The Never Alone Podcast with Iris Fisher Smith

Iris Fisher Smith
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Welcome to The Never Alone Podcast with Iris Fisher Smith. Join us each week as friends and I discuss stories in my book Never Alone. We will emphasize the importance of Friends and Family with God at the center. There will be laughter (Lots of it!) fun and crying together as journey back through time and discuss many historical events and how my family history is woven through them.

  1. Oct 24

    Never Alone: 1970s Fashion Trends We Loved (and Regretted!) (Episode 37)

    Remember the fashions of the 1970s? The big hairstyles, colorful suits, mini dresses, platform-era trends, and unforgettable wedding outfits? In Episode 37 of The Never Alone Podcast, Iris Fisher Smith welcomes her brother Lance back for a nostalgic, funny, and heartwarming journey through 1970s fashion, hairstyles, family weddings, and the memories that clothing can bring back to life. They call this episode "Stitches in Time" because sometimes an old photograph, a familiar hairstyle, or an unforgettable outfit can transport us back to a special moment in our lives. Iris and Lance revisit family events from 1970 and 1974, remembering how fashion reflected the changing culture of America and how television stars, celebrities, and popular music influenced what everyone wore. And some of those fashions were unforgettable—for better or worse! In this episode, you'll hear about: • 1970s fashion trends and the transition from the 1960s  • How John-John Kennedy influenced little boys' clothing  • Mini dresses, go-go boots, patent leather shoes, and colorful outfits  • Marlo Thomas hairstyles, bouffants, and enormous hair rollers  • The unforgettable fashions of their mother's generation  • Vintage wedding dresses and the famous Priscilla of Boston  • Their sister Judy's beautiful 1974 wedding  • Powder-blue tuxedos, ruffled shirts, and a hilarious wardrobe malfunction  • The music of Karen Carpenter and the sounds of the 1970s  • How television and celebrity culture influenced everyday fashion  • Funny family wedding memories and unexpected surprises  • Why family photographs are such important pieces of our personal history One of the funniest moments comes when Lance remembers wearing a powder-blue tuxedo to his sister's wedding. Unfortunately, his pants weren't fitted quite right—and while dancing, he split them from top to bottom! And that's just one of the stories! Iris also remembers her own wedding on May 18, 1980, the very day Mount St. Helens erupted. While she was preparing for one of the biggest days of her life, everyone was talking about the volcano! But beyond the laughter and nostalgia, this conversation carries an important message. Our clothing, hairstyles, photographs, and favorite songs become living time capsules of our family history. They remind us of the people we love, the friendships that lasted a lifetime, and the moments that helped shape who we are today. As Iris shares throughout her memoir Never Alone, ordinary family experiences are often connected to extraordinary moments in American history. And sometimes the best thing we can do is slow down, remember the good times, laugh together, and appreciate the people who have shared our journey. WE'D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR MEMORIES! What was your favorite fashion trend from the 1960s or 1970s? Did you wear a powder-blue tuxedo, a mini dress, a pillbox hat, or one of those enormous bouffant hairstyles? Tell us in the comments! We'd love to hear your stories. Please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE this episode with someone who remembers those unforgettable decades. Discover Iris Fisher Smith's memoir, Never Alone, and explore family photographs, stories, and more:  https://IrisFSmith.com Watch more episodes of The Never Alone Podcast: https://IrisFSmith.com/podcast Family. Friendship. Faith. And the memories that remind us we were never meant to walk through life alone. Never Alone, Never Alone Podcast, Iris Fisher Smith, Lance, 1970s fashion, 70s fashion, 1970s hairstyles, 70s hairstyles, vintage fashion, retro fashion, 1970s clothing, 1960s fashion, fashion history, 1970s nostalgia, 70s nostalgia, vintage wedding dresses, 1970s wedding fashion, Priscilla of Boston, bouffant hairstyles, mini dresses, go go boots, powder blue tuxedos, 1970s weddings, John John Kennedy, Marlo Thomas, Karen Carpenter, family memories, family history, vintage photographs, American nostalgia, 1970s culture, Stitches in Time, Mount St Helens eruption, storytelling, family stories, faith and family

    Never Alone: 1970s Fashion Trends We Loved (and Regretted!) (Episode 37)

