Blue Lift

Title: Amplifying LGBTQ+ Voices in Williamson County Episode 16 - Robert McNamara Peggy sits down with Robert McNamara, a military veteran and former General Motors employee. He shares his background growing up in a large family of 17 children in Michigan, and his personal journey of coming to terms with his sexuality. He discusses his military service and move to Middle Tennessee, where he became...

Title: The Crossroads of Democracy Episode 15- Dr. Laura Seay Peggy sits down with Dr. Laura Seay, a consultant and research associate at the African Center for the Study of the United States at the University of Pretoria, South Africa Dr. Laura Seay discusses the mission of the African Center, which aims to provide insights about the United States from an African perspective, flipping the traditi...

In this episode of Blue Lift, host Peggy Kingsbury sits down with Dr. Kevin Riggs, the senior pastor of Franklin Community Church in Tennessee. Dr. Riggs is known for his tireless advocacy for social justice and his work with the homeless and incarcerated populations in the community. The conversation begins with an introduction to Dr. Riggs and his background, including his roles as the founder o...

Title: The Work of The Tennessee Justice Center Episode 13- Emily Jenkins Peggy sits down with Emily Jenkins, a lawyer and child welfare advocate Emily Jenkins is a native of Nashville, Tennessee who obtained her law degree from the College of William and Mary. She has focused her work on child welfare advocacy and pro bono matters, serving as a court-appointed special advocate for children who ha...

Title: Balancing Gun Rights and Public Safety Episode 12- Brink Fidler Peggy sits down with Brink Fiddler, a former law enforcement officer and owner of Defend Systems. They discuss his company's focus on active violence mitigation training, emphasizing the importance of preparedness and response in school and corporate settings. He highlights that over 80% of school attacks are committed by curre...

Title: Building Stronger Youth, Stronger Families, & Stronger Communities Episode 11- Marcus Meneese Peggy sits down with Marcus Meneese, founder and executive director of Stronger Than My Father, a nonprofit expanding into Williamson County. Marcus discusses his journey from mentoring his cousin in 2003 to founding the organization in 2012, inspired by his son's shirt. The program focuses on...

Title: A Vision for Tennessee Rooted in Equity, Opportunity, and Progress Episode 10- Dr. LaRhonda Williams Peggy sits down with Dr. LaRhonda Williams, a candidate for Tennessee’s District 65 with a diverse background in political science, criminal justice, and education. Dr. LaRhonda highlights her father's service as a Lieutenant Colonel and POW in Vietnam and her mother's role as an educational...

Title: Advocating for Reproductive Rights, Mental Health, and Economic Well-being in Tennessee Episode 9 - Dr. Laura Andreson Peggy sits down with Dr. Laura Andreson, an OBGYN running for Tennessee's state legislature. She decided to run for office after the fall of Roe v. Wade, as she felt compelled to engage in political advocacy to protect women's reproductive healthcare rights. She has been in...

Title: The Fight for Equity in Williamson County Schools Episode 8- Revida Rahman Peggy talks with Revida Rahman, a community leader in Williamson County, Tennessee who has been at the forefront of efforts to address systemic racism and inequities in the local school district. In 2018, Ravida and other families of color in the area began to raise concerns about field trips to local plantations, wh...

Peggy talks with Political Director at Tennessee Legislative Democrats, Charles Uffelman. In this episode of Blue Lift, host Peggy Kingsbury sits down with Charles "Chazz" Uffelman, a seasoned political organizer and expert on Tennessee politics. Chazz shares his personal journey into politics, starting from his early involvement in the 2008 Obama campaign as a middle schooler. He discusses his ca...

Having More Appreciation for The Federal Government Episode 6- Maryam Abolfazli Maryam Abolfazli is running against Andy Ogles to represent Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District. Maryam, a proud Tennessean, refuses to stand idly by while our state's values are under attack. Now, she's determined to stop extremist politicians from dismantling our fundamental freedoms. As a mother and woman in Tenn...

Putting people over politics w/ Claire Jones In this episode, Peggy gets to have a conversation with Claire Jones. A Kentucky native and nurse who is running for Tennessee House District 61, covering Brentwood and Franklin. Her campaign focuses on people over politics, aiming to address issues like gun control and healthcare through balanced legislation. She emphasizes the importance of policy on...

Lifting Voices, Bridging Divides W/Dr. Rod Berger Peggy talks with Dr. Rod Berger – A globally acclaimed storyteller and keynote speaker, who's special power is converting today's stories into tomorrow's currency!  In this episode, they talk about finding the best way to find your own voice, concern for local school districts, working for water in Uganda and more... Dr. Berger's Background and Ach...

Peggy talks with Justin Kanew, founder of Tennessee Holler about his vested interest in the betterment of Tennessee. Justin is a husband and dad and movie producer who recently ran for congress in Tennessee's 7th District, and who thinks you should run for office too.  Challenges in Voter Turnout and Election Integrity (3:09) Healthcare and Rural Broadband Issues (7:19) Veterans' Rights and Politi...

Peggy talks with Award-Winning Journalist with Tennessee Lookout Holly McCall about the treatment women seem to receive in politics. An award-winning columnist, Holly McCall has been a fixture in Tennessee media and politics for decades. She covered city hall for papers in Columbus, Ohio and Joplin, Missouri before returning to Tennessee. Holly brings a deep wealth of knowledge about Tennessee’s p...

In this debut episode of Blue Lift, Peggy talks with 6th generation Williamson County resident and good friend, Damon Rogers. Damon is a Navy wife and outspoken in all things TN Democrat! Her blue realization started when George W. Bush sent her husband back to war in 2001. Her story about becoming a loud and proud Democrat is captivating and will inspire you! 5:20 - Being a part of wars since Vie...