Freedom and Glory - Tales of American Spirit

Podcast Cary
Podcast Cary
  • 4.0 (4)
  • Business
  • Updated Monthly

Welcome to Freedom and Glory: Tales of American Spirit—a podcast celebrating the heart of American craftsmanship, resilience, self-reliance, and the power of disruption. Through inspiring stories and authentic storytelling, we shine a spotlight on individuals and communities who embody these values, proving that small, determined efforts can spark meaningful change. Join us as we share personal tales of triumph, innovation, and hope—moments that define the American spirit and shape our nation’s identity. Whether you’re seeking motivation to pursue your dreams or a reminder of the power of community, Freedom and Glory offers a powerful dose of inspiration rooted in resilience and determination. Listen, be inspired, and take action.

  1. Oct 7

    From Father To Daughter: The Freedom and Glory Story

    Freedom and Glory takes a different approach in this episode as Bill LuMaye sits down with Liz Morris and her father, Dwight, to tell the story behind the company and its evolution across generations. Dwight shares how he started the business in 1980 after struggling to find a flag to buy, eventually developing a catalog business from his home. He talks about the early years, the support of his wife, raising his daughters alongside the growing company, and how technology eventually transformed the way the business operated. Liz shares what it was like growing up around the business, leaving to build her own career, and eventually returning in 2016 with the possibility of taking over. The two discuss the challenges of transitioning a family business from one generation to the next, learning to work together, and separating family life from business. They also talk about why Liz changed the company's name from Carrot Top Industries to Freedom and Glory, how the rebrand helped better communicate what the company sells, and how Liz has worked to build on her father's foundation while creating something of her own. The episode closes with Dwight reflecting on Liz's leadership and the importance of stepping back and letting the next generation take ownership. It is ultimately a story about entrepreneurship, family, change, and building a legacy that can continue to evolve. 00:00 The story behind Freedom and Glory 01:00 How Dwight started the business 03:00 Building the company from home 05:00 Growing up around the business 06:00 Balancing family and entrepreneurship 08:00 When Dwight considered passing on the company 10:00 Why Liz initially left the family business 11:00 Liz considers returning 13:00 Dwight knew Liz was the one 14:00 Technology changes the business 16:00 Liz returns to the company 18:00 The challenges of taking over 20:00 Learning to work together 22:00 Separating family and business 23:00 Why Carrot Top became Freedom and Glory 25:00 The reason behind the name change 27:00 Liz's vision for the future 29:00 Dwight reflects on Liz's leadership 31:00 The response to the rebrand 33:00 Dwight's advice for Liz 34:00 Celebrating the family's story 36:00 Dwight's perspective on letting go 38:00 The legacy continues

  2. Sep 9

    From B-52 Pilot to Chiropractor: Dr. Lance Armstrong’s Mission to Serve Veterans & POW/MIA Families

    Hosts Liz and Bill  interview Dr. Lance Armstrong, a Cocoa Beach chiropractor for nearly 30 years and former Air Force B-52 pilot. He recounts being inspired to fly after seeing F-4s take off, describes B-52 operations, crew coordination, and a harsh landing that injured him, leading him to seek chiropractic care despite warnings. After congressional budget cuts ended his flying career, he quickly enrolled at Palmer College of Chiropractic and returned home to buy Cocoa Beach’s oldest chiropractic practice, later volunteering with law enforcement, first responders, and treating hundreds of homeless veterans through Stand Down events. Armstrong also advocates for military chiropractic care, discusses the Patriot Project, and shares his leadership in Rolling Thunder Florida Chapter One, focused on POW/MIA awareness, family history tied to a WWII missing relative, and the meaning of the Strategic Air Command flag. 00:00 Show Introduction00:27 Meet Dr Armstrong01:16 Chiropractic Practice Today01:56 Inspired To Fly04:03 B-52 Training Path06:35 Low Level Missions07:43 Crew Coordination09:37 Hard Landing Injury12:23 Discovering Chiropractic15:55 Budget Cuts Phone Call17:26 Chiropractic School Journey19:21 Building Local Practice20:16 Serving First Responders21:13 Stand Down Veterans Care23:59 Teaching Student Doctors26:24 Military Chiropractic Advocacy31:09 Fighter Pilot Neck Strain33:35 Rolling Thunder Origins36:19 Florida Chapter Mission37:15 B-17 Recovery Story39:00 Riding And Patches40:18 Andersonville POW Museum43:13 POW Survival Stories46:26 POW MIA Flag Legacy48:02 Healthcare And Hobbies50:35 Flags In Schools52:31 SAC Flag And Cold War58:27 Road Trips And Farewell

