Join Kosta and his guest: Justin Veals, Director for the Men’s Program for Independence Again , Co-Founder of The Recovery Kitchen , Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, Long-Term Recovering Heroin Addict with over 5 years sober from all substance abuse. Today’s episode will be touching on many subjects and issues that will be difficult to fully grasp for most of our audience. While many of us may know someone that has struggled with addiction or even homelessness, it’s hard for the everyday pers...
Oct 09, 2023•1 hr 13 min•Season 3Ep. 20
Join Kosta and his guest: Corby King , Director of Schools for Putnam County School System . Currently the 13th largest public school district in Tennessee with 22 schools, including a virtual learning school, VITAL , and an adult high school, PCSS serves over 12,000 students providing a wide range of programs and opportunities with standards-based, solid instruction and a personalized learning approach that develops the whole child socially and emotionally. Find out more about Putnam County Sch...
Oct 02, 2023•1 hr•Season 3Ep. 19
Join Kosta and his guest: Dan Allcott , Professor of Music at Tennessee Tech and Music Director of the Bryan Symphony Orchestra . This episode is a celebration of Dan's career as a musician, orchestral director, conductor and educator as well as a celebration for the 60th Season of the Bryan Symphony Orchestra. Bryan Symphony Orchestra features faculty and student performers from the School of Music , performing alongside area professionals. The Orchestra is supported by a collaboration between ...
Sep 25, 2023•51 min•Season 3Ep. 18
Join Kosta and his guest: Ashley Michael , Co-Founder and Manager of Plenty Downtown Bookshop , a registered non-profit, community-directed bookstore providing resources to authors, dreamers, and readers alike. Find out more about Plenty Downtown Bookshop: https://www.plentybookshop.com/ Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN. This episode of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is made possible by our partners at Wildwood Re...
Sep 18, 2023•37 min•Season 3Ep. 17
Join Kosta and his guest: Blair Dudley , Founder and CEO of Hip Cookeville , a public benefit corporation whose mission is to enhance the quality of experiences for the people who live, work, and play in Putnam County and surrounding communities. Online Hip Cookeville reaches roughly 60,000 members daily and is one of the Upper Cumberland’s largest virtual resources. Join Hip Cookeville on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/367992636693154/ Find out more about Hip Cookeville: https://www....
Sep 11, 2023•38 min•Season 3Ep. 16
Join Kosta and his guest: Marc Burnett , Director of Development at Mustard Seed Ranch and Former Vice President of Student Affairs at Tennessee Technological University . Find out more about Mustard Seed Ranch: https://www.mustardseedranchtn.org/ Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN. Find out more about Kosta Yepifantsev: https://kostayepifantsev.com/...
Sep 04, 2023•43 min•Season 3Ep. 15
Join Kosta and his guest: Tommy Fitzgerald, Owner of Fitzgerald Peterbilt and Founder of SemiCasual Truck Show . Learn more about Tommy Fitzgerald, Fitzgerald Peterbilt, and SemiCasual Truck Show: https://fitzgeraldpeterbilt.com/ https://semicasualtruckshow.com/ Follow SemiCasual Truck Show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SEMICasualShow Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN. Find out more about Kosta Yepifantsev: https://...
Aug 28, 2023•36 min•Season 3Ep. 14
Join Kosta and his guest: Buffy Key , CEO of Cookeville Regional Medical Center , and newly appointed member of the Tennessee Medical Laboratory Board. 32 years ago Buffy started her career in healthcare as a medical laboratory scientist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center while serving in the Army National Guard. Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN. Find out more about Buffy and Cookeville Regional Medical Center: https...
Aug 21, 2023•24 min•Season 3Ep. 13
Join Kosta and his guest: Camron Rudd , Chief Operating Officer of Hörmann North America . Hörmann is a German-originating manufacturer of doors, garages, door frames, and gates for commercial and private real estate. Operating globally, the family-owned business is Germany's largest door producer and the fourth-largest door manufacturer in the world. Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN. Find out more about Camron and Hörman...
Aug 14, 2023•38 min•Season 3Ep. 12
Join Kosta and his guest: Shawn Simono , Owner and Founder of Fire and Ice Cryo Med Spa. In this Episode: It’s the summer of Barbie and I think that comes with a few conversations about beauty standards we’ve swept under the rug for too long. As someone on the medical side of beauty, what do you wish women knew? How has your perception of health and beauty changed since you opened Fire and Ice? Is there anything you wish you’d known in the beginning? Why is there still a stigma around Botox/inje...
