Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev

Hosted by Morgan Franklin Media

Business EducationInterviews guests

Website RSS feed

Episodes

275

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

<p>Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a podcast about business, parenting and living life intentionally. We're here every week to bring you intentional conversations on making your own path to success, challenging the status quo, and finding all the ways we're better. Recorded in Cookeville, TN, Kosta joins guests from all walks of life to bring fresh perspective and start your week with purpose. We're better together.</p>

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 17, 2026Episode 16844 min

The Juice with Bobby Young

Join Kosta and his guest: Bobby Young, Franchisee at Jersey Mike's Subs Cookeville and Crossville. In this episode: Before you were Bobby Young the candidate, you were Bobby Young the Jersey Mike’s guy. As we said in the introduction you’re the owner of both Jersey Mike’s Cookeville and Crossville, how did you come to own and operate these stores? The election is over, and we promised everyone we’d get back to business, and we are. Bobby, you ran for County Commission in District 7, and although you didn’t win we want to thank you for your willingness to serve and start with the question every former candidate is being asked this week: do you plan to run again? When it comes to subs and sandwiches, we have options. Of course, Jersey Mike’s is the only option in our hearts and stomachs, but when you have this level of competition how do you make sure customers think of you first? Find out more about Jersey Mike's Cookeville: https://www.jerseymikes.com/4026/cookeville-tn Find out more about Jersey Mike's Crossville: https://www.jerseymikes.com/4076/crossville-tn Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN. This episode of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is made possible by our partners at Miss Sallie's Market. Find out more about Miss Sallie's Market: https://www.misssallies.com

August 10, 2026Episode 16723 min

We the People with Jaime Linder

Join Kosta and his guest: Jaime Linder, Programming and Events Coordinator at Plenty Downtown Bookshop . In this episode: This will be the first episode to air after our local election, and I want to promise everyone we’ll be returning to our normally scheduled programming. Our episode today is the perfect bridge from politics back to normal life. This fall, Plenty Bookshop, in partnership with the National Constitution Center, will host a book study with 250 participants here in the Upper Cumberland to learn about our United States Constitution. How did this all come together? The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. Why do so few of us understand it? You’ve already hosted an educational training with cohort leaders on the Constitution and what they can expect throughout this process. At the conclusion of this study, what’s one takeaway you hope all participants have? It’s the 250th anniversary of the United States, and by the end of this year, we’ll have 250 community members who (hopefully) truly understand the mission and vision of our Constitution. How does this improve our community? What can the Constitution teach us here in Putnam County? Find out more about Plenty Downtown Bookshop: https://www.plentybookshop.org/ Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN. This episode of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is made possible by our partners at Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy. Find out more about Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy: https://aspirebarberandbeauty.com

August 3, 2026Episode 1661 hr 2 min

Built Different with Brendan Laney and Shayne Bilbrey

Join Kosta and his guests: County Commission Candidates for District 3, Shayne Bilbrey and Brendan Laney . In this episode: You're both running as Democratic Candidates in a county and state where Republicans routinely win by wide margins. Beyond listening and transparency , can you give voters one specific policy position or commitment that your Republican opponent in District 3 likely wouldn't and explain why that difference might be worth crossing party lines for? District 3, as the kids would say, is built different. Whether we want to talk about voter population, voter demographics or District boundaries, there’s no District like District 3. Why is this District so different? You’ve both been campaigning for well over six-months now. What’s one thing you’ve learned about your neighbors in District 3 you didn’t know this time last year? Find out more about Shayne Bilbrey for Putnam County Commissioner District 3: https://electshaynebilbrey.com/ Find out more about Brendan Laney for Putnam County Commissioner District 3: https://votebrendanlaney2026.com/ Important Putnam County Election dates and information: Putnam County General Elections will be held on August 6th with early voting from Friday, July 17th to Saturday, August 1st. All early voting takes place at the Putnam County Election Commission on 705 County Services Dr, Cookeville, TN 38501. For more information visit on Putnam County polling locations visit: https://putnamcountytn.gov/election-commission Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN. This episode of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is made possible by our partners at Miss Sallie's Market. Find out more about Miss Sallie's Market: https://www.misssallies.com

