Our Internal World

Mark Blankespoor is the current Thrift Store Manager at The Well Knoxville. In November 2019, he was sentenced to 80 months of prison for financial crimes. Due to the Covid CARES Act, he was released on probation after 36 months.Mark and I discussed his criminal activity, his time in prison, his walk with Jesus, how ex-convicts are treated, and a lot more. I deeply enjoyed this conversation, and I believe you will as well.

Breah Beall interned with me on the same team in college, is a dear friend, then became a manager at Chic-Fil-A, and is now a project manager for a financial services company.We talk about finding a mentor, managing a team, vulnerability vs. transparency, and a lot more. I deeply enjoyed this conversation, and I'm sure you will as well.

Jeremy Cole is the founder of Avad Consulting, Knoxville Football's Defensive Coordinator, a business guru, and worship leader.Jeremy and I discuss mathematics, vulnerability, football, and a lot more. I deeply enjoyed our conversation, and I believe you will as well.

Danielle Lirio is the owner and operator of Spire Drink Co, an incredible artist, a house flipper, and my wife.Danielle and I talk about flipping houses, living with a possum, poverty, working at The Well, and a lot more.I deeply enjoyed our conversation, and I believe you will as well.

Cathy Struecker is a mom, yoga instructor, breathing coach, and small business owner.Cathy and I talk about breathing, sleep, the health of our souls, triggers, and a lot more.I deeply enjoyed our conversation, and I believe you will as well.

Hannah Vander Veer is a mom, realtor, community advocate, and small business promoter.Hannah and I talk about being a mom, entrepreneurship, small towns, real estate, flipping houses, and a lot more.I deeply enjoyed our conversation, and I believe you will as well.

Geoff Wheelock is a successful entrepreneur, business leader, and veteran (having done 4 tours in the Middle East).Geoff and I talk about self doubt, hiring the right people, his tours in the Middle East, and a lot more.I deeply enjoyed our conversation, and I believe you will as well.

Dr. Bob Leonard is an anthropologist and long-time radio host and writer, but is currently "retired".Dr. Bob and I talk about Knoxville, housing, politics, news sources, and a lot more.I deeply enjoyed our conversation, and I believe you will as well.

Ezra Schmidt is a senior at Knoxville High School.Ezra and I talk about college, trades, school, soccer, the new "phone ban", and a lot moreI deeply enjoyed our conversation, and I believe you will as well.

KC Rawling is a practitioner with Holistic Health.KC and I talk about food dyes, gut health, ADHD, and a lot more.I deeply enjoyed our conversation, and I believe you will as well.

Brian Hatch is the current Mayor of Knoxville. Brian and I talk about his salary, the VA, local government, what it's like being mayor, and a lot more. I deeply enjoyed our conversation, and I believe you will as well.

Megan McKay and I talk about Peace Tree, entrepreneurship, Knoxville, the creative process, failure, and a lot more. I deeply enjoyed our conversation, and I believe you will as well. Megan McKay is a "recovering entrepreneur", founder of Peace Tree, and a friend.

Doctor Hoehns and I talk about vaccines, COVID, seeing patients, eating, diets, and a lot more. I deeply enjoyed our conversation, and I believe you will as well. Brent Hoehns is a family physician at Knoxville Hospital.

Caleb and I talk about business, entrepreneurship, Real Estate, God, matte, traveling, managing your time, and a LOT more. I deeply enjoyed our conversation, and I believe you will as well. Caleb is a serial entrepreneur and my dear friend.

Rick and I talk about getting catfished on Tinder, growing up poor, Elon Musk, Welfare, God, infidelity, and a LOT more. I deeply enjoyed our conversation, and I believe you will as well. Rick is the "Supreme Leader" of Ricky Bobby Haircuts for Men, and in my words... has seen and done some STUFF. BE ADVISED: a couple of mature topics are discussed throughout the episode, but most of the conversation is family friendly.

Cassi and I talk about Knoxville schools, youth sports, cell phones, leadership, homeschooling, and a lot more. I deeply enjoyed our conversation, and I believe you will as well. Cassi Pearson is the Superintendant of the Knoxville school district.

Dr. Paul Leavenworth and I talk about leadership, how to avoid burnout, living an examined life, and a lot more. I deeply enjoyed our conversation, and I am confident you will as well. Dr. Leavenworth is an author and professor of leadership at Grand View University and is one of the few non-Marion county residents I have allowed on the podcast. Check out his books in the link below.

Ron Zantingh, former COO of Marion County Bank, and I discuss teaching children good money habits, credit cards, getting bank loans, and a lot more. I deeply enjoyed this conversation, and I believe you will as well. (I added this as a bonus episode to Jayson Henry's episode, because the financial conversation I had with Ron is very closely related to Jayson's and my conversation. I believe them to be two sides of the same coin.)

Jayson Henry, CEO of The Well, and I discussed "difficult" family members, helping others effectively, God, money, and a lot more. I deeply enjoyed this conversation, and I believe you will as well.

Dr. Karen Cleveland, a licensed clinical psychologist with Heartland Christian Counseling, and I discussed mental disorders, the affects of screens and food on mental health, healthy boundaries, raising children, marriages, God, and a lot more. I deeply enjoyed this conversation, and I believe you will as well. WARNING: Around the 1:43:00 mark the conversation becomes a little less child friendly as we briefly discuss a few topics that are sexual in nature.

Kevin and I talk about his military experience, nuclear submarines, leadership, rural hospitals, and a lot more. I deeply enjoyed this conversation, and I believe you will as well. Kevin Kincaid is the CEO of the Knoxville Hospital and Clinics.

Tony and I discuss his methods of teaching (which are genius), COVID, youth sports, cell phones, and a lot more. Tony is a middle school teacher of computer science and a "Knoxville resident [his] whole life".