Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev

Join Kosta and his guest: Dr. Landon Sears, Pediatric Dentist and Founder of Cavity Commando's Dentistry for Kids. In this episode: For parents who are thinking about where to take their kids to the dentist, is there a difference between pediatric dentistry and going to a normal dentist? As a parent you might think, okay my kids are going to lose these teeth anyways. What’s the big deal? Of course...

Join Kosta and his guest: Jason McCormick , Director of Liquidations at Northstar Recycling Company , and former owner of R-Cubed. In this episode: The average American creates and discards roughly 5 pounds of trash per day. As someone that’s been at the forefront of recycling and circularity for the past 15 years, what do you think is the most misunderstood part of recycling? One of the top conce...

Join Kosta and his guest: Mitchell White , celebrated artist, designer, and educator. In this episode: Whether it’s through painting, floral design, events or educating others - your creativity and passion for art is larger than life and larger than you. You build a community everywhere you go, and that’s the throughline of this entire episode. What’s your advice to artists, or simply people in ge...

Join Kosta and his guest: Mandy Perhay , CEO of Putnam County Family YMCA . In this episode: What does our YMCA offer our community that no other facility or organization can? There are over 4,600 members at our YMCA and whether you’re 8 or 88 there’s something for everyone. Unlike most gyms, we’re encouraged to bring our kids to the Y. How does having a multigenerational space for fitness help st...

Join Kosta and his guest: Cyril Focht , 2024 House of Representatives Candidate for Tennessee’s 6th District . In this episode:  There are currently 3 candidates for the Democratic Primary of this seat including you, Lore Bergman and Clay Faircloth. Of the three, you’re the only candidate to raise campaign contributions with just under $55,000.00. Besides your ability to financially sustain this c...

Join Kosta and his guest: Blakelee Paige Smith , MSN, APRN, AGPCNP-BC, NP-C, Owner and Founder of Skin and Aesthetics . Skin and Aesthetics was created to provide the highest quality and excellence in aesthetic dermatology to the Upper Cumberland. What started as a dream in 2019 became reality in 2023 when Skin and Aesthetics opened in Cookeville’s own Premier Medical Park. In this episode: It see...

Join Kosta and his guest: Mike Franklin, Co-Founder and Owner of Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy , and Owner of Cookeville’s newest luxury salon Wild Honey Beauty Co. In this episode: After over a decade of being Cookeville’s beauty destination, this summer Loxx Salon and Spa is closing. As a business owner, how did you know it was time to move on? Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy opened in Febru...

Join Kosta and his guest: Jonathan West, CEO of Twin Lakes Telephone Cooperative. In this episode: For those of us who don’t really understand how the internet works or how it’s changed over the last - let’s say 20 years - what’s fiber internet? What’s broadband? How do you know what kind of internet is right for you? How can access to broadband change the workforce of the Upper Cumberland? If any...

Join Kosta and his guest Jennifer Gray, Autism Advocate, Mother of Cookeville Lifestyle’s Cover Thomas Golz and Co-Founder of Small World Dioramas. Find this issue of Cookeville Lifestyles Magazine: https://cookevillelifestyles.com/find-the-magazine/ In this episode: How it felt for Jennifer and Thomas to share their story with Cookeville and beyond. What it's like to raise a child  with special n...

🌈 Happy Pride Month! Y'all means ALL, and no matter what month it is, we're proud to represent all the people who make our community better when we're together. Join Kosta and his guest: Katie Love, honored Upper Cumberland Pride Royalty, Queen 2019 and 2015, Miss RoadHouse 2017 and Miss Gay East Tennessee America 2013, Katie’s work in entertainment and activism is unparalleled. She helped build...

Join Kosta and his guest: Holly Williams, Director of Area Agency on Aging and Disability at Upper Cumberland Development District . Roughly 14,000 Putnam County residents are over the age of 65. That’s approximately 17% of our population. In this episode: What opportunities and advantages do we have in the Upper Cumberland for this age group that many communities do not? Whether you’re looking at...

Join Kosta and his guest: Dr. Elizabeth Lisic , Assistant Director of BIRCH Professional Learning Center at Branch Alliance for Educator Diversity.   In addition to her achievements in research and development in education, Dr. Lisic is the proud Mother of actors: Elle Lisic and Evan Lisic . In this episode: You have over a decade of experience in professional development and student learning, spe...

