Climbing the Charts with Angie Lawless and Brandon Miller

Every city has a family who shapes it. New York City had the Rockefellers. St. Louis had the Bushes. Boston had the Kennedys. Nashville has the Bone family. They are attorneys by trade but political powerhouses and real estate tycoons in practice. In this episode of Climbing the Charts, Angie Lawless and Brandon Miller sit down with Charles Robert Bone. The Nashville Post called the attorney turned developer “one of the most recognizable figures in Nashville's legal, political and development circles.” His resume defends that descriptor. Before joining Southwest Value Partners as Managing Director of Real Estate Investment, Bone was the President and CEO of Bone McAllester Norton, a prominent Nashville law firm. He is also the founder of Phoenix Boats, a bass boat manufacturer based in Winchester, TN, the Southern Steak & Oyster, a beloved restaurant in SoBro, and Acme Feed & Seed, a popular, multi-level restaurant, bar, and event space located on Lower Broadway. Bone has served on several boards, including: The Community Foundation of Middle TN, the Oasis Center, and Hands On Nashville. Most recently, Bone has taken on a key role in one of the most transformative projects in Nashville's modern history—Nashville Yards. The massive mixed-use development is redefining the city's skyline and economic future, blending innovation, entertainment, and urban vibrancy in the heart of downtown. The Nashville Democrat has also worked on local, state, and federal campaigns including, but not limited to: former Mayor Karl Dean's gubernatorial race, Harold Ford's 2006 Senate race, and both of former President Barack Obama's campaigns.  

In March, the mayor's office announced the closing of one of the city's oldest and lagest homeless encampments — Old Tent City. The 40-year-old site sits just outside downtown, on Anthes Drive. 120+ people have called this area underneath I-24 home. The city says these individuals will be placed in transitional housing. Metro plans to provide the unhoused with access to the wrap around services so they can succeed and find stability. In this episode of Climbing the Charts, Angie Lawless and Brandon Miller sit down with April Calvin, the Director of Nashville's Office of Homeless Services to learn more about the city's plan.  

Nuclear energy is part of Tennessee's past and present. Oak Ridge played an important role in the Manhattan Project during WW2, and today, 48% of our state's energy comes from nuclear energy. In this episode of the Spirit of Bipartisanship, hosts Angie Lawless and Brandon Miller sit down with Republican Rep. Clark Boyd, who chairs the business and utilities subcommittee where nuclear energy is a conversation, and Democratic Rep. Sam McKenzie, a retired Oak Ridge physicist, to learn about the push to build a first of its kind nuclear reactor right here in Tennessee.  

Tennessee is 1 of 10 states that has not expanded Medicaid. It is estimated that more than 150,000 Tennesseans would qualify for coverage if the state opted to expand the program.  In this episode of the Spirit of Bipartisanship, hosts Angie Lawless and Brandon Miller sit down with Republican Reps. Brock Martin and Pat Marsh and Democratic Rep. Jesse Chism to hear the arguments against and for expansion.  

American politics are polarizing, but in no place are they more polarizing than in the Tennessee State House.  Two years ago, the Republican-ruled supermajority expelled two Democratic lawmakers after they led spectators in a chant “Gun control now!” and “No action, no peace!” The controversy was ignited by the Covenant School Shooting and Republican lawmakers' failure to enact gun reform. Since then, the divide has only deepened. But lawmakers on both sides of the aisle agree it's about more than expulsions. In this episode of the Spirit of Bipartisanship, hosts Angie Lawless and Brandon Miller sit down with Republican Reps. Kevin Vaughan and Ryan Williams and Democratic Rep. Bo Mitchell to unpack the partisanship in Tennessee's State House.

Tennessee Republican State House Rep. Jody Barrett is proposing legislation that would change the discharge process of individuals who are involuntarily committed to mental health facilities in Tennessee. Under Barrett's bill, the CEO of an inpatient treatment facility would be required to notify the court when an individual is eligible for discharge. The court would hold a hearing and decide whether to release or return a patient. Currently, the courts are not notified. Barrett says the legislation will  provide much needed oversight and transparency in the discharge process. Those opposed argue these decisions should be made by medical professionals. They fear the court's involvement could result in longer, unnecessary commitments. In this episode of the Spirit of Bipartisanship, Angie Lawless and Brandon Miller sit down with Republican Rep. Jody Barrett and Democratic Rep. Harold Love to discuss this mental health legislation. About the Spirit of Bipartisanship The Spirit of Bipartisanship is designed to foster a dialogue between Democrat and Republican state lawmakers. It's a special edition series of the Climbing the Charts podcast — a local podcast featured in the Tennessean and Nashville Scene.F Each episode, co-hosts Angie Lawless and Brandon Miller bring representatives from opposing parties to the table for a deep dive on a single issue. The guests are challenged to find common ground.  

17% of children in Tennessee face food insecurity. TN Democratic State House Rep. John Ray Clemmons proposed legislation to provide free school meals — breakfast and lunch — to all TN children regardless if they meet federal SNAP benefit requirements. This isn't the first time Clemmons has introduced this legislation. He's brought this bill forward every year since 2018. It has yet to prevail. In this episode of the Spirit of Bipartisanship, Angie Lawless and Brandon Miller sit down with Republicans Rep. Ron Travis and Rep. Todd Warner and Clemmons to discuss the legislation.

Tennessee's legislature isn't just partisan—it's often polarizing. Inside the House chambers, Democrats and Republicans disparage one another, at times—outside, they rarely engage. Has the proverbial political aisle been stretched too far to reach across?  It wasn't always this way. There was once camaraderie and compromise. Few understand this culture shift better than Brian Bivens. The East Tennessee native has spent the last 25 years lobbying elected officials. But Bivens bent ears long before he was in the business of bending ears. His father, Steve Bivens, served in the State House from 1978 to 1992. The Cleveland guidance counselor was the House Majority Whip at a time when Democrats ruled the roost. In this episode of Climbing the Charts, Angie Lawless and Brandon Miller sit down with Bivens to examine Tennessee's legislature—its present, past, and personalities.

