Chris and Elaine Whitney, founders of One Generation Away, join Spencer and Carli to discuss their nonprofit food ministry that began out of the back of a Hyundai Santa Fe and now distributes millions of pounds of food annually. With a mission to bring hope, honor, and dignity through food, the Whitney’s share their deeply personal journey from facing food insecurity themselves to creating a logistics-driven solution that serves thousands across multiple states. In this inspiring episode, they discuss the faces of hunger, the power of collaboration among nonprofits, and their innovative approach to rescuing and delivering food same-day.

Spencer and Carli talk on Signature Required today with Brian Straessle, Executive Director of The Sycamore Institute, about property taxes, housing, and economic challenges facing Tennessee. Brian explains how Sycamore’s nonpartisan research helps Tennesseans understand the real impact of property taxes and highlights the connection between housing costs and financial stability across the state. With timely insights from Sycamore’s recent reports, this discussion reveals how data-driven analysis on taxes, housing, and economic mobility can inform smarter policies and support communities throughout Tennessee.

Kelly Magill, a eighth-generation Tennessean and founder of a video production company, sits down with Spencer and Carli to share the remarkable story behind her upcoming documentary on the Tennessee maneuvers during World War II. Inspired by her grandmother’s memoirs, Kelly discusses how these forgotten military exercises helped prepare soldiers for D-Day and shaped the Allied victory. She delves into the emotional journey of interviewing the last living participants and highlights the significance of preserving these untold stories. With major platforms and prominent narrators showing interest, Kelly’s documentary promises to be a powerful reflection on history, legacy, and the vital contributions of Tennesseans in uncovering the past.

Spencer and Carli talk with Avik Roy, president of the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity (FREOPP), about market-driven economic solutions to challenges impacting Tennesseans. From Bitcoin as a hedge against inflation to Medicare Advantage for All, Avik explores how decentralized finance, healthcare reform, and housing policy can create new opportunities for low- and middle-income Americans. With a diverse background spanning medicine, finance, and public policy, Avik makes complex economic ideas accessible, explaining how Tennessee could benefit from innovative strategies to tackle inflation, rising healthcare costs, and housing shortages. Tune in for insights into building a resilient economy with solutions that empower everyday Tennesseans.

In this episode of Signature Required, Major General Brian Winski (Ret.), a 37-year U.S. Army veteran, joins Spencer Patton to discuss his post-military mission: the development of the Wings of Liberty Museum at Fort Campbell. The $40 million project will honor the history of the 101st Airborne Division, 5th Special Forces Group, and 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, offering visitors a chance to experience military history through immersive exhibits and cutting-edge technology. General Winski explains the museum’s vision to inspire future generations by making military history accessible and engaging. He also shares personal insights from his military career, his family's deep military roots, and the importance of ROTC programs in developing tomorrow’s leaders. Tune in for a compelling conversation about honoring our nation's military legacy and the entrepreneurial approach needed to bring this project to life.

Charles Hatcher, a sixth-generation farmer at Hatcher Family Dairy, shares the remarkable legacy of his family's 200-year-old farm in Williamson County, Tennessee. In this episode, Charles delves into the challenges and joys of modern farming, from running a fully integrated dairy operation to the alarming loss of farmland across the state. Passionate about inspiring the next generation of farmers, Charles highlights how his family has embraced cutting-edge technology to remain viable in an industry where the average farmer is nearing 60 years old. He also discusses the impact of the Hatcher family's appearance on National Geographic's docuseries and their mission to maintain their land despite pressures from development. Get an inside look at the future of farming in Tennessee and the importance of agricultural sustainability in a changing world.

In this episode, you'll hear from Sherry Deutschmann, founder of BrainTrust, a collective of diverse women business owners committed to building financial independence, wealth, and influence. Sherry shares how she and her fellow BrainTrust members leverage their collective experience and networks to help one another scale their businesses. Before founding BrainTrust, Sherry built her own company, LetterLogic, into a $40 million enterprise using an innovative employee-first approach. Tune in to discover Sherry’s insights on leadership, entrepreneurship, and the power of community in driving business growth.

