Meanwhile in Memphis with New Memphis

Dr. Mario Brown has made a career out of ensuring others' success. As Chief Talent Development Officer for First Horizon Bank, a board member of Seeding Success, and a founding facilitator of New Memphis Embark, he's passionate about empowering people. passion for our city and its people is energizing, and he is most joyful when sparking joy in others. So, it's no surprise that he's made his caree...

What happens when two Teach for America teachers decide to offer up their knowledge of rugby to their students? Find out in today's episode of "Meanwhile in Memphis" as Shane Young, co-founder and executive director of Memphis Inner City Rugby, stops by the studio. Shane's passion for the game and his students is unmatched, and it turned his "side hustle" into a full-time job. The organization has...

We can all agree that access to news looks different than it once did. The nostalgia of reading the Sunday paper with a great cup of coffee is all but forgotten to a whole generation. But even with tremendous progress, there will always be an appetite authenticity. Mark Fleischer and Nikki Dean of Storyboard Memphis talk about a multimedia-model & filling story-telling gaps with long-form jour...

A blighted building. A children's book. To some, these don't have anything in common. We beg to differ. The cover of the book is a nice start, but the good stuff is deeper within. Kevin Woods of Blue Cross Blue Shield of TN and Paul Young of the Downtown Memphis Commission stop by the studio to chat about their exciting new mixed-use project at 100 N. Main and how the redevelopment will breathe ne...

In today's episode we're bringing you the heart and soul of Memphis! Libby Ridenhour and Kate Staggs from the American Heart Association share personal stories and how to recognize risk factors and potentially prevent heart disease before it starts. Then, we hear from Kimberly Hooper-Taylor who spear-headed Stax Museum of American Soul's virtual Black History Month offerings. This is chock full of...

We know you're feelin' the ice, ice, baby! But this episode is sure to warm your heart! Dr. Erin Watson and Michelle Nixon from Junior League of Memphis swing by to share about their upcoming Develop H.E.R. Women's Summit. Then, you get to know the newest New Memphian, our Director of Leadership Programs, Kaylon Bradford. He's witty, he's magnetic, and he gets life advice from Will Smith. Trust me...

There's nothin' to it but to do it ! Fletcher Cleaves is proving that it's not your circumstances that define you, but rather how you react to those circumstances. At the age of 18, he had it all -- he'd worked hard to get a scholarship to Lambuth to play football under the formidable Coach Hugh Freeze. But everything changed in an instant after a car accident caused by a distracted driver left hi...

What if a spoonful of sugar is the problem? Not the remedy? Join us to hear how LifeDoc Health is providing wrap-around health services for the Memphis community by meeting individuals where they're at, then get to know two of the newest members to the New Memphis team! The week's episode is generously sponsored by iBank.

Memphis has a complex history, and it's critical to honor our past while leveling up for our future. In the studio today, we do just that. One day after MLK Day, we're honored to celebrate 70 years of The New Tri-State Defender , and hear a challenge from the President of The National Civil Rights Museum. "I believe if Dr. King was here, he would give us words of inspiration about work that's been...

In this episode, we chat with musician, composer, podcaster, educator, TEDxMemphis speaker, and refugee, Zak Ozmo, about the universal truth of music. It is always there to provide a safe space, to bond, for expression, and find common ground. Art and music are the greatest forms of human expression - so it stands to reason that moving music can be created in times of turmoil. We dive deep into ho...

I don't know about you, but we're feelin' 2022! For our final "favorite thing" and the first episode of 2022, Christy Mullen (our weekly co-host and Director of Marketing and Communications) shares her favorite... "the wonderful and effervescent Ephie...". It originally aired in June of 2021, and is actually our longest episode to date at an hour and 20 minutes. We trimmed it down for today, but p...

For our final installment of episodes in 2021, our very own Erin Wendell, Director of New Memphis Educator and Collegiate Programs, chose an episode that she just could not stop thinking about. This episode, which originally aired in May 2021, is more of a hearty main dish than a starchy side, so put on your stretchy pants and get ready to dig in! Law and Order. Our justice system is set up to be...

