Shows
The Three Links Odd CastHelp! The Grand Master Is Coming!Spring is here and many jurisdictions are having their Sessions, which means electing new Grand Masters who will be traveling around to visit lodges. In response to a listener's question, we discuss the process and protocols involved in a Grand Master's visit. Should you feed the Grand Master? When does he or she get introduced? Where should they sit? When do they speak? Who else gets introduced with the Grand Master? There are a lot of questions to answer and we do our best to get to all of them. The Shoutout goes to yet another new Encampment, Razorback No. 100...
2025-05-311h 38
The Three Links Odd CastEvangelicals And Odd FellowshipNot everyone understands fraternalism or takes the groups at face value. The suspicion of Freemasonry by the Roman Catholic Church is well known. Lesser known is the skepticism of so-called "secret societies" by Evangelical Christians. In response to a listener question, we asked Paul Michaels (not his real name), an Evangelical pastor, to come on the podcast and shed some light on why some Evangelical Christians are highly suspicious of Odd Fellowship and other fraternal groups. By keeping him anonymous we were able to get candid and honest answers about why Evangelicals distrust Odd Fellowship as an institution. Some of th...
2025-04-291h 34The Three Links Odd CastNew Perspectives On Odd FellowshipBrothers Aiden Brink and Will Sparks both joined their respective lodges in the past couple of years. Each have become very active and spurred growth in their areas. They were both kind enough to join us to discuss their perspective on Odd Fellowship: what we get right, what we get wrong, and what we can do to build a solid future for our Order. Some of the answers may be surprising, especially to long-time members, but they are incredibly insightful and provide a very appealing pathway to future growth. Hint: newer members see a lot of value in our hist...
2025-04-151h 40The Three Links Odd CastRitual And Regalia ChangesAlthough it's tempting to think that Odd Fellowship has been handed down from the past completely unchanged from some visionaries at an ancient building site, that's not the case. Odd Fellowship has adapted and changed through its history to meet the needs of members and the Order as those needs have changed. In this episode, Kris Gratz of Virginia shares his research into the developments in Odd Fellows' regalia through the ages and how that has coincided with changes in our ritual and also various cultural cross-currents. For example, gold fringe on a collar used to indicate that a mem...
2025-03-251h 52The Three Links Odd CastMystery And BenevolenceIn 2016, an exhibit opened at the American Folk Art Museum showcasing various artifacts from American fraternal orders, most notably the Odd Fellows and Freemasons. The collection shared the best of fraternal folk art with the wider world. One of the curators of that exhibition, Dr. Aimee Newell, joined us to talk about the collection and give us some background and history on where the items came from, their significance, and their influence into culture at large. Once again, the Shoutout goes to a new Encampment, this time the re-chartered Santa Paula #118 of California. In the Odd Podge, Toby announces the...
2025-03-111h 41The Three Links Odd CastHow Global Are We?Most of us know about our local lodge and may be familiar with a couple other lodges in our area. However, Odd Fellowship is global in scope and scale—or is it? Brother Chuck Hillberry of the State Of The Order Committee of Sovereign Grand Lodge joins us to discuss exactly how much global reach Odd Fellowship has and how various overseas groups are connected to the Sovereign Grand Lodge. The truth is a lot more complicated than most members realize and Brother Chuck shares the necessary background with us to have the right understanding of the situation. The Shouto...
2025-02-251h 39
The Three Links Odd CastDigging Up Our RootsWe think we all know the story of how Odd Fellowship began in North America: five brave souls, led by Thomas Wildey, held the first meeting in Baltimore in 1819 and, from there, Odd Fellowship exploded across the continent spreading friendship, love, and truth from sea to shining sea. The reality, though, has a lot more detail and challenges than what we know. Mike, Ainslie, and Toby delve into the history of the founding of our Order a couple centuries ago. They reveal some of the challenges of the young lodge and structure and highlight the members who helped build and...
2025-02-092h 03The Three Links Odd CastGrowing In The SunshineThirty years ago, in a small town in Washington State, a young twenty-something man stood surrounded by five elderly men in a leaky, damp building doing something that would change the trajectory of his entire life. In that moment, Kelly Hughes made a commitment that would shape his destiny and give him a new purpose in life. From that time forward, as an Odd Fellow, Kelly would work tirelessly for the betterment of his community, his lodge, and his jurisdiction. Through his work, Skookumchuck Lodge No. 129 was able to get their building renovated (no more leaky roof!) and they wer...
2025-01-202h 05The Three Links Odd CastMixing Old And New MembersEvery lodge wants to grow—but how many lodges are actually able to incorporate new members successfully in such a way that the new members feel valued? Brother Matthew Thornton, NG of Houston Heights Lodge #225 in Texas, joins us to talk about how his lodge maintains a healthy lodge culture with a mix of everyone from oil workers to urban hippies. Spoiler alert: their secret is holding a lot of events that give people an opportunity to do something. Brother Matthew goes into more detail with us to talk about how that all comes together and how it turns out. ...
2025-01-051h 12
The Three Links Odd CastIt's A Wonderful LodgeBased on the classic holiday film "It's A Wonderful Life," this year's Christmas episode is an Odd Fellows' retelling of the old favorite in which George Bailey is the harried Past Grand of Bedford Falls Lodge #310. Straining under the weight of his lodge's expectations, he finally breaks and wishes he had never been an Odd Fellow. The ghost of Thomas Wildey visits him to give him a glimpse into the world where he never joined the lodge. This episode features an all-star cast including Gil T. Rodello, Kyle Fuller, Mason Wolf, Matthew Thornton, Fran Carris, Kaitlyn Osman, Ian Love-Jones, Ste...
2024-12-2033 minThe Three Links Odd CastEating OddlyEating together is an integral part of Odd Fellowship and has a long tradition of inclusion within our Order, from formal banquets at Grand and Sovereign Grand Lodge meetings to sandwich platters during a Degree Rally, to tried-and-true fraternal staples like spaghetti feeds, pancake breakfasts, and pie auctions. Mike, Ainslie, and Toby discuss these various modes of eating and other ways that food helps bolster the fellowship of Odd Fellowship. The Shoutout goes to another new lodge in Florida, this time the re-chartered Suncoast #69. Word has it that another lodge institution will be taking place in Florida early next yea...
2024-12-081h 22The Three Links Odd CastGrowing ProsperityIn high school, Dustin used to wander past the dusty old Odd Fellows Hall in Wenatchee, Washington. Intrigued by the music blaring out on to the sidewalk one evening, he went in to find an all-ages punk rock concert. Joel was the producer of those concerts and made sure the teens and young adults of Wenatchee had a safe, fun place on Friday nights. Now, nearly thirty years later, they are both members of the lodge where those concerts were held and they are putting on the concerts themselves. Prosperity Lodge #301 nearly died in 2018 and was saved, only to die...
