The Forgotten Club That Once Had 1 Million Members

The Forgotten Club That Once Had 1 Million Members

Author: iHeartPodcasts August 21, 2026 Duration: 19:52

In this Shop Talk, Bill and Alex dive into the odd history of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows - one of the largest organizations most Americans have never heard of. At their peak, they had over a million members and thousands of lodges across the country. They cared for widows and orphans, built hospitals, and more than 800 cemeteries. And then, slowly, they disappeared.

If you've ever wondered why community feels harder to find than it used to - or why civic life seems to be quietly fading - this episode might be the most important conversation you hear this week. It's a history lesson that hits surprisingly close to home.

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You won't find the solutions to our biggest challenges in the green rooms of cable news, but in the everyday decisions of regular people who see a need and step up. That's the heart of An Army of Normal Folks. Hosted by Bill Courtney, the coach featured in the Oscar-winning documentary "Undefeated," this iHeartPodcasts production is a documentary-style series dedicated to finding and honoring those individuals. Each episode introduces you to someone who looked at their community, their street, or a single person struggling and simply said, "I can help." These aren't stories of celebrities or politicians with vast resources; they're authentic accounts from the army of ordinary citizens doing extraordinary things. By listening to this podcast, you'll hear the real, unscripted conversations between Courtney and his guests, exploring their motivations, the obstacles they faced, and the tangible impact of their actions. It’s a weekly reminder that change is often built person by person, and it’s released every Tuesday to spotlight the powerful force of normal folks getting things done.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Army of Normal Folks
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