Intrinsically Motivated: An Uplift Appalachia Podcast

On today's episode of Let's Get Intrinsically Motivated, we're going to get into the world of risk assessment in light of the recent assassination attempt on President Donald Trump.

On today's episode, we'll be sitting down with Marc and Kirsty Nelson. Marc is a navigator with Navigator Scotland, a hospital-based program that assists people with complex psychosocial needs. Kirsty is a Parish Nurse from Dundee in Scotland who has been a Queen’s nurse since 2021. She is part of the Scottish Government Clinical Advisory Group on Drugs.

On today's episode, we"ll be sitting down with Karl Johnson. Karl is an assistant professor at the Gilling's School of Global Public Health at UNC. We'll be discussing the comparisons of recovery solutions from the perspective of the Church versus Public Health's research and how they may work hand in hand.

On today's episode, we'll return to Scotland, where Tanner will sit with Chris Davidson. He's the pastor and planter of Merkinch Church in Inverness, Scotland.

What difference can it make when someone simply takes an interest in a person who is struggling? In this conversation, Joe McCormack and John Conway reflect on their journeys through addiction and recovery, and the unexpected impact of people who chose to care about him even when his life was falling apart. Their stories are a powerful reminder that recovery rarely begins with programs or systems—it often begins with relationships. Through interviews with pastors, cultural historians, and people in recovery, we’re asking a bigger question: What role should the church play in bringing hope and healing to communities facing addiction? John and Joe’s story is one small window into that larger conversation. 🎧 Listen to the full conversation on our podcast (Releasing March 10, 2026): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Support our effort to motivate and equip churches in Scotland: https://rscelizabethton.churchcenter....

On today's episode, we'll be sitting down with David Julen. He's the pastor at First Baptist Church of Cramerton in Gaston County, NC. He also leads an addiction ministry called Unbinding Lazarus.Unbinding Lazarus: https://www.unbindinglazarus.com/First Baptist Church Cramerton: https://www.firstbaptistcramerton.com/

On today's episode, we'll be sitting down with Ron Roach. Ron is the Chair of the Department of Appalachian Studies at East Tennessee State University. Today we discuss the historical and cultural connections between Scotland and Appalachia.

Welcome to Season 4 of Intrinsically Motivated. On today’s episode, we’ll be sitting down with Ashton Belcher. She’s the Program Director of the Day Reporting Center and Community Resource Center.

On today's episode, Tanner, Andi, and Katelyn will be reviewing everything Uplift Appalachia has been accomplishing over the last few months, along with future goals and plans. Let's get Intrinsically Motivated!

On today’s episode, we’ll be sitting down with Stephanie Waldrop. She’s the Children’s Director at Heritage Baptist Church in Johnson City.

On today’s episode, we’ll be sitting down with Warren Kinghorn. He is a psychiatrist and theological ethicist with a joint faculty appointment in the medical and divinity school at Duke University. Warren also works as a staff psychiatrist at the durham VA medical center.

On today’s episode, we’ll be sitting down with Brett Harmon. He’s a Pretrial Services Officer with Southwest Virginia Community Corrections and Pretrial Services.

On today’s episode, we’ll be sitting down with John Swinton. He is the Chair in Divinity and Religious Studies at the School of Divinity, History, and Philosophy at the University of Aberdeen. He is also the founder of the university's Centre for Spirituality, Health and Disability.Raging With Compassion: Pastoral responses to the problem of evil (2007) Grand Rapids: Eerdmans. https://a.co/d/fcNAkPaSeeking Sanctuary, Finding Shalom: Toward a Deeper Practical Theology of Mental Health (2025), Baylor University Presshttps://www.baylorpress.com/9781481324717/seeking-sanctuary-finding-shalom/https://www.abdn.ac.uk/people/j.swinton

On today’s episode, we’ll be sitting down with Generation O. Generation O is an organization that cares for and supports those affected by prenatal opioid and substance exposure.

On today’s episode, we’ll be sitting down with Aaron Scott, an Independent Consultant for the City of Johnson City for preventing Homelessness.

On today's episode, we"ll be recapping everything going on in the life of Uplift Appalachia and reflect on season 2. We'll see you next season!

On today’s episode, we’ll be talking with Pastor Jerry Williams of Redstone Elizabethton. We’ll discuss his experiences in church planting and how deep, personal relationships can be the driving force to make the gospel known.

In this episode, we're going to discuss how the Church can and should be one of the strongest and best tools to fight the growing epidemic of addiction in the world today. Let's Get Intrinsically Motivated.

On today’s episode, we’ll be sitting with United Methodist Pastor Lisa Bryant of Kingsport, Tennessee. We’ll talk about her experiences and stories of addiction and trauma and how she has learned to practically navigate relationships within the world of addiction.

