Highlighting Great Stories about Great People who prove with their lives that "Anything is Possible."
For the vast majority of his life, Dr. John Avant has been ministering, mentoring, encouraging and building. At times, navigating societal issues, cultural differences and political views have presented enormous challenges. But "as a follower of Jesus," Dr. Avant says he firmly believes he has a "Kingdom Calling;" fulfilling the Great Commission, "which is far bigger than a national calling."
"The Lord has spoken to me and he's calling you to ministry and you're gonna preach Sunday." At age 17, those were the words spoken to Dr. John Avant by his Pastor/Principle. He says: "It had to have been the worse sermon in the history of christianity, but when I stepped down, I knew he was right. This is what I'll do the remainder of my days."
Unbeknownst to neither him nor his family, Shawn P. Turner's journey to becoming Director of both Sevier Heights Baptist Church's Choir & Orchestra and the University of TN's Gospel Choir actually began at the age of 6, when he volunteered to lead the choir at his "Granny's" church in Memphis, TN.
Judy Balloff's journey to becoming an Author, Speaker and Motivational Coach has been littered with challenges; Open Heart Surgery, 5 strokes, Divorce and Loss of a Job are just a few of them. Her life, however, has been revolutionized as she's dedicated it to levering all of those challenges to help others realize their possibilities.
Judy Balloff woke up from open heart surgery to discover that during the procedure she experienced 5 strokes. Although she lost the ability read or write; lost the use of her right hand and lost her complex thinking, she didn't lose her faith.
Rhea Carmon's journey to becoming the City of Knoxville's Poet Laureate is a beautiful example of how Challenges can lead to Purpose. Her Loss, Pain, and Health Challenges "can't win." They only served as fuel for her Passion, Faith and Poetry.
Rhea Carmon made history becoming the City of Knoxville Tennessee's first Black Poet Laureate. Her Life and Journey is a beautiful story of Passion, Perseverance, Purpose, Possibility and Poetry.
Through the years, we've had the opportunity to talk with some of America's greatest Veterans. Many of them live in the East Tennessee Community. In this episode we celebrate and honor Sam Hardman, WWII // Baffin Harper, Sr, US Army-Vietnam // Bill Weigel, Air National Guard // Lt. Ashley Nickloes, TN Air National Guard // Wes Stowers, US Air Force // Pastor Gerald McGinnis, US Army- Vietnam // Captain Bill Robinson, US Air Force, former prisoner of war.
Pastor Chris Battle moved from Pulpit to the Garden. He founded Battlefield Farms, a ministry/farm that fights food insecurity and creates community ... and because he firmly believes "God wants His Kingdom to be established here on earth," the way Pastor Battle is "establishing it is thru food."
From preaching in the pulpit ... to plowing in the garden, Battlefield Farm founder, Pastor Chris Battle's journey is a true story of Faith, Courage, Discipline, Grace and Possibility,
It was always his intention ... and there was never a doubt in Lee Smith's mind that he would play in the NFL. So, passion and focus drove him to fight for and accomplish that goal. It was his post NFL life that concerned him most. Why? Because he knew he needed to find and embrace something that would give him Purpose. He found it ... Coaching, Training, Mentoring and Ministering to kids thru the company he founded and presides over; Triple F Elite Sports Training.
As a little girl growing up in Mexico City, Little Susana "knew she was different." Even at an early age, she was always Focused and Purpose Driven. It was that drive and focus that would allow her to earn a Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). Now, Dr. Susana Navarro serves as Founder, President and CEO of Navarro Research and Engineering, Inc., a $180 million firm that is one of the nation’s strongest, most successful women-owned small businesses, supportin...
From litigating Art Cases .... to serving as a Sports Agent ... to serving as Administrator of renowned artist, Beauford Delaney's estate ... to navigating Life, Loss and Love, Attorney Derek Spratley's journey is yet another testament to the Power of Possibility.
Frank Niceley was born and raised on a farm in East Tennessee and he is "about as Appalachian as you can get." It was the lessons learned on the farm and the East Tennessee Values he absorbed that paved the way for him to serve as TN State Senator.
Harry Boston's journey to founding Boston Government Services is a wonderful example of the Power of Possibility. He's been a teacher, a scientist, a manager and an executive with both government and industry. His Secret? ... When he came to "forks in the road," he "took them."
Serving as a conductor not only allowed Dr. Jeffrey Pappas to explore all his loves of music, it also provided complete clarity of purpose. He realized he needed something broader and deeper that would provide a way to "Harness" his "Own Ability," and "Serve More People.' That clarity and focus allowed him to move from a "Conductor in a University setting to Academic Leadership." He now has the distinction of serving as Founding Dean of the University of TN's Natalie L. Haslam College of Music....
