Squeeze The Day

Larry Talley grew up with music in his heart. Now he uses his love for playing music, especially the clarinet, as therapy for himself and others. He discovered that sharing music – especially with seniors in the community – could be a transformative gift to others. Talley has been called an icon, an inspiration, and a living miracle. Learn more about the courageous battles he has fought and the lessons he has learned in life, while serving in Vietnam.

Nashville songwriter turns to film and video after the tragic loss of his daughter. Meet John Hamlin who demonstrates how a real-world tragedy can be the catalyst for positive change and new direction at any age. In this podcast he speaks to the searing loss and how, today, his late daughter leaves "breadcrumbs" to help him navigate a new life of advocacy through visual storytelling.

Artist Phil Ponder has been capturing our Nashville for 50+ years leaving a lasting legacy. As a community servant, he cites the late Vic Varallo and Judge Randy Kennedy as mentors during his early Metro Council service. Learn from Ponder about the challenges of bringing our community its first major sports team; fun tidbits about the "Batman" building and Nashville's iconic L&C Tower; and how this family man and former Navy minesweeper (now fighting cancer) redefines retirement to keep calm and carry on.

For more than 36 years, Barry Coggins has served up food, and sometimes a song or two, to lift-up and nourish older adults in his home communities of Dallas and Nashville. That's approximately 13,000 meals! Coggins doesn't know a stranger. As a longtime ally and advocate for others, a friend of the singer/songwriter said, "giving is Barry's middle name." Learn more about this man with a heart of gold.

Vera Coleman is an inspiring octogenarian who worked in pathology at Meharry and later as a biologist at Vanderbilt. At the time (late 1950s and early 60s) few women and fewer women of color worked in the sciences. Using her lifetime of experience, she is now an ambassador for the All of Us Research Program. A lifelong learner Vera is an advocate for health and wellness, a passionate community volunteer, as well as a teacher and mentor who loves working with younger adults to lead future generations.

Sarah Martin McConnell found a calling to launch nonprofit Music for Seniors after she witnessed the transformational effect it had on lives – including that of her mother – when she performed for her and other participants of FiftyForward's Adult Day Services program. Today Sarah's focus is to light up the lives of older adults because she has witnessed the true gift of music as holistic therapy.

Metro Nashville Councilmember Nancy VanReece is bringing community together and challenging status quo in so many ways. She's never met a stranger and seems to always be on the frontline advocating for diverse groups of our population. A great connector and mentor to many, this Oklahoman moved to Nashville in 1986 and has continued to give back to our community to make it a better and brighter place for everyone.

Nashville's Spashionista Alicia Searcy embarked on an exciting new chapter prompted by the traumatic loss of her possessions in the Nashville flood of 2010. Today she is changing the face of fashion with her advocacy for inclusivity.

Tennessee Crossroads host Joe Elmore explains how the original vision to produce a show that might last 2-4 years turned into a 30+-year adventure that is still going strong today. The winning formula was to explore destinations in our own Tennessee backyard, including places not on the tourist maps, that would lead to what Joe says, "a kind of discovery so that people can be in on the surprise." Listen in as Elmore shares some funny and interesting tales of his adventures off the beaten trail.

Octogenarian Ossie Jefferson-Corley shares how health, nutrition, and a positive attitude feed her love for life. A lifelong learner, she explains her secrets to success as an entrepreneur, as a nurse, and how she inspires others through motivational messages when they may most need it. A friend of civil rights activist, Rosa Parks, Jefferson-Corley explains how their lives became intertwined and the lessons she learned along the way.