In this deeply personal and inspiring episode, host Andrew Bartolotta sits down with Zack Orsborn, founder of Like Really Creative, to explore the intersection of mental health, creativity, and community. Zack opens up about growing up in a small Mississippi town where creativity was stifled, navigating mental illness, and the long road to rediscovering his artistic identity.

He shares the powerful story behind his framework—The Four Codes of Creative Energy—and how it's helping creatives overcome fear, reconnect with their passion, and build intentional, expressive lives. From Collage Parties to MUSE gatherings, Like Really Creative is more than a business—it's a movement for every artist who's ever felt like they didn’t belong.

Whether you're an artist, entrepreneur, or simply someone who feels stuck, this conversation will leave you feeling seen, encouraged, and inspired to create from a place of authenticity and courage.

Learn more: https://likereallycreative.com/

Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Beth Wilson, Founder and CEO of Wilson Public Relations, who highlights her woman-owned, award-winning, integrated communications firm based in Memphis, Tennessee, and then discusses PR trends and offers tips to help organizations be more impactful with their efforts. During the interview, Beth shares her journey, which began with a major in public relations and various communications roles in Memphis. She credits her time at Mahaffey Event & Tent Rentals, the Executive MBA program at The University of Memphis, and Epicenter Memphis for her decision to start her own agency. Despite facing challenges, including the pandemic and personal loss, Beth expresses gratitude for the support she received from the Memphis community and her desire to use Wilson Public Relations as a vehicle to give back.

Beth discusses Wilson PR's focus on three areas of media: earned, owned, and shared. For earned media, they handle announcements, pitch clients as expert resources, and engage in community partnerships. Owned media involves website content, thought leadership, and sales collateral. Shared media uses social platforms to amplify stories. Beth emphasizes the importance of repurposing content across multiple channels and describes their onboarding process, which includes developing messaging guides and audience engagement maps. She also highlights the value of traditional media relations and the ethical use of AI in their work, as she talks about some of the important trends taking place in PR and then shares some tips for how organizations can start to create more stories and then repurpose and leverage them across multiple platforms to be more impactful with their efforts.

Visit https://wilsonpublicrelations.com to learn more and connect with Wilson Public Relations.

In this episode of the cityCURRENT Show, we dive into a transformative conversation with Leonard Cochran, Chief Engagement Officer of UpWords Unlimited and author of Relational Leadership: An Introduction and The Four Constants of Success. With decades of experience helping individuals and organizations elevate their leadership impact, Leonard brings a fresh, people-first perspective to the table.

We explore how traditional leadership models are being challenged by today's rapidly evolving workplace and why relational leadership is the key to unlocking deeper engagement, stronger teams, and more sustainable success. Leonard shares personal insights, research-backed strategies, and the core "constants" every leader needs to thrive in today's dynamic environment.

Whether you're leading a company, a nonprofit, or your own personal growth journey, this episode is packed with wisdom, practical takeaways, and a powerful call to lead with intention, empathy, and consistency.

Tune in to discover why leadership for the next generation starts with building relationships that matter.

Learn more and purchase his books: https://upwordsunlimited.com/

In this episode of the cityCURRENT Show, we sit down with Brandon Tendler, the innovative founder of Bactose®, a groundbreaking probiotic that’s changing the game for anyone who struggles with lactose intolerance.

Brandon shares the personal story and scientific journey behind Bactose®—a supplement that introduces a specialized super strain of lactobacillus acidophilus, which produces lactase enzymes directly in your gut. Just 7 days of use each month trains your gut to digest dairy with ease—no more daily pills, no more discomfort, just the freedom to enjoy the foods you love.

We explore how Bactose® taps into the power of the microbiome, what makes it different from anything else on the market, and how it’s helping people live healthier, more unrestricted lives. Whether you're curious about gut health, lactose intolerance, or entrepreneurship in the wellness space, this episode is packed with inspiration and science-backed insights.

Learn how a dad, husband, and visionary created a solution that empowers people to enjoy real food without compromise.

Learn more at https://bactose.com and get ready to experience dairy differently.

Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Marcie Smeck Bryant, who recently was honored with the Social Justice Impact Award at the 2025 Strobel Volunteer Awards hosted by Hands On Nashville powered by United Way of Greater Nashville. Marcie Smeck Bryant is a retired strategic communications professional, who has been actively involved with The Nashville Food Project for over a decade, helping to establish and manage a weekly community meal program at Trinity Community Commons that focuses on food security and community building.

Through her work with The Nashville Food Project, Trinity Community Commons, and Feedback Nashville, Marcie has been instrumental in addressing food deserts, waste reduction, and supporting urban farming initiatives while emphasizing the importance of strategic planning and community engagement.

During the interview, Marcie shares her story and passion for serving others. She describes The Nashville Food Project's mission to grow, cook, and share food, focusing on community building and hunger relief. She highlights their three main components: providing 7,000 meals weekly, recovering and collecting donated food from various sources, and supporting urban farming initiatives. Marcie also details the partnership with Trinity Community Commons, which offers free meals, wraparound services, and neighborhood support through a community garden and upcoming supportive housing development.

