Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev

Join Kosta and his guests: County Commission Candidates for District 3, Shayne Bilbrey and Brendan Laney. 

In this episode: You're both running as Democratic Candidates in a county and state where Republicans routinely win by wide margins. Beyond listening and transparency, can you give voters one specific policy position or commitment that your Republican opponent in District 3 likely wouldn't and explain why that difference m...

Join Kosta and his guest: Cookeville City Council Candidates, Dee Prince and Sam Matson.

In this episode: Cookeville is currently operating under its 2030 plan, a plan approved in 2010. For anyone who doesn’t remember Cookeville in 2010, it was a different universe. If elected you will be tasked with developing and approving our next, 2050 plan. When you think about the last 20-years, and the next 20-years, what responsibilit...

Join Kosta and his guest: Ryan Dalton, candidate for Putnam County Mayor and Beth Anderson, Mom of Ryan Dalton, candidate for Putnam County Mayor.

In this episode: It’s 10 years from today. What’s the best case scenario? What’s the worst case scenario? You're both from Putnam County, and have family that goes back generations. You know this community to its core. Why does it feel like the newest members of our comm...

Join Kosta and his guests: Cigi England, Candidate for Cookeville City Council and Morgan Franklin for Putnam County Commission District 1.

In this episode: Since I have a candidate here for Cookeville City Council and Putnam County Commission, my first question is, how can each entity work better together and how will you work with the other to improve outcomes for everyone? Less than 30% of registered voters in the City of Cookev...

Join Kosta and his guest: Mike Croley, Veteran, Former State Park Ranger, recent Federal Employee, and Candidate for TN Sixth Congressional District.

In this episode: I want to start this episode with a simple question. So often in political episodes we get caught up in the details of campaigning, and strategy, and the greater national rhetoric, and we’ll get to all that, but first I want to talk with you as my neighbor. Tenne...

Join Kosta and his guest: Chad Gilbert, Cookeville City Council Member and Candidate for Cookeville City Council.

In this episode: Less than 30% of registered voters in the City of Cookeville vote. As a sitting City Council Member and Candidate, what’s your message to the 70% of Cookevillians who don’t see the purpose or benefit in voting? Why does local government matter? As we said in the introduction, you’re a c...

Join Kosta and his guest: Brett Knight, criminal defense attorney, pastor and author of From the Gavel to Grace: Setting People Free From Addiction and Into Healing.

In this episode: The symptoms of addiction begin long before the actual addiction. We’ve hosted many guests in and around the recovery community, and the throughline is: there’s always more to the story. What do you hope readers will learn about the complex...

Join Kosta and his guest: Mack Lunn, Associate Director of iCube at Tennessee Technological University, Owner of Mack Lunn Enterprises, and Candidates for Putnam County Commission District 2. 

In this episode: Today’s episode is special because you’re not only my neighbor, you’re also running for County Commission in my District, District 2. We’ve hosted candidates Stacye Choate and Sam Sandlin and i...

Join Kosta and his guest: Aurora Wells, Candidates for Jackson County Mayor.

In this episode: We’ve said it many times on this podcast, but there’s no place like Jackson County. You grew up in Gainesboro, moved away, and came back. Why did you leave? What brought you back? More than ever, local elections matter. All across Tennessee, but especially in rural counties like Jackson County. As a candidate for Mayor, and Jac...

Join Kosta and his guest: Taylor Hill, Assistant Treasurer for the Putnam County Fair Board, Owner of Taylor Creates and Candidate for Algood City Council.

In this episode: It’s safe to say there’s no single event that brings Putnam County together like our County Fair. This year, the Putnam County Fair will celebrate its 100th anniversary. As a Fair Board Member, what does this centennial celebration mean to you? In 20...

Join Kosta and his guest: Kerry Ledbetter, District 6, Putnam County School Board Member, Manager for Community Homeowner Associations and Candidate for Putnam County Clerk.

In this episode: No matter what happens in August, this election will bring forward a new era in local leadership for Putnam County. As we said, you’re running for Putnam County Clerk and hope to pick up where outgoing County Clerk Wayne Nabors is leaving...

Join Kosta and his guest: Brandy Lynn, Co-Founder and Apothecary Manager of The Silver Fern.

In this epsiode: Let’s start with The Silver Fern, you are both a co-founder and the apothecary manager. Most of our listeners are likely aware of your Art Gallery, Fiddlehead Gallery, but overall the store provides so much more to our community. What is The Silver Fern? Before we get too far in the episode, I want to ask you about acu...

Join Kosta and his guest: Jonathan A.D. Williams, Putnam County Commissioner for District One, Owner of Veterans Barber Shop, former U.S. Marine, police officer, and candidate for Putnam County Commission District One.

In this episode: Your first term on Putnam County Commission started in 2010. So, let’s start there. What inspired you to run for Putnam County Commission and what’s changed the most over the past sixteen...

Join Kosta and his guest: Margo Dirkson, Department Coordinator for the Office of Access, Belonging, and Community Outreach at Tennessee Tech University.

In this episode: In 2024, TTU launched the office of Access, Belonging, and Community Outreach, where you currently serve as the Department Coordinator. Will you tell us about the office and how it serves students? You and Dr. Robert Owens built this office from the ground...

Join Kosta and his guest: Sara Kruszka, candidate for Democratic Executive Committeewoman for Tennessee District 15.

In this episode: Like everyone listening to this episode, no matter how hard we try, we can’t escape this election cycle. However, today’s episode will be a bit different as we’re talking about a part of the ballot you’ve probably never paid much attention to: State Executive Committee. You&rsq...

Join Kosta and his guest: Kelley McNeal, CPA, public servant, educator and candidate for Putnam County Trustee.

In this episode: For 23 years you served as an auditor for the Tennessee Comptroller's Office. A critical part of that role was going to Trustee offices across Tennessee and examining how offices were (or weren't) properly executing their responsibilities. What did that experience teach you about what differentiates a wel...

Join Kosta and his guest: Ferran Kefauver, Executive Director of CityScape.

In this episode: The crown jewel of Cookeville is our Historic Westside. There are countless shops, offices and enough restaurants to feed an army, but it wasn’t always this way. In fact, not too long ago, our downtown was mostly an afterthought. What changed and how has CityScape helped direct and support this rebirth? We’re a few weeks away fr...

Join Kosta and his guest: Jamie Hunter, Chief Deputy Trustee for the Putnam County Trustee’s Office and candidate for Putnam County Trustee.

In this episode: You’ve spent 30 years in public service here in Putnam County. You’ve lived here your entire life and now, as we said in the introduction, you’re running to serve as our next Putnam County Trustee. I want to start with your background, and what’s a...

Join Kosta and his guest: Linda Vickers, Executive Director of Safe Haven Recovery Program and Deanna Jenkins, President of the Board for  Safe Haven Recovery Program.

In this episode: Safe Haven was founded in 2023, but your work and service to those seeking to rebuild their lives started long before Safe Haven. Will you take us to the beginning of your story and tell us how you got here? Safe Haven is a 12-month program. A ye...