  2. Oct 5

    Never Alone: JFK, the Kennedy Family & the Tragedies Behind the American Dream (Episode 36)

    What happens when the American Dream collides with tragedy? In Episode 36 of The Never Alone Podcast, Iris Fisher Smith welcomes longtime friend Ann Averill back for a personal look at JFK, the Kennedy family, and the remarkable combination of hope, ambition, achievement, and tragedy that defined the Kennedy era. For Iris, John F. Kennedy isn't simply a figure from American history. His story intersects with her own family history. Years before becoming President, then-Senator Kennedy became involved in the search for Iris's father, who was missing during the Korean War. Iris recounts how Kennedy personally reassured her grandmother that he would continue looking for him. Her father was eventually found after having been held captive for approximately six months. Iris and Ann also remember the Kennedy years through the eyes of two people who grew up during this extraordinary period in American history. They discuss: • JFK and the optimism surrounding his presidency • The Kennedy family's dreams and tragedies • Ann's memory of learning President Kennedy had been assassinated • Iris's family's personal connection to JFK • JFK's health struggles • The Cuban Missile Crisis and Cold War • Civil rights and the space race • Jackie Kennedy's influence on American culture and fashion • The assassinations of John and Robert Kennedy • How our understanding of history changes as we grow older But the conversation eventually becomes about something much bigger than the Kennedys: What happens when your own dreams don't unfold the way you expected? Iris shares how serious health problems repeatedly changed the direction of her life. Her dream of becoming a singer led through unexpected turns involving nutrition, fitness, massage, working with people with disabilities, and eventually back to music. Years later, another unexpected chapter began: She wrote Never Alone and became a podcast host. The original dream changed—but Iris discovered that hardship could also produce wisdom, empathy, resilience, and a new sense of purpose. The Kennedy family's dreams and tragedies played out publicly. Ours usually don't. But we all experience dreams, disappointments, loss, and unexpected changes. For Iris and Ann, faith provides an anchor through those changes. We use the gifts we've been given, do the best we can, and trust God with the results. You don't have to be President—or famous—for your life to have an impact. Do you remember the Kennedy era? Where were you when you heard JFK had been assassinated? If you're younger, what stories did your parents or grandparents tell you? Tell us in the comments. We'd love to hear your memories. Please Like, Subscribe and Share to help others discover the Never Alone community. Discover Iris Fisher Smith's memoir, Never Alone, and watch more episodes: https://IrisFSmith.com Family. Friendship. Faith. You were never meant to walk through life alone. Never Alone, Never Alone Podcast, Iris Fisher Smith, Ann Averill, JFK, John F Kennedy, Kennedy family, Kennedy legacy, Kennedy family tragedy, JFK assassination, Jackie Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, Bobby Kennedy, Kennedy era, American Dream, American history, 1960s America, Cuban Missile Crisis, Cold War, civil rights, space race, moon landing, Korean War, President Kennedy, family history, historical memories, dreams and tragedy, overcoming adversity, finding purpose, resilience, faith, hope, Christian encouragement

    Never Alone: JFK, the Kennedy Family & the Tragedies Behind the American Dream (Episode 36)

  3. Sep 28

    Never Alone: Why We Still Need to Laugh—Then & Now (Episode 35)