On today’s episode, we’ll be talking with Aisha Ward, head of the northeast Tennessee region for Kids Belong. We’ll be talking about her work and experience in foster care.

On today’s episode, we’ll be sitting down with the founding director of the ETSU Ballad Health Strong BRAIN Institute, Wally Dixon. We’ll be talking about Adverse Childhood Experiences and how they can affect individuals brain development.Links:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95ovIJ3dsNkhttps://www.etsu.edu/institute/strong-brain/

On today’s episode, we’ll be talking with Uplift board member Dave Persinger. We’ll be discussing how his experience in foster care has shaped him and his family’s life.

On today’s episode, we’ll be talking with Uplift Ride Share Coordinator Katelyn Jarrett. We’ll be discussing how her experiences have prepared her for her roll at Uplift.

On todays episode, Uplift President Andi Clements sits down with Tanner to discuss the world of Spiritual warfare as it may relate to addiction. They’ll discuss her recent interviews with Professor Chris Cook and Frank Bussey.

On today’s episode, Uplift Appalachia President Andi Clements sits down with long-time friends Frank and Sally Bussey. After reading Andi’s book, The Trauma-Informed Church, Frank and Sally realized how early life adversity had shaped their lives. Join us as they open up about their journey, the struggles they’ve faced, and the breakthroughs that have gotten them to where they are today.

Today, we’re joined by Dr. Farr Curlin (Josiah C. Trent Professor of MedicalHumanities), a palliative medicine doc and co-director of Duke University’s Theology, Medicine, and Culture Initiative, to talk about the medicalization of risk.https://divinity.duke.edu/faculty/farr-curlin

The response from the church to quickly and efficiently support the dire need of people affected by Hurricane Helene has been nothing short of miraculous. But what has the church’s response looked like with regard to the addiction crisis that we face as a society? Join Uplift Appalachia on our journey to ask how we can better put our faith into action and meet the needs of hundreds of thousands of people who are also in dire need. Let’s Get Intrinsically Motivated is an opportunity for listeners of the Uplift Appalachia podcast to be challenged to apply the lessons we have been learning through this podcast’s journey. Hosted by @tannerpclementsRecorded and edited by @thetuckboneLearn more: upliftappalachia.org@upliftappalachia

Links:First Tennessee Development District:https://www.ftdd.orgCaring Workplaces:https://www.caringworkplaces.orgRecovery Resources:https://recoveryresourcestn.orgTennessee Opioid Abatement Councilhttps://www.tn.gov/oac.htmlETSU Ballad Health Strong BRAIN Institutehttps://www.etsu.edu/institute/strong-brain/

On todays episode, we'll be talking with Uplift President Andi Clements. We're going to be talking about her recent trip to Scotland to make connections with churches, faith based organizations, and other governmental organizations addressing addiction and recovery.

On today's episode, we're talking with Tennessee State Representative Tim Hicks. We'll be talking be talking about his journey with addiction, recovery, and a life of public service.

Today we're continuing our conversation with Craig Forrester, Program Director of Recovery Resources. We're going to talk about how addiction has affected his life, his perspective on what treatment and recovery look like today, and how his experiences led him to fuel a growing recovery housing program for men.

Today we're talking with Craig Forrester, Program Director of Recovery Resources. We're going to talk about how addiction has affected his life, his perspective on what treatment and recovery look like today, and how his experiences led him to fuel a growing recovery housing program for men.

Dr. Martin Olsen is an OB/GYN for ETSU Health. He has spent many years working to improve patient outcomes regarding Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome. In this episode we talk about just how many people are affected by NAS and the challenges that he has faced taking a different approach to treatment.

Matt Miller is going to talk with us on his experiences with addiction, recovery, and how the Church and his family walked alongside him throughout.

Dr. Abigail Mack is an assistant professor of anthropology at Weber State University. We discuss her work studying addiction and recovery in Appalachia and her personal connection to it.

Dr. China Scherz is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology & the Associate Dean for Graduate Education at the University of Virginia. This is a conversation about how a Study of alcohol use in Uganda led her to study societal changes in Central Appalachia with regard to the church and addiction.

Dr. Brett McCarty is an Assistant Research Professor of Theological Ethics; Associate Director of the Theology, Medicine, and Culture Initiative; Assistant Professor in Population Health Sciences, Duke School of Medicine

Teronya Holmes is a member of the Uplift Appalachia board of directors. We will discuss her personal connection to addiction and recovery and how her involvement in this work reshaped her life in a dramatic way.

Episode 1 of Intrinsically Motivated is a conversation with Uplift President Dr. Andrea (Andi) Clements about how Uplift came to be, what its mission is, and why its work is so important.

Join Uplift Appalachia as we talk to experts in the field of addiction, recovery, and those who have been affected by it as we seek to mobilize the church to replace addiction and mental health challenges with flourishing. Learn more at upliftappalachia.org.