Local Matters

Ben Rogers sits down with Dean Selby, Executive Director of the Upper Cumberland Regional Airport, and Ryan Traversa, Director of Drones and Advanced Aviation for TDOT. A former Marine and early drone enthusiast, Ryan shares his journey through MTSU's Aerospace Program and dives into the evolving world of drone operations — from aerial surveying to commercial delivery. Together, they discuss the complexities and potential of drone technology, aiming to reassure Tennessee residents that these innovations aren't something to fear, but a glimpse into the future of everyday convenience and efficiency. Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1

Dr. Peggy Larlosky joins Dr. Jennifer Mabry and Dr. Emily Lee to discuss mental health awareness, stigma, myths and advice on taking charge of your mental health during Mental Health Awareness Month. Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1

Tiffany Anton talks with Billy Rogers, founder of Men of Faith Tree Service, to talk about tree care, second chances, and the power of faith. Billy shares how he went from addiction to entrepreneurship, using his journey to serve others through his business and his involvement in Celebrate Recovery. Tune in for a story of redemption, purpose, and leaving a legacy that changes hearts. Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1

Jeremy Wendt sits down with Warren County native, Daniel Bratcher, to explore his journey from machinist student—following in his father's footsteps at TCAT McMinnville—to now overseeing outreach and partnerships. They dive into dual-enrollment programs across regional schools, TCAT's diverse vocational offerings, and how collaborations with local businesses and high schools equip students for direct entry into the workforce. Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1

On today's episode, George Halford sits down with Nate Dunlap, a recent Tennessee Tech graduate originally from Tullahoma. Nate moved to Florida at age 3 and returned to Tennessee around age 12. His passion for understanding how things work led him to excel in math and robotics during high school. At Tennessee Tech, he became a standout member of the Cybersecurity Education, Research & Outreach Center (CEROC), helping his team secure second place in the 2023 Department of Energy CyberForce competition and placing in top tiers of regional CTF events. He also co-developed YourTour, an award-winning travel app prototype that took first place at the February 2025 Eagle Works Idea Challenge. Nate praises Tech as an excellent choice for cybersecurity and robotics education, and previews the YourTour pilot launching this August, with a full app rollout expected by spring 2026. Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1

Ben Rogers sits down with retired Executive Director Dow Harris and newly appointed Chris Cassety of Highland Residential Services to reflect on their years working together in affordable housing. Dow shares heartfelt, humorous, and harrowing stories from his time in the field, while Chris recalls favorite memories and looks ahead to the future. Together, they celebrate Dow's legacy and officially welcome Chris into his new role. Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1

During this episode, our host Emily Lee interviews our other host, Jennifer Mabry! In Honor of the previous National High Blood Pressure Education/ Hypertension Awareness Month—Dr. Mabry will be spotlighting these issues. Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1

During this episode, our host Tiffany Anton talks to the executive director of Charter Senior Living about the services they offer, Dawn's background that led her to this position, the impact it has on our community, and more! Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1

Jeremy Wendt visits with Carroll Gotcher, Director of the Jackson County Middle and High School bands. With 31 years of experience, Gotcher reflects on his journey—from playing in band throughout school to initially choosing mechanical engineering in college while caught up in the typical distractions of teenage life. Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1

George Halford sits down with Jett Stevens, director of Hope Ministries in Livingston, TN, and Josh Cobble, his program coordinator. Together, they aim to expand Hope Ministries across the Upper Cumberland region. Hope Center Ministries is a faith-based nonprofit supported by local churches, offering a three-phase, Christ-centered recovery program for men. Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1

On today's episode, Ben Rodgers sits down with Derrick Hutchings, Chair of the White County Commission and a member of its Budget Committee. Derrick shares how he discovered a passion for public service by regularly attending county commission meetings—and now serves as the first-time commissioner leading budget discussions. He dives into the challenges facing White County's finances, including proposed changes to property and sales tax, and details which budget items have been approved or cut in the current fiscal plan. Derrick also addresses ongoing county job vacancies and outlines what residents can expect in the year ahead under the new budget, balancing service improvements with fiscal responsibility. Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1

