The Sunny Side of Life with Troy Thompson
Everyone needs a place they can call their “center of the universe”, for Troy Thompson and family, that is a place called Sunnyside in rural Iowa. Pioneer back with the old sergeant to a way of life that loves (most of) the neighbors, tries to see the good in everyone, prizes hard work, a good story, an honest laugh, and a fair deal of individual liberty. Welcome to life, liberty, and the pursuits that make us happy on the Sunnyside of Life.
Episodes
493 episodes
Auction House Blues and California Plans Secession
This week at Sunnyside, Troy recounts his visit to the sale barn to buy steers....but, it didn't go as planned and California riots against ICE, Trump says he's sending in the National Guard...not sure he can do that, but who knows these days a...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 14
•
56:30
What I Listen To
The most frequent question Troy get's is "what podcasts do you listen to?" Well, this week, he answers that question by reviewing the podcasts he listens to regularly. You can probably pick up on a few themes that also find their way into his o...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 13
•
55:11
Memorial Day Message
It's Memorial Day and we honor and respect and give thanks to those service members throughout our nation's history who have given their lives in awful payment for our enduring freedoms. May today be one of honest reflection, thanks, and prayer...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 12
•
16:17
You Got Sand in Your Feenstra
This week at Sunnyside, the weather turns cold and rainy, garden plans are on hold, it's commencement and state track season again, and a fella stops by Sunnyside needing a hand which leads to a whole conversation about the early front-runners ...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 11
•
1:05:37
Hey Maaaaaa! I Sheared Sheep!
This week, Troy recounts his adventures shearing sheep for the first time while helping out his friend, Don Johnson at Heartland Hill. Those Youtube videos make it look so easy - but it's not! Get the details on a full day of shearing dozens......
•
Season 4
•
Episode 10
•
40:03
Year-Round School: The Competitive Advantage
This week at Sunnyside, Troy highlights the issues with current legislative actions related to tax policies and their unintended (or perhaps, intended) consequences to public schools. Maybe there's an advantage to year-round school; find out wh...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 9
•
1:20:40
Stuff! (Generational Wealth)
This week at Sunnyside, May is peeking around the corner as we leave April and endeavor to prepare for summer. Recent work on a rental property inspires the Thompson's too part with some stuff, get different stuff, teach some stuff to the kids ...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 8
•
1:11:42
A Kansas City Easter
This week at Sunnyside, Troy recounts the family trip to Kansas City for Easter. Get his take on Top Golf, visiting the Negro Baseball Leagues Museum, staying at the Rafael Hotel, experiencing KC BBQ lamb, and most importantly, sharing Easter S...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 7
•
1:01:45
The Resurrection Roundtable 2025 with Matthew, Mark, Luke and John!
This week, The Sunnyside of Life returns with its 3rd Annual Resurrection Roundtable discussion and our special guests are Matthew, Mark, Luke and John! Get the full story of this Holy Week leading to Resurrection Sunday from the four men who r...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 6
•
2:10:56
April Showers: Chaplains in Schools and Women in Combat
This week at Sunnyside, Troy takes a look at an Iowa legislative interest in placing chaplains in public schools, the SecDef's recent change in combat arms standards, whether he's buying the up-tick in female heroines in action films, why our k...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 5
•
1:19:21
I'll Pass on the Tariffs and Sugar, Thanks
This week Troy reviews his thoughts on Trump's tariffs (with the help of Thomas Sowell and the WSJ) and shares his thoughts on whether SNAP beneficiaries should keep the sugar. Also, he lets us in on a recently wrapped community project plantin...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 4
•
1:09:46
What's With These Eggs?
This week at Sunnyside, Troy dives into the egg situation and the irrelevant ties the egg has to Resurrection Sunday as well as hyperbolic YouTube titles, that wascally wabbitt known as the Easter Bunny and what the meaning of "Awesome" really ...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 3
•
52:21
Spring Break Observations from Orlando
After a week of spring break travels to Orlando, the Bahamas, and associated theme parks - the Thompson's return to Sunnyside with some observations. Troy's got some thoughts on Disney, Epcot, Universal, Nassau, Coco Cay, and people....lots of ...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 2
•
1:08:03
Playing Cards with Trump: War or Go Fish?
It's the start of a new season: Season 4 of The Sunnyside of Life and Troy gets to introduce a new theme song, talk about his take on the Zelensky-Trump negotiations that has everyone up in arms (literally) and what it all smells like from his ...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 1
•
59:07
Musical Roots, A 50's Revival Show, and Randy Travis
In this final episode of Season 3, Troy reviews the "The More Life Tour" from Randy Travis, hits the notes on an upcoming 50's Revival Show, and wanders into his own eclectic musical playlists encouraging you to do the same! Next week: Season 4...
•
Season 3
•
Episode 52
•
56:45
SNL 50th: Lunch Lady Land
This week at Sunnyside, Troy promotes the next season starting March 3rd, highlights a new endeavor into YouTube, reminisces about the 50 years of Saturday Night Live and its impact on his teenage years and creative exploits and finds a way to ...
•
Season 3
•
Episode 51
•
59:42
Monday Morning Quarterback
This week, Troy gives his thoughts on Super Bowl LIX, the ads he found creepy, good, and unnecessary as well as a correlation between the way the Eagles smoked the Chiefs and the way the recent election went. That plus some details and thoughts...
•
Season 3
•
Episode 50
•
59:01
The Tale of the Turtlenecked Lobbyist
This week, Troy gives his report on his lobbying experience at the Statehouse last week which involved personal conversations, a trip to the very top of the golden dome and the subsequent geothermal effects that followed. This, of course, led h...
•
Season 3
•
Episode 49
•
57:07
Foul! Vote No on HF 1: Troy Goes to the Capital...Again
This week, the Sunnyside of Life journeys to Iowa's Capital to advocate for public schools. Troy's take on public education predates his own life, dating back to Boston, 1630, with the original public school and his family's role in it but that...
•
Season 3
•
Episode 48
•
1:12:12
Inauguration Day with MLK
It's Inauguration Day in America and it falls on MLK Day. What are the consequences of truly peaceful protests? What will the immediate actions of the new(ish) president and his administration look like and what must Green Bay Packer fans think...
•
Season 3
•
Episode 48
•
1:04:25
Wild Fires, Greenland, the National Sales Tax, and RIP President Carter
This week on The Sunnyside of Life Troy gets caught up on what's happening with takes on the wild fires in California, a recommendation to have Will Arnett play Governor Newsom in the movie, his thoughts on the Greenland option, why the nationa...
•
Season 3
•
Episode 47
•
1:11:28
Iowa Aloha
This week - Troy returns from the family holiday in Hawaii and shares his experiences, thoughts, and recommendations for those who plan to visit this great island state - where to stay, where to eat - some of the things to see and do. From the ...
•
Season 3
•
Episode 46
•
1:08:31