2024-11-241h 26The Three Links Odd CastSovereign Grand Master WorkmanOur Sovereign Grand Master, the Honorable Gerald V. Workman of West Virginia, sat down with us for a wide-ranging discussion about his path in Odd Fellowship and how it led him to the top job in the Order. He tells about his early days joining the Junior Lodge, his many years working in his local lodge, his eventual path through the chairs of the Grand Lodge of West Virginia, and his journey into the Sovereign Grand Lodge. Along the way, he has been guided by his strong belief in the principles of Odd Fellowship and his religious faith, both of...
2024-11-101h 29The Three Links Odd CastOdd Fellows' Rest RevisitedAs has become tradition at the Three Links Odd Cast, we like to take a turn to the spooky for Halloween and talk cemeteries. We're joined by Brother Michael Duplantier to discuss the progress on restoring New Orleans' famous Odd Fellows' Rest Cemetery. Brother Duplantier does a wonderful job of giving us the history and background on the cemetery and how it fell into disrepair along with the recent efforts to restore it and make it an attractive place to honor our deceased brothers and sisters. The interview covers a surprising amount of history and culture of New Orleans and...
2024-10-281h 34The Three Links Odd CastLodge Is Bustin' Out All OverUsually, by the time we at the Three Links Odd Cast hear about a new lodge being chartered, it's already meeting regularly. However, in this instance, we got to talk to Brother Garrett Hite of Oklahoma as he's in the process of re-chartering Durant Lodge #57. Brother Garrett shares his story of how he first came to join the Odd Fellows, his time away from his home lodge, and the eventual need to form a new lodge in his new home town in Oklahoma. He gives a great amount of insight into the process of chartering a lodge, from finding a m...
2024-09-301h 09The Three Links Odd CastSovereign Grand Lodge: ReactionsMike, Toby, and Ainslie are all safely home from their trip to Pittsburgh and back to their usual lodge activities. The brothers got together to discuss their experiences at Sovereign Grand Lodge and how they felt the Order was progressing as a result. They all had wonderful experiences at the event and enjoyed the fellowship and are energized with all kinds of great ideas for the future. They discuss all those ideas in this episode and give some thoughts about how they may be implemented as soon as next year's session. The Shoutout goes to another new lodge, this time...
2024-09-121h 26The Three Links Odd CastLive From Sovereign Grand Lodge!The 2024 Annual Communication of the Sovereign Grand Lodge was noteworthy for many reasons, not least of which was our live recording of the first episode of Season Five of the Three Links Odd Cast. We had a packed meeting room full of members from jurisdictions all across the US and Canada on hand for this lively discussion of the state of Odd Fellowship today. Mike, Ainslie, and Toby had a great time directing the discussion and responding to the audience members' questions and comments. We heard about new lodges in Nova Scotia and South Dakota, the hot air balloon in...
2024-08-261h 31The Three Links Odd CastAnniversary IV: More Of The BestOne might think that after four seasons and over 30,000 downloads of the Three Links Odd Cast that there would be nothing left for the hosts to talk about. Au contraire, mon frère! Mike, Toby, and Ainslie are very opinionated and love hearing themselves talk so it was easy for them to take some time to talk about the highlights of the previous season's work. The main highlight was their Christmas episode which featured a radio play written by Toby and acted by a cast of talented members from around the country. Other highlights were the on-location recordings of interviews with...
2024-07-161h 25The Three Links Odd CastThe Lord's Prayer: ReactionsOur recent episode on inclusion of the Lord's Prayer in the lodge opening generated some of the greatest volume of feedback from listeners we've ever received. We went through dozens and dozens of listener emails, Facebook posts, Instagram messages, and other communications and read them all and then came up with our responses. This is a long episode but we think it's worth hearing all the way to the end because of the careful, detailed discussion. The Shoutout goes to a new Rebekah Lodge in Illinois: Gem City Doves #27. For the Odd Podge, Ainslie recounts recent lodge social activities, Mike...
2024-06-012h 07The Three Links Odd CastLone Star RisingThe Grand Jurisdiction of Texas is on an upswing. Its membership is growing and getting younger and they are chartering new lodges. Grand Master Charlie Stephenson and Brother William Plotts join us to talk about the chartering of Brazos Valley Lodge #76. They share how the Grand Lodge supported their efforts, how what they learned from the failure of the new lodge in El Paso helped their efforts and how the experience of re-chartering Plano Lodge #114 provided a helpful template. The Shoutout goes to the aforementioned Plano Lodge #114 for their upcoming car show in June. In the Odd Podge, Toby updat...
2024-04-291h 32The Three Links Odd CastThe Lord's PrayerOdd Fellowship is non-political and non-sectarian. But why, then, do we recite the Lord's Prayer as part of the opening of the lodge? Ainslie and Toby dig into some of the history around this observance and discuss whether it makes us truly non-sectarian or if that was just a thin veneer applied to the top of Odd Fellowship to make it appeal to more people. Hint: there are no right answers and a lot of different opinions. The Shoutout goes to Nampa Lodge #40 of Idaho for their efforts to bring in a new, young member. In the Odd Podge, Ainsl...
2024-04-151h 17The Three Links Odd CastTrue FellowshipLike many lodges, True Fellowship No. 52 in San Jose, CA had seen better days. As members got older, the focus of the lodge became more insular and they were less interested in connecting to the outside community. That all began to change when a new member with an interest in building community joined. Since that time, the lodge has become a dynamo in San Jose and has not only become a thriving place itself, it is beginning to share its success with other lodges in the area. They share their recipe of social events, food events, and volunteerism that has...
2024-04-011h 44The Three Links Odd CastMinnesota MiracleA remarkable convergence of events led to the revival of Friendship Lodge No. 50 in Northfield, Minnesota. A Mason in Red Wing, Minnesota started an educational program for his Masonic lodge and then reached out to the Odd Fellows to request them give a presentation about Odd Fellowship. Four of the Masons present decided to check out Odd Fellowship. One person turned to Reddit and podcasts (like ours and Modern Goat Rider) to do some research before joining a group. The lodge in Northfield dropped down to the remaining five members. When all of that came together, the new members were...
2024-03-181h 57The Three Links Odd CastWhat Is Going Wrong? - Part IIBilly and Tara from Modern Goat Rider joined us for a thorough and in-depth discussion about leadership in the Odd Fellows. The first half of the episode is available on their feed on your favorite podcatcher or directly from their podcast host. In this episode we discuss the leadership at the Grand Lodge and Sovereign Grand Lodge levels and specifically ponder the question of whether we need to have an organizational structure with a stronger central executive and what the possible ramifications of that would be. The Shoutout goes to another new lodge, this time Bluegrass #416 in Kentucky. In the...
2024-03-041h 28The Three Links Odd CastSelling OutA recent email from a listener prompted this episode's discussion about what happens when a lodge sells its building. A lot can happen, but only a very few things should happen. We dig into the question and examine the process and what knowledge members should have when dealing with major lodge property. The Shoutout goes to Prestonsburg Lodge #293 in Kentucky for their impressive growth and revival in the past couple of years. For the Odd Podge, Toby talks about his first time in twenty years not being part of an Installing Team, Ainslie shares his experience getting a milestone tatto...
