Squeeze The Day

Nashville power couple Linda Davis and Lang Scott have excelled in country and Christian music. As parents of Rylee Jean and Lady A's frontwoman Hillary Scott, their story is inspiring as is their love for life and learning. In this podcast, they share how they met, married, and balanced careers and a family. Learn how a talent series win and work with Reba McEntire and Kenny Rogers propelled them...

Bernie Sheahan had a storied career in PR, radio, and as a columnist at the "Nashville Scene." When her editor encouraged her to write an account of her very personal mental health journey, the cover story received incredible response and community support. In this inspiring podcast, we'll learn how she manages her mental health, why coaching middle schoolers is a calling, and how being a family c...

Cardiologist Dr. David Sabgir felt he was failing to help patients improve their health. So, he invited them to walk with him to reverse the effects of a sedentary life and offered health education while walking. From that idea, Walk with a Doc was born inspiring doctors across the world. It has now spread to 500+ communities in 40+ countries. Dr. Sabgir was even recognized as a CNN Hero. Join us...

Mario Andretti is considered to be one of the most successful racers in history. His roots and early life in a refugee camp likely contributed to his strength and determination. Today, the Andretti brand extends well beyond racing. Mario has a winery, a petroleum business, and a growing global motorsports presence. His intense drive to be victorious in life and on the racetrack demonstrate how res...

Tina Chilton is 85 years young. She can out-plank people half her age… including a young intern who was blown away by Tina's drive to excel. Born in Texas to parents from Mexico, she has lived in many states and traveled the world while in the military. Her service to our country and her drive to stay relevant and engaged with others across the generations are invigorating. Learn how this remarkab...

Fabian Bedne credits his parents, Argentinian roots, and his desire to help others as factors in his quest to make the world a better place. After a dictatorship dramatically changed life in Argentina, a work exchange program led him to Ohio, and later to Tennessee. Bedne became a citizen, a council rep, a highly-requested wedding officiant, and a member of the mayor's office. Learn how his life's...

Edgar Struble is a film producer, music director, author, performer, and public speaker who has worked with Kenny Rogers, and directed or composed music for the Academy of Country Music Awards, and Billboard Music Awards. He has rubbed shoulders with stars ranging from Lionel Ritchie, Taylor Swift, and Dolly Parton to actor Christopher Lloyd. Today, he's mentoring younger creatives, expanding his...

Janet Jernigan has won countless awards in her life. Her more than 50-year career as a nonprofit leader is legendary as are the records she currently holds as an athlete. However, her true advocacy for others may be rooted in the mid-1960s when, as a student at Vanderbilt University, she began to advocate for equality by playing a role in the civil rights movement in Nashville. Let's hear how this...

Brad Schmitt is lucky to be alive and to have a purpose. In this interview, this journalist shares how owning his decisions has brought him full circle. This compelling conversation touches on how bullying and abusive parents led him to alcohol and drug abuse. He shares how job loss brought him new beginnings. His redemption came from a support team of friends, 12-step programs, and coping mechani...

Mark Edward Dickerson married his partner, Chef Kevin, after almost 40 years together. Learn more about how this small business owner and father works to build a strong community to lift up the lives of others. From birth to adulthood, in this interview, we learn the role adoptions have played throughout his life and how family, fostering connections, and the internet, have brought new meaning to...

Darline Lewis built a career bringing life into the world as a labor and delivery nurse. Forced to retire early due to a botched medical procedure, life has now come full circle as the daughter she welcomed into the world years ago has stepped in to help her. The aha moments for these two are eye-opening as more children are becoming youth caregivers for older family members. Despite life's ups an...

A Grammy winner and Grand Ole Opry member, Jeannie Seely, speaks about the hallowed institution and candidly shares about her life and how she is not hesitant to challenge status quo to bring about change for women. Her love for performance, including theatre, shines as does her desire to explain why an education in business is an asset in the music industry. In this podcast, Jeannie addresses hea...

As a Hee Haw Honey on one of the longest-running comedy/music series, Mackenzie Colt shares snapshots of her life including how as a teenage mom she found her way to Music City, landed on Hee Haw, and was influenced by the program and music icons including Buck Owens. Mackenzie later launched what today is now the oldest chocolate business in Nashville. In this podcast she shares how as a young fe...