Aug 07, 2023•27 min•Season 3Ep. 11
Join Kosta and his guest: Chris Landers, Owner and Founder of The Old Gray , the Upper Cumberland's newest open-air amphitheater. Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN. Find out more about The Old Gray: https://theoldgray.com/ Find out more about Landers Trade: https://landerstrade.com/ Find out more about Kosta Yepifantsev: https://kostayepifantsev.com/...
Jul 31, 2023•42 min•Season 3Ep. 10
Join Kosta and his guest: Kim Johnson , Owner of The Painted House , and Founder of 100 Women Who Care Cookeville , an impact-driven nonprofit dedicated to providing resources and financial support to outreach organizations in the Upper Cumberland. Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN. Find out more about Kim Johnson and The Painted House: https://thepaintedhousetn.com/ Find out more about 100 Women Who Care Cookeville: https...
Jul 24, 2023•19 min•Season 3Ep. 9
Join Kosta and his guest: Emily Bochette , Founder of Poppy and Pearl (Creative Glam Squad) , Celebrity Stylist, and Beauty Educator. In this episode: I think it’s important to realize that wherever you are, whatever you want to do, there is a way to make it happen. Once you realized luxury glam was what you wanted to do, how did you start working towards making it happen? There are so many people in the beauty industry, wedding industry, glam, hair, makeup - and five more who have made an Insta...
Jul 17, 2023•50 min•Season 3Ep. 8
Join Kosta and his guest: Melinda Keifer, Economic Development Coordinator, Community Development Liaison and Former Founding Executive Director of CityScape . Melissa has represented the Upper Cumberland across the state of Tennessee advocating for growth, expansion and the betterment of Middle Tennessee. Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN. Find out more about CityScape: https://cookevillecityscape.com/ Find out more about...
Jul 10, 2023•51 min•Season 3Ep. 7
Join Kosta and his guest: Rachel Moses , Legal Aid Society Attorney , Former President of the Tennessee Bar Association's Young Lawyers , and active member of Cookeville Evening Lions Club and Cookeville Breakfast Rotary assisting in the placement and oversight of hundreds of foreign exchange students and host families. In this episode: What inspired both Rachel and her brother Adam to becoming practicing attorneys, Legal Aid Society, Rachel's outreach and long standing philanthropic work as a R...
Jul 03, 2023•43 min•Season 3Ep. 6
Join Kosta and his guest: Dr. John Shanks, DDS Owner and Dentist at Golden Oak Sedation Dental and Implant Center and Northside Family Dentistry . Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN. Find out more about Dr. John Shanks, DDS and Golden Oak Sedation Dental and Implant Center: https://www.goldenoaksedationdental.com/ Find out more about Kosta Yepifantsev: http://kostayepifantsev.com/...
Jun 26, 2023•27 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Join Kosta and his guest: Shan Stout, Director of Tourism for the Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce . Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN. Find out more about Visit Cookeville and Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce Tourism: https://www.visitcookevilletn.com/ Find out more about Kosta Yepifantsev: http://kostayepifantsev.com/...
Jun 19, 2023•32 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Join Kosta and his guest: Sabrina Brazle , a recognized Commercial and Residential Realtor at The Realty Firm. In this episode: Sabrina's journey from bartender to top-performing real estate agent while navigating life as a single Mom. Advice to women, especially single Moms who find themselves lost or unsure of what to do next. The grassroots approach to finding clients that launched Sabrina's career and how she finds balance and peace in life as an entrepreneur and parent. Better Together with...
Jun 12, 2023•30 min•Season 3Ep. 4
Join Kosta and his guest: Dr. Mark Cramer , Clarinetist, Tennessee Tech School of Music Professor , Studio Recording Artist, and Principal Clarinetist of the Bryan Symphony Orchestra . 🌈 This month and every month we recognize the LGBTQ+ community in the Upper Cumberland that makes us better when we’re together. Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN. Find out more about Dr. Mark Cramer: https://www.markjcramer.com/ Find out m...
Jun 05, 2023•51 min•Season 3Ep. 3
Join Kosta and his guest: Kellie Fitzpatrick, Founder and Creative Director of Lenny and Eva – and Founder and Co-Owner of The Monarch in Baxter, TN. Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN. Find out more about Kellie Fitzpatrick and The Monarch, and Lenny and Eva: https://www.eventsatthemonarch.com/ https://lennyandeva.com/ Find out more about Kosta Yepifantsev: http://kostayepifantsev.com/...
