Applaudable Perspectives

On this episode of Applaudable Perspectives, Pamela Lewis sits down with Kevin Hensley, whose two decades of military service left him with constrictive bronchiolitis, a severe and irreversible lung disease caused by burn pit exposure. Kevin opens up about the maddening fight to get properly diagnosed within the VA system, and how he stumbled onto an unexpected lifeline: hyperbaric oxygen therapy—...

Some places hold a community's memory in their walls — and the Five Points Post Office in Franklin, Tennessee is one of them. Built in 1925, it was Franklin's very first post office, and over the decades it served not just as a mail hub, but as a gathering place woven into the fabric of the city.  Williamson Source  In 1991, when the USPS chose to sell the building, it was listed by the Na...

In this episode of  Applaudable Perspectives , Pam Lewis sits down with Scarritt Bennett Center's own Dr. Michael Castellaw-Vaughn for an impromptu conversation about radical hospitality, fellowship, community, what makes Scarritt Bennett Center special, and more about his journey to becoming the Center's Director of Technology. Guest Bio: Dr. Michael Castellaw-Vaughn is a minister, musici...

As Director of the Williamson County Public Library, Jessica Jeffers leads one of Middle Tennessee’s most dynamic and community-focused library systems, serving a rapidly growing population with innovative programming, expansive collections, and forward-thinking services. Under her leadership, the library has evolved beyond books—offering everything from digital learning tools and cultural program...

In this episode, we honor Lillian Stewart — the first and, so far, only female mayor of Franklin, Tennessee — through an intimate conversation with Pam Lewis. A sixth-generation Williamson County native and former French teacher, Stewart brought a deep sense of place and long-term vision to city leadership. During her tenure she championed historic preservation, transformed the look of downtown Fr...

In this special Women’s History Month episode, we sit down with Franklin, Tennessee’s “First Lady of Preservation,” Rudy Jordan, whose bold vision and fearless leadership helped transform Franklin into one of America’s most beloved Main Streets. As a driving force behind the town’s historic preservation movement, Rudy championed revitalization efforts that protected its character while sparking ec...

In honor of Women's History Month, Applaudable Perspectives sits down with award-winning author and historian Mary Ellen Pethel for a conversation that brings the past to life. Mary Ellen shares her journey as a historian and storyteller, exploring the voices and stories that have shaped her work — and why preserving history matters now more than ever. From her award-winning writing to her passion...

In this episode, Pam Lewis talks to Matt Bjorke about his remarkable evolution from globe-trotting country music journalist to strategic publicity specialist, and the unlikely road that shaped his perspective along the way. From living and teaching in China and South Korea to covering country music’s biggest names and emerging voices, Matt reflects on how his global experiences informed his storyt...

On today’s episode, Pam Lewis sits down for a heartfelt, in-depth conversation with the Scarritt-Bennett Center’s Executive Director, Rev. Dr. Sondrea L. Tolbert, to explore the true meaning of community and the transformative power of hospitality. Set against the spirit and legacy of Scarritt-Bennett Center, this special video edition invites viewers into a thoughtful dialogue about belonging, we...

In this episode, Pam Lewis talks With the journalism legend himself, Markos Papadatos. Markos is an award-winning Greek-American journalist and educator known by the professional moniker  "The Power Journalist" . As of late 2025, he has authored over 24,000 original articles, primarily as the Editor-at-Large for Music News at  Digital Journal . #PowerJournalist

In this episode of  Applaudable Perspectives , host  Pamela Lewis  walks the historic Hard Bargain neighborhood of Franklin, Tennessee with  Derrick Solomon , Executive Director of the Hard Bargain Association, for a powerful, place-based conversation about history, housing, and hope. As they move through the neighborhood they’re discussing, Solomon shares the story of Hard Bargain—a historically...

A native of Seattle, Washington, Bruno Pirecki spent his formative years exploring his Capitol Hill neighborhood, the magic of the San Juan Islands, and the mountains of the Pacific Northwest. Following two decades as a Nashville entertainment executive, his love for writing character-driven stories took center stage. The multi-award winning Town Lawe, and The House of Long Shadows are the happy r...