Eric Jackson is a four-time world champion who has dominated the whitewater kayaking scene for the past three decades. Despite the challenges of hearing loss, he spent 26 years on the U.S. Kayak Team (1989-2015) winning on an international level. In 2017, well into his 40s and now at 57, he qualified for the U.S. Team. At the age of 6, Eric got hooked on kayaking and credits swimmer Mark Spitz for...

Originally from Ghana, Dr. T. Kwami credits his parents for instilling in him the love of music. In this podcast, he shares priceless stories about moving to the U.S., finding Fisk University, and becoming a Fisk Jubilee Singer. Now a faculty member and director of the legendary singing group, Dr. Kwami is dedicated to preserving the heritage of this 150-year-old group as they take jubilee music a...

Larry Talley grew up with music in his heart. Now he uses his love for playing music, especially the clarinet, as therapy for himself and others. He discovered that sharing music – especially with seniors in the community  – could be a transformative gift to others. Talley has been called an icon, an inspiration, and a living miracle. Learn more about the courageous battles he has fought and the l...

Nashville songwriter turns to film and video after the tragic loss of his daughter. Meet John Hamlin who demonstrates how a real-world tragedy can be the catalyst for positive change and new direction at any age. In this podcast he speaks to the searing loss and how, today, his late daughter leaves "breadcrumbs" to help him navigate a new life of advocacy through visual storytelling.

Artist Phil Ponder has been capturing our Nashville for 50+ years leaving a lasting legacy. As a community servant, he cites the late Vic Varallo and Judge Randy Kennedy as mentors during his early Metro Council service.   Learn from Ponder about the challenges of bringing our community its first major sports team; fun tidbits about the "Batman" building and Nashville's iconic L&C Tower; and how t...

For more than 36 years, Barry Coggins has served up food, and sometimes a song or two, to lift-up and nourish older adults in his home communities of Dallas and Nashville. That's approximately 13,000 meals! Coggins doesn't know a stranger. As a longtime ally and advocate for others, a friend of the singer/songwriter said, "giving is Barry's middle name." Learn more about this man with a heart of g...

Vera Coleman is an inspiring octogenarian who worked in pathology at Meharry and later as a biologist at Vanderbilt. At the time (late 1950s and early 60s) few women and fewer women of color worked in the sciences. Using her lifetime of experience, she is now an ambassador for the  All of Us  Research Program. A lifelong learner Vera is an advocate for health and wellness, a passionate community v...

Sarah Martin McConnell found a calling to launch nonprofit Music for Seniors after she witnessed the transformational effect it had on lives – including that of her mother  –  when she performed for her and other participants of FiftyForward's Adult Day Services program. Today Sarah's focus is to light up the lives of older adults because she has witnessed the true gift of music as holistic therap...

Metro Nashville Councilmember Nancy VanReece is bringing community together and challenging status quo in so many ways. She's never met a stranger and seems to always be on the frontline advocating for diverse groups of our population. A great connector and mentor to many, this Oklahoman moved to Nashville in 1986 and has continued to give back to our community to make it a better and brighter pla...

Nashville's Spashionista Alicia Searcy embarked on an exciting new chapter prompted by the traumatic loss of her possessions in the Nashville flood of 2010. Today she is changing the face of fashion with her advocacy for inclusivity.

Tennessee Crossroads host Joe Elmore explains how the original vision to produce a show that might last 2-4 years turned into a 30+-year adventure that is still going strong today. The winning formula was to explore destinations in our own Tennessee backyard, including places not on the tourist maps, that would lead to what Joe says, "a kind of discovery so that people can be in on the surprise."...

Octogenarian Ossie Jefferson-Corley shares how health, nutrition, and a positive attitude feed her love for life. A lifelong learner, she explains her secrets to success as an entrepreneur, as a nurse, and how she inspires others through motivational messages when they may most need it.  A friend of civil rights activist, Rosa Parks, Jefferson-Corley explains how their lives became intertwined and...