Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev

Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a podcast about business, parenting and living life intentionally. We're here every week to bring you intentional conversations on making your own path to success, challenging the status quo, and finding all the ways we're better. Recorded in Cookeville, TN, Kosta joins guests from all walks of life to bring fresh perspective and start your week with purpose. We're better together.

  1. Jun 1

    100 Years of the Putnam County Fair with Taylor Hill

    Join Kosta and his guest: Taylor Hill, Assistant Treasurer for the Putnam County Fair Board, Owner of Taylor Creates and Candidate for Algood City Council. In this episode: It’s safe to say there’s no single event that brings Putnam County together like our County Fair. This year, the Putnam County Fair will celebrate its 100th anniversary. As a Fair Board Member, what does this centennial celebration mean to you? In 2019, Putnam County authorized 196 acres on Tennessee Avenue to build our next fairgrounds. In addition to the fairgrounds, we’ve completed and opened the Putnam County Convention Center, with the new Expo Center under construction. How do you see the new location impacting our fair’s success for the next 100 years? For most of us we walk through the gate and have no idea what it takes to make that happen. As the Assistant Treasurer, you live in the budget. Without giving away secrets, what would surprise people most about the financial reality of producing this event every year? Find out more about the Putnam County Fair:https://putnamcountyfair.org/Find out more about Taylor Creates: https://www.taylorcreates.net/ Find out more about Taylor Hill's Campaign for Algood City Council:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61588433136653 Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN. This episode of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is made possible by our partners at Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy. Find out more about Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy:https://aspirebarberandbeauty.com

    31 min
  2. May 25

    Moving Forward with Kerry Ledbetter

    Join Kosta and his guest: Kerry Ledbetter, District 6, Putnam County School Board Member, Manager for Community Homeowner Associations and Candidate for Putnam County Clerk. In this episode: No matter what happens in August, this election will bring forward a new era in local leadership for Putnam County. As we said, you’re running for Putnam County Clerk and hope to pick up where outgoing County Clerk Wayne Nabors is leaving off. What do you see as your greatest opportunity in the office on day one? You’ve spent over twenty years in hotel and hospitality management. Needless to say, you understand service and what it means to be in service to others. How did your time in hospitality prepare you for the work of the Putnam County Clerk’s office? Most of us only visit the County Clerk's office when we’re getting new tags or registration. For listeners who've never really thought about it, walk us through what the office does day-to-day. More importantly, why should voters care who is doing this job?  Find out more about Kerry Ledbetter's Campaign: https://www.kerryledbetter.com Register to vote, check your registration or update your voter registration: https://sos.tn.gov/govotetn Important Putnam County Election dates and information:Putnam County General Elections will be held on August 6th with early voting from July 17th to August 1st.All early voting takes place at the Putnam County Election Commission on 705 County Services Dr, Cookeville, TN 38501.For more information visit on Putnam County polling locations visit: https://putnamcountytn.gov/election-commission Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN. This episode of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is made possible by our partners at Miss Sallie's Market. Find out more about Miss Sallie's Market:https://www.misssallies.com

    45 min
  3. May 11

    County Business with Jonathan A.D. Williams

    Join Kosta and his guest: Jonathan A.D. Williams, Putnam County Commissioner for District One, Owner of Veterans Barber Shop, former U.S. Marine, police officer, and candidate for Putnam County Commission District One. In this episode: Your first term on Putnam County Commission started in 2010. So, let’s start there. What inspired you to run for Putnam County Commission and what’s changed the most over the past sixteen years? We’re recording this episode on the second week of early voting and our county vote totals have already surpassed the early vote total for 2022 and 2018. What’s motivating voters to get out to the polls? Has the increased interest of this election cycle changed your campaigning strategy? If elected, this will be your fourth term on the County Commission. What do you see as your greatest accomplishments to date? What do you hope to add to those accomplishments over the next four years? Find out more about Veterans Barber Shop:https://www.veteransbarbershop.com/ Find out more about Jonathan A.D. Williams for Putnam County Commissioner: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063633996867 Register to vote, check your registration or update your voter registration: https://sos.tn.gov/govotetn Important Putnam County Election dates and information:Putnam County General Elections will be held on August 6th with early voting from July 17th to August 1st.All early voting takes place at the Putnam County Election Commission on 705 County Services Dr, Cookeville, TN 38501.For more information visit on Putnam County polling locations visit: https://putnamcountytn.gov/election-commission Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN. This episode of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is made possible by our partners at Miss Sallie's Market. Find out more about Miss Sallie's Market:https://www.misssallies.com

