Remember the fashions of the 1970s? The big hairstyles, colorful suits, mini dresses, platform-era trends, and unforgettable wedding outfits?

In Episode 37 of The Never Alone Podcast, Iris Fisher Smith welcomes her brother Lance back for a nostalgic, funny, and heartwarming journey through 1970s fashion, hairstyles, family weddings, and the memories that clothing can bring back to life.

They call this episode "Stitches in Time" because sometimes an old photograph, a familiar hairstyle, or an unforgettable outfit can transport us back to a special moment in our lives.

Iris and Lance revisit family events from 1970 and 1974, remembering how fashion reflected the changing culture of America and how television stars, celebrities, and popular music influenced what everyone wore.

And some of those fashions were unforgettable—for better or worse!

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• 1970s fashion trends and the transition from the 1960s
• How John-John Kennedy influenced little boys' clothing
• Mini dresses, go-go boots, patent leather shoes, and colorful outfits
• Marlo Thomas hairstyles, bouffants, and enormous hair rollers
• The unforgettable fashions of their mother's generation
• Vintage wedding dresses and the famous Priscilla of Boston
• Their sister Judy's beautiful 1974 wedding
• Powder-blue tuxedos, ruffled shirts, and a hilarious wardrobe malfunction
• The music of Karen Carpenter and the sounds of the 1970s
• How television and celebrity culture influenced everyday fashion
• Funny family wedding memories and unexpected surprises
• Why family photographs are such important pieces of our personal history

One of the funniest moments comes when Lance remembers wearing a powder-blue tuxedo to his sister's wedding. Unfortunately, his pants weren't fitted quite right—and while dancing, he split them from top to bottom!

And that's just one of the stories!

Iris also remembers her own wedding on May 18, 1980, the very day Mount St. Helens erupted. While she was preparing for one of the biggest days of her life, everyone was talking about the volcano!

But beyond the laughter and nostalgia, this conversation carries an important message.

Our clothing, hairstyles, photographs, and favorite songs become living time capsules of our family history.

They remind us of the people we love, the friendships that lasted a lifetime, and the moments that helped shape who we are today.

As Iris shares throughout her memoir Never Alone, ordinary family experiences are often connected to extraordinary moments in American history.

And sometimes the best thing we can do is slow down, remember the good times, laugh together, and appreciate the people who have shared our journey.

WE'D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR MEMORIES!

What was your favorite fashion trend from the 1960s or 1970s?

Did you wear a powder-blue tuxedo, a mini dress, a pillbox hat, or one of those enormous bouffant hairstyles?

Tell us in the comments! We'd love to hear your stories.

Please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE this episode with someone who remembers those unforgettable decades.

Discover Iris Fisher Smith's memoir, Never Alone, and explore family photographs, stories, and more: https://IrisFSmith.com

Watch more episodes of The Never Alone Podcast:
https://IrisFSmith.com/podcast

Family. Friendship. Faith. And the memories that remind us we were never meant to walk through life alone.

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What happens when the American Dream collides with tragedy?

In Episode 36 of The Never Alone Podcast, Iris Fisher Smith welcomes longtime friend Ann Averill back for a personal look at JFK, the Kennedy family, and the remarkable combination of hope, ambition, achievement, and tragedy that defined the Kennedy era.

For Iris, John F. Kennedy isn't simply a figure from American history. His story intersects with her own family history.

Years before becoming President, then-Senator Kennedy became involved in the search for Iris's father, who was missing during the Korean War. Iris recounts how Kennedy personally reassured her grandmother that he would continue looking for him. Her father was eventually found after having been held captive for approximately six months.

Iris and Ann also remember the Kennedy years through the eyes of two people who grew up during this extraordinary period in American history.

They discuss:

• JFK and the optimism surrounding his presidency
• The Kennedy family's dreams and tragedies
• Ann's memory of learning President Kennedy had been assassinated
• Iris's family's personal connection to JFK
• JFK's health struggles
• The Cuban Missile Crisis and Cold War
• Civil rights and the space race
• Jackie Kennedy's influence on American culture and fashion
• The assassinations of John and Robert Kennedy
• How our understanding of history changes as we grow older

But the conversation eventually becomes about something much bigger than the Kennedys:

What happens when your own dreams don't unfold the way you expected?

