This episode of Clarksville Conversations features two separate interviews with members of Christian rock bands who are performing on the upcoming Awakening Tour 2025. The first interview is with John Cooper from Skillet, who discusses his band's long history, their energetic hard rock style, and their positive faith, family, and freedom message. The second interview is with Darren Mulligan of We Are Messengers, where he shares his personal and spiritual journey, including how his wife's faith and perseverance led to his own conversion and the band's formation. Both musicians emphasize the importance of hope, faith in Jesus, and the power of music to spread a positive message, often referencing the challenges and storms of life as inspiration for their songs.
The Awakening Tour Featuring Skillet and We Are Messengers takes place on Saturday November 22nd at the F&M Bank Arena in Clarksville.
Charlie Koon and guest Pastor Mike Burnette talk about the upcoming 8th annual Turkeys for Troops event in Clarksville. The event, scheduled for Saturday November 22nd, provides free frozen turkeys to active-duty military, veterans, and their families as a gesture of appreciation. They talk about the origins and growth of the event, now too large for its initial location, and highlights the crucial roles played by numerous community partners and volunteers, including Convoy of Hope, LifePoint Church, Legends Bank, Serra Chevrolet, Austin Peay State University, and others.
In this inspiring episode of Clarksville Conversations, host Charlie Koon sits down with Major General (Retired) Walt Lord and Edgar Maldonado from Austin Peay State University’s Military and Veterans Affairs division to explore the deep bond between APSU, Fort Campbell, and the region’s thriving military community. Together, they discuss why Clarksville is unlike other military towns and how APSU continues to serve as a home base for thousands of military-affiliated students.
Lord and Maldonado share the significance of Veterans Day and explain why APSU extends the celebration into a full Veterans Week dedicated to honoring service members. Maldonado also opens up about his own service in both the Marine Corps and the Army, reflecting on the powerful sense of camaraderie veterans carry with them throughout life. The conversation drives home one message: veterans aren’t broken—they’re part of a strong, supportive tribe that always looks out for one another.
On this episode Charlie speaks with former professional bull rider and Clarksville native Cory Rasch. The conversation focuses on Rasch’s upcoming sanctioned Professional Bull Riders (PBR) event scheduled for November 8th at the F&M Bank Arena in Clarksville, Tennessee. Rasch shares details about his history growing up in the area, his professional bull riding career, and the extensive planning involved in producing the event, which includes everything from laying down 33 loads of dirt to coordinating with local sponsors and the Clarksville Fire Department, where Rasch currently works. The discussion also touches upon logistical challenges, like avoiding basketball scheduling conflicts, and efforts to make the event a community affair, including a charity auction and military rappellers.
Charlie Koon and co-host Ryan Ploeckelman talk to guest Debra Sutton from Manna Cafe Ministries. The discussion focuses on Combat Hunger, Manna Cafe’s annual food drive, which has been expanded to the entire month of October to address growing food insecurity in Clarksville and Montgomery County, particularly among military families and seniors. Manna Cafe, a Clarksville original charity in its 15th year, relies heavily on community support, seeking to collect three months' worth of non-perishable food to stock their warehouse for the winter. The organization is organizing a corporate challenge and seeks volunteers for a major collection day on October 25th, utilizing nearly 40 drop-off locations, including all Clarksville Fire Department stations and various retail stores.
On this episode, Mary Durrett, a lifelong resident of Clarksville, shares information about her Sasha Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to funding mental health therapy for the underserved, and her own health journey using functional medicine. Cliff Syner, a former Army flight medic, discusses why he settled in Clarksville, the origins of his nonprofit, Risen Wellness, and the principles of functional medicine—a practice focused on addressing the root cause of health issues through lifestyle changes rather than solely relying on medication. Both guests stress the importance of community involvement, with Syner explaining that Risen Wellness aims to make functional medicine accessible and affordable to the broader community through donor support.
On this episode Charlie Coon, and guests Jay Albertia and Britney Campbell, discuss an upcoming charity event, The Legends Bank’s Game Changer Clay Shoot supporting Progressive Directions, a non-profit organization led by Jay Albertia that aids individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Middle and West Tennessee. Britney Campbell, representing Legends Bank, explains the event's evolution from a golf scramble to a clay shoot and details the process of selecting Progressive Directions as the current beneficiary through employee nominations. Jay emphasizes the importance of the funds and community awareness generated by the event to support his organization's extensive programs, including residential services, employment initiatives, and the Buddy Ball special needs athletic league.
On this episode Charlie chats with Cole Smith of the Nashville Predators. The main topics of the conversation center around Smith's background in hockey, including his start skating on a frozen lake in Minnesota and his eventual decision to pursue hockey over football, his strengths as a player who relies on work ethic and excels at the penalty kill, and his positive experience with the Predators organization. A significant portion of the interview focuses on the Predators' community involvement, particularly their support of Gold Star families and military communities in the Clarksville area, which both Smith and Coon express deep appreciation for.
On this episode Charlie is joined by Mayor Wes Golden of Montgomery County, and Bobby DeVoursney the CEO of the Nashville Kats Arena football team. The primary focus of the discussion is the major announcement that the Nashville Kats will officially relocate their next home season to Clarksville, Tennessee, starting in 2026, playing at the F&M Bank Arena. The participants emphasize the community support, affordability of tickets, and the team's commitment to engaging with the local area, even suggesting a future name change to reflect Clarksville's identity. Additionally, Mayor Golden provides updates on several other Montgomery County quality-of-life initiatives, including new parks, libraries, and the development of a fairgrounds project.
