The Sidebar with Eric Barnes

In a world where technology sometimes seems to have overwhelmed music, the world of Memphis Youth Symphony Program is refreshing. The organization's executive director, Jenny Davis, joined Eric Barnes on this week's episode of "The Sidebar" to talk about the group's programs and its history. Davis, who was a flutist and music teacher at Rhodes, also talked about the increasingly competitive realit...

Alicia George really enjoys talking to people. Which is good, given her new role as co-executive director of Indie Memphis, which has big plans for a rebooted film festival in the fall. As Indie Memphis bounces back from a year without its signature film festival, Alicia joined Eric Barnes on this week's episode of "The Sidebar" to talk about the organization's future.

Artist Brantley Ellzey joins Eric Barnes on this week's episode of "The Sidebar" to talk about work, his life and his Crosstown Arts exhibit, titled "Reflection + Ritual + Refuge."

Jee Vahn Knight, the CEO of BVO, talks about the attraction's opening on March 7, the next phases of expansion and how their business model works. 

Sarah Leach, The Daily Memphian's director of fundraising and development, joins Eric Barnes on this week's episode.

For Lakenna Booker, Memphis Merit Academy is about so many things — helping young kids with literacy, creating a thriving school for parents and their children, investing in her neighborhood, and more. Booker, who is the executive director of Memphis Merit Academy, joined Eric Barnes to talk about the charter school she founded in Parkway Village in 2019.

Lauren Ready has spent decades as a documentarian and TV journalist. Now she's become an author, using her foundation in journalism to help business leaders and others to, as she says it, reveal deeper truths. Ready joined Eric Barnes to talk about her first book, " Ask Like a Leader: A Method for Revealing Deeper Truth and Turning Blind Spots into  Breakthroughs ." Ready, who is also the co-found...

Virginia Reed Murphy, founder of Everystory, joins Eric Barnes to talk about the organization's name change and how the mission stays the same.

Katie Smythe of New Ballet Ensemble joins Eric Barnes to talk about turning the old Humes Middle School into a school focused on the arts for middle and high school students. - a project with a scale that is incredibly ambitious. The funding needs are massive and the timeline is not short.

Nick Barbian joins Eric Barnes on The Sidebar to talk about the goals for the outdoor venue located at Grind City Brewing in North Memphis.

Alex Matlock, the founder and current president of the Mid-South Latino Chamber of Commerce, and Sylvia Leon, the group's executive director, join Eric Barnes to talk about the impact of the federal influx of law enforcement.

Cequita Monique is a jazz singer as well as the founder of the First Sunday Jazz Jam Pop Up Series.

Dr. Lisa Beasley, associate professor at the UTHSC College of Nursing, joins Eric Barnes to talk about how the job of nursing has changed, the proactive work nurses do in underserved neighborhoods, and more.

Klondike Smokey City CDC is working to mow and maintain yards, build a pocket park and turn 150 vacant lots and empty homes into assets in the community.

Maggie Schaumleffel, director of ministries for Barth House Episcopal Center, joins host Eric Barnes. They discuss the center's outreach to the colleges and universites in the area, as well as how it supports students of all backgrounds and religions with problems they face today.

Women's Foundation for a Greater Memphis President and CEO Shante Avant joins host Eric Barnes. They discuss the resources that the Women's Foundation provides to community-based services, the focus on lifting women and children out of poverty in the Memphis area and the upcoming fundraising event, Power of the Purse.

Host Eric Barnes is joined by Cindi Younker, Buckman Arts Center director, to talk about this season's upcoming events and what attendees can expect from the performances.

Parke Kennedy joins Eric Barnes to talk about her new role with the Germantown Performing Arts Center and the fundraising and effort that goes into their series and performances.

David Lusk joins Eric Barnes to talk about the history of David Lusk Gallery, the artists he represents and the biggest changes he has noticed in the industry.

Sam O'Bryant joins Eric Barnes to talk about the organization's history, its summer programming and his former role at Literacy Mid-South.

Overton Park Conservancy's Executive Director Kaci Murley joins Eric Barnes to talk about the status of the Greensward, how the park and the organizations within it work together and the future of Overton Park.

ArtsMemphis recently reached a milestone of awarding more than $100 million across Memphis and Shelby County since its founding in 1963. President and CEO at ArtsMemphis Elizabeth Rouse joins Eric Barnes to talk about how they support artists and arts organizations and raise funding.

Jean Francois Mahoro and Ashley Weaver with CodeCrew join Eric Barnes to talk about the organization's outreach and their upcoming Hustle & Code Hackathon.

Host Eric Barnes is joined by the Young Avenue Sound co-owner Taylor Berger and co-director of operations Christopher Franklin to talk about the evolution of the studio. 

Executive Director of the Metal Museum Carissa Hussong joins Eric Barnes to talk about what the expansion to the former Rust Hall means for the museum's programming and discuss the renovation process.