David French is a dissenter. The attorney turned conservative political commentator abandoned the Republican party in 2016. His reason? Donald Trump. The evangelical Christian was disgusted by the controversial candidate, his lack of character and authoritarian beliefs. Since then, his critiques of the MAGA movement have only grown — so too has his voice.  In 2019, French became the Senior Editor of the Dispatch, an online conservative news outlet. Four years later, he left. In 2023, French joined the New York Times as an op-ed columnist. Last August, he penned one of his most read works, “To Save Conservatism from Itself, I am Voting for Harris” for the outlet. In this episode of Climbing the Charts, Angie Lawless and Brandon Miller sit down with self-proclaimed “independent conservative” to understand how personality politics, primaries and activists have landed American politics in extremism.

When Nashville identified its first case of coronavirus in March 2020, the city was between Public Health Department directors and as unprepared as the rest of the world for what was to come.  Dr. Alex Jahangir, a trauma surgeon acting at that time as chair of the Metro Nashville Board of Health, unexpectedly found himself head of the city's COVID-19 Task Force and responsible for leading it through uncharted waters. Now, he's reimagining a new Nashville. Jahangir is the co-chair of Imagine Nashville, a citywide study that explores the needs of Nashville's residents and imagines goals to address them.  

Tennessee is an economic engine. Stuart McWhorter is one of the conductors.  During his tenure as the Tennessee Economic Development Commissioner, McWhorter has overseen nearly 160 projects, which represent more than 21,700 job commitments and $10.9 billion in capital investment.  In this episode of Climbing the Charts, Angie Lawless and Brandon Miller sit down with the TNECD commissioner to understand how the state invests in and attracts business.

Nashville has been in the top 10 hottest housing markets in the United States. The city has drawn attention from individuals and investors from coast to coast.  However, over the last two years sales have slowed some due to high interest rates and uncertainty surrounding the economy. In this episode of Climbing the Charts, we sit down with Greater Nashville REALTORS Vice President of Member Engagement, Jack Gaughan, and former President turned Realtracs Board Member, Steve Jolly, to explore the past, present and future of Nashville real estate.  

Glenn Funk balances safety and social justice in his role as Nashville District Attorney.  The Nashville District Attorney was sworn in nearly a decade ago. Nashville's daily prison population is about half of what it was before he took office.  The second term elected official says reducing incarceration increases rehabilitation and saves metro money — $45 million a year by his estimate. Funk discusses some positive legislative changes from the 2024 session, including Jillian's Law, homelessness and much more in this episode of Climbing the Charts.     

The Nashville Chamber of Commerce is the front door to the region's business ecosystem. Ralph Schulz is the guide. The CEO has overseen the organization since 2006, steering it through the city's explosive growth. During his 18-year tenure, the median salary in Nashville has increased by more than 50-percent, city's skyline has reached new heights and major corporations like Amazon and Oracle have set up shop here. In this episode of Climbing the Charts, Schulz shares how business and politics have shaped Music City's entrepreneurial ecosystem.  

Four years ago, Burke Nihill ran across a job listing on LinkedIn: General Counsel for the Tennessee Titans. He applied, but he didn't think he would be drafted. His sports “experience” included dreaming of “wanting to be the third baseman for the Chicago Cubs” and declining an offer to play basketball at a Division 3 College. Nonetheless, Nihill won owners over. 4 promotions and 8 seasons later, the former OfficeMax attorney turned Titan's CEO is quarterbacking the organization through its most watched season — the construction of a new Nissan stadium. Slated to open in 2027, the 60,000 seat, enclosed arena is estimated to cost nearly $2.1 billion.  In this episode of Climbing the Charts, the CEO delves into the design of the stadium and how its experiences will bring more than a Super Bowl to this city.

"I came to realize that I would never have the chance to work in an administration with somebody that I [am] so closely aligned with on issues. It makes it really easy to go to work.” – Bob Mendes, speaking of his working relationship with Mayor O'Connell Climbing the Charts was excited to sit down with Bob Mendes, Chief Development Officer for the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, to learn about the future of Nashville's East Bank, the series of events and negotiations that paved the way for a new, $2.1+ billion dollar Titans stadium, as well as other challenges and opportunities Music City's new development director sees in his crystal ball.     And while the East Bank is one of the largest projects ever undertaken by a city, Bob wants Nashvillians to know that though he will dedicate time to the East Bank project, his focus is on development in and for Nashville as a whole. 

“My whole mission is just to affect positive change with people, and housing is such a key component to people's health, well-being, and safety.” -- Andrea Prince According to Nashville's 2021 Affordable Housing Task Force, chaired by Mayor John Cooper, the city must create 52,498 new housing units by 2030—a daunting challenge, given that only 1,344 affordable units were being built annually at the time of the report. Today on The Climbing the Charts Podcast, as recorded by our sister podcast The Real Estate Mailbag, we're joined by Matthew Wiltshire, President of Pathway Affordable Housing Corp. and former Chief Strategy Officer at MDHA, Andrea Prince, Executive Director of Rebuilding Together Nashville, and Joshua Haston, Development Manager at LDG Development, LLC and Board Member of the Nashville Industrial Board. These leaders share their personal journeys and insights into tackling Nashville's housing crisis, discussing innovative city tools and divisive zoning proposals debated in Metro Council. They also explore the impact of Tennessee's new “home bond” bill on affordable housing. Tune in to understand why affordable housing isn't just crucial for your future, but for the future of Music City itself!

