human interest

Arthur Dale Hopkins’ Story — The Man Who Never Forgot Your Name

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You probably walked past someone like Arthur today — a quiet postal worker in Louisville, sorting mail with steady hands and a button-down shirt. Just another face in the morning routine, right?

But what if that same person carried music inside him that no one else would ever hear? What if he had this one habit that made everyone around him feel different — more seen, more valued, more human?

This is the story of Art Hopkins, who spent his days processing mail and his evenings writing songs, who could trace his family back to the Revolutionary War and never missed a Highland Games gathering. But more than anything, this is about someone who understood something most of us miss about how to move through the world.

Some of the most extraordinary people never make the headlines. They just make everyone around them feel a little more extraordinary.

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Real people. Real lives. Never ordinary.

The Pedestrian Mayor of Elizabethtown: How Stanley Crawford Became a Most Beloved Walker

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In this episode, we explore the life of Stanley Crawford, an extraordinary ordinary person who transformed Elizabethtown, Kentucky through fifty years of faithful walking. Known as “Stan the Man,” he wasn’t just a familiar face—he was the heartbeat of his community. This is the story of how one man’s simple presence created lasting change, and why people like Stan represent the forgotten heroes walking past us every day.

Journey with me as I uncover what happens when we truly see the remarkable people we’ve been overlooking.

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From Shark Skin to Job Security: Three Stories That Change Everything

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Three overlooked stories worth knowing: A Cary nuclear engineer’s true impact had nothing to do with his PhD or judicial career, Australian engineers copied 400-million-year-old shark skin to save airlines billions in fuel costs, and why your plumber has more job security than corporate executives in the AI age. Featuring Jeff Jeffries’ mentorship approach that touched “numerous men,” MicroTau’s biomimicry breakthrough saving 4% fuel per flight, and Lowe’s CEO Marvin Ellison’s honest assessment of which jobs AI can’t replace. Real stories from Wake Forest, North Carolina about what actually lasts versus what we think matters.

Join our community at https://tapyournews.com/podcast for show reminders and to suggest stories you think we should cover. The best reporting often starts with neighbors who know where to look.

From Tank’s Big Escape to Eliza’s Lasting Light: Good News Stories of Hope, Heart, and Second Chances

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Today on Good Morning Wake County, we take you from a missing tortoise named Tank in Greenfield, Illinois to the streets of Raleigh, where law enforcement officers ran for the Special Olympics. Then we head west to California for the inspiring story of Trevor Turner, a former inmate turned award-winning college graduate, before coming home to Raleigh to remember Eliza Craven and the $2.5 million gift that will help other families facing childhood illness. These are stories of good, stories of heart… and the kind of feel-good news that stays with you.

🎧 Featuring:

  • Tank the Tortoise 🐢 (Greenfield, IL)

  • Wake County Special Olympics

  • Trevor Turner (Bakersfield College, CA)

  • Amanda & Lee Craven + Transitions LifeCare (Raleigh, NC)

  • Team Speedy Sloth + Eliza Alice Craven Pediatric Fund (Duke University, Durham, NC)

🔗 SOURCES & LINKS

Tank the Tortoise – First Alert 4:

https://www.firstalert4.com/2025/05/28/illinois-town-comes-together-find-missing-tortoise/

Torch Run / Special Olympics:

https://www.cbs17.com/news/local-news/wake-county-news/wake-county-law-enforcement-runs-through-rain-to-benefit-nc-special-olympics/

Trevor Turner, Bakersfield College Grad:

https://www.bakersfield.com/bakersfield-life/bakersfield-matters-bc-grad-defies-odds-earns-collegiate-recognition-with-inspiring-story/article_b47665db-424d-4ac8-8555-f5d02d1dff75.html

Eliza’s Story / Transitions Kids

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/raleigh-nc/eliza-craven-10806995

https://www.cbs17.com/news/local-news/wake-county-news/the-whole-family-is-the-patient-childrens-hospice-program-in-raleigh-receives-2-5-million-gift/

https://www.supportdukehealth.org/site/TR/Angels/AngelsAmongUs?pg=team&fr_id=2621&team_id=30983

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