Join Kosta and his guest: Tabitha Merritt, Director of Peach Tree Learning Center.

In this episode: For many, homeschool feels like the only answer to an exceedingly difficult question. Where can my child learn where they’re safe, valued, and prepared for more than a standardized test? In your experience, when does a family know the answer is not public school? Over the next decade, education in Tennessee will change. While Education Freedom Scholarships aren’t currently available to homeschooling families, there will be a dramatic shift in where and how all Tennessee students are educated. What do you hope comes of this transition and how could it positively impact the homeschool community? Teaching kids is hard. It’s even harder when you don’t understand what you’re teaching. How does Peach Tree Learning help to bridge the gap between what parents know and what students need to know?

Find out more about Peach Tree Learning Center:
https://www.peachtreelearningcenter.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 200th guest: Jill Stalnaker, Prevention Training Specialist at TN Voices, Owner of Leaning Tree Agency and Mom of 5.

In this episode: In 2021 the recidivism rate in Tennessee was roughly 46%. That means that almost half of all individuals released from jail or prison were estimated to return within three years. Creating a normal life after incarceration isn’t easy. Reentry is difficult, slow and for many impossible. You help to make that process easier and more realistic. Will you tell us about TN Voices and how you’re helping to educate and empower those preparing for reentry? Most of the listeners of this podcast will likely never go to jail. We can sympathize with the injustices of the system, but we’ll never really understand what it’s like to be in this position. What do you wish people knew about being in jail and what’s really going on? It’s the throughline of this episode, and let’s be honest, at least 90% of the episodes of this podcast - we need change. We’re desperately seeking change across this country and in the Upper Cumberland. When you think about the communities you work with and the greater community we’re a part of - what do you think needs to change?

Find out more about TN Voices:
https://tnvoices.org/

📌 Find out more about WOMAN:
📅 Tuesday, March 18, 2025
🕐 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
📍 185 W 12th St, Cookeville, TN 38501
🎟️ https://www.leaningtreeagency.com/event-details/woman

Thank you to the 200 guests who have joined us on Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev. We're better when we're together. 💛

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 Volunteer State Community College.

Find out more about Volunteer State Community College:
https://www.volstate.edu/campuses/cookeville

Join Kosta and his guest: Tammy Key, Owner of Key Learning and Development.

In this episode: In your experience, what do the best teams have in common? There’s one thing mid-level managers, C-suite executives, parents and volunteer soccer coaches can all agree on: just because you have a group of people working together doesn’t make them a team. You’re an expert on leadership and team-building, and I think you’re the perfect person to answer the question of what makes a group of people a team? How important is self-reflection and self-knowing in this team building process? Is it kind of like putting your own oxygen mask on first?

Find out more about Key Learning and Development:
https://www.keyforlearning.net

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: Michael Detwiler, local weather observer, member of CoCoRaHS and known across the Upper Cumberland as the Cookeville Weather Guy.

In this episode: I think the only fitting first question for this episode has to be: can we actually predict the weather? Why do other weather reporters get it so wrong? You’re an on the ground weather observer and member of CoCoRaHS, for everyone just now realizing that’s how it’s pronounced will you tell us about the program and what weather observers do? Why does keeping track of weather events matter for our community? What can we learn from the research you’ve done over the past 45 years?

Find out more about Michael Detwiler:
https://www.facebook.com/CookevilleWeatherGuy
https://www.instagram.com/cookevillewxguy
https://tempestwx.com/station/67890/

Find out more about CoCoRaHS:
https://www.cocorahs.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: Cindy Putman. Nationally recognized educator, advocate and consultant, Cindy works as the Ready To Learn Project Manager at WCTE and is the Academic Social Interventionist for the Putnam County School System.

