cityCURRENT Radio Show

cityCURRENT, Jeremy C. Park, Andrew Bartolotta, cityCURRENT, Jeremy C Park
  • 5.0 (10)
  • Non-Profit
  • Updated Weekly

Our cityCURRENT Radio Show airs each Sunday from 7-8 AM across all four Cumulus Media Memphis radio stations, which reach more than 750,000 listeners each week: Kix 106, 98.1 The Max, 98.9 The Bridge, and 103.5 WRBO and also airs across all five Cumulus Media Nashville radio stations each Sunday from 5-6 AM on 104.5 The Zone, 95.5 NASH ICON, SuperTalk 99.7 WTN, NASH FM 103.3, and 4-5 AM on 92Q. The show is focused on positives and features interviews with a mix of business and community leaders who discuss important trends, efforts, lessons learned, and ways to get engaged and make an impact..…

  1. 3d ago

    Inside 4:13 Strong: Helping Men Build Careers, Confidence & Community

    What does it take to truly break the cycle of poverty, crime, and dependency? In this inspiring episode of the cityCURRENT Show, host Andrew Bartolotta sits down with Chris Blaney, Development Director of 4:13 Strong, to explore how this Nashville-based nonprofit is transforming lives through faith, workforce development, mentorship, and life-changing relationships. Built around the mission of creating Stronger Men, Stronger Families, and a Stronger Nashville, 4:13 Strong offers a residential workforce development program that equips men with the skills, discipline, confidence, and support they need to build successful careers and meaningful lives. Whether you're a business leader, nonprofit supporter, mentor, or someone passionate about creating stronger communities, this episode offers an encouraging look at what's possible when people are given the opportunity and the support to rewrite their future. Learn more about 4:13 Strong, volunteer, become a mentor, or support their mission by visiting www.413strong.org.

    Inside 4:13 Strong: Helping Men Build Careers, Confidence & Community

  2. Jul 15

    Joni Hester highlights the Germantown Education Foundation supporting GMSD teachers and students

    Joni explains how the Germantown Education Foundation supports educational enhancements across schools by helping teachers get creative with standard curriculum to make learning more engaging. She describes examples including a middle school math teacher who created a black light math program to keep students interested and elementary schools that collaborated on a squid dissection activity tied to a shared reading book. The discussion focuses on how the foundation supports innovation at the classroom level to help drive student success. Joni explains the foundation's grant process, which includes mini-grants up to $500 per teacher and annual grants over $500 for larger school programs. Last year, they provided nearly 60 mini-grants totaling about $25,000 and multiple annual grants exceeding $75,000, with the foundation distributing over $115,000 back to schools while also adding $50,000 to their community foundation fund. Joni describes the positive impact of teacher grants on both students and educators, explaining how the funding creates excitement and demonstrates community support for teachers who often spend their own money on classroom activities. She emphasizes how the grants help reinforce that "the community has your back" and supports teacher creativity and passion. Joni discusses the growth of the mini grants program over the past couple of years, highlighting that they have increased from giving out $40,000 to $75,000 in annual grants. She explained the city of Germantown's matching program, which will match up to $100,000 raised by the foundation. Joni expresses hope to continue growing the funds and mentioned plans to use community foundation funds for a lasting impact across the entire GMSD school district, potentially benefiting students at the high school level. Jeremy emphasizes the importance of staying current with technology and facilities to provide students with the best opportunities for success. Joni explains the main events supporting the Germantown Education Foundation, including the Color Run, Lemonade Stand Day, and Summer Soiree. She describes how these events engage different community members, from students and families to parents and business leaders, and highlights the growing participation and financial impact. Joni describes the Germantown Education Foundation's annual teacher kickoff event where they award a $2,500 grant to a randomly selected teacher. She shares examples of successful grants, such as a learning garden at Forest Hill Elementary School that students maintain and sell produce from, and a storybook trail around a pond that serves the entire community. Joni provides contact information for the foundation, including their website germantowneducationfoundation.org and email GEF@GMSDK12.org, along with a phone number 901-230-3776 for potential partners and supporters to reach out. Visit https://germantowneducationfoundation... to learn more and connect with the Germantown Education Foundation.

