Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev

Join Kosta and his guest: Marc deClaire , Master Police Officer for the City of Cookeville and Founder of The Cookeville Human Fund . In this episode: Marc's career in law enforcement and his journey creating The Cookeville Human Fund. How  street level assistance help these citizens to avoid the worst case scenarios when more than 11,000 citizens in Putnam County are living in poverty. What we ca...

Join Kosta and his guest: Ryan Dalton, Teacher at Avery Trace Middle School, Social Worker, Educator, Activist, Facilitator and Co-Founder of the ATMS Pickle Club .  After 10 years of living in Cape Town, South Africa working with homeless youth, Ryan found his way back to the United States, settling in the Upper Cumberland with his two daughters Maya and Tiege. In this episode: The origin story o...

Join Kosta and his guest: Nicholas Bishop , Vice President for Economic and Community Development at Volunteer State Community College . In this episode: Nick's career path from the TN State Legislature to Vol State Community College, how community colleges shape the workforce of Tennessee, exploring TN Reconnect, the program that will give anyone in Tennessee a free two year degree, and how we ed...

Join Kosta and his guest: Mike Gomez, Owner and Founder of SoBarity , an alcohol free bar created to aid those in recovery and other sober-minded individuals in enjoying a night out they will actually remember. In this episode: Mike's journey in recovery and how he started SoBarity. How Mike plans to create a sober bar that will filling the gap in our current nightlife and social scene for adults...

Join Kosta and his guest: Trevor Larsen, Chapter President of Sleep In Heavenly Peace , a non-profit organization building and delivering beds to children without a place to sleep. In this episode: How Sleep in Heavenly Peace is helping build and deliver beds/bedding to every needy child in the Upper Cumberland. How Trevor started working with SiHP after early retirement from his position as a Glo...

Join Kosta and his guest: Adam Drake, award-winning filmmaker, Owner and Founder of Drake Films and First Assistant Director of The Chosen, the first-ever multi-season series about the life of Christ and the largest crowdfunded television show of all time. In this episode: Adam's journey in the entertainment industry, if The Chosen would exist if it wasn’t a fan-supported show and what has that fr...

Join Kosta and his guest: Shelbey Wilson , beauty and lifestyle creator, founder of Shelbey Wilson and Shelbey Wilson Daily on YouTube. In this episode:  How Shelbey organically grew a YouTube following of over 280,000 on YouTube, what it's like to be a micro-influencer, how much content creators actually make and the process of making brand deals, and Shelbey's strategy on building authentic audi...

Join Kosta and his guest: Darby Faccinto , Future User Interface and Visual Effects Designer featured in series such as Loki, She Hulk and Hawkeye as well as DC Comics’ latest blockbuster hit Black Adam. In this episode: What is a User Interface/Visual Effects Designer? Darby's career and how he started working for Disney, Marvel and DC Comics. The future of filmmaking and how remote working has r...

Join Kosta and his guest: Justin Kanew, Writer, Producer and Creator of TN Holler, an audience-supported progressive news site with a series of active social media feeds that seek to amplify voices throughout Tennessee. In this episode: The creation, vision and Mission of TN Holler, why Tennessee voters often aren't voting in their own self interest, how the 2022 congressional maps have impacted t...

Join Kosta and his guests: Mikel Miller Recovery2Work Employment Manager and Samantha Sherrell Cross, President of Encompass Manufacturing. Today we’re talking about Recovery2Work , Second Chance Employment and how businesses can enrich and diversify their workforce by providing employment opportunities to those formerly incarcerated. In this episode: How Recovery2Work is addressing the stigma sur...

Join Kosta and his guest: Randy Porter , Putnam County Mayor and Host of Today in Putnam County, a weekly radio show providing news, interviews and useful resources to listeners of the Upper Cumberland. For over 38 years Randy has served Putnam County as a volunteer, civil servant, leader and advocate. In this episode: How a lifetime of service in Emergency Services shaped Randy as Mayor, how vote...

Join Kosta and his guest: Cindy Schueman , Executive Director for IMPACT Leadership and serving member for Board of Trustees at Motlow Community College and Tennessee Association of Community Leadership. Proudly supporting the underrepresented populations of our community and actively seeking to promote the betterment of our area, Cindy’s primary mission is to ensure equal opportunities for all ci...

