You Matter Nashville

Ella's House began with Elise Jenkins crying on her mom's bathroom floor, 21 and pregnant, one semester from graduating at Auburn.

Elise is now the executive director and co-founder of Ella's House, a Nashville nonprofit that helps pregnant and parenting college students stay in school and finish their degrees. She finished her own degree in human development and family studies, and her daughter Ella Rae arrived days after graduation.

You'll hear why housing, childcare and transportation are the big three for a student mom and why diapers turned out to matter more than Elise expected, how Ella's House grew from a two-bedroom bungalow near Lipscomb into housing, mentors, counseling and Tuesday night dinners across more than twenty colleges, and what Elise would ask every university to do first. She also shares the 19-year-old who called the day she came home from a C-section, the Room to Rise plan to build a campus for twenty to twenty-four moms, and the 3am Club, the monthly givers with no minimum who keep the lights on.

Ella's House: https://ellashouse.org/
Join the 3am Club: https://ellashouse.org/join-the-3am-club/
Get involved: https://ellashouse.org/get-involved/
Campus Ambassadors: https://ellashouse.org/campus-ambassadors/
Holiday Makers Market: https://ellashouse.org/holiday-makers-market/
Night Circus: https://ellashouse.org/night-circus-2/

Full transcript and show notes: https://youmatternashville.com/episodes/ellas-house-elise-jenkins

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501c3Me Nonprofit Solutions began as a private Facebook group of about 20 nonprofits, started by a man who said no the first time he was asked.

Anthony Jarrard Simmons II is the founder of 501c3Me. He's a Tennessee State University graduate, an Eagle Scout and a former Boy Scouts of America executive in Dallas who helps nonprofit founders find funding, resources, partnerships and technology.

You'll hear where nonprofit money really comes from and why Anthony says people give to people, what 501c3Me looks for when it gets to know a nonprofit, and why passion is the one thing a founder can't do without. He also shares the donor who turned down balloons, the travel partner that gives half its commissions, and the AI platform 501c3Me is building to connect funders and nonprofits.

501c3Me website: https://www.501c3meai.com
501c3Me Nonprofit Solutions community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BhRwDsLrW/

Full transcript and show notes: https://youmatternashville.com/episodes/501c3me-nonprofit-solutions-anthony-jarrard-simmons-ii

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Around the River Bend began with a sympathy card Shalanda Thompson mailed to a childhood friend at Riverbend prison in Nashville.

Shalanda is a Middle Tennessee author, and her memoir, Around the River Bend: A Memoir of Love During Lockup, comes out October 24, 2026, in paperback, hardcover and Kindle. It tells the story of loving her husband, Edward, through the last seven years of his sentence.

You'll hear what weekend visiting hours and daily lunchtime phone calls are really like for the family on the outside, why she kept the relationship hidden from almost everyone, and how Edward proposed on one knee in front of a full visitation room. Shalanda also shares how more than 30 letters of support helped bring him home on parole in 2019, why she finally wrote the book, and why she hopes to start a support group for families who love someone behind bars.

Official site: https://aroundtheriverbend.com
Around the River Bend on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aroundthe.riverbend
Around the River Bend on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aroundtheriverbendmemior
Around the River Bend on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@around.the.riverb
Launch party and book signing registration (October 24, 2026, Ford Ice Center, Antioch): https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/iUr6iGxaM1

Full transcript and show notes: https://youmatternashville.com/episodes/around-the-river-bend-shalanda-thompson

Around the River Bend, Shalanda Thompson, nashville podcast, middle tennessee nonprofits, You Matter Nashville, Riverbend Maximum Security Institution, families of incarcerated people, memoir, reentry, Nashville author

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Tucker's House makes Middle Tennessee homes safe for kids with disabilities, and Graham Honeycutt found it first as a dad who needed help.

Graham Honeycutt is the executive director of Tucker's House, the Franklin nonprofit that has provided home modifications for families of children and young adults with disabilities since 2009.

Graham tells us about his daughter Mikayla, why he was the only one at home who could lift her, and how a therapist pointed his family to Tucker's House. You'll hear how a therapist's assessment shapes every project so it lasts a child's lifetime, why independence matters as much as safety, and what a ramp, a widened doorway or an accessible bathroom actually costs. Graham also shares what families wish the rest of us understood, and the ways Middle Tennessee can help right now, including a time-sensitive grant for Davidson County families.

