This Week in America with Ric Bratton

Are patterns of three woven into the fabric of the universe? Donna Russo believes they are — and in this fascinating conversation, she shares how she discovered “the mark of the Trinity” throughout Scripture and throughout the world around us. In her book Threes, Threes, and More Threes!, Donna explores the biblical presence of three — from Genesis to Revelation — and extends that pattern into creation itself: time (past, present, future), space (height, depth, width), and matter (solid, liquid, gas). She argues that God’s fingerprints are visible everywhere if we’re willing to look. A lifelong learner and devoted Bible reader since 1996, Donna was inspired to write this book after listening to the radio program Thru the Bible, which walks listeners through Scripture chapter by chapter. In this episode, we discuss: • The Trinity as a recurring biblical pattern • Why the number three appears so consistently in Scripture • How patterns in nature reflect spiritual truth • Faith, structure, and the design of the universe • What readers discover when they start looking for “threes” Whether you’re a Bible scholar, a curious skeptic, or someone who loves discovering patterns in life, this episode offers a thoughtful and engaging exploration of faith and design. AMAZON https://www.threesbook.com/ https://www.urlinkpublishing.com/ http://www.bluefunkbroadcasting.com/root/twia/21926drusso.mp3

What does it truly mean to be “a man after God’s own heart”? In David: Man After God’s Own Heart, Louis McCall reimagines the life of Israel’s most famous king through the reflective voice of an aging David. From shepherd boy to giant-slayer… from hunted fugitive to empire-building king… from worshiper to flawed father — this powerful narrative explores the faith, failures, victories, and heartbreak that shaped one of the Bible’s most compelling figures. David’s journey includes: Beyond the biblical drama, author Louis McCall brings a lifetime of global experience to the story. A former U.S. diplomat with a 36-year career in the State Department — serving in over 60 countries — McCall has lived his faith in both academia and international diplomacy. Now, as an author, he shares a deeply personal and spiritually rich portrayal of David’s life and legacy. This conversation explores leadership, faith under pressure, moral failure, redemption, and what it means to finish well. AMAZON https://louismccallinternational.com/ https://www.kingpagespress.com/ http://www.bluefunkbroadcasting.com/root/twia/21826kpp1.mp3

Is reality spontaneous… or purposeful? In this powerful conversation, we sit down with Lindsey K. Ham Sr., author of The Reality of Everything, to explore one of life’s biggest questions: Why are we here? Drawing from his extraordinary life experience as a scientist, psychologist, U.S. Army combat veteran officer, former police officer, educator, and artist, Ham challenges readers to rethink what they believe about science, matter, consciousness, and God. He argues that every “tiny bit of the tiniest bits” of matter functions with purpose — and that purpose itself points to a Creator. Rather than asking readers to blindly accept his conclusions, Ham encourages critical thinking. Question it. Test it. Even attempt to disprove it. His goal is transformation — whether through learning something new or confirming what you already sensed to be true. This episode explores: The Reality of Everything invites readers into a contemplative space where science, philosophy, and spiritual awareness intersect. If you’ve ever wrestled with the meaning of existence, this conversation is for you. AMAZON https://www.ecpublishingllc.com/ http://www.bluefunkbroadcasting.com/root/twia/21926lkhs.p3

Raising Vibrantly Healthy Children & Families: 12 Simple Tips that WORK! with Susan Smith Jones, PhD For a woman with three of America’s most ordinary names, Susan Smith Jones, PhD, has made extraordinary contributions in the fields of holistic health, anti-aging, optimum nutrition and balanced living. For starters, she taught students, staff and faculty at UCLA how to be healthy and fit for 30 years! Susan is the founder and president of Health Unlimited, a Los Angeles-based consulting firm dedicated to optimal wellness and human potential. She travels worldwide as a frequent media show guest and healthy living consultant. She is the author of many celebrated books, including her latest 4 books that cover in detail our topic today. First, for children, her new celebrated novelette, an inspiring, value-driven and beautifully illustrated novelette — JOY & THE BUTTERFLY: The Magical Garden, which goes well with her other bestselling and award-winning children’s 2-in-1 nutrition book VEGETABLE SOUP/THE FRUIT BOWL. And then for adults, there’s her dynamic duo with UPLIFTED and A HUG IN A MUG. Raising healthy children can be a very daunting and challenging task in this day and age with so many activities, poor food choices, sitting too long in front of the computer, smart phone and other screens, peer pressure from friends and much more. Our guest today, holistic health and lifestyle expert, Susan Smith Jones, PhD, has worked with parents and children for decades worldwide and will offer her best tips on how to raise healthy children – physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. These tips will also apply in your life, too, whether you have children or not. So, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, nannies, caretakers, neighbors, and anyone of any age who wants to experience vibrant health on all levels, keep a pen and paper handy because you’ll want to take notes. As Susan teaches in JOY & THE BUTTERFLY and UPLIFTED, when children experience a parent who reacts with kindness and prioritizes healthy living, they learn to act the same way — thereby altering generational patterns for a kinder, healthier future. A more compassionate and robust world starts with kind, healthy kids. SusanSmithJones.com X@SusanSmithJones https://www.instagram.com/susansmithjonesphd http://www.bluefunkbroadcasting.com/root/twia/ssj142.mp3

