Downright Mindful

Downright Mindful Media
  • 5.0 (15)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Weekly

Downright Mindful Good conversations. Great stories. People worth remembering. Downright Mindful is hosted by Matt Parris and Paul Sausville from East Tennessee. Some weeks, we sit down with educators, coaches, public servants, community leaders, local legends, and everyday people whose stories deserve to be preserved. Other weeks, it’s just Matt and Paul behind the microphones talking about history, culture, education, current events, or whatever has us thinking that week. We don’t pretend to have all the answers. We just believe there’s still value in sitting across the table from someone, asking good questions, laughing a little, disagreeing sometimes, and actually listening. Over 100 episodes in, the mission is becoming clearer: preserve the people, stories, and conversations of our time and place while staying curious about the world beyond it. Think of Downright Mindful as a dusty old box of letters in the attic. Stories from our time and our place, preserved for whoever comes looking someday. New episodes every Sunday at 2 PM. Follow the show and come be part of the conversation.

  1. 6d ago

    Behind the Walls of Brushy Mountain | Downright Mindful Ep. 101

    Before we take our students to Brushy Mountain, Paul decided Matt needed to be put to the test. For Episode 101, we’re going all in on Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary. Paul came prepared with the questions and turned the tables on Matt for a conversation about one of Tennessee’s most fascinating and notorious historic places. We trace the story of Brushy Mountain from its roots in the aftermath of the Coal Creek War through more than a century of Tennessee corrections. We talk about the prison itself, the people who were incarcerated there, the officers who worked behind its walls, escapes, violence, changing approaches to incarceration, and the role Brushy played in Tennessee history before finally closing in 2009. There are stories most people know, and plenty they probably don’t. This episode also has a second purpose. Matt and Paul will be taking Criminal Justice, Mock Trial and Sociology students to Brushy Mountain this week for their annual field trip. So we wanted to make something our students could watch or listen to beforehand that would give them some context for what they’re about to walk into. But this isn’t a lecture. It’s still Downright Mindful. Two teachers, a lot of questions, a remarkable piece of Tennessee history, and a conversation about what happened behind the walls of Brushy Mountain. 🎙️ Behind the Walls of Brushy Mountain | Downright Mindful Ep. 101 New episodes every Sunday at 2:00 PM. WATCH & FOLLOW DOWNRIGHT MINDFUL ▶️ YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@DownrightMindful 🎧 Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/show/3sANbCaTFQag9nMCnR01N7?si=0950bd8497ee47ad 🎧 Apple Podcasts
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/downright-mindful/id1776503597 📘 Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/DownrightMindful 📸 Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/downrightmindfulmedia 🎵 TikTok
https://www.tiktok.com/@downrightmindful Subscribe, share the episode, and come learn a little Tennessee history with us.

    Behind the Walls of Brushy Mountain | Downright Mindful Ep. 101

  2. Sep 20

    What Would You Do With 100? | Downright Mindful Ep. 100

    What would you do with $100? How about 100 minutes? 100 people? 100 years? And after making it through 100 episodes of a podcast, what would you do with 100 more? For the 100th episode of Downright Mindful, Paul brings Matt a series of questions built around one number. Along the way, the conversation goes just about everywhere. Recorded on Mexican Independence Day, Matt and Paul talk about the history behind the day before turning closer to home and discussing Project River in Bradley County, the information surrounding it, and the challenge of maintaining credibility when everybody seems to be fighting to control the narrative. But eventually, 100 gives Matt an opportunity to look backward. One hundred episodes means a lot of people have sat across that table. Educators. Coaches. Public servants. Community leaders. Local legends. Friends. People whose stories might otherwise have never been recorded. It also means 100 opportunities to get better. Better questions. Better conversations. Better listening. Better storytelling. Better cameras, microphones, editing and everything else they've learned by simply continuing to hit record. And maybe that's been the biggest surprise of Downright Mindful. The power of a conversation once you decide it's worth preserving. So Episode 100 isn't just a celebration of what we've done. Matt and Paul also look forward and ask what this show could become over the next 100 episodes. Because apparently we're doing this again. 😂 🎙️ What Would You Do With 100? | Downright Mindful Ep. 100 New episodes every Sunday at 2:00 PM. WATCH & FOLLOW DOWNRIGHT MINDFUL ▶️ YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@DownrightMindful 🎧 Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/3sANbCaTFQag9nMCnR01N7?si=0950bd8497ee47ad 🎧 Apple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/downright-mindful/id1776503597 📘 Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/DownrightMindful 📸 Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/downrightmindfulmedia 🎵 TikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@downrightmindful Subscribe and come along for the next 100.

