Podcast
“Reelfoot Forward: A West Tennessee Podcast” celebrates the culture, spirit, accomplishments and history of West Tennessee and the surrounding region. Hosted by DPA president and CEO, Scott Williams, the podcast features notable guests who are influencers from the worlds of entertainment, history, agriculture, education, politics, tourism, sports, business and law, as well as other areas.
The podcast is available online at Discovery Park’s website, on Soundcloud, Castbox, Apple iTunes, Youtube, Spotify and other popular podcast platforms and apps.
From here, you can find out more about our mission or our history, meet our team or read our blog.
Ep. 119 Preston Powell: Yukon Outfitters
Preston Powell, co-owner of Yukon Outfitters, has been in the sport and outdoor industry for over 20 years. After his gear failed him on a fly fishing trip to the Yukon Territory in Canada, he decided to create a company that would provide great quality outdoor gear at a fair price. Powell spoke with a friend and took
Ep. 118 Taylor Wilson: Climbing Mount Everest
Taylor Wilson’s 18-year-old son, Landon, was hit by a truck while out training for his senior year of baseball. He lost an arm and his leg was severely injured in the accident. There were doubts that he would ever play baseball again. In this episode Taylor recounts his son's inspirational journey back to the pitcher's
Ep. 117 Kevin Rumley: A Veteran’s Road to Recovery
This special episode featuring Kevin Rumley was recorded live at Discovery Park’s recent Military History and Armed Forces Symposium. Rumley has a master’s degree in social work, performs in numerous bands as a drummer and runs the Buncombe County Veterans Treatment Court, a program that helps divert veteran offenders from prison to community service and recovery.
Ep. 116 Bill Allen: Eyewitness to D-Day
Bill Allen was just 18 years old when he began serving in the Navy as a medic during World War II. He was there on D-Day, June 6, 1944, where his ship joined the biggest armada in history carrying soldiers and equipment to storm the beach at Omaha in Normandy, France to liberate Europe from
Ep. 115 Tanya and Scott Melton: Miso Hongry
Tanya and Scott Melton, owners of Miso Hongry, have been serving southern comfort food in West Tennessee for almost a decade. In this episode, Tanya shares how cooking with her grandmother inspired her to open her own restaurant using the knowledge and skills that were passed down to her. After creating a successful catering business,
Ep. 114 Merry Brown: Open Your Door
Merry Brown is a writer, speaker, mediator, philosopher and small business owner. After teaching philosophy for over two decades, Brown felt led to focus on conflict restoration and mediation. In this episode, she shares how she hopes to empower employees and businesses to resolve conflicts swiftly and equitably through her business, Third Party Workplace Conflict Restoration
Ep. 113 Dr. Shawn Pitts: Arts in McNairy
Dr. Shawn Pitts, founder of Arts in McNairy, is a chiropractor, cultural planner and community arts advocate. Arts in McNairy was founded in 2001 on the principle that participation in the arts is a cornerstone for the development of a healthy community. In this episode, Dr. Pitts shares how his community’s passion for the arts
Ep. 112 Roger Sorkin: “Farm Free or Die”
Roger Sorkin, founder of the American Resilience Project, is an award-winning producer, writer, editor and director. In this episode, Sorkin shares how he uses storytelling to address threats to the future of our planet. In his new film "Farm Free or Die," he is making the issue of climate change more accessible and relatable to
Ep. 111 Terrence Martin: Impeccable Knots
Terrence Martin, a University of Tennessee at Martin graduate, is no stranger to the importance of both style and substance. As a part of his personal image, he became known for wearing bow ties to work every day as a school teacher and administrator. After seeing the impact his bow ties had on his students,
Ep. 110 Dr. Frank McMeen: Let Me Tell You a Story
Storytelling has always been a big part of Dr. Frank McMeen’s life. As a child, he paid special attention to the stories his grandparents shared. Today, McMeen, president of the West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation, has compiled many of these stories and others in his book, “Let Me Tell You A Story: Finding Hope in a
Ep. 109 Martha Lyle Ford: Caring for God’s Creation
Environmental justice and creation care are passion points for Martha Lyle Ford, the director of the Center of Faith and Imagination at Memphis Theological Seminary. She works with a team who helps faith leaders thrive applying disciplines from Sabbath-keeping, personal finances and mental and physical health to conflict transformation, justice and community building. Ford also
Ep. 108 Gary Foreman: Sharing History Through Storytelling
Gary Foreman is the owner of Native Sun Productions and an EMMY-nominated producer of around 40 historical documentaries and cultural programming. The story of David Crockett gripped Foreman at a young age, launching him on a journey to documentary production. From the dangerous wilderness in the unexplored Wild West to pirates who roamed the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, Foreman hopes that his