An Army of Normal Folks - The Crazy Pastor Teaching Us The Right Kind of Crazy (Pt 1)

Episode Date: April 7, 2026

Pastor Corey Brooks has helped transform the most violent area of Chicago into one that’s not in even in the top 35! And he’s done it by being utterly crazy—sleeping on a rooftop for 343 days in the Chicago winter to raise money, literally walking across America, and building a $40 million community center in the hood because they deserve it. Brooks will teach you how to act crazy (if you need to), as long as it’s just and for a just cause.Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We have a swimming pool, an Olympic-sized swimming pool in the center. And when you talk to the kids and you ask them, you would think they would say, oh, we want to be excited about the basketball course or the music studio or the TV studio. But you ask them, what are you the most excited about? And almost all of them say the swimming pool. And when you think about, why would they say the swimming pool? Well, in a five-mile radius of where we are, there are no active swimming pools. No YMCA with a swimming pool.

No park district. the swimming pool, the park district down the street has a swimming pool that does not open in the summer. So for kids in our neighborhood to have these opportunities that they have not had, it's going to be really important. Welcome to an army of normal folks. I'm Bill Courtney. I'm a normal guy. I'm a husband. I'm a father. I'm an entrepreneur. And I'm a football coach in inner city Memphis and that last part, somehow it led to an Oscar for the film about one of my teams. That movie's called Undefeated. I believe our country's problems will never be solved by a bunch of fancy people and nice suits talking big words that nobody ever uses on CNN and Fox, but rather

by an army of normal folks. Guys, that's us, just you and me saying, you know what? I see a need, and maybe I can help. That's what Pastor Corey books. The voice you just heard is done. Corey is one of our few repeat guests, and this pastor, this hilarious, crazy, interesting pastor has helped transform the most violent area of Chicago into one that's now not even in the top 35. But this time, he happened to be in Memphis for another crazy thing he's doing. So, of course, when he was passing through, or better yet, walking through, we just thought we had to interview him about what in the world he was doing. And after these brief messages from our generous sponsors,

Corey will teach you how the right kind of crazy is often exactly what your community needs. Hey, I'm Nora Jones, and I love playing music with people so much that my podcast called Playing Along is back. I sit down with musicians from all musical styles to play songs together in an intimate setting. Every episode's a little different, but it all involves music and conversation with some of my favorite musicians. Over the past two seasons, I've had special guests like Dave Grohl, Leveh, Mavis Staples, Remy Wolfe, Jeff Tweedy, really too many to name.

And this season, I've sat down with Alessia Cara, Sarah McLaughlin, John Legend, and more. Check out my new episode with Josh Grobin. You related to the Phantom at that point. Yeah, I was definitely the Phantom in that. That's so funny. Share each day with me each night. So come hang out with us in the studio and listen to playing along on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A shot fired in City Hall building.

A silver 40 caliber handgun was recovered at the scene. From IHeart podcasts and Best Case Studios. This is Worshack, murder at City Hall. How could this have happened in City Hall? Somebody tell me that. Jeffrey Hood did it. July 2003, Councilman James E. Davis arrives at New York City Hall with a guest.

Both men are carrying concealed weapons. And in less than 30 minutes, both of them will be dead. Everybody in the chambers duct. A shocking public murder. I scream, get down, get down. Those are shots. Those are shots. Get down.

A charismatic politician. You know, he just bent the rules all the time. I still have a weapon. And I could shoot you. And an outsider with a secret. He alleged he was a victim of blackmail. That may or may not have been political. It may have been about sex.

Listen to Rorschach, murder at City Hall on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. You know the famous author Roald Dahl. He thought up Willie Wonka and the BFG. But did you know he was a spy? Neither did I. You can hear all about his wildlife story in the... the podcast, The Secret World of Rolled Doll. All episodes are out now.

Was this before he wrote his stories? It must have been. What? Okay, I don't think that's true. I'm telling you. I was a spy. Binge all 10 episodes of The Secret World of Rolled Doll. Now on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

When you listen to podcasts about AI and tech and the future of humanity, the hosts always act like they know what they're talking about and they are experts at everything. Here, the Nick Dick and Poll show, we're not a friend. to make mistakes. What Coogler did that I think was so unique. He's the writer-director. Who do you think he is? I don't know. You mean it to like the president? You think Canada has a president. You think China has a president.

