Raising Kellan

This episode of the Raising Kellan Podcast concludes a three-part “Healthcare Affordability” series by featuring human rights advocate Kristen Grimm, founder and former executive director of Mothers for Medicare for All and newly appointed national director of One Nation Fully Covered under the Tim Carpenter Institute. [0:53] [1:17] [32:16] Drawing on her lived experience navigating her son’s 25 c...

Dr. Beth Beaudin-Seiler is a Project Director in the Health Research and Insights practice area, where she leads the Health Economics and Policy team. She leads a portfolio of work that focuses on health care affordability, including the Consumer Healthcare Experience State Survey (CHES) - a survey designed to understand the burdens, trade-offs, and worries respondents have regarding affording hea...

In this episode, I chat with Shana Watkins from the Tennessee Justice Center about their upcoming HealthCare Afforability Summit, which will be taking place in: Knoxville on June 10, 2026 Nashville on June 17, 2026 Memphis on June 24, 2026 Timeline of the Conversation 01:30 What is the Tennessee Justice Center (TJC)? 03:00 What's in a name? Tenncare is Medicaid! 07:00  Harms of H.R.1 (Big Beau...

Ms Alicia Cantrell has an exciting VBS planned at Roellen Baptist Church in Roellen, TN, this coming June 8-12, 2026. Be sure to listen to see how your children can sign up. Timeline of conversation: 1:00 How did the idea for this Vacation Bible Study(VBS) evolve? 2:00 FFA, 4-H are Heart of Champions. 4:00 Some of the scheduled activities during VBS. 5:00 How to sign up for VBS 6:30 Ways to volunt...

Rachel Lovell is a dedicated public servant and advocate for civic participation in Weakley County, Tennessee. She has served as an Election Commissioner with the Weakley County Election Commission for the past five years, following five years on the Counting Board. Through her work, Rachel is committed to ensuring elections are fair, transparent, and accessible, and to helping voters understand t...

Interview with Former U.S. Representative for the Eighth Congressional District of Tennessee, John Tanner, and his wife, Ms Betty Ann Tanner 00:55 Mr Tanner : Can you please tell us about your early life, sir, up to meeting Ms Betty Ann? 03:43 Ms Betty Ann:   Can you tell us where you were born, how you met John, married, and your family ? 06:27 Mr Tanner : You have an incredibly distinguished car...

(7 min listen) We are excited to be hosting Thriving Caregivers this coming weekend, 4/18/26, from 10 AM to 3 PM at Dyersburg First United Methodist Church. This program will be led by Kristin and Todd Evans, national speakers and authors of "How to Build a Thriving Marriage as you care for Children with Disabilities." Here is an outline of the program, and we hope to see you there Morni...

This episode with Kyndell Harkness is a follow-up from an interview #161 with Molly and Kristen from the Mama Bear Podcast. Kyndell Harkness, a former photojournalist at the Minnesota Star Tribune and now CEO and founder of Infinite Voices.  The episode delves into Kyndell's journey from Harlem to the Midwest, her extensive career in journalism, and her transition into a role focused on culture an...

Michaela Barnett is a small business owner, scientist, and community leader who spent the last year working in Congress — so she knows firsthand what isn’t working, why, and what to do about it. She's running to flip the longest-held Republican seat in the country, Tennessee's second congressional district. Michaela is fighting to reclaim our people's power and reform our government to...

In today’s episode, I chat with Kirsten DesMarias and Molly Hilgenberg, co-hosts of the podcast” Mama You Belong.” Kirsten and Molly live in Minnesota and are here to create an awareness of what is happening with regard to Operation Metro Surge. This episode was recorded Feb 9, 2026 and on Feb 12, 2026, Tom Homan who is leading Operation Metro Surge after Greg Bivino’s removal, reported that “immi...

In today's episode, I chat with Mandy Hinson from St John's Community Services about the services provided by the organization, as well as the as a budding new project called " The Pantry." Timeline: 1:00 Mandy Hinson introduction 1:49 What is St John's Community Services? 3:00 Oasis Program for unhoused youth and victims of domestic abuse. 4:00 The Pantry 5:42 The beginning...

In this epsiode I chat with Heather Henderson, a disability advocate from Columbia, TN Timeline: 1:00 Introduction 2:30 Information and Misinformation 4:30 Learning the Systems that support the Disability Community. 9:00 Advocacy: Proactive (planning) vs Reactive? 12:00 Unapologetic Advocacy 14:00 Accountability from Systems that serve the Disability Community 14:30 : What is on the Horizon for He...

