Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev

Join Kosta and his guest: Mark Dudney, Public Historian, Regional Planner, Producer, and Educator.

In this episode:

They say all press is good press. I’m going to ask you later in the episode if you think that’s true, but for now I want to start with the question on everyone’s mind: what do you do when white christian nationalists move in next door? Earlier this month you shared a touching testimonial about how you’re feeli...

Join Kosta and his guest: Mark Farley, Executive Director of UCHRA, UCDD and Core Partner of Empower UC.

In this episode: Many Americans are questioning how well state and federally funded services really work for this country and if the price tag justifies the outcomes. For anyone listening and thinking, this is just more government bloat - what do you say to them?

I want to talk about single parents because I know this is...

Join Kosta and his guest: Karen Rathgeber Hale, Director of Camp Nakanawa. I hope you packed the bug spray, because this week we're going to Camp Nakanawa.

In this episode: Camp Nakanawa is over 100 years old. As we’ve discussed, this is more than a camp, it’s tradition. How do you weigh the importance of preserving cherished rituals versus embracing new ideas, especially in an age of rapid cultural and technological chang...

Join Kosta and his guest: Matt Brown, Certified Financial Planner, Branch Manager and Generational Wealth Planner at 304 Family Wealth of Raymond James.

In this episode: Money is the last taboo topic. We’d rather talk about almost anything than how much money we make or have. That’s helped create a society of people who don’t really understand how money works - or how it could work for them. What do you wish you could tell...

Join Kosta and his guests: Catherine Jackson, Executive Officer of The Home Builders Association of the Upper Cumberland and Katie Hall, General Manager at Cookeville Kitchen Sales.

In this episode: Building a house is like making a cake from scratch - I don’t know how. Let’s start there, because for most of us buying an existing home is confusing enough, what’s it like to build a house? From 2014 to 2024, the median price...

*Disclaimer/Trigger Warning* This episode may not be appropriate for all ages and audiences as it contains candid conversations about child abuse, child predators, child sex offenders and cyber crime.

Join Kosta and his guests: Lt. Heather Marshall, Public Information Officer and Detective Conor Sparkman from Cookeville Police Department.

In this episode: We say this in every episode, but the Upper Cumberland is ch...

Join Kosta and his guest: Tabitha Merritt, Director of Peach Tree Learning Center.

In this episode: For many, homeschool feels like the only answer to an exceedingly difficult question. Where can my child learn where they’re safe, valued, and prepared for more than a standardized test? In your experience, when does a family know the answer is not public school? Over the next decade, education in Tennessee will change. Whil...

🥳 Join Kosta and his 200th guest: Jill Stalnaker, Prevention Training Specialist at TN Voices, Owner of Leaning Tree Agency and Mom of 5.

In this episode: In 2021 the recidivism rate in Tennessee was roughly 46%. That means that almost half of all individuals released from jail or prison were estimated to return within three years. Creating a normal life after incarceration isn’t easy. Reentry is difficult, slow and for ma...

Join Kosta and his guest: Tammy Key, Owner of Key Learning and Development.

In this episode: In your experience, what do the best teams have in common? There’s one thing mid-level managers, C-suite executives, parents and volunteer soccer coaches can all agree on: just because you have a group of people working together doesn’t make them a team. You’re an expert on leadership and team-building, and I think you’re the perfe...

Join Kosta and his guest: Michael Detwiler, local weather observer, member of CoCoRaHS and known across the Upper Cumberland as the Cookeville Weather Guy.

In this episode: I think the only fitting first question for this episode has to be: can we actually predict the weather? Why do other weather reporters get it so wrong? You’re an on the ground weather observer and member of CoCoRaHS, for everyone just now reali...

Join Kosta and his guest: Cindy Putman. Nationally recognized educator, advocate and consultant, Cindy works as the Ready To Learn Project Manager at WCTE and is the Academic Social Interventionist for the Putnam County School System.

In this episode: You facilitated the first partnership between a public school system and a PBS station. You understand the importance of public works and the importance of giving more to tho...

Join Kosta and his guest: Tayton Swift, Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles Football Player representing the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

In this episode: You’re not only a student athlete, you’re a sponsored student athlete. Will you tell us about the process of securing sponsorships and how student athletes being able to profit from their NIL changes the opportunities they have throug...

Join Kosta and his guest: Scott Miller, Founder and CEO of The Poverty Solution. In conjunction with countless partners and community leaders, UCDD and The Poverty Solution are overseeing a region-wide effort to lift 1,600 children and their families out of poverty by 2025.

In this episode: Poverty isn’t a fringe issue. It’s our economic reality. As someone that’s dedicated their life to helping communities alleviate povert...

Join Kosta and his guest Chad Mynatt, Director of Manna Global Missions and Co-Director of El Puente Community Center. 

El Puente is a Hispanic Community Center located in Cookeville, TN. El Puente's mission is to create a welcoming community and offer resources that empower and connect the Hispanic community of the Upper Cumberland. In English “El Puente” means “Bridge”. El Puente es un centro comunitario para hispanos...

Join Kosta and his guest: Susan Luna-Hazlewood, Director of Crawford Alumni Center at Tennessee Tech University.

In this episode: Susan, you’re the Executive Director of the Tennessee Tech Alumni Association, you’re the Director of the Crawford Alumni Center and you also serve as the University's Chief Alumni Officer - needless to say, you know TTU alumni. But what do you wish every alumni knew about TTU? Higher education ...

Join Kosta and his guest: David Uhrik, Owner and Director of Franklin Fixtures, US Pillars and Plenty Downtown Bookshop.

In this episode: We’ll start with the most topical question first, Plenty Bookshop moved across the street from 

48 West Broad Street to 41 West Broad Street on January 1st. This is Plenty’s 3rd location, and as an operations expert, I have to ask - what specifically spoke to you about this space?

While ma...

Join Kosta and his guest: McTelvin Agim, Defensive Lineman for the Tennessee Titans.

In this episode: You know better than anyone becoming a professional athlete takes a lifetime of work and dedication. Let’s go all the way back to the beginning - what was life like for you as a kid?

Over the last two years you’ve signed with the Broncos, Colts, Texans, and now the Titans - you’ve had the opportunity to work with hundreds of...

Join Kosta and his guest: Dr. Chelsea Dowell, Professor of Economics at Tennessee Tech University.

In this episode: It was the most Googled question on November 6th, the day after the 2024 United States Presidential Election, and we’re here to ask you (a much more qualified resource than Google) what is a tariff?

James Carville said it best, “It’s the economy stupid.” We’re all worried about the economy, but what exactly...

Join Kosta and his guest: Zakiya Roberts, Master Gardener, Director of Growing Garners and Owner of Pots of Peace.

In this episode: Through Pots of Peace you’re not only able to interconnect our community through generations, you're able to bridge the information gap that’s expanding from generation to generation. What skills are you teaching that most Millennials, Gen Z, and even some Gen Xers didn’t grow up with? Teachin...