“We're not building new roads (for the most part), so it's about trying to use that [existing] infrastructure in better ways that meet our modern needs.”  --Michael Briggs, director of mobility at Vanderbilt University's Transportation and Mobility Office, currently on loan to the City of Nashville as a director of transportation planning through 2024 On November 5, 2024, less than six months from today, Nashvillians will go to the polls to vote on critical issues and races, including who will serve as our nation's President. Locally, however, Nashvillians will also vote on a multibillion dollar transportation improvement program called Choose How You Move, the first transit referendum to appear on the local ballet since 2018. Climbing the Charts sat down with Briggs to discuss why transit should be considered essential infrastructure, how this plan differs from the prior failed transportation plans presented to Nashvillians and explores how improving transportation addresses broader community needs (affordable housing being at the top of that list). 

“I knew that if I had a Plan B, I would be 50/50. I would be one foot in and one foot out, and I had to be fully dedicated.” - Derrick ‘Moe' Moore When the Climbing the Charts podcast first launched in 2022, the co-hosts created a list of dream guests – Moe Moore was at the top of that list, being a co-founder of Slim & Husky's.  Almost two years and many amazing guests later, this is that episode, and it was fitting that the Tennessean was even on hand to take some photos! Moe is the co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) of Slim & Husky's, a pizza concept that is more than pizza – it's pizza, art, and music.  Moe shares how music and art are built into the DNA of Slim & Husky's, and shares his hard-earned life lessons about what it takes to make it as a successful entrepreneur (including the often unappreciated advantages of having no Plan B).  He discusses the future plans and dreams for Slim & Husky's, and even gives an overview of the rich culture and community of North Nashville.    

“What people don't understand about Juvenile Court is that literally two-thirds of the cases that we deal with are about the parents.”  –Judge Calloway Judge Sheila Calloway, Davidson County's Juvenile Court Judge, and Lonnell Matthews, Davidson County's Juvenile Court Clerk, are two of Nashville's most accomplished individuals. They are an entertaining pair, but are serious about bettering the lives of “our kids.” They discuss misconceptions about the work of the Juvenile Court, the Nashville Youth Campus for Empowerment (coming in 2027), and recent legislation that will dramatically impact the juvenile justice system. Spoiler alert: the TN General Assembly did not seek their input, but they remain open and ready to assist when asked…hint, hint. Julieanna Huddle is the Executive Director of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). Julieanna explains the mission of CASA and how YOU can make a difference in the lives of all of our children who are in desperate need of an advocate.

“When you're in the middle of the battle, to be policy-driven is smart, to be politically-driven is dangerous.”  - Jeremy Faison Few people have had a closer seat to the important issues, drama, and national and international garnering headlines involving Tennessee politics than Representative Jeremy Faison, Chairman of the Tennessee House Republican Caucus. Representative Faison discusses what drew him into politics and what it's like to be a leader of a party now enjoying a supermajority. In a Paul Harvey fashion, Faison weighs in with the “rest of the story” on the alleged complaint against him noted in the recent Chancellor Perkins opinion, his now infamous “pantsing” incident, what people fail to understand about Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton and even the recent “whistling” episode involving the high school girls' Picket County Bobcat Team.  Beyond that, Faison, a libertarian, addresses many of the issues that have been presented during the current legislative session.

“It's already a presidential race and lots of people are going to come out and vote for the President…however, we know…that about 18% of the people who go into that booth don't keep going down the ballot… If you're in the voting booth, don't stop… Make your vote count all the way down.”  -Megan Barry In a hotly anticipated interview, Climbing the Charts sits down with former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry. Barry served as Nashville's seventh mayor and was the first woman ever elected to the office. Barry's tenure as Music City's mayor, however, was marked by almost Biblical highs and lows. Megan speaks to her time in the Mayor's Office, and catches us up on what she has been doing since leaving the Mayor's Office, including her decision to re-enter the political arena as the Democratic challenger for the 7th Congressional District of Tennessee. The incumbent, Congressman Republican Mark Green, announced he would retire, only to rejoin the race a few weeks later. Megan makes a compelling case for why she can win this race, and then tells us how she will do it. Many astute observers consider Megan Barry to be one of the most charismatic and gifted communicators in the political arena in Tennessee today. https://www.meganbarryforcongress.com/

“It's a diverse world. Companies sell products to consumers that are very diverse. Their teams and technical talent should reflect the communities that they sell products to.” – Dr. Isaac Yao Addae Dr. Isaac Addae is a man with many hats – first-generation Ghanaian American, computer engineer, strategist, business professor, entrepreneur, investor, and author of “Black Boy Fly: Embracing My Ancestry, Blackness, and Purpose in the African Diaspora.”  Isaac also served as the Treasurer for Freddie O'Connell's mayoral campaign, and now has agreed to wear yet another hat as the “Small and Minority Business Engagement Liaison” for Nashville. Listen in as Isaac shares how he came to Nashville, why he will always spend a significant amount of time as an educator, how navigating two worlds as a Ghanaian American became his superpower, and why we should all care about diversity, equity, inclusion and justice in the workforce.  Also learn why Isaac's new role will be one of his biggest challenges yet, and about how some of the plans being put into motion in the Mayor's Office are likely to move the needle for small and minority-owned businesses.  Isaac also makes a unique, compelling case for how Nashville can adjust the lens that the rest of the world views Nashville through and emerge as an increasingly ascendant tech hub.