In this episode, we sit down with  Judith “Judy” Rivera Rosso , author of the compelling and eye-opening book  Junk Food Suicide , published by  Balboa Press . Judy’s work dives deep into the hidden dangers of the ultra-processed foods that have become staples in modern life—uncovering how our everyday choices can quietly compromise our health and well-being. With a blend of personal insight, rese...

On this episode of Applaudable Perspectives, Pam Lewis is joined by Dina Rae Capitani, a multi-talented artist, musician, songwriter, community builder and visionary. She believes in the power of the arts to heal, unite and connect people to their hearts and one another. Tune in to hear about Dina’s life journey, Doggie Doodles, the “ Temple of Dog Oracle Deck : Spiritual lessons from the heart of...

On this episode of Applaudable Perspectives, Pam is joined by her mother on a reflective drive.

On this episode of Applaudable Perspectives, Pam Lewis is joined by Eliza Warren with Old Town Trolley Tours. Historic Tours of America, with the motto of "Storytellers of America", give fact based tours across the country with their hop-on-hop-off trolleys. Tune in to hear about Warren’s life journey and the beauty of these historic tours.

Pam is joined by vocalist, instrumentalist, songwriter and radio host, Angela Easley. In this week's podcast, Angela will speak on her past and the things that have helped her on her path to a successful career. Angela has been awarded the 2021 Female Vocalist of the Year Bronze by the International Singer Songwriter Association and fan nominated in six categories. Angela is known for her resi...

Going under the pen name Cleo Childs, Reese Zahner joins Pam Lewis on this episode of Applaudable Perspectives. Reese’s upcoming project “Moving With” is about a journey with her mother’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis; 14 poems about grief. Tune in to learn more about her journey and a preview of some of her incredible work. 

Today, Pam is joined by entrepreneur Sheila Tiller. A true Nashville native, Sheila grew up here and attended Belmont University, earning her degree in Business. She has a passion for fashion with experience in many facets of the beauty industry. Tune in to hear more about her journey and some Nashville styling tips!

On this episode of Applaudable Perspectives, Pam Lewis revisits her conversation with Dr. Shamender Talwar after going to Covenant a year ago today in response to the school shooting that rocked the city of Nashville. The tragedy sparked local push back on Tennessee gun laws, but the effects of that day are still being felt around the area. Tune in to hear updates and reflect on their initial resp...

Pam is joined by Stanford Law graduate, Deborah Wagnon. She is an entertainment and IP attorney and has represented internationally known clientele like Shakira, Gloria Estefan, Olivia Newton John, and Reba McEntyre. Additionally, Deborah is an author, most recently writing the Marie Sharp biography, Made in Belize. Tune in to hear more about her journey and the incredible Marie Sharp.

In celebration of Women’s History Month, Pam Lewis is joined by radio host, Sharon Kay. Kay is the general manager at Fisk University’s radio station JAZZY 88 WFSK.  After starting her career in radio back in Kansas, she found herself in Nashville becoming the first woman ever to be hired to serve as GM in the station’s history. Tune in to hear more about her incredible work and passions. 

On this special edition of Applaudable Perspectives, Pam Lewis highlights Elder Hewitt Sawyers from the West Harpeth Primitive Baptist Church. The church’s first members were people who had come out of slavery, with its founding around 1869. Since then, West Harpeth has had five pastors, with the most recent being Sawyers since 1983. Tune in to listen to music and a sermon from a Sunday service. ...

On this episode of Applaudable Perspectives, Pam Lewis is joined by country singer-songwriter John Berry. With 20 singles on the country charts and six of those in the Top 5, John is back with new music and a new perspective. After going through chemotherapy and radiation for his cancer diagnosis in 2019, he went looking for songs of joy. Since hitting the road again after a brief hiatus, John has...

Pam Lewis is joined by Beth Brown, the owner of Rent-A-Rita, a frozen drink rental company based here in Nashville, TN. The Texas native moved to Nashville at the age of thirty all on her own. Frozen drink rentals were widely available back in Texas, but in Tennessee, Beth found herself in the niche market of margarita machine rentals. Tune in to hear about her journey as a female entrepreneur.