Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev

Join Kosta and his guest: Mike Croley , Veteran, Former State Park Ranger, recent Federal Employee, and Candidate for TN Sixth Congressional District. In this episode: I want to start this episode with a simple question. So often in political episodes we get caught up in the details of campaigning, and strategy, and the greater national rhetoric, and we’ll get to all that, but first I want to talk...

Join Kosta and his guest: Chad Gilbert , Cookeville City Council Member and Candidate for Cookeville City Council. In this episode: Less than 30% of registered voters in the City of Cookeville vote. As a sitting City Council Member and Candidate, what’s your message to the 70% of Cookevillians who don’t see the purpose or benefit in voting? Why does local government matter? As we said in the intro...

Join Kosta and his guest: Brett Knight , criminal defense attorney, pastor and author of From the Gavel to Grace: Setting People Free From Addiction and Into Healing. In this episode: The symptoms of addiction begin long before the actual addiction. We’ve hosted many guests in and around the recovery community, and the throughline is: there’s always more to the story. What do you hope readers will...

Join Kosta and his guest: Mack Lunn , Associate Director of iCube at Tennessee Technological University, Owner of Mack Lunn Enterprises, and Candidates for Putnam County Commission District 2 .  In this episode: Today’s episode is special because you’re not only my neighbor, you’re also running for County Commission in my District, District 2. We’ve hosted candidates Stacye Choate and Sam Sandlin...

Join Kosta and his guest: Aurora Wells , Candidates for Jackson County Mayor. In this episode: We’ve said it many times on this podcast, but there’s no place like Jackson County. You grew up in Gainesboro, moved away, and came back. Why did you leave? What brought you back? More than ever, local elections matter. All across Tennessee, but especially in rural counties like Jackson County. As a cand...

Join Kosta and his guest: Taylor Hill , Assistant Treasurer for the Putnam County Fair Board , Owner of Taylor Creates and Candidate for Algood City Council . In this episode: It’s safe to say there’s no single event that brings Putnam County together like our County Fair. This year, the Putnam County Fair will celebrate its 100th anniversary. As a Fair Board Member, what does this centennial cele...

Join Kosta and his guest: Kerry Ledbetter , District 6, Putnam County School Board Member, Manager for Community Homeowner Associations and Candidate for Putnam County Clerk. In this episode: No matter what happens in August, this election will bring forward a new era in local leadership for Putnam County. As we said, you’re running for Putnam County Clerk and hope to pick up where outgoing County...

Join Kosta and his guest: Brandy Lynn , Co-Founder and Apothecary Manager of The Silver Fern . In this epsiode: Let’s start with The Silver Fern, you are both a co-founder and the apothecary manager. Most of our listeners are likely aware of your Art Gallery, Fiddlehead Gallery, but overall the store provides so much more to our community. What is The Silver Fern? Before we get too far in the epis...

Join Kosta and his guest: Jonathan A.D. Williams, Putnam County Commissioner for District One , Owner of Veterans Barber Shop , former U.S. Marine, police officer, and candidate for Putnam County Commission District One. In this episode: Your first term on Putnam County Commission started in 2010. So, let’s start there. What inspired you to run for Putnam County Commission and what’s changed the m...

Join Kosta and his guest: Margo Dirkson , Department Coordinator for the Office of Access, Belonging, and Community Outreach at Tennessee Tech University . In this episode: In 2024, TTU launched the office of Access, Belonging, and Community Outreach, where you currently serve as the Department Coordinator. Will you tell us about the office and how it serves students? You and Dr. Robert Owens buil...

Join Kosta and his guest: Sara Kruszka , candidate for Democratic Executive Committeewoman for Tennessee District 15. In this episode: Like everyone listening to this episode, no matter how hard we try, we can’t escape this election cycle. However, today’s episode will be a bit different as we’re talking about a part of the ballot you’ve probably never paid much attention to: State Executive Commi...

Join Kosta and his guest: Kelley McNeal , CPA, public servant, educator and candidate for Putnam County Trustee. In this episode: For 23 years you served as an auditor for the Tennessee Comptroller's Office. A critical part of that role was going to Trustee offices across Tennessee and examining how offices were (or weren't) properly executing their responsibilities. What did that experience teach...

