What if giving a child the right book could change the trajectory of their entire life? Robin Griffin, founder of A to Z Learning Club, is proving this every day in Nashville. Her nonprofit tackles North Nashville's staggering incarceration rates by addressing the root cause—83% of low-income children are reading below proficiency. Through culturally diverse book distributions, student publishing opportunities, and innovative programs like putting books in barbershops, A to Z Learning Club builds confidence one story at a time.

In this inspiring conversation, Robin shares her personal journey from struggling with an IEP in speech therapy to earning two degrees from HBCUs and how her twin boys, Aziz and Zion, sparked a movement. You'll hear about first graders creating their own published superhero book, why representation in children's literature matters desperately, and practical wisdom for parents navigating literacy challenges. Robin's honest discussion about her own son's testing struggles reminds us that even literacy advocates face the same battles—and that patient, persistent love makes all the difference.

Whether you're a parent worried about your child's reading, an educator seeking community resources, or someone passionate about breaking cycles of poverty through education, this episode offers hope and actionable ways to help. Robin needs volunteers (especially male mentors), book donations, and partners who believe every Nashville child deserves to see themselves as the hero of their own story.

Key Takeaways:

• How early literacy directly impacts incarceration rates and economic mobility
• Three programs serving Nashville families from pre-K through high school
• The "Heroes of Nashville" book created entirely by elementary students
• Why books in multiple languages matter for family engagement
• Practical advice for parents of struggling or reluctant readers
• Volunteer and partnership opportunities

Links:

• A to Z Learning Club: https://atozlearningclub.org
• Contact: [email protected]

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What began with McDonald's apple pies shared on Nashville streets in 2007 has evolved into a life-transforming ministry. In this Nashville podcast episode, we sit down with Nathan Scarlett, outreach specialist with People Loving Nashville, who shares his remarkable journey from meteorology student to homeless advocate. Nathan reveals how this faith-based local nonprofit is revolutionizing homeless services through their four-pillar approach: relief, community, connection, and restoration.

Nathan brings 12 years of street outreach experience and a unique perspective as a former competitive boxer who competed in Indiana Golden Gloves. He channels that fighting spirit into advocacy for Nashville's most vulnerable residents. With a bold goal to permanently house 503 people before retirement, Nathan has already helped 155 individuals find stable housing while working with People Loving Nashville and previous organizations.

Discover how People Loving Nashville mobilizes 80-100 volunteers every Monday night for comprehensive outreach services. Learn about their homefulness program that provides intensive care management, their Paradiso's Cafe restoration program offering employment opportunities, and the housing challenges facing Nashville's homeless community. Nathan also shares practical advice on supporting local homeless services, from acknowledging individuals at stoplights to donating essential items like socks and hand warmers.

This episode offers valuable insights into preventing burnout in social services, the importance of faith-based approaches to homeless care, and the secondary trauma that service providers face. Nathan's story demonstrates how personal calling combined with professional expertise creates lasting impact in community outreach.

People Loving Nashville: peoplelovingnashville.com

Purpose Gathering fundraiser:
October 21st, 6-9 PM at Sycamore Farms in Arrington, Tennessee

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Explore how AgeWell Middle Tennessee transforms aging experiences through 40 years of dedicated service to Middle Tennessee families. Elder Care Coach Manager Tiffany Mann reveals essential resources and professional support systems that help caregivers navigate complex aging challenges with confidence and dignity.

Learn about their comprehensive Directory of Services spanning 13 counties, free Elder Care Coaching consultations with master's level social workers, and the innovative RESET financial empowerment program supporting Davidson County seniors. This conversation uncovers vital community resources that provide practical solutions for families facing caregiving responsibilities.

Discover professional guidance that shifts overwhelmed caregivers from crisis mode to empowered navigation. Tiffany shares real stories of transformation, practical assessment tools, and expert insights about Medicare coverage realities, in-home care costs, and scam prevention strategies protecting older adults from financial exploitation.

Whether you're currently caregiving, planning for future needs, or supporting someone on their aging journey, this episode provides actionable information about accessing trusted, vetted resources designed to enhance quality of life for both older adults and their caring families.

Key takeaways include:

• Free 30-minute coaching consultations available through eldercarecoach.org
• Comprehensive resource directory available at every Middle Tennessee public library
• Financial assistance programs for residents 50+ in Davidson County • Critical Medicare coverage education and realistic care planning expectations

Links mentioned:

agewelltn.org - Main website and online resource directory

eldercarecoach.org - Schedule free coaching consultations

ncoa.org - National benefits checkup tool for seniors

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25,000 Tennesseans suffer new brain injuries every year, yet most people don't understand the "invisible injury" that survivors face daily. Join us for an eye-opening conversation with Stacey Mulder, Executive Director of the Brain Injury Association of America Tennessee chapter, as we explore this hidden health crisis in Middle Tennessee.