In this episode, we sit down with Papa Joe Bradford, founder of Elijah’s Heart, to hear his incredible story of transformation and service. From a promising career in computer programming to serving time in prison, Papa Joe’s life took a dramatic turn when he and his wife moved into one of Nashville's most impoverished neighborhoods. There, they began supporting children in need, which led to the creation of the Walk of Love program. Papa Joe shares how his passion for helping others has evolved into a national movement, his fight against poverty, and the impact of the Hollywood film Unconditional, which is based on his life. This powerful episode highlights Papa Joe’s journey from hardship to hope and his mission to spread love and change lives.

House Representative Gino Bulso knew as a teenager that something didn’t sit right with him about the United States’ rising national debt. From writing a letter to then-President Jimmy Carter in the 1970s to now pushing for the Supreme Court to revisit a case about the powers of the Federal Government, Bulso is laser-focused on lowering the national debt.

A "Double Dore," Judge Sheila Calloway earned both her undergraduate and law degrees from Vanderbilt University before rising through the ranks as a public defender to become Nashville’s Juvenile Court Judge. She now hears over 1,000 cases annually. In this episode, Spencer, Carli, and Judge Sheila discuss factors that contribute to juvenile delinquency, family dynamics, and strategies for preventing misconduct.

JT Olson founded Both Hands in 2008 to support adoption funding through service projects for widows, having been orphaned as a child himself. The average project raises $22,000. helping over 1300 families nationwide. In this episode, JT Olson and Jared Delong (Executive Director) discuss Both Hands' successes, its business model, and the growing challenges in adoption.

Rachel Freeman is the President and CEO of Nashville’s Sexual Assault Center (SAC). She leads the SAC in creating a safe, compassionate environment for survivors to begin their healing journey. In this episode, Freeman discusses the SAC's role in the community, key sexual assault statistics, and preventive initiatives like the Safe Bar program and campus outreach efforts.

Will Acuff is a born and raised pastor’s kid and has long had a servant’s heart. More than a decade ago while on a mission trip to Kenya, Will felt called to return home to Nashville and think critically about how to best love his neighbors. Will and his wife, Tiffany, founded Corner to Corner in 2011 to help underestimated Nashvillians increase their economic participation through business and entrepreneurship. Providing education, tools and networking, Corner to Corner has helped over a thousands of entrepreneurs since its creation.

Steven Gentile is the Executive Director of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) and teaches education policy at Vanderbilt University. THEC plays a crucial role in advocating for an increase in the number of Tennesseans who obtain postsecondary credentials. In this episode, Stephen discusses the decision of whether to attend college, the benefits of choosing a technical degree, financial aid and grants, and THEC's future plans.

Jennifer Turner joined TPAC in 2019, bringing over 20 years of nonprofit arts experience to the role of President and CEO. In her five years, she's guided TPAC through the pandemic, an aging facility, and a business model re-evaluation. In this episode, she shares her journey to becoming CEO, TPAC's developments, outreach and upcoming touring broadway shows.

Diana Beach Batarseh is an accomplished educator, trainer, and presenter with extensive experience working with students from preschool to high school. Currently, she serves as the Head of School at King's Academy, where she champions a Christ-centered classical education in line with the academy's values. In this episode, Diana discusses the essence of King's Academy, highlighting its diversity, financial assistance, and strategies for fostering the growth of both the school and its community.

John Hoomes is the CEO and Artistic Director of Nashville Opera. Since 1995, he has guided the organization from a budget of $340,000 to over $3.5 million annually in 2024. Under his leadership, Nashville Opera has staged more than 200 productions of opera and music theater. In this episode, Carli and Spencer talk with John about accessibility to the arts, upcoming productions, and how Nashville is uniquely positioned to produce cutting-edge work.