Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev

Join Kosta and his guest: Luke Ramey, Business Owner, Coach, Photographer and Entrepreneurship Coordinator at The Biz Foundry. In this episode: You've worked with The Biz Foundry from both sides: as a founder and business owner, and now as an expert helping business owners like yourself. What is an Entrepreneurship Coordinator? I know most people listening to this episode have probably driven by the Biz Foundry, or heard of someone renting an office there, but they might not know exactly what it is, or what it does. If you had to give a pitch on the Biz Foundry, what would it be? Being a small business owner is hard. Most small businesses fail within the first five years. How can The Biz Foundry help an existing small business? Find out more about The Biz Foundry:https://thebizfoundry.org/Find out more about the Start Here Pitch Competition: Wednesday, November 18, 2026Doors Open: 5:30pm | Pitches: 6:00pm - 8:00pm37 Cedar ( 37 N Cedar Ave, Cookeville, TN 38501)Free/Registration RequiredRegister Here: https://thebizfoundry.org/events/starthere2026Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN.This episode of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is made possible by our partners at Miss Sallie's Market.Find out more about Miss Sallie's Market:https://www.misssallies.com

Join Kosta and his guest: Dr. Lauren Harding, Associate Professor of Political Science at Tennessee Tech University.In this episode: For the first time in eight years, Tennesseans are picking a new governor. Early voting started last week and we have eleven days until Marsha Blackburn faces off against Jerri Green on November 3. Assuming a party candidate wins, in two weeks Tennessee will have its first female governor. Do you think Blackburn and Green as candidates are shaping how voters think about this race, or is it background noise to our greater political landscape? Thirteen Independents are running in the Governor's race for TN. Currently, polling has (I) David Hatley anywhere from 10% - 20% on favorability and (I) Lauren Pinkston anywhere from 2% - 5%. How does the Independent vote and their candidates change this race? What is an Independent voter in 2026? Democrats haven’t won a governor’s race here in two decades, and Al Gore’s 1990 re-election was the last Senate win for a Democrat in Tennessee. What has the Tennessee GOP done well to build and hold that coalition, and what would realistically have to change for a statewide race to become competitive again? Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN. Important Putnam County (2026 Federal and State Election) Dates and information:Federal and State Elections will be held on November 3rd with early voting from October 14th to October 29th.All early voting for Putnam County voters takes place at the Putnam County Election Commission on 705 County Services Dr, Cookeville, TN 38501.For more information visit on Putnam County polling locations visit: https://putnamcountytn.gov/election-commissionRegister to vote, check your registration or update your voter registration: https://sos.tn.gov/govotetnThis episode of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is made possible by our partners at Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy.Find out more about Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy:https://aspirebarberandbeauty.com

Hey, y'all! This is Kosta and today I’m here with my guest: Allison Clark, Assistant Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator for Tennessee Tech’s Women’s Basketball Team. In this episode: You won or shared the OVC title all four years you played at Tennessee Tech. In the 25-26 season you coached through the league’s final chapter. What did the OVC mean to you, and what’s it like to be part of the staff that turns the page? Last season was a tough one by TTU standards. What did the staff and players learn from it, and what has to look different this year? Recruiting for college sports entered a whole new world since the transfer portal and NIL arrived. What does your job as recruiting coordinator look like now, and how does joining the SoCon change your pitch to players?Find out more about TTU Women's Basketball: https://www.ttusports.com/sports/wbkb/indexBuy Season Tickets for TTU Women's Basketball: https://prod5.agileticketing.net/websales/pages/packagetypeselect.aspxBetter Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN.This episode of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is made possible by our partners at Miss Sallie's Market.Find out more about Miss Sallie's Market:https://www.misssallies.com

