America is more divided than ever—but it doesn’t have to be. Open to Debate offers an antidote to the chaos. We bring multiple perspectives together for real, nonpartisan debates. Debates that are structured, respectful, clever, provocative, and driven by the facts. Open to Debate is on a mission to restore balance to the public square through expert moderation, good-faith arguments, and reasoned analysis. We examine the issues of the day with the world’s most influential thinkers spanning s ...
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Education, Sports, Faith & Everything In Between Originating from News Talk 94.1 the show deals with community issues and interests that affect listeners closer to home. With topics from major events across the nation and how they impact our area to interesting people and figures from across the Upper Cumberland. Local Matters is where local, matters. Covering the issues that matter to you. Every weekday.
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You know what it's like when you eaves drop on a private conversation between friends.That's what The Men with Issues podcast is like. Sometimes funny, sometimes politically incorrect but always honest, open and real. Please hit subscribe on this podcast and follow us on instagram. We hope you enjoy
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The Missing Men of Pike County Ohio | Missing Persons Cases Network | Small Town Serial Killer |
Derek Jon DeMasi
Over the coarse of the last few days my research has brought be down a dark and depressing path. I love it though and that is why I know I was born to do this. I have a very dark soul. A soul that I will be opening up to my followers more and more in the coming future. My past and the issues I have overcome has provided a much needed chip on my shoulder. I went to a Top University but I have also been institutionalized in jail and a psych ward. My experiences make this rewarding. This Episod ...
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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 94.1By George Halford, Jeremy Wendt, Tiffany Anton, Jen Mabry & Emily Lee, Ben Rodgers
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Carroll Gotcher Talks All Things Jackson County Band
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32:45Jeremy 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 Po…
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Open to Debate, in partnership with the Human Rights Foundation and the Oslo Freedom Forum, is examining a strategy employed by many countries to respond to aggressive or authoritarian regimes. In recent years, these have been levied against countries such as Russia, Venezuela, and Iran, which have ranged from freezing assets and trade bans to trav…
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Jett Stevens And Josh Cobble On Hope Center Ministries
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33:15George 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 …
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Derrick Hutchings Speaks On Fiscal Year 25-26 White Co. Budget
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33:22On 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 chall…
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Derek Woolbright Discusses National Safety Month & More
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33:37Derek 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…
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Cy Sears And Tiffany Anton On Web Design & Search Marketing
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32:58In 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! Ne…
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Nicholas Bishop And Jeremy Wendt On Building Tennessee's Workforce
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33:24Nicholas 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 94.1By George Halford, Jeremy Wendt, Tiffany Anton, Jen Mabry & Emily Lee, Ben Rodgers
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Under President Trump, America’s role on the global stage is being redefined — but can other countries trust its allyship under his leadership? Critics argue his transactional approach and threats to abandon allies undermine trust and force nations to reconsider their security. Supporters counter that demanding more from partners is “tough love” th…
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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 chur…
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Randy Porter On The Putnam County 2025-26 Fiscal Year Budget
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33:01Today, 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 …
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Dr. Ernie Buchanan And Men's Health Month
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33:07Today 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 …
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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…
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Meredith Flatt On Dancing Through Putnam County
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32:58In 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…
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The new Trump presidency has led to pressure on the First Amendment, and the lines between free expression and political enforcement are blurring. Those who say speech is now freer argue that his actions are restoring viewpoint diversity. Those who argue it’s more restricted argue it’s a crackdown on speech that doesn’t align with the administratio…
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Liz Wilkinson From The Friends Of The Tennessee Central Trail
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33:30George 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 Mat…
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BONUS RELEASE: Can America and Its Allies Tolerate A Nuclear Iran, or Is It Time to Stop Them Now?
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54:02In light of today's breaking news—Israel’s targeted airstrikes on Iranian nuclear and military facilities, and Iran's retaliation—we are re-releasing our episode that confronts one of the most urgent questions of our time. Originally aired in January 2025, this debate has only grown more relevant, with our two experts offering insights critical for…
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Gage Farmer Talks Economic Development/ Tourism in Van Buren Co.
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32:53Host 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 developm…
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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 94.1By George Halford, Jeremy Wendt, Tiffany Anton, Jen Mabry & Emily Lee, Ben Rodgers
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The Landis Sisters - A Teacher/Sister Trio
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33:07The 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 94.1By George Halford, Jeremy Wendt, Tiffany Anton, Jen Mabry & Emily Lee, Ben Rodgers
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Trump's Russia Policies: Return to Normalcy or Defeat for America?