You think China has a president. Those law a rouset. God, I love that thing. I use it all the time. I wrap it in a blanket and sing to it at night. It's like the old Polish saying, not my monkeys, not my circus. Yep. It was a good one. I like that. It is an actual Polish saying. Yeah.

It is an actual poland. Better version of Play Stupid Games, win stupid prizes. Yes. Which, by the way, wasn't Taylor Swift, who said that for the first time. I actually thought it was. I got that wrong. Listen to the Nick Dick and Paul show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Pastor Corey Brooks, your second time with me.

What's up, brother? Hey, brother. I'm doing great. It's good to be here. It's always a blessing to sit down and talk with you. So thank you very much. I think you're the only guy. we've had on the show twice.

You're the second. Well, you know what my wife says about that, right? What's that? You know, I told her I was coming back. I was really excited. I was like, I don't know if they've had anybody twice, so they must have really enjoyed me. And she's like, well, maybe they just want you to get it right this time.

Well, that's what wives do. They remind us we ain't nothing. So as a quick reminder for our listeners, if you didn't hear the first Pastor Corey Brooks episode, which I sincerely hope you go back and listen to because this cat is one of the greatest guys on the face of planet, but he's also craziest. He's the founder and senior pastor.

I guess I shouldn't talk that way about a pastor, but he's the senior pastor of New Beginnings Church of Chicago, and he's the founder and CEO of Project Hood, which is an acronym for helping others obtain, destiny in chicago's woodlawn neighborhood um project hood was created to combat violence poverty and systematic barriers through economic empowerment education mentorship basically this man is working in one of the toughest areas in the united states um what's probably most incredible is special brooks has raised more than 40 million dollars to develop a state of the art community

center in woodlawn continuing his mission to create lasting change block by block. And this is the cat that did it by sleeping on a roof. Yeah. Which is nuts. And it made national news. And you've raised a bunch of money. And I guess people paid you to get your ass off the roof.

Absolutely. Yeah. They pay me to come down and stay down, hopefully. Yeah. So we're not here to retell that story, although we'll probably touch on it as we go. We're here to tell the story of what you. you have decided to do now, which is crazy. And I guess we'll start this way.

We fly all of our guests into Memphis from all over the country to tell their stories, which is probably for me the most rewarding part as I get to meet these people that come in. We don't do this on Zoom. We fly in. We meet Fate's Face. And we have awesome conversations. But you're the first one to ever walk to Memphis. Absolutely. Tell me why.

So, you know, the building that we're building on the south side of Chicago is a $47 million building, $90,000 square feet. We've raised $40 million. Is this an addition to the thing you've already built? No. This is the building. Yeah, this is the building. The one we're building. It's a $47 million facility.

We raised $40 million. We're really grateful and thankful people from across America have helped us out tremendously. And now our goal is to pay an offer. to be debt-free. And we're starting a school, one for girls, one for boys. And we just started an endowment. We used some seed money for that. So we came up with the idea that we have to fund this somehow, some way.

We got to come up with the funds to do all these things. And we're not taking government funds. So what can we do? We can't go back up on the roof. So we decided. You could go back all the roof, but you've done that. Yeah, we've done that. So we said, let's be a little bit more creative.

and we decided, okay, let's walk across America and tell our story and meet people in different communities and hear their stories and at the same time try to raise $25 million. So we started September the 1st in New York Times Square. We walked down to Atlanta and then we are now crossed over the southern region. We're in the south here in Memphis. And we'll be in Nashville next week. And then we will drive back to Monroe, Louisiana and finish our walk. Where are you going to go from Monroe? So from Monroe, Louisiana, we go on to Shreveport, Louisiana.

Then we cross over in Arkansas, I believe, right? In Texas, we go to Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona. So those are the last, the states that I can recall that we have to finish going through. Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona. All right, brother. And we will finish the date is September the 19th to finish in Santa Monica on the Santa Monica Pier. All right. How old are you?