  3. Sep 13

    Moving the Jail | Allan Walsh & Tony Moore | Downright Mindful Ep. 99

    In 2004, Bradley County made the enormous move from the old jail on Johnson Boulevard to the new 408 bed direct supervision facility on Blythe Avenue. But long before moving day, there was a whole lot of work to be done. For Episode 99, Allan Walsh returns for Part 2, and Matt has a surprise waiting for him. His longtime friend and colleague, Tony Moore. Allan served as Captain and Tony as Senior Lieutenant in the Corrections Division of the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office. Along with Gwen Beavers and a team of others, they spent years preparing for a new era of corrections in Bradley County. Allan and Tony give us their perspective on that transition. They talk about developing policies and procedures, preparing employees for a completely different facility and correctional model, and finally making the move from Johnson Boulevard to Blythe Avenue in 2004. There’s some personal history here too. Tony was one of the people who interviewed a 20 year old Matt Parris in late 2004 and ultimately gave him his first opportunity in law enforcement. Then things get goofy. Allan turns the lights off on Tony in a Nashville hotel bathroom. Tony knocks Allan off the track racing go karts. And Allan tells the story of accidentally using the women’s restroom at a Chinese buffet and not realizing his mistake until he walked out of the stall. 😂 There’s history in this one, but there’s also something even better. Two longtime friends sitting around a table remembering what it was like to be there. 🎙️ Moving the Jail | Allan Walsh & Tony Moore | Downright Mindful Ep. 99 New episodes every Sunday at 2:00 PM. Subscribe, follow, and share this episode with somebody who remembers the old Bradley County Jail.

  4. Sep 6

    Should 16-Year-Olds Be Allowed to Vote? | Downright Mindful Ep. 98

    What started as one of those wandering Matt-and-Paul conversations turned into one of the liveliest debates they've had in a while. It starts innocently enough. Books. Reading. Mapp v. Ohio. Constitutional amendments. And then Paul drops an idea: Maybe 16-year-olds should be allowed to vote. Matt's immediate response? “That's the craziest thing I've ever heard.” And they were off. As a U.S. History teacher, Paul makes the case that many of the students sitting in his classroom are more informed about American government and history than a significant portion of the voting population. If they're informed, engaged and directly affected by the decisions government makes, why shouldn't they have a voice? Matt isn't buying it. Knowing information and having the maturity to process that information when making consequential decisions aren't necessarily the same thing. There's a reason society draws age lines in other areas—and Matt argues that brain development, maturity and life experience matter when we're talking about the ballot box. What follows isn't a formal debate. It's two friends who genuinely disagree, pushing each other's arguments, laughing, getting a little fired up and seeing whether either one can move the other. And somewhere along the way, a conversation that started with books becomes: Should 16-year-olds be allowed to vote? You decide who won. 🎙️ Downright Mindful — Episode 98Hosted by Matt Parris & Paul Sausville

