Blue Lift

Podcast Episode Title: "Untangling Faith and Finances" Show Description: In this revealing episode of Blue Lift, host Peggy Kingsbury sits down with Amy Fritz, host of the Untangled Faith podcast, to discuss her personal journey of leaving Ramsey Solutions and exposing the problematic culture within the organization.  Highlights: The internal dynamics of Ramsey Solutions and workplace challenges N...

Podcast Episode Title: "Undocumented Immigrant to Immigrant Rights Advocate" Show Description: In this powerful episode of Blue Lift, host Peggy Kingsbury sits down with Luis Mata, Government Relations Manager at the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC). Luis shares his personal story of immigrating from Guadalajara, Mexico, and navigating life as an undocumented immigrant befo...

Podcast Episode Title: "Love, Reconciliation, and Faith in Today's Divided World" Show Description: In this powerful episode of BlueLift, host Peggy Kingsbury sits down with Reverend Heath McClure, an Anglican priest who offers a compassionate and nuanced perspective on faith, politics, and human connection. Heath shares his journey from conservative evangelical roots to a more inclusive understan...

Podcast Episode Title: "From Republican Roots to Advocacy" Show Description: In this powerful episode of Blue Lift, host Peggy Kingsbury sits down with Melissa Hogan - attorney, author, and medical advocate - for an intimate conversation about personal transformation. Hogan shares her remarkable journey from deep Republican roots to becoming a progressive advocate, her experiences navigating medic...

Podcast Episode Title: "Generations of Service" Show Description: Join host Peggy Kingsbury as she sits down with Vicki Ross Bechet, a fourth-generation member of the General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC), to explore the rich history and ongoing impact of this influential women's organization. Discover how GFWC has been instrumental in creating positive change, from establishing libraries and...

Podcast Episode Title: "Navigating Chaos and Communication" Show Description: In this compelling episode of Blue Lift, host Peggy Kingsbury sits down with Matt Anderson, a communications expert and political consultant, to explore the complex political and social dynamics of Tennessee. Matt offers insights into the state's rich and challenging history, discusses the current legislative challenges,...

Podcast Episode Title: "Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery" Show Description: In this powerful episode of Blue Lift, host Peggy Kingsbury sits down with author Marianne Richmond to explore her remarkable life story of overcoming medical gaslighting, navigating complex family dynamics, and transforming personal challenges into creative inspiration. Richmond shares her experiences of living wit...

Podcast Episode Title: "Journalism, Democracy, and Civility" Show Description: In this compelling episode of Blue Lift, host Peggy Kingsbury sits down with David Plazas, Opinion and Engagement Director for the USA Today Network in Tennessee. Dive into a candid discussion about the challenges of modern journalism, the importance of civic engagement, and navigating today's complex political landscap...

Podcast Episode Title: "USAID, Global Development, and the Path Forward" Show Description: In this powerful episode of Blue Lift, host Peggy Kingsbury sits down with international development expert and political candidate Maryam Abolfazli to explore critical issues facing our nation and world. Dive into an insightful conversation about: Highlights: The vital role of USAID in global stability and...

Podcast Episode Title: "Navigating Anxiety in Turbulent Times" Show Description: In this powerful episode of Blue Lift, clinical social worker Audrey Winograd joins host Peggy Kingsbury to explore the complex landscape of anxiety in today's politically charged environment. Discover practical strategies for managing stress, maintaining mental health, and finding personal peace amid societal challen...

Podcast Episode Title: "Press Freedom, Open Government, and the First Amendment" Show Description: In this compelling episode of Blue Lift, host Peggy Kingsbury sits down with Deborah Fisher, director of MTSU's John Seigenthaler Chair of Excellence in First Amendment Studies and executive director of the Tennessee Coalition for Open Government. Fisher provides an insider's perspective on the criti...

Episode Title: “Navigating the Changes of Higher Education” Show Description: In this episode of the Blue Lift Podcast, host Peggy Kingsbury sits down with strategic communications expert Adrienne Hines to discuss the evolving landscape of higher education. They explore the complex issues facing colleges and universities, from funding challenges and policy changes to the ongoing debates around div...

In this episode of Blue Lift, host Peggy Kingsbury sits down with accidental "DEMfluencer" Lindsey Patrick-Wright. Lindsey shares her journey as a former librarian and mom to a queer teen, and how she found her voice as an advocate for LGBTQ+ issues and fighting book bans.  Highlights: Lindsey's background in advocacy, inspired by her progressive upbringing Her viral TikTok video and appearance on...

