My Morning Cup
Self-Improvement
About
A Chattanooga podcast exploring what makes a happy, successful life through conversations with local entrepreneurs, business leaders, and professionals. Each episode goes beyond career achievements to uncover the challenges, life lessons, and daily habits that shape fulfilling lives. Discover how Chattanooga's most accomplished people start their day, and what's really in their morning cup.
Episodes
- E174 - Jerry Summers's Morning Cup
Jerry Summers, a Chattanooga criminal defense lawyer, shares his 60-year career. He discusses how a shoulder injury led him to law, his decision to leave the DA's office, and his experience arguing before the Supreme Court.
- E173 - Mark Kennedy’s Morning Cup
Columnist Mark Kennedy shares his journey from a shy drummer to a seasoned storyteller, discussing confidence-building and his belief in the power of writing as a gentle exchange of ideas. He is a columnist for the Chattanooga Times Free P…
- E172 - Lesley Scearce's Morning Cup
In this episode of My Morning Cup, Lesley Scearce shares her journey to becoming an Executive Director at 22, advice from a mentor, and the United Way of Greater Chattanooga's mission.
- E171 - Kimberly Cooper Thomas's Morning Cup
In this episode of My Morning Cup, Kimberly Cooper Thomas shares her experiences as a voice for the voiceless, her perspective on privilege shaped by a chapter in Kentucky, and her dedication to advocating for students in her roles at UTC…
- E170 - Dr. Duncan Earl's Morning Cup
Dr. Duncan Earl shares his journey from aspiring inventor to quantum computing leader at IonQ. He highlights the importance of being a generalist and predicts the impact of quantum technology in the next five years.
- E169 - Jason Freier's Morning Cup
Jason Freier transitioned from a legal career to owning minor league baseball teams, including the Chattanooga Lookouts. He discusses his educational choices, his introduction to baseball through a legal case, and his acquisition of the Lo…
- E168 - Hugh Morrow’s Morning Cup
Hugh Morrow, President and CEO of Ruby Falls, shares his experience leading the Chattanooga landmark. He discusses how his marketing and chemistry background shaped his perspective and emphasizes the importance of returning phone calls.
- E167 - Don Mueller’s Morning Cup
In this episode of My Morning Cup, Don Mueller, CEO of Siskin Children’s Institute, shares his career focus on improving children's healthcare access. He discusses navigating early responsibility and his experience saving a financially str…
- E166 - Kip Henley's Morning Cup
Kip Henley reflects on his dedicated golf career, sharing how a moment at age 14 set his life's direction. He recounts losing confidence before a major tournament after a lesson with Jack Grout and discusses being chosen for Golf Channel's…
- E165 - Barry Courter's Morning Cup
In this episode of My Morning Cup, Barry Courter shares his experiences with music, his time as an entertainment writer for the TFP, and the evolution of music festivals. Courter now manages Branch Services for the Northwest Georgia Region…
- E164 - Coty Wamp’s Morning Cup
District Attorney General Coty Wamp shares how a high school mentor guided her toward law school, how she successfully pivoted her career, and her experience running for office concurrently with her brother, County Mayor Weston Wamp.
- E163 - Janet Rehberg’s Morning Cup
Janet Rehberg, incoming President and CEO-Elect of EPB, shares insights from her career leading utilities, including navigating the 2021 Texas winter storm and EPB's pioneering work in quantum computing.
- E162 - Jeff Styles's Morning Cup
Jeff Styles, a former Chattanooga talk radio personality with nearly 30 years of experience, shares insights on how unconventional hobbies complemented his career. He also recounts his experiences with significant on-air influence and the…
- E161 - Dr. Marilyn Helms and Dr. Deborah Arfken’s Morning Cups
In this episode of My Morning Cup, host Mike Costa talks with Dr. Marilyn Helms and Dr. Deborah Arfken. They share how they entered teaching careers, discuss a research partnership that began in the late 1980s, and touch upon the academic…
- E160 - Mike Harrell's Morning Cup
Mike Harrell, CEO of Latitude Advisors, shares his experiences with adaptability, transparency in company financials, redefining success, and the importance of facing career setbacks. The episode is part of the My Morning Cup podcast.
