My Morning Cup

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!

Lisa McCluskey’s career has taken her from police departments, to city administrations, and healthcare. But retirement isn’t slowing her down, she’s now the host of *two* podcasts! In this episode, Lisa shares how her paper route at 12 years old taught her a lot about empathy, how she once was an undercover decoy, and the impetus behind her podcasts: The Silver Divorce Podcast, and The Empowered Career Woman. Lisa McCluskey retired from CHI Memorial as VP of Marketing & Communications. You can connect with her on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/lisa-m-02ab628) to get updates about her podcasts! If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like: Shawn Whitfield’s Morning Cup (E20) Becky Blaesing’s Morning Cup (E26) Brenda Bridges’s Morning Cup (E67) 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. Anna George grew up wondering what was going on under the water's surface, and after a month-long scuba camp in the Cayman Islands, she never looked back. In this episode, Dr. George shares what it was like receiving and overcoming countless rejections from advisors while pursuing her PhD and how she merged her passion for aquatic biology and educating others into her perfect career. We also get an inside look at the operations of the Tennessee Aquarium and its local conservation efforts. Dr. Anna George is the VP of Conservation Science and Education at the Tennessee Aquarium. You can connect with her on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/anna-george-07b384a/) and learn more about her role at the aquarium on their website (tnaqua.org/conserve/who-we-are/dr-anna-george). If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like: Mark McKnight’s Morning Cup (E39) Keith Sanford’s Morning Cup (E86) Carol Eimers’s Morning Cup (E109) 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’ve watched Local 3 News any time in the past 38 years, you’ll instantly recognize this week’s guest: David Carroll. In this episode, David shares what it was like growing up working in his family’s general store with dreams of one day hosting a gameshow. He also shares how his creativity and humor moved him up the ladder and why being “ready and available” led to most of his career opportunities. David Carroll is the Lead Anchor of Local 3’s 4pm and 6pm newscasts. You can learn more about David on the Local 3 website: local3news.com/about-us/meet-the-team/david-carroll/article_74c164f2-2dde-52ff-b9bc-fd0a6af7faf7.html If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like: Callie Starnes’s Morning Cup (E18) Calvin Sneed’s Morning Cup (E77) Darrell Patterson’s Morning Cup (E108) 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!

Everyone’s path is impacted by their childhood, but that is especially true for Joe Smith. In this episode, Joe shares the traumatic stories of meeting his biological parents, how hanging out with the wrong people in college led him down the path of addiction, and how an angel literally saved his life on August 1st, 1987. Since that day, he has dedicated his life to helping others and growing early intervention and prevention programs for at-risk youth. Joe is now the Chairman of the School Board for Hamilton County as well as Executive Director of Transform Ministries and InZone, another early intervention program for at-risk youth.  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!

Carol Eimers grew up on a 1,500 acre playground in Idaho. It would have been easy to stay in Grangeville, but joining her high school’s debate team sparked an interest in politics and she landed in DC. In this episode, we discuss what it was like working on Senator Fred Thompson’s campaign, how climbing Grand Teton provided mental clarity when she was at a crossroads, and her non-linear career path at TVA. Carol Eimers is the VP and Chief Human Resources Officer for TVA. You can connect with her on LinkedIn, linkedin.com/in/carol-eimers/   If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like: Matt Rasmussen’s Morning Cup (E57) Jacinda Woodward’s Morning Cup (E70) 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!

Growing up, Darrell Patterson didn’t think broadcasting could be a career… but once he made the realization it could be, he took it and ran with it! In this episode, we discuss what it was like growing up as the fifth of six boys in “Mac-Minn” County, getting into a radio station at the ripe young age of 12, and leading Channel 9 around to #1 in just one year alongside Bob Johnson and Don Welch. If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like: Bill Priestley’s Morning Cup (E74) Calvin Sneed’s Morning Cup (E77) Richard Simms’s Morning Cup (E87) 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!