Celebrate Ground Hog’s Day with Adventures in Odyssey!

This is such a funny holiday to me, but one I enjoy. There was a pretty famous movie by the same title as well where a man relives the same day over and over. That day happens to be February 2! The idea of reliving the same day may sound great or awful depending on what that day was like. I watched a short portion of the video from Pennsylvania this morning. The gentleman speaking mentioned that this year has felt a lot like that movie in many ways, but there is hope. A new day is rising every day and we can look forward to what that day can bring. I loved that perspective as a Christian, knowing that the Lord consistently gives us new days!

I love that Adventures in Odyssey has a couple of fun episodes along this theme. Even if you don’t really think about this silly little holiday very much, it is a great day to listen to them if you have never done so! You can find both on the Adventures in Odyssey Club.

From Album 56: The Grand Design
Groundhog Jay
After Jay pushes Priscilla into an unexpected trip in the Room of Consequence, the two of them experience the same event over and over again.

From Album 33: Virtual Realities
The Eternal Birthday
Liz experiences her birthday over and over again.

Is there a day you would like to experience again?

Odyssey Adventure Club

Disclaimer: In exchange for promoting The Adventures in Odyssey Club I receive a membership to The Adventures in Odyssey Club. I am not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Adventures inOdyssey: Jay Smouse bringing Smiles!

Jay Ice Cream Character Headshot 
We are often introduced to new characters in Odyssey. One of our family’s new favorites is Jay Smouse! Here is a descriptoin of Jay directly from the Adventures in Odyssey website…

Jay might call himself a bully, but it’s only in his own mind. He likes to torment kids with his nicknames and attitudes, but most others don’t take him seriously. He is often his own worst enemy—getting himself into crazy situations of own his own doing. He sometimes hangs out with Vance King, though even their relationship can be adversarial.”

The factor that gives us delight is the comedic nature of this character. The actor (Whit Hertford) brings a likability to a character with a bad reputation. My husband especially really likes this character. When we are traveling and we ask what everyone wants to listen to, he will frequently respond with, “Anything with Jay!” 
Here are some of our favorite Jay Smouse episodes. 
1. Stage FrightBarrett is excited about getting the lead role in the school play. But when his first practice is interrupted by a mysterious booming voice, Emily must investigate the “phantom of the school play.
 
2. How to Sink a Sub
 When Katrina becomes their substitute teacher, Jay and Valerie rouse the class to revolt, even persuading Olivia to help with a plan to get Katrina fired.
3. Unbecoming JayJay schemes a way to ditch his cousin Cindy by leaving her with Barrett, but Priscilla grows jealous of the new friendship. 
4. Mistaken for Good
 Jay’s visit to a nursing home takes an unexpected turn when an old woman mistakes him for her grandson — and offers him money as a birthday present.
5. Groundhog Jay
 After Jay pushes Priscilla into an unexpected trip in the Room of Consequence, the two of them experience the same event over and over again.
6. The Friend Formula
 Riley is new to town and hoping to find some new friends. For advice, he turns to an unlikely (and unreliable) source – Jay Smouse!
7. Walk Worthy
 Buddy and Jay explore what it means to live with integrity as members of a wilderness troop for boys.
There are many others, and honestly anything with Jay Smouse is good for a laugh and a lesson! Explore some of these stories and more with an Adventures in Odyssey Club membership

Disclaimer: In exchange for promoting The Adventures in Odyssey Club I receive a membership to The Adventures in Odyssey Club. I am not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Adventures in Odyssey Free Trial and Activity Pack!

Summer is looking very, very different than any of us expected at the start of the year. One of the bright spots has continued to be The Adventures in Odyssey Club! We are excited for a new album to drop first in the club soon and have had themed listening parties for our favorite characters. 

You can also click on the picture above got a fantastically fun summer activity pack! We’ve really enjoyed these resources over the last few years! 

Comment below with your favorite Adventures in Odyssey character! 

Adventures in Odyssey Club: The Essentials


We adore Adventures in Odyssey around here! Multiple episodes are listened to on multiple devices throughout the day. We can quote our favorite episodes and love to listen together. 

Since we’ve listened through the entire series more times than we can recall, I sometimes like to pick a particular character and listen through the episodes which are significantly important to who they are. 

The Adventures In Odyssey Club makes this so very easy because everything is right at your finger tips! I’ll be posting the Essentials for some of our favorite characters over the next several weeks including what order to listen in! 

Click a Character to read their essentials list! 

Mr. Whitaker
Eugene MeltsnerParts 1 & 2
Connie Kendall
(Coming Soon!)
Wooton Bassett
(Coming Soon!)