  3. Aug 12

    Weaving Heritage: Anna Brakefield on Red Land Cotton

    Anna Brakefield of Redland Cotton explains how she and her father, cotton farmer Mark Yeager, built a family-run, vertically integrated business making American-made sheets, towels, quilts, blankets, and some apparel from cotton grown on their Moulton, Alabama farm, with cut-and-sew facilities in Alabama and Mississippi. She shares her path from Auburn to advertising in New York and Nashville before returning in 2015 to help launch the first sheet lines in 2016, inspired by heirloom “Madeline Gray” sheets and developed with Cotton Incorporated and Hamrick Mills. The conversation covers early direct-to-consumer traction driven by behind-the-scenes social media and events, the mission to support U.S. cotton and textile manufacturing, and major supply-chain setbacks as mills and finishers closed, including the loss of the last wide rotary screen printer, prompting pivots to new finishing and print options. Anna closes with advice to start selling quickly, learn by doing, and pivot. 00:00 Meet Anna Brakefield 01:23 Farm to Home Textiles 02:34 Why Make Sheets 04:18 Anna Returns Home 07:16 Heirloom Sheet Inspiration 11:03 Launching and Early Sales 17:17 American Made Mission 22:40 Supply Chain Setbacks 29:38 Future of US Cotton 32:31 Where to Buy Redland 33:31 Advice for Entrepreneurs 35:29 Closing Thoughts

  4. Jul 1

    The Forgotten Birthplace of American Independence

    When Americans think about the founding of the United States, most minds immediately go to Boston, Philadelphia, Lexington, and Concord. But what if one of the most important chapters of the American Revolution happened right here in North Carolina? In this episode of Tales of American Spirit, host Liz Morris welcomes Kelly Arnold from the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough to explore the remarkable role Hillsborough played in the movement toward American independence. Together they uncover the story of the Third Provincial Congress, the Regulator Movement, and the pivotal decisions made in Hillsborough during the summer of 1775 that helped lay the groundwork for a new nation.  From corrupt colonial officials and frustrated frontier farmers to revolutionary leaders, military preparations, and the earliest steps toward self-government, this conversation reveals why Hillsborough deserves a much larger place in America's founding story. 00:00 – Introduction to Freedom & Glory01:00 – Why Hillsborough's story matters during America's 250th anniversary02:00 – What Hillsborough looked like in the 1770s04:00 – Why Hillsborough became a center of colonial power08:00 – Life in colonial North Carolina09:00 – What was happening across the American colonies?11:00 – How news traveled before modern communication13:00 – Who were the Regulators?15:00 – Taxes, corruption, and colonial frustration17:00 – Why the Regulators were more complicated than history suggests20:00 – Loyalists, revolutionaries, and competing visions for America24:00 – What was the Third Provincial Congress?25:00 – Why Hillsborough was chosen for the meeting27:00 – The first real steps toward independence29:00 – Military districts, currency, and preparing for self-government32:00 – The influential leaders gathered in Hillsborough36:00 – The Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge38:00 – How North Carolina moved toward independence40:00 – Why Hillsborough's role is often overlooked42:00 – Exploring Historic Hillsborough today43:00 – Outlandish Hillsborough Scottish Festival and Outlander connections45:00 – Flags of Change: The Society of the Cincinnati47:00 – George Washington, Cincinnatus, and revolutionary ideals50:00 – The Society's mission and legacy today54:00 – Final thoughts and closing

  5. Jun 10

      Rick Webb on Building a Culture of Trust and Service

    Rick Webb shares how his father, backed by his mother’s support, built Waco from one locomotive and eight team members into a diversified supply chain services company operating 47 short line railroads and serving 3,500+ customers across North America and Australia. He explains how an evergreen 1983 contract with a Louisiana paper mill—cancelable with 30 days’ notice—taught Waco to differentiate through daily customer service rather than assets, and how listening to customers drove pivots from railcar repair to industrial switching, terminals, logistics, and broader supply chain solutions. Webb emphasizes valuing customers and team members through tools, training, safety, and culture, including Waco University’s servant-leadership approach, praise-before-discipline mindset, and Dan Smith’s “no a*****e rule,” while reflecting on tough times like near-missed payrolls and the 2008–2010 downturn. 00:00 Meet Rick Webb 01:00 Family Leap of Faith 02:39 First Customer Forever 05:46 Customer First DNA 08:49 Building Team Culture 11:35 Pivoting With Customers 13:06 Bar Lessons on Service 15:58 Surviving Tight Times 17:47 Supply Chain Value Engine 22:47 Terminal Expansion Hard Lesson 25:56 Where Value Is Made 26:48 No Plan Just Customers 28:43 Waco U Culture Training 31:02 Flip The Org Chart 34:05 Trust Tools And Praise 37:38 All In For The Future 40:28 Letting Go As CEO 42:25 No A*****e Rule 45:25 Closing Thanks And Laughs