    Joni Hester highlights the Germantown Education Foundation supporting GMSD teachers and students

  3. Jul 15

    HopeWorks and their new Next Story, 21-bed transition facility in Memphis

    Host Jeremy C. Park interviews Ron Wade, Executive Director of HopeWorks who discusses the nonprofit organization's mission to provide "hope" in Jesus Christ and opportunities for sustainable "work" through education and lifelong services, along with their new Next Story facility. Ron explains that HopeWorks serves four main groups: individuals seeking high school equivalency diplomas, English language learners from 40 different countries, those experiencing generational poverty, and justice-involved individuals transitioning from incarceration. The organization operates across five locations in Memphis, including their Next Story, a new 21-bed transition facility for men coming directly out of prison, which aims to reduce recidivism rates from the national average of 70% to single digits. Ron discusses his experience working with HopeWorks, describing it as "the best seat in the house" from a faith-based perspective. He shares two examples of transformation: working with incarcerated individuals who are rebuilding their lives after release, and teaching English to immigrants from 40 different countries, who in many cases are highly-educated and have professional licenses. Ron emphasizes how he sees both immigrants and those struggling with poverty seeking acceptance and opportunities, noting the powerful impact of hospitality and welcoming them into American homes. He shares an inspiring story of a participant who transformed his life through HopeWorks, becoming a diesel mechanic after overcoming substance abuse and prison. Ron encourages community members to volunteer as mentors or "faith encouragers" for the transition program and provides contact information for those interested in getting involved with HopeWorks or touring the facilities. Interested community members can contact him directly via phone at 901-550-3338 or email at rwade@whyhopeworks.org to schedule a tour of the Next Story facility and to discuss mentorship/faith encourager opportunities. Visit https://www.whyhopeworks.org to learn more about HopeWorks.

    HopeWorks and their new Next Story, 21-bed transition facility in Memphis

  4. Jul 15

    Directorie and Tiny Superheroes

    Host Jeremy C. Park interviews Erika Sinner, who highlights her various entrepreneurial ventures and philanthropic efforts, along with her new podcast, book, and keynote presentation focused on the power of identity and empathy. Erika explains that her childhood experiences inspired her to focus on empathy and kindness, which led to her founding Directorie to help pharmaceutical and biotech companies access top talent and take drugs and treatments to market, and the nonprofit, Tiny Superheroes, to empower children facing illness and disability by helping them discover their inner superpowers. Erika discusses the Tiny Superheroes program, which provides children in hospitals with superhero capes and badges that they earn for each "mission" to help them feel empowered and supported during their medical treatments. The program aims to impact 5 million children over the next 5 years, with starter kits available for $29 that include capes, patches, and a monthly mission program focused on social-emotional learning. Erika explains that the program has expanded coast-to-coast and has received positive feedback from healthcare providers and families, with plans to bring it to Nashville, Memphis, and other locations. Erika and Jeremy talk about the importance and positive impacts of reframing medical experiences as superhero missions and how it also leads to increased hope, healing, and outcomes for the children. Erika highlights the podcast she launched this year, "The Blow Your Mind Podcast" and shares insights from a memorable interview with Mary Seitz, who rebuilt her company after being fired and now generates $100 million annually. Erika explains her "Blow Your Mind" framework, which consists of three steps: deciding who you want to be, building systems to support your future self, and tracking personal progress through evidence, which she shares as a keynote presentation. Erika discusses being founder and CEO of Directorie, which provides commercial services to small to mid-size healthcare companies, particularly those developing treatments for ultra-rare diseases. She explains how Directorie helps these companies by offering flexible commercial teams that can scale up or down based on FDA approval timelines and manufacturing delays. Erika also shares her experience as an author, writing a book about pet bereavement that has led some companies to update their bereavement policies to recognize pets as part of employees' families. Jeremy and Erika discuss corporate empathy and employee support, with Erika sharing insights from her work at Directorie and Tiny Superheroes on communication and performance coaching. Erika emphasizes the importance of building trust within teams, noting that her company made the Inc. 5000 list two years in a row due to these practices. She concludes by advising listeners to bet on themselves and not worry about what others think, encouraging them to pursue growth and fulfillment. Visit https://erikasinner.org to learn more and connect with Erika Sinner, along with Tiny Superheroes, Directorie, or The Blow Your Mind Podcast.

