Dispatches

A Day of Rembering
A Day of Rembering
I did not plan to write and produce a song about the tragic and very tender subject of 9/11, but the inspiration unexpectedly came. I feel it belongs here.  Read more...
The Spirit of 76
The Spirit of 76
Yesterday I had an epiphany. A realization that I had just achieved an important milestone. It’s not what I set out to accomplish when I started working on this project... Read more...
Modern Liberty: From SAR Induction to E Pluribus Unum
Modern Liberty: From SAR Induction to E Pluribus Unum
In addition to my formal induction into the Sons of the American Revolution today, it was also the premier of some of my new music. Read more...
Beacons of Providence: Reflections on the 250th Anniversary of the Long Island Escape
Beacons of Providence: Reflections on the 250th Anniversary of the Long Island Escape
The miraculous divine providence which guided our forebears through the dark waters of the East River still shimmers in the enduring freedoms we enjoy today. Read more...
Restoring the Light of Liberty
Restoring the Light of Liberty
We can each help heal a current "cultural blackout" by returning to our core principles—turning our attention to the foundational tenets that empower us to solve complex puzzles. Read more...
Striking the Match: The Parallel Metaphor of "Journey to Liberty" and the American Founding
Striking the Match: The Parallel Metaphor of "Journey to Liberty" and the American Founding
Metaphorically speaking, the process of bringing this project to life mirrors the dynamics experienced by the patriots and pioneers who forged the nation itself. Read more...
Rights So Dearly Won: Freedom, Fiddles, and Family on Orcas Island
Rights So Dearly Won: Freedom, Fiddles, and Family on Orcas Island
The Revolutionary Era themes of liberty and resilience aren't just confined to history books; they live on in the people we love. Read more...
Summiting Mount Constitution: Perspectives on Liberty from the Pacific Northwest
Summiting Mount Constitution: Perspectives on Liberty from the Pacific Northwest
Standing thousands of miles away from Boston, Philadelphia, or Yorktown, looking out over a horizon that the Founding Generation never even laid eyes on, got me thinking about how the... Read more...
Threads of Freedom: Following the American Flag from Revolutionary Roots to Frontier Trails
Threads of Freedom: Following the American Flag from Revolutionary Roots to Frontier Trails
There is something remarkably grounding about standing face-to-face with physical artifacts representing the progress of our nation’s founding and growth. Read more...
Discovery Companion Supplement: Revolutionary Artifacts at the NSSAR Library
Discovery Companion Supplement: Revolutionary Artifacts at the NSSAR Library
Stepping into the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (NSSAR) Library and headquarters offers a tangible bridge to the founding era. While some prominent features—such as the... Read more...
Subterranean Sovereignty: Parallels Between the Kentucky Cave Wars and the American Revolution
Subterranean Sovereignty: Parallels Between the Kentucky Cave Wars and the American Revolution
Beneath the friction of human ambition and institutional struggle can be found magnificent, breathtaking views—an American landscape that captivates the human spirit and forever calls us to explore. Read more...
The Trademark of Truth: From Louisville Slugger to the NSSAR Library
The Trademark of Truth: From Louisville Slugger to the NSSAR Library
If you look far enough back into the branches of a family tree, you are bound to find a few characters. In my case, tracking down my lineage eventually led... Read more...
Tracing the Western Front: Reflections on Louisville and the American Revolution
Tracing the Western Front: Reflections on Louisville and the American Revolution
My recent trip to Louisville, Kentucky built profoundly on what I have learned as a descendant of Samuel Kendall, whose service in the Virginia militia on the western front inspired... Read more...
So Dearly Won: Samuel Kendall Family History
So Dearly Won: Samuel Kendall Family History
As the story of my Revolutionary War ancestor Samuel Kendall (5th Great-Grandfather) is virtually unknown today, I have been asked if his experiences really happened. Here are some of the... Read more...