Podcast Title: “Vaccines and Preventable Diseases” Podcast Description: In this episode of Blue Lift, host Peggy Kingsbury sits down with Dr. Michelle Fiscus, a board-certified pediatrician and public health advocate. They discuss the importance of vaccine-preventable diseases, the history of successful vaccine programs, and the concerning rise of anti-vaccine movements.  Highlights: The eradicati...

In this episode, host Peggy Kingsbury sits down with Janet Shouse, the program coordinator for the IDD toolkit at the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center in Nashville. They dive deep into the center's mission, the challenges faced by families with disabled members, and the valuable resources available through the IDD toolkit and other initiatives. Highlights: Overview of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center's four...

Podcast Episode Title: "The Toxic Legacy of the Tennessee Valley Authority" Description: In this episode, we delve into the compelling story behind Jared Sullivan's book "Valley So Low," which chronicles the devastating 2008 coal ash spill at the Kingston plant of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). Through an in-depth conversation with the author, we explore the history and purpose of the TVA,...

Podcast Episode Title: "Navigating the Algorithms: Combating Misinformation and Preserving Democracy" Show Description: In this episode of Blue Lift, host Peggy Kingsbury sits down with political analyst and writer Laura Brown to discuss the profound impact of algorithms and media bias on our political discourse. They explore how the rise of social media and targeted advertising have transformed t...

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Nancy French, an acclaimed ghostwriter and investigative journalist, to discuss her latest book "Ghosted: An American Story" and her groundbreaking investigation into the Kanakuk Christian camp in Missouri.  Highlights include: Nancy's personal journey from lifelong Republican to vocal critic of the party, driven by her values and experiences as a sex abu...

Title: Confronting Christian Nationalism Episode 23- Pastor Dr. Kevin Riggs Peggy sits down with Pastor Dr. Kevin Riggs, the first repeat guest on Blue Lift and the senior pastor of Franklin Community Church in Tennessee. Pastor Dr. Riggs explains that Christian nationalism is an ideology using religious symbols to gain political support, advocating for a fusion of American civil life with a speci...

Title: Dangers of School Vouchers in Tennessee Episode 22- Liv Cook Peggy sits down with Liv Cook, head public education organizer for SOCM (Statewide Organizing for Community eMpowerment). We primarily discuss the impact of school vouchers on Tennessee. Cook explains that SOCM, a 52-year-old organization, focuses on public education, housing rights, and community development. She argues that vouc...

Title: Libraries as Cornerstones of Community Episode 21- Jennifer Pearson Peggy sits down with Jennifer Pearson, an experienced library professional. Jennifer discusses the evolving role of libraries in rural communities. We highlight the importance of libraries as community hubs, providing free access to resources like computers and internet, which are crucial for those without broadband. She em...

Title: Addressing Inequity in Education and Beyond Episode 20 - Dr. Mona Ivey-Soto Peggy sits down with Dr. Mona Ivey-Soto, an associate professor at Belmont University with a diverse academic background. Dr. Ivey-Soto emphasizes the importance of preparing educators to work with marginalized communities, which can include communities of color as well as low-income white communities in rural areas...

Title: Politics, Grief, and the Path Forward Episode 19- Megan Barry Peggy sits down with Megan Barry, former mayor of Nashville, TN! Megan discusses her career trajectory, including her transition from the business world to politics. She highlights her book, "It's What You Do Next," which addresses her personal struggles, including a scandal involving her security chief and the loss of her son, M...

Title: Insights from A Millennial Campaigner  Episode 18- Joshua Patrick Peggy sits down with Joshua Patrick, a newly elected Democratic state executive committeeman. He discusses his journey into politics, starting from his kindergarten mayoral campaign. He explains the structure of political campaigns, emphasizing the importance of a campaign manager and various roles like political and field di...

Title: A Mother's Journey Advocating for Her Transgender Son  Episode 17 - Heather G. Thomas Peggy sits down with Heather G. Thomas, a lifelong Tennessee resident. She discusses her journey into activism, particularly focusing on her transgender son. She founded Tennessee Moms PAC to advocate for common-sense gun reform, women's reproductive health, public school issues, and LGBT support. Heather...