Join Kosta and his guest: Diana Mandli, scholar, entrepreneur, founder and former owner of the Bull and Thistle Gastropub.

In this episode: Last week we talked with our friend Mark Dudney about the history of Jackson County and what brought us here today. Gainesboro is having a renaissance and it’s impossible to talk about the future of Jackson County without the woman that helped start it all. When you opened the Bull and Thistle in 2013 did you have any idea this would create a chain reaction that would bring Gainesboro back to life?

Like the rest of the Upper Cumberland, you have growing pains. More business. More restaurants. More people. More opportunities. More questions. For anyone that’s asking - what’s going on in Jackson County? What do you say?

Change is scary. I know that’s the understatement of the year, but it rings through this entire conversation and Jackson County. Change is scary. How do we see the entire Upper Cumberland through the change and decisions we have to make right now?

Find out more about Visiting Jackson County:
https://linktr.ee/ExploreJCTN

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

Join Kosta and his guest: Mark Dudney, Public Historian, Regional Planner, Producer, and Educator.

In this episode:

They say all press is good press. I’m going to ask you later in the episode if you think that’s true, but for now I want to start with the question on everyone’s mind: what do you do when white christian nationalists move in next door? Earlier this month you shared a touching testimonial about how you’re feeling in this moment. As a native of Jackson County you spoke from the heart and for that, we’re all grateful. This is a deeply polarizing and painful time for many Tennesseeans and to put it bluntly, it’s scary to speak up. At what point did you decide there was no other choice? Jackson County isn’t a blank page waiting for a story to be written on, in fact, the Gainesboro area has over a century of rich and diverse history that’s helped shape the Upper Cumberland into what it is today. As a historian, what lessons from the past have prepared Jackson County for today?

Find out more about Visiting Jackson County:
https://linktr.ee/ExploreJCTN

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

Join Kosta and his guest: Mark Farley, Executive Director of UCHRA, UCDD and Core Partner of Empower UC.

In this episode: Many Americans are questioning how well state and federally funded services really work for this country and if the price tag justifies the outcomes. For anyone listening and thinking, this is just more government bloat - what do you say to them?

I want to talk about single parents because I know this is a part of our community you care for deeply. How is UCHRA, UCDD and EmpowerUC working to assist single parents and help to end the cycle of poverty for over 1,600 children in the Upper Cumberland? Why is it so important that we focus on these parents and kids?

The median home sold price in Cookeville for February 2025 was $340,000, with 10% down that’d be about $2,000 a month with current interest rates. The median individual income as of 2023 census data was $30,400 annually. Before tax for all of us bad at math that’s $2,533 per month meaning it’s mathematically impossible for the average single parent in Cookeville to afford a home. What do we need to do to make sure the people who work here can live here?

Find out more about UCHRA:
https://uchra.org/

Find out more about UCDD:

https://ucdd.org/

Find out more about Empower UC:
https://empoweruppercumberland.org/

🗣️ Join Us at the Poverty Alleviation Summit
📆 Tuesday, May 13, 2025
⏱️ 1:00pm - 5pm CT
📍 In Person: 1104 England Dr, Cookeville, TN 38501
🧑🏻‍💻 Online Registration: https://www.thepovertysolution.com/summit

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