“If you give a man a fish, he eats for a day. If you teach him to fish, he eats for a lifetime. But if you teach a woman how to fish, she feeds the village for a lifetime. The ripple effect that women entrepreneurs have on communities and the global economy is phenomenal.” — Sherry Deutschmann   Climbing the Charts sits down with Sherry Stewart Deutschmann, a serial entrepreneur, a sought-after speaker, a highly coveted board member, and the bestselling author of “Lunch with Lucy: Maximize Profits by Investing in Your People.”  But it is Sherry's role as the founder of BrainTrust, which is empowering women entrepreneurs so they can 10X their companies and change the world, that is now changing the business landscape in Music City and beyond.  

Former Mayor Karl Dean was known to ask, rhetorically and always in good humor, what Nashville would be without music (answer: Birmingham), but he could have substituted “the Ingrams” for music and arrived at the same punchline.  There are few beloved things in Music City without fingerprints, known and unknown, that in some way trace back or connect to the Ingram family.  While Martha Ingram was the driving force behind, among many other things, the Tennessee Performing Arts Center and the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, her son John, who now serves as Chairman of Ingram Industries, is the driving force behind one of Music City's latest loves: Major League Soccer in the form of Nashville SC!  The story of how John and his carefully assembled team brought MLS to Music City has been told before, but never quite like this.   A favorite part of the conversation with John involves his telling of why the green light at the end of Daisy's dock in The Great Gatsby has always spoken to him, "it's all about possibilities."  When John sees the green light, "that's where [he's] headed."  And, we think that's where Nashville is headed, as well.

In the 1950s, Frank Sinatra famously proclaimed Jack Daniel's the “nectar of the gods.”  Sales doubled, the warehouses emptied, and Mr. Daniel's “nectar” was on allocation for the next twenty-five years.  In 2013, a state law in Tennessee established a legal definition of “Tennessee Whiskey” for the first time, better known as the “Lincoln County Process.”  While a few whiskey nerds followed the arcane legal and political developments that paved the way for official “Tennessee Whiskey,” on November 4, 2015 the worlds of music and Tennessee whiskey would again collide when Justin Timberlake made a surprise appearance to join Chris Stapleton on-stage for the 2015 CMA awards.  While Tennessee Whiskey was originally written by Dean Dillon and Linda Hargrove in 1981 and made famous by George Jones in 1983, the Stapleton-Timberlake collab equated to a sonic boom in the worlds of music and brown liquor, bringing a new level of national and international attention to Tennessee's favorite spirit that was now a “category” all its own.  It almost goes without saying that sales of Stapleton's debut studio album, “Traveller,” produced with Dave Cobb, would also explode, winning numerous awards and ultimately becoming the top selling country album of the 2010s.  The story of Tennessee Whiskey is complicated, and fascinating.  Join us for this very special episode of Climbing the Charts as John Brittle, real estate guru and founder of The Whiskey House, a 501(c)(3), and Heath Clark, a recovering healthcare attorney turned whiskey entrepreneur and founder of H Clark Distillery, tell us the incredible true story of how Tennessee went from almost 1,000 distilleries before Prohibition, to having just TWO distilleries until Prichard's opened in 1997, to now having almost 50 distilleries with almost 30 that are now part of the officially designated “Tennessee Whiskey Trail.”  There are few better at turning phrases or crafting tall-tales than these guests (e.g., “I can have a one-night stand with a bottle of wine, but with a bottle of whiskey, I can have a long-term relationship.” — John G. Brittle).  We promise, whether you are a whiskey novice or aficionado, you will learn a lot and laugh even more through this episode, and you'll also have a true appreciation for the fact that all bourbon is whiskey, but that not even all Tennessee whiskey is “Tennessee Whiskey” . . . . with the exception of Prichard's!       

In this episode, Climbing the Charts sits down with Republican Representative Todd Warner (District 92) and Democratic Representative Aftyn Behn (District 51). Aftyn, increasingly described as the “AOC of Tennessee,” the youngest woman elected to the Tennessee House, is poised to be a fearless advocate for progressive values. Todd, by contrast, is the “Unapologetic Conservative,” a successful business and family man who is devoted to protecting and furthering traditional, conservative values and constitutional freedoms.  These two, who had previously never met, go head-to-head on matters from the Scotty Campbell scandal to the expulsion of the Tennessee Three to reproductive rights, school vouchers, gun control and bipartisanship.  Tennessee politics were a source of outrage, tragedy, and scandal, but also weighty policy debates and memorable humor in 2023, inspiring multiple sketches and commentaries on Colbert and Saturday Night Live. After CTC's discussion with these representatives, we cannot wait to see what's in store in the Tennessee General Assembly in 2024.

On July 21, 2006, the New York Times published an article entitled: “Creating Demand for City Living in Nashville.”  The piece's author, Lisa Chamberlain, noted that at that time, the frenzied pace of downtown residential development was slowing in major cities like New York and Chicago, but in cities like Nashville, “where no residential population had existed, people are suddenly hungry for an urban lifestyle and are willing to pay for it.”  Just three years prior to the publication of this article, there were all of 10 units for sale in downtown Nashville, but then something happened:  “one developer, Anthony Giarratana, is credited with single-handedly creating a market for residential housing in the central business district.”   Booming downtowns with arts and culture and thousands of residents don't happen by accident, and Tony is the first to admit that nothing significant is accomplished single-handedly.  Nonetheless, the story of how Nashville went from having almost no downtown residents in 2003 to about 17,000 twenty years later in 2023 is a truly incredible story that spans law, politics, zoning, vision casting, as well as a truly remarkable levels of persistence (imagine making pitches to 69 banks before a single one says yes to your first residential tower project (The Cumberland).  There's perhaps no better person to tell this utterly fascinating story than the man, the myth, the legend himself: Anthony “Tony” Giarratana.   Tune in for this very special episode, which includes a proper telling of how downtown Nashville came to be what it is today, as well as a wide-ranging discussion of many hot issues, including the East Bank redevelopment, 2024 market forecasts, why 30,000 residents is the magic inflection point for downtowns, why Nashville should embrace taller builders, as well as why he will never complain about “chores.”  Tony also shares a book everyone should read, as well as some eloquent nuggets of hard-won wisdom about the role of kindness in life and in business. 

