News Talk 94.1 Local Matters

Local Matters

Education, Sports, Faith & Everything In Between

Originating from News Talk 94.1 the show deals with community issues and interests that affect listeners closer to home. With topics from major events across the nation and how they impact our area to interesting people and figures from across the Upper Cumberland. Local Matters is where local, matters.

Covering the issues that matter to you. Every weekday.
Daily English United States Society & Culture · Education
1,500 Episodes
1 – 20

Trish Stover And George Halford Discuss The Story Behind Stover's Country Kitchen

Host George Halford sits down with Trish Stover, a proud Jamestown native and owner of Stover's County Kitchen in Livingston, Tennessee. Trish shares stories from her upbringing, the strong family values that shaped her, and how those values are reflected in her restaurant. She opens up about the heartbreaking loss…
11 Aug 9AM 32 min

Allen Foster And Ben Rogers Speak On Cumberland Co. Fiscal 25-26 Year Growth

Cumberland County Mayor Allen Foster sits down with Ben Rogers to discuss Cumberland County's 2025-2026 year growth, and what it means for the county now and in the upcoming future. Hear the Mayor's first hand account of what this will mean for Cumberland County and the surrounding counties around the…
8 Aug 9AM 33 min

Alma Shoemaker And Drs. Lee And Mabry Discuss Her Journey To Caring Hearts United

Alma Shoemaker of Caring Hearts United joins Drs. Lee and Mabry to share her journey from truck driver to devoted volunteer in this moving episode. She reflects on meeting founder Melinda Breedlove at the Warren County Fair and the compassionate mission that sparked Caring Hearts United. After Melinda's passing, Alma…
7 Aug 9AM 32 min

Algood Elementary Staff And Jeremy Wendt Discuss The Importance Of Teaching

Jeremy Wendt sat down with Algood faculty and staff Beth Gaw (assistant principal), Kesha Johnson (kindergarten), and Jill Williams (3rd grade) to discuss the importance of teaching and how to bring more people into the profession. They reflected on the influence of their own favorite teachers and how those experiences…
5 Aug 9AM 35 min

Jimmy Johnson And Ben Rogers Break Down The 25-26 Fiscal Year For Fentress Co.

Fentress County Executive Jimmy Johnson joins Ben Rogers to break down the 2025–26 fiscal year and the progress being made across the county. Johnson discusses major construction projects, including new junior college buildings, school and highway funding, and the impact of state revenue on small counties with lower pay scales…
1 Aug 9AM 32 min

Blakelee Smith And Drs. Mabry And Lee Discuss The Importance Of UV Awareness

Tennessee Tech alumna Blakelee Smith, a Cookeville native, joins Drs. Lee and Mabry to spotlight the importance of UV awareness during National UV Awareness Month. Blakelee shares what sets her dermatology practice apart, highlighting the wide range of clients they serve—from teens struggling with acne to older adults managing chronic…
31 Jul 9AM 33 min

Lee Flatt And Tiffany Anton Discuss The Story Behind Wrap World

Tiffany Anton sits down with Lee Flatt, founder and owner of Wrap World, to talk about how he turned a simple idea into a thriving business. Starting in a space barely bigger than a recording studio, Lee now leads a team that specializes in vehicle wraps, temporary signage, and banners…
30 Jul 9AM 33 min

Dale Carver And Jeremy Wendt Discusses The Importance Of The CHS Welding Program

In this episode, Jeremy Wendt sits down with Dale Carver, Welding Instructor at Cookeville High School, to discuss the importance of skilled trades in today’s workforce. A Lebanon native with 24 years in manufacturing, Dale shares how his lifelong passion for teaching and inspiration from his middle school shop teacher…
29 Jul 9AM 32 min

Lisa Carver And George Halford Discuss The Impacts Of Highways And Hedges

George Halford sits down with Cookeville native Lisa Carver, the force behind Highways and Hedges, a grassroots outreach making a real impact in the local homeless community. After a motorcycle accident left her with a brain injury and ended her career as a hairdresser, Lisa began assembling “blessing bags” with…
28 Jul 9AM 33 min

Lori Burnett And Ben Rogers Discuss Her Journey To Becoming Mayor

In this episode, Ben Rogers sits down with Lorie Elder Burnette, the newly elected Mayor of Livingston, to talk about her journey from small-town roots to big-city life — and back again. A Livingston native, Lorie shares how her time in Nashville gave her a deeper appreciation for her hometown…
25 Jul 9AM 32 min

Maria O'Connell And Drs. Mabry And Lee Discuss Ayurveda & Wellness

The Drs. sit down with Maria O’Connell, an Ayurveda and wellness specialist, to explore her journey from the corporate world to holistic health. Maria shares stories from her early career with companies like Ford and an oil plant in Texas, moving across the country before finding her passion in alternative…
24 Jul 9AM 34 min

Angie Givens Joins Jeremy Wendt To Discuss The Importance Of TNCCR&R

Jeremy Wendt sits down with Angie Givens, the Tennessee Upper Cumberland Coordinator for TN CCR&R. Though Angie didn’t found the program herself, she leads its work across 18 counties in the Upper Cumberland region. TN CCR&R traces its roots back to educator Marguerite Hullander in 1998 and later became statewide…
22 Jul 9AM 32 min

Zach Gantt And George Halford Discuss Entrepreneurship And Overcoming Addiction

In this inspiring episode, George Halford sits down with Zach Gantt—a native of Hilham, TN whose early life spiraled into sports, crime, and addiction, landing him behind bars three times by age 18 and labeled the county’s second‑largest drug dealer. Zach shares the crushing toll of his substance abuse and…
21 Jul 9AM 33 min

John Rose And Ben Rogers Discuss The Big Beautiful Bill

Ben Rogers sits down with Representative John Rose to discuss all that might come with the Big Beautiful Bill and how it will affect our everyday lives, the United States, and the world. Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today!
18 Jul 9AM 32 min

Kalin McCullar And Tiffany Anton Discuss The Passion Behind 1806 BBQ

Tiffany Anton sits down with Kalin McCullar, owner of 1806 BBQ in Livingston, TN, to talk about his journey from backyard smoking to running a full-time restaurant. Raised by a single dad who loved to cook, Kalin shares how his passion for barbecue turned into a business after years of…
16 Jul 9AM 32 min

Wes Shanks And Jeremy Wendt Deliver Insights Into Education And Baseball

Jeremy Wendt sits down with Upperman High School’s head baseball coach and agriculture teacher, Wes Shanks, to discuss the vital role of CTE programs in education. Shanks shares insights on teaching plant science, leading FFA, and how participating in travel ball during the off season's could impact a student-athletes mental…
15 Jul 9AM 32 min
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