You Matter Nashville

What if the strength you're searching for is already within you? Join this Nashville podcast episode as we welcome Clyde Nolet, creator of Speaks of Strength, who reveals how bending steel can teach you to bend your limitations. This isn't your typical motivational conversation—it's a masterclass in emotional resilience that combines old-world strongman entertainment with cutting-edge human needs psychology.

Clyde sha...

What if giving a child the right book could change the trajectory of their entire life? Robin Griffin, founder of A to Z Learning Club, is proving this every day in Nashville. Her nonprofit tackles North Nashville's staggering incarceration rates by addressing the root cause—83% of low-income children are reading below proficiency. Through culturally diverse book distributions, student publishing opportunities, and innovative ...

What began with McDonald's apple pies shared on Nashville streets in 2007 has evolved into a life-transforming ministry. In this Nashville podcast episode, we sit down with Nathan Scarlett, outreach specialist with People Loving Nashville, who shares his remarkable journey from meteorology student to homeless advocate. Nathan reveals how this faith-based local nonprofit is revolutionizing homeless services through their four-p...

Explore how AgeWell Middle Tennessee transforms aging experiences through 40 years of dedicated service to Middle Tennessee families. Elder Care Coach Manager Tiffany Mann reveals essential resources and professional support systems that help caregivers navigate complex aging challenges with confidence and dignity.

Learn about their comprehensive Directory of Services spanning 13 counties, free Elder Care Coaching consultations with...

25,000 Tennesseans suffer new brain injuries every year, yet most people don't understand the "invisible injury" that survivors face daily. Join us for an eye-opening conversation with Stacey Mulder, Executive Director of the Brain Injury Association of America Tennessee chapter, as we explore this hidden health crisis in Middle Tennessee.

Stacey reveals shocking truths about brain injuries: they're caused by eve...

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Graham Thomas, Chief Community and Government Affairs Officer at tnAchieves, as he shares how Tennessee became the first state to offer tuition-free college to all students through the groundbreaking Tennessee Promise program.

Graham takes us behind the scenes of this incredible journey—from a small Knox County initiative serving 491 students to the largest college access program in America...

From bankruptcy to billion-dollar impact: Nashville nonprofit leader Buddy Teaster shares how Soles4Souls transformed simple shoe donations into life-changing opportunities across 130 countries.

When Buddy took over as CEO in 2012, Soles4Souls was losing $2.5 million annually and facing devastating press coverage. Today, they're on track to achieve one billion dollars in global economic impact by 2030. Their innovative model se...

Can trauma wounds that you can't see be healed through community? REBOOT Recovery founders Evan and Jenny Owens reveal how their Nashville podcast approach has transformed over 30,000 lives across 44 states and 11 countries.

Jenny's breakthrough work as an occupational therapist at Fort Campbell exposed a critical gap in traditional trauma treatment. While medical professionals addressed physical and mental wounds, the spi...

Discover how The New Beginnings Center is revolutionizing women's fitness in Nashville through founder Tash Weddell's innovative approach to empowerment. This inspiring Nashville podcast episode reveals how a master strength coach with 17 years of collegiate experience transformed personal adversity into community impact, serving over 4,500 low-income women through holistic fitness, nutrition, and mindset coaching.

Tash sh...

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Milton Bartley, CEO of ImageQuest, who shares his incredible story of service, leadership, and purpose. From his early days in the military to running a successful IT company, Milton opens up about how his life experiences have shaped his commitment to both his employees and his community. We dive into the many ways ImageQuest gives back, from providing free IT services to nonprofits like...

In this inspiring episode of You Matter Nashville, we sat down with Melissa Spradlin, executive director of Book’em, a nonprofit dedicated to boosting children's literacy in Nashville since 1989. Melissa shared her journey from growing up with educator parents to finding her passion for literacy and community service. She gave us a look inside Book’em’s mission of getting books into kids' hands and fostering a love of rea...

In this episode of You Matter Nashville, we sat down with Jenny Rustioni and Natalie Lemarbre of Eli’s House, a life-changing nonprofit based right here in Franklin. Eli’s House is a faith-based two-year residential program where moms and their children heal together after trauma. Jenny and Natalie shared their heartfelt journey of turning personal pain into purpose, equipping families to not just survive but thrive.

We talked about...

In this heart-filled episode, we sat down with Brian Sweatt, founder of Mechanics on a Mission, to explore how something as practical as a car can become a vehicle for dignity, opportunity, and life transformation. From a post-flood miracle at Lighthouse Christian School to launching a full-blown ministry that gifts vehicles to those in need, Brian’s journey is one of faith, community partnerships, and unshakable hope.

Together, we ...

In this deeply moving episode, we sit down with Keith and Misti Sammons—two individuals who turned unimaginable grief into a mission of hope. After losing their spouses (Keith to cancer and Misti in a tragic plane crash), their separate journeys of healing eventually brought them together through what can only be described as a divine appointment.

Together, they now minister to others navigating grief, loss, and hardship. From spont...

In this powerful episode of You Matter Nashville, we sat down with Tia May—an Army veteran, mental health advocate, and motorsports enthusiast—who shared her incredible journey of resilience, healing, and purpose.

Tia opened up about her struggles with PTSD, the challenges she faced after her military service, and how she found new purpose through organizations like 22ZERO and Camp Southern Ground. She explained how mental...

In this powerful episode, we sat down with Benjamin Holmes, owner and CEO of Benjamin Holmes Counseling and Switchback Counseling Services, to explore the importance of mental health and the incredible work his team is doing in Middle Tennessee. Benjamin shared his personal journey into counseling, from growing up with a mother struggling with severe mental illness to becoming a Baptist minister and ultimately transitioning into th...

In this episode of You Matter Nashville, we sit down with Kailey Cornett, the CEO of Hope Clinic for Women, a nonprofit that has been serving women, men, and families in Nashville since 1983. Kailey shares her incredible journey—how she felt called at just 16 years old to support women facing unplanned pregnancies and how that led her to study nonprofit management, work in private equity, and ultimately return to her true passion.

W...

Joe Adams, founder of “Relentless Pursuit,” joined us to share the gripping story behind his mission. After surviving a near-fatal motorcycle accident that left him with multiple fractures and internal injuries, Joe discovered that gratitude, determination, and faith could transform even the darkest of circumstances. Despite the pain and uncertainty of his recovery, he focused on seeing each moment—good or bad—as an opportunity for...

We had the privilege of sitting down with nonprofit leader, Marcus Meniz, whose organization, Stronger Than My Father, provides much-needed mentorship to fatherless youth. He explained how his own upbringing, with both parents in a stable home, fueled his passion to help kids who don’t have that same support system. What began with Marcus mentoring a young cousin quickly evolved into a larger mission: guiding students with structur...