    Directorie and Tiny Superheroes

  5. Jul 15

    Mickey Keaton highlights Bluff City Overwatch LLC

    Host Jeremy C. Park interviews Mickey Keaton, owner and operator of Bluff City Overwatch LLC, who highlights his drone education and training program and efforts to help equip youth for success in the growing industries and related job opportunities. Mickey explains how his experience with the Shelby County Sheriff's Office drone unit inspired him to launch Bluff City Overwatch to educate people about proper drone operations and FAA regulations, as many recreational drone users were violating safety rules. The program offers Introduction to Drone Operations classes where students can earn their FAA Recreational Pilot Certification and learn basic flight skills for $105 per student with a maximum class size of 12 participants. Mickey discusses the vast career opportunities in drone technology, from delivery services to construction, firefighting, and beyond, emphasizing how the program not only teaches STEM skills but also provides workforce development opportunities. He expresses particular interest in bringing the program to underserved communities like North Haven, where businesses could partner to sponsor classes and provide additional support like meals for students. The interview highlights how Mickey's personal and professional experiences, including his role as a Scoutmaster, have helped transform both his family's understanding of drone technology and the lives of young people in our community. Mickey provides his contact information, including their Bluff City Overwatch page on Facebook and email address mickey@bluffcityoverwatch.com for businesses and individuals interested in getting involved or enrolling in classes. Email Mickey at mickey@bluffcityoverwatch.com to learn more about Bluff City Overwatch LLC.

    Mickey Keaton highlights Bluff City Overwatch LLC

  6. Jul 15

    Jeremy Apple and Matt Lloyd highlight Magic Apple Technology

    Host Jeremy C. Park interviews Matt Lloyd, co-founder and CEO, and Jeremy Apple, co-founder and CTO of Magic Apple Technology, who highlight their telecom company founded in 2008 and their expertise in phone systems, cloud-based solutions, and their specialized work in hospitality including hotel phone systems that integrate with property management systems. The company offers a comprehensive range of services including phone systems, data management, texting, and reputation management, with everything running on a cloud-based platform. Matt and Jeremy explore how the company assesses client needs, particularly focusing on how businesses communicate with their clients. Jeremy and Matt discuss some of their newer telecom offerings, focusing on reputation management and branded caller ID services. The reputation management product proactively tests phone numbers daily to verify if they appear as spam on different carriers and initiates remediation if issues are found. The branded caller ID service allows businesses to display their logo and phone number when calling from office numbers to cell phones, helping establish trust and differentiate from competitors in the market. Jeremy and Matt explain the complex regulations surrounding business texting, which evolved from robocall issues to strict compliance requirements including brand verification, content restrictions, and explicit permission requirements. They describe how Magic Apple Technology helps clients navigate this process by handling the complex forms and requirements, including guidance with website modifications and campaign setup. The discussion concludes with information about connecting with Magic Apple Technology through their website at magicapple.com. Visit https://magicapple.com to learn more and connect with Magic Apple Technology.