In this episode: You facilitated the first partnership between a public school system and a PBS station. You understand the importance of public works and the importance of giving more to those with less. What’s your message to those who question the effectiveness of public education and resources in this critical time? In 2021 you received the Champion for Children Award from Sesame Street Workshop and PBS for your work with underserved children in vulnerable communities. PBS, WCTE, and members like you give our children in the Upper Cumberland opportunities and information they wouldn’t have otherwise. Will you tell us how you’ve developed the Ready to Learn Program and how it’s changed our community?

Find out more about WCTE and Ready to Learn:
https://www.wcte.org/
https://thinktv.pbslearningmedia.org/collection/ready-to-learn/home/

Find out more about Cindy Putman:
https://www.cynthiaputman.org/

Want to contact your Tennessee legislator? Find more here:
https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/Apps/fml2022/search.aspx

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: Tayton Swift, Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles Football Player representing the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

In this episode: You’re not only a student athlete, you’re a sponsored student athlete. Will you tell us about the process of securing sponsorships and how student athletes being able to profit from their NIL changes the opportunities they have throughout their career? Even as a student you’re not missing any opportunities to build your brand and secure your legacy. How important is it for student athletes, especially student athletes who want to get sponsorship deals to have their own personal brand? It’s undeniable that the next era of Golden Eagles football is here. We’re building a new stadium, Coach Bobby Wilder is building the greatest team we’ve ever had and the momentum is unstoppable. What can you tell us about what’s coming next?

Find out more about Tayton Swift:
https://linktr.ee/tayton_swift

Find out more about TN Tech Golden Eagle Football:
https://www.ttusports.com/sports/fball/index

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 Volunteer State Community College.

Find out more about Volunteer State Community College:
https://www.volstate.edu/campuses/cookeville

Join Kosta and his guest: Scott Miller, Founder and CEO of The Poverty Solution. In conjunction with countless partners and community leaders, UCDD and The Poverty Solution are overseeing a region-wide effort to lift 1,600 children and their families out of poverty by 2025.

In this episode: Poverty isn’t a fringe issue. It’s our economic reality. As someone that’s dedicated their life to helping communities alleviate poverty, what opportunities did you see in the Upper Cumberland? Getting out of poverty is hard. That might be the understatement of the century. It costs more to make money than to keep your benefits and not work at all. People want to work, they want to do better, but we’ve created a system completely contradictory to the objective. If we can’t change the system, how do we improve the outcomes? Your ultimate goal is to change how we address poverty. On your website it says “It won’t be easy. But it will change lives.” What do you hope people take away from that?

Find out more about The Poverty Solution:
https://www.thepovertysolution.com

Find out more about Empower Upper Cumberland:
https://empoweruppercumberland.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 Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy.

Find out more about Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy:
https://aspirebarberandbeauty.com

Join Kosta and his guest Chad Mynatt, Director of Manna Global Missions and Co-Director of El Puente Community Center.

El Puente is a Hispanic Community Center located in Cookeville, TN. El Puente's mission is to create a welcoming community and offer resources that empower and connect the Hispanic community of the Upper Cumberland. In English “El Puente” means “Bridge”. El Puente es un centro comunitario para hispanos en Cookeville, TN.

In this episode: Roughly 10% of people living in Putnam County are hispanic. It’s the fastest growing minority in Putnam County and in Tennessee. Will you tell us about the origins of El Puente and what led you to creating this organization? You’re white. That might be blunt to say, but it’s true. You’re a caucasian person that’s created a community to help our hispanic neighbors. What role do white people play in being of service to minorities and how do we better love our neighbor? What do you wish people knew about the hispanic community in the Upper Cumberland?

📌 Comedy for a Cause - Karen Mills (aka Little Karen)
📅 Friday, January 24, 2025
🕐 7:30 PM
📍 (CPAC) Cookeville Performing Arts Center - 10 E Broad St, Cookeville, TN 38501
🎟️ https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/75284740/comedy-for-a-cause-featuring-karen-mills-cookeville-cookeville-performing-arts-center

Find out more about the El Puete:
https://www.elpuentecookeville.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