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 2023 Cookeville Christmas Parade the only float disqualified from participating in the parade was representing Upper Cumberland Pride. As Wesley is a Chamber Ambassador, and active member of the LGBTQ community he found himself in the middle of this controversy and how we create a pathway forward.

Find out more about Wesley and Highlands Elite Real Estate:
https://wesleyadkins.heretn.com/

Representation matters. Acceptance matters. Community matters. 

45% of LGBTQ youth seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year.
Even one child considering self harm is too many. 

Find out more about The Trevor Project:
https://www.thetrevorproject.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 Cookeville Regional Medical Center and Volunteer State Community College.

Find out more about Cookeville Regional Medical Center:
https://www.crmchealth.org/

Find out more about Volunteer State Community College:
https://www.volstate.edu/campuses/cookeville

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 Girl.” He quickly became one of the online sleuthing community’s leading lights, helping to found The DoeNetwork and serving as the media director for that program and Project EDAN. A leading expert on issues pertaining to solve cases of missing and unidentified, he has provided expert commentary for Discovery ID, national/local news outlets, VICE, Reveal, Oxygen, and the History Channel. Also served as a consultant for Jerry Bruckheimer and Dick Wolf on scripted entertainment projects.

Edit: We're heartbroken to hear of the passing of Todd Matthews on January 3, 2024. This episode was recorded on November 7, 2023 and is dedicated to the incredible life and many accomplishments of Todd Matthews. His dedication, passion and giving spirit brought hope to thousands and we're grateful for the opportunity to work with Todd.

For More information on The Doe Network:
https://www.doenetwork.org/

For more information on NAMUS (National Missing and Unidentified Persons System):
https://namus.nij.ojp.gov/

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.

Find out more about Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy:
https://aspirebarberandbeauty.com/

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 professional, what do you do everyday to keep your home in order? Is there anything you routinely do or don’t do that helps to keep your family on track?

Find out more about Courtney McShan and The Courtney Collective:
https://thecourtneycollective.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.

Find out more about Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy:
https://aspirebarberandbeauty.com/

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 history to not repeat it? As someone who knows what scares us, and has extensive knowledge of history in the United States, how much of what scares us is actually real?

Find out more about Dr. Paula Hinton and TN Tech:
https://www.tntech.edu/
https://www.tntech.edu/directory/cas/history/paula-hinton.php

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.

Find out more about Miss Sallie's Market:
https://www.misssallies.com/

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 to conceive naturally.

This episode is a candid look at the choices lawmakers are making that impact the safety of all women in the state of Tennessee, and are shaping the future for families in our state.  For the first time in 20 years Tennessee’s infant mortality rate is rising and our health as a state is declining.

Find out more about Sara Chambers and Privy Clear:
https://www.privyclear.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 Cookeville Regional Medical Center and Volunteer State Community College.

Find out more about Cookeville Regional Medical Center:
https://www.crmchealth.org/

Find out more about Volunteer State Community College:
https://www.volstate.edu/campuses/cookeville

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 we go into the 2024 election year, tensions are high.  How do we come together as a community instead of two halves of a fractured system? Over a quarter of Cookeville residents are living in poverty. As someone that grew up in public housing and understands the struggles of the working poor, what’s your message to our state and local leaders on how we provide real opportunities for growth and development in this area? Cookeville is growing. Our city is changing whether we want to admit it or not. What is your advice to our local leaders and politicians that feel resistant to accommodating to those changes and think we can keep operating at the status quo?

Find out more about IMPACT Leadership:
https://impactleadershiptn.com/

Find out more about Dwight Henry:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwight_Henry_(politician)

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.net/

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 Cup Self-Rising Flour (Mix Cornmeal and Flour Together)
• 3⁄4 Cup Buttermilk
• Cooking Oil
• Non-Stick Cooking Spray (If Using Non-Seasoned Skillet)

Directions:

1. Combine cornmeal and flour
2. Add buttermilk until consistency is slightly thicker than pancake batter (usually 3⁄4 cup will suffice)
3. Add 2 tbsp of cooking oil to small seasoned cast iron skillet (if using unseasoned skillet, spray a thin coating of cooking spray before adding oil)
4. Pour mixture in skillet
5. Place under 450 degree heat in oven (do not preheat)
6. Cook for 25 minutes (until brown) and allow to cool before serving

Find out more about Andrew Buckner:
https://www.andrewbucknermusic.net/

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.

Find out more about Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy:
https://aspirebarberandbeauty.com/

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 partners at Wildwood Resort and Marina.

Find out more about Wildwood Resort and Marina:
https://wildwoodresorttn.com/

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 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 Cookeville Regional Medical Center and Volunteer State Community College.

Find out more about Cookeville Regional Medical Center:
https://www.crmchealth.org/

Find out more about Volunteer State Community College:
https://www.volstate.edu/campuses/cookeville

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, 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.net