Iris shares how serious health problems repeatedly changed the direction of her life. Her dream of becoming a singer led through unexpected turns involving nutrition, fitness, massage, working with people with disabilities, and eventually back to music.

Years later, another unexpected chapter began:

She wrote Never Alone and became a podcast host.

The original dream changed—but Iris discovered that hardship could also produce wisdom, empathy, resilience, and a new sense of purpose.

The Kennedy family's dreams and tragedies played out publicly. Ours usually don't. But we all experience dreams, disappointments, loss, and unexpected changes.

For Iris and Ann, faith provides an anchor through those changes. We use the gifts we've been given, do the best we can, and trust God with the results.

You don't have to be President—or famous—for your life to have an impact.

Do you remember the Kennedy era? Where were you when you heard JFK had been assassinated? If you're younger, what stories did your parents or grandparents tell you?

Tell us in the comments. We'd love to hear your memories.

Please Like, Subscribe and Share to help others discover the Never Alone community.

Discover Iris Fisher Smith's memoir, Never Alone, and watch more episodes:
https://IrisFSmith.com

Family. Friendship. Faith. You were never meant to walk through life alone.

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Remember when staying up late to watch a television show felt like an event?

In Episode 35 of The Never Alone Podcast, Iris Fisher Smith is joined once again by her brother Alan Fisher for a fun and nostalgic trip through the history of late-night television—and the comedians and entertainers who gave generations of Americans a reason to laugh before going to bed.

Iris and Alan go all the way back to the early days of television, when families were making the transition from radio to a brand-new visual medium.

There was no streaming.

No YouTube.

No DVR.

And certainly no pulling out your phone the next morning to watch the monologue you missed!

If you weren't there when the show aired, you probably missed it.

From Steve Allen and Jack Paar to the unforgettable era of Johnny Carson, and eventually the explosion of competing late-night shows, Iris and Alan look at just how dramatically television has changed during their lifetimes.

In this episode, they talk about:

• The beginnings of late-night television in the 1950s
• Steve Allen, Jack Paar and the early years of The Tonight Show
• The arrival of videotape and how television technology changed
• Johnny Carson and the golden age of late-night television
• David Letterman, Dick Cavett and the expansion of the format
• The comedians and entertainers families gathered to watch
• How late-night television provided laughter during difficult periods in American life
• Growing up when television had only a handful of channels
• The difference between appointment television and today's unlimited streaming choices
• How YouTube completely changed the way we watch late-night comedy
• Why laughter still matters, regardless of the generation

Iris also shares memories of growing up when television itself was still something relatively new—and when programming eventually ended for the night.

Then the conversation wanders, in true Iris-and-Alan fashion, into Gone with the Wind, old movie theaters, four-hour movies, Johnny Carson, watching television from bed, getting older, aching necks, and whether Iris should start The Never Alone Podcast with her own late-night-style monologue.

She even gives it a try.

Let's just say Johnny Carson probably doesn't have to worry.

But underneath all the nostalgia and sibling banter is something worth remembering.

Every generation has faced uncertainty.

Every generation has had difficult news.

And every generation has needed moments when families and friends could put their worries aside and simply laugh together.

Television has changed enormously since Iris and Alan were children. Today we can watch almost anything, anywhere, anytime. But perhaps one thing hasn't changed:

Sometimes laughter really is good medicine.

What late-night television host do YOU remember watching?

Was it Johnny Carson? David Letterman? Jay Leno? Or someone from today's generation?

Tell us in the comments—we'd love to hear your memories.

And if you enjoyed this trip down memory lane, please Like, Subscribe, Share, and leave us a comment.

Discover Iris Fisher Smith's memoir, Never Alone, and order your copy: IrisFSmith.com

Watch more episodes of The Never Alone Podcast and sign up to be notified whenever a new episode is released: IrisFSmith.com

You were never meant to walk through life alone.

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