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53:15As he did in this first presidential term, President Trump has continued to signal closer alignment with Vladimir Putin. This included a tense February Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, where he claimed Ukraine was responsible for the war. The U.S. also joined Russia in voting against a UN resolution condemning Russi…
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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 …
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Sheena and Marie Mosely On CPR & AED Awareness Week
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33:43Listen 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…
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The Watts Family And The Love Birds Creamery
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33:13Our 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 94.1By George Halford, Jeremy Wendt, Tiffany Anton, Jen Mabry & Emily Lee, Ben Rodgers
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Mary Jane Allen Talks North Cumberland Elementary
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33:15Listen 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…
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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 Pod…
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Mayor Holmes Talks Growth, Jobs, and Schools
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33:16Hear 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…
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Sara Johnson On National Speech, Language, And Hearing Month
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33:02Listen 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, a…
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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…
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Clif Matlock On Administration And Education
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33:10During 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…
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Think Twice: Original Sin with Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson
1:11:19
1:11:19
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1:11:19Coming off the long weekend, an early release of this week's episode: The first 2024 presidential debate was a turning point in President Biden’s candidacy. In this episode, moderator-in-chief John Donvan and chief content officer Lia Matthow sit down with CNN anchor Jake Tapper and Axios’s Alex Thompson to discuss the book that has Washington buzz…
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With Trump’s return to office, some have high hopes for his relationship with Israel. But amid the Gaza war, will his policies help? Those arguing “yes” say Trump has given Israel unprecedented backing and would continue shifting U.S. policy in favor of Israeli sovereignty and security. Those arguing “no” are concerned that his policies would resul…
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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…
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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 comp…
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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 9…
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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…
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Keith Morrison Gives Updates From The City Of Algood
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33:28Our 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…
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Can the U.S. Outpace China in AI Through Chip Controls?
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53:15The AI revolution is underway, and the U.S. and China are racing to the top. At the heart of this competition are semiconductors—especially advanced GPUs that power everything from natural language processing to autonomous weapons. The U.S. is betting that export controls can help check China’s technological ambitions. But will this containment str…
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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 T…
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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…
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Dr. Catherine Jones From Prescott Elementary
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33:46
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33:46Listen 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, s…
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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 94.1By George Halford, Jeremy Wendt, Tiffany Anton, Jen Mabry & Emily Lee, Ben Rodgers
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Holly Williams & Kelly Clarkson From The UCDD
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33:27Host 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…
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Trump’s First 100 Days: The Economic Agenda
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53:15The first 100 days of President Trump’s second term have come with a wide range of changes for the nation’s economy and global supply chains. Could these changes lead to a more prosperous America, or hardship for individuals and businesses? In partnership with Bloomberg, five renowned economists look at President Trump’s economic agenda during his …
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During this episode, our hosts Dr. Jennifer Mabry and Dr. Emily Lee sit down with Dr. Barbara Reynolds to discuss the impact of public health nursing, the significance of advocacy in health care, and how nurses make a difference in rural communities like ours. Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1…
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Brad Taylor On The Ugly Mug Bar and Grill
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32:56Hear an exclusive interview from host Tiffany Anton and guest Brad Taylor who owns The Ugly Mug Bar And Grill. They discuss the final opening, challenges Brad and the team may face, how the area impacts business, and more! Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1By George Halford, Jeremy Wendt, Tiffany Anton, Jen Mabry & Emily Lee, Ben Rodgers
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During this episode, our host Jeremy Wendt sits down with Kim Sells who is the nutrition supervisor for the Jackson County School System. They talk all about school nutrition system, how she came to be in the position she's in, her education, how the school nutrition system operates, and more! News Talk 94.1…
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One of the most multi-talented young professionals in our area, Zach Buckner, sits down with our host George Halford to talk all about his story. Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1By George Halford, Jeremy Wendt, Tiffany Anton, Jen Mabry & Emily Lee, Ben Rodgers
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During this episode, our host Ben Rodgers talks with TN State Representative Michael Hale about bills that he has sponsored, committees and legislation, wrap up on the general assembly's session, special sessions, and more! Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1By George Halford, Jeremy Wendt, Tiffany Anton, Jen Mabry & Emily Lee, Ben Rodgers
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Think Twice: The Stoic Capitalist with Robert Rosenkranz
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53:15From modest beginnings to a distinguished career, Robert Rosenkranz, the chairman of Delphi Capital Management and founder of Open to Debate, has used Stoic wisdom to navigate challenges, innovations, and business relationships. In this conversation, John Donvan speaks with Rosenkranz about his new book, “The Stoic Capitalist: Advice for the Except…
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