Fishing for Answers

Fishing for Answers: GDE CEO Mark Kimbell on Leadership, Relationships & Succession PlanningMarlin and Jaerica welcome special guest Mark Kimbell, CEO of Gallatin Department of Electricity, who shares his background as an electrical engineer and GDE’s growth since 2012. He emphasizes leadership principles of honesty, openness, integrity, and strong relationships, including empowering employees through training and educational opportunities. Mark discusses balancing career and family, his children’s engineering paths, and the influence of faith and values. Looking ahead to his planned retirement in August of 27, he outlines structured succession planning with the board and department-level backups, and personal plans including a long Pacific cruise and more time with grandchildren. He reflects on receiving the TVPPA Distinguished Service Award and APPA’s Mark Crisson Leadership Award, and explains founding the Valley Public Power Leadership Academy to strengthen TVA–local power company relationships. He closes with advice to treat people well and help everyone succeed. #leadership #retirement #fishingforanswers #f4a 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro01:23 Mark’s GDE Journey02:33 Growth Awards and Industry Impact03:46 Leadership Through Relationships04:23 Core Leadership Principles06:00 Empowering Teams and Training07:11 Leadership at Home and Family08:49 Communication Style and Curiosity10:38 Retirement Plans and Succession13:10 Preparing Personally for Transition13:24 Pacific Cruise Plans14:06 Family Time and Grandkids14:32 Faith and Values15:32 Awards and Recognition17:00 VPPLA Origin Story19:59 Relationships Built Through VPPLA21:21 Community Legacy at GDE23:10 Leadership Wisdom to Close24:35 Final Thanks and Sign Off

Handling Workplace Friction | Fishing for AnswersMarlin and Jaerica reunite in Gallatin for an episode of Fishing for Answers focused on navigating friction and difficult people in the workplace, including recognizing when you may be the one causing tension. They share practical strategies such as using a 24-hour cooling-off rule, assuming positive intent (low competence vs. high malice), building a personal “firewall” to prevent negativity from spilling into home life, and using physical transitions after work to shed stress. They discuss reclaiming control by changing the power dynamic through “gray rocking,” documenting patterns when bullying or unfairness is involved, and refocusing on “the third space” (you, them, and the work) by redirecting energy into excellence. They also cover BIFF communication (brief, informative, friendly, firm), avoiding dependency on apologies or validation, and maintaining kindness and professionalism even without reciprocation.00:00 Welcome Back and Pizza00:53 Workplace Friction Topic01:11 Owning Your Part02:09 24 Hour Cooling Rule04:31 Assume Positive Intent06:28 Build a Personal Firewall07:42 Work Persona Boundaries09:52 Shed Work Stress11:26 When Grudges Linger12:45 Change the Power Dynamic13:10 Gray Rocking Tactics14:15 Document the Pattern14:36 Vent Without Ratting15:14 Journaling for Clarity16:02 Focus on the Work17:40 Sticky Notes for War18:55 Mental Stretch Routine20:44 Strategic vs Emotional22:37 Passive Aggressive Traps24:47 BIFF Communication Method25:25 Stop Chasing Apologies25:56 Kindness and Boundaries27:44 Closing Thoughts

Redefining Hope (Mental Health Month): Micro-Wins, Borrowed Hope & Finding Glimmers | Fishing for AnswersMarlin and Jaerica reunite on Fishing for Answers to discuss redefining hope when life feels dim, exhausting, and hopeless for mental health month.They distinguish optimism (believing things will turn out well) from hope (believing life can still be meaningful regardless of outcomes), and encourage “shrinking the horizon” to the next minutes or hour through micro-wins that restore a sense of agency. They emphasize borrowed hope through community, choosing supportive people, and the power of presence—like Job’s friends sitting in silence—rather than forced advice. They discuss narrative hope, radical acceptance of hard realities, and spotting “glimmers” or “God nudges” in small cues of beauty and safety (sunrises, sunsets, songs, fresh air). They close by urging listeners to like, comment, share, and keep doing small things. #mentalhealthawarenessmonth #F4A #fishingforanswers #hope #motivation00:00 Welcome to the Show01:03 Why Hope Matters03:16 Hope vs Optimism05:11 Presence Creates Hope06:12 Shrink the Horizon08:27 Micro Wins and Agency09:09 Borrowed Hope Community10:49 Narrative Hope and Forgiveness12:20 Radical Acceptance13:23 Towel Mirror Trick13:45 Finding Glimmers14:28 God Nudges in Nature16:11 Steal Five Minutes16:48 Songs and Safe Cues17:30 Triathlon Dad Story18:55 Tune Out Negativity20:00 Crack in the Door20:44 Tiny Wins Reset22:01 Helping With Intent23:38 Hold On to Hope

Mind, Body & Spirit: Iron Tribe Gallatin Owners Share Their StoryJaerica hosts Fishing for Answers with guests Joshua and Kaitlyn, owners of Iron Tribe Fitness Gallatin, a semi-private personal training gym focused on barbell and strength training. They share their background—Joshua’s 21 years in strength and conditioning and Kaitlyn’s work as an emergency room doctor—how they met, moved to the Nashville area, built the Gallatin location, and later bought the gym, integrating family life and community into the business. In honor of Mental Health Month, they discuss how physical training supports mental discipline, resilience, sleep, stress regulation, and workplace performance, emphasizing movement and strength training as powerful tools for mental wellness alongside prayer and spiritual disciplines. They address balancing mind, body, and spirit, building routines for busy professionals, and end with a call to action to start small, and find your Tribe.#MindBodySpirit #WellnessJourney #FitnessMotivation #F4A #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth00:00 Mind Body and Spirit00:17 Welcome & Guest Introductions00:33 Meet Kaitlyn & Joshua08:27 Mental Health Month: Fitness & Mental Wellness18:51 Mind, Body & Spirit Connection28:48 Routines & Mindset Shifts for Busy Professionals36:01 Call to Action