2024-02-201h 31
The Three Links Odd CastAn Odd Fellows Christmas CarolThis year, for our Christmas episode, we present this adaptation of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." Listen along as an all-star cast of Odd Fellows presents this unique Odd Fellows take on the classic story.Ebeneezer Scrooge: Gil T. RodelloThomas Wildey: Steven CrossBob Cratchitt: Joseph BentonTim Cratchitt: Ainslie HeilichGhost of Odd Fellowship Past: Michael GreenzeigerGhost of Odd Fellowship Present: Mason WolfGhost of Odd Fellowship Future: Mike DuminiakWritten, directed, recorded, and edited by Toby Hanson. Music by Toby Hanson.
2023-12-1829 minThe Three Links Odd CastSovereign Grand Master InterviewOur Sovereign Grand Master, John Cupp, is a very busy man. We were very fortunate when he made some time at the West Virginia Grand Sessions to sit down and talk with co-host Mike Duminiak about his time as Sovereign Grand Master and some of his experiences in Odd Fellowship. He was joined partway through the interview by his wife Emilie who also shared some experiences and observations. Both are very intelligent and articulate leaders in our Order and we feel very fortunate that they made the time to speak with Mike. The Shoutout goes to the newly-revived Reno Enca...
2023-12-071h 37The Three Links Odd CastVernon Wolf Memorial LodgePueblo Lodge #8 was down to just four members after the passing of one of the five who was maintaining the quorum that kept their charter. John Jones had recently moved to Colorado from another state and was looking to join a lodge. One day, a man with a letter from the Grand Secretary showed up on his doorstep to meet him and possibly bring him into the lodge. That man was Vernon Wolf, Past Grand Master of Colorado. Brother Vernon did show up on John's doorstep and brought him into Pueblo #8. John, in turn, helped the revival of the lodge...
2023-11-201h 18The Three Links Odd CastRemember MeWe always like to do an episode about cemeteries around Halloween and this year is no exception. Given our command to "Bury The Dead" as Odd Fellows, and how many lodges have administered cemeteries throughout our history, it's no surprise to find a lodge engaged in activities related to a final resting place. For this episode we are joined with Past Grand Master Carol Woltjer and Brother Matt Rock of Sioux Falls Lodge #9 in South Dakota to talk about their "Remember Me" project. Their lodge is raising funds and placing markers on the graves of indigent burials in Minnehaha Cou...
2023-11-061h 23The Three Links Odd CastLinked In The LodgeA life of academic wandering and creation has brought Dr. Heather Calloway to her present position as Executive Director of University Collections and Director of the Center for Fraternal Collections and Research at Indiana University. Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, and having grown up in a fraternal family, Dr. Calloway was destined from an early age to make her way to the hallowed halls of academia and bring her fraternal knowledge and experience with her. She was kind enough to share some of her time with us to talk about the collection, how it came to be, what they are...
2023-10-261h 36The Three Links Odd CastThe Cave Degree (Part 1?)In a secluded corner of the wilderness around Mount Shasta in Northern California, a secret rite has been taking place for generations. No, it's not something from the latest thriller novel, it's the Cave Degree! In a natural cave that faces east toward Mount Shasta, Odd Fellows (and before them, Knights of Pythias) have been performing degree work. The Odd Fellows of Yreka Lodge No. 19 bought the cave from the Pythians in 1962 for $10 but had been using the cave for the Second Degree since 1940. The Cave Degree has become one of the most cherished traditions of Odd Fellowship in Cali...
2023-10-081h 42The Three Links Odd CastHahn Farm DegreesTucked away in a secluded corner of Oregon's rolling farmland northwest of Portland sits the Hahn Farm. Owned by Gary Hahn, a third-generation Odd Fellow and fourth-generation owner of the farm, it has become a beacon for Odd Fellowship in the jurisdiction of Oregon. Every year since the early 1990s, on the third weekend of September, the farm hosts a Degree Weekend unlike most others in Odd Fellowship. Candidates take the Initiatory and Three Degrees on Saturday and then the Encampment and Canton Degrees on Sunday. The setting for the Degrees could not be more amazing. The Degrees are perf...
2023-09-251h 06The Three Links Odd CastJoin Or Die!Civic life in America has been in decline for decades. A prescient few, including noted author Robert Putnam, have chronicled that decline. In his book "Bowling Alone," Putnam explored the link between civic engagement and the function of government and described the nature of the decline in participation in clubs, churches, and other groups. Pete and Rebecca Davis, a brother and sister team, made a film based on Putnam's book: "Join Or Die!" Their film opens with a visit to one of our superstar lodges, Waxahachie #80 in Texas. Throughout the course of the film we get to learn the story...
2023-09-041h 38The Three Links Odd CastDead Horse CaveOdd Fellowship has found many spaces in which to adapt its Degree work. Our beginnings were in pubs and taverns so Degrees were originally performed there. Eventually we built lodge halls but we still looked for more interesting and unusual places to perform Degrees. Caves became a popular choice in the 20th Century. California's Cave Degree near Yreka is the most well-known, but other locations have done outdoor and underground Degrees, including Dead Horse Cave in Idaho. Located near the town of Gooding, Dead Horse Cave first hosted the Second Degree in 1947, a tradition which continued until 2004. Brother Donnie Marvin...
2023-08-171h 05The Three Links Odd CastAnniversary Spectacular 3: Onward!Hard to believe, but it's been three years since the launch of the Three Links Odd Cast. Way back when, Sergio, Ainslie, and Toby could hardly imagine the cultural touchstone this podcast would become. Here we are at the beginning of Season Four and we're just as excited to make new episodes as we were when we started in 2020. We take a look back at the episodes that made Season 3 special, including talking with the Historian from the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library, the "kitchen table" episode, the episodes about new lodges that were chartered, and some of the oth...
2023-07-181h 43The Three Links Odd CastAre You Covered?Insurance can be a touchy subject that's all too easy to avoid. There are multiple different reasons to avoid it including cost, complication, and just a general desire to not think about bad things that might happen. Those bad things are a fact of life, however, and lodges need to be prepared for whatever kind of bad things may occur. Fortunately, Sister Malia Murchison of Morning Star Lodge #20 in Placerville, California is a Past Grand and a professional insurance agent. She joined us to go through all the various problems that may arise and how to make sure your lodg...
2023-06-181h 13The Three Links Odd CastLeaving The Kitchen TableTake one seventy-year Odd Fellow, his great grandson, a twenty-year Odd Fellow from Indiana, a guy from the neighborhood looking for a "thirty-year project" and a few other new folks and put them together and you have the recipe for reviving a lodge that had become profoundly inactive as they retreated from the community and membership had shrunk. They had become a "kitchen-table lodge," content to meet casually around the kitchen table. With the involvement of the new members and the guidance of the older ones, the lodge has successfully moved from being complacent to vibrant. Now a hive of...
2023-06-041h 57The Three Links Odd CastNevada RisingLike many western jurisdictions, Nevada is small. The bigger cities—Las Vegas, Reno, Carson City—have lodges and there are a few scattered around the rest of the state as well. Recently, though, activity and interest has been building in the Silver State as younger members have joined and been appointed to various jobs to help build Odd Fellowship. Our guest, Brother Jonathan Wettig, is an enthusiastic young Odd Fellow who just took the job of promoting Odd Fellowship on social media for the Grand Lodge of Nevada. One of the exciting things he's promoting is a new lodge being fo...