    Remember when staying up late to watch a television show felt like an event? In Episode 35 of The Never Alone Podcast, Iris Fisher Smith is joined once again by her brother Alan Fisher for a fun and nostalgic trip through the history of late-night television—and the comedians and entertainers who gave generations of Americans a reason to laugh before going to bed. Iris and Alan go all the way back to the early days of television, when families were making the transition from radio to a brand-new visual medium. There was no streaming. No YouTube. No DVR. And certainly no pulling out your phone the next morning to watch the monologue you missed! If you weren't there when the show aired, you probably missed it. From Steve Allen and Jack Paar to the unforgettable era of Johnny Carson, and eventually the explosion of competing late-night shows, Iris and Alan look at just how dramatically television has changed during their lifetimes. In this episode, they talk about: • The beginnings of late-night television in the 1950s • Steve Allen, Jack Paar and the early years of The Tonight Show • The arrival of videotape and how television technology changed • Johnny Carson and the golden age of late-night television • David Letterman, Dick Cavett and the expansion of the format • The comedians and entertainers families gathered to watch • How late-night television provided laughter during difficult periods in American life • Growing up when television had only a handful of channels • The difference between appointment television and today's unlimited streaming choices • How YouTube completely changed the way we watch late-night comedy • Why laughter still matters, regardless of the generation Iris also shares memories of growing up when television itself was still something relatively new—and when programming eventually ended for the night. Then the conversation wanders, in true Iris-and-Alan fashion, into Gone with the Wind, old movie theaters, four-hour movies, Johnny Carson, watching television from bed, getting older, aching necks, and whether Iris should start The Never Alone Podcast with her own late-night-style monologue. She even gives it a try. Let's just say Johnny Carson probably doesn't have to worry.  But underneath all the nostalgia and sibling banter is something worth remembering. Every generation has faced uncertainty. Every generation has had difficult news. And every generation has needed moments when families and friends could put their worries aside and simply laugh together. Television has changed enormously since Iris and Alan were children. Today we can watch almost anything, anywhere, anytime. But perhaps one thing hasn't changed: Sometimes laughter really is good medicine. What late-night television host do YOU remember watching? Was it Johnny Carson? David Letterman? Jay Leno? Or someone from today's generation? Tell us in the comments—we'd love to hear your memories. And if you enjoyed this trip down memory lane, please Like, Subscribe, Share, and leave us a comment. Discover Iris Fisher Smith's memoir, Never Alone, and order your copy:  IrisFSmith.com Watch more episodes of The Never Alone Podcast and sign up to be notified whenever a new episode is released:    IrisFSmith.com You were never meant to walk through life alone. Never Alone, Never Alone Podcast, Iris Fisher Smith, Alan Fisher, late night television, late night TV, television history, Johnny Carson, Steve Allen, Jack Paar, David Letterman, classic television, classic TV, old television shows, TV nostalgia, television nostalgia, Tonight Show, history of television, 1950s television, 1960s television, 1970s television, comedy, laughter, importance of laughter, growing up in the 1960s, growing up in the 1970s, family memories, nostalgia, sibling stories, YouTube, streaming television, Never Alone book

    Never Alone: Why We Still Need to Laugh—Then & Now (Episode 35)

  4. Sep 10

    Never Alone: Someone Believed in You—Now Be That Person for Someone Else (Episode 34)

    Who helped you become the person you are today? Maybe it was a parent. A grandparent. A teacher. A coach. A neighbor. A friend. Sometimes we don't even realize we've been mentored until years later, when we discover that the lessons, encouragement, and examples someone gave us are still shaping the way we live. In Episode 34 of The Never Alone Podcast, Iris Fisher Smith welcomes her friend Cindy Kinney back for a heartfelt conversation about mentoring, encouragement, perseverance, and helping other people discover their potential. Cindy has spent much of her life coming alongside others—from her children and grandchildren to adults, family members, and people in organizations where she has served. But mentoring has changed Cindy, too. She explains that she naturally likes to take charge and make sure things get done. Mentoring taught her something different: sometimes the greatest way to help another person is to step back, encourage them, and give them room to discover what they can do for themselves. Iris also reflects on the people who mentored her throughout her own life—often without anyone calling it "mentoring." Her mother didn't simply tell her that family was important—she brought the family together. She didn't simply tell Iris to work hard—she worked hard herself. She didn't simply tell her daughter to enjoy life despite difficult circumstances—she demonstrated how to do it. That example became a lesson Iris carried into adulthood. In this episode, Iris and Cindy discuss: • Why mentors can influence us long after they've left our lives  • How parents and grandparents mentor through their everyday example  • Why encouragement can help someone discover talents they didn't know they had  • The importance of being teachable  • Why mistakes and setbacks can become some of life's greatest teachers  • Helping people without controlling them  • Meeting people where they are instead of expecting them to learn your way  • Why perseverance often requires someone encouraging us not to quit  • Mentoring children, grandchildren, adults, and even aging family members  • How helping someone else discover their purpose can give our own lives greater purpose And then there are the horses. Cindy shares how she encouraged her granddaughter through a difficult start at a horse competition. Rather than forcing her to continue—or allowing one bad experience to define the entire day—Cindy gave her granddaughter support, encouragement, and the freedom to decide when she was ready. She tried again. And she did wonderfully. Iris then shares a memorable story from her own childhood about being thrown from a runaway horse and landing in a cranberry bog. Her riding instructor gave her advice Iris never forgot: Get back on the horse. That mentor understood something important. Sometimes after we're knocked down, we need someone beside us who believes we're capable of trying again.  That's what good mentoring can be. It isn't about creating another version of ourselves. It's about seeing potential in another person, encouraging them, giving them room to grow, and being there when they need help. And you don't need a special title to become a mentor. There may already be someone in your life—a child, grandchild, friend, coworker, neighbor, or even an older person beginning a new chapter—who could benefit from something you've learned along the way. ❤️ Think about someone who believed in you when you needed it. Then ask yourself: Who could I be that person for today? If this conversation encouraged you, please Like, Subscribe, Share, and leave a comment. We'd especially love to hear about someone who mentored you—or someone you've had the privilege of mentoring. 📖 Discover Iris Fisher Smith's memoir, Never Alone, and order your copy: IrisFSmith.com 🎙️ Watch more episodes of The Never Alone Podcast and sign up to be notified when new episodes are released: IrisFSmith.com You were never meant to walk through life alone. Never Alone, Never Alone Podcast, Iris Fisher Smith, Cindy Kinney, mentoring, mentorship, mentor, being a mentor, importance of mentors, encouragement, encouraging others, helping others, reaching your potential, personal growth, perseverance, overcoming setbacks, life lessons, role models, positive role models, grandparents, grandparenting, mentoring grandchildren, family relationships, friendship, purpose in life, finding purpose, teaching life lessons, leadership, helping people grow, faith, hope, inspirational stories, emotional resilience, Never Alone book