  5. Aug 30

    Everybody Loves Dolly | Remembering Dolly Parton | Downright Mindful Ep. 97

    Everybody loves Dolly. But why? Following the death of Dolly Parton at 80 years old, Matt Parris and Paul Sausville sit down to reflect on the life and legacy of one of the most beloved people Tennessee has ever produced. And, well…two dudes end up talking Dolly for about 50 minutes. They talk about the music, the songwriting, the unmistakable personality, her Appalachian roots, faith, humor, generosity, business success, and the remarkable journey that took a girl from the mountains of East Tennessee to becoming one of the most recognizable people in the world. But eventually the conversation turns to something bigger. Matt asks a question that isn't easy to answer: Who else have we had—or do we have today—who people with dramatically different beliefs would almost fight over the right to claim as one of their own? Dolly seemed to belong to everybody. People from different generations, backgrounds, political beliefs, religions, lifestyles and parts of the country could see something in Dolly they loved. She managed to become larger than life without completely losing the authenticity of where she came from. So this isn't a biography of Dolly Parton. It isn't a music documentary. And Matt and Paul certainly aren't Dolly experts. It's a conversation about why she mattered. Why Tennessee loved her.Why America loved her.Why people who agreed on very little could agree on Dolly. And why, even after her passing, it still feels right to say: Everybody Loves Dolly. 🎙️ Downright Mindful — Episode 97Hosted by Matt Parris & Paul Sausville

  6. Aug 23

    Putting People Back Together | Bryan Clary | Downright Mindful Ep. 96

    Some people treat an injury. The really good ones understand they're treating the person who got injured. In Episode 96, Matt Parris and Paul Sausville sit down with Bryan Clary, owner of Polk Physical Therapy in Benton, Tennessee—and a man who played an important role in both of their families long before this conversation ever happened. Matt's son Kyler came to Bryan after a devastating knee injury, major surgery, and weeks with virtually no movement. Paul's son Seth endured multiple hip surgeries during his high school years. Both were young athletes dealing with much more than an injured joint. When something that has been central to a young person's identity is suddenly taken away, there's a mental and emotional recovery that has to happen alongside the physical one. Bryan understood that. During his years helping establish Center for Sports Medicine in Cleveland, Bryan spent countless hours working with both boys. He pushed them physically, but he also talked, listened, encouraged, and helped them work through some difficult days. He treated more than the injury. Today, Bryan owns Polk Physical Therapy in Benton, where he continues bringing new approaches and technology to patient care, including TECAR radiofrequency therapy. But physical therapy is only the beginning of this conversation. Bryan grew up in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, which opens the door to his love of World War II history and the fascinating history of the community that helped build the atomic bomb. We talk faith and his involvement with historic Broad Street United Methodist Church in downtown Cleveland. From there, the conversation wanders through athletics, business, history, community, family, and plenty more. At some point, Matt and Paul come to the same conclusion: Bryan Clary probably needs his own podcast. He's one of those people who can seemingly talk about anything—and make you want to keep listening. For Matt and Paul, though, he'll always also be the guy who was there when two of their boys needed somebody in their corner. This is a conversation about recovery, resilience, history, faith, community, and what can happen when you take the time to care for the whole person. 🎙️ Downright Mindful — Episode 96Hosted by Matt Parris & Paul Sausville New episodes Sundays at 2:00 PM. Subscribe on YouTube and help us continue preserving conversations with interesting people and the stories that shaped our communities.