57. You and I knew that. You and I are the exact same. I was born August 24th. Out January 9th. All right. Well, you're older than me about about eight months. Exactly.

All right. Man, I'm 57. All right. I've lost about 50 pounds. I'm, I'm, look good. Thanks, brothers. That's what I'm about to say. I'm toting about 230.

The last time I saw you, you were much heavier than you are now. How much have you lost? The last time you saw me, I was about 360. So I'm around about 270, maybe 265. Well, first of all, good for you. But second of all, what is a 57-year-old 260-pound man doing deciding he going to walk for a year? I know, right?

Well, you know, we got to raise the money. And I thought it would be a good opportunity to not just raise funds, but I get to share some time with a bunch of younger guys and get to hear their dreams and their aspirations and talk to them about life. So that's a fun aspect of it too. And at the same time, kind of reevaluate what this last phase, this fourth quarter of my life is going to look like. You know, what, what how does how do I live that out? I think you're a black force gun, bro. I'll take that. Because he just started running, and people started following him.

Well, I didn't know you were going to show up with other people who were walking with you. And you got Rome and Rob and Ty that are in here with us now. Right. And we got some more guys back. Two of them flew home to Chicago for the weekend. And then we got another guy at the RV, the big RV that we have. So, Ty, Rome, and Rob, who I'm looking at. and these cats are from south side Chicago and what they just walking with you?

All over from Chicago and they're part of our staff at Project Hood, and they all have different roles and different functions, and they're using those gifts and talents to help while we're on the road. So whether it's communication and strategic planning on the routes and things like that, where we're going to sleep, where we're going to eat, all of that, calling volunteers and donors organizing that. So everybody has a role to play. Fellas.

This crazy man decides we're going to walk across America and y'all just say good? How's that work? Somebody tell me how that works. So good experience. People learn no thing. Where are you from? Obloch.

Is that a, listen, I don't know Chicago that well. So Oblock is, it's called, It's actually King Drive, but the area that we're in, they call it O Block. And the reason why they call it O Block is because it's named after a young man named O.D. Perry, who was shot and killed. The gangs took the O in his name and started calling it O Block. But it's actually King Drive. We decided as an organization to keep the O, but we call it Opportunity Block. So we're making opportunities for people.

So it's a rough neighborhood? It's a pretty tough neighborhood. In 2014, the Chicago Sun-Time. said it was the most dangerous neighborhood in all of Chicago. That was the headline article, Obloat. And so we've changed it drastically. It's still a tough area. Still a tough neighborhood.

But we're not even in the top 35 as far as murders and crime is concerned in Chicago now, which is amazing. Because all around, it's like we're the sweet spot. And then all around us, there's a lot of violence, a lot of crime. So we've tackled it and we're handling it pretty good. Ron, how old are you? 23. 23. Could you imagine 10 years ago when you were 13,

she would be walking across the country, leaving O'Brock following this man around doing this? Sir. Why? Why are you here? Just to basically better myself. How did you meet Pastor Brooks? I've been able to since I was a kid since he came in the community.

Do you remember when he was on the roof? Yeah. What was that like, this crazy man on the roof? I was like four. You're proud of it. Before we go on, it's got to fill you up knowing it's a kid from Obelot who was proud of this crazy man on the roof that's not walking across America with you. I mean, that's life-changing.

It is. It's life-changing. And, you know, to hear the, I like the, all of them read. And so I like to hear the books that they're reading and hear what they think about it, like to pick their brains. And so it's real. encouraging when you know that, okay, those are some of my thoughts that he's heard or that they've heard and they kind of picked it up.

And but then to take those thoughts to a whole other level is refreshing. And it is encouraging. And so, yeah, I like that part. And now a few messages from our generous sponsors. But first, I hope you'll follow us on your favorite social media channels where we share more powerful content, including reels from our videos. studio and testimonials from Army members. We're at Army of Normal folks on every channel. Give us a follow. We'll be right back. Hey, I'm Nora Jones, and I love playing music with people so much that my

podcast called Playing Along is back. I sit down with musicians from all musical styles to play songs together in an intimate setting. Every episode's a little different, but it all involves music and conversation with some of my favorite musicians. Over the past two seasons, I've had special guests like Dave Grohl, Leveh, Mavis Staples, Remy Wolf, Jeff Tweedy, really too many to name. And this season, I've sat down with Alessia Cara, Sarah McLaughlin, John Legend, and more. Check out my new episode with Josh Grobin. You related to the Phantom at that point.