2023-05-211h 33The Three Links Odd CastBenefits For Younger MembersOdd Fellowship, like many fraternal groups, is predominantly full of older members. For retirees and others in the later stages of life, our traditional focus on things like death benefits makes sense. However, for younger members, it's a lot harder to see the value of a benefit they may not take advantage of for decades. In this episode, Mike and Toby are joined by Brother Brandon Clark as they discuss the concept of implementing benefits for younger members. Brandon shares his invaluable insight as a young member raising a family and talks about what has been the most meaningful and...
2023-05-091h 22The Three Links Odd CastLeatherstocking LodgeFor the past couple of years, despite the challenges of the pandemic, something has been brewing in Upstate New York. Two Masons and and Odd Fellow, all beekeepers, found themselves together on a mission to charter a new Odd Fellows Lodge. Brother Kevin, a member of Wawayanda Lodge #34, was ready to fulfill his destiny as "lodge curmudgeon" with nearly thirty years of membership. Brothers Todd and Kris journeyed to the recently re-chartered Washington Irving Lodge #20 in Saugerties, NY to join the Odd Fellows and get their Degrees. Together, they have chartered Leatherstocking Lodge #945 in Schoharie County. Along the way they...
2023-04-171h 27The Three Links Odd CastIncorporating Music Into MeetingsMusic enriches every aspect of life so why should it not enrich our lodge meetings as well? Brother Mike has been adding music into the meeting of his lodge—Kanawha #25 in West Virginia—to great success. Obviously, music can be used in all the places indicated in the ritual, like singing the Odes, but this episode goes further and talks about some of the musical background of Odd Fellowship and also gives suggestions for other places to have music, like the Initiatory Degree, various other public ceremonies, and even just in some of the slow parts of lodge meetings. Our pre...
2023-03-271h 39The Three Links Odd CastHow To Make ChangeBrother George Glover III, Past Sovereign Grand Master, joins us on this episode to pull back the curtains on the inner workings of the Sovereign Grand Lodge and share how legislation makes its way through the Legislative Committee and onto the floor for a vote by the Sovereign Grand Lodge as a whole. Brother George has over thirty years' experience working at the Sovereign Grand Lodge, much of it on the Legislative Committee so he's definitely an expert on the function of the process. Along with the overview, George shares some excellent stories from his time as an Odd Fe...
2023-03-072h 01
The Three Links Odd CastBrother RudAs a special for the Presidents Day Holiday in the US, we interviewed Dustin McLochlin, PhD of the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museums. Brother Rud is frequently maligned in popular imagination (if he's remembered at all). Tagged unfairly with nicknames like "His Fraudulency" or "Rutherfraud" by detractors, he has earned a reputation as a self-interested, lazy president who made a crooked deal to end Reconstruction in exchange for the Presidency. In reality, he was a highly principled and pragmatic leader who did his best to help unite a country where the scars of the Civil War were still ver...
2023-02-202h 15The Three Links Odd CastMaking Connections Between LodgesWhat do backpacks for the homeless, a late 70s Chevy Nova, and a "Sausage Grind" have in common? Earnie Taylor of Chester Lodge #281 in Virginia, that's what! Brother Earnie joins us to talk about how he's been able to apply his skills of bringing people together for various charitable projects to building Odd Fellowship in the Jurisdiction of Virginia. One of the current projects he discusses is the effort to help a lodge in a town far away be able to meet in their hall again after years of not doing so. Along the way we gain some invaluable insi...
2023-02-061h 20The Three Links Odd CastKitchen Table LodgeInspired by a recent series of emails from a listener, Ainslie and Toby discuss the phenomenon of "kitchen table lodges"—those lodges which don't do any ritual or hold formal meetings. Instead, they meet informally around a table to do the minimum amount of business. As more and more people are finding their way to Odd Fellowship, more new members are running into the discouragement of a kitchen table lodge. The hosts discuss the situation and offer some suggestions to help members who find themselves in such a lodge. There's no lodge Shoutout this episode because none has been nomina...
2023-01-231h 33The Three Links Odd CastGem City RevivalWhat happens when a barber in an old river city on the Mississippi finds a bunch of Odd Fellows collectibles? He starts a lodge, of course! That was the genesis of the newly-rechartered Gem City #357 in Quincy, Illinois. Members Matthew Roegge and Jacob Bertram joined us to talk about the beginning of their lodge which was chartered in June 2022. They tell some great stories of learning, camaraderie, and fellowship. They also outline the incredible amount of support they have received from the Grand Lodge of Illinois. The Shoutout for this episode goes to a lodge recently saved by the Grand...
2023-01-091h 27The Three Links Odd CastYoung Leaders In Odd FellowshipDespite recent growth, Odd Fellowship is still predominantly full of retirees. While they present a wealth of knowledge and experience, they can also be resistant to change and adaptation. That can become even more of a challenge when young leaders emerge and try to work with entrenched members. In this episode we talk to PGM Buddy Goetsch of Colorado and DGM Erik Fearing of Massachusetts. With Buddy having completed his term as Grand Master and Erik preparing for his, they share very useful insights into their experience as young leaders in Odd Fellowship. That youth can be a hindrance when...
2022-12-071h 38The Three Links Odd CastThe Rose FloatWith the Thanksgiving holiday here in the US, we thought it would be an excellent time to talk turkey about one of the great New Year's Day traditions—The Tournament of Roses in Pasadena, California. The celebration includes the famous college football game The Rose Bowl and the accompanying Rose Parade. Brother Mel Astrahan, PGM of California, joins us to give an exhaustive look at the history of the float, the process to build it, and a look behind the scenes of how it all happens. The oldest documented Odd Fellows float was from 1908, sponsored by Crown City Lodge of Pa...
2022-11-241h 52The Three Links Odd CastCrossover 3: Now With More Goat Riding!Our colleagues Billy and Tara from Modern Goat Rider join us to continue the crossover begun on their show. If you've not heard it yet, you'll want to hit up the URL above and listen to it so you've got some continuity. The episode rolls on with more comments about marketing Odd Fellowship in unconventional ways, discussion of the impact that podcasting is having on Odd Fellowship, and a look at our motivations for doing the two shows. The Shoutout goes to another brand-new lodge, Leatherstocking #945 in New York. In the Odd Podge, Ainslie shares his reaction to being awar...
2022-11-081h 25The Three Links Odd CastBurying The DeadJust in time for Halloween, we take a look into the death care industry through the eyes of Sister Kait Osman of Emerald Bay Lodge #50 in California. Sister Kait had a somewhat roundabout way of getting to the funeral world, going through studies of forensic anthropology and other subjects along her way. Eventually she found herself in California with an interest in helping people as they face the challenges of handling a funeral. Sister Kait provides a candid look at what it's like to learn everything from various religious traditions and social customs to the nuts and bolts of doi...
