Inside Matthews is the podcast about all of the wonderful people, places and organizations that make Matthews, Matthews. Periodically, Former Mayor Jim Taylor sits down with civic, business and political leaders to have a conversation about what’s happening, Inside Matthews.

 

Hazen Blodgett served as the Manager of the Town of Matthews for 18 years and retired from this position in early 2022. During Hazen’s tenure, he worked under four mayors, including Lee Myers, Jim Taylor, Paul Bailey and, current mayor, John Higdon. From the Town of Matthews website, "Hazen has been an extraordinary Manager over the last 18 years," said Mayor Higdon. "His impact on Matthews truly cannot be measured. On behalf of the entire Board, we want to express our thanks and appreciation for his tireless work, thoughtful leadership, and dedication to Matthews. Indeed, his are big shoes to fill."

 

During his tenure, Hazen witnessed the population of Matthews climb from approximately 22,000 in 2004 to currently of 33,000. It’s quite unique for a Town Manager to continue in their role for more than an average of 5 years and in his 18, he led the town through the “Great Recession” of 2008 then through an unprecedented global pandemic.

 

For the second consecutive year, Inside Matthews was selected by the readers of the Matthews – Mint Hill Weekly as their favorite podcast.

 

Jim Taylor served four terms as the seventeenth Mayor of the Town of Matthews and sat on the Board of Commissioners for ten years. During his time leading Matthews, Jim was also appointed Mayor Pro-Tem by his colleagues and spent time on numerous advisory boards and committees including Matthews Volunteer Fire Department, Matthews HELP Center, chaired the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization (CRTPO), Metropolitan Transit Commission (MTC), Matthews Alive! and several others.

 

Please continue to listen, like and subscribe to Inside Matthews wherever you hear podcasts. Follow the award-winning Inside Matthews podcast on social media. Connect with Jim on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

 

Do you have a story to tell about growing up in Matthews? Do you have an idea for an episode of Inside Matthews? Jim would love to hear and maybe share it. Please click here to offer your thoughts and ideas.

 

Inside Matthews is the podcast about all of the wonderful people, places and organizations that make Matthews, Matthews. Periodically, Former Mayor Jim Taylor sits down with civic, business and political leaders to have a conversation about what’s happening, Inside Matthews.

 

 

In this installment of Inside Matthews, Jim welcomes Amy Carr to the Sweetwater Logistics Studios to chat about Matthews Free Medical Clinic, a nonprofit 501(c)3 corporation that provides free, quality healthcare to low-income, uninsured patients in Mecklenburg and Union Counties.

 

 

In order to verify the residential and financial requirements are met, patients must go through a new patient screening prior to receiving a primary care provider and other specialty, ancillary and educational services provided by the clinic. If you or someone you know needs the services of Matthews Free Medical Clinic, please visit their website to begin the application process.

 

 

For the second consecutive year, Inside Matthews was selected by the readers of the Matthews – Mint Hill Weekly as their favorite podcast.

 

 

Jim Taylor served four terms as the seventeenth Mayor of the Town of Matthews and sat on the Board of Commissioners for ten years. During his time leading Matthews, Jim was also appointed Mayor Pro-Tem by his colleagues and spent time on numerous advisory boards and committees including Matthews Volunteer Fire Department, Matthews HELP Center, chaired the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization (CRTPO), Metropolitan Transit Commission (MTC), Matthews Alive! and several others.

 

 

Please continue to listen, like and subscribe to Inside Matthews wherever you hear podcasts. Follow the award-winning Inside Matthews podcast on social media. Connect with Jim on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

 

 

Do you have a story to tell about growing up in Matthews? Do you have an idea for an episode of Inside Matthews? Jim would love to hear and maybe share it. Please click here to offer your thoughts and ideas.

The Town of Matthews has quite a few fantastic parks. From our “premier” event park, Stumptown Park, to small pocket parks like Country Place and KP Parks, there’s a place for everyone.   In this episode of Inside Matthews, Jim sits down to talk to the Director of the Town of Matthews Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department, Cory King and Scott Rawls, our Parks Manager.  

 

 

Connect with Inside Matthews on the Web, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. We’d love to hear from you to. If you have any comments, questions or ideas, please use our online form.

Thanks for listening to the award -winning Inside Matthews podcast, voted by the readers of the Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly as their favorite local podcast. Jim is back in the studio this week having a conversation with an outstanding member of the “Matthews Family”, Tina Whitley.

 

Tina has been instrumental in many of the happenings in Matthews over the years including Artfest and Matthews Alive. She’s been active with the Rotary Club of Matthews, Kiwanis and was Executive Director for the Matthews Chamber of Commerce for many years. In this episode, Jim talks with Tina about her initial involvement with the town, why she became so engaged in her community and what she’s up to these days.

 

Connect with Inside Matthews on the Web, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. We’d love to hear from you to. If you have any comments, questions or ideas, please use our online form.

Jim invited Chris back from behind the computer to in front of the microphone to talk about the Inside Matthews podcast and share a few, little know historical facts about the Town of Matthews like, why is so much named Fullwood around here and where the Matthews name originated from. Our two hosts also share with you their proudest moments and long term vision for Inside Matthews.

Please listen, like and subscribe to the award-winning Inside Matthews podcast on your favorite podcasting platform. Chosen by the readers of the Matthews – Mint Hill Weekly as their favorite local podcast, Inside Matthews is your opportunity to hear former Mayor Jim Taylor have conversations with local business, civic and political leaders from Matthews, NC to hear about what’s happening Inside Matthews.

