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Episodes

Dec. 6, 2023

UFOs and the Pentagon’s Ridiculous Need for Secrecy with Rep. Tim Bur…

Representative Tim Burchett is a Republican Congressman serving the 2nd district of Tennessee. In this episode of Connect the Knox, Julia interviews Burchett about America’s complicated history with UFOs, the Pentagon’s ridiculous need for secrecy...

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Nov. 22, 2023

The Importance of Tennessee in Creating a World of Green Energy with …

Dr. H.M. “Hash” Hashemian is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Analysis and Measurement Services Corporation (AMS), a nuclear engineering consulting firm headquartered in Knoxville. In this episode of ConnectTheKnox, Julia sits down...

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Nov. 8, 2023

Supporting Local Agriculture Through Education with Dr. Keith Carver

Dr. Keith Carver is the Senior Vice Chancellor and Senior Vice President of the UT Institute of Agriculture, which plays a huge role in our community and the future of our local farmers.

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Oct. 25, 2023

Serving the Local Community One Glass at a Time with Candace Viox

Candace Viox is the owner of local restaurant and wine bar, Water Into Wine. Water Into Wine has become a staple in our community, and in this episode of ConnectTheKnox, Candace shares the incredible story of how she decided to …

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Oct. 11, 2023

What Makes You Weird Makes You Wonderful with Michael Galyean

Michael Galyean is a viral sensation and content creator who gained international attention when he participated in a recent viral dance number at a UT Football game. But what many people don’t know about Michael is how long he’s been …

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Sept. 27, 2023

Fueling Knoxville Through Coffee and Human Connection with Pierce LaM…

Pierce LaMacchia is the Founder, Owner and Operator of K Brew Coffee. On this episode of ConnectTheKnox, Pierce shares the incredible story of how he discovered that entrepreneurship was the only path forward for him and convinced his brother to …

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Sept. 13, 2023

Bleeding Orange to Reach Your Goals with Alexis Hornbuckle

Alexis Hornbuckle is an incredible athlete and member of the Knoxville community. As the first female athlete to ever win the Collegiate and the WNBA National Championships in the same collegiate year, she has become not only a local legend, …

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Aug. 30, 2023

How UT Basketball Changes Lives with Chris Lofton

Chris Lofton, legendary UT Basketball star, joins me on this episode of ConnectTheKnox to discuss why Knoxville has such a special place in his heart and his upcoming career goals. Throughout this episode, we discuss what it was like for …

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Aug. 16, 2023

Sports & Entertainment Media: A Local Legacy with Andy Jeffers

Andy Jeffers is the owner of Sports & Entertainment Media here in Knoxville. On this episode of ConnectTheKnox, we discuss how he got his start running such a large media company from the heart of the Scruffy City.

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Aug. 2, 2023

Building Up a Business and Community with Bear Stephenson

Bear Stephenson is the owner of Stephenson Realty and Auction in Clinton, Tennessee. On this episode of ConnectTheKnox, Bear explains how his early career was shaped by some of Knoxville’s most influential business leaders.

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July 19, 2023

Winning the Commercial Real Estate Game in Nashville with Tyler Cauble

Tyler Cauble is a commercial real estate broker in Nashville, Tennessee who is helping to improve the city through the use of mixed-use development.

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July 5, 2023

All Roads Lead to Vols Country with Mark Nagi

Mark Nagi, a long-time Knoxville resident, is both a TDOT employee and former sportscaster who recently wrote a new book on UT sports called Decade of Dysfunction.

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June 21, 2023

Switching Things Up with Josh Mancuso

Josh Mancuso is a TikTok creator based out of East Tennessee who has started his own production company called Switchmen Studios. In this episode of ConnectTheKnox, we discuss Josh’s East Tennessee roots and how he came to become a full-time …

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June 7, 2023

Creating Generational Wealth in Knoxville with Stacey Campfield

Stacey Campfield is a Tennessee politician, TV personality, and real estate mogul and on this episode of ConnectTheKnox, we explore how Stacey was able to build such a dynamic career right here in Knoxville. Stacey explains why he moved to …

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May 24, 2023

The Magic of Knoxville’s Newest Resort with Melissa Blettner

Melissa Blettner is the Chief Executive Officer for Ancient Lore Village, a one-of-a-kind fantasy resort right in the heart of Knoxville. On this episode of ConnectTheKnox, Melissa shares her philosophy of hospitality with purpose and how her role...

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May 10, 2023

Leading Knox County Into the Future with Glenn Jacobs

Glenn Jacobs is the Mayor of Knox County, but many people first knew him from his professional wrestling career. On this episode of ConnectTheKnox, we discuss why Glenn chose to settle in Knoxville over all the other cities he’s traveled …

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April 26, 2023

Building a Sports Media Empire in Vols Country with Dave Hooker

In this episode of ConnectTheKnox I’m joined by Dave Hooker, owner of Off The Hook Sports. Dave is a Knoxville native who has made a name for himself breaking stories in sports and eventually creating his own sports media empire. …

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April 12, 2023

Best Practices in Cybersecurity with Moshe the Chief Geek

Moshe the Chief Geek is my secret weapon when it comes to all things cybersecurity, and on this special episode of ConnectTheKnox, we’re covering all the best practices when it comes to protecting yourself online.

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March 29, 2023

Training for the Olympics in Knoxville with Marissa Kalsey

Marissa Kalsey is a pole vaulter and Olympic hopeful who moved to Knoxville to train with world-class coaches.

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March 15, 2023

Losing? NO CHANCE of That in Knoxville

Zane Chavez is a former pro baseball player who has traveled all over the U.S. and to 5 different countries in his career. So what made him decide to settle in Knoxville and open up a training facility for aspiring …

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March 1, 2023

Knoxville: A Home Run of a Hometown with Kole Cottam

Kole Cottam is a professional catcher for the Boston Red Sox and a long-time Knoxville resident. On this episode of ConnectTheKnox, Kole describes why he loves Knoxville compared to all the other cities in the country he’s traveled to as …

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Feb. 15, 2023

Pushing for Political Change in Tennessee with Gloria Johnson

Episode Summary Gloria Johnson, State Representative in House District 90, is a former educator who ran for office after seeing certain political issues not getting the attention they deserved. On this episode of ConnectTheKnox, she describes...

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Feb. 1, 2023

Supporting the Leaders of Today and Tomorrow with Tammy White

On this episode of ConnectTheKnox Tammy White, President & CEO of Leadership Knoxville, came to Knoxville in 1990 and has been working to shape the growth of the city ever since.

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Jan. 18, 2023

Creating Opportunities for Tennesseeans with Randy Boyd

Randy Boyd, legendary Knoxville entrepreneur and current President of the University of Tennessee, is a lifelong Knoxvillian who’s dedicated to giving back to his community. On this episode of ConnectTheKnox, he describes how an early failed...

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