The Third Seat

Welcome to The Third Seat, where we share our conversations with experts & individuals who have a unique perspective to share! While we often hear that everyone brings something unique to the table, every now & then we will come across different individuals who exemplify this to the highest degree. Our guest today on The Third Seat podcast is someone whose experiences in life have led him to not only have a deep appreciation for the outdoors, but also the desire to show others in his community the beauty of the world around us. On today’s episode our guest is Mo Baptiste, the founder of TrailblazUS Outdoors in Chattanooga, TN! Tune into this episode of The Third Seat to listen to the full interview with Mo Baptiste to hear what he has to say! We hope that you enjoy! Thanks for listening!

Below is some information about Moise, a link to his LinkedIn account, & more!

• Mo Baptiste is the founder of TrailblazUS Outdoors, a black-owned company, committed to promoting an inclusive outdoor community for people of color through guided adventure-based activities. TrailblazUS offers a variety of guided outdoor experiences such as Paddle Boarding, Group Hikes, White Water Rafting, bird watching, and much more! Before founding TrailblazUS, Mo received a doctoral degree of philosophy from Miami University. Following this he was able to work in the Haitian American Caucus as the Global Director of Educational Affairs. Along with this, he was able to work in student affairs at The University of Tennessee of Chattanooga before he began his venture as founder of TrailblazUS.

• Link to Mo’s LinkedIn account: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moise-baptiste-ph-d-ba653856/ 

• Link to TrailblazUS Outdoors’ Website: https://www.trailblazusoutdoors.com/ 

Welcome to The Third Seat, where we share our conversations with experts & individuals who have a unique perspective to share! Through life’s ups & downs we often require the assistance of experts to help us find our way forward. For many of us, the turbulence of life can require us to dive into who we are as individuals & discover what makes us tick. In today’s episode we had the privilege of having one of those experts on the show to chat about the work that they do! Tune into this episode of The Third Seat to listen to the full interview with Sheaba Chacko to hear what she has to say! We hope that you enjoy! Thanks for listening!

Below is some information about Sheaba, a link to her LinkedIn account, & more!

• Sheaba Chacko is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Mental Health Service Provider with over 8 years of experience. Sheaba primarily works to show high achievers how to advance and overcome. Her focus areas include: High Functioning Anxiety, Imposter Syndrome, and Relationships. In working with Sheaba, her clients have an increased capacity for Self-Leadership: the ability to stay calm, clear, and connected under stress. When operating from Self-Leadership clients are able to attain their goals without compromising their values or losing themselves. This allows them to live more full lives of clarity, confidence, and ease.

• Sheaba's TEDx talk "Imposter Syndrome: Its Not You Its What Happened To You" will be available to watch online soon! Be on the lookout to find where you can watch & listen!

• Link to Sheaba’s LinkedIn account: linkedin.com/in/𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐛𝐚-𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐨-𝐋𝐏𝐂-𝐌𝐇𝐒𝐏-4a510b57 

• Link to schedule a free call with Sheaba: calendly.com/fearlesspermission

Welcome to The Third Seat, where we share our conversations with experts & individuals who have a unique perspective to share! Across the nation there are numerous universities where people show up everyday in order to make long-lasting impacts on the people around them. At times the efforts of these individuals can unsung despite all the great work they do. On today’s episode of the podcast we had the pleasure of hearing from one of these individuals who works diligently at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in order to create a learning environment that strives for excellence for many years to come! Tune into this episode of The Third Seat to listen to the full interview with David Steele to hear what he has to say! We hope that you enjoy! Thanks for listening!

Below is some information about David, a link to his LinkedIn account, & more!

• David Steele is the current Chief of Staff at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where he works to create long-lasting changes at UTC & within his community in order to help create transformational power through education. Prior to this, David worked in the Chattanooga community through various avenues such as The Chattanooga Football Club & The Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce. Along with this, David has been able to use his extensive education in history, political science, and government in order to make impacts in his community so that Chattanooga can be recognized as a greater beacon for excellence in the future.