On this new episode of Climbing the Charts, we sat down with Jon Michael, who after 15 years of toting the metro zoning code under his arm in various roles as a lawyer with Metro, joined the local Nashville law firm of Thompson Burton PLLC to create his own land use practice. If you have ever listened to a conversation about development, attended a Metro Planning Commission meeting, or have even just heard someone at the office water fountain spouting acronyms like AR2a, RS80, R20, R6, OR20, or MUL, you may have guessed that you are in the presence of Nashville's zoning code. After the acronyms are rattled off, someone then usually utters a name: Jon Michael. Legal entrepreneurs are a different class of entrepreneurs, as most view attorneys as risk-averse, or at least extremely calculating, by nature.  But, Jon Michael is cut from a bit of a different cloth.  The son of a preacher who grew up in Dickson, TN, Jon shares his entrepreneurial story with us – and it is a great story filled with trials and tribulations. The best careers are often non-linear, and Jon's is no exception.  In addition to being a gifted raconteur, Jon is a true student of about everything and brings an insatiable curiosity to life.  Every city in America has struggled with how to regulate the “sharing economy,” which in Music City includes a thriving short-term rental market (think Airbnb and VRBO).  As the Metro Zoning Administrator from 2018 to 2021, Jon was at the center of the efforts to balance commerce/tourism and community and neighborhood quality of life concerns.  Most observers think Nashville has struck a good balance, especially compared to some cities (think: NYC).  Jon shares his thoughts on this topic, but also offers his vision for how Nashville can continue to grow smartly.  With rumors of a massive overall to the Metro Code in the not too distant future, it's almost a given as well that Jon will play a significant role in that process for only a handful of attorneys have such deep knowledge and expertise in the area. We promise you will learn some very interesting things in this inviting conversation, as well as learn more about Jon's path from public servant to private entrepreneur, political connector, dad, husband, and humorist.  Jon's new role is something he views as neither pro-development nor pro-neighborhood, but “pro-Nashville.” 

For the launch of Episode 1 of Season 3, Climbing the Charts sat down with Sam Davidson, who on June 28, 2023, was announced as Jane Allen's successor as the next CEO of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center (EC).  Sam hit the ground running in this high visibility, high impact new role, which he describes on his Linkedin profile as: “Working to make Nashville the most entrepreneurial city in America.”   For more than a decade, the EC has connected entrepreneurs with critical resources to create, launch, and grow businesses, and has become a centerpiece of the connective tissue and business ecosystem of Music City.  Sam provides us with an overview of the EC's current programs and services, as well as provides some truly fascinating metrics about its impact and successes in a city that now boasts 2 million people and 53,000 businesses.   During our conversation with Sam, we learn about his path as a four-time entrepreneur, author of three books, and noted speaker, as well as some of the unique experiences, both business and personal, that have shaped him and the thinking he brings to bear in his new role. Sam also has some incredible insights and advice for would-be entrepreneurs, as well as those trying to scale their businesses.  Learn why Sam believes adaptability is the thread that unites the most successful entrepreneurs, and how the single most critical factor for success is “access to a mentor” (that's where the EC comes in).  Sam also offers some fascinating insights on the role community plays in personal and business successes, and explains what he means that the height of his success is “directly related to the depth of my community.”   We promise you will learn some very interesting things in this inviting conversation, as well as learn more about Sam's vision and future plans for the Nashville EC.  Music City was ranked as the 4th best city for starting a business by Inc in 2020, so we still have work to do to achieve Sam's vision of Nashville as the most entrepreneurial city in America!

Early voting begins 20 days before an election and typically ends 5 days before Election Day.  Translated to the current election for Nashville Mayor and other local runoff elections, that means early voting started August 25th and will run until September 9th, with Election Day being September 14th. In the general election, which took place on Thursday, August 3rd,  101,245 votes were cast.  Councilmember O'Connell garnered 27,470 votes, or 27.13%, while Alice Rolli placed 2nd with 17,186 votes, which was good for 20.21% of the total vote.  But, with no candidate earning more than 50% + 1 of the total votes cast, Nashville now heads to a runoff election to decide who will become Music City's 10th mayor (since the consolidation of the Metro Government in 1963!). Both Alice Rolli and Freddie O'Connell joined Climbing the Charts as mayoral candidates – Freddie in October 2022 (when the field was small and many assumed Mayor Cooper would seek a second term and would be a formidable incumbent), and then Alice in April 2023 (after the field had greatly expanded after Mayor Cooper announced he would NOT seek a second term) - and were some of our most memorable guests on Season 1 and Season 2 of the show.  With a new introduction to frame the race, Climbing the Charts is now re-releasing those episodes as Nashville goes to the polls to elect a new mayor!  The stakes are high, and we believe these long-form interviews present one of the very best ways to access the thoughts, beliefs, decision-making qualities, and personalities of these two very smart, highly educated, and dynamic leaders that are now seeking to become Music City's next mayor.

