Waves of Awareness - WOA it's A Podcast

What does it really take to support families caring for loved ones with disabilities? This week on Waves of Awareness, we welcome Caroline Aly, Founder and Executive Director of Carehack, for a conversation about caregiving, disability support, and the resources families need most. Joined by Waves CEO Staci Davis and co-host Johnny Sunshine, Caroline shares the story behind Carehack and discusses...

The voices of Waves are back for a brand-new season of Waves of Awareness! Welcome to Season 13 🎉 We're kicking off the season from our Fairview Day Program with a special episode featuring Waves adults John, Stephanie, Hannah, Adam, Jimmy, and Eric alongside Waves CEO Staci Davis. After a two-month break, the crew is back to share life updates, talk about upcoming community events, and dive into...

Celebrate the Season 12 finale of Waves of Awareness with a conversation that takes you inside the heart of local leadership in Williamson County. This week, we're joined by Rogers Anderson, who sits down to share the path that led him to serve as county mayor—and what the role really looks like behind the scenes. From day-to-day responsibilities you may not expect to the biggest priorities shapin...

This week on Waves of Awareness, we're joined by Debby Rainey from United Way of Greater Nashville, an organization dedicated to uniting the community and mobilizing resources so that every child, individual, and family can thrive. Debby—known for her work as a community connector, problem solver, and moment maker—opens up about her journey with United Way, the pressing needs she's seeing in our c...

This week on Waves of Awareness, we're diving into the inspiring world of Special Olympics Tennessee! 🎉 Join Waves CEO Staci Davis and our Waves adults—Tripp, Eric, Jeni, and John—as they welcome Joanne Drumright, COO of Special Olympics Tennessee, and her son Matthew, a proud Special Olympics athlete. Hear firsthand why Special Olympics matters, what drives Joanne in her role, and the hopes she...

How does a city stay connected to its community? What does public service really look like behind the scenes? On this episode of Waves of Awareness, we sit down with Charles Booth, Community Relations Director for the City of Brentwood, to explore the strategy, heart, and responsibility behind municipal communication and community engagement. Charles shares what it truly means to serve a growing c...

On this episode of Waves of Awareness, we're diving into the power of early intervention, school partnerships, and family collaboration. Early interventionists Alisha Kelley and Michelle Baker join us to share what it really looks like to support children inside the classroom — and how they help bridge the gap between teachers and caregivers to create consistency, confidence, and growth. What happ...

On this week's episode of Waves of Awareness, we're joined by Jann Seymour from Hands On Nashville (now Hands On), a leading volunteer connector serving Nashville and surrounding communities. If you've ever wondered: -How to find meaningful volunteer opportunities near you -How nonprofits get the support they need -Or how one act of service can ripple through an entire community …this conversation...

This week on Waves of Awareness, we welcome Derby Jones, publisher, editor, and owner of the Williamson Herald, to discuss the importance of local news in Williamson County. Derby shares his passion for telling local stories that strengthen communities and highlights his experience as treasurer and past president of the Franklin Noon Rotary. Learn why Rotaries are essential for community engagemen...

Why Serve on a Nonprofit Board? Purpose, Community & Finding Your "Why" | Derek Schletzer What motivates someone to join a nonprofit board—and stay committed? On this episode of Waves of Awareness, Waves CEO Staci Davis is joined by Waves adults Johnny Sunshine and Jeni Tanner as they sit down with Waves board member Derek Schletzer for a meaningful (and fun!) conversation about purpose, community...

What does quality care really look like—and how does Waves make sure it's happening every day? On this episode of Waves of Awareness, the hosts sit down with Waves' Quality Assurance Advisor for a behind-the-scenes look at how quality assurance supports meaningful, person-centered services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. From what goes into evaluating programs to...

Welcome to the Season 12 kickoff of Waves of Awareness! 🎙️ In this episode, Waves CEO Staci Davis and co-host Johnny Sunshine open the new season with a meaningful conversation featuring Brian Beathard, Williamson County Commissioner, community leader, and long-time supporter of Waves. With more than 16 years of public service—including three years as Chair of the Williamson County Commission—Bria...

🎙️ Season 11 Finale: Summer Wrap-Up & Fall Fun with the Fairview Crew! The Waves of Awareness team is closing out Season 11 in Fairview with a full house! Waves CEO Staci Davis is joined by Waves adults John, Jeni, Hannah, Jimmy, and Eric for a fun, feel-good episode that celebrates the best of summer — from favorite foods and music to must-watch movies and go-to activities. They also look ahead t...

