cityCURRENT Radio Show

What does it take to truly break the cycle of poverty, crime, and dependency? In this inspiring episode of the cityCURRENT Show, host Andrew Bartolotta sits down with Chris Blaney, Development Director of 4:13 Strong , to explore how this Nashville-based nonprofit is transforming lives through faith, workforce development, mentorship, and life-changing relationships. Built around the mission of cr...

Host Jeremy C. Park interviews Matt Lloyd , co-founder and CEO, and Jeremy Apple , co-founder and CTO of Magic Apple Technology , who highlight their telecom company founded in 2008 and their expertise in phone systems, cloud-based solutions, and their specialized work in hospitality including hotel phone systems that integrate with property management systems. The company offers a comprehensive r...

Host Jeremy C. Park interviews Erika Sinner , who highlights her various entrepreneurial ventures and philanthropic efforts, along with her new podcast, book, and keynote presentation focused on the power of identity and empathy. Erika explains that her childhood experiences inspired her to focus on empathy and kindness, which led to her founding Directorie to help pharmaceutical and biotech compa...

Host Jeremy C. Park interviews Ron Wade , Executive Director of HopeWorks who discusses the nonprofit organization's mission to provide "hope" in Jesus Christ and opportunities for sustainable "work" through education and lifelong services, along with their new Next Story facility. Ron explains that HopeWorks serves four main groups: individuals seeking high school equivalency diplomas, English la...

Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Betsy Wright , Partner, and Brandon Holley , Regional Vice President of Sales with IT Solutions , who both highlight how the company has become one of the fastest-growing IT firms with 14 locations across the country and Canada, specializing in small to medium-sized businesses with 50-300 employees. The company focuses on managed IT services, cloud solutions, and str...

cityCURRENT Nashville partner, Eric Jackson , Founder and CEO of Element 47 , who highlights the branding, marketing, and advertising agency that focuses on strategy and helping businesses grow through clear brand positioning. Eric defines brand as the gut feeling people have about a company, which cannot be fully controlled but can be influenced through identity elements like logo and colors, alo...

Host Jeremy C. Park interviews Kelly O. Finnell , Founder and President of EFS ESOP Consultants and author of "The ESOP Coach: Using ESOPs in Ownership Succession Planning," who discusses the importance and power of Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs). Kelly shares how he accidentally entered the ESOP field in 1979 while working at a law firm in Massachusetts during his first year of law school...

Host Jeremy C. Park interviews Mickey Keaton , owner and operator of Bluff City Overwatch LLC , who highlights his drone education and training program and efforts to help equip youth for success in the growing industries and related job opportunities. Mickey explains how his experience with the Shelby County Sheriff's Office drone unit inspired him to launch Bluff City Overwatch to educate people...

Joni explains how the Germantown Education Foundation supports educational enhancements across schools by helping teachers get creative with standard curriculum to make learning more engaging. She describes examples including a middle school math teacher who created a black light math program to keep students interested and elementary schools that collaborated on a squid dissection activity tied t...

Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Robyn Householder , CEO of the Better Business Bureau Serving Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky , who highlights the organization’s efforts and mission “to create a marketplace grounded in trust, guiding people toward the best experiences while fostering stronger relationships between businesses and consumers.” Robyn provides an overview of the organization's ef...

Host Jeremy C. Park interviews Mitch Gaylord , who discusses his Olympic gold medal winning gymnastics career, his transition into acting including roles in movies like Batman Forever, his keynote speaking, and his current work as a producer with Higginbotham Financial . Mitch shares his background, explaining that while he originally dreamed of playing football or baseball, his growth trajectory...

He details their six-system framework called the Scaling Results Operating System , which addresses people, strategy, operations, execution, leadership, and finances, and describes working with clients who are typically founders looking to transition leadership teams and scale their businesses. He describes how the framework helps businesses scale results and impact, particularly addressing challe...

Tom shares his background and path from a corporate career with companies like, Deloitte and E&Y, to transitioning from seminary to ministry to business coaching, explaining how he and his wife Traci, who was a member of the original launch team of HGTV, moved from Chicago to Nashville in 2017. He details their six-system framework called the Scaling Results Operating System , which addresses peop...