    Jeremy Apple and Matt Lloyd highlight Magic Apple Technology

  7. Jul 15

    Element 47, importance of simplicity in branding, tips for leveraging AI

    cityCURRENT Nashville partner, Eric Jackson, Founder and CEO of Element 47, who highlights the branding, marketing, and advertising agency that focuses on strategy and helping businesses grow through clear brand positioning. Eric defines brand as the gut feeling people have about a company, which cannot be fully controlled but can be influenced through identity elements like logo and colors, along with culture and user/customer experience. Eric emphasizes the importance of simplicity and culture in branding, explaining that businesses must clearly articulate what makes them unique and special in their market to be remembered. He talks about three questions every owner should answer fast: Who are you? What do you do? Why does it matter? Eric discusses how to create effective "wow statements" for businesses to clearly communicate their value and differentiation. He uses Skillway Founder and CEO Dew Tinnin's "We help you crush your sales goals and love what you do" as an example of a clear, impactful wow statement. Eric advises using simple language without industry jargon, focusing on outcomes rather than processes, and making the statement everywhere from physical spaces to social media. He emphasizes that people buy outcomes rather than processes, and the key is to create curiosity by highlighting what the business delivers, not how they deliver it. Eric discusses Element 47's strategic approach to using AI, particularly with Claude, where Eric treats it as a sparring partner rather than a copy-paste tool. Eric explains how he uses AI to conduct advanced research and generate referral lists through LinkedIn Sales Navigator, creating targeted referral lists for introductions from fellow cityCURRENT partners. The conversation concludes with Eric sharing contact information for Element 47, including their website element47.co, where interested parties can learn more about their services and connect with the team. Visit https://element47.co to learn more and connect with Element 47.

    Element 47, importance of simplicity in branding, tips for leveraging AI

  8. Jul 15

    Tom Barrett highlights Navigate the Journey part 2

    Tom shares his background and path from a corporate career with companies like, Deloitte and E&Y, to transitioning from seminary to ministry to business coaching, explaining how he and his wife Traci, who was a member of the original launch team of HGTV, moved from Chicago to Nashville in 2017. He details their six-system framework called the Scaling Results Operating System, which addresses people, strategy, operations, execution, leadership, and finances, and describes working with clients who are typically founders looking to transition leadership teams and scale their businesses. He describes how the framework helps businesses scale results and impact, particularly addressing challenges like market forces and AI automation that require companies to pivot and update their processes. Tom provides examples of his coaching approach, including a success story about helping a marketing agency refocus on fundraising for nonprofits after struggling during COVID, and discusses his life planning process called Strategic Life Map that helps clients gain clarity through examining past turning points. Tom shares recommendations for driving success, emphasizing the importance of a growth mindset and achieving elite performance through intentional choices and addressing "head trash" that prevents organizations from reaching their full potential. He discusses their "Strategic Life Map" process, which involves analyzing past turning points to plan for the future, and explained their philanthropic work with nonprofits through strategic planning and leadership development. Tom recommends visiting navigatethejourney.com for more information about their services and next steps. Visit https://www.navigatethejourney.com to learn more and connect with Navigate the Journey.

    Tom Barrett highlights Navigate the Journey part 2
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About

Our cityCURRENT Radio Show airs each Sunday from 7-8 AM across all four Cumulus Media Memphis radio stations, which reach more than 750,000 listeners each week: Kix 106, 98.1 The Max, 98.9 The Bridge, and 103.5 WRBO and also airs across all five Cumulus Media Nashville radio stations each Sunday from 5-6 AM on 104.5 The Zone, 95.5 NASH ICON, SuperTalk 99.7 WTN, NASH FM 103.3, and 4-5 AM on 92Q. The show is focused on positives and features interviews with a mix of business and community leaders who discuss important trends, efforts, lessons learned, and ways to get engaged and make an impact..…

Information

  • Creator
    cityCURRENT, Jeremy C. Park, Andrew Bartolotta, cityCURRENT, Jeremy C Park
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2026
  • Episodes
    614
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright: cityCURRENT, Powered by Higginbotham Insurance & Financial Services
  • Show Website
    cityCURRENT Radio Show