Adventures in Odyssey Club: The Essential John Avery Whitaker


Without John Avery Whitaker, Whit’s End wouldn’t exist! Knowing who Whit is and how he came to Odyssey is a complex story which has unfolded in bits and pieces throughout the history of Adventures in Odyssey. The Adventures in Odyssey Club makes is easy to find all the episodes in order! To truly know Whit, listening to the entire series is a must, but here is a listing of episodes in order from the time Whit was a child to give you the essential John Avery Whitaker. 

Whit’s Past
1. Thank You God (Volume 3) 
At Thanksgiving dinner, Whit tells the story of how his stepmother changed his life.
2. The Journal of John Avery (Adventure Club Season 3)
Discover which people and events shaped Whit’s character as a boy, inspiring him to become an imitator of Christ.
3. Blackbeard’s Treasure (Volume 22)
Two young boys, John Whittaker and Jack Allen, venture into a secret cave and fight off pirates in their quest to find Blackbeard’s buried treasure.

4. No Friend Like an Old Friend (Volume 62)
On a bus ride home, Connie meets Wilson Knox, who recalls a tale from his childhood about a science competition and two boys named Av and Al.
5. Great Expectations (Volume 56)
*This one is a little harder to place because it covers several points in Whit’s life*
As Emily pursues her hopes and dreams, she journeys in the Imagination Station to see Whit as a young boy.
6. Rescue from Manatugo Point (Volume 6)
A mysterious letter reminds Whit of a remarkable adventure he had in the South Pacific during World War II.
7. Operation: Dig Out (Volume 6)
An elderly British gentleman named Reginald Duffield arrives in Odyssey to keep a promise he made to Whit many years ago after a World War II battle.
8. The Triangle Parts 1 & 2 (Volume 36)
Jack Allen and Whit tell Connie the story of how Whit met his wife in college.
9. Prequels of Love (Volume 48)
From chicken costumes to phone scams, we hear the stories of how Bart Rathbone, Whit, and Bernard Walton met, or proposed to, their wives.

10. Charlotte (Adventure Club Season 5)

A friendly game of chess ends abruptly when painful memories put Whit and Wilson’s friendship to the test.

11. Memories of Jerry (Volume 27)
An old postcard triggers Jason Whittaker’s memories about the last weekend he spent with his older brother, Jerry.
12. Recollections (Volume 1)
Whit’s best friend, Tom Riley, tells Connie the story of how Whit’s End was created amid tragic circumstances.

13. Clara (Volume 28)
*This takes place in the middle of the Recollections story*
Jack Allen tells Eugene about a shocking incident from his past. Whit gets angry and says that he never wants to see Jack again.
Whit’s Life in Odyssey
14. A Member of the Family 1 & 2 (Volume 1)
When Whit’s grandson, Monty, arrives for a summer in Odyssey, the family finds they are in for more trouble–and more healing–than they expected.

15. The Blackguard Chronicles episodes 1-12

16. A Day in the Life (Volume 11)

A Hollywood film company comes to Odyssey to make a movie about the town.

17. The Mortal Coil 1 & 2 (Volume 16)

Whit programs the Imagination Station to show what life after death might be like. Against the advice of Tom Riley, he tries the program on himself . . . with dangerous results.
18. The Jesus Cloth (Volume 18)
The appearance of a piece of cloth supposedly from Jesus’ robe creates great hubbub in Odyssey.
19. Gone… (Volume 21)
Bernard and Eugene return from their long road trip to Odyssey, where things always stay the same. Or so they think.
21. …But Not Forgotten  (Volume 21)
Tom Riley, Connie, and Eugene find that running Whit’s End takes more time than they thought. Tom asks an old friend of Whit’s, Jack Allen, to help out.
22. The Search for Whit 1-3  (Volume 27)
Jason and Eugene get a cryptic message from Whit in the Middle East, which leads them on a wild investigation that could change Christian history as we know it.
23. Home Sweet Home  (Volume 28)
Whit finally returns to Odyssey–but Connie can’t seem to meet up with him.
24. The Decision  (Volume 28)
Whit must decide whether or not to accept an offer to return to the mission field, and so Connie sets out to prove that he is needed in Odyssey.
25. It’s a Wrap! (Volume 28)
Lucy Cunningham-Schultz and the Kids’ Radio team take an in-depth look at Whit’s End and the return of John Avery Whittaker.
26. For Whom the Wedding Bell Tolls 1-3 (Volume 29)
Someone is getting married in Odyssey . . . but who? Is it John Whittaker and Margaret Faye, Eugene Meltsner and Katrina Shanks, or Jack Allen and Joanne Woodston?
27. Faster than a Speeding Ticket (Volume 30)
Whit gets a speeding ticket, and Dwayne Oswald gets a D on a history test. Both believe they were the victims of mistakes.
28. Blackgaard’s Revenge 1 &2 (Volume 33)
A virus implanted in the Imagination Station with Dr. Blackgaard’s personality surfaces and must be destroyed before it takes hold over Aubrey
29.  Novacom Saga*Entire Album*
30.  No Way Out 1 & 2 (Volume 42)
Whit finds himself trapped in a room with no doors or windows. Meanwhile, “Marvelous” Marvin Washington investigates strange happenings around his house.