Derek Woolbright walks us through the many different positions he's worked, and busts a few emergency medical myths along the way. Additonally, helpful tips and tricks you could take to keep yourself safe throughout life are discussed, as well as National Safety Month. Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1

In this episode, Tiffany Anton chats with Cy Sears, owner of Serious SEM, about his journey from Yellow Pages to digital marketing and web design. Cy shares insights on the value of original content, building business websites that act as true assets, and why customized ad leads outperform generic ones. Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1

Nicholas Bishop, VP of Economic and Community Development at Volunteer State Community College, discusses enhancing K–12 education through community partnerships, expanding workforce pathways, and integrating AI tools for student success. Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1

George Halford sits down with Jill Stalnaker to explore her unique journey—from growing up in Brussels Belgium and Michigan to moving to Cookeville at age 9, eventually homeschooling through middle school. Jill opens up about how a traumatic divorce five years ago became a catalyst for personal growth and achievement. As a teen she served with churches in France and Germany, inspired by her father's international career as a criminal defense attorney and author—but charted her own path. Now working in the mental health field, Jill shares how her faith has guided and continues to inspire her career and life. Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1

Today, Ben Rogers and Putnam County Mayor Randy Porter discuss the 2025-26 fiscal year and what lies ahead for the Upper Cumberland. They discuss rising employment among county workers, budget increases driven by inflation and community growth, and the positive trajectory of sales tax revenue—along with how that tax is divided among various county funds. The conversation also highlights school funding, long-term savings since 2014, and the importance of maintaining a healthy fund balance, as well as how the economy may impact that balance in the years to come. News Talk 94.1

Today Drs. Jennifer Mabry and Emily Lee discuss the importance of screenings, regular checkups and preventative measures for avoid illness and injury, and vaccinations for reaching long term health goals for men in the Upper Cumberland for Men's Health Month with Dr. Ernie Buchanan of Upper Cumberland Family Physicians. Listen to the Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1

Tiffany Anton sits down with Beth Ruck, owner of Conquering Clutter, to explore the art of decluttering and its profound impact on daily life. Beth shares practical strategies for deciding what to keep and what to part with, she discusses her personalized organizing services, and more! Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1

In this episode, host Jeremy Wendt sits down with Meredith Flatt, a dance educator in Putnam County, shares her passion for teaching multiple dance styles and history, fostering a strong local dance community, and exposing students to diverse artistic expressions! Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1

George Halford chats with Liz Wilkinson, a Cookeville native whose journey has taken her from Oak Ridge to North Carolina and back home again. Liz shares her lifelong love of the outdoors, her passion for biking, and how she's helping connect the community through the TN Central Trails grants and local business partnerships. Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1

Host Ben Rodgers interviews Gage Farmer, an entrepreneur from Dalton, Georgia, now serving as Vice Chairman of Economic Development and Tourism for Van Buren County. They discuss local restaurants within city limits, the Tourism Comittee's vision for revitalizing historic downtown Spencer, and ongoing efforts to secure grants for community development. Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1

In this episode, physical therapists Jake Huit and Peyton Garrett sit down with our hosts Dr. Jennifer Mabry and Dr. Emily Lee to discuss the importance of maintaining physical health and share strategies for injury prevention and recovery. Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1

The story behind how these three sisters fell in love with education and followed their passion into the Putnam Co. education system. Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1

Ben Rogers sits down with Steve Pierce, Property Assessor for Putnam County, to talk about the upcoming budget season and the budget reappraisal process. Steve breaks down the behind-the-scenes work, the systems used, and how varying budget cycle lengths can impact taxes—explaining why shorter cycles tend to benefit taxpayers and the community. He also sheds light on the key differences between sales analyses and sales ratios. Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1

Listen in as hosts Dr. Jennifer Mabry and Dr. Emily Lee sit down with Sheena and Marie Mosley. They are a mother daughter duo and they own START CPR in Cookeville. They talk all about the importance of basic CPR training, their experiences in teaching, and more! Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1

Our host Tiffany Anton sits down with Brent, Jamie, and Maggie Watts who are opening The Love Birds Creamery in Baxter. They discuss how they came up with their idea, what made them choose a creamery, what will set them apart, and more! Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1

