Join Kosta and his guest: Danielle Barnes , CEO/President of the Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee . In this episode: The world is changing and Girl Scouts is changing with it. Will you talk about a few of the ways Girls Scouts has evolved since our listeners were active members? In less populated and underserved areas of Tennessee, access to programs like Girl Scouts can be challenging. What strategies are you implementing across the state to improve access and inclusion for all girls? How do you...
May 06, 2024•31 min•Season 3Ep. 50
Join Kosta and his guest: Katelyn Dunn, Fibers Artist and owner of Dunn Spunn Studio . Find out more about Dunn Spunn Studio: https://dunnspunn.wixsite.com/home https://www.facebook.com/dunnspunn/ 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 Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy and Caleb Bates Personalized Learning and Tutoring in Cookeville, TN. ...
Apr 29, 2024•32 min•Season 3Ep. 49
Join Kosta and his guest: Shaquawana Wester, Philanthropist, Community Organizer and Empower Community Engagement Coordinator with UCHRA . Find out more about Empower Upper Cumberland: https://empoweruppercumberland.org/ 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 Volunteer State Community College. Find out more about Volunteer State Communit...
Apr 22, 2024•52 min•Season 3Ep. 48
Join Kosta and his guest: George Halford, former President and CEO of Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce. In December of 2019 George retired from the Chamber and a near 50 year career in community development. 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 Loxx Salon and Spa. Find out more about Loxx Salon and Spa: https://loxxsalon.ne...
Apr 15, 2024•47 min•Season 3Ep. 47
Join Kosta and his guest: Rafferty Cleary, Cultural Administrator for the Town of Monterey , Host, Producer and champion of development and tourism in the Upper Cumberland. Find out more about visiting Monterey, TN: https://www.exploremontereytn.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 Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy and Caleb Bates ...
Apr 08, 2024•51 min•Season 3Ep. 46
Join Kosta and his guest: Christopher McMichael , Author, Publisher and Pastor of Engrafted Word Church . Find out more information about Engrafted Word Church: https://engraftedword.org/ Redemptive Botany of the Bible: https://petrapress.com/product/redemptive-botany-of-bible/ 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 Miss Sallie's Market....
Apr 01, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Season 3Ep. 45
Join Kosta and his guest: Lisa Garcia , Owner of Cleanse Wellness Spa , National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, National Board Credentialed Colon Hydrotherapist and a Certified Electro Lymphatic Therapist from California Coastal Cleansing Institute in San Diego. In this episode: More than 80% of our immune system is in the gut, and when your gut isn't healthy, your immune system and hormones can’t function properly. In your experience, what are the real life consequences of having a ...
Mar 25, 2024•56 min•Season 3Ep. 44
Join Kosta and his guest: Craig Pyle, Owner and Farmer of Hidden Holly Farm , a 125-acre farm located in Monterey Tennessee focused on raising animals naturally, humanely and sustainably. In this episode: Food costs are up almost 30% in the past 10 years. How can we bridge the gap to provide access to quality, all-natural food while acknowledging the never ending struggle to keep up with inflated grocery prices? Where does our meat come from that's in the grocery store? What does sustainable foo...
Mar 18, 2024•57 min•Season 3Ep. 43
Join Kosta and his guest: Rebecca Duncan , Director at Helping Hands of Putnam County . In this episode: One of the biggest misconceptions about poverty in our area is that welfare primarily goes to people who are not working. When in reality, the problem isn’t that people aren’t working, it's that our employers aren’t paying enough. Will you tell us about how this cycle is impacting Putnam County in 2024? Today, what do you think is the greatest challenge we face for the working class of our co...
Mar 11, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 3Ep. 42
Join Kosta and his guest: Morgan Franklin , Owner and Founder of Morgan Franklin Media, Podcast Producer, Strategist and Educator. Featured on Good Morning America, Martha Stewart Living, Style Me Pretty, The Knot Magazine and countless other publications, Morgan’s work as a podcaster, creative and brand manager spans over a decade and is just getting started. Morgan is the Producer and Co-Creator of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev, Now or Never: Long-Term Care Strategy, The Aspiring Styl...
Mar 04, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 3Ep. 41
Join Kosta and his guest: Melissa Ellis , professional performer, jazz musician The Southern Spitfire, owner and founder of The Autumn Agency , music coach and talent buyer. In this episode: What do you think should be the first major goal or objective of an up-and-coming artist? We can only eat the elephant one bite at a time, so what are the first bites? As someone that’s consistently found a way to turn their creative talents into business opportunities, what’s your advice to musicians and ot...
