments that I am looking for help with.

The New Two And Half-Minute Mystery – What I am looking for here are your short Locked Room or Detective Riddles. Reader’s Digest made their fame on these in the early years of their magazine. They are short mysteries that ask the reader to solve a crime using only the clues given. If you have any of these or want to write your own. I would love to have them.

Not So Important Times In History – This is a brand new segment that makes its debut on this week’s podcast. It will take the strange, unbelievable, and funny events in history and tell them as a story. Your job is to help me find track down these tales. I will take care of the rest.

If you want to help you can send your ideas and submissions to ronsmazingstories@gmail.com. That’s it! I want to thank you for reading my requests and for listening to Ron’s Amazing Stories.

-Ron

This Week’s Podcast: On the podcast this week we have a podcast chock full of stories. We also debut a brand new segment called Not So Important Times In History. You can listen to this podcast on Thursday at Ron’s Amazing Stories, download it from iTunes, stream it on Stitcher Radio or on the mobile version of Spotify. Do you prefer the radio? We are heard every Thursday at 10:00 pm and Sunday Night at 11:00 PM (EST) on AMFM247.COM. Check your local listing or find the station closest to you at this link

Ron’s Amazing Stories is produced and hosted by Ronald Hood:
Email: ronsamazingstories@gmail.com
Blog Page: https://ronsamazingstories.blog/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ronsamazingstories/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RASpodcast

Helpful Links:
Podcast Survey – Help the podcast by taking this survey.
Story Submissions – Use this link to submit your stories to the show.
Podcast Archives – Looking for the first 100 episodes of the podcast?

The Age Of Podcasting

We are currently living in the age of podcasts, but are they really that new?

Podcasting, previously known as “audio blogging”, has its roots dating back to the 1980s. With the advent of broadband Internet access and portable digital audio playback devices, such as the iPod, podcasting began to catch hold in late 2004. As of February 2020, there are over 820,000 podcasts and over 28 million episodes available on the Internet. A survey done in 2017 suggests that 42 million Americans above the age of twelve listen to podcasts at least on a weekly basis.

It may surprise you to know that podcasting began much earlier than all of this. Back in the late 1910’s ham radio operators would spend their days broadcasting the news over the airwaves. Each had its own format. Some would write it and others would simply read the morning newspaper. They would provide their own views on news events and in so doing aren’t they really podcasting?

The first radio news program was broadcast August 31, 1920, by station 8MK in Detroit, Michigan, which survives today as all-news format station WWJ under the ownership of the CBS network. Of course, this changed the world as we know and lead to the golden age of radio.

Podcasting has become a place to express yourself. You are able to say what you believe, are passionate about, and gives everyone an equal platform to vocalize their views.

This Week’s Podcast: On the show this week we will play one of my favorite classic stories of all time. It comes from the pen of Philip K. Dick and looks at a food source that is not all that excited about being eaten. We also present an all-new Johnny Is It True segment. This time we visit strange but true stories. You can listen to this podcast on Thursday at Ron’s Amazing Stories, download it from iTunes, stream it on Stitcher Radio or on the mobile version of Spotify. Do you prefer the radio? We are heard every Thursday at 10:00 pm and Sunday Night at 11:00 PM (EST) on AMFM247.COM. Check your local listing or find the station closest to you at this link

Blog It Right!

Recently I got a comment from a listener who wished to remain anonymous. His note was short and sweet. It read:

“Ron, I love the show, but you need to edit your blog posts and show notes better. Please accept this critique in the spirit it was intended.” – Anonymous

He or she left several examples of my failings. At first, I tried to defend myself by saying that it was just a blog and that gave me a pass to not write my best stuff. When I sat down and gave it more thought, it became clear to me that I was wrong. In the end, we are responsible for what we write and in some cases, it is the first impression we give of ourselves. I guess that means I owe Mr. Anonymous a debt of thanks. So, what is the real story here? I guess it is more of a “moral” than a story. No matter what you are writing for, you should always put forth your best effort.

-Ron

This Week’s Podcast: On the podcast this week we have a treat. Listener and friend to the podcast Jose Munoz has written a science fiction story and has agreed to share it with us. It is titled Faster Than Light and it will be read for us by Mark Nelson. You can listen to this podcast on Thursday at Ron’s Amazing Stories, download it from iTunes, stream it on Stitcher Radio or on the mobile version of Spotify. Do you prefer the radio? We are heard every Thursday at 10:00 pm and Sunday Night at 11:00 PM (EST) on AMFM247.COM. Check your local listing or find the station closest to you at this link

Blessed To Do Research!

No matter what you know or think you know about a subject, there is always more to learn. One of the most embarrassing situations to have happened to you is being called out because what you thought was true was not. If there are differences of opinion in the area you are presenting, recognize the other side. You will come across more strongly if your audience knows you have taken the time to learn both sides of an issue. It is amazing but true, that once you write something most of your followers are going to believe you. You owe them accuracy.

What if you are writing your autobiography or maybe your family history. Who better to know the story than you? It’s true, but others may have a different perspective. Memories, even yours, can be faulty. Checking your facts can lead to the perfect tale. As an editor, I see all kinds of stories. I was editing a memoir and the author made a reference to an event that took place during World War II. The problem was that it never happened. It was related to a post-war event and that meant it had to be moved and rewritten. A little research on the author’s part would have solved that problem.

What if you are writing fiction? Surely doing research is not needed in this case. After all, you are making things up as you go along. The truth is that the details of fiction need to be as accurate as nonfiction. There is always an element truth in every story and those details need to be correct. For example, if you are writing about an ax-wielding maniac and you call his blade a rapier, there is a problem. Even when you invent your own universe, it has to be understood by earthlings. If you are going to have impossible things happening, you need to offer some explanation that will make sense.

I myself love to do research. I look at facts to build my stories and locations on. It gives your audience a starting reference and will make them feel comfortable with the subject matter.

-Ron

This Week’s Podcast: On the show, we have more stories than you can shake a stick at! Sylvia Shults is back with her famous brand of ghost stories and we have one of the creepiest chupacabra tales I have ever heard. Also, I introduce a new member of Ron’s Amazing Stories family. You can listen to this podcast on Thursday at Ron’s Amazing Stories, download it from iTunes, stream it on Stitcher Radio or on the mobile version of Spotify. Do you prefer the radio? We are heard every Thursday at 10:00 pm and Sunday Night at 11:00 PM (EST) on AMFM247.COM. Check your local listing or find the station closest to you at this link

That’s Crazy

I don’t have much of a blog this week. It has been a crazy weekend. On Saturday morning at about 11 am I heard a heavy explosion in the backyard. It literally shook the entire house and sent a cold chill through my body. I thought a tree fell on us. It was not a tree, but the concrete patio in the backyard was buckled and broken. I tried to reason why this happened and thought perhaps a water pipe burst. I checked and sure enough, the meter indicated a leak. The problem, however, is that no water lines run under the patio. So, in a nutshell, I have two issues probably not related.

The podcast will roll out as normal, but the blog is skimpy.

-Ron

This Week’s Podcast: On the podcast this week we have an amazing story about Billy the donkey and we play the conclusion to The Diamond Thunderbolt. We also hear a listeners’ story that just might be the most chilling we have ever had! You can listen to this podcast on Thursday at Ron’s Amazing Stories, download it from iTunes, stream it on Stitcher Radio or on the mobile version of Spotify. Do you prefer the radio? We are heard every Thursday at 10:00 pm and Sunday Night at 11:00 PM (EST) on AMFM247.COM. Check your local listing or find the station closest to you at this link