Yeah, I was definitely the Phantom in that. That's so funny. Share each day with me each night, each morning. Say you love me. You know how you... So come hang out with us in the studio and listen to playing along on the IHeart Radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A shot fired in City Hall building. A silver 40 caliber handgun was recovered at the scene. From IHeart Podcasts and Best Case Studios. This is Worshack. Murder at City Hall. How could this have happened in City Hall?

Somebody tell me that. Jeffrey Hood did it. July. 2003, Councilman James E. Davis arrives at New York City Hall with a guest. Both men are carrying concealed weapons. And in less than 30 minutes, both of them will be dead. Now, everybody in the chamber is ducked. A shocking public murder.

I scream, get down, get down. Those are shots. Those are shots. Get down. A charismatic politician. You know, he just bent the rules all the time. I still have a weapon. And I could shoot you.

and an outsider with a secret. He alleged he was a victim of flatdown. That may or may not have been political. That may have been about sex. Listen to Rorschach, murder at City Hall, on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. You know the famous author, Roald Dahl.

He thought up Willie Wonka and the BFG. But did you know he was a spy? Neither did I. You can hear all about his wildlife story in the podcast, The Secret World of Roll Dahl. All episodes are out now. Was this before he wrote his stories? It must have been.

What? Okay, I don't think that's true. I'm telling you. The guy was a spy. Binge all 10 episodes of The Secret World of Roll Doll. Now on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. When you listen to podcasts about AI and tech and the future of humanity, the hosts always act like they know what they're talking about and they are experts at everything. Here, the Nick Dick and Poll Show, we're not afraid to make mistakes.

What Coogler did that I think was so unique. He's the writer-director. Who do you think he is? I don't know. You meet the president? You think Canada has a president. You think China has a president. Los Angeles a Rosette.

God, I love that thing. I use it all the time. I wrap it in a blanket and sing to it at night. It's like the old Polish saying, not my monkeys, not my circus. It was a good one. I like that. It is an actual Polish saying. It is an actual.

Yeah, better version of Play Stupid Games, win stupid prizes. Yes. Which, by the way, wasn't Taylor Swift who said that for the first time. I actually thought it was. I got that wrong. Listen to the Nick, Dick, and Poll show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Alex will hate that I'm doing this. And if he edits what I'm about to say to you out, I'm going to put him in a figure four leglock and do a dream machine off the top turnbuckle on him.

Jerry Lawler. That's it. Yeah, man. You know, he's Memphis. Bill Dundee. Yeah, I didn't even know all about. I know right. That's Memphis, man.

That's Memphis. Jimmy Balli. Jimmy Balli. Yeah, Joe LaDue. That's right. Man. I don't even know. I don't even know all that from Chicago, man.

That is. That is it. That's a truth. King Cobra. Yeah. You want to know something? Memphis Coliseal. They train.

You ready? Where they train? Next door to where you're sitting right now. Oh, really? When you walk out this door, look left, you will see the Memphis Wrestling Academy. Oh, I gotta go in there. It's next door. I hope there will be some people in there.

I want to go see it. They're always in there. Oh, I got to go see it. Yeah, it's next door to you. So I actually, you ask me how I know. I'm actually, I was born in Union City, Tennessee, Realfoot Lake. I forgot about that. Yeah, that's why.

My grandfather, my Saturdays were spent watching wrestling on Saturday mornings with my grandfather. Every Saturday. Brown and Lance Russell. That's right. Banana knows. Everybody have to be quiet and watch the wrestling. I grew up same way with same age. Yeah.

I remember from that TV every Saturday morning and watching. My first big event that I ever went to was the Memphis College of a wrestling match. My grandfather took me to. I was probably like probably five years old. I don't even remember a lot of stuff when I was young, but that is the one thing I remember. People listen to us really don't understand. They would be three or four. thousand people.

