The Sound Bearier

In this season finale of The Sound Bearier, co-hosts Thomas Wilson and Mackenzie Moore-Gent turn the microphone toward someone usually behind the scenes: sound technician and Northeast State alumnus Jordi Barradas. A graduate of the College’s Entertainment Technology program, Jordi shares how his time at Northeast State helped shape his path from student to staff member and how hands-on learning p...

No two paths in emergency medical services are exactly alike, but they're all united by one goal: helping others. In this episode of The Sound Bearier , co-hosts Thomas Wilson and Mackenzie Moore-Gent sit down with Northeast State Community College Paramedic instructor Nicholas Santiago and student Chelsea Harris to discuss their journeys through emergency medical services. Both Nicholas and Chels...

What does an apprenticeship look like in 2026, and why are more students and employers turning to them as a pathway to success? On this episode of The Sound Bearier , co-hosts Thomas Wilson and Mackenzie Moore-Gent sit down with Northeast State Community College Vice President of Economic and Workforce Development Holly Free-Ollard and Director of Apprenticeships Dawn Carter to explore how apprent...

In 1966, Northeast State Community College looked very different. The College was known as Tri-Cities Area Vocational-Technical School, classes were just beginning and the foundation for the institution we know today was only starting to take shape. In this episode of The Sound Bearier , co-hosts Thomas Wilson and Mackenzie Moore-Gent sit down with Tom Jarrell — Northeast State’s very first instru...

In this special episode of The Sound Bearier , co-hosts Thomas Wilson and Mackenzie Moore-Gent sit down with Northeast State President Dr. Jeff McCord to reflect on the College’s 60th anniversary. From its earliest days to the momentum building across campus today, Dr. McCord shares insight into how Northeast State has grown, adapted and stayed true to its mission of connecting people to prosperit...

Northeast State Community College's Radiologic Technology program is celebrating a major milestone: its first graduating class. In this episode of The Sound Bearier , co-hosts Thomas Wilson and Mackenzie Moore-Gent sit down with program director Ivan Kennedy and student Leslie Smith, who is preparing to graduate this May as part of the program’s inaugural cohort. Leslie shares her journey through...

Recent Northeast State graduate Caleb Owens sits down with The Sound Bearier co-hosts Thomas Wilson and Mackenzie Moore-Gent to share what's next in his respiratory therapy journey. Owens reflects on how he found his path, what shaped his decision and how his experience at Northeast State helped set the foundation for what’s next. Chapters (00:00:00) - Meet Caleb Owens (00:03:03) - Respiratory The...

In this episode of The Sound Bearier , we’re joined by Northeast State alumnus Taylor Williams, an Aviation Technology graduate now working as an HR associate at Bell. As part of the College’s 60th anniversary, we’re highlighting alumni who have taken their education to new heights, and Taylor’s path shows there’s more than one way to get there. He shares how his experience at Northeast State help...

In this episode of The Sound Bearier , we sit down with Northeast State student and SkillsUSA national gold medalist Rose Bleckley. Rose’s journey hasn’t been easy. After facing health challenges, she refused to let those obstacles define her path. Instead, she pushed forward, earning gold at the SkillsUSA national competition and following it up with a silver medal at this year’s state level. Now...

As Northeast State Community College celebrates its 60th anniversary, we’re kicking off the year with a conversation rooted in reflection and forward momentum. In this episode, co-hosts Thomas Wilson and Mackenzie Moore-Gent sit down with Greg Walters, a longtime member and friend of the Northeast State community. Though he retired from the College, Greg remains closely connected through his work...

Gordon Ramsay and Marco Pierre White started somewhere. The new Culinary Arts program at Northeast State boasts an instructor who knows his way around the kitchen. What's cooking on the Sound Bearier podcast? Chef Josh Murray and his students! Chef Murray brings an impressive resume and regional sensibility to this exciting new academic program.   The Culinary Arts program at Northeast State leads...

Explore Northeast State at Kingsport as co-hosts Tom Wilson and Mackenzie Moore-Gent sit down with Northeast State at Kingsport Executive Director Dr. Stephanie Barham and Assistant Vice President for Economic and Workforce Development Blake Montgomery to discuss recent growth in the Academic Village and the expanding opportunities it's creating for students and the region. In this episode, Barham...

