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Decaf

Beacon Center of Tennesseerss.com
Decaf is a weekly podcast by the Beacon Center of Tennessee where Mark and Taylor offer thoughts on what's going on in Tennessee and around the country.
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Episodes

Decaf: Episode 170

Mark your calendar for Election Day and Beacon's live coverage! The White House gets fact-checked on Twitter. Alabama drops in the rankings, and Tennessee faces a challenge this weekend. And no, Twitter is not infringing on your free speech by asking you to pay for your blue check mark. Join Mark and Taylor on YouTube Live on November 8 for election results, analysis and more! Starting at 3:30 PM at beacontn.org

Nov 05, 202232 minSeason 1Ep. 170

Decaf: Episode 169

New report from Beacon shows that some college majors aren't worth the investment. Climate change activists get a lot of attention, but are their plans actually working? Mark has a hot take about Tennessee football this week. Celebrities have a lot to say about politics, but are people interested in their opinions?

Oct 28, 202227 minSeason 1Ep. 169

Decaf: Episode 168

Potential taxpayer funding for the new Titans stadium has Mark and Taylor heated. Scandal strikes the LA City Council. Tennessee takes down Alabama, and Blink-182 is back. As always, you don't want to get your weekly hot takes anywhere but on Decaf!

Oct 21, 202232 minSeason 1Ep. 168

Decaf: Episode 167

Nashville Metro Council continues to pander and uses our tax dollars to do it. Big names are leaving their political parties. MLB playoffs and college football might give Taylor a heart attack. Mark is a huge fan of a local business in Centerville.

Oct 14, 202225 minSeason 1Ep. 167

Decaf: Episode 166

Certificate of need laws are restricting access to healthcare in Tennessee. Gas prices continue to go up with no end in sight. It's baseball playoff season, the most wonderful time of the year (to Taylor and Jordan). The love lives of celebrities are making headlines. Get all of your hot takes of the week on Decaf!

Oct 07, 202223 minSeason 1Ep. 166

Decaf: Episode 165

Zoning in Nashville has gotten out of hand. Our thoughts and prayers are with those who are being impacted by Hurricane Ian. Georgia Tech is looking at a massive shakeup in its football program. Ron's recent finds on YouTube are completely out of control. Listen to this week's episode of Decaf for hot takes from Taylor and special guest Ron Shultis!

Sep 30, 202222 minSeason 1Ep. 165

Decaf: Episode 164

Southwest pilots picket on... Broadway? Beacon got some good news this week! Mark's football picks are trending upward. Taylor has a change of heart about Adam Levine.

Sep 30, 202220 minSeason 1Ep. 164

Decaf: Episode 163

Hundreds of kids' lives will be changed through the state's ESA program. Mark and Taylor share their thoughts on a prominent business founder who donated his personal fortune to solving climate change. Mark's college football picks this week went a little better, while Taylor struggled. Who are the celebrities you find to be completely insufferable? Get all of your weekly hot takes on Decaf!

Sep 16, 202224 minSeason 1Ep. 163

Decaf: Episode 162

Nashville Metro Council passed an interesting law having to do with traffic cameras, and honestly, we don't get it. Our hearts go out to everyone in Memphis. Mark is hoping for better college football predictions this week. Taylor is hyper-fixated on pop culture and the drama surrounding a new movie.

Sep 09, 202223 minSeason 1Ep. 162

Decaf: Episode 161

Polling shows Tennesseenas are not too pleased that tax dollars are going to fund a new Titans stadium. Conservative budgeting can lead to more permanent tax cuts. College football week 1 is upon us, and it's time for some hot takes. Mark and Taylor have some odd quirks, and it's time we talk about them.

Sep 02, 202223 minSeason 1Ep. 161

Decaf: Episode 160

Beacon's new research report about education spending is getting a lot of attention. President Biden's plan for student debt forgiveness isn't being received well. Nolensville baseball players are competing in the Little League World Series. Moviepass is back, but is it worth the money? The hottest takes are delivered this week on Decaf.

Aug 26, 202223 minSeason 1Ep. 160

Decaf: Episode 159

Tennessee has a newly-appointed attorney general. San Francisco changed course on police funding. The NBA has decided not to play games on Election Day. Mark and Taylor relive their favorite childhood birthday parties.

Aug 19, 202222 minSeason 1Ep. 159

Decaf: Episode 158

Nashville has earned the name "snitch city." The FBI took unprecedented action this week. The NFL's inconsistency on player accountability is atrocious. Taylor is determined to win a goldfish at the Williamson County Fair this weekend.