Marcie then talks about serving on the board with The Nashville Food Project and their engagement in Feedback Nashville, highlighting the importance of strategic planning and addressing food deserts and waste in the city. She shares her personal experiences and insights gained through volunteering, emphasizing the power of taking action. Marcie wraps up talking about the significance of the 2025 Strobel Volunteer Awards' Social Justice Impact Award, and encourages others to find their passion and get involved in community organizations like The Nashville Food Project and Trinity Community Commons.

Visit https://www.thenashvillefoodproject.org to learn more about the Nashville Food Project. Visit https://www.trinitycommunitycommons.org to learn more about Trinity Community Commons.

On this episode of the cityCURRENT Show, host Andrew Bartolotta sits down with Keisha Walker, Community Affairs Manager for Vitalant, to explore how one of the nation’s leading nonprofit blood providers is turning compassion into action—and giving students an opportunity to save lives and earn scholarships.

Keisha shares Vitalant’s mission to maintain a steady, lifesaving blood supply for patients in need and sheds light on the challenges in cities like Memphis, where only one in four blood units needed by hospitals is donated locally. With stories that highlight the real-world impact of donation—from trauma care to sickle cell treatment—Keisha emphasizes the critical role every donor plays in the healthcare system.

The conversation dives deep into Vitalant’s 2025 Student Leader Scholarship Program, a summer initiative (June 1–August 31) that empowers students across the region to host virtual blood drives and earn up to $1,000 in scholarship funds. Keisha explains how easy it is for students to get involved, the leadership skills they gain, and how they can build a legacy of generosity starting now.

Whether you're a student, parent, educator, or simply someone looking to give back, this episode will inspire you to take action, get involved, and recognize the power in just one donation.

Learn more and sign up: https://vitalant.org/scholarship

Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Lori Birckhead, Co-Founder of the 97-acre By Faith Farm and their nonprofit organization, Fed by Faith, along with Erika Terhaar, Director of Development, who both highlight the power and importance of engaging the community to grow food and then donate the produce to local organizations in order to help those in need feed their families nourishing food. The mission of Fed by Faith is "to grow fresh, nutrient-dense food in a way that involves the local community and contributes healthy food sources to the most disadvantaged around us." The organization distributes their fresh produce through local hunger relief agencies such as Second Harvest, which picks up the food grown at By Faith Farm.

During the interview, Lori shares how By Faith Farm started as a dream in 2008 to buy land, grow food, and give it away. She shares some of the journey, the growth from donating 2,000 pounds of food in its first year to 25,000 pounds currently, and the evolution of creating the nonprofit, Fed by Faith, in order to continue meeting the need in the community on a larger scale. Erika shares her story of serving as a "Farm Angel" volunteer and falling in love with the mission to now serving as part of the team, and she talks about some of the many ways the community can support their efforts through upcoming events, like their You Pick Flower days where you can bring family and friends to the farm to spend time in the flower gardens selecting the perfect blooms to create a wonderful bouquet for your home or loved one. Lori and Erika talk about the importance of volunteerism and community engagement, the vision and plans for the future, and some of the heartwarming stories of impact.

Visit https://www.byfaithfarm.com to learn more about By Faith Farm, and their nonprofit, Fed By Faith, along with the many ways to get involved and support their efforts.

Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Patrick McGuire, Nashville Chapter Coordinator with Guitars for Vets, who highlights the nonprofit organization focused on sharing the healing power of music with our Veterans. Guitars for Vets (G4V) serves at-risk United States Veterans impacted by PTSD and other service-related trauma. Through their unique, 10-week structured guitar instruction program, G4V puts the healing power of music in the hands of our nation’s heroes, helping to foster renewal, connection and community.

During the interview, Patrick shares how the organization was founded in 2007 by guitar instructor, Patrick Nettesheim, and his student, Vietnam era Marine, Dan Van Buskirk, after realizing the guitar and lessons were a catalyst for positive human interaction and joy where it had once been lost. Patrick discusses the model and how guitars and lessons are provided at no cost to US Military Veterans who are referred by their doctor or a case/social worker at The Department of Veterans Affairs facilities. Ten private lessons are taught using practice guitars donated by the local community. Upon completion, the Veteran/student is awarded a new acoustic guitar and accessories. Patrick emphasizes the therapeutic benefits of learning guitar, citing its ability to help Veterans rewire their brains and find joy, while also highlighting the importance of volunteer instructors who possess patience, acceptance, gratitude, and empathy. The organization, which has about 170 chapters nationwide, relies on word-of-mouth and volunteer efforts to expand its reach and impact.

Patrick wraps up explaining the need for financial contributions, donated guitars, and volunteer instructors to support the mission and continued growth of the organization. He emphasizes the importance of financial transparency and encourages listeners to visit the website for more information and to contact local chapter coordinators to get involved.

Visit https://guitars4vets.org to learn more and to get involved with Guitars for Vets.

https://www.facebook.com/GuitarsForVets/
https://www.tiktok.com/@guitars_for_vets
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1zjBS5JiYhOeVLprWb8q_A