Memphis has a complex history, and it's critical to honor our past while leveling up for our future. In the studio today, we do just that. One day after MLK Day, we're honored to celebrate 70 years of The New Tri-State Defender , and hear a challenge from the President of The National Civil Rights Museum. "I believe if Dr. King was here, he would give us words of inspiration about work that's been done, but challenge us that we have not yet done all we can do to situate people on equal footing. ...
Jan 18, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Season 2Ep. 3
In this episode, we chat with musician, composer, podcaster, educator, TEDxMemphis speaker, and refugee, Zak Ozmo, about the universal truth of music. It is always there to provide a safe space, to bond, for expression, and find common ground. Art and music are the greatest forms of human expression - so it stands to reason that moving music can be created in times of turmoil. We dive deep into how Memphis is not only a music city, but a refugee city, by revisiting his 2019 TEDxMemphis talk, "Wh...
Jan 11, 2022•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 2
I don't know about you, but we're feelin' 2022! For our final "favorite thing" and the first episode of 2022, Christy Mullen (our weekly co-host and Director of Marketing and Communications) shares her favorite... "the wonderful and effervescent Ephie...". It originally aired in June of 2021, and is actually our longest episode to date at an hour and 20 minutes. We trimmed it down for today, but please feel free to scroll on back and listen to the full cut later on! Happy New Year, Memphis! Ephi...
Jan 04, 2022•59 min•Season 2Ep. 1
For our final installment of episodes in 2021, our very own Erin Wendell, Director of New Memphis Educator and Collegiate Programs, chose an episode that she just could not stop thinking about. This episode, which originally aired in May 2021, is more of a hearty main dish than a starchy side, so put on your stretchy pants and get ready to dig in! Law and Order. Our justice system is set up to be a fair system of checks and balances.. right? Not necessarily. When you're a hammer, everything can ...
Dec 28, 2021•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 64
The second installment of "Our Favorite Things" is the delightful Shamichael Hallman! His career is as generous as he is, spanning from tech and ministry to being a 2020 TEDxMemphis speaker and reimagining public spaces like the historic Cossitt Library. This episode originally aired in February 2021, and was quickly a staff and fan favorite. Tune in and you'll see why!
Dec 21, 2021•53 min•Season 1Ep. 63
As our holiday gift to you, dear listener, we're revisiting a few of our favorite episodes in a series we're literally calling "Our Favorite Things." (cue the Julie Andrews music!) This first one was hand-selected by our sometimes co-host, AT, and originally aired in December 2020. As to why she selected this particular episode, she said: "First, Ned Canty is hilarious! But more importantly, he has a way of explaining things that seem so high-brow to make them very accessible and exciting. I ass...
Dec 14, 2021•57 min•Season 1Ep. 62
Whether you can sing along with the title reference or have no idea what on earth High School Musical is... you've come to the right place! Today, we have Dr. Krista Johnson, Executive Director and Founder of ALL Memphis, in the studio to share her unique approach to "teaching the teacher" so that no student is left behind. Then, you'll hear from New Memphis' very own Laura Beth Davis and Christy Mullen to answer some FAQs about what it means to give to New Memphis. So, see? We really are all in...
Dec 07, 2021•58 min•Season 1Ep. 61
Memphians pride themselves on knowing a thing or two about a thing or two. For example: blues, BBQ, and Beale. But what if I told you there's always something to discover about this city.... would you believe? Whether it's a new entrepreneurial effort or a foundation celebrating their diamond anniversary, our city (and its people!) never cease to deliver on generosity. Fresh off of Small Business Saturday, the sisters of ARCHd share their story and why they teamed up with other dynamic duos (lik...
Nov 30, 2021•59 min•Season 1Ep. 60
Welcome to Part 2 of our spotlight on our 2021 Educators of Excellence honorees! Last week, you heard from the ladies, and this week the gentlemen get a turn to share their stories. We dive deep into the importance of representation, radical innovations for teaching, and why it's so impactful to pour into young people. BONUS: Taylor Cao and Aaron Youngblood just so happen to be New Memphis Embark alumni! DOUBLE BONUS: This episode is the extended cut of what aired live on the radio on WYXR (8 ex...
Nov 23, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 59
1-2-3, eyes on me! It's time to get to know our 2021 Educators of Excellence in a two part series where they share why they got into education, what keeps them there (and in Memphis!), and what they wish the community knew about what it's really like to equip the next generation of leaders! Tune in the hear from our first three honorees on this episode. This year, the New Memphis Educators of Excellence Award was generously funded by the Crews Foundation.