31.  Silent Night (Volume 45)

*Flashback Episode*
At home alone on Christmas Eve, Whit remembers holidays past that were difficult–but still made for treasured family memories.
32.  The Poor Rich Guy (Volume 46)
Grady McKay decides that the Bible “makes no sense” after Marvin Washington and his sister, Tamika, conclude that Whit can’t go to heaven because he’s rich.
33.  The Ties That Bind (Volume 58)
*Entire Album*
34.  Between the Lines 1 & 2 (Volume 60)
When Connie seems to have a connection with a handyman, Wooton and Penny get the idea to set them up on a blind date. Meanwhile, Whit and Lilly Graham try to get to the bottom of his health issues and Whit’s daughter Jana announces that she’s moving to Odyssey.
35.  The Feud of Mason County (Volume 61)
Whit takes a much-needed prayer retreat to the mountains and lands in the middle of a decades-old family feud.
36.  There and Back Again 1-3 (Adventure Club Season 4)
The Whittakers’ New Zealand vacation takes a dramatic turn after they bump into a friend from Odyssey.
37.  Met His Match (Adventure Club Season 5)
Convinced that Whit is lonely, Penny and Olivia play Cupid in hopes of introducing him to the next Mrs. Whittaker.

Disclaimer: In exchange for promoting The Adventures in Odyssey Club I receive a membership to The Adventures in Odyssey Club. I am not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Adventures in Odyssey Club: Exclusive Content


Tomorrow is the first of September. That means…
 a new exclusive Adventures in Odyssey Club episode! 

The club episodes are not available for purchase as either CDs or digital downloads. They are a part of the Odyssey cannon, but have the freedom to explore the world of Odyssey without the confines of a collective set. Some of these have become our all-time favorites! Here are a few…

One More Name (3 parts)
To save Jewish children from the Nazis, a Polish social worker agrees to smuggle them out of the Warsaw Ghetto.

Walk This Way
Penny convinces Connie that the answer to her financial problems is as simple as being crowned Miss Odyssey.

There and Back Again (3 parts)
The Whittakers’ New Zealand vacation takes a dramatic turn after they bump into a friend from Odyssey.

Take Every Thought Captive
Mean girl Valerie Swanson visits a strange city that’s oddly familiar, yet unlike anything she’s ever experienced.


Un-Tech the Halls
The Parkers decide to unplug their gadgets and make family memories by searching for a Christmas tree.

All for the Guest
It’s a stressful sleepover when Penny’s parents and Wooton’s childhood butler come to visit on the same weekend.

Met His Match

Convinced that Whit is lonely, Penny and Olivia play Cupid in hopes of introducing him to the next Mrs. Whittaker.
These are all available with your monthly subscription to the Adventures in Odyssey Club! Sign up today to hear these and more!

Disclaimer: In exchange for promoting The Adventures in Odyssey Club I receive a membership to The Adventures in Odyssey Club. I am not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.


Adventures in Odyssey Club: Camp Adventure!


Last year I was Grace’s counselor at camp and one of the things my co-counselor and I did as a fun treat a couple of nights was listen to Adventures in Odyssey! Since we have the Adventures in Odyssey Club it’s easy to take anywhere with you, even camp! Wifi and cell service there is pretty spotty, so I was really glad we have the opportunity to download episodes! This year I led worship for the elementary campers which meant I wasn’t in the same cabin as Grace. Instead we opted to make little goodie bags with some awesome stuff the folks at Adventures in Odyssey sent our way! 


Each of the goodie bags included a signed poster, a frisbee, and this really awesome post-camp devotion! We also made sure to include information on how to sign up for the free trial of the Adventures in Odyssey Club. Several of the girls were familiar with this wonderful radio drama, but not all were. 

Before we left for camp Grace created the goodie bags. It was a neat way for her to go ahead and start thinking about her new friends and how much fun they would have worshiping and having fun. 


These 10 precious girls and their 2 counselors had a wonderful time. Grace gave them their gifts on the last night of camp. She was especially excited to share her love of Adventures in Odyssey with her new friends. 

Make sure to share the adventure with your friends and family as well! 