May 29, 2023•24 min•Season 3Ep. 2
Join Kosta and his guest: Beth Thompson, City of Cookeville Museum ’s Manager overseeing the Cookeville History Museum and Depot Museum, facilitating the mission to provide exhibits, programs, and activities that promote the history of Cookeville and Putnam County. In this episode: Beth's professional journey as a Museum's Manager and how she started working with the Cookeville History Museum. What visitors can expect from CHM and the Depot Museum on a daily basis and throughout the year. Why we...
May 22, 2023•37 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Join Kosta and his guest: Dr. Amanda Powell , Producer at iCube ; an educational resource located inside Tennessee Technological University that is carefully crafting solutions for economic, community, and academic experiences in virtual reality. Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN. Find Out More About Dr. Powell and iCube: https://www.tntech.edu/icube/ Find out more about Kosta and all the ways we're better together: http:/...
May 15, 2023•30 min•Season 2Ep. 69
Join Kosta and his guest: Travis Trull, Founder and Executive Director of Flint Global , a 501c3 organization dedicated to helping break the cycle of extreme poverty and dependence, to create flourishing families and communities that make the world a brighter place. Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN. Find Out More About Travis Trull and Flint Global: https://flintglobal.org/ Find out more about Kosta and all the ways we're...
May 08, 2023•44 min•Season 2Ep. 68
Join Kosta and his guest: Randy Heady, Jackson County Mayor, Upper Cumberland Development District Chairman, and Head Pastor of New Hope Baptist Church . In this episode: Exploring how Jackson County's local electors are working to revitalize its downtown and attract new businesses and what initiatives are currently in place to support this growth and expansion. Tourism growth in Granville and Gainesboro, and how the success of Wildwood Resort and the revitalization of downtown Gainesboro impact...
May 01, 2023•37 min•Season 2Ep. 67
Join Kosta and his guest: Tammy Hogan , Executive Director of Mustard Seed Ranch : a community-supported, interdenominational Christian ministry designed to take children out of unsafe environments and place them into loving, nurturing homes. In this episode: Mustard Seed Ranch maintains a totally debt-free operation. How is the program ensuring continued success and the ability to help more kids? It’s hard for most of us to truly understand what it’s like to be a child in this kind of situation...
Apr 24, 2023•41 min•Season 2Ep. 66
Join Kosta and his guest: Sayota Knight , educator, artist, advocate and Putnam County Democratic Party District 10 Representative. Locally, Sayota has dedicated himself to helping bring awareness to indigenous people, in addition to leading the coalition to rename Algood Middle School’s current mascot. In this episode: Sayota's personal experience working to advocate for indigenous people in the Upper Cumberland, the history behind the offensive mascot still being used to represent Algood Middl...
Apr 17, 2023•56 min•Season 2Ep. 65
Join Kosta and his guests: John and Natasha Deane owners of Wildwood Resort and Marina located on Cordell Hull Lake in Granville, TN. In this episode: How John and Natasha met, when they moved to Tennessee, and what brought them to Granville. What the process of renovation looked like transforming The Old Granville Marina into Wildwood Resort starting in 2018. What John and Natasha wish visitors and residents knew about Granville tourism, attractions, and Wildwood. Better Together with Kosta Yep...
Apr 10, 2023•42 min•Season 2Ep. 64
Join Kosta and his guest: Nathaniel Wheeler, Artist, Digital Illustrator, and Graphic Designer. In this episode: Nathaniel's journey as a graphic designer and artist, what inclusion looks like for a black artist in the Upper Cumberland, Nathaniel's artistic brand, his advice for young artists, and how diversity in art helps us to educate and open doors to conversations that can feel taboo and painful. Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Co...
Apr 03, 2023•28 min•Season 2Ep. 63
Join Kosta and his guest: Rachel Smalling, Owner of Lakeside Inn at Dale Hollow , Sportsman's Lodge , and 1854 Cocktail Bar & Lounge . In this episode: Needless to say, 1854 Cocktail Bar is already taking Cookeville by storm (and we cannot wait to visit)! For any listeners that aren’t familiar with the lounge, will you tell us a bit more about your vision and what visitors can expect? Is the Upper Cumberland ready to invest in a more elevated landscape of hospitality and services? What lesso...
Mar 27, 2023•37 min•Season 2Ep. 62
🥳 Join Kosta and his 100th guest: Becky Magura , President and CEO of Nashville Public Television and former CEO of WCTE , a PBS member station serving the entire Upper Cumberland to provide community engagement, education, and lifelong learning. Becky’s career in broadcasting began in 1982 with WCTE as an Audio Technician and Producer and transformed into CEO. During her tenure at WCTE , Becky oversaw a relocation to downtown Cookeville and the development of a joint broadcast master control w...
Mar 20, 2023•43 min•Season 2Ep. 61