When Clarice Phelps was a kid mixing substances and ingredients in her mother's kitchen, they had no idea that those days marked the beginning of her journey to becoming a Nuclear Engineer at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory; where she would also go on to help discover a new element for the Periodic Table.
A Dream, Drive, Optimism, Hope. Perseverance, Support and an amazing Work Ethic. These were all the elements needed to fuel Josh Ward's journey to becoming co-host of one of East TN's highest rated Sports-talk Radio/YouTube shows. His story is yet another Wonderful example of the Power of Possibility.
After growing up on a farm. Knox County Criminal Court Clerk, Mike Hammond invested well over 4 decades in the Radio Broadcasting industry, where he had a very rewarding and an extremely successful career. From On-Air Personality to Management, he achieved a lot ... to include winning an Edward R. Murrow award and induction into the Country Radio Hall of Fame. So, how do you go from Farm-Boy to Country Radio Hall-of-Famer to Criminal Court Clerk? "Possibility."
ICYMI: When he didn’t quite believe in himself, it was a College Dean who saw, mentored and believed in Dr. Keith Carver’s possibilities. Dean Don Carson's “Borrowed Possibility” was the spark that started Dr. Carver’s journey to becoming Sr. Vice Chancellor and Sr. VP of the University of TN’s Institute of Agriculture. (UTIA)
Jeannette Mills serves as Vice President and Chief External Relations Officer for the TN Valley Authority. (TVA) Her rise thru both Corporate America and the Power Industry is a testament to this fact: Love, Loss, Family and Support can be a Force Multiplier in helping to realize Possibility. No matter how tough her journey was; she felt she "could Always look up" for strength.
Jeannette Mills' rise through the ranks of Corporate America is a wonderful example of how being "Around Possibility" helps you to "See Possibility." As a result of the Strength, Hope, Direction, Conviction and Perseverance she absorbed from the Strong Women in her life, Jeannette was able to face and conquer every challenge and obstacle on her road to becoming Executive VP and Chief External Relations Officer for the Tennessee Valley Authority. (TVA)
Davis Tarwater has had an Amazing swimming career. He's won championships at every level. He's was a Jr. Nationals champion, a High School State champion and an NCAA champion. The Pinnacle of his career happened in 2012 when he won Gold in the 400-meter Freestyle relay at the Summer Olympics in London. None of those successes or "Possibilities" would have been realized without what Davis describes as a "blip of adversity." His bout with childhood epilepsy was the blip that "galvanized" his "edge...
What possibilities could emerge from tragic loss? For University of TN Swimming & Diving Director, Matt Kredich, it was a Deepening and Affirming of Purpose. His journey is an inspiring and beautiful illustration of the Power Family, Love, Faith and Possibility.
As a competitor, when faced with one of the toughest challenges during his swimming career, Matt Kredich experienced the sustaining power of having both a team and coach support and encourage him.. As a Coach and Director of the University of Tennessee's Swimming & Diving program, his heart's goal is to do what had been done for him ... be a provider of those same Opportunities, Encouragement and Support.
"Life grants No exemptions" - Hallerin Hilton Hill // ...and Brittany Tarwater’s journey to becoming a Loving Wife, Exceptional Mom and Emmy Winning News Anchor/Journalist is no exception. Though her road was paved with Struggles, Love, Loss, Pain, Forgiveness, Self-Doubt and a host of other life challenges, her Faith allowed her to Go through and GROW through all of those seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Her story is a beautiful testament to the Power of Possibility.
Brittany Tarwater's journey to becoming an Emmy Award winning News Anchor and Journalist didn't come without it's challenges. When those challenges presented themselves, however, Brittany chose to Swim her way through them. Swimming at the University of TN became both the "Life-Line" and the fuel she needed to launch All New Possibilities.
Clarence Swearengen is a former college and pro basketball player, former basketball coach and current Talent Acquistion Specialist for Knox County Schools. His journey and life-circumstances are wide-ranging, to say the least. But those circumstances allowed him to set new all new Possibilities ... and since those possibilities were fueled and driven by Purpose, the results were so much Greater.
Clarence Swearengen's life story is the Ultimate testament to the Power of Family, the Power of Faith and the Power of Possibility. In part 1 of his chat with Hallerin, he not only discusses his basketball journey, he also talks about the life-shaping impact of having a "Strong Man" raise him.
Rabbi Yossi Wilhelm along with his wife, Miriam Esther moved to Knoxville, TN in 2001 and they have served both Knoxville's Jewish community as well as the Knoxville community as a whole, very well. And as you'll hear in this episode ... Learning, Teaching, Sharing and Loving is at the heart of All they do.
