True Courage in the American Revolution

We sit down with Terry Allen Helm — historian, author, genealogist, Cherokee Nation member, and lifelong storyteller — for a powerful conversation that spans Revolutionary War heritage, American commerce, family legacy, and the surprising ways technology and history collide.This interview is packed with stories that stretch from 1066 England to Roman Caesars, from flat boats on the Arkansas River to data governance in the modern enterprise, and from Patrick Henry’s iconic speech to the dawn of AI.US Revolutionary War RootsTerry traces seven family lines who fought in the Continental Army and state militias — including:Captain Nathaniel Terry, 10th Virginia Regiment, served 8 yearsCaptain William Gosse, wounded at BrandywineBenjamin Merrill, executed during the Regulator MovementNathaniel Terry Sr., present for Patrick Henry’s “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death.”These aren’t just names — Terry brings them to life through emotional, first‑person narrative history.🚢 The Flat Boat MenWe explore Terry’s book Flat Boat Men, chronicling his grandfather and great‑uncle’s five‑month winter journey (1900–1901) down the Spring, Grand, and Arkansas rivers.You’ll hear about:How flat boats were builtTheir role in early American commerceReal logbook entries from the tripWhy flat boats still matter today📚 Terry’s Other WorksA 100‑page Revolutionary War cartoon book for kidsData Governance Warriors — a medieval‑kingdom metaphor for enterprise data governanceA writing style that blends historical accuracy with cinematic storytelling👤 Terry’s Background & Heritage27 years at AT&T, 3 years at Spectrum/CharterBanking roles at Wells Fargo & CitigroupTwo master’s degrees in Information & Telecommunication ManagementBA in History from the University of TexasFormer public school teacher in a district with 50+ spoken languagesCherokee Nation member with deep Oklahoma rootsMember of Sons of the American Revolution and multiple hereditary societiesTraces lineage to three Roman Caesars and to the Helm family, who came with William the Conqueror🖋️ Writing PhilosophyTerry’s research draws from:Family BiblesCourthouse recordsDigitized archivesVolunteer work with the U.S. National ArchivesReaders often tell him his stories move them to tears.All four books were written while working 10‑hour days, often sparked by dreams he’d wake up to write down.⚙️ Technology, Change & AIWe dive into:How transportation evolved from horses to steam to flightWhy Roman roads still outperform modern onesThe Battle of New Orleans was fought after peace was declaredHow AI mirrors past disruptions like photography and automobilesWhy AI still can’t replace human imagination🌍 Personal Life & FamilyLives in Orlando, exploring communities before buyingUpgraded his podcast mic setup since our first attemptBackpacking Europe in 1974Mediterranean cruise honeymoon in 1995Son hosts an international Bitcoin podcastFather lived from horse‑drawn wagons to the moon landing and served in WWII📦 Books & AvailabilityAll of Terry’s books are available on Amazon and Goodreads in paperback and Kindle.He recommends physical copies as family heirlooms for the 250th anniversary.🎙️ Special NoteThis episode includes a paid endorsement from Terry Helm to promote his books through The Human Journey.He sent this after the interview, "Thanks for watching! You can learn more about my books, Not Sunshine Patriots and The Flatboat Men, here.":https://www.amazon.com/stores/Terry-Allen-Helm/author/B0GX6J3632?ref=ap_rdr&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=13e1768a-98be-4199-a74c-80d4bb5bc623. If you enjoy deep history, family legacy, and the human stories behind America’s past — this is an episode you won’t forget.