Official site: https://tuckershouse.org
Donate: https://tuckershouse.org/donate/
Refer a family: https://tuckershouse.org/refer/
Refer a contractor: https://tuckershouse.org/refer-a-contractor/
House to Home video series: https://tuckershouse.org/house-to-home/

Full transcript and show notes: https://youmatternashville.com/episodes/tuckers-house-graham-honeycutt

Tucker's House, Graham Honeycutt, You Matter Nashville, nashville podcast, middle tennessee nonprofits, Franklin TN nonprofit, home modifications, accessible homes, disability inclusion, special needs families

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Give A Little Christmas makes sure Wilson County kids wake up to gifts from Santa, and it started with one Christmas party that fell through.

Krys Midgett is the founder of Give A Little Christmas, a journalist and songwriter who runs Life Between the Lakes, a Wilson County community magazine, and edits Give A Little Nashville, a magazine about charities and how celebrities give back.

Krys tells us how a songwriter's idea for a kids' Christmas party fell through in 2012, and how she made it happen anyway. That one party grew into a year-round charity that she says has now helped more than 8,000 children. You'll hear why help is based on need, not income, and why it covers every child from newborn to 18, including the teenagers many programs leave out. You'll also hear how the gifts reach families in plain black bags so the surprise stays intact, and why the gifts have to come from Santa. If you've ever wondered what it takes to keep a promise like that for 14 Christmases, Krys walks through it, along with the ways you can sponsor a family, give, or join her at Cocktails With Santa.

Official site: https://givealittlenashville.com
Give monthly or once: https://artistsforcommunity.givingfuel.com/give-a-little-christmas
Cocktails With Santa tickets: https://artistsforcommunity.ticketspice.com/4th-annual-cocktails-with-santa
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/givealittlechristmas

Show notes and full transcript: https://youmatternashville.com/episodes/give-a-little-christmas-krys-midgett

Give A Little Christmas, Krys Midgett, You Matter Nashville, nashville podcast, middle tennessee nonprofits, Wilson County charity, Mount Juliet, Christmas charity Tennessee, Santa gifts for kids, Cocktails With Santa

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JUNKCO+ of Nashville is proof that junk removal can be about people, not just hauling stuff away.

Robert Sipp spent more than 40 years in the junk and recycling industry before opening JUNKCO+ of Nashville in 2025 with his son Colton. Together they turn everyday cleanouts into a way to serve Middle Tennessee.

In this episode:

• How Robert went from separating scrap metal at age six to building a family business
• Why JUNKCO+ recycles or donates about 40 percent of what it collects
• How the team gives back at least once a month through free labor and donated loads
• The faith and servant's heart behind the way they do business

JUNKCO+ of Nashville: junkcoplus.com/nashville

Phone: 615-621-4065

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TNT Chem-Dry just hit their twentieth year serving Middle Tennessee, and owner Tara Outson has some things to say about dirty carpets, unconditional love, and why she asks every technician she hires one very specific question.

Tara co-owns TNT Chem-Dry with her husband Tim. They moved to Nashville twenty years ago knowing exactly one person, made flyers on day one, and got their first call before they'd made it out of a real estate parking lot. Today they serve the entire Nashville metro area with chemical-free carpet, upholstery, tile, and rug cleaning — and a team that's required to love dogs.

In this episode:

• Why you should never spot-clean before the pros arrive (the residue is working against you)
• How TNT Chem-Dry uses black lights on every job — whether pets are mentioned or not
• Why a pre-listing carpet clean can make or break a buyer's first impression
• What Tara has learned from twenty years of conversations in people's homes
• The animal rescues she supports and why she got into this business in the first place

Organizations mentioned:

• Critter Cavalry — https://www.crittercavalry.org
• Big Fluffy Dog Rescue — https://bigfluffydogs.com
• Nashville Humane Society — https://nashvillehumane.org
• Best Friends Animal Society — https://bestfriends.org

TNT Chem-Dry 20th Anniversary Offer: 20% off — call or text Tara directly at 615-557-5231

Website: https://tntchemdry.com

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What if the person you walk past every day on the street could change your life? In this episode, we sit down with Sarah Murphree, author of I Am Human Too — a Pulitzer-considered book that profiles 14 individuals experiencing homelessness and reveals the humor, resilience, and humanity behind their stories.