Early voting begins 20 days before an election and typically ends 5 days before Election Day.  Translated to the current election for Nashville Mayor and other local runoff elections, that means early voting started August 25th and will run until September 9th, with Election Day being September 14th. In the general election, which took place on Thursday, August 3rd,  101,245 votes were cast.  Councilmember O'Connell garnered 27,470 votes, or 27.13%, while Alice Rolli placed 2nd with 17,186 votes, which was good for 20.21% of the total vote.  But, with no candidate earning more than 50% + 1 of the total votes cast, Nashville now heads to a runoff election to decide who will become Music City's 10th mayor (since the consolidation of the Metro Government in 1963!). Both Alice Rolli and Freddie O'Connell joined Climbing the Charts as mayoral candidates – Freddie in October 2022 (when the field was small and many assumed Mayor Cooper would seek a second term and would be a formidable incumbent), and then Alice in April 2023 (after the field had greatly expanded after Mayor Cooper announced he would NOT seek a second term) - and were some of our most memorable guests on Season 1 and Season 2 of the show.  With a new introduction to frame the race, Climbing the Charts is now re-releasing those episodes as Nashville goes to the polls to elect a new mayor!  The stakes are high, and we believe these long-form interviews present one of the very best ways to access the thoughts, beliefs, decision-making qualities, and personalities of these two very smart, highly educated, and dynamic leaders that are now seeking to become Music City's next mayor.

In the recently released Travel + Leisure rankings of "The 24 Best New Luxury City Hotels Around the World,” readers likely nodded at Xenodocheio Milos in Athens.; however, #2 was likely to come as something of a surprise: Four Seasons Hotel Nashville.  In the words of Travel + Leisure, “It wasn't that long ago that a pairing of the Four Seasons and Nashville would've seemed unlikely.  But times have changed for both the iconic hotel brand and Music City.” The Four Seasons Nashville is not just a luxury hotel, however.  The tower also has 144 private residence, luxury condominums.  Many local real estate observers were skeptical that Nashville had a deep enough luxury market to support this sort of project, a project where a handful of units had listing prices in the eight figure ranges.  Spoiler alert—all the Four Seasons Residences were sold before construction was even complete.   So, how was Four Seasons persuaded to plant a flag in Nashville, and how did Nashville attract Four Seasons? On this very special episode of Climbing the Charts, we sit down with Dean Stratouly.  He's the CEO of the Congress Group, based in Boston, and has been, for almost a decade now, the driving force behind the answers to those questions.  Dean shares with us how he went from selling nuclear power plants to developing skyline shaping properties – like the Four Seasons Nashville.  And Dean isn't done in Nashville; he's just getting started.  Dean offers unvarnished takes on today's real estate market, explains how Nashville can ensure better and smarter development, and offers his assessment of the current state of Music City: “I'm as bullish on Nashville today as I was seven years ago when I got here. It continues to have all the potential, more potential than just about any other market that I've seen in the last three or four years.” Join us for a conversation that will raise your real estate IQ and inspire you as to what's possible on one's professional journey, including the role of chance encounters and self-manufactured luck.  

Climbing the Charts sat down with Vivian Wilhoite, a former two-term member of the Metro Council (District 29) and current Assessor of Property for Davidson County (since 2016).  And on April 28th, 2023, she formally announced that she would be auditioning for her biggest role yet:  Mayor of Music City.    Among the top ten candidates vying to become Nashville's 10th mayor since the consolidation of the Metro Government in 1963, Vivian is now one of FOUR African-American women candidates.  If elected, Vivian would become the first African-American mayor of Music City, and only the second woman.  Vivian has been a trailblazer since, at the encouragement of her cousin Homer R. Wheaton - aka, “Uncle Homer" - she arrived in Nashville from Gulfport, Mississippi to attend college at Tennessee State University (TSU).   Vivian tells us her story of how she got a start in a real estate career – first as a real estate appraiser with the Tennessee Regulatory Authority (TRA), where she would become Chief of the Consumer Services Division, to her current role as the head of a team of 87 professionals at the Office of the Assessor of Property—a government services division that would be selected as a finalist for the Nashville Business Journal's “Best of Business” awards in 2022.  This episode will be of particular interest to anyone who wants to gain a deep(er) understanding of property values and property taxes in Davidson County.  Vivians explains what her office does, how it differs from the role of the Davidson Country Trustee, and explains how her office's role interplays with state law, including “equalization,” as well as the roles of the Mayor and Metro Council in the overall process (a fascinatingly complex process that few people, including even many “experts,” do not fully understand!).    Lastly, Vivian reveals her personal side, including her love of various types of music, shares some her personal and professional accomplishments, and tells us about the wells from which she derives much of her energy and motivation.  With the release of this episode, Climbing the Charts concludes its conversations with the top ten (10) candidates vying to become Nashville's next mayor in 2023.  If you or someone you know is trying to decide who to vote for, please pass along the recommendation to listen to our conversations in a long-form format that gets beneath the surface and sound bites and provides a more real, 3D, way to get to know the candidates.

On this very special episode of Climbing the Climbs, we are joined by John Cooper, Music City's 9th Mayor (since the consolidation of the Metro Government in 1963).  One of the few things Mayor Cooper's champions and critics can both agree on is that he served a term that was almost Biblical in nature.  His first week on the job, the city was threatened with receivership by the State of Tennessee.  And, that fact is almost forgotten because of shadows cast by subsequent events:  the worst global pandemic in a century and one that caused him to shut down the city,  the most destructive tornado the city has ever experienced, a Christmas Day bombing that 2nd Avenue still hasn't recovered from 3 years later, and an almost existential threat posed by a supermajority Republican General Assembly.  And then there was the Covenant school shooting that captured the attention of the nation and the world. Mayor Cooper offers a candid take on the most challenging events he confronted as Mayor, telling us that it's “actually very inspiring to be a mayor when you have these kinds of challenges because people really come together.”  Mayor Cooper believes one of his greatest legacies will be his financial stewardship as the CEO of Music City.  He describes the status of Nashville's finances, when he first took office after a reluctant decision to run for Mayor, as “broke” but “disguising its broke-ness through several deceptive budget practices.”  Even some of Cooper's harshest critics will have to concede some points as he offers strong empirical support for his record, which includes dramatically raising funding for public education, creating a living wage for Metro employees, and turning around the city's credit rating.  Mayor Cooper also offers a master class in negotiations by walking us thru the salient details of the Titans Stadium deal, explaining why critics of the stadium deal are simply wrong—or worse, engaging in all all too popular cynicism in their often deceptive attacks on the deal which he says will pave the way for Nashville's “biggest next chapter.” Mayor Cooper explains what qualities Nashvillians should seek out when selecting our next mayor, and explains some of the aspects of being mayor that many may not fully appreciate or fully understand.  Finally, Mayor Cooper offers some truly fascinating insights and concluding thoughts about his beloved city's past, present, and future, including why he thinks Music City is poised to be the “human connection capital in America.”  That theme was, and is, the driving inspiration for the Climbing the Charts podcast, and we can't wait for our listeners to hear Mayor Cooper's thoughts on the subject. 

