Most people think of the YMCA as a place to work out, but the Y is the largest provider of child care in the United States, and that's only the beginning of what it does.

Baron Herdelin-Doherty is the president and CEO of the Metropolitan YMCA in Chattanooga. In this episode, we talk about how the Y has spent 175 years meeting the needs of our community, from feeding programs and food deserts to childcare for working families.

We also dig into the Y's new partnership with Hamilton County Schools, which is consolidating three schools into a single new campus connected to the North River YMCA in Hixson, and what it could mean for the future of education.

Key Takeaways:

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Tennessee Today is your inside look at state government: what’s happening, why it matters, and how it affects you in your daily life. I break down key legislative topics, have important discussions with special guests, share my experiences in the Senate, and give you a firsthand perspective on how policies come to life. You’ll get the information you need straight from the source, so you can stay informed, engaged, and empowered! Share your questions for future episodes by emailing [email protected]!

The best way to know where I stand is to ask me directly. In this episode, I tackle everything from education and healthcare to data centers and flock cameras, and even my own record in District 11.

To submit questions for a future episode, visit https://www.bofortn.com/contact-bo 

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Tennessee Today is your inside look at state government: what’s happening, why it matters, and how it affects you in your daily life. I break down key legislative topics, have important discussions with special guests, share my experiences in the Senate, and give you a firsthand perspective on how policies come to life. You’ll get the information you need straight from the source, so you can stay informed, engaged, and empowered! Share your questions for future episodes by emailing [email protected]!

Most people have opinions about how government should work, but very few are willing to put their name on a ballot and do something about it. 

In this episode, Zach Wamp and I talk about what it was like serving eight terms as U.S. Representative for Tennessee's 3rd District before running one of the most competitive governor's races in state history. He also shares what a life in public service actually asks of a person and what it looks like to walk away from it with no regrets. 

Key Takeaways:

This is a great episode for anyone who’s considering running for office on the local, state, or federal level one day.

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Tennessee Today is your inside look at state government: what’s happening, why it matters, and how it affects you in your daily life. I break down key legislative topics, have important discussions with special guests, share my experiences in the Senate, and give you a firsthand perspective on how policies come to life. You’ll get the information you need straight from the source, so you can stay informed, engaged, and empowered! Share your questions for future episodes by emailing [email protected]!

A lot of people who've moved to Tennessee assume it's always been a deeply Republican state. Randy McNally knows better, because he helped build it.

Randy McNally has served in the Tennessee legislature for 48 years, longer than almost anyone in state history. He arrived when Republicans were a small minority, helped lead the party to its first Senate majority since Reconstruction, and now serves as Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the Senate.

In this episode, Randy and I trace that journey, from what it took to build a two-party system to the leadership philosophy that made him one of the most respected figures in state government. We also talk about the integrity that defined his early career, when he took a stand that a lot of people wouldn't have, and what nearly five decades of public service taught him about getting things done.

This is a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how Tennessee got to where it is today, and the kind of leadership that made it possible. 

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Tennessee Today is your inside look at state government: what’s happening, why it matters, and how it affects you in your daily life. I break down key legislative topics, have important discussions with special guests, share my experiences in the Senate, and give you a firsthand perspective on how policies come to life. You’ll get the information you need straight from the source, so you can stay informed, engaged, and empowered! Share your questions for future episodes by emailing [email protected]!

Few Tennesseans have shaped the state like Lamar Alexander: Governor, U.S. Senator, Secretary of Education, President of the University of Tennessee. 

Unlike those who are born into it, Lamar had to forge his own path. In this episode, Lamar shares a behind-the-scenes look at the mentors who shaped him, the losses that redirected him, and the decisions that defined his career.

Along the way, you’ll hear the story of being sworn in as governor three days early to stop an outgoing administration from selling pardons, what he learned from Howard Baker about working across the aisle, and why he came to see himself as a "result achiever" rather than a politician.

Whether you work in government or just call Tennessee home, this is a rare chance to hear one of the state's most accomplished figures reflect on a lifetime of public service, and what he hopes for Tennessee's future.

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Tennessee Today is your inside look at state government: what’s happening, why it matters, and how it affects you in your daily life. I break down key legislative topics, have important discussions with special guests, share my experiences in the Senate, and give you a firsthand perspective on how policies come to life. You’ll get the information you need straight from the source, so you can stay informed, engaged, and empowered! Share your questions for future episodes by emailing [email protected]!

Do you want a manager who keeps things running smoothly, or a founder who's willing to tear up the rulebook and rebuild from scratch?

Arthur Herman is the author of Founders Fire, which traces a single mindset across 250 years of American history. 

In this episode, Arthur and I discuss how real progress only happens when founders are willing to disrupt the status quo, and why this matters for Tennessee right now. We cover everything from our investment in quantum computing and nuclear technology to the upcoming legislative session and a new governor.