  6. May 14

    An American Spirit: Honor, Grief, and Resilience With Holly Higgins

    Holly Higgins, a Gold Star mother, shares the story of her son Daniel, a 22-year-old U.S. Air Force explosive ordnance disposal technician killed in Afghanistan in October 2010, and explains how years of mourning led her to use storytelling—on stages, in workshops with Lt. Col. Scott Mann, and in a widely viewed TEDx talk—to help veterans, Gold Star families, first responders, and others find healing and meaning. She describes Danny’s character, her struggle to support his decision to join the military and serve as EOD, and the day her family learned of his death. Holly also recounts a powerful symbol: the American flags Danny strapped to his chest and back on missions to carry the weight of love for his family and country, and why she continues telling his stories so they endure beyond names and memorials. 00:00 Meet Holly Higgins 00:51 Service After Loss 03:52 Ready To Share 06:54 Who Danny Was 11:38 Letting Him Serve 16:21 Learning EOD Reality 19:24 The Day Danny Died 25:04 Healing Through Story 29:27 Beyond Dannys Story 30:50 Healing Through Stories 32:07 Finding Words in Public 35:45 Imposter Syndrome and Impact 37:05 Tears Are Not Apologies 38:53 How to Reach Holly 40:30 Trauma Dumping vs Craft 42:43 Danny’s Gifts and Faith 47:55 Flags of Change Story 48:39 The Flag Over His Heart 55:12 Legacy Names and Stories 58:35 Final Thanks and Call

  7. Apr 23

    Symbolic Stories: Flags That Speak with Kelly C. Hyke

    Hosts Liz Morris and Bill LuMaye interview Kelly C. Hyke, owner of Hyke Funeral Home in Redfield, South Dakota, who spent 18 years in law enforcement before switching to mortuary science and buying the funeral home with his wife Bonnie in 2015. Kelly explains how flying American and service flags began as a simple thank-you—especially to veterans—and grew into a widely noticed community tradition, including honoring law enforcement, fire, EMS, and organ donors, and adding U.S. and state flags inside the chapel. He describes his process for veteran services and how the flags prompt healing conversations and public support. In the “Flags of Change” segment, Heather discusses the Earth Day flag, its Apollo “Blue Marble” imagery, its origins with John McConnell and Senator Gaylord Nelson, and how the symbol helped rally environmental action leading to the EPA. 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 01:27 From Police to Funeral Director 05:30 Compassion in Two Callings 07:49 Coping With Grief Daily 10:27 Why Fly the Flag 12:28 Veteran Honors and Rituals 15:14 Families Reactions and Healing 18:38 Expanding Flags for Service 20:32 Organ Donor Flag Added 23:00 Bringing Flags Into Chapel 25:11 Handling Criticism and Values 26:51 Small Town Tradition Spreads 31:18 Lessons and Advice to Others 34:08 Wife Support and Future Plans 35:56 Closing Thanks and 250th Flag 37:47 Flags of Change Earth Day Flag 38:33 Earth Flag Origins Blue Marble 39:58 Earth Day Movement Impact 41:27 Why Earth Flag Isnt Common 42:50 New Space Images Unite Us 44:20 Final Sign Off

  8. Mar 12

    Gopher: A Worker-First Gig Marketplace Built for Fair Pay and Community Impact

    On Freedom and Glory: Tales of American Spirit, hosts Liz Morris and Bill LuMaye talk with John Newberry and Tom Vols, co-founders of Gopher, a community-driven gig marketplace sparked by a golf course moment and built to bring fairness and transparency to local delivery and services. They explain how users post what they need and set what they want the worker to earn, while Gopher adds a small platform fee, and workers can accept, ignore, or counteroffer with instant payment after mutual ratings. The conversation covers categories like delivery, moving, junk removal, rides, and age-restricted items with ID safeguards; worker verification tiers (identity, background checks, driving record, licensed/bonded/insured); marketplace “chicken-and-egg” challenges; product pivots to improve UX; organic growth centered in Raleigh/Wake County; fundraising needs; and plans for expansion plus business-focused features through Gopher Connect and future merchant integration. 00:00 Worker First Pricing 00:08 Meet the Gopher Founders 01:10 Golf Course Origin Story 02:30 How the App Works 04:28 Categories and Use Cases 05:25 Solving the Marketplace Chicken Egg 11:31 Fair Pay Mission 14:35 Pricing Model Breakdown 16:04 Why Lead Gen Platforms Fail 18:04 Trust Safety and Worker Levels 23:06 Growth Timeline and Metrics 28:48 Age Restricted Deliveries 29:52 Small Decisions Big Impact 30:29 Early Pivots and Partners 31:30 Hard Calls With Developers 32:40 Staying Platform Focused 34:37 Co-Founder Chemistry and Trust 36:52 Making Tech Invisible 38:04 Values Over Ego 40:45 Marketplace Vision and Leadership 43:31 Tribute to Michael Yori 47:32 Fundraising and Investor Reality 51:44 How Gopher Works in Practice 55:25 Beating Delivery App Fees 57:04 Expansion Plans and Wrap-Up

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4
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Welcome to Freedom and Glory: Tales of American Spirit—a podcast celebrating the heart of American craftsmanship, resilience, self-reliance, and the power of disruption. Through inspiring stories and authentic storytelling, we shine a spotlight on individuals and communities who embody these values, proving that small, determined efforts can spark meaningful change. Join us as we share personal tales of triumph, innovation, and hope—moments that define the American spirit and shape our nation’s identity. Whether you’re seeking motivation to pursue your dreams or a reminder of the power of community, Freedom and Glory offers a powerful dose of inspiration rooted in resilience and determination. Listen, be inspired, and take action.

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