Climbing the Charts sat down with Meg Epstein, Founder and CEO of CA South.  Meg launched CA South in January 2016, and despite being just 7 years old now, CA South has over a billion dollars in projects and related real estate assets under its belt, notching a place as one of the leading real estate businesses in Music City.  Meg has garnered numerous accolades along the way, including being a NBJ “CEO of the Year” winner in 2022, and the Entrepreneur Center's Entrepreneur of 2022.   Award Category.  Meg is one of a new generation of women real estate developers in Nashville shaping the city's skyline and helping write its next chapter. During our conversation with Meg, we learn about her early years on the West Coast (as a clever listener might surmise, Meg moved to Nashville from California, ergo, CA South), her work as a project manager for Orion & Finton Group, and how she came to found CA South, as well as become the managing member of a private equity fund affiliated with it.  Meg explains her commitment to non-profit work, the importance of family, and what has driven her to reach such high levels at a relatively young age.  Meg also weighs in about recent events and politics in the city, including the upcoming Mayor's race, and shares what keeps her inspired each and every day.   We promise you will learn some very interesting things in this inviting conversation, as well as hear Meg's advice to entrepreneurs and especially those who want to make a name for themselves in real estate!  

Climbing the Charts sat down with Fran Bush, a former Metro Nashville School Board Member and owner and director of Model Kids Learning Academy which, provides childcare services to some of Nashville's neediest families in growing communities. While some might say that running for Mayor is Fran's biggest challenge yet, it's hard to agree with that after she shares her life story, which is both fascinating and genuinely inspiring.  While Fran shares her vision for Nashville and previews what a Mayor Bush administration might look like, including her top priorities as mayor, she also tells us about her youth growing up in North Nashville, what it was like entering the foster care system at age 12, and also what it was like to attend Metro Public Schools – and McGavock High School, in particular – during desegregation and the inception of “busing.”  For anyone interested in education, foster parenting, foster care, or the outsized influence that teachers can and do have in the lives of their students, this is a must listen. 

Climbing the Charts sat down with Senator Heidi Campbell – a Nashville native, former Mayor of Oak Hill, the first Democrat to flip a Tennessee State Senate Seat since 2006, and now a leading candidate to become Music City's next mayor!   Heidi shares her thoughts with us about what it takes to lead in a fiscally responsible, data-based, and compassionate way.  She can boast being the only former musician and songwriter in the field (spoiler alert – her band, The Keep, performed at Lilith Fair!).  Heidi tells us what it means to her to be the first female Mayor of Oak Hill and the first female elected to the State Senate as the State Senator for Tennessee District 20, also making her the first Democrat to flip a State Senate seat since 2006. Heidi also recently ran a very competitive race for Tennessee's Fifth Congressional District but was defeated by Republican Andy Ogles in a gerrymandered contest that you'll learn more about in today's episode.   Senator Campbell now aims to win her fifth political race, the 2023 election for Mayor of Nashville. Today's discussion covers a wide range of topics (including Heidi's take on solid waste, affordable housing, public education, and gun reform) and delves into the power that the Mayor of Nashville has to effect broader change – and so much more!   

Climbing the Charts sat down with Alice Rolli, a serial entrepreneur, a teacher and former special assistant to then US Tennessee Republican Senator Lamar Alexander.  Alice has now worn many hats in the private and public sectors, with the common thread among those roles being education and technology, and is currently auditioning for her biggest role yet as a candidate for mayor of Music City.  Alice is a believer that education can change the trajectory of lives and even those of cities, in Nashville.     During our conversation with Alice, we hear about her experience deciding to run for mayor, what she's learned from her from her private and public sector experiences, and how she came to serve as the campaign manager for Lamar Alexander's 2014 U.S. Senate campaign. She tells us what it was like to go from Nashville to study at Stanford University and what first sparked her deep and abiding passion for education.  We discuss different issues, including reading help for every first grader, school safety, and how her position as a centrist Republican candidate will differ from the rest of the field of candidates vying to become Nashville's next Mayor. We also discuss the critical importance of mentors, role models, and do a deep dive into tax issues and some finer points of economic development.    As always, we end our insightful conversation with some fun questions. If you want to hear her 2033 Nashville vision, do not miss out on this new episode of Climbing the Charts!

Climbing the Charts sat down for an engaging, and wide-ranging, conversation with Tennessee State Senator Jeff Yarbro (District 21) who is now running to become Music City's next Mayor.  In this episode, we find out why Senator Yarbro is running for Mayor, catch up on some important legal developments (mini-spoiler alert—the State bill to eliminate runoff elections in Tennessee has been successfully quashed, and the court challenge to prevent the state's forced shrinkage of the Metro Council has also been successful – two developments Senator discusses from his front row seat to these developments).  This episode was recorded just after the tragic shooting at The Covenant School, and Senator Yarbro also shares how the event affected both he and his family, as well as offers a first-hand account of the response in the Tennessee legislature, including its consideration of red flag laws.  Tune in to hear our guest's take on the role and responsibility of a mayor, the type of action that needs to be taken regarding gun violence, how Nashville citizens can be supported amidst the city's exponential pace of growth, as well as his considered take on the “Tennessee Three.”