Host Jeremy C. Park interviews Missy Acosta , Senior Vice President, Brand Experience with Delta Dental of Tennessee , who highlights Tennessee's largest dental benefits carrier and their differentiation as a not-for-profit 501(c)4 with a mission of "Ensuring Healthy Smiles" and a focus on philanthropy and community investment. Missy talks about Delta Dental of Tennessee's charitable arm, The Smil...

Host Jeremy C. Park interviews cityCURRENT Memphis partner, Kiley Butler , Founder and CEO of ProductionOne and Principal AV Integration , who discusses how ProductionOne has evolved over the last 24 years and how the integration division has grown large enough to warrant its own identity and dedicated staff. Kiley details their approach to live event production with full service audio, video, lig...

Host Jeremy C. Park interviews Coach Juan Adams , Program Director of Nashville Youth Basketball Association (NYBA) and president of Forever Don Foundation , who highlights Middle Tennessee’s largest year-round basketball program designed to build a better foundation for life and enhance the future for area youth. Coach Juan shares how he got involved with NYBA 15 years ago after bringing his son...

Host Jeremy C. Park interviews Buddy Teaster , President and CEO of Soles4Souls , who discusses the organization's 20-year history, transformation, and global impact. Buddy shares how Soles4Souls began in 2006 responding to disasters like the tsunami in Southeast Asia and Hurricane Katrina, but faced significant challenges from 2011-2012 including leadership issues and financial problems that led...

Host Jeremy C. Park interviews Waverly Ann Harris , President and CEO of Friends Life Community , who highlights the Nashville, Tennessee-based nonprofit organization and their efforts and mission "to provide adults with developmental disabilities the opportunities to grow personally, develop socially, and enjoy community as they experience life together." Waverly Ann explains that Friends Life Co...

Host Jeremy C. Park interviews Megan McInnis , Founder and Executive Director of Doing Good , a 501(c)3 B2B nonprofit that serves other agencies by providing marketing and PR tools and opportunities. She describes how the organization started when she was looking for positive information about nonprofits in Nashville, eventually speaking with over 300 people about their experiences with nonprofits...

Host Jeremy C. Park interviews Sylvia Martinez , President and CEO of Girls Inc. of Memphis , who highlights the organization's 80-year anniversary and how the nonprofit inspires all girls to be strong, smart, and bold through direct service and advocacy. The organization provides year-round programming focused on STEM education, leadership development, and life skills, serving more than 1,500 gir...

Host Jeremy C. Park interviews Leighanne Soden , President and Founder of West Cancer Foundation , who discusses the nonprofit organization's mission and efforts to break barriers to cancer care and provide access to free services for those in need, particularly in underserved areas of Memphis. Leighanne highlights that Memphis has some of the highest cancer mortality rates in the country, making...

Host Jeremy C. Park interviews Janet Rives , Chief Operating Officer for CreatiVets , who highlights the Nashville, Tennessee based nonprofit organization's mission and efforts to use art and music therapy to help veterans heal from trauma and prevent suicide. Janet explains the organization's origins, which began 12 years ago when founder Richard Casper returned from Iraq with a traumatic brain i...

Host Jeremy C. Park interviews Cornelius Sanders and Ramsay Clark , co-authors of the book "Colorblind: One Coach, One Friendship, and The Lifelong Power of Showing Up," which is set to be released in July 2026 by WestBow Publishing Company. During the interview, Cornelius and Ramsay each talk about their backgrounds as lifelong Memphians, how they met through basketball at a Boys Club in Memphis...

Host Jeremy C. Park interviews Cecily Berry, Miss Shelby County 2026 and financial advisor with First Horizon Advisors , who discusses her journey in the Miss America organization and her work promoting financial literacy through Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South . Cecily talks about her ties to and passion for Memphis, her recent graduation from Union University with degrees in econ...

Host Jeremy C. Park interviews the award-winning chef, best-selling author, restaurateur, and featured television personality, Ben Vaughn , who shares his journey to becoming Founder and CEO of The Center of Culinary Cultivation and The Sow Project, and Culinary Director for Brewed to Serve Restaurant Group and Be Nice Hospitality Group . During the interview, Ben talks about his journey from a 30...