    Never Alone: Someone Believed in You—Now Be That Person for Someone Else (Episode 34)

  5. Aug 30

    Never Alone: When Fear Leaves You Stuck Between Two Choices (Episode 33)

    The Never Alone Podcast with Iris Fisher Smith

  6. Aug 11

    Never Alone: The Friendships That Stay With Us for a Lifetime (Episode 32)

    What makes some friendships last a lifetime? In Episode 32 of The Never Alone Podcast, Iris Fisher Smith reconnects with her childhood friend Beverly Klein Haffey for a wonderful trip down memory lane—and a heartfelt conversation about the extraordinary difference a true friend can make in our lives. Iris and Beverly grew up together in the 1960s and '70s, long before smartphones and social media. Their friendship was built around sleepovers, music, dancing, concerts, amusement parks, family gatherings, lots of laughter, and simply spending time together. But their friendship became especially important when life wasn't so carefree. When Iris's parents divorced and her father left the family, Beverly and her parents were there. Iris spent that difficult night at their home, where a frightened young girl discovered something she would carry with her for the rest of her life: We may not be able to prevent life's difficult moments—but we don't have to face them alone.  In this episode, Iris and Beverly talk about: • What childhood friendship was like before smartphones and social media  • Growing up and having "good, clean fun" together  • The memories that can reconnect friends decades later  • How Beverly's family supported Iris during her parents' divorce  • Why friends can sometimes become like family  • The importance of being there when someone is hurting  • Staying connected even when thousands of miles separate us  • How reaching out to others can help us overcome loneliness  • Why the best way to find a friend may be to first become one They also share some wonderfully funny memories—including concerts, amusement parks, bakery treats, old records and one particularly unforgettable Beach Boys/Chicago concert! And there's one song that still transports Iris and Beverly right back to their childhood friendship: "Seasons in the Sun." Beverly even heard it unexpectedly the morning they recorded this episode, bringing those memories flooding back.  More than anything, Episode 32 reminds us that friendship requires something remarkably simple: Reach out. Call someone. Spend time together. Listen. Laugh. Be there when life gets difficult. And if you're feeling alone, remember there may be someone else who needs a friend just as much as you do. That's the message Iris leaves viewers with at the end of this conversation.  If this episode brought back memories of a special friend, tell us about them in the comments. And please Like, Subscribe, and Share The Never Alone Podcast with someone who could use a little encouragement today. Discover Iris Fisher Smith's memoir, Never Alone, and order your copy:    IrisFSmith.com You were never meant to walk through life alone. #NeverAlone, #NeverAlonePodcast, #LifelongFriendship, #TrueFriendship, #ChildhoodFriends, #OldFriends, #Friendship, #Family, #HumanConnection, #Relationships, #Memories, #Hope, #Faith, #Encouragement, #LifeLessons