Overflow Church in McKenzie, TN, will be hosting Night to Shine on February 13 from 6 - 9 PM. To be sure to listen as Sydney Inman OTR talks about her journey as an occupational therapist, as well as her serving as part of her church team to host their first-ever prom for individuals with IDD here in Northwest TN. Sydney also describes her church's commitment to an inclusive environment, as we...

Today I got to chat with Keona Gwinn who I met at Tennessee Day on the Hill about a year ago. Keona is a MPH candidate at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee and recently delivered a TEDx talked based on the medical home model. Timeline: 1:00 Who is Keona Gwinn? 1:49 Tennessee Disability Day on the Hill 2026 3: 38 Keona's early years: spina bifida, CHOA , Camp krazy legs 4.30 Keona...

Katie Moore is a dynamic self advocate from East Tennessee who will be holding a virtual conference in collaboration with community partners on January 22-23, 2026 from 5-7:30 PM. This promises to be an exciting opportunity to learn about resources and network with partners. Here is your link to register - LINK https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1SobJ2FNKTUjIgFGtg_WANm_qcv85xtqfCGSuR9qpTHc/edit?usp=d...

Jerri Green is a mom, a lawyer as well as a public servant raised right here in Tennessee. She will be running for the next Governor of Tennessee in 2026. Timeline 1:25 Who is Jerri Green? 3:39 What are the role and responsibilities of Governor? 7:04 How does your current work position you for Governor of TN? 9:51 Jerri Green's position on school vouchers? 11: 47 Jerri Green's position on...

In today's podcast I chat with Zack Wilson, and his parents Anne Marie and Tom Wilson. Zack is an individual with Down syndrome, a recent graduate of Eagle Access here in Dyersburg TN, an avid CrossFit competitor and an artist. He will he hosting his first art exhibition at McIvers Grant Public Library in Dyersburg TN on November 6, 2025 from 4 - 6 PM. Please come see us if you can!

Today's episode is a great conservation with Maleia Evans from the Authentically You Network Podcast. I chat with Maleia about how her concept for 31 in 31: Conversations with Proverbs 31 women - a series she launched on her podcast. I often get asked about the origin story of Raising Kellan. I am super grateful to Maleia for telling our story on Episode 8 of the 31 in 31 series centered on fa...

Steve Chatman is Vice President of Rising Above Ministries and host of the Rising Above Dads Podcast. Steve and his wife Lori have five children and four grandchildren. Steve is a special-needs dad as two of his children are living with Down Syndrome. Steve spent 30 years in church ministry before joining Rising Above Ministries in 2022. He loves encouraging and equipping families and churches. In...

We have exactly two weeks till U.S. Values and the Constitution, a free 4 part series taking place at McIvers Grant Public Library from Sept 11, 2025 to October 2, 2025- 5:30 to 6:30 PM. In today's episode Mary Palmer and Marsh Naidoo chat with some of the student leadership namely: Mickie Thach and Myren Hurst about their roles in the program. Timeline from unedited podcast: 3:35 Introductions 4:...

In today's episode I chat with Clare Saum, Marketing Director at Discovery Park of America about an exciting upcoming event: Pediatric Day. This day connects families with a wealth of local resources and services to support children’s health, learning and well-being. • When: Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. • Where: Discovery Park of America (Union City, Tennessee) • What’s happeni...

Marsh Naidoo, Mary Palmer, and Dr. Matthew Stafford chat about a four-part series on U.S. values and the Constitution that Dr. Stafford will be teaching at the McIvers Grant Public Library in Dyersburg, Tennessee. The series will cover the history and values behind the U.S. Constitution, with the aim of inspiring pride and hope in the audience by connecting them to the American story. The sessions...

On today's episode, Kate Mudge leads the discussion centered on Care Farming and the collaborative network. Please check out their interactive website. https://carefarmingnetwork.org/ Timeline: 01:54 Introductions 3:08 Origin Story and the Red Wiggler 6:00 Care Farming Network Conference 8:23 Old School Farm in Nashville 10:30 Benefits of Care Farm Models to Rural Communities 13:41 How to cont...

Call the US Capitol at 202-224-3121 and ask to speak to your Congress Representative.

On June 14, 2025, we were in Cookeville, TN, to participate in the Special Needs Resource Fair at Vine Branch Church. We got to chat with families, exhibitors, and service providers, including: Dawn Fry - Attorney at Law Selena Stewart with Omni Family of Services . Ashley McCloud with WorkAble TN Blake Shearer with the Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities Jessica Moreles with Tennessee...