Key Takeaways:

About the Guest:

Dr. Arthur Herman is a New York Times bestselling author and Pulitzer Prize finalist who brings 35 years of experience as a historian, defense and tech policy analyst, and national security official. He is the author of ten books, most recently Founders Fire: From 1776 to the Age of Trump, as well as the New York Times and Washington Post bestseller How the Scots Invented the Modern World; the Pulitzer Prize Finalist Gandhi and Churchill; and Freedom’s Forge: How American Business Produced Victory in World War II, which The Economist named one of the Best Books of 2012 and which has been on the recommended reading list of Secretaries of Defense, Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, key members of Congress, and across the defense industry, since its publication.

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Tennessee Today is your inside look at state government: what’s happening, why it matters, and how it affects you in your daily life. I break down key legislative topics, have important discussions with special guests, share my experiences in the Senate, and give you a firsthand perspective on how policies come to life. You’ll get the information you need straight from the source, so you can stay informed, engaged, and empowered! Share your questions for future episodes by emailing [email protected]!

Tennessee is one of the most conservative, most Republican states in the nation. But that hasn't always been the case, and if Republican voters aren't careful, it won't be the case going forward.

With so many people moving to Tennessee, I think it's important we discuss who they are, what they believe, and what that means for our state's political future. I also break down how redistricting really works (not the political narrative you've heard, but the legal and historical reality), and why this election season matters more than most people realize.

Key Takeaways:

Times Free Press article: https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2026/may/26/california-is-chattanoogas-top-source-of-new-out/

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Tennessee Today is your inside look at state government: what’s happening, why it matters, and how it affects you in your daily life. I break down key legislative topics, have important discussions with special guests, share my experiences in the Senate, and give you a firsthand perspective on how policies come to life. You’ll get the information you need straight from the source, so you can stay informed, engaged, and empowered! Share your questions for future episodes by emailing [email protected]!

Parks aren't just green spaces, they're economic engines. Hamilton County generates $1.8 billion in visitor spending annually, and outdoor recreation is a big reason why.

Matt Folz is the Director of Hamilton County Parks and Recreation. In this episode, we’re discussing how Hamilton County thinks strategically about its parks by giving each one a unique identity, connecting them to broader trail systems, and making sure every investment generates a return for the community.

Key Takeaways:

About the Guest:

Matt Folz is the Director of Hamilton County Parks and Recreation. He spent over 15 years managing operations in national and state parks before joining Hamilton County in 2021, first as a Park Superintendent and then as Director. He now oversees three regional parks and more than a dozen community parks across the county.

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Tennessee Today is your inside look at state government: what’s happening, why it matters, and how it affects you in your daily life. I break down key legislative topics, have important discussions with special guests, share my experiences in the Senate, and give you a firsthand perspective on how policies come to life. You’ll get the information you need straight from the source, so you can stay informed, engaged, and empowered! Share your questions for future episodes by emailing [email protected]!

Roads and bridges aren't just something you use every day. They're how you measure whether your government is working. Good roads mean commerce flows, commutes are manageable, and your state feels like it has its act together.

Will Reid is the Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Transportation. In this episode, we discuss how TDOT decides which projects get funded and what most people don't understand about congestion: TDOT doesn't control land use, so when your city approves a new subdivision or shopping center, that creates traffic on roads the state has to manage.

We also discuss specific Chattanooga projects like the Wilcox Bridge and I-59 around Moccasin Bend, why building more lanes doesn't always solve congestion, and what it means for taxpayers that Tennessee refuses to take on debt for roads.

About the Guest:

Will Reid was appointed Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Transportation by Governor Bill Lee in 2025. He's a Bartlett native who earned a civil engineering degree from the University of Memphis and worked in transportation consulting for over 15 years before joining TDOT in 2011. He oversees a statewide transportation system including highways, rail, airports, waterways, and transit.

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Tennessee Today is your inside look at state government: what’s happening, why it matters, and how it affects you in your daily life. I break down key legislative topics, have important discussions with special guests, share my experiences in the Senate, and give you a firsthand perspective on how policies come to life. You’ll get the information you need straight from the source, so you can stay informed, engaged, and empowered! Share your questions for future episodes by emailing [email protected]!

Every election season, you see polls that contradict each other. One says Candidate A is ahead by 10 points, another says it's a dead heat, and a third says Candidate B is surging. So which one is right?

Randy Ellison is president of Targoz Market Research and has spent decades conducting polls for political campaigns and Fortune 500 companies. In this episode, we break down how polling actually works, what makes a poll credible (and what makes it unreliable), and how to be an informed consumer of polling data so you can make educated decisions as a voter.

Key Takeaways:

About the Guest:

Randy Ellison is the president of Targoz Market Research, based in Nashville. He holds a degree in economics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and a graduate degree in practical political management from George Washington University. His firm works with both private sector clients and public affairs/political campaigns, allowing him to apply insights from both worlds. Randy has been conducting polling and market research for over two decades.

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Tennessee Today is your inside look at state government: what’s happening, why it matters, and how it affects you in your daily life. I break down key legislative topics, have important discussions with special guests, share my experiences in the Senate, and give you a firsthand perspective on how policies come to life. You’ll get the information you need straight from the source, so you can stay informed, engaged, and empowered! Share your questions for future episodes by emailing [email protected]!