- E159 - Hamp Johnston and Camille Daniel's Morning Cups
Hamp Johnston and Camille Daniel share insights into founding RockPoint Bank, discussing the process of starting a bank from scratch, raising capital, opening during the pandemic, and the benefits of local decision-making. Hamp is Presiden…
- E158 - Dr. Lori Mann-Bruce's Morning Cup
Dr. Lori Mann-Bruce, Chancellor of UTC, shares her experiences growing up on a working cattle farm, the impact of 4H on her development, and her insights on Chattanooga and the university during its current inflection point.
- E157 - Melissa Blevins's Morning Cup
Melissa Blevins shares how early life experiences with scarcity built resilience and compassion. Her career in manufacturing provided a foundation for leading the Chattanooga Area Food Bank, which became a significant part of her life.
- E156 - 3 Years of My Morning Cup
My Morning Cup celebrates its third anniversary with returning guests Chip Baker and Roy Vaughn. They reflect on memorable guests and moments from the past year, discuss the show's evolution, and look ahead to 2026.
- E155 - Lucy Rymer's Morning Cup
In this episode of My Morning Cup, Lucy Rymer shares how she overcame stage fright and a practical career choice eventually led her back to the arts. She is currently the Executive Director of Cleveland’s Museum and Cultural Center at 5ive…
- E154 - Mayor Kevin Brooks’s Morning Cup
Mayor Kevin Brooks shares his unexpected journey to becoming mayor of Cleveland, Tennessee, and his motivations for public service. The episode also covers Cleveland's economic development, including its ranking in new manufacturing jobs,…
- E153 - Baron King's Morning Cup
Baron King shares how his childhood fostered adaptability and led him from retail to psychology and prison re-entry work. As CEO of the CHATT Foundation, he discusses homelessness and the inherent dignity of every person.
- E152 - Robbie Ansary's Morning Cup
Robbie Ansary recounts his family's escape from Afghanistan due to the Soviet invasion, their resettlement in America through a chance encounter, and how seeing HVA at age nine inspired his 34-year career with TVA. The episode is part of t…
- E151 - Troy Kemp's Morning Cup
Troy Kemp, CEO of Prep Public Schools, shares his transition from teaching to leading all-boys charter schools, emphasizing his commitment to being a "hope dealer" for youth and families.
- E150 - Maury Nicely’s Morning Cup
This episode features Maury Nicely, who shares insights from his legal career, including establishing a law firm during a recession. He also discusses his work as a historian, bringing Chattanooga's past to life through books and tours.
- E149 - David Glenn’s Morning Cup
David Glenn, Chief Meteorologist for News Channel 9, discusses his early interest in weather, sparked by a childhood tornado, and his dedication to informing the public, even in emergencies. He details his excitement for his dream job and…
- E148 - Christie Mahn Faires’s Morning Cup
Judge Christie Mahn Faires shares how a comment changed her life, explains her path to becoming a General Sessions Court Judge, and discusses running for elected office.
- E147 - Mitch Patel's Morning Cup (Part 2)
Mitch Patel shares his journey of building his first hotel at age 27 with $3,000, the expansion of Vision Hospitality Group to over 40 hotels, and his role as Chair of the American Hotel & Lodging Association. The episode was recorded live…
- E146 - April Cameron’s Morning Cup
April Cameron, President and CEO of the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority, shares her journey from accountant to leadership, explaining how a mentor's belief propelled her career. She details the surprising ways airports generate…
- E145 - Shawanda Mason & Jennifer Holder's Morning Cups
Shawanda Mason and Jennifer Holder, Co-Founders of The Chattery, share insights on their career journeys, citing scrappiness and leaps of faith. They discuss how small-town experiences fostered creativity and how a chance meeting led to th…
- E144 - Dr. Justin Robertson's Morning Cup
In this episode of My Morning Cup, Dr. Justin Robertson shares his career journey, including how he overcame early career challenges and advanced to become superintendent. He also details his current focus on K-2 literacy and expanding Fut…
- E143 - Jimmy White's Morning Cup
In episode E143 of My Morning Cup, Jimmy White shares how golf prepared him for business and real estate, detailing his transition into the industry and his focus on creating lasting value through win-win deals. White is President and Mana…
- E142 - Dustin Choate's Morning Cup