Yeah. It's every Wednesday. It was Wednesday. Wednesday night. Yeah. All right. So you're going to walk 12 and a half miles each day, Monday through Friday. Yeah.

Weekends reserved for rest and worship. Speaking engagements along the way. So it's more than just a walk. It's kind of an engagement with the community across the country. And I get that. And tell them the story of hood. Absolutely. I don't understand how you're making money by walking.

So one of the things we do, we try to have these meet and greet, these, we had one last night. Here in Memphis. We had one last night here in Memphis. Where? Whysaker. Yeah. Yeah. Cool plus.

Yeah. And we had quite a few people from St. Jude that came. And that was really good because they were trying to give us insight on how we could build capacity and scale, Project Hood. And so that was really good. Some of their fundraisers came and talked us about fundraising. But we have these events and then we try to meet donors in the cities and the major cities that we already have. So in this Memphis area, we have about between Memphis and Jackson, we have about 60 donors. So we try to meet those 60 donors if possible.

And so that's how we do it. And then we just try to get on TV, try to get on podcasts like this and try to tell our story. And if their people's hearts are touched, you know, they give. And, you know, that's pretty much how we've been doing it. So it's a soft ask. We're not really out there, like, really, really getting it. Like, we probably should. But it's a, that's how we, we're just trying to get in front of many,

as many people as we can and tell our story. All right. Before we go forward, because I got a lot of questions. Okay. For those listening, I think very briefly, three minutes. Tell me what you are on the roof of, why you were there, and what you have created. and continue to create so people have perspective of what this walk is actually supporting.

Absolutely. So in 2011, it was a hotel across the street from our church, prostitution. Dead in the middle of South Chicago hood. Dead in the middle of Southside. It was straight hood and really dangerous. And I decided something needed to be done. So I went up on the roof of that motel in November of 20th, 2011. And I said I was not going to come down.

until I raised enough money to purchase it and tear it down and start trying to build a community center. I ended up staying on that roof for 94 days until we raised the funds to finally purchase it and tear it down. And everybody trying to get you down. The mayor, law enforcement, the fire department. The law enforcement, the fire department, everybody. It was a big, big, big story and a big deal in Chicago. And it was covered on all the news channels. Thankfully, we raised enough money and I was able to.

to purchase that motel and we tore it down. Fast forward. Ten years later, my son who's over our facilities, my son who's over our operations comes to me and says, hey, dad, you either need to build this center or change what you're saying because you're starting to sound like a lot of other pastors, unfortunately, in churches who promised stuff and have these building funds and you never do anything. So you need to do something. So I said, okay, we're coming up on the 10th year anniversary. So I put eight train containers together, built a deck and put three tents on it, one tent for me, one tent for guests, and one tent for community meetings and prayer. And I said, I'm going to go back up on the roof and I'm going to stay there until we raise enough money to build this center. At that time, the center was $35 million.

And so on November 20th of 2021, I went back up on the roof and I stayed there this time. it took me 343 days. And we raised $20 million, over 20,000 new donors from all across America. And we broke ground and we started our center. And today, I'm so thankful and grateful that our center is being built. It's $90,000 square feet, $47 million. We raised $40 million.

So hopefully by the end of June, when we have our grand opening, we invite you to come and check it out. Do your podcast from there. I'd love to come. Hopefully we'll be have it paid off, and that's our goal. You've gone from three to 84 staff members, right? Yes. Is that not right?

That's not right. That's definitely right, yeah. And three to 84 staff members, and it's so funny because I sent out a, I was thinking about payroll, and I sent out a, we have this thing called Slack where everybody on the staff is in Slack, and they can read the messages. And I sent out a note that said, hey, it took $175,000 to make payroll. And I just want everyone to recognize that. That every time you get paid, there's tremendous sacrifices being made,

that there are people working really hard for you to have a salary to take care of your family. So please make sure you operate in excellence and give this organization your very best because we're giving you our very best. And so, yeah, so we try to remind people of the sacrifices that are being made and all that's going into having a great staff. And the payoff is in literally one of the most dangerous neighborhood. And listen, Southside Chicago has been politicized. Yeah.