 Connect with Inside Matthews on the web, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Production services for the Inside Matthews podcast are provided by Downtown Podcasting. To start a conversation on how you can have a podcast, send an email to [email protected]

Our hometown theater group in Matthews, NC is Matthews Playhouse of the Performing Arts and since 1995, they’ve “enriched the lives of children, adults and families by inviting them to participate in the world of the performing arts and education”.

 

Earlier, in our 6th episode, we met June Bayless, Howie Labiner and Cassie Prodan of the “Playhouse” and in this new installment of the Inside Matthews podcast, we invited the new Managing Director , Sarah Baumgardner, to stop by the Sweetwater Logistics studios and have a conversation with Jim. Sarah catches us up on the current happenings around Fullwood Theater and gives us a little info on her background plus, what led her to Matthews Playhouse. She even gives us the scoop on her major, long-term goal . . . and it’s a big one.

 

This month (December, 2021), Matthews Playhouse of the Performing Arts returns to live productions in Fullwood Theater, in the Matthews Community Center, with their production of, Miracle on 34th Street. For ticket information and show times, please visit Matthews Playhouse on the web or call the box office at (704) 846-8343.

 

Please listen, like and subscribe to the award-winning Inside Matthews podcast on your favorite podcasting platform. Chosen by the readers of the Matthews – Mint Hill Weekly as their favorite local podcast, Inside Matthews is your opportunity to hear former Mayor Jim Taylor have conversations with local business, civic and political leaders from Matthews, NC to hear about what’s happening Inside Matthews.

 

Connect with Inside Matthews on the web, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

 

Production services for the Inside Matthews podcast are provided by Downtown Podcasting. To start a conversation on how you can have a podcast, send an email to [email protected].

For folks in Matthews, NC, Stumptown AC is our local, hometown soccer team. As a member of the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA), Stumptown AC plays at the “crown jewel” of the athletic world in Matthews, the Mecklenburg County owned, Sportsplex at Matthews.

Earlier this fall, the team at Inside Matthews was invited to and offered behind the scenes, VIP access to Stumptown AC’s match against Detroit City FC. Before, during and after the match, Jim Taylor walked around the pitch with club President, Alex Kantor, chatted with team General Manager, Mike Squire under the Canopy Club and had fun tailgating with fans and supporters our in the parking lot.

If you’re a fan of soccer in the Carolinas or around the world, make sure to check out this episode of Inside Matthews to get the inside story on how the team was formed, how they operate and how you can support our local, NISA professional soccer club in Matthews, NC.

Please listen, like and subscribe to the award-winning Inside Matthews podcast on your favorite podcasting platform. Chosen by the readers of the Matthews – Mint Hill Weekly as their favorite local podcast, Inside Matthews is your opportunity to hear former Mayor Jim Taylor have conversations with local business, civic and political leaders from Matthews, NC to hear about what’s happening Inside Matthews.

Connect with Inside Matthews on the Web, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Production services for the Inside Matthews podcast are provided by Downtown Podcasting. To start a conversation on how you can have a podcast, send an email to [email protected].

The Matthews Human Services Council, in essence, connects community non-profits in and around Matthews, NC. Their mission is to “enhance the quality of life for the people living in the Matthews area by collaborating and being the driving force with local agencies, organizations and institutions to help resolve community needs”.

In this episode of the Inside Matthews podcast, recorded in the Historic Reid House, Jim sits down to talk to HSC Board President Bill Helms and Vice President Kathy Shumacher about the history of their organization, it’s impact on Matthews area non-profits and the Nancy Glenn Community Service Award. “The award is given in memory of Nancy Glenn who passed away in December, 2006. Nancy was a hardworking dedicated individual who was known for her love of the Matthews Community.”

This year’s recipient of the Nancy Glenn Award is Natisha Rivera-Patrick, CEO of Greater Matthews Habitat for Humanity. Listen as Jim has a group discussion on the positive impact of Habitat for Humanity has had on the Matthews community and how Natisha was chosen to receive this year’s award.

Please listen, like and subscribe to the award-winning Inside Matthews podcast on your favorite podcasting platform. Chosen by the readers of the Matthews – Mint Hill Weekly as their favorite local podcast, Inside Matthews is your opportunity to hear former Mayor Jim Taylor have conversations with local business, civic and political leaders from Matthews, NC to hear about what’s happening Inside Matthews.

Connect with Inside Matthews on the web, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Production services for the Inside Matthews podcast are provided by Downtown Podcasting. To start a conversation on how you can have a podcast, send an email to [email protected].

Earlier this year, Commissioner Jeff Miller made the decision to not seek re-election to the Town of Matthews Board of Commissioners. Not including his time on the Park & Recreation Advisory Committee, Jeff has proudly served the citizens of the Town of Matthews for over fourteen years. During this time, Matthews has certainly grown and become quite the destination not only for restaurants, entertainment venues but for it's parks and cultural resources as well. 

Listen as Jim Taylor, the former and 17th Mayor of the Town of Matthews, sits down with Jeff to talk about his time as a leader in the Town of Matthews, the Four Mile Creek Greenway, South Trade Street and several other "jewels" in our community.

For well over twenty years, Nate Huggins has been a fixture in the Matthews Community. Always having a contagious, positive attitude, Nate embodies what we at Inside Matthews love to share; the special people and organizations that make Matthews, Matthews.

Now in their third decade, Nate's organization, Blessed Assurance Adult Daycare provide a necessary service to seniors in the Matthews Community. Listen as Jim has a conversation with Nate about his community involvement, as well as the history and future of Bless Assurance Adult Daycare.