Nov 16, 2021•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 58
Maya Angelou said it best, and our guests are living her words out. Sam O'Bryant is the newly minted executive director of Literacy Mid-South, which is working to provide "literacy across the lifetime." Jill Shanker, a Jay Uiberall Foundation Board Member, joins Will Perry, facilitator of the Jay Uiberall Scholars program at REACH Memphis (and a New Memphis Fellows alum!) to share the impact of one Memphians love for his community. These individuals and their respective organizations are working...
Nov 09, 2021•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 57
How sweet it is to have SweetBio, Inc. buzzing around our city! 🍯 The brother/sister duo at the helm of this innovative medical device company, Dr. Isaac Rodriguez & Kayla Rodriguez Graff, took the science behind manuka honey and paired it with the venture capital world to create a truly unique solution to wound care. But they aren't done yet! They continue to challenge themselves to lean into their specialized skill sets to disrupt the status quo and give back to their community. Their eff...
Nov 02, 2021•59 min•Season 1Ep. 56
Today's episode is all about SUPERwomen! Hear how Arrow Creative and the (brand new!) Women's Business Center South are providing resources for local artists, creatives, and entrepreneurs right here in Memphis! Proving that with the right resources in play, our creative thinkers will STAY!
Oct 26, 2021•58 min•Season 1Ep. 55
Memphis may be all about grit 'n grind, but we also know we're so much better when we're together! In that spirit, today's episode features innovators who are making a difference by creating a culture of community, and changing our city one idea at a time. Ellen Roberds is at the helm of The Dragonfly Collective which is an incubator for social change. One of the results has been Downtown's Hospitality Hub, helping to cure homelessness not with a formula but with heart. Carey Moore is helping wo...
Oct 19, 2021•57 min•Season 1Ep. 54
This is a unique week, dear listeners! It's our host station's pledge drive! You can tune into this episode to hear more about it, and then tune in LIVE on October 12th to hear Anna Mullins Ellis share her favorite songs + insights from 8-9 a.m. CST. And if you're feelin' generous, we ask that you consider donating to WYXR and New Memphis to keep our sounds streamin'.
Oct 11, 2021•13 min•Season 1Ep. 53
Dan McCleary (Founder and the Nancy R. Copp Producing Artistic Director at Tennessee Shakespeare Company) is passionate about theatre...specifically Shakespearean theatre. But when he found himself directing and performing primarily to frequent flyers, he gave himself a challenge -- how and where could he produce Shakespeare for patrons experiencing the works for the first time? The result? Tennessee Shakespeare Company was born. From there, the intentionality to diverse, educational productions...
Oct 05, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 52
Take a deep dive on two topics you thought knew knew everything about in this episode of Meanwhile in Memphis! Transportation is planes, trains and automobiles, right? Yes, but there's so much more! Lauren Bermudez from the Downtown Memphis Commission is here to share why the solution to our problems isn't simply more parking garages. Then, we have Tiffani Morrow from the Memphis Grizzlies Foundation to share how and why we have one of the most unique foundations in all of the NBA. So let those ...
Sep 28, 2021•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 51
Everyone has those songs. You know the ones... they transport you to a specific place in time solidifying a memory into a milestone. But do cities have that, too? Elizabeth Cawein, music advocate and founder Music Export MEM, is here to explain how each city has a unique sound, and why that matters. She shares how our city is where contemporary and legacy combine creating a DIY ethos that can't fit into a specific formula. And her 2018 TEDxMemphis Talk serves as proof. Tune in to see for yoursel...
Sep 21, 2021•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 50
Our studio is bursting with pride and passion for our city in today's episode! We're joined by Memphis Tourism's Leah Gafni and Milton Howery III who share why it's oh so grand to be walkin' with your feet 10 ft. off of Beale. Plus, they share how we're turning heads internationally and across the U.S. (hello, TIME magazine write up!). Whether it's the live music, the food, or the comradery, there's just something about the 901 that is magic. Tune in to hear for yourself!
Sep 14, 2021•59 min•Season 1Ep. 49
Katie Smythe fell in love with dancing at an early age, but she quickly realized that turning that love into a hobby (or even a career) requires access and opportunity. So she made it her mission to create space for access in dance with New Ballet Ensemble and School. And that's where the magic really started to happen, by fusing classical dance training with "street" styles like hip hop and jookin', her dream made other dreams into a reality. But don't take our word for it -- check out The Nut ...
