Signature Required
A podcast for Tennesseans by Tennesseans. We talk with leaders—business owners, policy experts, educators, and more—who champion the entrepreneurial spirit and transform once-small ideas into big impact.
Episodes
Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall joins Spencer and Carli to pull back the curtain on a part of the criminal justice system most people rarely see. From the difference between jails and prisons to rehabilitation, second chances, and the humanity of the people behind bars, Hall shares lessons from more than two decades as sheriff. He also tells the unbelievable story of how a convicted felon infiltrated Nashville’s new detent...
Marcus Meneese, founder and executive director of Stronger Than My Father, joins Spencer and Carli to talk about fatherhood, mentorship, discipline, and breaking generational cycles. Marcus shares how the example set by his own father inspired him to spend more than 20 years showing up for boys growing up without present fathers, and why he believes being there consistently can shape the men, husbands, and fathers they become.
Kristin Allender, Executive Director of Tennessee Kids Belong and CEO of America’s Kids Belong, joins Spencer and Carli to share the stories behind the children still waiting for families and why everyone has a role to play. From foster families and churches to businesses and the “blueberry muffin man,” Kristin shows how ordinary people can help create a community where vulnerable children know they belong.
Tennessee Commissioner of Human Services Clarence Carter joins Signature Required to discuss what’s working, what isn’t, and what needs to change about the systems designed to serve Tennessee’s most vulnerable. Drawing on 35 years in public service, Carter shares his vision for a safety net that helps people move beyond dependency, strengthens families, and creates a path toward lasting stability.
Season 3 of Signature Required kicks off with Brittney Brown, Director of Mission Advancement at The Store, for a conversation about food insecurity, dignity, and the power of choice. Brittney shares how The Store is rethinking traditional food assistance by creating a grocery shopping experience where families can choose the food that works for them, while also opening up about the personal journey that led her to serve Nashville&...
From catering Hollywood's biggest stars on movie sets around the world to saving one of Nashville's most iconic buildings, Tom Morales has spent his life betting on Nashville — and winning. But after surviving COVID, watching competitors multiply, and pouring everything into Acme Feed and Seed on Lower Broadway, Tom received a tax bill that jumped from $129,000 to $600,000 in a single year. In this episode, Tom shares his rem...
Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner Will Reid breaks down what TDOT actually does beyond paving roads, from operating ferries to inspecting 20,000 bridges to being the state's largest real estate buyer. Reid, the first employee to become commissioner in TDOT's history, explains how his department delivers projects at twice the national average and why people judge their government by the quality of their commute.
Tennessee Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson breaks down the mechanics behind the Boring Company's underground tunnels, Choice Lanes, and the real drivers of Tennessee's explosive growth. From navigating misinformation to the sacrifice required for public service, Johnson reveals why state government is where problems actually get solved.
Location manager Wendall Hinkle pulls back the curtain on how major productions like Superman, Nashville, and 9-1-1 Nashville find and transform real places into the backdrops of our favorite shows. From knocking on doors in neighborhoods to shutting down bridges for rescue scenes, Wendall reveals the logistics, relationships, and grit required to bring scripts to life in Tennessee's booming film industry.
Lance Villio, Executive Director of the Governor’s Faith-Based and Community Initiative, joins Signature Required to discuss how government, churches, and nonprofits can work together to serve Tennessee’s most vulnerable. Appointed by Governor Bill Lee, Lance leads an office positioned between the state’s 23 departments and local communities, addressing complex challenges through three key efforts: Every Chi...
This week, we sit down with Dr. Candice McQueen, President of Lipscomb University, to explore the evolving role of higher education in Tennessee. We discuss how Lipscomb is balancing academic rigor with a Christ-centered mission, the importance of preparing students for both career and purpose, and how universities can stay grounded in their identity during times of cultural and institutional change. Dr. McQueen also shares insight...
Tiffany Kerns, Executive Director of the CMA Foundation, joins Signature Required for a grounded and expansive conversation about music education, leadership, and the power of community partnership. While many know the Country Music Association for CMA Fest and the CMA Awards, Tiffany explains the broader purpose behind the organization and how country music chose to invest deeply in one simple cause: ensuring students have access ...
At the Creative Discovery Museum in Chattanooga, learning looks a lot like play, and play is serious work. From the center of the museum’s atrium, Mackenzie Steele, Director of Marketing and Communications, shares how one of Tennessee’s most beloved children’s museums has spent 30 years helping families learn together through hands-on experiences, creativity, and curiosity. The conversation explores what makes Cre...
Randy Boyd, President of the University of Tennessee, joins Signature Required for a conversation about entrepreneurship, public service, and the role higher education plays in shaping the future of Tennessee. From starting businesses in his early twenties to serving in state government and now leading one of the state’s most important institutions, Randy reflects on the through line that has connected each chapter of h...
Signature Required sits down with Vernon Shaw, Manager of Donor Relationships for Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, for a conversation about food insecurity, community care, and the complexity behind feeding thousands of families across the region. What many people think of as simply “passing out food” is actually a massive operation involving logistics, nutrition, volunteers, partner agencies, and strategic...
Signature Required sits down with Scott Peck, Executive Chef of Loveless Cafe, for a conversation about Southern cooking, culinary leadership, and what it takes to steward one of Tennessee’s most iconic restaurants. From biscuits and fried chicken to cast iron, kitchen culture, and the tension between tradition and innovation, Scott shares his journey from a nervous first interview to leading a Nashville institution. As Lovel...
Jack Daniel’s is one of the most recognizable brands in the world, but its story is deeply rooted in a small Tennessee town, generations of family legacy, and an uncompromising commitment to doing things the right way. From the Bethel House at the entrance of the Lynchburg distillery, Chris Fletcher, Vice President, Master Distiller, and Director of Distillery Operations, shares what it really means to steward a brand that pr...
Signature Required sits down with CJ Sentelll, CEO of the Nashville Food Project, to explore food insecurity from a community and systems perspective. The conversation goes beyond emergency food aid to examine why hunger exists, how food deserts and food swamps shape neighborhoods, and what it takes to build long-term access to nutritious food.
Weather becomes personal when it’s happening over your neighborhood, at night, with kids asleep down the hall. Andrew Leeper, Director of Broadcasting for Nashville Severe Weather, explains why hyperlocal, calm, two-way communication matters more than hype when storms hit Middle Tennessee. He shares how a volunteer, donation-supported team built trust by serving first, why tone and clarity save lives during tornado warnings, ...
Public safety looks very different when you move past TV stereotypes and into real communities. Mark Davidson, District Attorney General for Tennessee’s 25th Judicial District, offers a candid look at what the justice system actually does and what it quietly carries. He explains why most of his work is not about locking people up, but about protecting communities, supporting victims, navigating limited resources, and making j...
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