🌈 Happy Pride Month! Y'all means ALL, and no matter what month it is, we're proud to represent all the people who make our community better when we're together.

Join Kosta and his guest: Bennie Taylor, Community Organizer, former candidate for Tennessee House of Representatives District 42 and dedicated public servant. This month and every month we recognize the LGBTQ+ community in the Upper Cumberland that makes us better when we’re together.

In this episode: As always, in celebration of Pride Month, I wanted to start this episode by asking you to share your personal story (as you feel comfortable) as someone in the LGBTQ+ community? What does Pride mean to you? Many of our listeners might know you as Bennie Taylor, candidate for Tennessee House of Representatives District 42. In 2024, you ran and lost to incumbent Ryan Williams. If you could do it again, would you do it? Why? Would you change anything?

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 and listeners.

Speak out and help ensure necessary programming is available for generations to come and support WCTE PBS:
https://protectmypublicmedia.org/

Join Kosta and his guest: Dr. Justin Murdock, Ecologist, Professor of Biology, and Director of The Water Research Center at Tennessee Technological University.

In this episode: Let’s start from the top, because if I’m being honest, my knowledge of Tennessee’s wetlands is that I’d assume it’s wet land. In April a bill passed the Tennessee House Legislature 71-21 to remove protections for up to 80% of Tennessee’s wetlands. What does that actually mean for our land, our water, and our safety? Lawmakers behind this bill claimed that isolated wetlands (especially small ones) are just “damp dirt.” From a scientific perspective, what do we lose when we lose even “minor” wetlands? This bill was framed as a defense of property owners’ rights. For anyone that’s tried to get flood insurance lately, I bet you can think of other property owners’ rights you might want more. Who pays the price when developers are no longer required to mitigate destruction of wetlands?

Find out more about The Water Research Center and Dr. Justin Murdock:
https://www.tntech.edu/research/wrc/
https://www.tntech.edu/directory/cas/biology/justin-murdock.php

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: Aaron Cofer, Community and Event Organizer for Indivisible.

Indivisible Upper Cumberland is a non-partisan, issues-focused grassroots community, promoting civic engagement to hold our elected officials accountable.

In this episode: We have a lot of ground to cover in this episode, but I think there’s one overarching question that sums up most of what we’re here to discuss. Does protesting work? Whether you’re on the right, left or center, we all want change. We’re in a political climate the United States has never seen before, and it’s overwhelming. How do in-person demonstrations whether they be protests, marches or simply meeting people with the same ideologies as you help to create political change? The First Amendment of the Constitution protects our freedom of speech, our freedom to assemble and our freedom to express views through protest. If this is true, why do so many people get arrested protesting?

🚨 Join Indivisible at the No Kings Protest

📆 Saturday, June 14, 2025
⏱️ 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
📍 Courthouse Square (300 E Spring St. Cookeville, TN)

*A message from Indivisible: The purpose of this event is to send a clear message against any form of authoritarian rule or monarchy, ensuring that the United States remains a republic where power is held by the people. This event is a peaceful protest against the perceived dangers of an authoritarian leader, particularly a new administration's actions seen as threats to democracy, higher education, science, and working families.

Find out more about Indivisble:
https://indivisible.org/

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: Alex Garcia, Mayor of Monterey, TN.

In this episode: When you were elected as Mayor, one of your greater missions was to be a new voice for Monterey. You wanted to represent Monterey in Putnam County and across the Upper Cumberland. When you think about Monterey, and how you want it to be represented, what does that mean to you? Earlier this year, we found out about the closure of Perdue Farms. This was devastating news for Monterey and the entire community. From the moment you found out you were working on rebuilding those employment opportunities and you’ve done an outstanding job. In your opinion, what’s the next major industry of Monterey? You served as Alderman for several cycles before running for Mayor. You’ve watched and helped Monterey grow to this point. When you leave office, what will true success look like to you?