Sep 07, 2021•59 min•Season 1Ep. 48
Action! Memphis is hitting its mark and we have some A-list talent in the studio to share all about film-making in The Bluff City. Jason Farmer and Carolyn Henry from BLP Film Studios share how they took their business know-how and created a one-stop-shop for creating cinematic content right here in Whitehaven. Then, we hear from Memphis & Shelby County Film and Television Commissioner, Linn Sitler, on the partnership of incentives and economic success + she shares her favorite stories from ...
Aug 31, 2021•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 47
Hey, you! Yeah.. you ! What's your superpower? Have you ever thought about it..? What is it that you can uniquely do to benefit others and the future? That's it! Tosha Downey's is empowering people to tell their truth because you cannot fix a problem you don't name. She's knows the critical importance of the marriage between street smarts (real-life experiences) and book smarts (the research and data points) to impact policy change. In this extended cut episode, she stops by to share insights on...
Aug 24, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 46
Victoria Jones is many things - activist, advocate, and awe-inspiring Memphian among them. In this episode, take a deep dive into how her past experiences motivate her present adventures + how she sees our city's future take shape. Here's a hint: Celebrating the innovation and empowering communities.
Aug 17, 2021•59 min•Season 1Ep. 45
Poet, film-maker, and multi-talented creative, Nubia Yasin is in the studio today.. hip, hip, HOORAY! No really, we think she's phenomenal and her insights are powerful. We discuss how lasting change comes about by pushing culture, and how creatives push culture forward + take a deep dive into her 2020 TEDxMemphis talk, "The Placemaker, The Missionary, and The Conqueror."
Aug 10, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 44
If you think Memphis already has grit 'n grind, just wait for the next generation of leaders! Lisa Moore, President and CEO of Girls Inc. shares how they're inspiring girls to be smart, strong and bold! She notes examples of how participants are not only finding seats at the table, they're literally building their own tables, too! Plus, she gives us the inside scoop on the upcoming expansion of their Youth Farm in Frayser. Terence Patterson of Memphis Education Fund stops by the studio to chat a...
Aug 03, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 43
Is journalism a dying art form? Is "sound bite culture" and "fake news" changing the way we consume information? If so, why does that even matter? Longtime Memphian and award-winning journalist David Waters steps into the studio to share the true essence of an unbiased reporter who genuinely cares about his craft and his community. BONUS: His 2016 TEDxMemphis talk, "No Better Place Than This" explores why he left his dream job at the Washington Post to return to The Bluff City. EXTRA BONUS: New ...
Jul 27, 2021•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 42
We have a full line-up today's episode; so, sit back, relax, and ENJOY! First up is James Ramson of First Horizon Bank here to chat about all things Chamber YPC! He shares a bit about his career, his 10 years with the same company, and how an investment in yourself is an investment in our city, too. Next up, is Mike Allen of Memphis Botanic Gardens. They've been busy with renovations in 2020, have a new urban garden, and a rockstar line-up for Live at the Garden (no really, look up who is headli...
Jul 20, 2021•58 min•Season 1Ep. 41
Bottom's up, Memphis! This morning we have Master Distiller, Alex Castle, of Old Dominick in the house! She bring the truth about learning to follow your dreams, creating new ones, and sharing those dreams with others. Her TED Talk, "Whiskey: The Cure for Perfectionism" takes a closer look at how she's truly mastered (see what I did there?) the art of balancing her introverted tendencies with her high-profile career. BONUS: She brought libations, and we get to partake!
Jul 13, 2021•58 min•Season 1Ep. 40
Memphis is a city known for a lot of things, but often times our booming arts & culture scene isn’t one of the first things people think of. Art works to tell stories and translate experiences across various formats, from the canvas, to the stage, onto film and more, and our city has no shortage of impactful tales to tell! On this episode of Meanwhile in Memphis, we introduce you to two local organizations that make the 901 a hidden arts gem. Up first Knox Shelton, the newest leader of Indie...
Jul 06, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 39
Bring it in for a virtual hug with "the wonderful and effervescent Ephie...". Ephie Ballard-Johnson is at the helm of "the family business" of caring for people as the President and CEO of Neighborhood Christian Centers (a 44-year-old Memphis organization!). They're tackling not only systematic, multi-generational challenges by bridging the immediate gaps, focused on truly meeting each individual where they are - insisting it's never too late to make an authentic change. In this episode, she's b...
Jun 29, 2021•1 hr 19 min•Season 1Ep. 38
