You Matter Nashville

TNT Chem-Dry just hit their twentieth year serving Middle Tennessee, and owner Tara Outson has some things to say about dirty carpets, unconditional love, and why she asks every technician she hires one very specific question. Tara co-owns TNT Chem-Dry with her husband Tim. They moved to Nashville twenty years ago knowing exactly one person, made flyers on day one, and got their first call before...

What if the person you walk past every day on the street could change your life? In this episode, we sit down with Sarah Murphree, author of I Am Human Too — a Pulitzer-considered book that profiles 14 individuals experiencing homelessness and reveals the humor, resilience, and humanity behind their stories. Sarah shares how growing up with a mother living with a mental health condition led her to...

From a $500 investment and 100 rejected doors to building Williamson County's largest exterior cleaning company, Grant Burnside's story with Superior Exteriors proves that resilience, integrity, and giving back create extraordinary success. In this powerful episode of our Nashville podcast, Grant shares his journey from homeless at 18—receiving life-changing help from GraceWorks Ministri...

What if a simple backpack drive could transform into a movement serving over 10,000 families? Join us for an inspiring conversation with Jantrice Johnson, founder of We Give, a Nashville podcast story about turning compassion into action across Middle Tennessee. Jantrice, a former teacher and Murfreesboro realtor, shares how she witnessed the gap between student needs and available resources in Ea...

When Jimmy Boehm survived a suicide attempt that left him completely blind in 2010, he made a choice that would eventually save thousands of lives across 48 countries. In this Nashville podcast episode, we explore how Jimmy transformed his darkest moment into You Cane Give, a local nonprofit that has distributed over 3,100 mobility canes to blind individuals in resource-limited countries. Jimmy sh...

The 21st District Recovery Court is proving that second chances work. Join us for an inspiring conversation with Judge Deanna Bell Johnson and Executive Director Connie Martin about a Franklin-based program that's transforming lives through comprehensive addiction treatment. With a near-100% graduation rate and costs that are one-third of traditional incarceration ($15,000 vs. $45,000 annuall...

What does it take to transform one of life's most stressful experiences into a compassionate journey? Justin Hammond, owner of Let's Get Moving, joins us to share how his Nashville podcast appearance reveals the heart behind senior move management services that go far beyond traditional moving. With master's-level social work training and two decades serving seniors, Justin explains...

What happens when a Nashville country artist with 18 Grammy nominations decides to use his platform to serve homeless shelters? In this inspiring episode, meet Steven and Kellee Cade, founders of Giving Guitars—a local nonprofit that's donated over 250 guitars to shelters across 24 states and three countries. Steven and Kellee share the powerful origin story of how a backyard performance and...

What if the strength you're searching for is already within you? Join this Nashville podcast episode as we welcome Clyde Nolet, creator of Speaks of Strength, who reveals how bending steel can teach you to bend your limitations. This isn't your typical motivational conversation—it's a masterclass in emotional resilience that combines old-world strongman entertainment with cutting-ed...

What if giving a child the right book could change the trajectory of their entire life? Robin Griffin, founder of A to Z Learning Club, is proving this every day in Nashville. Her nonprofit tackles North Nashville's staggering incarceration rates by addressing the root cause—83% of low-income children are reading below proficiency. Through culturally diverse book distributions, student publis...

What began with McDonald's apple pies shared on Nashville streets in 2007 has evolved into a life-transforming ministry. In this Nashville podcast episode, we sit down with Nathan Scarlett, outreach specialist with People Loving Nashville, who shares his remarkable journey from meteorology student to homeless advocate. Nathan reveals how this faith-based local nonprofit is revolutionizing hom...

Explore how AgeWell Middle Tennessee transforms aging experiences through 40 years of dedicated service to Middle Tennessee families. Elder Care Coach Manager Tiffany Mann reveals essential resources and professional support systems that help caregivers navigate complex aging challenges with confidence and dignity. Learn about their comprehensive Directory of Services spanning 13 counties, free El...

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Graham Thomas, Chief Community and Government Affairs Officer at tnAchieves, as he shares how Tennessee became the first state to offer tuition-free college to all students through the groundbreaking Tennessee Promise program. Graham takes us behind the scenes of this incredible journey—from a small Knox County initiative serving 491 students to the large...