2022-10-251h 53The Three Links Odd CastNew Members' InsightsAinslie, Mike, and Toby are all experienced Odd Fellows. They like to *think* they have a handle on what new members are looking for, but do they really? To test that theory, they invited Josh Dandurand from Oregon and Randy & Caylee Chorrushi from West Virginia to come on the podcast and offer their insights. All three are members who have joined within the last six months so their hot takes are still burning hot. The conversation ranges from how degrees are performed to the lack of Odd Fellows swag to the controversial Supreme Being requirement. All three new members have...
2022-10-101h 44The Three Links Odd CastOur Own SpacesAt its beginning, Odd Fellowship was just for men (though some groups of Odd Fellows retain that tradition). In 2001 the Independent Order opened up membership to women. Since that time, women have risen to the highest ranks in Odd Fellowship, including our current Sovereign Grand Master. There are some lodges, however, that still maintain a (mostly) single-gender membership. Brother Roger Sitton, PG of Waxahachie #80 and Savannah Williams, PNG of Waxahachie Rebekah Lodge #381 join us to talk about their respective lodges and how having groups primarily for men and women benefits each of them. Their perspectives both give a crucial insig...
2022-09-251h 58The Three Links Odd CastReinstating Non-Profit StatusWe've all been there—years of neglect to important lodge business has left a huge mess behind and we've just walked into that void of neglect. That happened to Brother Jack Crispin Cain of Upper Lake Lodge #241 in California several years ago when he started looking into the lodge finances and discovered that the lodge had lost its non-profit status. Being a clever and resourceful person, he was able to get their non-profit status reinstated. He shares his experiences with that process and reassures us that it's an approachable project for any enterprising member. It's important to remember that laws g...
2022-09-111h 22The Three Links Odd CastOdd Fellowship i SverigeOn a dark, rainy September evening in Sweden, a young man stood on a curb as a nondescript sedan pulled over to meet him. The rear door opened and he was beckoned into the car. Inside were three gentlemen, all in dark suits. While this sounds like it could be the beginning of a spy thriller novel, it was actually the beginning of the journey into Odd Fellowship for our guest, Brother Torbjörn Andersson of Tibro, Sweden. Brother Andersson was kind enough to join us to talk about his experiences as a Swedish Odd Fellow and give us an ov...
2022-08-301h 44The Three Links Odd CastShould We Pitch Our Tent?We had to call another audible at the line of scrimmage as our scheduled guest was out sick this episode. With Sovereign Grand Lodge right around the corner we decided to discuss the Encampment branch of Odd Fellowship. Once a vibrant and vital part of the Order, in many places it has atrophied to the point of irrelevance. Toby, Ainslie, and Mike discuss whether it makes more sense to put an end to the Encampment branch and let it be remembered fondly from its glory days or whether it has a role to play in the Odd Fellowship of the...
2022-08-141h 23The Three Links Odd CastOur MentorsTechnical issues prevented us from interviewing our scheduled guest so, being resourceful Odd Fellows, we called an audible at the line of scrimmage and decided to talk about our mentors in Odd Fellowship. Mentorship is an important part of any organization, and especially so in our Order. There's much to do as an Odd Fellow and it can take years to get everything down. Each of us has had some very special members who have provided wisdom and guidance over the years and this is our opportunity to share our appreciation. Mike demands the correct answer to the trivia quest...
2022-08-011h 16The Three Links Odd CastAnniversary Spectacular 2: Electric BoogalooJuly 2022 represents two years of podcasting for the Three Links Odd Cast and we are all very excited to commemorate this achievement with a celebratory episode. As part of the celebration, we announce a new cohost, Brother Mike Duminiak of West Virginia, who had previously been a guest on the episodes about the Patriarchs Militant branch and the Freemasons. Together, the three co-hosts discuss favorite episodes and moments from the two years of podcasting. For Ainslie, it's the episode with fellow tattoo artist Brother Shayne Simmons. For Mike, it's his episode about the Patriarchs Militant. For Toby, it's the episo...
2022-07-101h 39
The Three Links Odd CastPride In Odd FellowshipJune is a month of many celebrations and we're taking the opportunity to join in with one of them, though not the one Toby had expected. Brother Chris Emmons from Kanawha Lodge #25 in Charleston, West Virginia joins us to celebrate LGBTQ Pride and share his experiences as an out gay Odd Fellow. The conversation wanders around quite a bit and covers a wide range of topics, including the many great and affirming experiences both Chris and Ainslie have had in Odd Fellowship and some of the similarities between joining the Odd Fellows and coming out as a member of th...
2022-06-261h 38
The Three Links Odd CastDon't Look In The Closet...As Odd Fellows, we're not surprised by any old thing we find in a lodge hall. For non-members, though, it can be quite a shock when relics of a former lodge are left behind and discovered while exploring a new building. Such incidents usually end up getting some kind of media coverage and one of those stories inspired hosts Sara Buesing and Emily Coleman to do an episode of their podcast Afternoonified about those discoveries. They were kind enough to join us for this episode of The Three Links Odd Cast so we could answer some questions and dispel some r...
2022-06-051h 32The Three Links Odd CastDemystifying Grand LodgeGRAND LODGE. The mere words strike fear into the hearts of Odd Fellows everywhere. What is this strange, mysterious conglomeration of Odd Fellows who gather for some unknown purpose? Since Grand Lodge season is upon us, Ainslie and Toby sat down with Brothers Adam Potolsky and Matthew Finkelstein to discuss their experiences at the 2022 session of the Grand Lodge of California held in Modesto. Brother Adam is a veteran of several Grand Lodge sessions and served on the Legislation Committee. Brother Matthew is a newbie at Grand Lodge and served as Grand Herald. Each shared their insights into attending Grand...
2022-05-261h 03The Three Links Odd CastA Young Man's BenefitWhat if the narrative we've all been told—that the government takeover of social services led to the decline of Odd Fellowship—was wrong? Esteemed Canadian economist, author, and educator Herb Emery, author of "A Young Man's Benefit," joins us to discuss his research into the end of beneficial membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. What he discovered from researching records of the Sovereign Grand Lodge and various jurisdictional Grand Lodges is surprising and challenges that long-accepted narrative. It wasn't the government takeover of social services which doomed beneficial membership. It was other factors, like demographic shifts (jurisdic...
2022-05-012h 02The Three Links Odd CastPocatello RevivalAs recently as 2017 Portneuf Lodge #20 in Pocatello, Idaho was moribund. Six people met twice monthly in a dusty old hall downtown with a worn-out, broken sign out front. It might as well have said that the lodge was permanently closed. Then something remarkable happened—the lodge decided to spend some money to fix up its sign. The newly painted and refurbished sign, with its glorious neon lights, was soon lighting up the night in Pocatello. The new sign gathered interest from the local newspaper and from sign communities online. That one fixed-up sign became the genesis of the revival of Odd F...
