Although a recent Cookeville transplant, Laurin Wheaton decided that there was no better way to get connected in a new place than to jump in with both feet. Inspired by the desire to keep Cookeville a vibrant place to raise a family, Laurin threw her hat in the ring for this year's city council race and was elected vice mayor. In this podcast, we discuss the importance of your tribe, life in public service with two small children, and the direction that Wheaton hopes our community is headed.

Larry Stone fell in love with the Upper Cumberland area while doing Titans Caravans in our community. A dream that began early in life grew into a very successful radio career, and has culminated into Stone owning his own cluster of stations, Stonecom Radio. In this powerful episode, Larry shares his earliest childhood radio memories, some of his favorite moments as host of Titans' Radio, and the ever changing nature of technology and its effect on his business. Stone reminds us all of the importance of hyper local content, how crucial it is to be involved in the community you serve, and the necessity of remaining nimble in an ever changing world. While pundits might question the future of traditional radio, Stone knows that they are here to stay.

It's often been said that necessity is the mother of invention. Sometimes, it's what's necessary for others that births a great idea. On this week's podcast, local physical therapists Sonya Briggs and Shehla Rooney share with us about their incredible device (invented and developed right here in Cookeville!!), GoKnee, which is revolutionizing knee replacement rehab. Along with Nikki Orazine, the three ladies operate MotusX, a private, movement based, physical therapy practice. In this episode, Sonya and Shehla shed light on the genesis of their invention, the struggles they have experienced (and help they have found) as budding entrepreneurs, and the passion they share for their patient's health which is the driving force behind all that they do. This is a must listen for anyone starting a business, one who has an invention, or those who are looking for ways to improve the health care system.

Chris Peterson moved to the Upper Cumberland after meeting his wife, Dianne. He was determined to get involved in the community, and has quickly become a vital member of many local organizations. Whether serving in his local church's jail ministry or taking area youth on hunting trips, Peterson truly embodies a service over self mentality. In this podcast, he shares about the upcoming Jake's Day at Mustard Seed Ranch, his involvement with Mossy Oak, and his passion for seeing the youth get outdoors. Chris has a contagious joy and likable nature that makes you feel like you've made a fast friend. In addition to that, he brings to this episode some real, practical wisdom about how to succeed in life.

Kevin Christopher moved his young family from California to Cookeville to be closer to family and to put down some roots. A patent attorney and principal of a growing law firm, Ridgeline Venture Law, Christopher works largely with businesses and intellectual property law - patents, trademarks, trade secret protection, biotech, digital tech, and socially aligned businesses. Besides being an incredibly intelligent guy, he also has a passion for poetry, rock climbing, entrepreneurship, the environment, and social empowerment. In this episode, he shares a different perspective of our community from a transplant viewpoint, highlighting some of the Upper Cumberland's greatest hits - the presence of the University, cultural exposure, community events, and the power of our ecotourism. Kevin also shares his personal story of transformation from troubled kid to successful attorney, husband, and father.

Michael Aikens moved to Cookeville to work at Tennessee Tech University where he now serves as the Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the Director of the Center for Rural Innovation, and just recently named the head of Tech Tomorrow, TTU's strategic planning body. In this episode, Aikens shares the vision behind Tech's Innovation and Entrepreneurship department - promoting problem solving, creativity, and a hands-on approach to learning. Aikens also dives into the honest reality of working alongside millennials, the challenges that many of his students face, and the marriage that can exist between entrepreneurship and the higher education system. Fantastic listen for anyone looking to be challenged in their mindset and growth potential!

Laura Wolf moved to Cookeville when her late husband, Scott, was recruited by Averitt Express. She immediately fell in love with the community and put down deep roots. After volunteering with CityScape, Laura knew that she wanted to be there full time. CityScape’s mission is to establish a partnership between the public and private sectors that are dedicated to revitalizing Downtown Cookeville with an emphasis on community livability, economic restructuring and historic preservation. In this podcast, Laura shares the way that CityScape is impacting our area for the good, the way that individuals can get involved, and the various local activities that are on the horizon in Cookeville.

Hailing from neighboring Overton County, Marty Maynard, CEO of American Bank & Trust of the Cumberlands, got his start in the banking business in high school. A self proclaimed "bank nerd", Marty loves the numbers, deal structuring, and operations of the finance world. In this episode, you'll also hear from the man behind the old school hp calculator and quickly discover that his still waters run deep. Marty shares with us what he loves about his work, the value he places on having a strong team, the entrepreneurial spirit of a local bank, and the importance of being involved in the community. This was a fun one with cool insight into the banking space!

Nancy Knowlton moved to Cookeville to attend Tennessee Tech University. She began her working career in education, has owned her own business, has sold advertising, and now runs a large non-profit, the Cookeville Pregnancy Clinic. Nancy has a personal connection with and honest compassion for women experiencing crisis pregnancies. In this podcast, Nancy shares a raw and vulnerable story about brokenness and restoration. Her vibrant personality and passion for ministry shines through everything she does. Nancy shares the role that the Cookeville Pregnancy Clinic plays in our area and all the many avenues that they are making a difference and serving our community.

David Darnell and Beau Cunningham of Turdcules Toilet Elixirs moved to the Upper Cumberland just a couple of years ago. Being best friends forever, it was a pretty seamless transition to business partners, and the guys now own three ventures together, complimenting and challenging each other along the way. In this episode, the Turdcules team talks about how small business friendly that Cookeville has been, the support they have found at The Biz Foundry, and the secret to overcoming the variety of challenges that budding business owners face on the daily. These guys bring comedic relief and a relatable authenticity to the entrepreneur space. If you're wondering what Turdcules is (and admit it, you're wondering) or needing a breath of fresh air for your grind, take a listen!