Stacey reveals shocking truths about brain injuries: they're caused by everything from military blast exposures to youth sports, slip-and-fall accidents to strokes. We discuss why private insurance won't cover cognitive therapy for survivors and what's being done to change Tennessee legislation. You'll discover breakthrough technologies helping survivors communicate, critical prevention steps everyone should know, and free resources available right here in our community.

Whether you're a parent concerned about sports safety or someone who knows a brain injury survivor, this Nashville podcast episode will change how you think about brain health. Learn why 64 million Americans live with brain injuries, how Tennessee's support network operates, and simple steps that could prevent tragedy.

Key takeaways include understanding the invisible nature of brain injuries, knowing when to seek help after head trauma, and discovering how community advocacy creates real legislative change for local nonprofits serving our most vulnerable neighbors.

Related Links:

• https://www.biausa.org
• https://www.biausa.org/state-affiliates/tennessee
• Tennessee State Brain Injury Service Coordinators (contact info available on state chapter page)

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Join us for an inspiring conversation with Graham Thomas, Chief Community and Government Affairs Officer at tnAchieves, as he shares how Tennessee became the first state to offer tuition-free college to all students through the groundbreaking Tennessee Promise program.

Graham takes us behind the scenes of this incredible journey—from a small Knox County initiative serving 491 students to the largest college access program in America, now supporting nearly 90,000 students across all 95 Tennessee counties. You'll discover why Tennessee Promise isn't just about free tuition, but about the mentorship and coaching that makes the real difference for first-generation college students.

Key Takeaways:

• How students in tnAchieves' Complete program are 4.5 times more likely to graduate college
• Why 85% of Tennessee Promise graduates choose to stay and build their careers in Tennessee
• The simple one-hour monthly commitment that volunteers make as mentors to transform students' lives
• How Tennessee's innovative funding model ensures the program's sustainability without new taxes

Whether you're a parent planning for your child's education, considering becoming a mentor, or curious about how one Nashville podcast organization is changing lives across Middle Tennessee, this episode reveals how Tennessee is leading the nation in making higher education accessible and affordable.

Graham also shares exciting future plans, including new workforce development partnerships and mentoring programs to help students transition from college to career.

Learn More & Get Involved: 

tnAchieves
Tennessee Promise Information
Become a Mentor

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From bankruptcy to billion-dollar impact: Nashville nonprofit leader Buddy Teaster shares how Soles4Souls transformed simple shoe donations into life-changing opportunities across 130 countries.

When Buddy took over as CEO in 2012, Soles4Souls was losing $2.5 million annually and facing devastating press coverage. Today, they're on track to achieve one billion dollars in global economic impact by 2030. Their innovative model sells donated shoes and clothing to entrepreneurs in developing countries while providing new items to children experiencing homelessness.

In this inspiring conversation, Buddy reveals the TEAM values framework that rebuilt their culture, explains their groundbreaking For Every Kid program serving 250,000 children annually, and shares how partnerships with DSW, Famous Footwear, and Zappos revolutionized donation convenience.

Whether you're leading a team, running a business, or simply want to make a difference in Middle Tennessee, this episode offers powerful insights on creating sustainable impact from crisis.

Key takeaways include the importance of starting with "why," making giving convenient, and how something as simple as shoes can restore dignity and confidence to children and entrepreneurs worldwide.

Ready to get involved? Learn where to donate shoes locally and how just $20 can provide new sneakers for a homeless child in our community.

Links: 

• https://soles4souls.org
• https://www.dsw.com/en/us/category/donation-program
• https://soles4souls.org/race-for-every-kid/
• https://www.zappos.com/zappos-for-good

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Can trauma wounds that you can't see be healed through community? REBOOT Recovery founders Evan and Jenny Owens reveal how their Nashville podcast approach has transformed over 30,000 lives across 44 states and 11 countries.

Jenny's breakthrough work as an occupational therapist at Fort Campbell exposed a critical gap in traditional trauma treatment. While medical professionals addressed physical and mental wounds, the spiritual component - what they call "soul wounds" - remained untreated. This sparked REBOOT Recovery's peer-led, faith-based program that identifies five core trauma wounds: loss, betrayal, rejection, guilt, and misplaced identity.

Unlike traditional therapy, REBOOT Recovery operates through 12-week community groups where trauma survivors lead others on similar journeys. This approach creates lasting relationships beyond treatment, with year-long aftercare programs. Their research, published in eight peer-reviewed scientific journals, shows significant improvements in anxiety, depression, and social connectedness across military veterans, first responders, and civilian populations.

What started in their living room has grown into an international movement spanning three specialized programs. The organization operates in over 400 locations, including rapid expansion into 50+ prison facilities, addressing trauma as a root cause of incarceration.