2022-04-181h 47The Three Links Odd CastSecrets Of Freemasonry Revealed!Odd Fellows, like all fraternal orders, have to exist in the long shadow cast by the only fraternal group that has any awareness in popular culture: Freemasons. Whether because of wacky conspiracy theories, blockbuster movies, thriller novels, or seemingly endless supposed connections to various historical figures and events, Freemasonry is the template against which most fraternal orders get compared. Even many Odd Fellows, when pressed to "explain" Odd Fellowship to the average person, will start with, "It's like the Masons but a little bit different..." To help enlighten our listeners about what Freemasonry is really about, Brother Mike Duminiak joi...
2022-04-041h 40The Three Links Odd CastThree Links 'n' InkAn interesting and unusual confluence has occurred where tattoo artists and Odd Fellowship have mixed, creating some interesting results. From some of the most famous tattoo artists like Oliver Peck and Luke Wessman, down to the average corner tattoo shop owner, the stunning, bold symbols of Odd Fellowship have called out to the tattoo community and brought them into our august fraternity. Their keen eye for visual communication has, in many cases, reinvigorated Odd Fellowship. With so much similarity between Odd Fellows and tattoo artists it's a natural overlap. In this episode we explore what makes Odd Fellowship so appe...
2022-03-211h 38
The Three Links Odd CastFriendship, Love, And TexasFor this very special episode we visit with Meredith Moore, Past Grand of Fort Worth Lodge #251 in Texas. Sister Meredith has become an active, indispensable, and inspirational Odd Fellow with her years of service in various lodges in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. She talks about her journey from being invited to a lodge function at Dallas #44 to being one of the most active Odd Fellows in North Texas. She also shares insights about what has led to such great cooperation between lodges and how that has helped to build and strengthen Odd Fellowship in the Lone Star State. The Shou...
2022-03-071h 46The Three Links Odd CastRose Float... or Ritual And RegaliaFor this episode we had put out an invitation to members of the Rose Float Committee to join us and talk about how they put the float together and what it does to raise awareness of Odd Fellowship. Despite some encouraging communication initially, no one from the committee joined us for this episode. Ever the resourceful members, Scott, Toby, and Ainslie launched into an impromptu discussion of the importance of ritual and regalia to lodge life. The consensus amongst the three of them is that both ritual and regalia are very important and should be brought back as an ess...
2022-02-211h 06The Three Links Odd CastA Banner Down UnderIn 2009, a hall at the Stroud School of Arts in Dungog, Australia revealed an engaging secret: a hand-painted silk banner from the 19th Century. Two years later the banner wound up in the collection of the Newcastle Museum where David Hampton would eventually find it and begin unravelling it's fascinating history. Made in London by Tutill and Company, it was the pride and joy of Williams River Lodge of the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows. The banner would have been carried by multiple members in parades and served as a strong reminder to the community that Odd Fellowship was...
2022-02-071h 48The Three Links Odd CastFinding A Lodge In The WildernessA popular novel inspired a curiosity about fraternalism back in 2016 for Gary Harper which led him to start researching various fraternal orders. After some study, he settled on joining the Odd Fellows. There was just one problem, however: he had no way of finding a lodge to join. Various emails to addresses he had found online went unanswered for years until finally, in 2019, he visited the IOOF Subreddit and made contact with an Odd Fellow in a neighboring state who was able to help him make contact with his local lodge. Despite all the challenges in making contact with the...
2022-01-241h 22The Three Links Odd CastThe Important Crossover: Part 2UPDATE: the correct audio file has been uploaded! For those that downloaded the previous version, we hope you enjoyed a preview of "The Scandinavian Polka Party," hosted by Brother Toby on 247PolkaHeaven.com.***This is the second half of The Important Crossover. If you haven't heard Part 1, go check it out from our friends at Modern Goat Rider.For the second half of The Important Crossover, Billy and Tara from Modern Goat Rider join Ainslie, Scott, and Toby to continue their discussion about whether Odd Fellowship is important. (Spoiler alert: it is!) The quin...
2022-01-181h 05The Three Links Odd CastPatriarchs MilitantBrother Mike Duminiak of West Virginia joins us as we reconvene for the new year to tell the story of the Patriarchs Militant. This oft-ignored branch of Odd Fellowship provides some surprising opportunities and does some very interesting work. Brother Mike is a passionate and articulate supporter and gives us a comprehensive look at the history, origins, development, and current practices of the Patriarchs Militant, from the Canton level all the way up to the General Military Council. Through his stories, we get to meet John Underwood, developer of the Patriarchs Militant Degree and first General Commanding of the bra...
2022-01-091h 46
The Three Links Odd CastChristmas Episode IIToby and Ainslie take a nostalgic look back at the past year in Odd Fellows podcasting and revisit some of the topics they covered. Brother Nick Curry of Chester Lodge #281 in Virginia gives an update on the lodge's progress and how they're reforging bonds with the community that were lost when the lodge closed. Ainslie and Toby also give a sneak peak at some of the coming year's topics and guests.
2021-12-201h 13The Three Links Odd CastThe Sun Never Sets On FraternalismMedieval English Craft Guilds were the wellspring of modern fraternalism. From those original attempts to protect trade secrets, educate artisans, and assist members and their families, an amazing variety of fraternal orders has developed. Those fraternal groups would have remained solely in the land where they began had it not been for the subsequent spread of British influence and culture across the globe. Fraternal researcher Owen Snowdon joins us again to tell stories of how the British Empire spread fraternalism around the globe. Some of the highlights of the episode include an Orange Order lodge which was chartered in a ca...
2021-12-1358 minThe Three Links Odd CastRebirth In Northern IllinoisAmidst the fields of corn, soy, and wheat, there's something else growing in Northern Illinois: Odd Fellowship. Brother Ray Jackson of Ottawa Lodge #41 shares his story of how the members of Century Lodge #492 in Carpentersville spread out across the northern part of Illinois reviving struggling lodges and renewing the spirit of Odd Fellowship. SPOILER ALERT: there's no one, main secret to their success. With each lodge being different, they members first had to dig into that community and find out what worked for the locals and then build on it. Ray goes into great detail about how that worked and...
2021-12-051h 20The Three Links Odd CastBuilding The Grand United OrderWith a strong interest in history, esotericism, and philosophy, it was only a matter of time before Asean Malik Bey found his way to Odd Fellowship. That first encounter happened at a friend's martial arts studio and, since that time, Brother Bey has launched a career as an Odd Fellow organizer, historian, and scholar. A member of Teoronto #8 of the IOOF and Northern Star #715 of the GUOOF, he shares his personal journey to Odd Fellowship and some of the creative solutions he's used to help build his GUOOF lodge like having the brothers provide security for community events, partnering wit...
2021-11-241h 33The Three Links Odd CastThinking Like An Odd FellowMore than a decade ago, Scott Moye was just your average historian in Arkansas. Fueled by a desire and curiosity to be a part of a fraternal order, he started looking around and researching and eventually landed on the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. That journey eventually lead him to scholarship and the authorship of his new book, Think Like An Odd Fellow. During this episode, Brother Scott describes his process of researching the book and digging deep into the history of Odd Fellows' philosophy and beliefs. Along the way he found some amazing philosophies and beliefs which he has...