Echoes in the Desert: The American Heartbeat in 2026 and 1976
Echoes in the Desert: The American Heartbeat in 2026 and 1976
In celebrating our 250th anniversary, individuals and communities remain at the heart of our republic. Our nation heals and becomes stronger when we gather face-to-face in patriotism (love for our... Read more...
From the Brink of Ruin: Reclaiming America's Story
From the Brink of Ruin: Reclaiming America's Story
Last night I witnessed a brick-and-mortar survivor come back to life in an inaugural event to help tell the story of the establishment of freedom and liberty in America. Read more...
The Dragonfly, the Bell, and the American Experiment
The Dragonfly, the Bell, and the American Experiment
Liberty is not something we must chase or conquer, but rather a quiet equilibrium where, when the environment is right and the spirit is still, freedom doesn't fly away from... Read more...
Serendipity in the Canyon: A Symphonic Evening with Aubree Oliverson
Serendipity in the Canyon: A Symphonic Evening with Aubree Oliverson
There are moments when you step out looking for a quiet respite from your own daily obsessions, only to collide headfirst with the very thing that inspires you most.  Read more...
"History Lessons Disguised as Rock Songs:" Journey to Liberty on the Live Stage
"History Lessons Disguised as Rock Songs:" Journey to Liberty on the Live Stage
The Fourth of July, 2026, marked a monumental milestone for the Journey to Liberty initiative as the very first public notes of the soundtrack echoed across St. George, Utah.  Read more...
Bringing Living History to the St. George Parade
Bringing Living History to the St. George Parade
The Fourth of July in St. George, Utah, is always a grand tradition, but this year's parade reached a whole new level of community spirit and historical pageantry. Read more...
The Forging of a Founder: Reflections on Young Washington and the Path Ahead
The Forging of a Founder: Reflections on Young Washington and the Path Ahead
We are at a moment where we can choose to build on what unites us rather than what divides us. Through projects like Young Washington and Journey to Liberty, we... Read more...
The Architect’s Compass: Reflections from the Spire
The Architect’s Compass: Reflections from the Spire
Standing above the city of Washington D.C., I realized the National Mall is not merely a collection of buildings, parks and monuments; it is a physical map of our national... Read more...
The Human Foundation of Liberty
The Human Foundation of Liberty
To truly grasp the sacrifice and commitment of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, we must strip away the pageantry and perceive them as they were: citizens forced into... Read more...
The Light that Transcends: A Reflection at the Jefferson Memorial
The Light that Transcends: A Reflection at the Jefferson Memorial
This place serves as a persistent invitation to every generation to take up the cause anew and help sustain the ideals of the Declaration, ensuring that the American experiment remains... Read more...
Journey to Liberty: An Invitation to Explore, Not a Mandate to Agree
Journey to Liberty: An Invitation to Explore, Not a Mandate to Agree
To avoid the pitfalls of modern partisanship, Journey to Liberty seeks to be grounded in human history while remaining politically neutral. This project is built on a simple, foundational premise:... Read more...
Emotional Resonance and Reflection at Liberty Village
Emotional Resonance and Reflection at Liberty Village
Perhaps the most significant insight came from two accomplished historians who, being among the nation’s foremost experts on Elizabeth Powel, listened closely to her song... Read more...
A Shared Compass for the Road Ahead
A Shared Compass for the Road Ahead
If you’ve spent any time with the Road to Liberty, you know this project is deeply rooted in the past. Through music and storytelling, I examine the events and figures... Read more...
Echoes of Freedom, Visions of Tomorrow: Inside Liberty Village
Echoes of Freedom, Visions of Tomorrow: Inside Liberty Village
Liberty Village in Hurricane, Utah, is a 32-acre, immersive living history village and educational campus dedicated to bringing 18th-century American history and the nation's founding principles to life. Read more...
Walking the Full Path of History: Why Honest Stories Can Help Build True Unity
Walking the Full Path of History: Why Honest Stories Can Help Build True Unity
When I set out on the Road to Liberty, I knew the destination wasn’t a place on a map, but a shared state of mind: patriotism, civility, and unity. I... Read more...