Climbing the Charts sat down with Natisha Brooks, a retired educator and former Republican candidate for the fifth congressional district of Tennessee, who recently entered the 2023 race for Nashville mayor. Natisha has occupied various teaching roles but is best known for her position as the owner and director of Brooks Home School and Tutoring. We learn about Natisha's decision to enter the mayoral race and the issues she is most passionate about. She breaks down her top three priorities as a mayoral candidate and explains what she plans to do to address excessively high tax rates, empower teachers, and increase access to mental health. Natisha also expands on why she describes herself as a Christian Conservative Constitutionalist (and it's probably not what you think!), her profound respect for all religions, and why she believes the US Constitution is meant to serve all Americans. Listen in to learn more about Natisha, including her top book recommendation and her favorite breakfast spot in Nashville.

Climbing the Charts sat down with Metro Council Member Sharon Hurt, the current Executor Director of StreetWorks, the retired CEO of the Jefferson Street United Merchants Partnership (JUMP) and a recently announced candidate for the 2023 Nashville Mayoral race. Council Member Hurt shares some of the fascinating history of Jefferson Street (including tales of Jimi Hendrix's visits when he was stationed at Fort Campbell) and her incredible work as the CEO of JUMP, shares her thoughts on the differences between politicians and leaders, and also offers her candid assessment of the recent decision by that the State of Tennessee to reject federal funding from the CDC for HIV/AIDS prevention and outreach.  Council Member Hurt makes it clear that Nashville needs all of its people, just as Jordan needed his team, to be a success; and she makes it clear that she is a truthteller, unbossed and unbought.

Climbing the Charts sat down with Jim Gingrich, a Nashville Business Journal Newsmaker of the Year and former COO of Alliance Bernstein.  Jim gives an insider's account of what attracted both he and Alliance Bernstein to Music City, and offers thoughts about the importance of civic engagements and what is so special about Nashville's nonprofit sector.  Jim also shares his thoughts on productivity and business books (spoiler alert: there's only 1 business book he finds to be worthwhile).

Climbing the Charts sits down with Gray Sasser, Executive Director of The Vanderbilt Project on Unity and Democracy, and TJ Ducklo, Chief Communications Officer and Senior Adviser to Nashville Mayor John Cooper and former National Press Secretary for the Biden 2020 Campaign and Deputy Press Secretary to the President. Listen in as these two gentlemen share why writing well is one of the most important skills any high school student with an interest in politics could possibly learn, why we should all be paying attention to the Vanderbilt Unity Index, why college students are yearning for the next Robert Kennedy, what the 2022 mid-term elections tell us about the state of democracy in America today, and how reality itself is constructed in the age of social media. 

Climbing the Charts sits down with Bob Freeman, a buzzed about 2023 Nashville mayoral candidate, the current Tennessee House Representative for District 56 and the Executive Vice President of Freeman Webb Co.  Bob shares his advice for young entrepreneurs with no capital or connections, his advice on how to stay motivated in Nashville real estate even in a tough market and shares his perspective that bipartisanship is the only way to properly serve the people of Tennessee.

Climbing the Charts sits down with Davidson County Metro CouncilMember Freddie O'Connell, a candidate in the 2023 Nashville mayoral election.  Ready for Freddie is not just an acclaimed 1962 Blue Note album by trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, it is also the catchy campaign slogan for O'Connell, who was recently voted Best Metro CouncilMember for the sixth year in a row in the Nashville Scene Reader's poll.  Listen in as O'Connell shares his vision for the future of Nashville, gives a brief overview of the duties of Metro Council and shares whether he thinks pedal taverns are just fun or REALLY fun.

Climbing the Charts sits down with Hal Cato, arguably the most influential person in the Nashville nonprofit sector and the newly named CEO of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.  Hal endearingly describes how he has always been attracted to the underdog, tells how Meals on Wheels was the spark that ignited him to found Hands on Nashville and shares his philosophy on how volunteers can elevate the impact of their service.

Climbing the Charts sits down with Matt Wiltshire, a candidate in the 2023 Nashville mayoral election.  Matt shares who makes him dream bigger, what his favorite job in politics has been and lets us in on the powerful story he would tell companies moving to Nashville when he was the Director of Mayor Dean's Office of Economic and Community Development.

Climbing the Charts sits down with Mayor Karl Dean, one of the most successful and admired mayors of Nashville.  Mayor Dean shares his life post-politics, gives some advice to those seeking political careers and shares his thoughts on how entrepreneurs can best be involved in their communities.

Jason Martin, the Democratic nominee for the Governor of Tennessee, discusses his favorite music, his position on guns, grits and God and why he believes he will be the first Democratic Governor elected in the State of Tennessee since Phil Bredesen was re-elected in 2006.    https://martinfortn.com/  

Welcome to the “Climbing the Charts” podcast.  Each week, your hosts - Angie Lawless and Brandon Miller - will challenge you to become more involved in your community, to take on grassroot efforts where you can find meaning whether that be in your neighborhood, church, city, to learn more about your surroundings rather than just tuning them out as you drive through your neighborhood. Along with tangible tips and personal stories, Angie and Brandon are bringing on experts and influencers to figure out how they have used their unique talents to influence their world. In season 1, they will be focusing on the political leaders of the city and the state! Angie and Brandon are entrepreneurs who have started several Nashville businesses, authors, real estate investors, and have lived in Nashville for 20+ years. Now it's your turn to learn from them. Thanks to our sponsors Wagon Wheel Title and Lockeland Insurance Advisors: https://wagonwheeltitle.com/ ; www.heylockeland.com