2021-11-071h 28The Three Links Odd CastHow To Run A Lodge MeetingWe've all had to sit through long, meandering, pointless meetings. Why should we allow our lodge meetings to be disorganized and annoying to sit through? Brothers Ainslie and Toby dedicate this episode of the Three Links Odd Cast to guiding you through the best practices for holding a lodge meeting so that business can get done in a quick but thorough way. They start with the preparations that should take place before a meeting and then cruise through the Opening, Order of Business, and Closing, explaining each part along the way. This episode is chock full of useful and inte...
2021-10-181h 40The Three Links Odd CastDo we deliver what we promise?Ainslie and Toby spend some time contemplating the culture clash that often happens when new members join lodges full of long-time members. On the one side, there are eager new members who have just joined and have great ideas and can't wait to start changing things and getting their new lodge active. On the other side there are members who have spent years perfecting the way they do things and don't like the disruption of new people with no history wanting to change things. One of the essential questions for Odd Fellowship going forward is how to bring those two...
2021-09-271h 17The Three Links Odd CastOdd Fellows' PrimerBack home from Sovereign Grand Lodge in Cincinnati, Brothers Ainslie and Toby share their exhaustive interview with Grand Master of California Michael Greenzeiger about his new book, The Odd Fellows' Primer. The interview goes into great detail about the process of researching and writing the book, its origins, its inspiration, and the various challenges encountered along the way. The interview also touches on Bro. Ainslie's contributions to the artwork of the book and Bro. Scott Moye's contributions as editor. (Side note: Bro. Scott Moye also recently published his *own* book about Odd Fellowship, which we'll be discussing in a fut...
2021-08-261h 42The Three Links Odd CastIdaho Museum Re-dedicationToby and Christopher hit the road to attend the Rededication of the Idaho Odd Fellows Museum in Caldwell, ID. While there, they conducted interviews with Grand Secretary and Museum Curator Jeff Mann, Past Assembly President, Past Grand Master and current Grand Patriarch Marge Harlan, current Grand Master Joe DeChristefero, and Past Grand Master David Livingston and his wife Crystal. Much great information was shared about the museum and about the general state of Odd Fellowship in Idaho. There was also some discussion of the fetching portrait of a Past Grand Master hanging in the museum gallery. In the Odd Podg...
2021-08-081h 40The Three Links Odd CastAnniversary SpectacularAinslie, Toby, and Christopher are reunited with Sergio to celebrate the First Anniversary of the Three Links Odd Cast. The four Odd Fellows discuss the first year of the podcast including what they expected when it started, how it has progressed, and what kind of impact they feel they've had on Odd Fellowship as a whole. They share some excerpts from previous episodes as well as recorded messages from Michael Zurell, Seth Anthony, Justin Bailey, and Nick Curry, all former guests on the podcast. They also share a few celebrity congratulations (badly impersonated, that is) from noteworthy celebrities. Join the...
2021-07-111h 32The Three Links Odd CastThoughts From A Former MemberIf you've ever wondered what former members think after they stop participating in a lodge, this episode is for you. The Three Links Odd Casters are joined by Seattle musician, educator, and recording artist Scott Adams (no, not the Dilbert guy) to talk about his experiences in Odd Fellowship and why he left the Order. Scott pulls no punches in his assessment of his time as a member and what caused him to drift away and leave the lodge. He also hints at what might get him engaged in Odd Fellowship again in the future. Scott was also gracious enou...
2021-06-301h 33The Three Links Odd CastOregon's Online SessionsIn 2020 almost all Odd Fellowship was put on hold, including most jurisdictional Grand Sessions. For 2021, the jurisdiction of Oregon found some clever and elegant solutions to hold their Grand Lodge, Rebekah Assembly, and Grand Encampment sessions online. Sister Pearlie Stewart, Grand Scribe of the Grand Encampment of Oregon, and Brother Brad Probst, technical coordinator for this year's Sessions, join us to share their experiences and the solutions they found to the challenges of having an online Grand Sessions. Everything from the order of business to the handling of committee work to the installation of officers had to be modified to...
2021-06-141h 31The Three Links Odd CastFraternal History in the UKPrompted by a character in an old episode of Star Trek, Owen Snowdon wanted to grow up and wear a sash. His grandfather, a member of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes, promised him that one day he would be able to do just that. That dream came true for him at age eighteen. Now, five years later at twenty-three, Owen is a member of several branches of seven different fraternal orders and has become a researcher into the history of fraternal orders (or friendly societies, as they are called) in the UK. Owen tells us about the first frat...
2021-06-061h 09The Three Links Odd CastAnother New Lodge - WyomingGeorge Sliney, a young immigrant from County Cork, Ireland, rode out along Owl Creek in Wyoming Territory in the latter half of the 19th Century and staked a claim that would become his cattle ranch. Over time, he would become one of the most prominent citizens of Hot Springs County and the city of Thermopolis. He was also a member of Thermopolis Lodge #26, IOOF. That obscure footnote of history would eventually inspire Bradyn Harvey and Gage Maser to join the Odd Fellows and revive the charter of Lodge #26, but this time bearing the name of pioneer settler George Sliney. Alth...
2021-05-161h 29The Three Links Odd CastNew Lodge In VirginiaNick Curry was sitting in his hometown in Virginia looking for some kind of community organization to join. He searched on the Internet and made a list of all the usual fraternal and community groups. The more he researched them, the more one organization stood out: the Odd Fellows. He set about the task of gathering people together that he knew and started down the path that would end up re-chartering Chester Lodge #281 after nearly three-quarters of a century defunct. Along the way he had incredible guidance and support from the Grand Lodge of Virginia who stepped in to help...
2021-03-211h 21The Three Links Odd CastReviving A Small-Town LodgeSister Stacy Thomason of Gold Hill Lodge #129 in Oregon joins us. In less that two years of membership, Stacy has become an amazing dynamo of activity, breathing new life into her small-town lodge. She has created a seed swap, a book exchange, a little free food pantry, and something she calls her "Odd Fellows Propaganda Machine." She fills us in on all the details about her amazing projects and how they have brought her lodge and her community much closer together. She also talks about some of the other activities they have done in Gold Hill and how she has...
2021-02-081h 02The Three Links Odd CastInspiration From A New MemberBrother Joe Motta from Reno Lodge #14 in Nevada joins us to talk about his experience in joining the lodge last October and share his thoughts about making Odd Fellowship more accessible to younger members. He's in a perfect position to offer that insight since he's twenty-one years old and is working hard to bring new members into his lodge and revitalize Odd Fellowship in Nevada. Joe has some brilliant insights that will be easily adaptable to many lodges. His greatest insight is that young potential members want to know what they're going to get out of Odd Fellowship before the...
2021-01-101h 38
The Three Links Odd CastChristmas EpisodeIn the Christmas Episode, Ainslie and Toby are joined by guest host Bro. Christopher McHale of Covenant Lodge #6 in Missoula, Montana. They start off the show with a quick mention of Lake Stevens, Washington and an explanation of why. They share updates from past guests of the show and talk about the impact they're seeing in Odd Fellowship, including the chartering of a new lodge in Virginia. Bro. Michael Greenzeiger, Deputy Grand Master of California, shares his special Hanukkah message for Odd Fellowship. The hosts talk about what has made Odd Fellowship meaningful to each of them. For Ainslie, it's...