It's been politicized on the left. It's been politicized on the right. But it has been politicized. For sure. And everybody in the country, I mean, you don't know, people all over the country don't know Smokey City or New Chicago. That's Memphis's South Side. It's just as bad. Yeah.

It's the same thing. I was looking at the news. I saw that New Chicago. I saw that. That's where Manassas is, bro. That's where I coached. All right. But people here know it, but they don't.

But nationally, people know Southside Chicago because it's been so close to us. And everybody needs to understand that. That what Pastor Brooks has done is carved out an area in the middle of the worst of the worst, where all of a sudden it's safe to walk down the street. Yeah. That's the payoff. If everybody's asking, well, this sounds great. Why?

Well, that's why. Absolutely. It's creating a haven for families and children. And your church and this community center is the anchor dead in the city. I mean, you're streaking a arrow right in the heart of the day. dysfunction. Yeah, absolutely. The neighborhood is drastically changing or the better. People are getting opportunities that they did not have. Kids can finally go somewhere that's safe. They can get opportunities to do. For instance, we have a swimming pool, an Olympic-sized swimming

pool in the center. And when you talk to the kids and you ask them, you would think they would say, oh, we're excited about the basketball course or the music studio or the TV studio, but you ask them, what are you most excited about? And almost all of them say the swimming pool. And when you think about, why would they say the swimming pool? Well, in a five-mile radius of where we are, there are no active swimming pools. No YMCA with a swimming pool. No park district with a swimming pool. The park district down the street has a swimming pool that does not open in the summer. So for kids in our neighborhood to have these opportunities that they have have not had, it's going to be really important.

Plus, we have a trade school where young brothers are learning to put down guns and pick up hammers. That's what we say. And they're learning a trade and they're getting jobs. That's what is really all about transforming someone's life. I was, I was, I'm set to put out a tweet later on the day. And the tweet goes, something like this, if I can remember it, it goes, anybody can try to take a life. but it takes special people to help change lives.

So that's what it's all about. We want to change lives. We'll be right back. Hey, I'm Nora Jones, and I love playing music with people so much that my podcast called Playing Along is back. I sit down with musicians from all musical styles to play songs together in an intimate setting. Every episode's a little different,

but it all involves music and conversation with some of my favorite musicians. Over the past two seasons, I've had special guests like Dave Grohl, Lavei, Mavis Staples, Remy Wolf, Jeff Tweedy, really too many to name. And this season, I've sat down with Alessia Cara, Sarah McLaughlin, John Legend, and more. Check out my new episode with Josh Grobin. You related to the Phantom at that point.

Yeah, I was definitely the Phantom in that. That's so funny. Share each day with me each night, each morning. So come hang out with us in the studio and listen to Playing Along on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A silver 40 caliber handgun was recovered at the scene. From IHeart podcasts and Best Case Studios. This is Rorschach, murder at City Hall. How could this have happened in City Hall?

Somebody tell me that. July 2003, Councilman James E. Davis arrived at at New York City Hall with a guest. Both men are carrying concealed weapons. And in less than 30 minutes, both of them will be dead. Now, everybody in the chamber is ducks. A shocking public murder. I scream, get down, get down.

Those are shots. Those are shots. Get down. A charismatic politician. You know, he just bent the rules all the time. I still have a weapon. And I could shoot you. And an outsider with a secret.

He alleged he was a victim of flat down. That may or may not have been political. That may have been about sex. Listen to Rorschach, murder at City Hall, on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. You know the famous author, Rold Doll. He thought up Willie Wonka and the BFG. But did you know he was a spy? Neither did I.

You can hear all about his wildlife story in the podcast, The Secret World of Rold Doll. All episodes are out now. Was this before? He wrote his stories? It must have been. What? Okay, I don't think that's true. I'm telling you.

I was a spy. Binge all 10 episodes of The Secret World of Roll Dahl. Now on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. When you listen to podcasts about AI and tech and the future of humanity, the hosts always act like they know what they're talking about and they are experts at everything. Here, the Nick Dick and Poll show, we're not afraid to make mistakes. What Cougler did that I think was so unique. Is he? He's the writer-director.