Sarah shares how growing up with a mother living with a mental health condition led her to a pivotal moment at UT Knoxville — one that changed her career path, her worldview, and ultimately produced one of the most important books about homelessness and humanity you'll ever read.

 In this episode:

• Why approximately 30% of people experiencing homelessness are also living with mental illness — and what we get wrong about that number
• How shame and silence keep people (housed and unhoused alike) from getting the help they need
• The one simple, free action you can take TODAY to acknowledge someone who feels invisible
• Why I Am Human Too isn't about homelessness — it's about humanity
• How a portion of every book sale supports Feeding America

 External Links:

• sarahmurphree.com/the-book
• nami.org
• feedingamerica.org
• thecontributor.org

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From a $500 investment and 100 rejected doors to building Williamson County's largest exterior cleaning company, Grant Burnside's story with Superior Exteriors proves that resilience, integrity, and giving back create extraordinary success.

In this powerful episode of our Nashville podcast, Grant shares his journey from homeless at 18—receiving life-changing help from GraceWorks Ministries—to becoming the entrepreneur who now donates a portion of every sale to that same local nonprofit. His transparent insights on door-to-door sales, contractor licensing requirements, and building a referral network provide practical wisdom for any business owner.

But what makes Grant's story truly inspiring is his unwavering commitment to community impact. Superior Exteriors doesn't just clean homes and buildings—they support High Hopes, The Well Outreach, Pregnancy Center of Columbia, and families throughout Middle Tennessee who need help but can't afford services.

Discover why Grant turned down a franchise opportunity to stay focused on Williamson County, how he built 456 five-star Google reviews through exceptional service, and his "burn the ships" mentality that turned a side hustle into a thriving business. Whether you're an entrepreneur seeking motivation or someone who believes business can be a force for good, this episode delivers inspiration and actionable strategies.

Superior Exteriors: https://superiorexteriorstn.com

Superior Exteriors YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SuperiorExteriorsNashville

GraceWorks Ministries: https://graceworkstn.org

Williamson Inc. Chamber: https://williamsonchamber.com

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@YouMatterNashville

💡 NOMINATE A GUEST
Know someone making an impact in the Middle Tennessee area?
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What if a simple backpack drive could transform into a movement serving over 10,000 families? Join us for an inspiring conversation with Jantrice Johnson, founder of We Give, a Nashville podcast story about turning compassion into action across Middle Tennessee.

Jantrice, a former teacher and Murfreesboro realtor, shares how she witnessed the gap between student needs and available resources in East Nashville classrooms. That experience sparked a vision that has grown into comprehensive support for families facing poverty and homelessness. From the innovative Warm Wishes store where 1,600 people shopped for free Christmas gifts and groceries, to a teacher store providing classroom supplies at no cost, We Give operates on a powerful principle: everyone deserves dignity.

In this episode, you'll hear incredible stories that will move you to tears and inspire you to action. Learn about the grandmother raising six grandchildren who never thought she could afford shoes for them all, and the mother of four boys who went through the event line twice just to give Jantrice a hug. Discover why this local nonprofit focuses on brand new items, not hand-me-downs, and how creating VIP shopping experiences changes not just circumstances but entire futures.

Jantrice opens up about balancing real estate, nonprofit leadership, motherhood, and the challenges of finding storage space for thousands of donated items. She shares her recent national recognition as a Top 10 Good Neighbor Award recipient and unveils exciting plans to transition We Give into a year-round shoe and essentials store serving Middle Tennessee communities.

This conversation reminds us that we're all one emergency away from needing help, and one kind deed away from changing someone's life forever.

Key Takeaways:

• How stable housing and material support dramatically improve children's academic outcomes
• Why treating families with dignity matters as much as meeting their physical needs
• The ripple effect of compassionate service on entire communities
• Practical ways you can volunteer or donate to support Middle Tennessee families

Links Mentioned:

• We Give: https://wegiveTN.org
• We Give Instagram: @wegiveTN

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🎬 WATCH THE VIDEO
Watch all episodes on our YouTube Channel
@YouMatterNashville

💡 NOMINATE A GUEST
Know someone making an impact in the Middle Tennessee area?
Nominate Them Here

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Facebook: @youmatternashville
Instagram: @youmatternashville
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