Key takeaways: 

• Understanding how false guilt traps trauma survivors
• The power of peer-led healing, and why building "redeemers" creates sustainable recovery. 
• Listeners discover how REBOOT Recovery transforms pain into purpose through this Middle Tennessee community organization.

REBOOT Recovery: rebootrecovery.com

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Discover how The New Beginnings Center is revolutionizing women's fitness in Nashville through founder Tash Weddell's innovative approach to empowerment. This inspiring Nashville podcast episode reveals how a master strength coach with 17 years of collegiate experience transformed personal adversity into community impact, serving over 4,500 low-income women through holistic fitness, nutrition, and mindset coaching.

Tash shares her journey from strength coaching at major universities like Vanderbilt and Tennessee to creating Nashville's only women-dedicated gym space. Learn about her brilliant dual business model where TNB Fitness clients fund nonprofit programming, ensuring cost never prevents participation. Women earning under $56,000 annually receive completely free services, while sliding scales accommodate life transitions.

The conversation explores The New Beginnings Center's comprehensive approach combining progressive strength training, habit-based nutrition coaching, and mindset work that addresses self-sabotage and limiting beliefs. Tash explains how her own experience with seven knee surgeries shaped her philosophy of earning strength safely while building unshakeable confidence.

From vision boards to deadlifts, participants experience transformation that extends far beyond physical fitness into generational change and community empowerment. Discover how this local nonprofit proves that investing in women's strength creates ripple effects throughout families and neighborhoods, with measurable healthcare cost savings.

Key Takeaways:

• Innovative funding model combining for-profit training with nonprofit services
• Habit-based nutrition approach achieving 80% success rates
• Comprehensive programming addressing fitness, nutrition, and mindset barriers
• Sliding scale accessibility ensuring no woman is turned away for financial reasons

The New Beginnings Center website

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In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Milton Bartley, CEO of ImageQuest, who shares his incredible story of service, leadership, and purpose. From his early days in the military to running a successful IT company, Milton opens up about how his life experiences have shaped his commitment to both his employees and his community. We dive into the many ways ImageQuest gives back, from providing free IT services to nonprofits like High Hopes and The New Beginnings Center, to financially supporting Reboot Recovery’s life-changing trauma programs. 

Milton also shares how thinking outside the box—like opening a satellite office to eliminate long commutes—has made a huge difference in his team’s lives. And of course, we couldn’t help but geek out a bit about the future of AI, cybersecurity, and the ethical challenges ahead. This episode is packed with heart, business wisdom, and practical ways anyone can make a difference right where they are.

Takeaways:

• Giving back isn't just financial—it's about hands-on involvement and long-term partnerships.
• Strong leadership starts with putting people first, whether it's employees, clients, or the community.
• ImageQuest’s donated IT services help nonprofits like High Hopes, allowing them to serve more families.
• Reboot Recovery provides trauma healing and suicide prevention for veterans and first responders through science-based group therapy.
• The New Beginnings Center empowers women to break unhealthy cycles through fitness, nutrition, and education.
• Opening a satellite office in Dixon dramatically improved work-life balance for employees facing long commutes.
• Investing in employees with $5,000 vacations every five years builds loyalty and creates lifelong memories.
• Building a thriving company culture comes from hiring people with servant hearts who find fulfillment in helping others.

ImageQuest
https://www.imagequest.com/

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In this inspiring episode of You Matter Nashville, we sat down with Melissa Spradlin, executive director of Book’em, a nonprofit dedicated to boosting children's literacy in Nashville since 1989. Melissa shared her journey from growing up with educator parents to finding her passion for literacy and community service. She gave us a look inside Book’em’s mission of getting books into kids' hands and fostering a love of reading through volunteers who serve as reading role models.

We also talked about the challenges nonprofits face—like limited space and funding—and how the community continues to step up through book drives, donations, and even a donated bus that now acts as a mobile library. Melissa’s vision for the future is bold: more books, more volunteers, and more impact. Whether you donate, volunteer, or spread the word, every effort helps inspire the next generation of readers.

Takeaway:

• Book’em has been promoting children's literacy in Nashville for over 35 years.
• Melissa’s personal story reflects a deep-rooted love for education and community impact.
• Volunteers are at the heart of their mission, reading to classrooms and inspiring young readers.
• Book donations come from everywhere—individuals, schools, businesses, and even big publishers.
• Their mobile book bus is a creative way to bring books directly to the community!
• Fundraising and space constraints are big challenges, but the passion for literacy keeps them moving forward.
• Book’em’s annual fundraiser breakfast is coming up in September—an easy, inspiring way to get involved.
• Donating books or money (even small amounts) makes a huge difference—just $2.50 can provide a book!
• Volunteers can also help by sorting books or delivering them to schools.

Book'em
https://bookem-kids.org/

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