• Link to David’s LinkedIn account: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dfsteele/ 

• Link to UTC’s Website: https://www.utc.edu/ 

Welcome to The Third Seat, where we share our conversations with experts & individuals who have a unique perspective to share! Throughout our lives we all develop our own stories & learn from our lived experiences! While life surely does bring its set of ups & downs, the lessons learned along the way are innumerable! In this episode of The Third Seat podcast you will get to hear from Mimi Nikkel about her experience as the founder of Love’s Arm, her life story, and much more! Tune into this episode of The Third Seat to listen to the full interview with Mimi Nikkel to hear what she has to say! We hope that you enjoy! Thanks for listening!

Below is some information about Mimi, a link to her LinkedIn account, & more!

• Mimi Nikkel is the founder of Love's Arm, a nonprofit organization based out of Chattanooga, TN that works with men & women in crisis. After being founded in 2005, Love's Arm has worked to make an impact on the Chattanooga & North Georgia communities by offering hope to the individuals in these communities through the offering of numerous services.

• Link to Mimi’s LinkedIn account: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mimi-nikkel-298a3149/ 

• Check out Love’s Arm’s Website: https://www.lovesarmoutreach.org/ 

• Follow Love’s Arm on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovesarmoutreach/ 

• Follow Love’s Arm on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LovesArm 

Welcome to The Third Seat, where we share our conversations with experts & individuals who have a unique perspective to share! The opportunities that we are given in life can often show up in various ways. When we take into account the good and the bad of our lives we can paint a better picture of who we are & how we can help others. Our guest on the show today is someone who has not only been given many opportunities to impact the world around him in a positive way, but has utilized the experiences in his life to make sure that he makes the most of each day he has in his life! Tune into this episode of The Third Seat to listen to the full interview with Edward Freeman to hear what he has to say! We hope that you enjoy! Thanks for listening!

Below is some information about Edward, a link to his LinkedIn account, & more!

Edward Freeman is a 2021 graduate of The Georgia Institute of Technology with a dual-degree Bachelors of Science in Biology and Applied Language and Intercultural Studies. Edward is currently working at Moderna. Along with this, Edward is a frequent traveler who seeks to use his experiences to inspire & help others on their journey to live a life they are proud of.

Edward’s interests include biotechnology, global health, and medical research. Ultimately, Edward intends on pursuing a M.D. to engage in research and patient care that will change the face of medicine for generations to come. He plans on using his linguistic abilities to impact healthcare globally.

Link to Edward’s LinkedIn account: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamedwardfreeman/ 

Link to watch Edward’s TEDx Talk: https://youtu.be/9rRbER_oOio  

Check out Edward’s book: https://www.amazon.com/Standing-Stand-Who-Were-Created/dp/0578608626/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1670516637&sr=8-1 

Follow Edward on Instagram: https://instagram.com/iamedwardfreeman?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= 

Welcome to The Third Seat, where we share our conversations with experts & individuals who have a unique perspective to share! In communities across the world there are people who make it their mission to improve & be a part of the world around them. In today’s episode we had the honor of speaking with one of those individuals who lives & works here in Chattanooga each and every day! The work she does directly impacts her community, and sets the example for others to follow in the future! Tune into this episode of The Third Seat to listen to the full interview with Candy Johnson to hear what he has to say! We hope that you enjoy! Thanks for listening!

Below is some information about Candy, a link to her LinkedIn account, & more!

Candy Johnson is the President & CEO of Urban League of Greater Chattanooga where she works alongside her community to ethnic minority & disadvantaged communities to secure economic self-reliance, parity, power, and civil rights. Candy provides practical insights to local, regional and national organizations, aiding in their overall success. Johnson is a native of Clarksville, Tennessee – where she was the youngest member ever elected to public office for the Clarksville City Council, at 25 years old.

Johnson’s professional experience includes more than a decade leading in nonprofit, education, political and civic related roles. Candy currently lives & works in Chattanooga, TN where she has made it her mission to not only serve her community but provide a model for those that come after her to follow their passions in order to impact the world around them.