Who do you think he is? I don't know. You mean, like, the president? You think Canada has a president? You think China has a president? Those law a rouset. God, I love that thing. I use it all the time.

I wrap it in a blanket and sing to it at night. It's like the old Polish saying, not my monkeys, not my circus. Yep. It was a good one. I like that saying. It is an actual Polish saying. Yeah. It is an actual poem.

Better version of Play Stupid Games, Win, Stupid Game. BID prizes. Yes. Which, by the way, wasn't Taylor Swift, who said that for the first time. I actually, I thought it was. I got that wrong. Listen to the Nick, Dick, and Paul show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. We always talk about what's the answer.

How do we fix this societal issue that exists in so many of the inner cities across the United States? and in the most publicized, most well-known area that is kind of metaphorically the illustration of what ills happen in inner cities across the country. Your answer is a church, raise money, invest in the people, a swimming pool, opportunity, and access so that kids get to see a different version of life than the street. Absolutely. That's, I believe that wholeheartedly. I think exposure and opportunities with education can help individuals climb out of poverty

and vicious violent cycles that they've been in for generations. And not $1 government money. Not $1 government money. We just do it off of people hearing our story, believing in what we're trying to do, and the hearts are moved to help us. And we've been blessed thus far that we have an army of people who have been trying to help us. I remember our first conversation. And now that we're 20 minutes into our second conversation,

I remember why I like you so much because I believe in every single thing you're saying. And we're a lot of like. We are a lot of like. We are. You can see the resemblance. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. So far in this walk across America,

what have been some of the most impactful experiences you've had? I think my heart was really touched. And there's two things that really, like, man, made me be, like, unbelievable. One was in Philadelphia when we, I think the area is called, Kensington. And I had heard stories about the drug usage and the opiates and, you know, the fentanyl and people strung out. And it was just an open drug market. But to see it, man, was heart-wrenching. We talked to a lot of people on the corners, on the streets, who were some dealing drugs.

something selling, I mean, taking drugs. And, you know, we had people who were using drugs right in front of us. You know, there was this one girl, she was, we all talked, she was really, I mean, she was really pretty. And we were, my heart was so broken because she was pregnant and she was using heroin or whatever type of drug it was. And to see that, and that, and that was that broke my heart. And because I was wondering, how could something in America be going on on such a large scale

and no one do anything about it? So later on, about a month later, I read where President Trump they came in and did a sweep. So I don't know what it looks like now, But it was bad. It was horrible. Another thing that really brightened our day, that brightened our day, unlike that day,

we were in, I think it's Raleigh, North Carolina. And we got a chance to visit a school for boys. I've been wanting to start a school for boys and a school for girls. And so we came across this school. that had a school for girls and a school for boys on the same campus, just two different schools. And, man, to see how those kids were operating, and I instantly started seeing that's exactly what I need to have on the south side of Chicago, kids who have purpose, kids who understand biblical principles, kids who understand biblical principles, kids who understand, values, respect, dress nice, and highly educated.

And to see that was really refreshing. So those two things, and we've seen a lot of, I can tell you stories after stories after stories, how we were on trails and out in nowhere and somebody stumbles up on us. And this guy tells me, you're Corey Brooks. I've been praying for you for three years.

we're on a back trail in Virginia somewhere. And this guy, I'm like, we come across other people, especially here in the South. It seems like I've been more recognizable because I've been on Fox so much. But people will come up and give us donations and say, hey, I'm praying for you. I heard you were coming through. You know, that type of thing is really encouraging. Our building that's being built is the first building in the last building in the last, last 50 years over 20,000 square feet that's being built new.

Can you imagine being in a community? In 50 years. In 50 years. On the south side of Chicago. How many people live in Southside Chicago? Few million. Oh, man. Three, I think our population is three million.

Okay. And so, yeah, it has not been, and let me, you know, qualify that 20,000 square feet of just use for just community. You know, there have been apartment buildings and things like that, but there has not been anything over 20,000 square feet built brand new just for a community. For a massive population for 50 years. 50 years. Yeah.