Feb 26, 2024•52 min•Season 3Ep. 40
Join Kosta and his guest: Lori Jackson-Strode , Counselor, Real Estate Agent, Cookeville Theatre Company Board Member, and 'I Am My Ancestors Wildest Dream' Co-Creator, Producer and Director. In this episode: We're celebrating Black History Month and talking about what it's like to be black and grow up in Middle Tennessee. What racial equality looks like today and how it's changed since Lori grew up in Cookeville during the 70's, 80's and 90's. How we create an Upper Cumberland where young peopl...
Feb 19, 2024•48 min•Season 3Ep. 39
Join Kosta and his guest: Tess Mann, Owner of Couture by Tess Bridal and Designer of Tess Mann Haute Couture. In this episode: Your achievements as a designer, and bridal stylist would take most of us a lifetime to accomplish. But I find one of the most intriguing parts of your story is that you spent an entire career in Federal Law Enforcement before pursuing fashion. How did you transition from the FBI to couture bridal designer? In this social media era it feels like shopping and buying the d...
Feb 12, 2024•50 min•Season 3Ep. 38
Join Kosta and his guest: Michele Honeycutt, Election Commission Administrator for Putnam County Election Commission . In this episode: Generally speaking, across the United States, over the past decade the accuracy and legitimacy of our elections has become a point of concern for many. As someone that sees every aspect of our elections, what’s your message to anyone questioning the outcome of an election? How does voter registration work? Can anyone with a driver’s license vote or is there more...
Feb 05, 2024•33 min•Season 3Ep. 37
Join Kosta and his guest: Matt Billings , Economic Development and Grants Coordinator for the City of Cookeville . In this episode: For Millennials and Gen Z there’s been a great effort to advocate on our behalf to participate in public service, run for office and take leadership, but the problem remains that so far not many Baby Boomers and Gen X are ready to let go of these responsibilities. As a Millennial serving our community, what’s your message to older generations on making room for our ...
Jan 29, 2024•30 min•Season 3Ep. 36
Join Kosta and his guest: Bridgett Jones, Co-Founder and Owner of Mill Creek Farm . In this episode: How is Mill Creek Farm bringing a fresh take on agritourism and bringing our community back to the farms that started it all? You didn’t just create a destination for guests to visit cattle, you created an experience for guests to become part of the farm. Will you tell us about how you structure your tours and farm visits that make it a completely different experience from anything else in this a...
Jan 22, 2024•21 min•Season 3Ep. 35
Join Kosta and his guest: Kevin Maxwell , Engineer, Entrepreneur and Owner of 37 Cedar Restaurant and Bar . In this episode: At the last Cookeville City Council Meeting on December 21, City Manager James Mills brought forth an ordinance that prohibits the sale and consumption of alcohol at public parks, on municipal grounds, streets and sidewalks. Events impacted include WCTE’s fundraiser Blues and Brews, Taste of The Town, Upper Cumberland Pride Festival and Wine on the West Side, to name a few...
Jan 15, 2024•44 min•Season 3Ep. 34
Join Kosta and his guest: Jamie Lankford , Owner and Founder of Jamie’s Eats and Sweets . In this episode: We know you as Jamie from Jamie’s Eats and Sweets. Although, just 3 short years ago, this was just a dream getting cooked up in your kitchen. How did you scale this business so quickly? Your Mom was a Pampered Chef Consultant and you grew up watching her host parties. What impact has your Mom had on your career? What advice do you have for parents about incorporating their children in their...
Jan 08, 2024•30 min•Season 3Ep. 33
Join Kosta and his guest: Wesley Adkins , Principal Auctioneer for Highland Elite Auction , Affiliate Broker and Real Estate Agent at Highlands Elite Real Estate and General Manager of Cookeville Panera Bread. Wesley is a Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce Ambassador, member of the Cookeville Jaycees , regular volunteer for Upper Cumberland Habitat for Humanity and Heart of the Cumberland, and active member of the Putnam County Fair Board . As most of our listeners know, during the 202...
Jan 01, 2024•45 min•Season 3Ep. 32
Join Kosta and his guest: Todd Matthews , one of the leading voices in the true crime community, a pioneer of the amateur sleuthing, an architect of that community’s online presence as well as the US government programs to identify missing and unidentified persons (NAMUS) , Executive Director of The Doe Network and a sought-after speaker and consultant. Todd is believed to be the first person to solve a cold unidentified remains case using online tools, solving the thirty-year mystery of “Tent G...