Join Kosta and his guest: Jerri Green, Memphis City Council Member, Chief Public Defender and Democratic Candidate for Governor of Tennessee.In this Episode: We’re recording this interview on Friday, October 16th, early voting has started in Tennessee, election day is 18 days away. Tennessee hasn’t elected a Democratic governor since 2006. The latest Beacon poll has you down 21 points among likely voters, 55 to 34. What do you know about this race that the polls don’t? You’ve called Marsha Blackburn a coward for refusing to debate, as a constituent, I agree. If you were up 20 points, would you debate you? What does it tell voters that the only debate on the calendar is you and two independents? Cookeville is about three hundred from Memphis, it might as well be another state. When people in Putnam County hear Memphis Politician, they hear someone who doesn’t understand Putnam County. Throughout your campaign you’ve made a point to remind voters you’ve lived in Knoxville, Nashville, and Memphis. But what do you understand about life in the Upper Cumberland, and what have rural voters taught you that you didn’t know before this campaign?Find out more about Jerri Green:https://greenforgovernor.com/about/Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Knoxville, TN at the University of Tennessee. Special thanks to Knox County Young Democrats, Madeline Rust, Solomon Trapp and Tennessee College Democrats. Important Putnam County (2026 Federal and State Election) Dates and information:Federal and State Elections will be held on November 3rd with early voting from October 14th to October 29th.All early voting for Putnam County voters takes place at the Putnam County Election Commission on 705 County Services Dr, Cookeville, TN 38501.For more information visit on Putnam County polling locations visit: https://putnamcountytn.gov/election-commissionRegister to vote, check your registration or update your voter registration: https://sos.tn.gov/govotetnThis episode of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is made possible by our partners at Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy.Find out more about Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy:https://aspirebarberandbeauty.com

Join Kosta and his guest: Danny Holmes, Mayor for the City of Baxter and County Commissioner for Putnam County Commission District 8. In this episode: According to the Tennessee State Data Center, Baxter is the fastest growing municipality in Tennessee with a population under 5,000 seeing a 35% increase in population from 2020 to 2025. Congratulations. What’s bringing us to Baxter? In 2024 you won your race for Baxter Mayor as a write-in candidate after resigning as Chief of Police. What did this win tell you about what kind of leadership Baxter needs and do you believe you’ve fulfilled those expectations? You’re an institution of Baxter and Putnam County. How much of the Baxter you grew up with still exists today? How do we manage growth and preserve legacy at the same time? Find out more about the City of Baxter:https://www.baxtertn.govBetter Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN.This episode of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is made possible by our partners at Miss Sallie's Market.Find out more about Miss Sallie's Market:https://www.misssallies.com

Join Kosta and his guest: Grayson Cupit, Senior Software Engineer at Disney Streaming and Board President for the Culture Shock Collective.In this episode: You’re exactly the kind of person we say we want to move to Cookeville. You’re a software engineer, community organizer, professional musician and a member of the least likely generation to move to Putnam County: Millennial. As a published researcher studying community resiliency, why do Millennials not want to move here? Cookeville and Putnam County are at a critical inflection point, and whether we want to admit it or not, in the very near future we’ll have to make decisions on topics like artificial intelligence, data centers and our digital security that will impact us for decades to come. What do you hope will happen? Do you think our current leadership has the knowledge and tools they need to reasonably make these decisions? You’re the newly elected President of the Board of the local non-profit Culture Shock, a community driven arts and community space working to provide a simple answer to a complex problem and reconnect our wider creative community with itself. Beyond a polished mission statement, what is Culture Shock?Find out more about Culture Shock Collective:https://cultureshocktn.com/Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN.This episode of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is made possible by our partners at Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy.Find out more about Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy:https://aspirebarberandbeauty.com

Join Kosta and his guest: Adam Poe, Vice President of the Highlands Economic Partnership, a collaborative, public/private sector program designed to boost economic and community development in Jackson, Overton, Putnam and White Counties.In this episode: Last week, Highlands Economic Partnership hosted over 4,000 8th graders from 14 counties across the Upper Cumberland for the 8th Grade Career Fair. This is one of my favorite events presented by HEP, but besides being a fun field trip for kids, what does it really accomplish? The 8th grade is a particularly challenging time for any child and their parents, but, as luck would have it, our 8th graders today are also coming of age with one of the greatest technological and economic transformations of our lifetime. From a workforce perspective, why does technology in schools and how we prepare our 8th graders today matter? The first model of ChatGPT was released to the public in November of 2022. Pew Research Center estimates more than 25% of Americans interact with AI at least 3 times a day. What does this mean for schools, employers and the overall digital literacy of every person alive today?Find out more about the Highlands Economic Partnership:https://www.highlandsoftn.com/Find out more about the Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce:https://cookevillechamber.com/Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN.This episode of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is made possible by our partners at Miss Sallie's Market.Find out more about Miss Sallie's Market:https://www.misssallies.com