Disclaimer: In exchange for promoting The Adventures in Odyssey Club I receive a membership to The Adventures in Odyssey Club. I am not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Bringing Comfort, Answering Questions with Adventures in Odyssey Club

Life can be hard sometimes. This week we are both sad and full of joy. My husband’s grandmother has gone to be with Jesus. While it is sad to not have her here, she was suffering with dementia for many years and the last several months have been very difficult. And so we rejoice in knowing she has seen her Savior face to face and is having a wonderful reunion with her husband and others who have gone before her. Our last visit with Gram was beautiful and full of sweet memories for all of us, especially the girls. 

June 2016
Still, the concept of heaven and dealing with loss is not always easy for children. One of the blessings of a program like Adventures in Odyssey is they have dealt with a wide range of hard topics including death. While the follow episodes are not ones I would list among my go-to favorites, they are incredibly valuable in facing loss. I’ve also included 2 which deal with mental illness in this list. They have been excellent springboards for conversation with my children about some very hard things. 




Whit creates and Imagination Station adventure about death. The results are unexpected, and everyone has to deal with the unforeseen aftermath.



Karen, a friend of Donna Barclay’s, battles cancer and both Donna and Connie learn how faith makes a difference. 



While Whit and the gang are still trying to keep Novacom at bay, Connie deals with the loss of someone very dear to her. 



Connie’s grandmother, a Christian, dies and her family finds out what it means to deal with death as a Christian. Her father must find a way to cope as a non-Christian. 



The story of how Tom Riley’s son, Timmy, died is recounted by the person whose life he saved in the process. 


A Lesson from Mike

Julie finds herself unexpectedly affected by the sudden and tragic death of a classmate she did not know very well. 




Danny struggles with the idea of death and eternity after his mother has a miscarriage. 



Connie receives devastating news and, with her friend’s support, learns how to trust God in the midst of deep grief. 

Another hard topic Adventures in Odyssey covers is mental illness. This isn’t something we like to talk with our kids about, but it is a reality we must sometimes face. I appreciate the delicate way in which has led to some excellent conversations with our kids about depression and other mental illnesses. 



We learn that Tom Riley’s wife, Agnes, has been struggling with mental illness for several years. 
(I particularly appreciate this episode and the conversation Whit and Eugene have at the end about this very difficult topic.) 



Tom Riley and Mandy try to decipher what is upsetting Agnes, Tom’s wife.

Disclaimer: In exchange for promoting The Adventures in Odyssey Club I receive a membership to The Adventures in Odyssey Club. I am not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Celebrate Valentines Day with Adventures in Odyssey!

I love it when we have opportunity to share our joy of Adventures in Odyssey with our friends! Valentines Day is tomorrow and a great opportunity to share some sweet Valentines with others and even a free episode available for them to enjoy. 

These beautiful Valentines feature a variety of characters and fun sentiments which would be typical to each character. The girls had a great time preparing these cards for their friends from their Wednesday Science class. Beth and Grace each prepared 12 cards and were so very excited to take them to class this morning! 



These are a great addition to any Valentines celebration and you can get yours for free! Just click the picture below! 


Don’t forget to enjoy any episode anytime you wish through the Adventures in Odyssey Club

Disclaimer: In exchange for promoting The Adventures in Odyssey Club I receive a membership to The Adventures in Odyssey Club. I am not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Adventures in Odyssey Club: Celebrating a New Year and a New Album!


There is a thrill that abounds in our home when a new album is coming to Adventures in Odyssey! We couldn’t wait for this album, Trial by Fire, knowing there would be answers to much of Buck Oliver’s mysterious past! 


We weren’t disappointed, especially with the 3-part ending to the Mr. Skint and Buck Oliver story arch! If you haven’t heard how this all plays out, you need to go back to their introduction to the town of Odyssey. That would be one of our other favorite albums, The Green Ring Conspiracy

Next you will want to listen to The Ties that Bind. This brings Buck Oliver back to Odyssey and into the lives of Eugene and Katrina Meltzner in an unexpected way! 


Buck is in several more episodes which are a lot of fun, but the most important to this particular story arc is Out of the Picture from Under the Surface


This will catch you up so you have a better background for what happens in The Long End Parts 1-3. This deals a lot with family history and heritage. It also deals with the idea of choosing right from wrong and can lead to some great conversations with your kids. Be aware that there are some subjects which may be a little harder for some kids such as the death of a parent, adoption, and kidnapping. 

We had fun listening to each episode around our kitchen table during the lunch hour. We often do this when new episodes pop into the Adventures in Odyssey Club app, which is the first of ever month for the Adventure Club episodes and several weeks in a row twice a year for the albums. It’s so fun to have early access to these shows! 

You can to by joining the club! It is a wonderful addition to your family entertainment for both kids and adults! 

Disclaimer: In exchange for promoting The Adventures in Odyssey Club I receive a membership to The Adventures in Odyssey Club. I am not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own