Dec 25, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Season 3Ep. 31
Join Kosta and his guest: Courtney McShan , Professional Organizer and Owner of The Courtney Collective , a hands-on approach to home organization that’s both functional and transformational. In this episode: There’s always something new to try or another must have. As someone that organizes homes professionally, what's your message to everyone that can’t stop buying things? In your experience, what does decluttering and having a place for everything in the home do for our wellbeing? As a profes...
Dec 18, 2023•49 min•Season 3Ep. 30
Join Kosta and his guest: Dr. Paula Hinton , Professor at Tennessee Technological University and Historian. In this episode: It’s no secret we love true crime. It’s one of the fastest growing genres of film, television and podcasts. What is it about listening to the gruesome details of how people were killed that we want to hear? They say those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it. In your opinion, as a historian and professor, do you believe we have enough of an understanding of histo...
Dec 11, 2023•48 min•Season 3Ep. 29
Join Kosta and his guest: Sara Chambers , Fertility Advocate, Influencer and Co-Founder of Privy Clear , an innovative advertising agency dedicated to helping small businesses break through the noise and thrive in the digital world. Approximately one in eight couples are affected by infertility in the United States. As Sara documents her own journey with infertility she's haunted by the realization that restrictive laws on reproductive rights in Tennessee could abolish her family's only chance t...
Dec 04, 2023•43 min•Season 3Ep. 28
Join Kosta and his guest: Dwight Henry , Former Tennessee House State Representative , Cookeville City Council Member, Mayor and Civil Servant to the State of Tennessee. Currently, Dwight serves as a Founding Member and Member at Large of IMPACT Leadership , an organization dedicated to the development and encouragement of civic minded leaders from underrepresented populations of our society to actively serve the betterment of the community and affect positive social change. In this episode: As ...
Nov 27, 2023•34 min•Season 3Ep. 27
Join Kosta and his guest: Andrew Buckner , Musician, Author and Editor-in-Chief of Cookeville Lifestyle Magazine . This week we're celebrating Thanksgiving, biscuits and gravy, and all the ways we're better together. In the immortal words of Adam Sandler, "Love to eat turkey, 'cause it's good. Love to eat turkey, like a good boy should." Thank you to our special guest host and officiant of Questions from a Cornucopia: Caroline Moore . Thelma’s Cornbread Recipe: Ingredients: 1 Cup Cornmeal 1⁄3 Cu...
Nov 20, 2023•29 min•Season 3Ep. 26
Join Kosta and his guest: Michael England, Co-Founder and General Manager of The Exceptional Bean , an inclusive, nonprofit coffee shop created to empower individuals with disabilities to find employment and community. Find out more about The Exceptional Bean: https://www.theexceptionalbeancookeville.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 partn...
Nov 13, 2023•59 min•Season 3Ep. 25
Join Kosta and his guest: Megan Spurgeon , Director of Empower Upper Cumberland at Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency . In this episode: Empower’s mission is to lift 1,600 children and their families out of poverty by 2025. What does it really mean to lift someone out of poverty? For the average person living in poverty in the Upper Cumberland what does it look like? Find out more about Empower Upper Cumberland: https://empoweruppercumberland.org/ Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a ...
Nov 06, 2023•52 min•Season 3Ep. 24
Join Kosta and his guest: Ben Prine , Franchise Owner of Cookeville Chick-fil-A . Recently honored as Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce’s 2023 employer of the year, Cookeville Chick-fil-A is proud to serve the families of our community with the highest quality in food, customer service and of course - chicken. Find out more about Cookeville Chick-fil-A: https://www.cfacookeville.com Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville...
Oct 30, 2023•33 min•Season 3Ep. 23
Join Kosta and his guest: Dr. Jeremy Byrd , Executive Director of Upper Cumberland Habitat for Humanity , a non-profit Christian housing ministry, building affordable homes in partnership with God, families, and individuals in need. Did you know the median house sold in Putnam County in 2023 is $322,000 . The median household income to afford that mortgage is roughly $83,000 (give or take on interest and downpayment for a first time home buyer). The real median household income in Putnam County ...
Oct 23, 2023•37 min•Season 3Ep. 22
Join Kosta and his guest: Kelly Warbis , CEO and Co-Founder of EKAMOR Resource Corporation . With a mission to drastically reduce the major challenges of managing municipal solid waste, EKAMOR is working to change the world's management of waste from an extractive economy to a circular economy. In this episode: Where does your trash go? Does recycling actually help the environment? What is carbon neutrality? Why do we hear about it so much? How is EKAMOR going to change the way we process trash ...
Oct 16, 2023•42 min•Season 3Ep. 21
