The Sound Bearier

(Editor's note: This episode was recorded in spring 2021 prior to the newest COVID-19 case surge. The episode reflects the experiences and lessons of that moment in time. The fluid nature of the pandemic and the resurgence of COVID-19 during the summer created new set of standards and challenges.) The COVID pandemic continues.  Health care workers of all stripes feel the burn. Northeast State Heal...

Season two of The Sound Bearier kicks off with a visit from our beloved colleague Mr. Gregory Walters.  A friend and ally to countless Northeast State students, Greg recently retired after 30 years of dedicated service at the college. While Greg’s contributions are well-known and many, April and Matt talk to the man about his life, personal drive, and plans for the future. Have a few tissues handy...

Matt Poole welcomes new Northeast State alumnus Isaiah Quaintance, '21, to this episode.  This Daniel Boone High School graduate made his way to Northeast State thanks to the wonderful Angela Shrum.  Get to know Isaiah as he talks about mass communications, being a Direction Northeast host, the connection between playing football and live interviews, and his friendship with Professor Gary Potter. ...

Fall semester approaches!  What classes do I need to get the degree I want? In this episode, Northeast State Academic Advisor and Completion Coach Julie Dykes answers this question and many others. Julie talks about navigating class schedules, how to thrive in a virtual class setting, and what questions students SHOULD ask advisors. She and Northeast State’s Advising Resource Center team assist st...

First-generation college student. Social Work major. Keeping Our Promise mentor. Hiker. Melanie Fischer represents many students who overcame the challenges of college and COVID to succeed, and succeed mightily.  She received Northeast State's Outstanding Student Award for 2020-21 graduating summa cum laude this spring.   Give a listen to this Daniel Boone High School alumna with a dedication to h...

Musician, professor, and encyclopedia of American history. Professor Jim Kelly embodies an imaginative teaching style to engage students and help them understand history.   Our host Tom Wilson interviews Professor Kelly about his philosophy of teaching. We might even get a special musical performance from the man himself! Northeast State Community College

Northeast State alumna.  People person. Animal lover. Owner of a pet snake. As a communications representative for our college, Kirsti Graybeal is often the first person people meet when arriving on the Northeast State campus for the first time. Get to know this free-spirited East Tennessee native in a new Bear Biography episode with host Matthew Poole.  

Namaste, friends! Tune into our latest Bear Biography episode and get to know Rebecca Moody, Coordinator of Workforce Solutions. Rebecca goes to great lengths in not only helping our students, but also our community. Rebecca shares her love for yoga, family, and has an interesting collection. Find out what that is and why it’s important to her. Rebecca will have you laughing with her answer to the...

Interested in occupational therapy as a potential career? In this episode of The Sound Bearier, Matt Poole interviews Gym Assistant, Carson Dilley. Come hear about this occupational therapist in training's story and his passion for pediatric therapy. Carson also gives us tips on what exercises we can utilize to alleviate mental ruts while navigating the pandemic. This and many more engaging topics...

The state of Mississippi has given the world a slew of talented people.  One such person is Shelby McKenzie, director of University Parallel Dual Enrollment, at Northeast State. Catch this latest episode of TSB as Shelby talks about the University Parallel Dual Enrollment program, her love of the theater, and how she went from Greenwood, Miss., to becoming a Northeast State Bear!  Yes, here's a sh...

The Sound Bearier’s Matthew Poole welcomes Ethan Bentley, a second-year student/History major at Northeast State. We are proud to welcome this Hampton High School alumnus as the FIRST student to be a guest on our podcast. Ethan talks about the process of making his first amateur film, 1970s era music, and the best actor to portray Spiderman.     

Our region’s workforce population faces a set of bold challenges as we stumble toward a post-COVID world. Heath McMillian, executive director of Northeast State’s Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing in Kingsport joins us on this episode of The Sound Bearier. Heath discusses how a recovering workforce can thrive in the years ahead, why apprenticeships of all career stripes can help shape the...

