The Simple Lives We Live

Kylie Simnioniw
  • 4.5 (8)
  • ARTS

Some of the most extraordinary stories don't come from celebrities or history books. They come from everyday people - your neighbor, your grandmother, the man who runs the corner store, or the woman sitting next to you at church. On The Simple Lives We Live, we sit down with ordinary people to uncover the beautiful, hard, faithful, and fleeting moments that shaped their lives. Stories of love and loss. Of grit and grace. Of family, faith, and the simple days we didn't know we'd one day miss.  So please join me each week as we capture voices and memories that deserve to be heard and remembered. Because the truth is, ordinary people live the most extraordinary lives. 

  1. 4D AGO

    Swenda Braden

    In this episode, Swenda Braden shares a heartfelt look at a life built on family, faith, and togetherness. Swenda shares memories of her upbringing, raising her children, and the deep love that shaped her home. She fondly remembers her husband, Gary, whose big personality, humor, and generous spirit brought joy to those around him. Through both laughter and loss, Swenda's story is a beautiful reminder of what truly matters.

    1h 25m

  2. MAR 27

    Mert & Rella - Part 2

    In part 2 of my interview with Mert and Rella, we talk about marriage, raising families, and the different paths their lives took through work and career. From early weddings to long days spent teaching, serving their communities, and supporting their families, their stories offer a glimpse into a life built on hard work, love and simple joys.

    1h 3m

  3. MAR 20

    Merdythe "Mert" Popiel & Rella Abernethy - Part 1

    In today's episode, I interview sisters Rella Abernethy (born 1937) and Merdythe “Mert” Popiel (born 1933), ages 88 and 92, about their childhood near Sentinel Butte, North Dakota. They share memories of their parents - a quiet farmer-rancher father and a talkative mother - and even a favorite joke their dad loved to tell. They describe country schooling at Westerheim, small class sizes, and life without electricity, running water, or early tractors. Chores included hauling water and coal, gathering eggs, gardening, and bringing in the milk cow. They recall simple entertainment: reading by kerosene lamp, playing card games, and listening to battery-powered radio programs. They also share Christmas traditions - oyster soup, stockings, homemade gifts, and community picnics. The sisters reflect on polio affecting older siblings, girls’ half-court basketball rules, early jobs, brief experiences with college and teaching, and eventually marriage and later work.

    54 min

  4. MAR 13

    Sherry Zachmann

    In this interview, Sherry Zachmann shares memories of growing up in Beach, North Dakota, after moving there from the Golva area as a small child. Raised in a lively of eight children by her parents Paul and Viola ("Weenie"), Sherry reflects on the rhythms of farm and small-town life - gardens, chores, raising chickens, hauling hay, and school days filled with band, dress codes, and the childhood belief that their former hospital home might just be haunted. She recalls simple holidays, family gatherings, and fun like swimming, ice skating, and improvised sledding. Sherry also shares stories of her early jobs, meeting her husband Ron, their blizzard wedding in 1977, raising four daughters, and her 42-year career at the bank. She reflects on Ron becoming a deacon and the family's annual "Weenie Fest," traditions that continue to bring everyone together.

    1h 3m

  5. MAR 6

    Judy Ridenhower

    In today's episode, I interview Judy RIdenhower, 80, about her rural North Dakota upbringing with five siblings and life without electricity or running water. Judy recalls school in Sentinel Butte (graduating in 1963), small-town sports and band, family card games, chores, simple Christmases and birthdays, and hardships - including her brother's polio recovery and the theft of the family’s stored winter food. She shares about working at age 10, graduating from Dickinson State University in elementary education, and a 40-year teaching career in Dickinson, New Town, Poplar, and Beach - including 25 years in Title I. Judy also reflects on the changes she observed in parenting and discipline over the years. She talks about her faith, community service (church music, museum, library, cemetery, nursing home), extensive travel (visiting 48 states and trips abroad), her father’s death in 1973, her mother’s remarriages, and her own breast cancer journey.

    1h 21m

  6. FEB 27

    Norma Myers - Part 2

    Part 2 of Norma's interview begins with her traveling while pregnant in 1952. She discusses working as a silverware salesperson while nursing her son; meeting and marrying her third husband, a dentist; and reflecting on lessons from their 30-year marriage. Norma shares her Pentecostal beliefs and her own conversion experience, her involvement in Republican politics - including serving as state vice president of the Women’s Republican Party - and her concerns about the country, COVID, and fentanyl. She recounts travel stories from living in Germany for two years and a difficult solo trip to Rome. Norma also describes her passion for genealogy and connections she has found through ancestry research. This episode captures Norma's reflections on faith, resilience, love, public service, and her passion for uncovering family roots.

    1h 18m

  7. FEB 20

    Norma Myers - Part 1

    In this interview I got to visit with Norma Myers. Newly 100 (born Christmas Day), Norma recounts being born at her grandparents’ homestead in Buffalo Gap and growing up on a North Dakota ranch with four siblings. She shares a dramatic account of the deadly 1941 November blizzard in which her and her sister Ramona walked home after their car stalled and suffered severe frostbite. She recalls being treated by Dr. Sadowski, and believing she had “super strength” to carry and shield her sister to safety—an experience that affected her hearing and remained a defining memory. Norma also talks about her parents’ skills and ranch management, her love of cards and sports, winning many awards including being an outstanding two-court basketball guard and setting a county pull-up record of 41. She then describes being recruited after high school to work for the FBI in Washington, DC during World War II as a fingerprint classifier under intense quotas and supervision. Join us for Part 1 as Norma's early years unfold - stories that set the stage for the extraordinary life she would go on to live.

    58 min

  8. FEB 13

    James (Buster) Schneider

    In this episode of 'The Simple Lives We Live,' I had the pleasure of interviewing Buster Schneider, a 76-year-old man with a wealth of life experiences. Buster shares stories from his upbringing in Wibaux, Montana, and later in Beach, as the eldest of eight siblings. He delves into his early jobs, which included mowing lawns, milking cows, and eventually custom harvesting. Buster recounts his work history, from operating combines to driving trucks, and his time working at Coastal Oil and Gas. He also reflects on community events, personal memories, like a high-speed drive with a highway patrolman, and his decision not to get married. Throughout, Buster’s stories celebrate endurance, hard work, and the simple yet extraordinary life he has led.

    1h 42m
See All (20)

Ratings & Reviews

4.5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Some of the most extraordinary stories don't come from celebrities or history books. They come from everyday people - your neighbor, your grandmother, the man who runs the corner store, or the woman sitting next to you at church. On The Simple Lives We Live, we sit down with ordinary people to uncover the beautiful, hard, faithful, and fleeting moments that shaped their lives. Stories of love and loss. Of grit and grace. Of family, faith, and the simple days we didn't know we'd one day miss.  So please join me each week as we capture voices and memories that deserve to be heard and remembered. Because the truth is, ordinary people live the most extraordinary lives. 

Information

  • Creator
    Kylie Simnioniw
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Simple Lives We Live
  • Show Website
    The Simple Lives We Live

You Might Also Like