2026-9seg3 Weekend of 2-21

2026-9seg2 Weekend of 2-21

2026-9seg1 Weekend of 2-21

2026-9 Weekend of 2-21

“Eugene Onegin" shaped Russian literature the way Shakespeare shaped English drama—and now it’s being reimagined in a whole new way. Alexander Pushkin (1799–1837) is Russia’s most beloved poet, and Eugene Onegin —his “novel in verse”—is considered the most influential work in Russian literature. In this episode, we welcome back acclaimed poet, translator , scholar and celebrated author Martin Bidney, who has created something utterly unprecedented: a verse interview book with his internationally acclaimed "ALEXANDER PUSHKIN’S VERSE NOVEL "EUGENE ONEGIN": A Form-True Dialogic Verse Translation with Lyrical Replies and Supplements". For every 14-line stanza Pushkin wrote, Bidney responds with a Pushkin-style reply poem, turning the translation into a living dialogue—two verse novels in conversation across centuries. The result is not just a translation, but a collaboration with genius. Bidney, Professor Emeritus of English and Comparative Literature at Binghamton University, has spent decades crafting poetic dialogues with literary giants. His work is praised by leading scholars, as a groundbreaking application of the “dialogic” approach to literature. His wide ranging fascination with revelatory writing stems from "patterns of epiphany where martin pioneered a method of analysis he has since applied to over 20 authors In the first 23 years of his "rewirement" he has published 61 books of original and translated poetry, often including both in what he calls "verse translation interviews" with poets he has read in Polish, Russian, German, and French. Join us for a deep and delightful conversation about poetry, translation, literary history, and what happens when a translator becomes a collaborator. we welcome back to Martin Bidney. AMAZON https://www.martinbidney.org/ http://www.bluefunkbroadcasting.com/root/twia/21226mbsl.mp3

What if the smallest things on earth carried the biggest messages from God? "God's Amazing Creation: The Story of Seeds" by Lindy Kerr What makes a seed sprout? How do seeds travel across the earth? What protects them in drought? In this inspiring episode, Ric Bratton welcomes author and rancher Lindy Kerr, whose book God’s Amazing Creation: The Story of Seeds blends simple science with deep faith to reveal the wonder of God’s design. Drawing from her life on a New Mexico ranch and her years teaching science, Lindy shows how even the smallest seed reflects the power, wisdom, and love of the Creator. This uplifting conversation explores: 🌱 The miracle hidden inside every seed 📖 How science and faith beautifully intersect 🙏 Teaching children (and adults!) to wonder, observe, and praise God 🌍 Why nature itself points us toward a higher design Whether you’re a parent, teacher, gardener, or simply someone who loves creation, this episode will leave you inspired to see the world — and its Creator — with fresh eyes. https://www.amazon.com/Gods-Amazing-Creation-Story-Seeds/dp/1970529067/ref=monarch_sidesheet_title https://lindykerr7.com/ https://inkstartmedia.com/ http://www.bluefunkbroadcasting.com/root/twia/21226lkis.mp3

What was it really like to serve in the Peace Corps during its earliest days? In this episode, Gary R. Lindberg author of " The Vegetable Grows and the Lion Roars: My Peace Corps Service" shares extraordinary stories from his time as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Ivory Coast during the 1960s — a bold era shaped by President John F. Kennedy’s vision of global service. From building school gardens and working in remote villages to breaking down in the middle of nowhere, encountering camels, and traveling to legendary places like Timbuktu, Gary’s journey is one of courage, curiosity, and cultural discovery. We explore: Gary Lindberg, a UC Berkeley graduate during the Free Speech Movement and a longtime human resources professional, reflects on how his Peace Corps experience influenced his worldview and lifelong path. This is a heartfelt, eye-opening conversation about service, adventure, and the power of stepping into the unknown. http://www.bluefunkbroadcasting.com/root/twia/2526kpp2.mp3 AMAZON https://garyrlindberg.com/ https://www.kingpagespress.com/

What if humanity’s greatest strength — rational thought — is also the source of our deepest disconnection? In his book "How The Rational Mind Repressed The Emotional Mind Into Submission Once We Got The Spoken Word", engineer, philosopher, and systems thinker Chet Shupe explores how emotional intelligence once guided human life — and how the rise of language, laws, and rational systems slowly displaced that ancient wisdom. Drawing on evolutionary insight, psychology, spirituality, and cultural reflection, Shupe challenges the assumption that reason alone should govern human behavior. We discuss: Shupe’s work invites us to question long-held beliefs about progress, morality, and belonging — not with easy answers, but with deep reflection and human compassion. This is a powerful conversation for anyone who feels something essential has been lost — and is searching for what it truly means to be human. AMAZON https://www.spiritualfreedompress.com/ http://www.bluefunkbroadcasting.com/root/twia/kccs.mp3

Can religious topics be entertaining? Barry Leonardini thinks so — and his bold, satirical novel Jesus and Peter: a Different View of Christ and His Catholic Church proves it. In this fascinating conversation, Leonardini challenges traditional Christian narratives by reimagining Jesus and the apostle Peter through a lens of humanity, ambition, politics, and power. Was Jesus exactly as depicted in the Bible? How much of his story was shaped by Peter? And how did Rome transform a humble message of charity into a global religious institution? We explore: Barry Leonardini, a former floor trader on the Pacific Stock Exchange and longtime radio guest, brings sharp wit, historical imagination, and fearless commentary to one of history’s most powerful stories. Whether you’re religious, skeptical, curious, or just love bold conversations, this episode will challenge what you think you know — and keep you entertained. http://www.bluefunkbroadcasting.com/root/twia/2526bbkpp1.mp3 AMAZON https://freshcleanday.blogspot.com https://www.kingpagespress.com/

2026-8seg3 Weekend of 2-14

2026-8seg2 Weekend of 2-14

2026-8seg1 Weekend of 2-14

2026-8 Weekend of 2-14

2026-7seg3 Weekend of 2-7

2026-7seg2 Weekend of 2-7

2026-7seg1 Weekend of 2-7