    58 min
  4. May 4

    Safe Place to Land with Margo Dirkson

    Join Kosta and his guest: Margo Dirkson, Department Coordinator for the Office of Access, Belonging, and Community Outreach at Tennessee Tech University. In this episode: In 2024, TTU launched the office of Access, Belonging, and Community Outreach, where you currently serve as the Department Coordinator. Will you tell us about the office and how it serves students? You and Dr. Robert Owens built this office from the ground up. Most faculty never get to design a cabinet-level office from scratch. How do you know when you're getting it right? Belonging is a buzzword in higher education and I feel like sometimes it loses its meaning. Tech enrolls first-generation students, students from rural Tennessee, international students, and students whose families have been in the Upper Cumberland for generations all in the same residence hall. What does belonging actually mean at a place like TTU? Find out more about TN Tech's Office of Access, Belonging and Community Outreach:https://www.tntech.edu/news/releases/24-25/tech-launches-new-office-of-access-belonging-and-community-outreach.php Find out more about TN Tech: https://www.tntech.edu Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN. This episode of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is made possible by our partners at Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy. Find out more about Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy:https://aspirebarberandbeauty.com

    47 min
  5. Apr 27

    Democratic Values with Sara Kruszka

    Join Kosta and his guest: Sara Kruszka, candidate for Democratic Executive Committeewoman for Tennessee District 15. In this episode: Like everyone listening to this episode, no matter how hard we try, we can’t escape this election cycle. However, today’s episode will be a bit different as we’re talking about a part of the ballot you’ve probably never paid much attention to: State Executive Committee. You’re running for Tennessee District 15 Democratic Executive Committeewoman, what is that? Why have we never heard of it before? Let’s talk about our local party, and what candidates are bringing to this election. For several decades here in Putnam County we’ve had a dwindling to non-existent Democratic slate of candidates. This year, you’re running 19 candidates across the county. From your perspective, as a group, what are the greatest strengths and weaknesses for this coalition over the next 4 months? You’ll have a contested race on the August ballot, and although your campaign will look different than your peers, you’ll still need to campaign. Why should voters pick you to be their voice for the state democratic party? Find out more about Sara Kruszka's Campaign: https://www.instagram.com/votesaratn/ Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN. This episode of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is made possible by our partners at Miss Sallie's Market. Find out more about Miss Sallie's Market:https://www.misssallies.com

    43 min
  6. Apr 20

    Trust, but Verify with Kelley McNeal

    Join Kosta and his guest: Kelley McNeal, CPA, public servant, educator and candidate for Putnam County Trustee. In this episode: For 23 years you served as an auditor for the Tennessee Comptroller's Office. A critical part of that role was going to Trustee offices across Tennessee and examining how offices were (or weren't) properly executing their responsibilities. What did that experience teach you about what differentiates a well-run Trustee's office from a poorly run office? For our listeners meeting you for the first time, you grew up on a farm on the Putnam-Overton County line. You’ve lived and served our Upper Cumberland community for your entire life. Why did you decide to run for office this cycle? How did you decide to run for Trustee? As we’ve discussed in previous episodes, this election season, there are two primary races that have us on the edge of our seats. Putnam County Mayor, and Putnam County Trustee. We know all three of the candidates in this race have put their all into campaigning and that’s part of what makes this election cycle so exciting for voters. What do you hope voters are thinking about when they go to cast their ballot in this election? Find out more about the Putnam County Trustee's Office: https://putnamcountytn.gov/trustee Find out more about Kelley McNeal for Putnam County Trustee: https://www.facebook.com/p/Kelley-McNeal-for-Putnam-County-Trustee-61577288861722/Register to vote, check your registration or update your voter registration: https://sos.tn.gov/govotetn Important Putnam County Election dates and information:Putnam County Primary Elections will be held on May 5, 2026, with early voting from April 15th to April 30th.Putnam County General Elections will be held on August 6th with early voting from July 17th to August 1st.All early voting takes place at the Putnam County Election Commission on 705 County Services Dr, Cookeville, TN 38501.For more information visit on Putnam County polling locations visit: https://putnamcountytn.gov/election-commission Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN. This episode of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is made possible by our partners at Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy. Find out more about Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy:https://aspirebarberandbeauty.com

    35 min
4.9
out of 5
35 Ratings

About

Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a podcast about business, parenting and living life intentionally. We're here every week to bring you intentional conversations on making your own path to success, challenging the status quo, and finding all the ways we're better. Recorded in Cookeville, TN, Kosta joins guests from all walks of life to bring fresh perspective and start your week with purpose. We're better together.

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