Link to Candy’s LinkedIn account: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candy-johnson-62187b17/ 

Link to Urban League of Greater Chattanooga’s website: https://www.ulchatt.net/

Welcome to The Third Seat, where we share our conversations with experts & individuals who have a unique perspective to share! Despite the fact that life often throws us unexpected curveballs, we are still given the opportunity to make the most out of each & every moment we have in this life. In today’s episode you will get to hear from an individual who has worked diligently to not only provide opportunities for others through her platform in higher education, but also show the world that no matter the circumstances you can achieve great things in your life! Tune into this episode of The Third Seat to listen to the full interview with Dannelle Whiteside to hear what she has to say! We hope that you enjoy! Thanks for listening!

Below is some information about Dannelle, a link to her LinkedIn account, & more!

Dannelle Walker Whiteside currently serves as Vice President for Legal Affairs and Organizational Strategy at Austin Peay State University where she is the institution’s chief legal officer and also oversees public relations and marketing and strategic initiatives. She joined Austin Peay in 2017 as general counsel and was promoted to vice president in the spring of 2019. During her career at Austin Peay, she has also served as Secretary to the Board of Trustees. In August 2020, she served as interim President for seven months, leading the institution through the COVID-19 pandemic. Her appointment by the APSU Board of Trustees made her the first Black president of the more than 90-year-old institution. Whiteside is also an adjunct professor of education law at Belmont University’s College of Law.

Prior to her time at APSU, Whiteside served as General Attorney for the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights, General Counsel for the Tennessee State Board of Education, and District Policy Advisor for Metro Nashville Public Schools.

She was recently named a 2021 40 Under 40 winner by the Nashville Business Journal and was named to the 2020 class of the Millennium Leadership Initiative (MLI), a premier leadership development program of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU). In 2019, Whiteside was named to the inaugural cohort of the Tennessee Higher Education Leadership and Innovation Fellows program. That program, sponsored by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC), is designed to develop the next generation of enterprise leaders in higher education. Whiteside has also been named a Nashville Emerging Leader in the Education category by the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, a Nation’s Best Advocate: 40 Lawyers Under 40, and a Nashville’s Top 30 Under 30. Whiteside received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, with honors and received her bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, graduating Summa Cum Laude. She is admitted to practice law in the State of Tennessee.

Whiteside and her husband Sean are the proud parents of two young sons, Donovan and Shannon. 

Link to Dannelle’s LinkedIn account: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dannellewhiteside/ 

Link to watch Dannelle’s TEDx Talk: https://youtu.be/sZOg4ogVA3U 

Follow Dannelle on Twitter: https://twitter.com/dannellefwwesq

Follow Dannelle on Instagram: https://instagram.com/dannellewhiteside?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= 

Welcome to The Third Seat, where we share our conversations with experts & individuals who have a unique perspective to share! Every now and then there comes along an individual who sees the environment around them as an opportunity to improve upon what is already there. People like this dream big, see the world for what it could be, and are integral to the growth of communities all around the world. Today we have the pleasure of hearing from one of these individuals right here in Chattanooga, TN! Our guest today is Kim White, a former Chattanooga Mayoral candidate & someone who champions the city with every action she takes! Tune into this episode of The Third Seat to listen to the full interview with Kim White to hear what she has to say! We hope that you enjoy! Thanks for listening!

Below is some information about Kim, a link to her LinkedIn account, & more!

Kim White is a proven civic and community leader with a passion for making a difference. She is recognized as someone with the tenacity to take on critical issues and overcome tough challenges. Kim most recently served as the president and CEO of River City Company, the non-profit development organization with a 35-year history focusing on the economic growth and development of downtown Chattanooga.

During her 11 years of leadership, over $1.2 billion dollars of private investment occurred in downtown, along with a renewed focus on downtown housing, better connections with UTC and the development of great public spaces. In recruiting development that helped implement the City Center Plan, a plan which revitalized a critical area of the city, Kim also secured over $7 million dollars in private donations to redevelop multiple public spaces including Miller Park. She also spearheaded the formation of the Downtown Chattanooga Alliance, bringing a commitment from property owners to inject an annual investment of approximately $1 million dollars to enhance services in the downtown core. While initially controversial, the Downtown Chattanooga Alliance has since seen much success and gained widespread support and accolades from the community.