Aug 12, 202222 minSeason 1Ep. 158

Decaf: Episode 157

The RNC is not coming to Nashville. Nancy Pelosi makes a courageous trip to Taiwan. The MLB trading deadline brought some surprises. And this week in celebrity hypocrisy, we're looking at CO2 emissions from private planes.

Aug 05, 202223 minSeason 1Ep. 157

Decaf: Episode 156

Mark gives insights on a high-profile interview he conducted this week. The economy is in a bad place—depending on who you ask. The media offered some hot takes on who is going to win the SEC this year. America is in mourning over Choco Tacos. Hear it all on this episode of Decaf!

Jul 29, 202222 minSeason 1Ep. 156

Decaf: Episode 155

Federal funds are (unsurprisingly) being misused. The Great Resignation is in full swing. An American is in big trouble in Russia. Not all "hippie" things are bad. It's your weekly dose of hot takes on Decaf with Taylor and Mark!

Jul 22, 202222 minSeason 1Ep. 155

Decaf: Episode 154

The ESA program is finally ready to accept applicants. Following the science has never been more difficult. We have entered the superconference era of sports. Mark and Taylor are on the same page about one thing—Top Gun: Maverick is a must-see.

Jul 14, 202224 minSeason 1Ep. 154

Decaf: Episode 153

TNReady scores are in. The Biden Administration is having some communication problems. Competition is getting heated at Wimbledon, but nothing is hotter than the 4th of July in Tennessee.

Jul 08, 202223 minSeason 1Ep. 153

Decaf: Episode 152

Transpotainment vehicles under attack, EPA gets powers rolled back, Buc-ee's has landed in Crossville, and Mark hates Taylor's taste in music.

Jul 01, 202224 minSeason 1Ep. 152

Decaf: Episode 151

SCOTUS rules in favor of school choice. Governor Haslam is buying a Tennessee sports team. Stranger things has our attention. Shows that Justin and Stephanie wish they could rewatch for the first time again.

Jul 01, 202218 minSeason 1Ep. 151

Decaf: Episode 150

Inflation is causing nightmares. Mayor Cooper wants to ban... hot dog carts? Tennessee faces a tough upset in the College World Series. Mark goes to Vegas. Listen to it all on this episode of Decaf!

Jun 17, 202221 minSeason 1Ep. 150

Decaf: Episode 149

Things are heating up with the Lookouts stadium. Gas is about to hit $5. Golfers are leaving the PGA for another option. WaWa is coming to Nashville!

Jun 10, 202231 minSeason 1Ep. 149

Decaf: Episode 148

Costs on the rise are having a serious impact on labor and personal finances. Workers across the country are looking to unionize, and more in Atlantic City are on strike. Nashville is losing residents seemingly as quickly as gaining them. Nostalgia over lost treasures is at an all-time high. Listen to Mark and Taylor's hot takes on this episode of Decaf!

Jun 10, 202226 minSeason 1Ep. 148

Decaf: Episode 147

Tragedy in Texas, a cruel decision by MNPS, "sharkcano" in the Pacific, and Mark's three favorite things in Italy—hear it all on this episode of Decaf!

May 27, 202226 minSeason 1Ep. 147

Decaf: Episode 145

Taylor and Ron have all the hot takes this week on occupational licensing, the Johnny and Amber trial, the crypto crash, and the PGA Championship this weekend. Check it out!

May 23, 202226 minSeason 1Ep. 145

Decaf: Episode 144

The good, bad, and ugly of the legislative session. An egregious breach of trust on the federal level. The world champs not living up to their hopes. Justin's upcoming world travel plans. Listen to it all on this episode of Decaf!

May 07, 202224 minSeason 1Ep. 144

Decaf: Episode 143

FDA proposes another ban, Vanderbilt poll puts Nashville on blast, NFL draft energy is in the air, and Mark is leaving for almost a month! Get the weekly hot takes on Decaf!

May 02, 202220 minSeason 1Ep. 143

Decaf: Episode 142

Streaming services facing major issues, celebrities getting up in arms over little things, Wimbledon's new rules, and embarrassing outfits of the 1990s. All on this episode of the Decaf!

Apr 22, 202224 minSeason 1Ep. 142

Decaf: Episode 141

Mark and Taylor's takeaways from a trip to Memphis. The greatest Twitter troll of all time. Mark's (and definitely not Taylor's) favorite week in sports. Underrated movies from the 1990s. Listen to it all on this week's episode of Decaf!

Apr 14, 202232 minSeason 1Ep. 141
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