Find out more about Monterey, TN:
https://www.townofmontereytn.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 partner Sabrina Brazle, The Realty Firm.

Find out more about Sabrina Brazle:
https://www.sabrinabrazle.com/

Join Kosta and his guest: Penny Foister, Director of Putnam County 911.

In this episode: I think there’s only one question we can start this episode with: what happens when we call 911? You started as an EMT in 1992 with our favorite County Mayor Mr. Randy Porter. We’d be hard pressed to find someone that knows more about emergency services in Putnam County than you, so I have to ask: what’s the hardest job in emergency services? What’s something the average person completely misunderstands about calling 911?

Find out more about Putnam County 911:
https://putnamcountytn.gov/911-center

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: John Nisbet, Attorney and Founder of The Rogers Project.

In this episode: We’re going to talk about what it really means to have law and order, but first I think there’s a bigger question on everyone’s mind, especially today: is there still justice for all? It’s unfortunate that we have to remind listeners this, but I think we should, representation in a court of law is a fundamental human right in the United States and most of the world. There’s a larger national conversation about where our tax dollars go, what we should be subsidizing and who really deserves our help. Will you put into perspective why paying for public defenders and ensuring every person has a voice in the court of law should matter to all of us? For most of your career, in one way or another, you’ve represented individuals who couldn’t afford to seek representation for themselves. Whether it was being a public defender, working with the Rogers Project, or simply volunteering your time, you’ve seen the wheels of justice turning up close. What’s something you wish every person in our community knew about the courts system and the individuals who find themselves there?

Find out more about John Nisbet and The Rogers Project:
https://johnnisbetlaw.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 and listeners.

Speak out and help ensure necessary programming is available for generations to come and support WCTE PBS:
https://protectmypublicmedia.org/

Join Kosta and his guest: Melanie Hendricks, Plateau Regional Director for Alzheimer’s Tennessee.

In This Episode: Alzheimer's is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States. Between 1999 and 2014 Alzheimer's deaths in Tennessee more than doubled. Collectively, we’ll do almost anything to avoid talking about aging, death and what all of this will mean for ourselves and our family. Knowing what you know, what one conversation you wish every family would have when it comes to aging, care and Alzhimer’s? To what extent is memory loss a normal part of aging? How can we tell the difference between forgetfulness and early signs of Alzheimer’s? There’s a lot of talk recently about food dyes, pesticides, and external forces in our food supply that are causing illness, chronic disease and worse. When it comes to Alzheimer's prevention and our own lifestyle choices, what can we improve on? Can choices like diet, exercise, or even community involvement significantly reduce the risk or possibly delay the onset of Alzheimer's?

Find out more about Alzheimer’s Tennessee:
https://www.alztennessee.org/

Get in Touch with Melanie Hendricks and the Cumberland Plateau Office:
South Lowe Avenue, Suite I

Cookeville, TN 38501

931 526-8011

melanie.hendricks@tnalz.org

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: Alex Lisic, Executive Pastor at Christpoint Church and Creative Director at Fufild.

In this episode: Most of our listeners probably know you from your time at LifeChurch and now, Christpoint Church where you and Elizabeth serve as Executive Pastors. Will you tell us about Christpoint and what makes it such a special place to worship? Not to go too far behind the curtain here, but you kind of have two full time jobs. You’re volunteering as the Executive Pastor at Christpoint and you’re the Creative Director at Fufild. What is Fufild? How does it work? Why should we get it? As a country, state and community we’re asking hard questions right now. It’s a new day, but there’s also a lot of work to be done. There’s a lot of work to be done in communities of faith specifically. When you look around, and you think about the work that needs to be done, what do you want next for Christpoint and churches across the country?

Find out more about Christpoint Church:
https://www.christpoint.church/

Find out more about Fufild:
https://fufild.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 and listeners.

Speak out and help ensure necessary programming is available for generations to come and support WCTE PBS:
https://protectmypublicmedia.org/