The second installment of "Our Favorite Things" is the delightful Shamichael Hallman! His career is as generous as he is, spanning from tech and ministry to being a 2020 TEDxMemphis speaker and reimagining public spaces like the historic Cossitt Library. This episode originally aired in February 2021, and was quickly a staff and fan favorite. Tune in and you'll see why!

As our holiday gift to you, dear listener, we're revisiting a few of our favorite episodes in a series we're literally calling "Our Favorite Things." (cue the Julie Andrews music!) This first one was hand-selected by our sometimes co-host, AT, and originally aired in December 2020. As to why she selected this particular episode, she said: "First, Ned Canty is hilarious! But more importantly, he ha...

Whether you can sing along with the title reference or have no idea what on earth High School Musical is... you've come to the right place! Today, we have Dr. Krista Johnson, Executive Director and Founder of ALL Memphis, in the studio to share her unique approach to "teaching the teacher" so that no student is left behind. Then, you'll hear from New Memphis' very own Laura Beth Davis and Christy...

Memphians pride themselves on knowing a thing or two about a thing or two. For example: blues, BBQ, and Beale. But what if I told you there's always something to discover about this city.... would you believe? Whether it's a new entrepreneurial effort or a foundation celebrating their diamond anniversary, our city (and its people!) never cease to deliver on generosity. Fresh off of Small Business...

Welcome to Part 2 of our spotlight on our 2021 Educators of Excellence honorees! Last week, you heard from the ladies, and this week the gentlemen get a turn to share their stories. We dive deep into the importance of representation, radical innovations for teaching, and why it's so impactful to pour into young people. BONUS: Taylor Cao and Aaron Youngblood just so happen to be New Memphis Embark...

1-2-3, eyes on me! It's time to get to know our 2021 Educators of Excellence in a two part series where they share why they got into education, what keeps them there (and in Memphis!), and what they wish the community knew about what it's really like to equip the next generation of leaders! Tune in the hear from our first three honorees on this episode. This year, the New Memphis Educators of Exce...

Maya Angelou said it best, and our guests are living her words out. Sam O'Bryant is the newly minted executive director of Literacy Mid-South, which is working to provide "literacy across the lifetime." Jill Shanker, a Jay Uiberall Foundation Board Member, joins Will Perry, facilitator of the Jay Uiberall Scholars program at REACH Memphis (and a New Memphis Fellows alum!) to share the impact of on...

How sweet it is to have SweetBio, Inc. buzzing around our city! 🍯 The brother/sister duo at the helm of this innovative medical device company, Dr. Isaac Rodriguez & Kayla Rodriguez Graff, took the science behind manuka honey and paired it with the venture capital world to create a truly unique solution to wound care. But they aren't done yet! They continue to challenge themselves to lean int...

Today's episode is all about SUPERwomen! Hear how Arrow Creative and the (brand new!) Women's Business Center South are providing resources for local artists, creatives, and entrepreneurs right here in Memphis! Proving that with the right resources in play, our creative thinkers will STAY!

Memphis may be all about grit 'n grind, but we also know we're so much better when we're together! In that spirit, today's episode features innovators who are making a difference by creating a culture of community, and changing our city one idea at a time. Ellen Roberds is at the helm of The Dragonfly Collective which is an incubator for social change. One of the results has been Downtown's Hospit...

This is a unique week, dear listeners! It's our host station's pledge drive! You can tune into this episode to hear more about it, and then tune in LIVE on October 12th to hear Anna Mullins Ellis share her favorite songs + insights from 8-9 a.m. CST. And if you're feelin' generous, we ask that you consider donating to WYXR and New Memphis to keep our sounds streamin'.

Dan McCleary (Founder and the Nancy R. Copp Producing Artistic Director at Tennessee Shakespeare Company) is passionate about theatre...specifically Shakespearean theatre. But when he found himself directing and performing primarily to frequent flyers, he gave himself a challenge -- how and where could he produce Shakespeare for patrons experiencing the works for the first time? The result? Tennes...

Take a deep dive on two topics you thought knew knew everything about in this episode of Meanwhile in Memphis! Transportation is planes, trains and automobiles, right? Yes, but there's so much more! Lauren Bermudez from the Downtown Memphis Commission is here to share why the solution to our problems isn't simply more parking garages. Then, we have Tiffani Morrow from the Memphis Grizzlies Foundat...