  7. Aug 1

    Never Alone: How Your Greatest Struggles Can Become Your Greatest Purpose (Episode 31)

    Have you ever wondered why you've had to endure so much pain? In this thoughtful episode of The Never Alone Podcast, Iris Fisher Smith and longtime friend Ann Averil explore one of life's biggest questions: Can our greatest struggles actually prepare us for our greatest purpose? Through honest stories about childhood, adoption, teaching, failure, illness, identity, and faith, they discover that suffering doesn't have to define who we become. Instead, our hardest experiences often become the very things that allow us to encourage, understand, and serve others. In this episode you'll discover: • Why suffering can deepen compassion rather than destroy hope • How difficult childhood experiences shaped both Iris and Ann's purpose • Why your identity is far greater than your successes—or your failures • How pain often becomes the foundation for serving others • The difference between feeling like a failure and actually being one • Why listening is sometimes the greatest gift we can give someone who is hurting • How faith helps transform hardship into hope Whether you're facing disappointment, illness, failure, grief, or simply asking "Why me?", this conversation offers encouragement that your story isn't over. Sometimes our greatest purpose grows out of our greatest pain. If this episode encouraged you, please Like, Subscribe, and leave a comment. We'd love to hear your story. Order your copy of Never Alone:    https://IrisFSmith.com Watch every episode of The Never Alone Podcast:   https://IrisFSmith.com Remember... You were never meant to walk through life alone.  #NeverAlone, #NeverAlonePodcast, #Purpose, #Hope, #Faith, #Suffering, #Identity, #Healing, #ChristianPodcast, #Friendship, #Family, #Encouragement, #PersonalGrowth, #Resilience, #InspirationalStories

    Never Alone: How Your Greatest Struggles Can Become Your Greatest Purpose (Episode 31)

  8. Jul 25

    Never Alone: When Life Falls Apart, Family Helps You Heal (Episode 30)

    How do you rebuild your life after everything changes? In this heartfelt episode of The Never Alone Podcast, Iris Fisher Smith welcomes her brother, Lance, back to continue their family's remarkable story. Together, they reflect on one of the most difficult chapters of their childhood—the sudden divorce of their parents—and the lessons they learned about resilience, friendship, family, and hope. Rather than allowing hardship to define them, their mother demonstrated incredible courage by leaning on lifelong friends, surrounding her children with love, and showing that even life's greatest losses can become the beginning of a new chapter. In this episode you'll discover: • How one family's life changed almost overnight  • The courage it took to begin again after divorce  • Why true friends become family during life's hardest seasons  • The lifelong impact parents have on their children—even through difficult times  • How adversity can shape compassionate, resilient leaders  • Why community is essential to emotional healing  • Lessons from COVID about loneliness, anxiety, and the importance of human connection  • Why no one should have to face life's storms alone This episode is a powerful reminder that while we can't always choose the challenges we face, we can choose to support one another through them. Healing often begins with the simple act of showing up for someone else. ❤️ If this conversation encouraged you, please Like, Subscribe, and leave a comment. We'd love to hear your story. 📖 Order your copy of Never Alone:  https://IrisFSmith.com 🎙️ Watch every episode of The Never Alone Podcast:  https://IrisFSmith.com 📬 Visit IrisFSmith.com to sign up and be notified whenever a new episode is released. Thank you for being part of the Never Alone community. Remember—you were never meant to walk through life alone.  #NeverAlone, #NeverAlonePodcast, #Family, #Friendship, #Hope, #Resilience, #Healing, #DivorceRecovery, #Community, #EmotionalHealing, #Faith, #InspirationalStories, #LifeLessons, #MentalHealth, #Encouragement

    Never Alone: When Life Falls Apart, Family Helps You Heal (Episode 30)
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About

Welcome to The Never Alone Podcast with Iris Fisher Smith. Join us each week as friends and I discuss stories in my book Never Alone. We will emphasize the importance of Friends and Family with God at the center. There will be laughter (Lots of it!) fun and crying together as journey back through time and discuss many historical events and how my family history is woven through them.

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