Dustin Choate shares his transition from diverse roles including social worker and pharmaceutical sales to becoming a bar owner. He details how he anticipated the craft beer trend to establish Tremont Tavern and discusses challenges faced…
- E141 - Jim Coleman's Morning Cup
Jim Coleman, CEO of Erlanger, compares hospital management to fixing a stove, emphasizing understanding how parts fit together. He shares experiences managing employees by age 30, unexpected career opportunities, and gaining mental clarity…
- E140 - Darin Wright's Morning Cup
Darin Wright, owner of Elea Blake Cosmetics, discusses her journey from early sales jobs and retail to founding her own makeup company. She explains how her experiences shaped her client-first sales approach and led to the creation of the…
- E139 - Doug Thompson's Morning Cup
Doug Thompson, President of HFS Capital Advisors, joins My Morning Cup to share his perspective on leadership, the importance of enabling others, and his career path, which included a detour into screenwriting before real estate developmen…
- E138 - Brian Hunt's Morning Cup
Brian Hunt, CEO of Southern Champion Tray, shares how his upbringing and experiences shaped his leadership approach. He details his transition into a family business focused on servant-hearted values, highlighting lessons learned from humb…
- E137 - David Wade's Morning Cup
David Wade, CEO of EPB, shares his journey from line helper to CEO, detailing career pivots and the impact of The Gig initiative on Chattanooga. The episode is part of the My Morning Cup podcast, hosted by Mike Costa.
- E136 - Thom Benson's Morning Cup
Thom Benson shares how volunteering led to his journalism career, a meteorologist role that shifted his TV path, and a long tenure at the Tennessee Aquarium, where he is now VP, Chief Communications & Marketing Officer.
- E135 - Kurt Faires’s Morning Cup
Kurt Faires shares his life principles, including his career path in law and investing, his experience with a serious health diagnosis 20 years ago, and his resilience. The episode is part of the 'My Morning Cup' podcast hosted by Mike Cos…
- E134 - Stephen Culp’s Morning Cup
In this episode of My Morning Cup, host Mike Costa speaks with entrepreneur Stephen Culp. Culp shares how curiosity drives his decisions, recounts his experiences in Europe during the fall of the Berlin Wall, and explains how his time at S…
- E133 - Zach Wamp’s Morning Cup
Zach Wamp, former U.S. Representative for Tennessee, shares how overcoming addiction influenced his faith and leadership. He reflects on his time in Congress and his children
- E132 - Tom Satkowiak’s Morning Cup
Tom Satkowiak shares his journey from shaping stories in Tennessee Athletics for two decades to overcoming a life-threatening illness and finding a new path at TVA, emphasizing personal growth and purpose.
- E131 - Kevin Hyde's Morning Cup
Kevin Hyde, CEO of Partnership for Families, Children, and Adults, shares his experiences transitioning from a military career, including flying C130s and commanding global operations, to leading a nonprofit. He highlights the importance o…
- E130 - Jason Provonsha's Morning Cup
Jason Provonsha, CEO of Steam Logistics, shares his career journey from healthcare marketing to logistics and the lessons learned in scaling his company. He discusses his past experiences and insights gained from mentors.
- E129 - George Mullinix's Morning Cup
George Mullinix shares his path, shaped by risks and challenges, leading him from corporate life to founding CMC Media & Marketing Group, a media company he built without prior publishing experience.
- E128 - Sheila and Dane Boyington's Morning Cups
Sheila and Dane Boyington, founders of Thinking Media, share their story of building a national business, reflecting on their journey, two company exits, and their current focus on mentoring.
- E127 - Dr. Robert Dooley's Morning Cup
Dean Dr. Robert Dooley shares his unique journey from philosophy and religion to leading the College of Business at UTC. He discusses bridging the gap between business and academia for students and the evolving role of higher education.
- E126 - Bert Robinson's Morning Cup
Bert Robinson shares how his childhood curiosity and outgoing nature influenced his career in community connection. He explains how asking questions opens doors and that unexpected paths can lead to better outcomes.
- E125 - Tom Glenn's Morning Cup
Tom Glenn, President of Elder's Ace Hardware, shares insights on expanding the family business from a local operation to a multi-state presence while maintaining integrity and serving customers well. Recorded live, the discussion covers en…