Join Kosta and his guest: Kathleen Gilpatrick, Co-Founder and President of Cookeville Theatre Company ,  Owner of Out On A Limb Productions and celebrated director, producer, writer and actor. Find out more about Cookeville Theatre Company: https://cookevilletheatreco.org/ Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN. This episode of B...

Join Kosta and his guest: Danielle Barnes , CEO/President of the Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee . In this episode: The world is changing and Girl Scouts is changing with it. Will you talk about a few of the ways Girls Scouts has evolved since our listeners were active members? In less populated and underserved areas of Tennessee, access to programs like Girl Scouts can be challenging. What strate...

Join Kosta and his guest: Katelyn Dunn, Fibers Artist and owner of Dunn Spunn Studio . Find out more about Dunn Spunn Studio: https://dunnspunn.wixsite.com/home https://www.facebook.com/dunnspunn/ Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN. This episode of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is made possible by our partners at Asp...

Join Kosta and his guest: Shaquawana Wester, Philanthropist, Community Organizer and  Empower Community Engagement Coordinator with UCHRA . Find out more about Empower Upper Cumberland: https://empoweruppercumberland.org/   Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN. This episode of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is made poss...

Join Kosta and his guest: George Halford, former President and CEO of Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce. In December of 2019 George retired from the Chamber and a near 50 year career in community development. Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN. This episode of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is made possible...

Join Kosta and his guest: Rafferty Cleary, Cultural Administrator for the Town of Monterey , Host, Producer and champion of development and tourism in the Upper Cumberland. Find out more about visiting Monterey, TN: https://www.exploremontereytn.com/ Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN. This episode of Better Together with Kos...

Join Kosta and his guest: Christopher McMichael , Author, Publisher and Pastor of Engrafted Word Church . Find out more information about Engrafted Word Church:  https://engraftedword.org/ Redemptive Botany of the Bible: https://petrapress.com/product/redemptive-botany-of-bible/ Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN. This episod...

Join Kosta and his guest: Lisa Garcia , Owner of Cleanse Wellness Spa , National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, National Board Credentialed Colon Hydrotherapist and a Certified Electro Lymphatic Therapist from California Coastal Cleansing Institute in San Diego. In this episode: More than 80% of our immune system is in the gut, and when your gut isn't healthy, your immune system and ho...

Join Kosta and his guest: Craig Pyle, Owner and Farmer of Hidden Holly Farm , a 125-acre farm located in Monterey Tennessee focused on raising animals naturally, humanely and sustainably. In this episode: Food costs are up almost 30% in the past 10 years. How can we bridge the gap to provide access to quality, all-natural food while acknowledging the never ending struggle to keep up with inflated...

Join Kosta and his guest: Rebecca Duncan , Director at Helping Hands of Putnam County . In this episode: One of the biggest misconceptions about poverty in our area is that welfare primarily goes to people who are not working. When in reality, the problem isn’t that people aren’t working, it's that our employers aren’t paying enough. Will you tell us about how this cycle is impacting Putnam County...

Join Kosta and his guest: Morgan Franklin , Owner and Founder of Morgan Franklin Media, Podcast Producer, Strategist and Educator. Featured on Good Morning America, Martha Stewart Living, Style Me Pretty, The Knot Magazine and countless other publications, Morgan’s work as a podcaster, creative and brand manager spans over a decade and is just getting started. Morgan is the Producer and Co-Creator...

Join Kosta and his guest: Melissa Ellis , professional performer, jazz musician The Southern Spitfire, owner and founder of The Autumn Agency , music coach and talent buyer. In this episode: What do you think should be the first major goal or objective of an up-and-coming artist? We can only eat the elephant one bite at a time, so what are the first bites? As someone that’s consistently found a wa...

Join Kosta and his guest: Lori Jackson-Strode , Counselor, Real Estate Agent, Cookeville Theatre Company Board Member, and 'I Am My Ancestors Wildest Dream' Co-Creator, Producer and Director. In this episode: We're celebrating Black History Month and talking about what it's like to be black and grow up in Middle Tennessee. What racial equality looks like  today and how it's changed since Lori grew...