This week, we're coming to you straight from Fairview with a packed lineup of co-hosts. Waves CEO Staci Davis is joined by some of our amazing Waves adults—Johnny Sunshine, Jimmy, Jeni, Eric, Adam, and Hannah—for a lively, heartfelt, and fun conversation. Together, the crew dives into a discussion about the film The Peanut Butter Falcon before sharing their own stories, updates, and recent adventu...

In this episode of Waves of Awareness, we're diving into the heart of early intervention and the difference it can make for families. Waves Early Interventionist Tara Gilbert joins the conversation alongside Megan and her son Beau, one of the families she serves. Together, they open up about Beau's personality, the milestones that mean the most, and what early developmental support has looked like...

This week on Waves of Awareness, we're diving into the power of music therapy with special guest Meghan Davis, founder of Music Ability Lessons. Meghan leads weekly group music therapy sessions with our Waves adults, helping them connect, grow, and express themselves through music. Her ties to Waves go even deeper—her sister Mikayla is part of our Franklin Day Program—making this conversation both...

This week on Waves of Awareness, we're shining a spotlight on Able Voices, a nonprofit that empowers individuals with disabilities through the art of photography. 🎙️ Host Staci Davis, CEO of Waves, is joined by Matt, John, and Jeni as they welcome Jen Vogus—founder and executive director of Able Voices—along with her son Aidan and two talented photographers, Jack and Nicholas. Together, they dive...

On this episode of Waves of Awareness, we're excited to welcome Katy Clouse and Brooke Tanner from The Arc of Williamson County. The Arc has been a cornerstone in supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and today, you'll hear how their work continues to shape lives across the community. Host Staci Davis, alongside co-hosts Matt Moore and Johnny Sunshine, dives into...

This week on Waves of Awareness, we're joined by Gina Wilson, Director of Waves' Early Learning Program. Hosted by Waves CEO Staci Davis, with co-hosts Matt Moore and Johnny Sunshine, this episode explores the incredible work early interventionists do to support children with a variety of developmental diagnoses. Gina shares her deep expertise in early learning and developmental therapy, breaking...

This week on Waves of Awareness, we welcome Jen and Jess Chan, proud parents of Kai, who receives developmental therapy services through Waves' Early Learning Program. They are joined by our very own Michelle Baker, Kai's Early Interventionist. Hosted by Waves CEO Staci Davis—alongside our amazing co-hosts Johnny "Sunshine," Matt Moore, and Eric Wilson—this episode dives into the Chans' journey of...

In this episode of Waves of Awareness, we sit down with Trish Stiles, Immediate Past Chair of the Waves Board of Directors, to explore the impact of volunteering, nonprofit board service, and community involvement in Middle Tennessee. Hosted by Staci Davis, Waves CEO, and Johnny "Sunshine", you'll hear: How Trish first got connected with Waves, Inc. Why she believes volunteering with local nonprof...

Waves of Awareness is BACK for Season 11! Tony Honicutt, the owner of Games To Go Nashville and a devoted rotary member, helps us kick off this season. Staci Davis, Waves CEO, hosts episode one alongside three of our Waves adults, Matt "The Man" Moore, Johnny Sunshine, and "Chuck" Norris. This season we're thrilled to welcome Matt Moore back to the mic after a break during Season 10 to work on his...

Welcome to the final episode of Season 10 of Waves of Awareness! We're wrapping up this season with a conversation with the Waves Early Learning leadership team: Gina, Jen and Katie. Our usual co-hosts for this episode are Waves CEO Staci Davis and Waves adult Johnny Sunshine. Johnny shares a few life updates as well as what he's looking forward to this summer. The group then dives into all things...

Buckle up -- this week's episode of Waves of Awareness takes place at our Fairview Day Program! We are thrilled to welcome Patti Carroll, former Mayor of Fairview and current Economic Development Officer, to the mic. Our co-hosts this week are Waves CEO Staci Davis, Johnny Sunshine, Hannah Rose, Jimmy, and Vonda. The episode is packed, and it's all about Fairview -- a town many of our folks and st...

This week on WOA we are joined by the Executive Director of Autism TN, Jessica Moore. Co-hosting this episode are our usual hosts, Waves CEO Staci Davis and Johnny Sunshine. Johnny provides some life updates before diving into the conversation with Jessica about her background and work with Autism TN. She shares her full-circle experience of inquiring with Autism TN following Autism and ADHD diagn...