Applaudable Perspectives

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.

Bob Bullock began his career in Los Angeles training under legends such as Humberto Gatica, Reggie Dozier, and Roger Nichols. Over the course of his 40-year career, Bob shifted from engineering to producing and co-producing many artists. Bruce Tarletsky is the founder of High Mountain Breezes, a collection of lifelong music friends and behind-the-scenes heroes as legendary songwriters, producers,...

Originally from the Hudson Valley in New York State, artist Michael Johnathon  moved to the border town of Laredo, TX to work at KLAR-AM. At the urging of folk singer Pete Seeger, he then moved to Mousie, Kentucky in the Appalachian mountains to learn folk tradition and music. He began his folk career performing at schools and fairs and touring with established artists including David Gates, Odett...

On this episode of Applaudable Perspectives, Pam is joined once again by musician, producer, and engineer Joe Hand, recording live from his studio. Tune in to hear more about his career in the music industry and even hear him play.

PLA Media President Pam Lewis records live at the Belmont Mansion featuring Mark Brown and Jerry Trescott to discuss the historical importance of the Belmont Mansion, its various interpretations, and the challenges faced with restoration and evolution. See how you can schedule tours at the Belmont Mansion by heading to its ⁠website⁠.

Pam is joined by her longtime friends Chuck Rapp and Joseph Gregory. With roots in Nashville and Missouri, the two found each other in the salon business landing themselves celebrity clients. Author and historian Joseph Gregory is also the great-grandson of Evalyn Walsh McLean, the inspiration for his books, Queen of Diamonds and The Hope Diamond Evalyn Walsh McLean and the Captivating Mystery of...

On this episode of Applaudable Perspectives, Pam is joined by musician, producer, and engineer Joe Hand. Born in New York and raised in South Florida, he fell in love with music, watching people on TV in music studios. Hand knew he wanted to be making music at twelve years old, grew up a classical pianist, and ultimately found his home at Berklee College of Music. Tune in to hear more about his jo...

Pam is joined by the talented music engineer, John Merchant. Originally from Virginia, he grew up around educators as his dad was a professor. Merchant was always destined to be a teacher in the south, but before then, he worked with some incredible artists like Barbra Streisand, Michael Jackson, R. Kelly, Toni Braxton, Celine Dion and Lenny Kravitz. He is a lover of music and a teacher of music p...

On this episode of Applaudable Perspectives, Pam is joined by actor, writer, director, and producer Alan Dysert. He is most well known from his role as Sean Cudahy on ABC’s, All My Children, but he has been doing amazing work since.  “Lights, Camera, Cancer!” is Dysert’s latest book all about his life from the show, to producing the Behind the Scenes, to fighting his battle against cancer, to now....

Gomez was originally born in England before moving with his family to Uganda, Africa. Making his way to the US in 1971, Gomez started his commercial photography business in Nashville at the age of 24 and has just moved his photography to Westlight Studios in Franklin, Tennessee. While working as a photographer’s assistant, Michael started to gain clients by shooting for local and out of town model...

On this episode of Applaudable Perspectives, Pam Lewis is joined by Sytera Sanders. After meeting during a trip to the Amazon, the two sit down for a conversation live from the Amazon. Born and raised in Michigan, Satara found herself starting in the law enforcement field early on with encouragement from police programs at a young age. She led a full career as a police officer before recently reti...

Pam Lewis is joined by tour guide Jose Alfonzo during her trip to South America. Jose received a five year degree in ecotourism learning how to complete projects in either ecotourism or ecology. He is knowledgeable in all things Amazon, from the protected animals and wildlife to illegal waste and mining practices they are trying to protect the environment from. Tune in to learn more about conservi...

Pam Lewis is joined by singer, dancer, actor and entertainer, Nancy Hays, with a special guest, Joan Lewis. Hays, the Illinois native, started her musical career in her teens. She was exposed to country music at a young age through many different jobs, including Opryland. Hays has been a wife and mother and raised four children, all sharing their mother’s love of music. Both a touring and top char...

This episode of Applaudable Perspectives features PLA Media CEO Pam Lewis and 1/2 of the hosts from “Two Bottles Deep,” Wes Schmitz. A Central Illinois native, Wes was born in a deeply religious community of just under 6,000. It was at an early age that Wes came to terms with his sexuality. Listen in as he talks about shame, guilt, his coming out experience, and how expressing vulnerability can le...

Originally from Toronto Canada, Eric Genuis is an acclaimed composer, pianist, and speaker. His first love was composing and performing original work, which has taken him to stages across the world. Living through the motto “never say no”, he found himself performing for people in the prison system.  He continues to play for those who need music most through his non-profit, Concerts for Hope.

Pam is joined by President/CEO of the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Yuri Cunza. Originally from Peru and attending school in Argentina, Yuri made his way to America, straight to Nashville. He came to the United States for the entertainment industry but ended up being the perfect fit for the Hispanic Chamber here in Nashville. Tune in as Yuri and Pam talk about travel and culture.

Pam Lewis calls to talk to producer Craig Brandwein with Center Sound Records. The native New Yorker has been surrounded by all genres of music his entire life. They were constantly playing music in the house and many of his family members had instruments. While he loved playing and writing, he found himself called to the studio. Tune him to hear about his career in music production, the recent in...

This week, we sit down with Penny Gattis of Eclipse Music Group to talk about Music Publishing. Throughout her career, she has worked in publishing, A&R, and creative directing. Tune in to hear more about her industry journey and advice for songwriters.

PLA Media founder and CEO Pam Lewis sits down with Steve Baker to talk about video promotion and visual marketing in Nashville's music scene. Baker founded a successful music video promotion company, Visual Image Marketing, which has helped independent country music artists across the globe compete with major labels using their music video products. Tune in to hear more about his journey.

On this episode of Applaudable Perspectives, Pam is joined by country singer Rex Allan Jr. Son of "the Arizona Cowboy" Rex Allan, Allan Jr.  talks about his father’s career in music and film and its impact on his own life. Tune in to hear the advice he received from his father and advice he’d give today about working in the entertainment industry. 

Owner of Computer and Communications Innovations, Jones has been working on music row for over 15 years. Tune in to hear more about the IT consultant's journey in Nashville.

PLA Media president Pam Lewis sits down with the Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and Tennessee native Pam Rose. Rose is popularly known as a member of Calamity Jane and Kennedy Rose. Tune in as she shares the memories of her illustrious career, starting with her mentorship in Atlanta under a Jazz musician who grew up with Ramsay Lewis to moving to Tennessee, and meeting Pete Drake, which then o...