2020-12-201h 12The Three Links Odd CastSaving Lodges In PennsylvaniaThis jam-packed episode of the Three Links Odd Cast begins with a musical tribute to the Keystone State courtesy of Sovereign Grand Musician Toby Hanson. Ainslie issues a correction regarding President Chester Alan Arthur's lapels and Toby explains why Harry Truman wasn't in the Presidential Odd Fellows episode (hint: he wasn't an Odd Fellow). The episode gets rolling in earnest with Grand Secretary Justin Bailey, PGM, of Pennsylvania who shares some of his experiences working with lodges to help save them. He tells the stories of three different lodges he saved working with the Grand Lodge. Brother Justin's optimism and c...
2020-12-061h 53The Three Links Odd CastPresidential Odd FellowsInspired by current events, Ainslie and Toby are joined by guest host Christopher McHale for a historical overview of Odd Fellows who have served as President, Vice President, or Canadian Prime Minister. The brothers give some solid historical information on important parts of history like the highly-contested 1876 election and its lasting effects on US politics. They also throw in some irreverent discussion of things like which president had better facial hair (Chester A. Arthur or Martin Van Buren) or how much value there may be in a bucket of warm piss. Along they way they give a historical overview of...
2020-11-151h 31
The Three Links Odd CastOdd Fellows CemeteriesIn this very spooky episode, Sergio and Toby are joined by three members of Crescent City Lodge #73 in New Orleans, Louisiana: Eddie LeBoeuf III, Michael Duplantier, and Emily Ford. All three share a passion for preserving history. Emily is a professional cemetery restorationist, Michael has over thirty years' experience with caring for cemeteries in New Orleans, and Eddie is a dedicated Odd Fellow who has made great strides to rebuild Odd Fellowship in Louisiana. In this episode they share the stories of how they came together to form their lodge, how they use their talents to care for New Orl...
2020-10-301h 21The Three Links Odd CastListener InteractionBrother Christopher McHale from Covenant Lodge #6 of Missoula, Montana joins Toby and Sergio as Ainslie is still away on assignment. He brings his own unique humor and outlook on Odd Fellowship to the podcast as the hosts discuss various listener interactions they've had so far. The hosts have fielded questions from listeners ranging from how to find lodges to the role of religion in Odd Fellowship. They share the results of those interactions including how they have helped potential members find lodges close to them, how they have helped members make connections with other member working on the same thi...
2020-10-201h 04The Three Links Odd CastChallenges And Rewards Of Chartering A New LodgeBrothers Mario Guzman and Wilbert Lemuel from Family Lodge #293 of New Jersey take us inside their process for chartering a new lodge. They start with what brought them to Odd Fellowship and how they teamed up to create a new lodge and share their challenges and inspirations along the way. During the process there was some resistance from members who thought it would detract from current lodges but there was also a lot of support from their Grand Lodge. They discuss the various resources and inspirations and outline goals for the future. Having already chartered...
2020-10-0400 minThe Three Links Odd CastOdd Fellowship And Covid-19Ainslie, Sergio, and Toby discuss the various effects that the global Covid-19 pandemic is having on Odd Fellowship. They solicited input from various members around the country including Harrison Moore IV from Texas and Grand Master Mike Zurell from New York. They discuss the way the pandemic is impacting meetings, finances, and membership with examples from lodges around the country. As usual, the conversation touches on some unexpected points of interest, from an Odd Fellow skull's appearance in a George Romero film, to the idea of doing degree work outdoors, to Toby trying to score a performance in Pennsylvania. Serg...
2020-09-201h 02The Three Links Odd CastResponding To Secret Societies PodcastThe Parcast Network's "Secret Societies" podcast recently did two episodes about the Odd Fellows. Brothers Ainslie, Sergio, and Toby listened to both episodes and give a good breakdown of them. They go over each of the points made in the episodes from the accurate, like their depiction of the Initiatory Degree, to the absurd, like their speculation that the Odd Fellows were behind Australia's infamous "Somerton Man/Tamam Shud" case. They also give a frank assessment of where Odd Fellowship stands today which contrasts quite a bit with the impression left by the "Secret Societies" podcast. For optimal listening, it's...
2020-09-071h 25The Three Links Odd CastSan Fernando RenaissanceTen years ago San Fernando Lodge #365 was slowly dying like so many other lodges. Their building was dingy and most people only knew it for the church that met there. In the decade since, the lodge has completely transformed itself into the social and fraternal hub of San Fernando, California. Brothers Jesus Ochoa and Jesse Garcia join us to talk about the transformation of their lodge and what they've done to bring it about. With the right people and the right efforts, any lodge can be reborn just like San Fernando. Also this episode, Ainslie shares a special gift from...
2020-08-231h 09The Three Links Odd CastRebuilding A Grand LodgeWhat happens when Sovereign Grand Lodge removes the officers of a Grand Lodge and audits the books? What are the challenges of taking over leadership of a Grand Lodge after that happens? How can the webmaster of the SGL website help prospective members join Odd Fellowship? What gets advertised in the program at Sovereign Grand Lodge? What happened to former president Rutherford B. Hayes when he returned home to his Odd Fellows Lodge in Ohio? Was a picture of Toby in his lederhosen ever published in the Washington Odd Fellow? All these questions and more are answered by Ainslie, Sergio...
2020-08-081h 03The Three Links Odd CastCommunication Hits And MissesBrothers Ainslie and Toby are joined by Brother Wayne Geurts, Past Grand Master and current Grand Scribe of Ontario to discuss the state of communication in Odd Fellowship. Brothers Wayne and Ainslie are both on the Sovereign Grand Lodge Communications Committee so they share information about their experiences on the committee and what it does for Odd Fellowship. The brothers also go into detail about the ways in which communication has been successful, like connecting with young people wanting to join the Odd Fellows, supporting efforts to establish lodges outside of North America (including Brazil Lodge #1), reconnecting with lodges in...
2020-07-251h 29The Three Links Odd CastOdd Fellowship Around The CountryBrother Erik Fearing of Friendship Lodge #20 in Belmont, Massachusetts joins our regular hosts to share his perspective on Odd Fellowship in New England. He shares some wonderful insights into what has helped transform his lodge from a struggling group barely making quorum to an active beacon of Odd Fellowship for the greater Boston area and New England at large. As always, Sergio, Ainslie, and Toby lend their perspectives on Odd Fellowship in their areas of the country. We're very proud to announce that we now have a sponsor, Pig And A Pug Bath Stuff! Listeners to the Three Links Odd...
2020-07-111h 12The Three Links Odd CastOur introductionsIn this episode, the three hosts, Toby Hanson, Ainslie Heilich, and Sergio Paredes, all introduce themselves and give some background on their involvement in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, including the stories of how each of them came to be members of the Odd Fellows.
2020-06-2448 min