Tennessee Baptist Children’s Home (TBCH) is a faith-based organization that provides residential and foster care services for children in need. Their mission is to offer safe, nurturing environments for children who cannot live with their families due to various circumstances.

Joel Sullivan serves as Regional Executive for the American Red Cross-Tennessee Region, overseeing operations, volunteer efforts, and disaster relief across 98 counties and eight local chapters.

Lindsey Norton is the founder of Hope House, Tennessee’s first home for teen moms and their children. After recognizing the need for housing and support, she created a space focused on empowerment and breaking cycles of poverty.

Becca Stevens is an author, speaker, Episcopal priest, and social entrepreneur. She is the founder of Thistle Farms, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping women survivors of trafficking, addiction, and prostitution. In this episode, we explore the theme of women coming together to support, empower, and collborate with one another.

Ricky Harris, CEO of Tennessee Voices, joins the conversation to discuss the pressing mental health issues Tennesseans face and the state's unique preventive measures. The episode delves into Tennessee Voices' mission, emphasizing collaboration and community-focused care, while also exploring the challenges of nonprofit leadership. Harris shares insights into effective self-care for mental health professionals, the importance of resilience in youth, and the critical role of parental support in improving mental health outcomes. This episode offers a deep look into the preventative strategies and leadership principles driving one of Tennessee's pivotal mental health organizations.

Adam Comer, CEO of S2L Recovery and Executive Producer of The Forgotten Pandemic documentary, joins Spencer and Carli to discuss his journey from addiction to redemption. Adam shares his powerful testimony, highlighting the transformative power of faith-based recovery and the importance of community in overcoming addiction. He delves into the challenges of addressing the opioid crisis, S2L's unique approach to breaking the cycle of addiction, and the life-changing impact on families and individuals. Tune in to hear about the hope and dignity found in recovery, the vision for S2L’s expansion, and how Adam’s personal story continues to inspire Tennesseans and beyond.

Melanie Shinbaum, Executive Director of the Nashville Early Education Coalition Fund, joins us to discuss the critical challenges facing early education in Tennessee. From systemic issues like low wages and limited accessibility to the economic and emotional toll on families, Melanie shares innovative solutions, including public-private partnerships, scalable childcare models, and the role of businesses in creating flexible, high-quality childcare options. With insights from her extensive nonprofit experience and personal stories as a mother, Melanie sheds light on why early education is essential for Tennessee’s families and economy. Tune in to explore actionable steps toward solving this pressing issue and the coalition’s efforts to bring together businesses, policymakers, and communities to make a lasting impact.

Kevin Menezes is the Founder and Senior Pastor of Every Nation India – a group that does church planting in India. With a commitment to seeing the gospel change the lives of the 1.4 billion people living in India, Menezes demonstrates the power of bravery and faith in his efforts to grow Christianity. While the challenges are significant, Menezes has a lightness to his leadership.

Josh Burch, Director of People at the Honor Foundation and a retired U.S. Army Green Beret, joins Spencer and Carli to share his remarkable journey from rural Tennessee to serving 16 deployments in Special Operations. In this episode, Josh discusses how the Honor Foundation helps transitioning veterans find purpose and fulfillment in civilian life by translating their military experience into valuable career opportunities. He reflects on the sacrifices of military families, the power of mentorship, and the importance of community. With stories of grit, resilience, and service, this conversation sheds light on the challenges veterans face and the transformative work of the Honor Foundation.

Melissa Trevathan, founder of Daystar Counseling Ministries, joins Spencer and Carli to share her 40-year journey of bringing hope to children and families in Middle Tennessee. Founded in 1985, Daystar provides counseling, group therapy, and a summer camp in a uniquely welcoming environment. Melissa discusses rising anxiety in younger children, the importance of relationships, and how Daystar’s sliding payment scale and therapy dogs create a safe space for healing. From responding to crises like the Covenant School shooting to fostering lifelong impact, Melissa’s story is a testament to the power of faith and service.

Chris and Elaine Whitney, founders of One Generation Away, join Spencer and Carli to discuss their nonprofit food ministry that began out of the back of a Hyundai Santa Fe and now distributes millions of pounds of food annually. With a mission to bring hope, honor, and dignity through food, the Whitney’s share their deeply personal journey from facing food insecurity themselves to creating a logistics-driven solution that serves thousands across multiple states. In this inspiring episode, they discuss the faces of hunger, the power of collaboration among nonprofits, and their innovative approach to rescuing and delivering food same-day.

In this episode, we sit down with Papa Joe Bradford, founder of Elijah’s Heart, to hear his incredible story of transformation and service. From a promising career in computer programming to serving time in prison, Papa Joe’s life took a dramatic turn when he and his wife moved into one of Nashville's most impoverished neighborhoods. There, they began supporting children in need, which led to the creation of the Walk of Love program. Papa Joe shares how his passion for helping others has evolved into a national movement, his fight against poverty, and the impact of the Hollywood film Unconditional, which is based on his life. This powerful episode highlights Papa Joe’s journey from hardship to hope and his mission to spread love and change lives.

JT Olson founded Both Hands in 2008 to support adoption funding through service projects for widows, having been orphaned as a child himself. The average project raises $22,000. helping over 1300 families nationwide. In this episode, JT Olson and Jared Delong (Executive Director) discuss Both Hands' successes, its business model, and the growing challenges in adoption.

Rachel Freeman is the President and CEO of Nashville’s Sexual Assault Center (SAC). She leads the SAC in creating a safe, compassionate environment for survivors to begin their healing journey. In this episode, Freeman discusses the SAC's role in the community, key sexual assault statistics, and preventive initiatives like the Safe Bar program and campus outreach efforts.

Will Acuff is a born and raised pastor’s kid and has long had a servant’s heart. More than a decade ago while on a mission trip to Kenya, Will felt called to return home to Nashville and think critically about how to best love his neighbors. Will and his wife, Tiffany, founded Corner to Corner in 2011 to help underestimated Nashvillians increase their economic participation through business and entrepreneurship. Providing education, tools and networking, Corner to Corner has helped over a thousands of entrepreneurs since its creation.

Katie Marchetti connects people with resources with those in need. A deep believer that a rising tide should lift all ships, she's committed to nonprofit work in Middle Tennessee. She is also co-founder of Voices for a Safer Tennessee and a board member at Fisk University. In this episode, Spencer and Carli talk openly with Katie about finding a middle ground in a polarized climate. Together they dive into the importance of entrepreneurship, the significance of Nashville's key HBCU, and complicated conversations on gun rights.

Spencer and Annalee speak with futurist and nonprofit leader Jason Dukes. In his role at Love Justice International, Jason is at the forefront of using technology to combat the human trafficking crisis at its source. The conversation also covers cryptocurrency and its impact on and applications for nonprofits.

In this episode of Signature Required, Jim Ward shares insights from running the 49-bed homeless shelter in Nashville's Vine Hill area for the past four years. He discusses the challenges of helping veterans navigate poverty, addiction, PTSD, and mental health issues to rebuild their lives. From eye-opening statistics on homeless veterans to inspiring success stories, Jim sheds light on a nationwide issue that demands our attention.

Tommy Rhodes, founder of Barefoot Republic summer camp, joins us to talk about his mission to build a summer camp population that reflects the diversity of heaven. This Christian camp aims to foster shared experiences among kids of diverse backgrounds, financial situations, races, and ethnicities.