Northeast State Community College's Because of You Campaign (BOYC) is just around the corner! Co-hosts Thomas Wilson and Mackenzie Moore-Gent sit with the College's Assistant Director of Alumni & Advancement, Joshua Johnson, to talk all things Because of You! From a golf tournament and concert to rummage sales, chili cook-offs, community trick-or-treating and more, the 2025 BOYC is slated to b...

This week on The Sound Bearier , co-hosts Tom Wilson and Mackenzie Moore-Gent welcome Northeast State Police Chief Andrew Mitchem. In honor of Campus Safety Week, Chief Mitchem highlights the week’s initiatives and shares important insights on how the College keeps students, faculty, and staff safe every day. Chapters (00:00:44) - Introducing Chief Mitchem (00:01:15) - Chief Mitchem's Background (...

What's bubbling at Northeast State Community College, you ask? A brand-new Chemical Laboratory Technology program! Join co-hosts Thomas Wilson and Mackenzie Moore-Gent as they sit down with program head Dr. Sam Stevenson to explore what the program offers, the cutting-edge technology students will use, and the exciting career paths this degree can open!

The Northeast State Center for Leadership, Enrichment, Access, and Discovery provides Northeast State students with the support and access to navigate college life and persevere when life outside college challenges them. We were privileged to welcome Brittany Wick, Assistant Director of Strategy and Innvation for Access and Learning Enrichment at Northeast State, to the podcast. Brittany discusses...

Northeast State's Debate Team is turning up the volume on critical thinking and confidence! Meet a standout student from the debate team, Matthew Hughes, and hear firsthand how the art of argument is more than a quick rebuttal; it’s about listening, learning, and leading. Plus, Debate Team Coach Emily Napier drops in to share how the team prepares for tournaments, builds community, and turns nerve...

In this episode of The Sound Bearier, co-hosts Thomas Wilson and Mackenzie Moore-Gent sit down with Engineering Design Instructor Daniel Arnett and Associate Professor of History, Tabetha Garman, to discuss the roles technology and humanities play in society and around the world. Though Daniel and Tabetha teach in two seemingly opposite corners of the academic world — technology and the humanities...

The study of economics strives to explain the forces behind money, markets, and human choices. In this episode the Sound Bearier’s Mackenzie Moore-Gent and Tom Wilson talk with Northeast State Economics professor, Wayne Loving, who explains how economics is defined as the science of choices. We discuss the growing role of digital currency in the world economy, the nature of wealth, and how tariffs...

Get your green on and celebrate as Saint Patrick's Day brings out the Irish spirit around the world. The Sound Bearier celebrates St. Patrick's Day and the contributions of immigrants from Ireland to America. Click the photo link above to listen or visit https://the-sound-bearier.castos.com/episodes/lets-go-green-on-st-patricks-day. ​ In a nod to our Scots-Irish, the Amateur Highland Game Clinic h...

A first-generation, non-traditional student, Annie Eum passed many tests to find her way to Northeast State. With a determination to achieve her goals, Eum returned to college to fulfill a dream. She is pursuing a degree in social work and serves as a student worker in the Testing Center.  The Sound Bearier was privileged to talk with Annie about navigating college life, how the Testing Center hel...

So, you bought the roses, the chocolate-dipped strawberries (yum!), and the stuffed bear holding the heart-shaped balloon. How are you sharing your love this Valentine’s Day and the other 364 days each year? In this new episode of the Sound Bearier podcast, we talk about St. Valentine, love around the world, the holiday’s storied history and tropes, the five love languages, and the terrifying Cand...

What if Twitter had existed when Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr vied for the presidency? Well, let's not think about it.  As a national election approaches, Northeast State History Professor David Toye joins us to talk American history and a few examples of contentious elections from the past. Subscribe to the Sound Bearier on your favorite streaming service! We are on them all. https://www.north...

Halloween is a whole season. The Sound Bearier team tells a few stories of hauntings. Whether you're a believer in the paranormal or just love a good ghost story, this episode will transport you into the heart of the unknown. So dim the lights, grab your favorite blanket, and get ready for a journey into a few haunting Halloween legends you may have heard of or experienced yourself. Let's begin......

The Sound Bearier podcast is back! We open the new fall season with Northeast State alumna and assistant professor Andrea Amos. Andrea discusses how service learning develops students into the learning process and her role as instructor for the Mental Health First Aid course delivered through our Office of Workforce Solutions. She also talks about why more companies and organizations expect servic...