Step into the world of Sacred Acre with Tom Rinaldi, who's back for Season 2 as he uncovers the profound story of Ed Thomas, the legendary high school football coach from Parkersburg, Iowa.In this gripping 6-part series, Rinaldi takes you back to explore Thomas’s remarkable journey—from his acclaimed role as the 2005 NFL High School Coach of the Year to his pivotal role in rebuilding Parkersburg after a devastating EF-5 tornado. Just a year later, Thomas's life was tragically cut short when he was murdered by a troubled former player.Experience the impact of Thomas’s values of Faith, Family, Foot...
Latest episodes
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34 min
S02 Episode 06: Burden and Blessing
In the final episode of 'Sacred Acre,' we return to Parkersburg to see how Ed Thomas is still impacting the town and the football program. A new interim head coach carries on the t…
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37 min
S02 Episode 05: Lots of questions why...
In Episode 5, we explore the aftermath of Ed Thomas' tragic killing and how the Parkersburg community struggled to reconcile with the devastating circumstances. Through heartfelt i…
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41 min
S02 Episode 04: June 24th
*Producer's Note: Please be advised that there are graphic descriptions of gun violence in this episode. Listener discretion is advised.Episode 4 reveals the origins of Mark’s stru…
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38 min
S02 Episode 03: Concrete's Dry
In May 2008, An EF-5 ravaged Iowa and tore up most of the town of Parkersburg. The damage was near atomic. The Thomas family lost their home. Applington-Parkersburg High School was…
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35 min
S02 Episode 02: The Beckers
Episode Two explores Ed Thomas's early years as head coach in Parkersburg, focusing on his first captain, Dave Becker. A standout player who set multiple tackling records, Becker f…
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34 min
S02 Episode 01: Coach and Community
Episode One explores the life and legacy of Ed Thomas, a legendary football coach from Aplington-Parkersburg, Iowa, who was tragically killed. Over 36 seasons, he led his team to t…
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3 min
Season 2 Preview
Tom Rinaldi is back with Season 2 of Tom Rinaldi Presents: Sacred Acre as he delves into the inspiring legacy of Ed Thomas, the revered high school football coach from Parkersburg,…
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37 min
S01 Episode 08: The Marker
We make the drive with Yuovene to Inglewood Park Cemetery, to return to Lyman’s grave. She hadn’t allowed herself to visit in more years than she could remember, as she tries to re…
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34 min
S01 Episode 07: Hello...Leonard?
Leonard Smith, the man who admitted to killing Lyman Bostock in a jealous rage, a man arrested more than half a dozen times, receives the jury’s verdict. The decision stuns the cou…
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38 min
S01 Episode 06: An Open and Shut Case
Family, friends and all in baseball are in shock over Lyman’s murder. Yet the Angels play their scheduled game the next day. The game includes a moment that brings Carney Lansford…
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33 min
S01 Episode 05: Wrong Place, Wrong Time
By September 1977, Lyman is in the top 10 in the AL in hitting after starting his first season with the Angels in a huge slump. With the Angels in playoff contention during a late…
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30 min
S01 Episode 04: Right Place, Right Time
Bostock breaks out in Minnesota, becoming one of the best hitters in the league. After playing out his contract and betting on himself, he’s recruited by more than half a dozen tea…
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31 min
S01 Episode 03: Determining My Destiny
Motivated by what he believes are scouts who misjudge him based on his “trouble” in college, Bostock is motivated more than ever to make it.He makes the decision to enter the MLB d…
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27 min
S01 Episode 02: Bigger Than Baseball
Bostock spent part of his childhood in Gary, Indiana: the murder capital of the United States. The city helped shape Bostock, and with his family ties there, its grip lasted throug…
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32 min
S01 Episode 01: We Call Him Wesley
To his family, he was simply “Wesley.” But to all in Major League Baseball, Lyman Wesley Bostock Jr. was a master with a bat. A career .311 hitter, greats of the game like George B…
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5 min
Season 1 Preview
In the more than 150 year history of Major League Baseball, only one player has ever been murdered during a season. That player is Lyman “Wesley” Bostock Jr, a budding star for the…