Testaments with Jerry

Jerry Flanagan

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Transforming written, short-story narratives about individual Americans into audio accounts that give the original version new life and intimacy.

Apr 17

The Autobiography of Mother Jones (Abridged)-Part 2

In part two, we witness Mother Jones's most defiant battles. Labeled "America’s most dangerous woman," she leads the Mill Children's march and survives military dungeons. We explore her role in the Mexican Revolution and the 1919 Steel Strike, concluding with the final years and enduring legacy of this tireless crusader for the working class.
Apr 12

The Autobiography of Mother Jones (Abridged)-Part 1

Part one of the Autobiography of Mother Jones explores her Irish roots and the devastating loss of her husband and four children to yellow fever. After the Great Chicago Fire, she finds her true calling within the Knights of Labor. From witnessing the Haymarket tragedy to her legendary victory at Arnot, we follow her transformation into the "Mother" of all miners.
Feb 8

Chapters from My Autobiography by Mark Twain Part 3

Welcome back to our third and final installment of “Chapters from My Autobiography” by Mark Twain. I’m Jerry Flanagan, and today we step directly into Samuel Clemens’ world as he narrates episodes embracing his "apparently systemless system," a "purposed jumble" designed to follow no charted course. Adhering to his "law of interest," he talks about whatever fascinates him for the moment, casting it aside the instant interest is exhausted. Hear Twain fire his "prophecy-gun" at a kaleidoscope of memories: from becoming a riverboat pilot on the Mississippi River to the absurdity of selling a dog he didn't own. Dive into the "entire human race compacted" within one singularly legendary soul. Listen to these stories in Mark Twain's virtual voice now and look for the audiobook incorporating all three podcasts.
Jan 26

Chapters from My Autobiography by Mark Twain Part 2

Chapters from My Autobiography are 25 pieces of autobiographical work published by American author Mark Twain in the North American Review between September 1906 and December 1907. Rather than following the standard form of an autobiography, they comprise a rambling collection of anecdotes and ruminations. Much of the text was dictated, and the original work is a collection of loosely connected chapters mixing dictated reminiscences, anecdotes, and reflections rather than a strict chronological life story. We have reorganized and condensed the material to a more "systematic" and digestible format for a 21st-century audience in this abridged version. This is Part 2 and concludes the abridged version and the audiobook will soon be available in its entirety.
Jan 20

Chapters from My Autobiography by Mark Twain Part 1

Chapters from My Autobiography are 25 pieces of autobiographical work published by American author Mark Twain in the North American Review between September 1906 and December 1907. Rather than following the standard form of an autobiography, they comprise a rambling collection of anecdotes and ruminations. Much of the text was dictated, and the original work is a collection of loosely connected chapters mixing dictated reminiscences, anecdotes, and reflections rather than a strict chronological life story. We have re-organized and condensed the material to a more "systematic" and digestible format for a 21st-century audience in this abridged version. This project helps us meet our mission of transforming written memories into heartfelt recordings, capturing the voices and experiences of remarkable people who wanted to share their journeys with friends, family, and loved ones.
Jan 6

Part 2: The Nomadic Legacy: From Stolen Patrimony to Siberian Peace

"Travellers remain travellers even when they are not traveling". Explore Walter Brabazon’s evolution from an Irish exile quelling America's Whiskey Rebellion to a dispossessed son reclaiming his stolen patrimony. This global odyssey navigates the legal gales of Limerick and a fated marriage in the frozen heart of Siberia. Witness the rare stories told with a moral tendency, often recounted by characters the Irish Traveller meets along the way. Listen now!
Jan 2

Part 1: An Irish Traveller's Origins, Exile, and the American Frontier

The Irish Traveller Walter Brabazon fled Ireland’s wretchedness for America during the Revolutionary War period. Accompanied by a vengeful refugee Tom Bryan, he transitioned from an orphan to a military official during the Whiskey Rebellion. His experiences as one of the "walking people" highlighted his peripatetic identity, and at the conclusion of Part 1, he returned to Ireland to fight for his stolen heritage against a usurping cousin.
12/22/2025

Part 3: The Iron Puddler: A Vision of Labor and Fraternity

Part 3 follows the "Napoleon of Fraternity" as he founds Mooseheart, a revolutionary center for education and trades. From the rolling mills to the presidential Cabinet, Davis puddles human impurities into national service. Read the conclusion now to witness how this vision for brotherhood forges a better world.
12/18/2025

Part 2: The Iron Puddler's Logic: From Labor to Leadership

Dive into Part 2 to witness how Davis forged his success not from luck, but from an ironclad commitment to integrity and education. Learn why he believed experience is the foremost teacher and why logic must always defeat envy. Listen now to understand the foundational principles that transformed a boy from the rolling mills into the architect of one of America’s greatest fraternal education systems. Discover the path from peonage to purpose!
12/15/2025

The Iron Puddler: Origins and Values

In this first segment of the autobiography, The Iron Puddler: My Life in the Rolling Mills and What Came of It, you will discover the author's, James J. Davis's, Welsh origins and formative values. He recounts whipping a bully after years of humiliation over his homemade, patchwork suit, realizing that self-respect must be defended. His father taught him pride and that success is won only through labor, to "expect no gift from life." His mother provided constant love and consolation, "always working and always singing," lighting his path to the mills.
12/11/2025

Dr. Lucy Abernathy: Teacher and Rennaisance Woman Making a Difference

Lucy Abernathy left an inspiring legacy as a high school teacher, characterized by her dedication, compassion, and unwavering support for generations of students. Working at Chaparrel High School in El Cajon, she became a vital positive adult role model and a source of hope for students whose own families had often given up on them. Facing life's challenges, Lucy maintained a commitment to presenting a model of behavior and utilized transformative training principles from Recovery International to navigate life's difficulties. She beautifully demonstrated that if one's family disappoints, one can choose and adopt a new family, embracing her role as a cherished "big sister" to the Flanagan family. Listen to Lucy’s powerful oral history to absorb her warmth and wisdom, and consider how you, too, can revitalize the memory of a loved one by sharing their story.
12/05/2025

Remembering Sergeant Flip Flanagan: Cop, Family Man and Hoops Star

Dive deeper into the real-life grit and drama of a true LAPD detective's career by listening to the full podcast of Flip Flanagan's memoir to hear these remarkable stories in his own voice. Read by his son Jerry, Robert C. "Flip" Flanagan served a distinguished, decades-long career with the LAPD, rising to the rank of Investigator III at the highly active 77th Street and Southeast Divisions. His memoir details his early life, his military service in the Navy during the Korean War, and his ultimate passion for police work. Flanagan became a highly effective detective, renowned for his predictive ability in robbery and homicide investigations and his unconventional, successful tactics in Vice. He also demonstrated a profound devotion to his family, working 12 hours every weekend at the Original Pantry Café to pay for his children's tuition and house expansion. He demonstrated uncompromising, old-school integrity until his retirement in 1982 and his love of family until his death in 1999.

12 Episodes

Transforming written, short-story narratives about individual Americans into audio accounts that give the original version new life and intimacy.

Creator

Jerry Flanagan
Years Active

2025 - 2026
Episodes

12
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© Jerry Flanagan 2025
Show Website

Testaments with Jerry