Season 5 of the Alabama Short Stories podcast is just around the corner, and I can’t wait for it to get started. Hey, this is Shawn Wright, your host for another trip around the state of Alabama to learn about the characters that make Alabama, well… Alabama. 

I am going to kick off the season with a story about Sam the Banana Man and his role in getting the banana that’s sitting on your counter from Central America to you just so you can throw it out when it’s too ripe.

There’s a story about Shorty Price. If you grew up an Alabama fan, I am sure your ears just perked up. Auburn fans, you won’t want to miss this one. 

There is Alabama’s first Miss America who inadvertently helped start the Miss USA pageant. A Supreme Court justice whose appointment was almost derailed because of an initiation at a Klan rally at Edgewood Lake in what would become Homewood. 

I tell the story of Truman Capote and Harper Lee growing up together in Monroeville and it being told on the silver screen in a little movie called “To Kill A Mockingbird.” Have you ever heard of it?

There is the story of Carrie Tuggle, who, wanting to keep black children out of adult jails, built the Tuggle Institute and helped start the Jefferson County Family Court. 

John Henry was a steel-driving man, and some people think this folk hero’s tale of his race against a steam power drill happened close to Dunnavant and not in West Virginia. 

Regions Bank lights up the Birmingham night sky during the holidays, and Alabama Power builds a lake that fills up much faster than everyone expects. 

Our final story, just in time for Veteran’s Day, is about how Veteran’s Day got its start in Birmingham, thanks to the efforts of Raymond Weeks. 

If you are hearing this teaser, then you are probably already a subscriber, and thank you for that! Do me a favor and tell your friends to subscribe to the podcast. There are 40 stories waiting for them to hear, and ten more this season.

Another way you can support the show is to rate and review it on Apple Podcast and Spotify. You can also purchase the book “Alabama Short Stories, Volume 1,” which features the first three seasons, available for purchase at Amazon.com and online bookstores. If you want to support local bookstores, you can find the book at Bookshop.org.

Thanks for listening, and I hope you enjoy season 5 of the Alabama Short Stories podcast.

Support the Podcast

The podcast is free, but it’s not cheap. If you enjoy Alabama Short Stories, there are a few ways you can support us.

1. Tell a friend about the podcast.
2. Rate the podcast on Apple Podcasts
3. Buy the book Alabama Short Stories, Volume 1.
4. Buy some merchandise from the Art Done Wright store at TeePublic.com.
5. Make a donation to the podcast. You can find links in the footer at AlabamaShortStories.com.

Store

Visit our store where you can find state and local specific designs, school mascots and other designs. All designs can be printed on shirts, hoodies, stickers, mugs and other products. Visit TeePublic.com store and order your product today. Proceeds go to support this podcast.