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Brittany Schaffer, the Dean of the School for Entertainment and Music Business at Belmont University shares her journey from high school debate team to Vanderbilt, and her transition from the legal field to academia. She discusses the unique educational opportunities at Belmont, such as the innovative 'Dolly U' program in partnership with Dolly Parton. Brittany dives deep into the collab...

Justin Maierhofer, Vice President for the Northern Region of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), joins Spencer and Carli to delve into TVA's role in energy generation, environmental stewardship, and economic development. Justin explains TVA’s diverse energy mix, the importance of public power, and how the organization is working towards a resilient and sustainable future.  Send us Fan Mail

This week, Carli sits down with Lindsey Norton, founder and executive director of Hope House, Tennessee's only home for teenage parents. She shares her journey from being a labor and delivery nurse to addressing the urgent need for housing and support for teen moms. Norton discusses the challenges, the vision for Hope House, and the unique trauma-informed design of the facility. Learn about t...

This episode features Laura Scoggins, a seasoned real estate agent with Benchmark Realty, and Jenny Haines Douglas, Senior Loan Officer at Movement Mortgage. Together, they break down the current state of the housing market in Middle Tennessee, offering expert strategies on navigating high prices and interest rates. Whether you're a first-time homebuyer or considering a market investment, lea...

Rachel Guymon, the Director of Special Events for the Tennessee Titans discusses the diverse range of events hosted at the Titans stadium. She highlights the extensive use of the stadium for corporate, private, and community events, totaling nearly 300 days of activity annually. Rachel also shares exciting details about the new stadium set to open in early 2027, including its advanced facilities a...

Sarah Mattson, Director of Entrepreneurship for the City of Chattanooga, discusses the vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem in Chattanooga. This conversation sheds light on Chattanooga’s unique blend of big city amenities with a small-town feel, driven by its exceptional digital and outdoor assets. Sarah elaborates on her role in fostering a supportive environment for small businesses, emphasizing th...

In this episode, Becca Stevens, an author, speaker, Episcopal priest, and social entrepreneur, discusses the profound impact of Thistle Farms—a global movement she founded to support women survivors of trafficking, addiction, and sexual exploitation. Becca shares the origins of Thistle Farms in Nashville, her personal journey of overcoming trauma, and the importance of community in the healing pro...

In this episode, we sit down with Heather Middleton, the Chief Marketing Officer for Visit Music City. Throughout the conversation, Heather shares insights into Nashville's booming tourism industry, touching upon the economic impact of visitors, including astonishing stats like the $29 million spent daily in Nashville. Heather sheds light on the roles and strategies behind marketing the city...

Rikki Harris, CEO of Tennessee Voices, joins the conversation to discuss the pressing mental health issues Tennesseans face and the state's unique preventive measures. The episode delves into Tennessee Voices' mission, emphasizing collaboration and community-focused care, while also exploring the challenges of nonprofit leadership. Harris shares insights into effective self-care for ment...

Sit down with Spencer Patton and Carli Patton as they recap what they learned while talking with Drew D'Agostino, Founder of Crystal.  Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, Drew D'Agostino, founder and CEO of Crystal, dives deep into the realms of AI and Bitcoin. Intended for Tennesseans by Tennesseans, the discussion explores Drew's journey in the tech space, from creating a popular Chrome extension for LinkedIn to navigating ethical dilemmas in AI application. Drew also shares insights on leveraging AI for business growth, the challenges...

Sit down with Spencer Patton and Carli Patton as they recap what they learned while talking with Brooks Herring, singer-songwriter.   Send us Fan Mail

Brooks Herring, a Navy veteran and Nashville-based singer-songwriter, joins Spencer and Carli to share his journey from military service to the music scene. Growing up with a passion for music, Brooks discovered its power as a constant during his deployments, even mailing himself a guitar to Iraq. His time in the Navy and as a contractor in Afghanistan shaped both his perspective and his music, le...

Sit down with Spencer Patton and Carli Patton as they recap what they learned while talking with Jane Allen, founder of Counsel on Call (now Legility) and former CEO of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center.  Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, Jane Allen, founder of Counsel on Call (now Legility) and former CEO of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, shares her inspiring journey from schoolteacher to legal industry trailblazer. Jane discusses the leap of faith that led her to law school, the founding of a company that pioneered flexible work options for lawyers, and the lessons learned from scaling and ultimately exiting...

Sit down with Spencer Patton and Carli Patton as they recap what they learned while talking with Adam Comer, CEO of Spring2Life Recovery.  Send us Fan Mail

Adam Comer, CEO of S2L Recovery and Executive Producer of The Forgotten Pandemic documentary, joins Spencer and Carli to discuss his journey from addiction to redemption. Adam shares his powerful testimony, highlighting the transformative power of faith-based recovery and the importance of community in overcoming addiction. He delves into the challenges of addressing the opioid crisis, S2L's...

Will Norton, Head of School at St. Paul Christian Academy, joins Spencer and Carli to discuss the challenges of parenting in the digital age and the impact of social media on adolescents. Drawing from his experience as an educator and organizer of the Tennessee Symposium for Online Safety and Health, Will shares insights on fostering digital citizenship, setting guardrails for smartphone use, and...

Sit down with Spencer Patton and Carli Patton as they recap what they learned while talking with Melanie Shinbaum, Executive Director of Nashville Early Childhood Education.  Send us Fan Mail

Melanie Shinbaum, Executive Director of the Nashville Early Education Coalition Fund, joins us to discuss the critical challenges facing early education in Tennessee. From systemic issues like low wages and limited accessibility to the economic and emotional toll on families, Melanie shares innovative solutions, including public-private partnerships, scalable childcare models, and the role of busi...

In this episode, we dive into one of the most pressing issues facing families today: the impact of social media on children. With mounting evidence showing the risks tied to online platforms, what can parents do to safeguard their kids while navigating the digital world? Christine Rosen, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and expert on technology, culture, and society, offers ins...

Kevin Menezes is the Founder and Senior Pastor of Every Nation India – a group that does church planting in India. With a commitment to seeing the gospel change the lives of the 1.4 billion people living in India, Menezes demonstrates the power of bravery and faith in his efforts to grow Christianity. While the challenges are significant, Menezes has a lightness to his leadership.  Send us Fan Mai...

Sit down with Spencer Patton and Carli Patton as they recap what they learned while talking with Josh Burch, Director of People at Fort Campell.  Send us Fan Mail

Josh Burch, Director of People at the Honor Foundation and a retired U.S. Army Green Beret, joins Spencer and Carli to share his remarkable journey from rural Tennessee to serving 16 deployments in Special Operations. In this episode, Josh discusses how the Honor Foundation helps transitioning veterans find purpose and fulfillment in civilian life by translating their military experience into valu...

Sit down with Spencer Patton and Carli Patton as they recap what they learned while talking with Sam Davidson, CEO of The Nashville Entrepreneur Center.  Send us Fan Mail