On this episode host Charlie Coon discusses the Clarksville Rotary Club with guests Betty Burchett and Jill Moore. The conversation centers on the club's impactful community work in Clarksville, Montgomery County, highlighting their long history of service projects such as Rotary Park, Heritage Park's splash pad, and the Buddy Ball Fields. A significant portion of the discussion is dedicated to an upcoming project: the installation of a peace pole at Rotary Park, symbolizing a commitment to fostering peace and addressing issues like youth conflict within the community. The guests also explain how individuals can become members of the Rotary Club, emphasizing the organization's welcoming and diverse environment, and the opportunities for mentorship and leadership.
This episode of "Clarksville Conversations" features an interview with Major General David Gardner, the commanding general of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell. General Gardner discusses his personal journey to military service, highlighting his early inspiration from West Point and the enduring camaraderie among his classmates. He emphasizes the unique and supportive relationship between Fort Campbell and the surrounding communities in both Tennessee and Kentucky, noting the significant economic and social ties. The general also provides an overview of the 101st's current global deployments and its role in transforming and modernizing the Army, underscoring the critical importance of daily training and readiness. The conversation concludes with recommendations for visitors to Fort Campbell and the soon-to-open Tennessee Wings of Liberty Museum, further illustrating the deep connection between the military installation and its community.
This episode of Clarksville Conversations features an interview with Austin Peay State University (APSU) Football Coach Jeff Faris, following a significant upset victory over Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU). The conversation centers on the team's preparation and keys to their historic win, highlighting their confidence, lack of turnovers, strong third-down defense, and explosive plays. Coach Faris also discusses the invaluable support from the Clarksville community and the APSU administration, particularly President Mike Licari and Interim Athletic Director Jordan Harmon, as crucial to the team's success and player retention. The episode concludes with a call to action for community members to attend home games to foster an unparalleled atmosphere and aid in recruiting, emphasizing that the team's ongoing focus is on continuous improvement and the process of winning.
This episode features an interview with David Kells, the Chief Venues Officer for F&M Bank Arena and Bridgestone Arena, discussing the growth of Clarksville, Montgomery County, and the development of its entertainment scene. Kells shares his career journey in the live music industry, from internships to his current executive role, and highlights his experiences with memorable concerts and the importance of creating shared memories through live events. The conversation also covers the strategic partnership between F&M Bank Arena and Bridgestone Arena to establish Clarksville as a viable market for touring acts, emphasizing the diverse range of events planned to cater to the community and the positive impact of these venues on local quality of life and economic development.
On this episode Charlie chats with Dr. Michael Licari, President of Austin Peay State University. The discussion primarily focuses on the university's impressive growth in enrollment and facilities, highlighting new additions like the Health Professions building and a welcome center, and future plans such as an event center and a large Chick-fil-A. Dr. Licari also elaborates on Austin Peay's commitment to student success, community engagement, and supporting military-affiliated students, emphasizing its role as a key economic and social anchor for the Clarksville area. He touches on the importance of financial support from "investors" and the university's dedication to ensuring graduates find meaningful careers.
In an episode of "Clarksville Conversations," host Charlie Coon interviews Chief Michael Rios of Montgomery County Fire Service, who has nearly 23 years of experience in fire rescue. Chief Rios discusses the separation of the Fire Chief and EMA director roles due to the county's significant growth and increasing emergency needs. He outlines the department's plans to expand its paid staff, including leadership positions, to supplement the volunteer force, particularly addressing the lack of service during daytime hours. A major development is the construction of a new fire station and headquarters in the rapidly growing Exit 8 area, which will be a shared facility with the Sheriff's precinct to save costs and enhance collaboration. This expansion aims to improve response times and lower insurance premiums for county residents, as the department also focuses on updating its fleet and increasing water supply access.
On this episode Charlie chats with Dr. Jean Luna-Vedder, the Director of Schools for Clarksville-Montgomery County. The discussion centers on various aspects of the school system's operations and future. Key topics include student growth and enrollment, the construction of new schools like Freedom Elementary, and the impact of federal budgets. Dr. Luna-Vedder also addresses staffing levels and recruitment, emphasizing initiatives like the "grow your own" model, and the importance of safety and communication within the district.
On this episode Charlie chats with Nicholas Nicoletta, owner of Nicoletta's Catering and Takeaway. Throughout the conversation, Nicoletta discusses the origins and growth of his business, including his popular "takeaway" program and the expansion into other locations like Sango Bakery and Pleasant View. He shares insights into the daily operations, his signature menu items like pimento cheese and meatballs, and the scale of events his company handles, such as catering large weddings and providing 1700 lunches for a single event. The interview also touches on broader community topics in Clarksville, including traffic, downtown development, the city's lack of a major festival, and the impact of growth on the community.
As a local Dentist, Kevin Kennedy Jr. knows a thing or two about Health Care in Clarksville. He joins Charlie to talk about why it is so important for the community to rally behind Tri-Star and Ascension St. Thomas in their efforts to build new hospitals in Clarksville, and how we can get our voices heard.
Govs Football Coach Jeff Faris stops by for a chat with Charlie about how the off season has gone for the Govs, and what fans can expect during his second season has Head Coach of Clarksville's Hometown Team.
David Whelan oversees planning, business development, network integration and more for HCA Healthcare's TriStar Division. He joins Charlie on this episode to talk about why TriStar wants to build a new Hospital in Clarksville, and what this new Hospital will bring to the community.