My Morning Cup

For as long as he can remember, John Wilson wanted to be a reporter. He witnessed journalism's evolution firsthand, beginning his career when manual typewriters ruled newsrooms. In this episode, John shares how his journey began in childhood with hand-writing the Maple Brook Gazette in 5th grade (a newspaper he created for his neighborhood), why he believes in "local" thanks to his mentor, and how he navigated the decline of print media by taking a chance on himself. John Wilson is the owner of Chattanoogan.com, one of the first full service Internet only newspapers in the country. You can learn more at chattanoogan.com If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like: Vance Travis’s Morning Cup (E40) Linda Moss Mines’s Morning Cup (E88) David Carroll’s Morning Cup (E111) My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions.  Subscribe to the weekly newsletter here and be the first to know who upcoming guests are!

Ken Jones has always lived in Chattanooga, but he grew up “military style” - moving three times and attending eight different schools, which is likely how he’s earned the nickname of Mr. Chattanooga. In this episode, we learn about the time he used a major setback as fuel for growth, how he switched from a “survive” mentality to a “thrive” mentality, and how his willingness to say yes to new challenges, coupled with his technical skills and people-first mentality, has propelled his career to where it is today. Ken Jones is the Senior Director of Procurement, Vendor Relations and Minority & Women-Owned Business at EPB. You can connect with him on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/joneske). If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like: Valoria Armstrong’s Morning Cup (E60) Bo Drake’s Morning Cup (E65) Allen Clare’s Morning Cup (E97) My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions.  Subscribe to the weekly newsletter here and be the first to know who upcoming guests are!

After spending his childhood in Tanzania and then moving to London, Alnoor Dhanani expected small-town Chattanooga would be a two-year stopover. Yet, forty-five years later, he's still proud to call it home.   In this episode, Alnoor shares how growing up across different continents shaped his unique perspectives on life, a behind-the-scenes look at doing business internationally, and how Double Cola got its name.   Alnoor Dhanani is the CEO of Double Cola, a 103-year-old beverage company headquartered in Chattanooga. You can connect with Alnoor on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/aldhanani) and you can learn more about Double Cola on their website: doublecolacompany.com If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like: Christian Höferle’s Morning Cup (E76) Peppo Biscarini’s Morning Cup (E81) Angela and Michael Ballard’s Morning Cups (E96) My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions.  Subscribe to the weekly newsletter here and be the first to know who upcoming guests are!

Scott Chase has always loved music. Especially classic rock, before it was “classic.” In this episode, he shares how a college speech class was the turning point, why you should never burn a bridge, and how being told to get a “real job” helped him realize what’s truly important in life. Scott Chase is the afternoon voice of KZ106. You can learn more about him on WSKZ’s website (wskz.com/shows/afternoons). If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like: Tim Dooner’s Morning Cup (E105) David Carroll’s Morning Cup (E111) Jim Reynolds’s Morning Cup (E114) My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions.  Subscribe to the weekly newsletter here and be the first to know who upcoming guests are!

Kim White spent the first half of her career traveling & in sales. When she came back to Chattanooga, she decided to plant roots and got hyper-involved. In this episode, Kim shares how she’s always had a knack for knowing when it’s time to leave a job, how she was able to build her network from zero in a new city, and why she always takes the tough assignments. Kim White is the Vice Chancellor of Development and Alumni Affairs at UTC, as well as the Executive Director of the UC Foundation. You can connect with her on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/kimhwhite). If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like: Bob Corker’s Morning Cup (E52) Bridgett Massengill’s Morning Cup (E80) Emily Mack’s Morning Cup (E83) My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions.  Subscribe to the weekly newsletter here and be the first to know who upcoming guests are!

If you own a business, or have considered starting one, you’re likely familiar with this week’s guest: Lynn Chesnutt, AKA the entrepreneur’s best friend. In this episode, Lynn shares a few of the important life lessons his hero taught him, how he survived cancer not once… not twice… but FIVE times, and why he spends every day being an unbiased voice of reason for startups and established businesses. Lynn Chesnutt is the Executive Director of the Tennessee Small Business Development Center in Chattanooga. You can connect with him on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/lynn-chesnutt-41660233).  If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like: Jay Dale’s Morning Cup (E42) Bo Drake’s Morning Cup (E65) George Bryant’s Morning Cup (E98) My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions.  Subscribe to the weekly newsletter here and be the first to know who upcoming guests are!

Deborah Levine has always gotten into “good trouble.” In this episode, Deborah shares what it was like growing up in Bermuda as the granddaughter of one of its Founding 400, deciding to pursue a masters degree in urban planning without fully knowing what it was yet, and dedicating her life to sharing the legacy of those who survived the Holocaust - including her father, a US military intelligence officer who was assigned to interrogate Nazi POWs. Deborah Levine is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of the American Diversity Report. She’s also an author of more than 20 books, a keynote speaker, and script writer. You can connect with her on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/americandiversityreport). My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions.  Subscribe to the weekly newsletter here and be the first to know who upcoming guests are!

Bob Culkeen’s passion for media began in a high school television studio, and he hasn’t left the studios since. In this episode, Bob shares his childhood experience of losing his family home to a fire, and temporarily sheltering with nuns in a convent (an experience most men can’t say they’ve had). We also discuss the importance of educators, technological changes in the broadcast industry, and what happens behind-the-scenes at WTCI PBS. Bob Culkeen is the President and CEO of WTCI Television, the PBS affiliate for Chattanooga. You can connect with him on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/bob-culkeen-4770b713) and learn more about the WTCI and the Ale Trail here: wtcitv.org/aletrail If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like: John Germ’s Morning Cup (E35) Virginia Anne Sharber’s Morning Cup (E59) Darren Hodge’s Morning Cup (E94) My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions.  Subscribe to the weekly newsletter here and be the first to know who upcoming guests are!

Dr. Claudia Kramer didn’t find economics - economics found her.  In this episode, she shares how from a very young age she began questioning the wealth disparity between West Virginia and Ohio. We also discuss how at the age of 14 she planned to be co-valedictorian with her best friend and why her goal is to make economics more fun for her students. Dr. Claudia Kramer is the Scott L. Probasco Jr. Distinguished Chair of Free Enterprise, Professor of Economics, and Director of the Center for Economic Education at UTC, and Editor for the Journal of Institutional Economics. You can connect with her on LinkedIn, linkedin.com/in/claudia-williamson-kramer-07260012 If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like: Charles Wood’s Morning Cup (E55) Bridgett Massengill’s Morning Cup (E80) Dave Kinzler’s Morning Cup (E102) My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions.  Subscribe to the weekly newsletter here and be the first to know who upcoming guests are!

You’ll recognize this week’s guest from his voice - Jim “JR” Reynolds is the voice of the Chattanooga Mocs and is live every morning on 102.3 with Jed Mescon. In this episode, JR shares how Harry Caray almost convinced him to drop out of school, why turning down a job resulted in him moving to Chattanooga, and a behind-the-scenes look at play-by-play sportscasting. If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like: Jed Mescon’s Morning Cup (E66) Darrell Patterson’s Morning’s Cup (E108) David Carroll’s Morning Cup (E111) My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions.  Subscribe to the weekly newsletter here and be the first to know who upcoming guests are!