The Theological Landscape of the Founding: From the Declaration to the Constitution
The Theological Landscape of the Founding: From the Declaration to the Constitution
How did a group of Founding Fathers who disagreed on theology manage to agree on spiritual vocabulary in two of our founding documents? Read more...
From Lecture to Exploration: Connecting the Past to Our Own Experiences
From Lecture to Exploration: Connecting the Past to Our Own Experiences
Fostering structured, constructive conversations that respect diverse perspectives can facilitate open communication, even among those with strongly differing opinions. Read more...
The 250th Milestone: A Mirror of Our Past, a Compass for Our Future
The 250th Milestone: A Mirror of Our Past, a Compass for Our Future
The 250th anniversary is a once-in-a-lifetime launchpad. The decisions we make in our homes and our communities over the coming months can help set the trajectory for the next quarter-millennium. Read more...
The Green Dragon Tavern and Museum: A Colonial Anchor in Carlsbad
The Green Dragon Tavern and Museum: A Colonial Anchor in Carlsbad
The Green Dragon Tavern and Museum is West Coast tribute to the original "Headquarters of the Revolution" in Boston. Read more...
Journey to Liberty Discovery Companion: Making the Story Your Own
Journey to Liberty Discovery Companion: Making the Story Your Own
The Discovery Companion was created to help make the stories of people and events of our nation's founding become more personal, alive, and applicable to the situations we face today. Read more...
Historical Echoes and Modern Milestones: The Journey to Liberty
Historical Echoes and Modern Milestones: The Journey to Liberty
The Road to Liberty intentionally timed our project milestones to coincide with some of the very dates that helped forged the American spirit.  Read more...
Building the Digital Gateway to Liberty
Building the Digital Gateway to Liberty
When you embark on a project of historic proportions, you don’t just need a vendor; you need a partner who can handle both the creative spark and the technical grind.... Read more...
The Evolution of a National Musical Legacy
The Evolution of a National Musical Legacy
The transformation of Road to Liberty from a collection of historical songs into the immersive Journey to Liberty is a remarkable story of creative evolution. Here is a brief account... Read more...
Musical Snapshots™ - Capturing Energetic and Emotional Sparks
Musical Snapshots™ - Capturing Energetic and Emotional Sparks
The term Musical Snapshot™ isn't about technical polish; it’s about harnessing the raw energy and emotional power of the creative moment. Read more...
The Truth Behind Washington’s Final Testament
The Truth Behind Washington’s Final Testament
My portrayal of Washington’s Final Testament is a dramatized piece of storytelling. I’ve approached this as a storyteller seeking the "Softened Historical Realism" of his spirit—imagining the warm, living words... Read more...
More Than Just Music: What an America250 Sanction Truly Means
More Than Just Music: What an America250 Sanction Truly Means
I am often asked what the America250 seal on my three albums means. Some people think it’s a sponsorship; others think it’s just a patriotic sticker. But the truth is... Read more...
A National Milestone for Road to Liberty
A National Milestone for Road to Liberty
In a recent feature, St. George News announced that Road to Liberty has been selected as an official historical storytelling celebration for the United States Semiquincentennial. The feature also highlights... Read more...
Freedom’s Flame in Asia and Russia: The Mojave’s Silent Witness
Freedom’s Flame in Asia and Russia: The Mojave’s Silent Witness
On a business trip for the Journey to Liberty project, we passed a historical park in the middle of the Mojave Desert at a place called Yermo, California. We decided... Read more...
An Unlikely Origin: How Silicon Slopes Inspired Journey to Liberty
An Unlikely Origin: How Silicon Slopes Inspired Journey to Liberty
What began as a personal experiment at a Utah tech summit has evolved into an official historical storytelling celebration for the United States Semiquincentennial. By blending a lifelong passion for... Read more...