Join Kosta and his guest: Monica Mowdy, Pastor of WellSpring United Methodist Church, educator, advocate and candidate for Tennessee House of Representatives District 25.In this episode: In the South, you’re everything a candidate should be, and shouldn’t be. You’re a woman, you’re a pastor, you’re a Democrat and you’ve spent your entire life in service to others. I want to start with your Ministry work. What brought you to the United Methodist Church? Do you believe there should be a separation of church and state, and if yes, how do you specifically honor that balance? You’re running in State House District 25, against our neighbor and Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton, what inspired this campaign and have you ever run for local office before? For the past 16 years the Tennessee Republican Party has held a super majority across the state. We’ve grown exponentially during this time by nearly every metric, but not everyone, especially those from Tennessee are feeling the benefits of our growth. What do you say to voters who are feeling left behind despite our successes? Find out more about Monica Mowdy:https://www.electmonica.com/Register to vote, check your registration or update your voter registration: https://sos.tn.gov/govotetnImportant Putnam County (2026 Federal and State Election) Dates and information:Federal and State Elections will be held on November 3rd with early voting from October 14th to October 29th.All early voting for Putnam County voters takes place at the Putnam County Election Commission on 705 County Services Dr, Cookeville, TN 38501.For more information visit on Putnam County polling locations visit: https://putnamcountytn.gov/election-commissionBetter Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN.This episode of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is made possible by our partners at Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy.Find out more about Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy:https://aspirebarberandbeauty.com

Join Kosta and his guest: Dr. Susan Miranda, Executive Director of The Bryan Symphony Orchestra.In this episode: After a nationwide search you were appointed by The Bryan Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors earlier this year as our Executive Director. As a current member, I’d like to extend my sincerest gratitude for all your hard work and dedication. Tell us how you learned about the position and why you choose to join us at the BSO? The Symphony’s kickoff event for the 2026-2027 Season was earlier this week with our Labor Day Concert in Dogwood Park, will you give us a recap for anyone who wasn’t able to attend? Is it uncommon for a town like Cookeville to have a professional orchestra? Why do we have one? How do we keep it?Find out more about The Bryan Symphony Orchestra:https://www.bryansymphony.org/Find out more about Dr. Susan Miranda:https://susanmiranda.com/Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN.This episode of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is made possible by our partners at Miss Sallie's Market.Find out more about Miss Sallie's Market:https://www.misssallies.com

Join Kosta and his guest: Lauren Pinkston, Candidate for Governor of Tennessee, running on the Independent ticket. In this episode: I’ll start with the question that’s haunted me my entire voting life: can an Independent win? Needless to say, it’s not an easy decision to run for Governor of Tennessee. What inspired your candidacy and how did you get here? I’m sure you’re getting a lot of commentary from the left and right, it’s the joy of being an independent candidate. What’s something you want to tell (D) voters? What’s something you want to tell (R) voters?Find out more about Lauren Pinkston: https://www.pinkstonfortn.com/Register to vote, check your registration or update your voter registration: https://sos.tn.gov/govotetnImportant Putnam County (2026 Federal and State Election) Dates and information:Federal and State Elections will be held on November 3rd with early voting from October 14th to October 29th.All early voting for Putnam County voters takes place at the Putnam County Election Commission on 705 County Services Dr, Cookeville, TN 38501.For more information visit on Putnam County polling locations visit: https://putnamcountytn.gov/election-commissionBetter Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN.This episode of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is made possible by our partners at Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy.Find out more about Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy:https://aspirebarberandbeauty.com