Mental health matters. The Sound Bearier's Matthew Poole talks to Jenna Welch, of Northeast State Counseling Services, about how to cope with Covid and college life.  Confidential and compassionate, Counseling Services wants to engage students in need. Get to know Jenna and learn about the services our counseling team provides at  Counseling Services. Northeast State Community College

In this episode of The Sound Bearier, our April Allen talks to Jennifer Kendrick, Career Specialist, in the Career and Workforce Development Center. From displaced workers to single parents determined to earn a degree, Jennifer seeks to help people take one step at a time to success.    Career and Workforce Development

The world does not end at the county line. Led by Professor Nona Shepherd, International Education at Northeast State program strives to share the world’s cultures to students with past visits to Washington, D.C., and the United Kingsport; international speakers and events such as the very popular International Food Day.  Then, COVID came. Travel bans and social distance followed. But the desire t...

Our friend - and newest member of The Sound Bearier podcast team - Matthew Poole wants you to give Northeast State Community College a look as your higher education destination.  A Northeast State alumnus, Poole previously served as a Success Coach & Lead Mentor of the Inclusive Excellence program at the college.  Our April Allen talks with Matt about his own experiences and how students can b...

This Bear Biography episode features our Nathan Hawkins talking with April Allen.  He is an Information Technology pro by day, musician/mountain biker/trail builder, well, also by day and most other times. A Northeast State and King University alumnus, Nathan represents the adventurous spirit of southern Appalachian life. Hear about a few biking trails of our area and what interesting wildlife a m...

For what do you give thanks during the Thanksgiving holiday season? In this special episode, The Sound Bearier team hit the streets to ask our Northeast State family for their thoughts on what they hold dear this season and all year. Going beyond the standard "family and food" answers, the responses are insightful, funny, and moving.  TSB gives thanks for our listeners, and those who made our podc...

This special Veterans Day week episode shares a slice of life from a veteran, colleague, and friend Mr. John Adcox. John is a veteran of the United States Army. He serves fellow veterans at the College's Veteran and Military Student Success Center. John along with Jessica Kelso help scores of students veterans and their families each semester. Northeast State expresses our thanks and respect to al...

What lurks in the forests of northeast Tennessee and southwest Virginia? Tune in to this special edition of The Sound Bearier to hear more about the myths and monsters of southern Appalachia.

Join us as we chat with Julie Murray, Career Development Coordinator, as she gives us insight into how COVID-19 has changed searching and applying for jobs, the interview process, and how the Career and Workforce Development Center can assist you with pursuing your career goals.

Dracula. Now there's a guy who knew how to isolate. Fall is here. Two full moons happening in October, including one on Halloween. And Northeast State Theatre presents an audio drama of Bram Stoker’s classic Dracula running Oct. 28 to Nov. 1 .   Shew, these cosmological logistics took a LONG time to coordinate. We welcome Northeast State’s director of Theatre, Elizabeth M. Sloan, to our first Octo...

Think you missed out on Fall 2020 semester classes? Well, think again!  In this bonus Bear Byte episode of The Sound Bearier, Northeast State Registrar and all-around great person Deidra Close gives you the sweet and low down about Term Two class opportunities available now. Term Two Fall classes begin Oct. 5th so time draws near. Enroll and register for Term Two classes NOW via your MyNortheast a...

In this Bear Biography, get to know our friend Charlie Reese, formerly of the Northeast State Financial Aid office. Charlie talks to The Sound Bearier's April Allen about money management, financial aid, and what his secret superpower might be. Reese serves his town and country as a member of the National Guard. Northeast State Community College

Classroom content delivery looks much different from last fall. The Sound Bearier proudly welcomes Northeast State Speech professor Dr. Rick Merritt to the podcast. In this episode, Dr. Merritt talks about how students responded to the spring's upheaval and how video conferencing is changing our communication habits.  Dr. Merritt serves as a faculty coordinator to A Toast to Education and Voluntee...