Just consider that. Yeah. And then along comes somebody with creative fresh ideas. Yeah. And here we go. And not using the government's money to do it. And using what I believe are conservative values and principles. and what makes it so fascinating

and makes it a miracle to me. So, you know, it's a miracle for me. And I want people to know that because I don't want people to think I just knew this was going to happen. I believe and I have faith, but it's a miracle because I'm in probably one of the most liberal areas

in Chicago. We're right by the University of Chicago. The Obama Center is about a mile that's being built about a mile and a half away. It's in the Woodline area, and it is the home of Jesse Jackson and Congressman Bobby Rush. And so to be doing something, and those are me and that I honor and respect and love, but my principles and the way that I operate are totally opposite of theirs, and to be able to produce in an environment where everyone is leaning another way to me has been remarkable.

It's been a miracle. It's such a cool story. It's just unbelievable. Okay. 57 years old, 260 walking across America. I'm sure there's been times where your feet, Nate, backed, and you thought, oh, I just don't want to do this anymore. Oh, every morning. What are you doing those moments to remind yourself, I'm walking?

Yeah. I'm going to walk. Well, one, I look at these guys, and that's motivation. Tie, they pick it tied. They call him many me because he stays around me the most. But he's so disciplined. He gets up, reads every morning, prays every morning, works out every morning. And so when I'm trying to be lazy and want to be lazy, I'm like, I can't let him show me up.

So I better get my behind up. How are you talking? So you being drug around by 25-year-old young man. Yes. And when I look at them, I'm going to be it. Let's go. So when I look at them, it motivates me. I want to, you know, they all are doing a good job and they're all trying.

They want to do something. They want to do something that adds value and that leaves a legacy. So I want to help them to know that they help to achieve something that no one else in our community was able to achieve. And so that motivates me. And then, you know, I want our neighborhood to continue to change. I want to create a model for what we can do across America. So that drives me every morning. And I think about that.

And when I want to just stay in the bed and I don't want to get up and I don't want to walk and I want to do interviews and podcasts and talk to people, I think about, no, we got to get up and get it. You're seeing a lot of America. You're walking across it. You're meeting a lot of Americans. What has surprised you about the country that might surprise me and our listeners that's been revealed? Yeah. I just did a story on it, and it's this, that we are not as divided as people would want us to be. Man, I love to hear that. People are concerned about their families, white, black, Republican Democrats, liberals, conservatives, everybody is concerned about their family. People are concerned about the economy. You know, can they buy groceries? Can they afford a mortgage? Can they send the kids of college? people are concerned about good education for their kids.

And these are some of the things that we see over and over, regardless of where you come from and who you are, whether you're in Alabama or New York. They are concerned about some of the same things. And I think we've allowed Washington to polarize us and to make us, they've driven a deep wedge between people in America. and it's, it's, we have to use our voices, though, to try to let people know that we're not as far divided as we think. And that concludes part one of our conversation with the nutty Pastor Corey Brooks,

and you don't want to miss part two that's now available to listen to. It really does get better. I hope you'll tune in. Together, guys, we can change this country. And it starts with you. I'll see in part two. Hey, it's Nora Jones. and my podcast playing along is back

with more of my favorite musicians. Check out my newest episode with Josh Grobin. You related to the Phantom at that point. Yeah, I was definitely the Phantom in that. That's so funny. Share each day with me each night, each morning. Listen to Nora Jones is playing along on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts,

or wherever you get your podcasts. How could this have happened in City Hall? Somebody tell me that. A shocking public murder. This is one of the most dramatic events that really ever happened in New York City politics. I scream, get down, get down. Those are shots. A tragedy that's now forgotten.

End of mystery. That may or may not have been political. It may have been about sex. Listen to Roershack, murder at City Hall on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. You know the famous author, Roald Dahl. He thought up Willie Wonka and the BFG. But did you know he was a spy?

Neither did I. You can hear all about his wildlife story in the podcast, The Secret World of Roll Dahl. All episodes are out now. Was this before he wrote his stories? It must have been. What? Okay, I don't think that's true.

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