25,000 Tennesseans suffer new brain injuries every year, yet most people don't understand the "invisible injury" that survivors face daily. Join us for an eye-opening conversation with Stacey Mulder, Executive Director of the Brain Injury Association of America Tennessee chapter, as we explore this hidden health crisis in Middle Tennessee. Stacey reveals shocking truths about brain...

From bankruptcy to billion-dollar impact: Nashville nonprofit leader Buddy Teaster shares how Soles4Souls transformed simple shoe donations into life-changing opportunities across 130 countries. When Buddy took over as CEO in 2012, Soles4Souls was losing $2.5 million annually and facing devastating press coverage. Today, they're on track to achieve one billion dollars in global economic impac...

Can trauma wounds that you can't see be healed through community? REBOOT Recovery founders Evan and Jenny Owens reveal how their Nashville podcast approach has transformed over 30,000 lives across 44 states and 11 countries. Jenny's breakthrough work as an occupational therapist at Fort Campbell exposed a critical gap in traditional trauma treatment. While medical professionals addressed...

Discover how The New Beginnings Center is revolutionizing women's fitness in Nashville through founder Tash Weddell's innovative approach to empowerment. This inspiring Nashville podcast episode reveals how a master strength coach with 17 years of collegiate experience transformed personal adversity into community impact, serving over 4,500 low-income women through holistic fitness, nutr...

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Milton Bartley, CEO of ImageQuest, who shares his incredible story of service, leadership, and purpose. From his early days in the military to running a successful IT company, Milton opens up about how his life experiences have shaped his commitment to both his employees and his community. We dive into the many ways ImageQuest gives back, from providing...

In this inspiring episode of You Matter Nashville , we sat down with Melissa Spradlin, executive director of Book’em, a nonprofit dedicated to boosting children's literacy in Nashville since 1989. Melissa shared her journey from growing up with educator parents to finding her passion for literacy and community service. She gave us a look inside Book’em’s mission of getting books into kids&apo...

In this episode of You Matter Nashville, we sat down with Jenny Rustioni and Natalie Lemarbre of Eli’s House, a life-changing nonprofit based right here in Franklin. Eli’s House is a faith-based two-year residential program where moms and their children heal together after trauma. Jenny and Natalie shared their heartfelt journey of turning personal pain into purpose, equipping families to not just...

In this heart-filled episode, we sat down with Brian Sweatt, founder of Mechanics on a Mission , to explore how something as practical as a car can become a vehicle for dignity, opportunity, and life transformation. From a post-flood miracle at Lighthouse Christian School to launching a full-blown ministry that gifts vehicles to those in need, Brian’s journey is one of faith, community partnership...

In this deeply moving episode, we sit down with Keith and Misti Sammons—two individuals who turned unimaginable grief into a mission of hope. After losing their spouses (Keith to cancer and Misti in a tragic plane crash), their separate journeys of healing eventually brought them together through what can only be described as a divine appointment. Together, they now minister to others navigating g...

In this powerful episode of You Matter Nashville, we sat down with Tia May—an Army veteran, mental health advocate, and motorsports enthusiast—who shared her incredible journey of resilience, healing, and purpose. Tia opened up about her struggles with PTSD, the challenges she faced after her military service, and how she found new purpose through organizations like 22ZERO and Camp Southern Ground...

In this powerful episode, we sat down with Benjamin Holmes , owner and CEO of Benjamin Holmes Counseling and Switchback Counseling Services , to explore the importance of mental health and the incredible work his team is doing in Middle Tennessee. Benjamin shared his personal journey into counseling, from growing up with a mother struggling with severe mental illness to becoming a Baptist minister...

In this episode of You Matter Nashville , we sit down with Kailey Cornett , the CEO of Hope Clinic for Women , a nonprofit that has been serving women, men, and families in Nashville since 1983. Kailey shares her incredible journey—how she felt called at just 16 years old to support women facing unplanned pregnancies and how that led her to study nonprofit management, work in private equity, and u...