Signature Required

What happens when someone who never planned a life in politics ends up running a state? In the final weeks of his term, Governor Bill Lee sits down with Spencer and Carli in the old Supreme Court chamber of the Tennessee State Capitol to look back on eight years in office, using the Pattons’ family “rose, bud, thorn” ritual as a guide. They talk about his path from at-risk youth and prison reentry work to the governor’s mansion, the hardest days of his tenure, and the faith that anchored him through them. Plus: ketchup on a hot dog, and the few things in life that really matter.

Send us Fan Mail

Nashville SC Chief Business Officer Lindsey Paola joins Spencer and Carli from GEODIS Park to share the story behind the club’s rapid rise, the fan culture filling the stadium, and what’s ahead as Nashville prepares to host Olympic soccer in 2028. Lindsey also shares her unexpected path from working in the White House to helping build one of Nashville’s newest professional sports franchises.

Send us Fan Mail

Dr. Charlie Hatcher is a fifth-generation dairy farmer, veterinarian, and former Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture, and he’s running for U.S. House in Tennessee’s 5th District. He joins Spencer and Carli to talk about his decade as the state’s veterinarian, the family businesses he and his wife, Sharon, built, and why he says there wouldn’t be a Texas without Tennessee.

Send us Fan Mail

Before he became Anderson County’s sheriff, Russell Barker worked in debt collection and car sales. In this episode, he tells Spencer and Carli how a technique called “pop and pause” carried over into law enforcement, and why he still uses it today. They also dig into what a sheriff actually does, what it was like to go from a small task force to managing 183 employees, and how Anderson County’s work-release program helps inmates pay off court costs and rebuild their lives.

Send us Fan Mail

Deputy Governor and TNECD Commissioner Stuart McWhorter joins Spencer and Carli to pull back the curtain on how Tennessee competes for major investments, creates jobs, and prepares communities for what’s next. From rural development and workforce challenges to the growing demand for skilled trades, nuclear energy, automation, and quantum computing, Stuart shares what goes into building Tennessee’s economy for the long term.

Send us Fan Mail

Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall joins Spencer and Carli to pull back the curtain on a part of the criminal justice system most people rarely see. From the difference between jails and prisons to rehabilitation, second chances, and the humanity of the people behind bars, Hall shares lessons from more than two decades as sheriff. He also tells the unbelievable story of how a convicted felon infiltrated Nashville’s new detention center and secretly hid weapons inside its walls before it ever opened.

Send us Fan Mail

Marcus Meneese, founder and executive director of Stronger Than My Father, joins Spencer and Carli to talk about fatherhood, mentorship, discipline, and breaking generational cycles. Marcus shares how the example set by his own father inspired him to spend more than 20 years showing up for boys growing up without present fathers, and why he believes being there consistently can shape the men, husbands, and fathers they become.

Send us Fan Mail

Kristin Allender, Executive Director of Tennessee Kids Belong and CEO of America’s Kids Belong, joins Spencer and Carli to share the stories behind the children still waiting for families and why everyone has a role to play. From foster families and churches to businesses and the “blueberry muffin man,” Kristin shows how ordinary people can help create a community where vulnerable children know they belong.

Send us Fan Mail

Tennessee Commissioner of Human Services Clarence Carter joins Signature Required to discuss what’s working, what isn’t, and what needs to change about the systems designed to serve Tennessee’s most vulnerable. Drawing on 35 years in public service, Carter shares his vision for a safety net that helps people move beyond dependency, strengthens families, and creates a path toward lasting stability.

Send us Fan Mail

Season 3 of Signature Required kicks off with Brittney Brown, Director of Mission Advancement at The Store, for a conversation about food insecurity, dignity, and the power of choice. Brittney shares how The Store is rethinking traditional food assistance by creating a grocery shopping experience where families can choose the food that works for them, while also opening up about the personal journey that led her to serve Nashville’s most vulnerable. From community partnerships and volunteers to faith, generosity, and second chances, this conversation explores why meeting a need can be about so much more than food.

Send us Fan Mail