  7. Aug 16

    A Lifetime of Lessons | Bob Taylor | Downright Mindful Ep. 95

    There are people who hold leadership positions, and then there are people who spend a lifetime building other leaders. Bob Taylor is one of those people. In Episode 95, Matt Parris and Paul Sausville sit down with a man whose influence can be found throughout Bradley County education—and for Matt, this one is personal. Bob was his elementary school principal at Michigan Avenue Elementary. Originally from Maryland, Bob wore many hats throughout his career: teacher, coach, administrator, principal, mentor, and eventually Director of Schools for Bradley County Schools. Along the way, he helped prepare countless educators for leadership, including Tim Riggs, who taught PE under Bob at Michigan Avenue before beginning his own long career as a principal. One of the most fascinating parts of the conversation centers on reading. Bob shares that it wasn't until college that he realized he couldn't read as well as some of the students around him. What college gave Bob was something simple but powerful: practice. Years later, that experience helped shape the way he thought about students and reading. Alongside legendary Bradley County educator Herbert Lackey, Bob became instrumental in bringing Accelerated Reader to Bradley County Schools. He remembers the impact the program had on their schools, their students, and ultimately their test scores—and explains why he believed giving kids opportunities to simply read, practice, and experience success could be transformational. But Bob Taylor is much more than his career in education. We talk tennis, coaching, woodworking, ping pong, leadership, family, mentorship, and the people who shaped him along the way. And yes, we also discover Bob Taylor's preferred alternatives to actual swear words: "Great Mother Bear!" "Judas Priest!" And when things get REALLY serious... "Jerkface." Bob also speaks openly about being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2023 and how lessons learned through a lifetime of athletics, competition, leadership, discipline, and perseverance are helping him approach this chapter of his life. Several times during our conversation, Bob becomes emotional. What's striking is what brings those emotions out. He gets emotional remembering what people did for his students. He gets emotional talking about people who invested in others. Even one story about losing his temper with a teacher decades ago still clearly matters to him. That may tell you more about Bob Taylor than any résumé ever could. This is a conversation about education, leadership, literacy, mentorship, resilience, gratitude—and what can happen when someone spends a lifetime investing in other people. 🎙️ Downright Mindful — Episode 95Hosted by Matt Parris & Paul Sausville New episodes Sundays at 2:00 PM. Subscribe on YouTube and help us continue preserving the stories of the people who shaped our communities.

  8. Aug 9

    Welcome to East Tennessee | Downright Mindful Ep. 94

    What would you show someone who had never experienced life in East Tennessee? In Episode 94, Paul poses a hypothetical to Matt based on a student exchange program that takes young people from major cities into rural America—and sends rural students into America's largest cities. The question is simple: If a group of those students came here, what would you want them to experience? That sends the conversation all over East Tennessee. Point Park on Lookout Mountain. The Lost Sea in Sweetwater. Friday night high school football. Local farms and rodeos. Pigeon Forge. Brushy Mountain. Oak Ridge—and plenty of stops in between. But the conversation becomes about more than places to visit. It's about the experiences, people, traditions, history, and culture that help someone understand a place. Later, Matt and Paul turn their attention toward Downright Mindful itself and talk openly about the future of the podcast, where they would like to take it, and what it might take to get there. That includes an open invitation to local businesses interested in partnering with the show and to an aspiring editor who might be interested in becoming part of what we're building. It's part thought experiment, part road trip, and part look behind the curtain at the future of Downright Mindful. 🎙 Hosted by Matt Parris & Paul Sausville Watch on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@downrightmindful Listen on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/3sANbCaTFQag9nMCnR01N7 Listen on Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/downright-mindful/id1776503597 Interested in partnering with Downright Mindful or helping us tell these stories? We'd love to hear from you. downrightmindful@gmail.com

See All (102)

5
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

Downright Mindful Good conversations. Great stories. People worth remembering. Downright Mindful is hosted by Matt Parris and Paul Sausville from East Tennessee. Some weeks, we sit down with educators, coaches, public servants, community leaders, local legends, and everyday people whose stories deserve to be preserved. Other weeks, it’s just Matt and Paul behind the microphones talking about history, culture, education, current events, or whatever has us thinking that week. We don’t pretend to have all the answers. We just believe there’s still value in sitting across the table from someone, asking good questions, laughing a little, disagreeing sometimes, and actually listening. Over 100 episodes in, the mission is becoming clearer: preserve the people, stories, and conversations of our time and place while staying curious about the world beyond it. Think of Downright Mindful as a dusty old box of letters in the attic. Stories from our time and our place, preserved for whoever comes looking someday. New episodes every Sunday at 2 PM. Follow the show and come be part of the conversation.

Information

  • Creator
    Downright Mindful Media
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    102
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Downright Mindful Media
  • Show Website
    Downright Mindful

You Might Also Like