Join Kosta and his guest: Ferran Kefauver, Executive Director of CityScape . In this episode: The crown jewel of Cookeville is our Historic Westside. There are countless shops, offices and enough restaurants to feed an army, but it wasn’t always this way. In fact, not too long ago, our downtown was mostly an afterthought. What changed and how has CityScape helped direct and support this rebirth? W...

Join Kosta and his guest: Jamie Hunter, Chief Deputy Trustee for the Putnam County Trustee’s Office and candidate for Putnam County Trustee. In this episode: You’ve spent 30 years in public service here in Putnam County. You’ve lived here your entire life and now, as we said in the introduction, you’re running to serve as our next Putnam County Trustee. I want to start with your background, and wh...

Join Kosta and his guest: Linda Vickers, Executive Director of Safe Haven Recovery Program and Deanna Jenkins, President of the Board for  Safe Haven Recovery Program . In this episode: Safe Haven was founded in 2023, but your work and service to those seeking to rebuild their lives started long before Safe Haven. Will you take us to the beginning of your story and tell us how you got here? Safe H...

Join Kosta and his guest: Sam Sandlin, CPA, Putnam County Commissioner for District 2 and Candidate for Putnam County Commission District 2. In this episode : It’s March of 2026, and unless you’re literally living under a rock in Putnam County you know we have local elections this year. Let’s start with some background, because while most of our listeners know there’s an election, they might not k...

Join Kosta and his guest: Cora Hageman, Owner and Founder of Wonderfill Refillery . In this episode: For most Cookeville shoppers, Wonderfill is their first experience with a zero-waste store. So, let’s start there. What is a zero-waste store? How does it work? What do we need to know before we go? How is garbage and waste from single use items like shampoo bottles and cleaning supplies really imp...

Join Kosta and his guest: Mark Lynam , Director of Research Development and Proposal Services at Tennessee Tech . In this episode: When most people hear Office of Research, their eyes glaze over. Explained for those of us without a PhD: what does your office actually do, and why should our greater Upper Cumberland community care? What kind of research is TTU doing? Where does the money come from?...

Join Kosta and his guest: Mason Harville, Owner of Upper Cumberland Tree Care and Land Management , Vice Chair of Putnam County Young Republicans and Candidate for Cookeville City Council . In this episode: The next generation of leadership here in Putnam County is making their voices heard. Whether it’s through organizing, running for office or simply showing up for our community, we’re welcoming...

Join Kosta and his guest: Tessa Davis , Sales and Marketing Director and Assistant Tourism Director at Cookeville-Putnam County Visitors Bureau . In this episode: In 2024, Tennessee set a new record for tourism after generating $31.7 billion in direct visitor spending and welcoming over 147 million travelers. Most of us probably never think about it, but the Upper Cumberland is a tourist destinati...

Join Kosta and his guest: Virginia Fillers, Director of SoulSong at First Presbyterian Church of Cookeville , Board President of Restoring Childhood Initiative and Candidate for Putnam County Commission District 12. In this episode: Being a parent in 2026 isn’t easy. To be clear, it’s never been easy, but now we get to post it on social media. As someone that’s a parent, the Director of a Montesso...

Join Kosta and his guest: Trenton Strode , Vice President of Putnam County Young Democrats , District Representative of Putnam County Democratic Party and Candidate for Putnam County Commission District 11. In this episode: You’re running multiple races in 2026. As we said earlier, you’ll be seeking one of the two seats in Putnam County Commission District 11, but you’ve also announced and qualifi...

Join Morgan and her guests: Tracey Franklin, Owner of Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy and Kosta Yepifantsev, Owner of Home Caregivers . For those of you who don’t know me, I’m the Producer of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev, and I run the behind the scenes of this podcast. In 2025, Tracey and Kosta became the Putnam County Representatives for a dance competition hosted by WCTE called Let’s...

Join Kosta and his guest: Charlotte Sanders, Chair of the Putnam County Republican Party and President and Founding Member of the Exchange Club of Putnam County . In this episode: Charlotte, I know this is a loaded question, especially for someone as involved and multifaceted as you, but what does success in Putnam County look like to you? You’re the current Chair of the Putnam County Republican P...

Join Kosta and his guest: Andrew Smith, Senior Instructor in the Department of English at Tennessee Tech University, Author, Editor, and Publisher of Everything's Folked Music Fanzine and Host of Teacher on the Radio on WTTU 88.5 FM. In this episode: This episode will air on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and we hope it serves as a reminder of the enduring strength of MLK’s message and legacy. You’ve...