Fabian Bedne credits his parents, Argentinian roots, and his desire to help others as factors in his quest to make the world a better place. After a dictatorship dramatically changed life in Argentina, a work exchange program led him to Ohio, and later to Tennessee. Bedne became a citizen, a council rep, a highly-requested wedding officiant, and a member of the mayor's office. Learn how his life's work is devoted to building strong communities and advocating for others.
Oct 19, 2022•25 min•Season 1Ep. 25
Edgar Struble is a film producer, music director, author, performer, and public speaker who has worked with Kenny Rogers, and directed or composed music for the Academy of Country Music Awards, and Billboard Music Awards. He has rubbed shoulders with stars ranging from Lionel Ritchie, Taylor Swift, and Dolly Parton to actor Christopher Lloyd. Today, he's mentoring younger creatives, expanding his film production, and working to balance life, entertainment, and health to ensure the beat goes on....
Sep 21, 2022•34 min•Season 1Ep. 24
Janet Jernigan has won countless awards in her life. Her more than 50-year career as a nonprofit leader is legendary as are the records she currently holds as an athlete. However, her true advocacy for others may be rooted in the mid-1960s when, as a student at Vanderbilt University, she began to advocate for equality by playing a role in the civil rights movement in Nashville. Let's hear how this remarkable woman finds time to care for herself and others in this Squeeze the Day.
Aug 17, 2022•39 min•Season 1Ep. 23
Brad Schmitt is lucky to be alive and to have a purpose. In this interview, this journalist shares how owning his decisions has brought him full circle. This compelling conversation touches on how bullying and abusive parents led him to alcohol and drug abuse. He shares how job loss brought him new beginnings. His redemption came from a support team of friends, 12-step programs, and coping mechanisms to turn his life around. Now he's using his forum to give back and positively impact the lives o...
Jul 20, 2022•35 min•Season 1Ep. 22
Mark Edward Dickerson married his partner, Chef Kevin, after almost 40 years together. Learn more about how this small business owner and father works to build a strong community to lift up the lives of others. From birth to adulthood, in this interview, we learn the role adoptions have played throughout his life and how family, fostering connections, and the internet, have brought new meaning to family and building relationships.
Jun 15, 2022•31 min•Season 1Ep. 21
Darline Lewis built a career bringing life into the world as a labor and delivery nurse. Forced to retire early due to a botched medical procedure, life has now come full circle as the daughter she welcomed into the world years ago has stepped in to help her. The aha moments for these two are eye-opening as more children are becoming youth caregivers for older family members. Despite life's ups and downs, this inspirational interview is full of gratitude.
May 18, 2022•23 min•Season 1Ep. 20
A Grammy winner and Grand Ole Opry member, Jeannie Seely, speaks about the hallowed institution and candidly shares about her life and how she is not hesitant to challenge status quo to bring about change for women. Her love for performance, including theatre, shines as does her desire to explain why an education in business is an asset in the music industry. In this podcast, Jeannie addresses health and wellbeing, her desire to preserve history, and to make the entertainment business better for...
Apr 20, 2022•32 min•Season 1Ep. 19
As a Hee Haw Honey on one of the longest-running comedy/music series, Mackenzie Colt shares snapshots of her life including how as a teenage mom she found her way to Music City, landed on Hee Haw, and was influenced by the program and music icons including Buck Owens. Mackenzie later launched what today is now the oldest chocolate business in Nashville. In this podcast she shares how as a young female entrepreneur and business owner she leveraged everything to create Colt's Chocolates.
Mar 16, 2022•25 min•Season 1Ep. 18
Eric Jackson is a four-time world champion who has dominated the whitewater kayaking scene for the past three decades. Despite the challenges of hearing loss, he spent 26 years on the U.S. Kayak Team (1989-2015) winning on an international level. In 2017, well into his 40s and now at 57, he qualified for the U.S. Team. At the age of 6, Eric got hooked on kayaking and credits swimmer Mark Spitz for igniting the fire in him to be an Olympic competitor. Today, Eric is a sports nut, husband, father,...
Feb 16, 2022•32 min•Season 1Ep. 17
Originally from Ghana, Dr. T. Kwami credits his parents for instilling in him the love of music. In this podcast, he shares priceless stories about moving to the U.S., finding Fisk University, and becoming a Fisk Jubilee Singer. Now a faculty member and director of the legendary singing group, Dr. Kwami is dedicated to preserving the heritage of this 150-year-old group as they take jubilee music and its message to audiences across the globe.
Jan 19, 2022•39 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Larry Talley grew up with music in his heart. Now he uses his love for playing music, especially the clarinet, as therapy for himself and others. He discovered that sharing music – especially with seniors in the community – could be a transformative gift to others. Talley has been called an icon, an inspiration, and a living miracle. Learn more about the courageous battles he has fought and the lessons he has learned in life, while serving in Vietnam.