Join Kosta and his guest: Daniel Istvanko, Wildlife Diversity Coordinator for Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency in Biodiversity. The Mission of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is to preserve, conserve, manage, protect, and enhance the fish and wildlife of the state and their habitats for the use, benefit, and enjoyment of the citizens of Tennessee and its visitors. Today we’re talking ab...

*Disclaimer/Trigger Warning* This episode may not be appropriate for all ages and audiences as it contains candid conversations about sexual assault, abuse and trauma. Join Kosta and his guest: Justin Blackmon, President of Art Round Tennessee, Independent Artist, Educator, and Activist. Today, we're talking about shaping your artistry, how to support the creativity and development of our next gen...

Join Kosta and his guest: Cheryl Moore, Former Home Economics Teacher, Artist, Costume Designer and Community Volunteer for a special Thanksgiving episode of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev. Featuring a special segment with our former guest and Lite Rock 95.9 Radio Personality: Caroline Moore.  Today we’re talking about fashion, costuming, and which side we’re bringing to thanksgiving dinne...

Join Kosta and his guest: Philip Gibbons, Program Director for Zimmer Broadcasting, Voice Over Artist, Host, Radio Personality and Radio Hall of Fame Inductee. In This Episode: Philip's legacy in the broadcasting industry, the future of radio and what the next generation of hosts and personalities can learn from broadcasters today.   Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Fr...

Join Kosta and his guest: Ricky Shelton , Founder and Creator of Better Cookeville , Influencer, Digital Marketing Strategist, Community Development Leader and the 31st Mayor to serve the City of Cookeville. In This Episode: We’re going behind the scenes of City Council, talking about how social media changed the expectations of local leaders and going back in time to see how Better Cookeville has...

Join Kosta and his guest: Emma Crabtree, Founder and Owner of The Glass Tangerine : Plant Shop and Mercantile. In This Episode: Emma’s transition from Mental Health Therapist to small business owner, starting your houseplant collection and how to answer the ever looming question - what’s next? Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville,...

Join Kosta and his guest:   Becky Davidson, Co-Founder and President of Rising Above Ministries , a multi-dimensional outreach to families impacted by special needs. In addition to her work as a community leader and special needs advocate, Becky is the host of the Rising Above Podcast, Author, Speaker, and Activist. In This Episode: The day in the life of a special needs parent, Becky's inspiratio...

Join Kosta and his guest: Brie Flora , Artist, Jeweler, Educator, Gallery Manager for Fiddlehead Gallery at The Silver Fern and Vice President of Art Round TN . In This Episode: How artists and small business owners can scale and curate their craft to be more marketable, the value of supporting local artists and the difference in what you’re really buying, how Art Round TN is growing the developme...

Join Kosta and his guest: Logan Taylor , Founder and Creative Director of Dream Reality Group , Producer and Founder of DRG Films , Photographer, Artist and Psychic Medium. In This Episode: How Logan discovered and developed his psychic abilities, dealing with skeptics and criticism, what it's like to grow up as a medium in the bible-belt, and his upcoming tour.   Better Together with Kosta Yepifa...

Join Kosta and his guest: Luke Eldridge, Housing Program Manager at UCHRA and  Vice-Mayor for The City of Cookeville.   In This Episode: The most urgent and pressing challenges facing Cookeville as we continue to grow and expand, Luke's opinion on honoring the separation of church and state, and how UCHRA is working to resolve the issues of homelessness, substance abuse, mental health, and domesti...

Join Kosta and his guest:  Laurin Wheaton , Nurse Practitioner and 32nd Mayor for The City of Cookeville. In This Episode: The greatest challenges facing Laurin as Mayor of Cookeville today and over the next 4 years, if it's possible to expand our economic opportunity and footprint while still maintaining our charm and small-town culture, and how Mayor Wheaton will measure success in this term.  ...

Join Kosta and his guest: John Rust , Director of State Programs at Power of Putnam . Today we’re discussing the impact of substance abuse on the Upper Cumberland, how fentanyl became the number one cause of death for Americans ages 18 to 45 and when to talk with your children about drugs, substance abuse and underage drinking. Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin...

Join Kosta and his guest: Dr. Michael Casal, Obstetrics and Gynecology Specialist, Medical Director and President of Women's Health Services and Owner of Infinity Family Practice. Today we’re discussing women’s health, Dr. Casal’s personal journey with his own family entering family medicine, and the future of reproductive health. Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Frank...