On Demand Audio

Shane Farris and Anne Stamps discuss the new year and focusing on mental health. As we start a new year, we’re thinking about many types of resolutions. Yours may have something to do with your mental health – less stress, a clear mind, better decision making. We certainly have more open communication about mental health than ever before, and the ... Read More »

Get to know Tess Mann, owner & designer at Couture By Tess Bridal in Cookeville.  Join host Andrea Kruszka as she sits down with Tess Mann, Owner and Designer at Couture By Tess Bridal in Cookeville. They discuss her background, how she’s been designing since she was around 11 years old, the response she’s received on having a bridal ... Read More »

Several local nonprofit leaders discuss COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on operations Beginning a new year, and COVID seems to be less and less part of our vocabulary. But COVID’s impacts continue, for example, on local charities. Today, that subject with Tammy Hogan, the Executive Director of Mustard Seed Ranch, Rob Wright, the Executive Director of Keep Putnam County Beautiful – Clean ... Read More »

Richard Kennedy and Kristi Paling discuss efforts to improve childhood wellbeing The Volunteer State has made big strides in making sure that children have a chance to succeed. Rankings that look at the wellbeing of children have increased significantly over the last several years, but there’s work left to be done. Richard Kennedy helps direct efforts at the state level, ... Read More »

This week, we focus on mental health with NAMI’s Shirley Jennings & Mark Allison As more and more attention is focused on mental health in our society, the work of organizations like NAMI come more into focus. The National Alliance on Mental Illness has a Cookeville branch led by Shirley Jennings, its President, and Mark Allison, Vice President of NAMI ... Read More »

This week learn more about The Munkey Wrench in Cookeville with owner Bruce Heard  Join host Andrea Kruszka as she sits down with Bruce Heard, owner of The Munkey Wrench in Cookeville. They discuss what The Munkey Wrench is, and the items that are for sale there, how he finds inspiration in music, movies, and old toys, as well ... Read More »

Sycamore Institute’s Sarah Henderson & Mandy Pellegrin discuss childhood poverty The Sycamore Institute has released its annual report on child well-being in the state of Tennessee. It paints a better picture, however, it’s important to note there’s still much work to be done. And second, the data is several years old, meaning the effect of COVID, and the effect of ... Read More »

This week, find out more about pressed art with owner of Pressed, Aspen Turney.  Join host Andrea Kruszka as she sits down with Aspen Turney, owner of Pressed. They discuss how she started her company Pressed, how she incorporates pressed flowers into her jewelry, the process of working with frames, jewelry, and pressed florals, and how she is inspired ... Read More »

Blood Assurance’s Max Wintiz discusses the challenges of donating post-COVID. In the season of giving, we examine how giving has changed in the wake of COVID. Just this week, Blood Assurance put out an urgent request for healthy donors with so many cases of flu in our midst. It represents the increasingly difficult job of getting people to give blood, ... Read More »

Learn more about Smithville artist Erin Fennell, and her furniture art projects.  Join host Andrea Kruszka as she sits down with Smithville furniture artist Erin Fennell. They discuss how she discovered thrift stores and getting started working with spray paint after finishing nursing school, what her artistic process is like once she finds a piece that “speaks to her,” ... Read More »