Dec 15, 2021•31 min•Season 1Ep. 15
Nashville songwriter turns to film and video after the tragic loss of his daughter. Meet John Hamlin who demonstrates how a real-world tragedy can be the catalyst for positive change and new direction at any age. In this podcast he speaks to the searing loss and how, today, his late daughter leaves "breadcrumbs" to help him navigate a new life of advocacy through visual storytelling.
Nov 17, 2021•25 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Artist Phil Ponder has been capturing our Nashville for 50+ years leaving a lasting legacy. As a community servant, he cites the late Vic Varallo and Judge Randy Kennedy as mentors during his early Metro Council service. Learn from Ponder about the challenges of bringing our community its first major sports team; fun tidbits about the "Batman" building and Nashville's iconic L&C Tower; and how this family man and former Navy minesweeper (now fighting cancer) redefines retirement to keep calm...
Oct 20, 2021•34 min•Season 1Ep. 13
For more than 36 years, Barry Coggins has served up food, and sometimes a song or two, to lift-up and nourish older adults in his home communities of Dallas and Nashville. That's approximately 13,000 meals! Coggins doesn't know a stranger. As a longtime ally and advocate for others, a friend of the singer/songwriter said, "giving is Barry's middle name." Learn more about this man with a heart of gold.
Sep 15, 2021•16 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Vera Coleman is an inspiring octogenarian who worked in pathology at Meharry and later as a biologist at Vanderbilt. At the time (late 1950s and early 60s) few women and fewer women of color worked in the sciences. Using her lifetime of experience, she is now an ambassador for the All of Us Research Program. A lifelong learner Vera is an advocate for health and wellness, a passionate community volunteer, as well as a teacher and mentor who loves working with younger adults to lead future generat...
Aug 18, 2021•35 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Sarah Martin McConnell found a calling to launch nonprofit Music for Seniors after she witnessed the transformational effect it had on lives – including that of her mother – when she performed for her and other participants of FiftyForward's Adult Day Services program. Today Sarah's focus is to light up the lives of older adults because she has witnessed the true gift of music as holistic therapy.
Jul 21, 2021•30 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Metro Nashville Councilmember Nancy VanReece is bringing community together and challenging status quo in so many ways. She's never met a stranger and seems to always be on the frontline advocating for diverse groups of our population. A great connector and mentor to many, this Oklahoman moved to Nashville in 1986 and has continued to give back to our community to make it a better and brighter place for everyone.
Jun 16, 2021•40 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Nashville's Spashionista Alicia Searcy embarked on an exciting new chapter prompted by the traumatic loss of her possessions in the Nashville flood of 2010. Today she is changing the face of fashion with her advocacy for inclusivity.
May 19, 2021•32 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Tennessee Crossroads host Joe Elmore explains how the original vision to produce a show that might last 2-4 years turned into a 30+-year adventure that is still going strong today. The winning formula was to explore destinations in our own Tennessee backyard, including places not on the tourist maps, that would lead to what Joe says, "a kind of discovery so that people can be in on the surprise." Listen in as Elmore shares some funny and interesting tales of his adventures off the beaten trail....
Apr 21, 2021•41 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Octogenarian Ossie Jefferson-Corley shares how health, nutrition, and a positive attitude feed her love for life. A lifelong learner, she explains her secrets to success as an entrepreneur, as a nurse, and how she inspires others through motivational messages when they may most need it. A friend of civil rights activist, Rosa Parks, Jefferson-Corley explains how their lives became intertwined and the lessons she learned along the way.
Mar 17, 2021•38 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Brenda Gilmore was born to serve others, especially her community. As a preteen, she collected glass (Coke and 7UP) bottles using the money from recycling to buy toiletries for seniors in her neighborhood. Her heart for serving others was born. Gilmore's twilight career on Nashville Metro's Council also led her to the State Senate spanning more than two decades of service. Learn about her love for lifelong learning and how it keeps her young and spirit-filled.
Feb 17, 2021•28 min•Season 1Ep. 5
"You can learn something from everything you do, even if it's not to do it again." This slogan is how Gayle "GG" Goad lives her life and provides a guiding wisdom for all she does.
Jan 20, 2021•22 min•Season 1Ep. 4
At eight years old, Joe Murray climbed to the top of his family's outhouse and with his umbrella open, jumped off the roof and took flight … Moments later, he landed with a thud, but the short flight down never left his mind.
Dec 16, 2020•37 min•Season 1Ep. 3
"They told us we were making baby carriages … all kinds of ridiculous things … but we knew it wasn't true …"
Nov 18, 2020•24 min•Season 1Ep. 2
"Women are now 55% of the population so think of all the women who could vote, did vote, we could really make a difference." And so begins our inaugural podcast … introducing Yvonne Wood — a lifelong advocate for women's equality Yvonne Wood has been an advocate for women's equality her whole professional life. As a founding member and former chair of the Tennessee Economic Council on Women, she has served on every major Nashville board or council related to women's leadership, building opportun...
Oct 20, 2020•43 min•Season 1Ep. 1