In September 2020, Kim left River CIty Company and announced her bid to run for Mayor of Chattanooga in a crowded field of 15. She subsequently lost in a highly contested runoff that occurred between the top two vote getters in April 2021. During that race, she raised an unprecedented $1.2 million dollars in financial contributions and gained extensive support in the business and development community with her focus on streamlining city government, supporting public safety initiatives and a renewed focus on job recruitment and affordable housing initiatives.

Prior to her tenure at River City Company, Kim served as president and CEO of the Corker Group, fully leasing and managing over 2 million square feet of real estate. Prior to returning to Chattanooga she had a successful 16-year career with Fortune 500 company, ALLTEL Communications, where she was responsible for recruiting top talent, building successful teams and growing market share in existing and newly acquired markets throughout the southeast. 

• Link to Kim’s LinkedIn account: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimhwhite/ 

• Link to UTC’s Website: www.utc.edu 

• Link to make a donation to UTC: www.utc.edu/give 

Welcome to The Third Seat, where we share our conversations with experts & individuals who have a unique perspective to share! Chattanooga, TN is home to numerous people with unique backgrounds & skill sets. No matter what your interests are, how you work, or what skills you bring to the table there is somewhere for everyone here. Our guest today is someone who exemplifies this very idea, with a unique background & set of skills to match!  Tune into this episode of The Third Seat to listen to the full interview with Jamison Shimmel to hear what he has to say! We hope that you enjoy! Thanks for listening!

Below is some information about Jamison, a link to his LinkedIn account, & more!

• As a former Spanish teacher turned bilingual life coach, Jamison always looking to find every opportunity to guide and encourage others. His day to day work allows him to connect with both English and Spanish-speaking clients in order to set SMART goals that they can accomplish together. His love for travel ended up being one of the best trainings he received, as he traveled through Central America and Spain to refine my Spanish and cultural knowledge (especially about all things food and unique dishes). Outside of his time in the office you can hear more of his love for entertaining on my podcast ¡Ayuda! I Failed Spanish! (@ifailedspanish), let's get you fluent!

• Jamison is crazy about Chattanooga, so any opportunity he finds to connect with others, he will take it! In 2018 he grew from the Chattanooga Chamber's YPC Protégé mentorship program, and his life was changed. 2 years later he returned as their program Chair and Facilitator, ready to embark on making this program successful in a virtual setting. During this time they graduated 4 cohorts of young professionals who are ready to make positive change in their communities.

• Link to Jamison’s LinkedIn account: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamisonshimmel/ 

Link to Partnership for Families, Children, and Adults Website: https://www.partnershipfca.com/www

Welcome to The Third Seat, where we share our conversations with experts & individuals who have a unique perspective to share! Starting something from the ground up can be daunting at times. The tasks of creating a new business, embarking on a new career venture, or assisting someone else in their journey certainly have their ups and downs. However, every once in a while we come across an individual who takes the tasks for what they are and sets an example for all of us to follow. On today’s episode we had the privilege of speaking with one of these people, Josh Singh, a local Chattanooga entrepreneur!  Tune into this episode of The Third Seat to listen to the full interview with Josh Singh to hear what he has to say! We hope that you enjoy! Thanks for listening!

Below is some information about Josh, a link to his LinkedIn account, & more!

• Josh R. Singh is the Director of Strategy & Growth at the Bethlehem Center, where he is responsible for developing strategy for the organization alongside the Executive Director and Board, fundraising, public speaking/PR, and developing growth strategies for the organization. Prior to the Beth, Josh was the Director of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships with local education policy non-profit UnifiEd. He has degrees in Physics, Psychology, and Divinity, and lives in lower Red Bank with his daughter - a 5 year old Staffordshire Bull Terrier named Topaz. Josh also owns and operates Chattanooga Fitness Club, a new group fitness and personal training facility in Chattanooga.

• Link to Josh’s LinkedIn account: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshrsingh/ 

• Link to Chattanooga Fitness Club’s Website: https://chattanoogafitnessclub.com/ 

• Link to The Bethlehem Center’s Website: https://thebeth.org/