Listen in as host Jeremy Wendt sits down with Mary Jane Allen, who is the principal at North Cumberland Elementary School in Cumberland County. Listen to her story as she recounts what led her to this area from Canada originally, how her faith has changed her life, and more. Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1

Listen in as host George Halford sits down with the Founder of Cooperative Aid, Michele Wyatt. She has a passion for serving God by working through her nonprofit to lead mission trips and reach people across the globe. Hear about her family, upbringing, faith, work, fundraising, what landed her in our area, and more! Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1

Hear our host Ben Rodgers speak with the new Mayor of Baxter, Danny Holmes. They talk about what has been improving in Baxter, the opinions of the citizens and city employees, upcoming growth updates, Danny's perspective on transitioning into the role, and more! Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1

Listen in as Dr. Jennifer Mabry and Dr. Emily Lee sit down with Sara Johnson. This episode raises awareness about communication disorders, and the importance of early intervention and access to care. Sara owns her own speech pathology practice in Cookeville, and she speaks on her experience in the field as it relates to Speech, Language, Hearing, and communication in general. Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1

During this episode, our host Tiffany Anton sits down with Tate Craig who is the owner of Mint To Be in Cookeville. Mint To Be is a wedding chapel and venue service that is brand new. Hear about Tate's passion, how she created her space and business, and more. Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1

During this episode, our host Jeremy Wendt sits down with Clif Matlock, who is currently serving at Upperman Middle School. He has been in the education sector for decades and today, we hear about his legacy and how it's based on the success of his students. Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1

During this episode, our hosts Dr. Jennifer Mabry and Dr. Emily Lee sit down with Julie Randolph to talk about bedwetting. Julie discusses her journey into pediatric urology... how she began, the work she does now, etc. and shares her insight into bedwetting. Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1

Our host Tiffany Anton sits down with Bruce Helton And Zach Sing who work at Print Link Printing. This is a commercial printing company that is local to Cookeville. They started off as a print broker then bought equipment and began working on their own. Hear all about how printing has changed across 29 years, the work Bruce and Zach do for the company, it's future, and more! Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1

During this episode, our host Jeremy Wendt sits down with Renee Craig who is a teacher at Upperman High School. She teaches theater, drama, yearbook, English, and more! They discuss how she became a teacher, her education, work in the theater department, how she develops performances, and more! Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1

Zach Ledbetter is the Director Of Outreach And Engagement for the department of tourism in Cookeville - Putnam County. He sits down with our host, George Halford, to discuss him growing up here, his friends/passions, hobbies, family, faith, and more! Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1

Our host Ben Rodgers sits down with the City Administrator for Algood, Keith Morrison. They talk all about what's going on in the city. Budgeting, planning, timelines, and more. Listen in for all of your important up-to-date Algood information. Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1

During this episode, hear about the experience that Ashley Coon has had as a nurse practitioner at the Cookeville Health Department. More specifically, hear about the education that she pours into women, especially those who are under insured/without insurance. This episode is all about nursing as a profession! Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1

During this episode, our host Tiffany Anton talks to the owner of Simply Screens, Paul Krupa. Simply Screens keeps the bugs OUT with the highest quality screen solutions - originally in Knoxville, but now serving the Crossville and Cookeville area. Hear about business challenges, development, expertise, and more! Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1

Listen with us as host Jeremy Wendt sits down with Dr. Catherine Jones who is the principal at Prescott South Elementary School. They talk all about her story: how she has gone from Tech Campus School, to opening Northeast and Prescott Central, as well as the new Prescott Elementary. Also hear all things STEM and fun at Prescott South Elementary, strengthening literacy, and more! Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1

Host George Halford sits down with Gene Gant, who is the CEO of Eventa LLC. Eventa provides complex respiratory care, along with other services and is based in Livingston. Hear about Gene's life story and more! Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1

Host Ben Rodgers sits down with Holly Williams and Kelly Clarkson to talk about the Area Agency On Aging And Disability here at the UCDD in Cookeville. Hear about their life stories, what led them to this position, the people they help, requirements, etc. Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1