Hello, Debbie Alan here and lovin’ On The HomeStretch because I get to connect with awesome people every day. I’ve always been curious and full of questions about life and relationships, and I know others have thoughts and answers I’ve never even dreamed of…so interviewing and getting others to talk about their stuff is the perfect job! I’m also a sucker for a good story—we’ve all got one and I love hearing them. My story involves taking all the good, bad and ugly from the first half of my life and seeing how God can use that to give me new focus, passion and purpose in the second half.This is my first radio gig. Television had me since I was 18 as a weathergirl in Chattanooga Tennessee. The next audition landed me a hosting job for a nightly television show called PM Magazine also in Chattanooga, where I jumped out of an airplane, rappelled down Lookout Mountain and filmed in faraway places like the People’s Republic of China. I felt like one lucky girl!
Then the years brought marriage to Bruce, the love of my life who’s a psychologist and a frequent guest On The HomeStretch, a move to Nashville and a new beginning at NewsChannel 5, the local CBS affiliate, where I helped create a daily magazine show called Talk of the Town. My sweetest memories of that time include the birth of our three sons, the neat people I got to work with and interview, and all the fun of live television including being the first to ever broadcast live from the cockpit of an Air Force F-16! I worked at channel 5 for about 13 years and then my heart was calling me home. It was tough to walk away from a show that was so much a part of me but I have no regrets with the time given to my family. When I left channel 5 a news director trying to change my mind, told me I’d never work again, but years later when all the boys were in school I did get another job! America’s Dumbest Criminals was super fun to do…it was really goofy at times but we had a blast.
Turns out Nashville has been a great place to have a family, live, work, worship and share friendship. A lot of our extended family is still in Chattanooga…not too far away. The men in my life are now 21, 19 and 15 and of course, I love them very much! Don’t get me started talking about them!! There’s a great book out by Dr. Dan Allender called, “How Children Raise Parents” that speaks to how my life has been changed by my guys. Being their mama has given me the greatest joy, doubled cause it’s been shared with Bruce. I’ll show you some photos so you see who I’m talking about. Brucie is the oldest—we call him Bubby--- he’s disciplined, hardworking, strong, deep thinking, adventurous, and outdoorsy; my middle son, Kev graduated from high school this year--- he’s a bright, tenderhearted, easygoing, sensitive, and more introverted type of guy who’s also a deep thinker and great at WOW. Chris will be a sophomore this fall and he’s joyful, easygoing, kindhearted, smart, funny, sports minded and wise. They all have a great sense of humor and have kept me on my toes... and on my knees!
My life is not perfect. At times I'm a nagging, criticizing, complaining, confused, angry, sad, resentful, ungrateful witch. I do On The HomeStretch because I need to be reminded of good things and helped along the way. Maybe you're like me. So I hope you can listen to the show and maybe share it with your friends. It’s my hope that you’ll hear honest grappling with life, God, relationships, husbands, kids, sisters, girlfriends, even sharing our brokenness and pain…with the purpose of celebrating healing and redemption.
We need each other…I know that. We’re hearing whacky messages everywhere else… like, you only matter if you’re young and skinny. At times I feel undervalued, overlooked, underappreciated, and overwhelmed! It’s tough to deal with so much change and so much letting go. Anyway, I learn a lot when I slow down enough to listen to other people’s stories…where they’ve been, who they were and who they are now, what they’re excited about and what they’re dreaming about…how they’re loving people and making the world a better place. So listen and add your ‘two cents’ when you can and we’ll share life together.
I've shared about me...now I'd love to hear from and about YOU!
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What I've Done In The Past Jobwise:
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