In the second part of the podcast interview with Ed Garcia, school board candidate for District 6 in Hamilton County, Tennessee, he continues to share his vision and plans if elected. Garcia discusses the need to get back to academic basics in education, empower and properly compensate teachers, engage the community, and secure our schools. He explains his support for school vouchers and parent choice, believing competition will improve the public education system. Garcia also emphasizes his willingness to listen to community concerns, unique experience solving problems, and the passion and work ethic he will bring to the role. He aims to optimize resources, not raise taxes, to make Hamilton County schools a top district in the state. Garcia shares his ambitious yet achievable plan to create the public education system the children deserve.

In this episode of Heather's Most Precious, Ed Garcia, a candidate for the Hamilton County School Board District 7 seat, shares his background and qualifications for the position. Garcia discusses his experience in the business world transforming organizations and managing large budgets and staff. He outlines his plans for the school board, including optimizing resources, engaging the community through regular town halls, partnering with local businesses to prepare students for the workforce, and improving school safety. Garcia also talks about the importance of humility, listening, and working together across party lines to serve the community. He aims to focus on improving educational outcomes rather than just criticizing problems. Overall, Garcia presents himself as a thoughtful, solutions-oriented candidate hoping to use his professional skills and community-focused mindset to improve Hamilton County schools.

In this week's episode of Heather's Most Precious, Heather has a conversation with her guest Thomas Clark about his involvement with the Chattanooga Football Club (CFC). They discuss how the CFC was founded in 2009 by a group of locals who wanted to start an amateur soccer club in Chattanooga. Thomas shares stories from the early days of CFC and how it has grown over the years. He talks about the club's focus on developing youth players through its academy program and giving back to the Chattanooga community. Thomas also opens up about his family, faith, time in the Air Force, and advice for strengthening marriages. The overarching theme is building community, overcoming challenges together, and finding joy in the precious moments of life.

In this episode, Heather interviews Tiffany Bartell, a therapist and host of the podcast "How Would You Rate Your Pain?". They discuss the importance of empathy, resilience, and sharing stories to connect with others. Tiffany emphasizes the need for balance, prioritizing relationships, and setting healthy boundaries to avoid burnout. She advises those going through difficult times to seek support, remember that nothing lasts forever, and find resources to improve their quality of life. Overall, the conversation highlights the value of human connections, self-care, and finding contentment in the present moment.

In this emotional episode, Heather reflects on grief and loss on the first anniversary of her grandmother's passing. She acknowledges how heavy grief can feel, but encourages listeners who are grieving that the pain does lessen over time. She emphasizes having hope, knowing seasons change, and not getting stuck in darkness. Heather urges being kind to others who are grieving, embracing them, listening, and helping them know they aren't alone. She advises asking for help when needed. The episode is a raw and honest reflection on the grieving process and the importance of community support.

Time for a switcheroo! This week we get to hear Heather's interview on another podcast called My Part of Town Chattanooga.

In this week's episode of Heather's Most Precious, Heather interviews Kimberly Race, wife of longtime Chattanooga meteorologist Bill Race. Kimberly shares about meeting Bill during Hurricane Harvey relief efforts, surviving COVID-19 as newlyweds, and growing together spiritually in their marriage. She also discusses her career pivot to PR for nonprofits and ministry through Mary Kay. Kimberly emphasizes the importance of community, celebrating small wins, and combatting the joy-stealing efforts of Satan. She cites her husband, children, and giving back as most precious along with her family's Greek restaurant, The Acropolis.

In this episode of Heather's Most Precious, Heather interviews Liam, the host of the true crime podcast Crime Over Wine. They discuss how Liam advocates for victims and gives a platform to family members to share their stories. He talks about some memorable cases he has covered, his background in local news, and how he tries to do true crime podcasting differently by keeping the victim at the forefront. Heather and Liam explore how to celebrate life daily through simple acts like complimenting others. They encourage listeners to be grateful, understand others' perspectives, and make someone's day brighter. Liam shares how his rescue dogs are most precious to him. The hosts conclude by urging listeners to check out Crime Over Wine and continue spreading kindness.

In this episode, Heather interviews her father Duncan Locke, a long-time pastor, to provide insight into the many facets of being a pastor beyond just preaching on Sundays. They discuss the joys and challenges of ministry, the importance of counseling and discipleship, handling church conflicts, and walking in God's calling. Heather encourages listeners to pray for and encourage their pastors, as ministry can be lonely and difficult. Her father stresses clinging to God's calling rather than man's approval, and blurring the line between self and Christ. Overall, they aim to encourage those in ministry and a new perspective for anyone seeking to understand the heart of a pastor.

In this episode of Heather's Most Precious, Amanda Trotter, owner of the tapas restaurant Amada in Chattanooga, Tennessee, shares the story behind starting her restaurant business. She discusses her original career path in medical science before discovering her entrepreneurial passion in her early twenties. Amanda talks about how she turned to focusing on her restaurant concept as an outlet after going through a divorce, with the support of her family. She offers advice for anyone going through life transitions about establishing positive habits, staying connected to relationships, and reframing failure as an opportunity to gain new perspectives. Amanda also touches on navigating being a young female business owner and describes the vision behind Amada's brand and space. She emphasizes the importance she places on relationships with staff and customers in the restaurant industry.