July 27, 2026Episode 1651 hr 2 min

Your Next Cookeville City Council with Dee Prince and Sam Matson

Join Kosta and his guest: Cookeville City Council Candidates, Dee Prince and Sam Matson . In this episode: Cookeville is currently operating under its 2030 plan, a plan approved in 2010. For anyone who doesn’t remember Cookeville in 2010, it was a different universe. If elected you will be tasked with developing and approving our next, 2050 plan. When you think about the last 20-years, and the next 20-years, what responsibility does this plan and the elected officials who create it have to serve Cookeville in the decades to come? If elected, you’ll both be first time Council Members. As our listeners might know, there are five members on the Cookeville City Council, Mayor, Vice Mayor and three Council Members. Why do you believe you’re the best candidate to fill one of these five seats, and what specifically can you bring to the Council no one else can? Traditionally, over 70% of registered voters in the City of Cookeville don’t vote. You’ve both been working day and night to engage voters, and talk with constituents. So, I want to give a more direct example of local government at work. Let’s pretend you knock on a neighbor’s door and they ask what you can do for them as a voter. What would you say? Find out more about Sam Matson's Campaign for Cookeville City Council: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61589752626838 Find out more about Damon "Dee" Prince's Campaign for Cookeville City Council: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61590039621071 Register to vote, check your registration or update your voter registration : https://sos.tn.gov/govotetn Important Putnam County Election dates and information: Putnam County General Elections will be held on August 6th with early voting from Friday, July 17th to Saturday, August 1st. All early voting takes place at the Putnam County Election Commission on 705 County Services Dr, Cookeville, TN 38501. For more information visit on Putnam County polling locations visit: https://putnamcountytn.gov/election-commission Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN. This episode of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is made possible by our partners at Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy. Find out more about Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy: https://aspirebarberandbeauty.com

July 20, 2026Episode 1641 hr 9 min

For the People with Ryan Dalton and Beth Anderson

Join Kosta and his guest: Ryan Dalton , candidate for Putnam County Mayor and Beth Anderson, Mom of Ryan Dalton, candidate for Putnam County Mayor. In this episode: It’s 10 years from today. What’s the best case scenario? What’s the worst case scenario? You're both from Putnam County, and have family that goes back generations. You know this community to its core. Why does it feel like the newest members of our community seem to have the most vocal opinions on where Putnam County is going vs. where it’s been? If you could guarantee one candidate would win this election who would you pick and why? This episode is airing in the midst of early voting, election day is August 6th. Less than 30% of the City of Cookeville votes, about 20% of Putnam County votes, what’s your message to anyone listening on voting and why it matters? Find out more about Ryan Dalton for Putnam County Mayor: https://www.facebook.com/ryandaltonformayor https://www.instagram.com/ryandaltonforcountymayor https://putnamdemocrats.org/candidate/ryan-dalton/ Important Putnam County Election dates and information: Putnam County General Elections will be held on August 6th with early voting from Friday, July 17th to Saturday, August 1st. All early voting takes place at the Putnam County Election Commission on 705 County Services Dr, Cookeville, TN 38501. For more information visit on Putnam County polling locations visit: https://putnamcountytn.gov/election-commission Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN. This episode of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is made possible by our partners at Miss Sallie's Market. Find out more about Miss Sallie's Market: https://www.misssallies.com

July 13, 2026Episode 1631 hr 12 min

The Room Where It Happens with Cigi England and Morgan Franklin

Join Kosta and his guests: Cigi England , Candidate for Cookeville City Council and Morgan Franklin for Putnam County Commission District 1. In this episode: Since I have a candidate here for Cookeville City Council and Putnam County Commission, my first question is, how can each entity work better together and how will you work with the other to improve outcomes for everyone? Less than 30% of registered voters in the City of Cookeville vote. We talked about this in Chad Gilbert’s episode, but as this episode will release the week early voting begins I’ll ask it again now, how are you as a candidate working to ensure more than 30% of the voting electorate comes out to vote? It’s 4 years from today, you’re running for re-election and we’re all here having the same, but very different conversation. What have you accomplished and what do you have to show constituents as your greatest accomplishments over the last four years? Find out more about Morgan Franklin for Putnam County Commission District 1: https://votemorgan.com/ Find out more about Cigi England for Cookeville City Council: https://votecigi.com/ Register to vote, check your registration or update your voter registration : https://sos.tn.gov/govotetn Important Putnam County Election dates and information: Putnam County General Elections will be held on August 6th with early voting from Friday, July 17th to Saturday, August 1st. All early voting takes place at the Putnam County Election Commission on 705 County Services Dr, Cookeville, TN 38501. For more information visit on Putnam County polling locations visit: https://putnamcountytn.gov/election-commission Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN. This episode of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is made possible by our partners at Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy. Find out more about Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy: https://aspirebarberandbeauty.com

July 6, 2026Episode 16250 min

Better Choices with Mike Croley

Join Kosta and his guest: Mike Croley , Veteran, Former State Park Ranger, recent Federal Employee, and Candidate for TN Sixth Congressional District. In this episode: I want to start this episode with a simple question. So often in political episodes we get caught up in the details of campaigning, and strategy, and the greater national rhetoric, and we’ll get to all that, but first I want to talk with you as my neighbor. Tennessean to Tennessean. What does Tennessee need right now? On August 6th you’ll face off against Lore Bergman, Christopher Finley, Miriam Leibowitz and Chaney Mosley in the 6th District’s Congressional Democratic Primary Election. Why do you believe you’re the best option in this primary? Why do you believe you’re the best candidate to face the Republican opponent who will come after the Primary? I’ll say it if no one else will, the Tennessee Democratic Party is on thin ice. I haven’t heard much, but nothing I’ve heard is good. Is the TNDP helping you or hurting you? Find out more about Mike Croley : https://croleyforcongress.com/ Register to vote, check your registration or update your voter registration : https://sos.tn.gov/govotetn Important Putnam County Election dates and information: Putnam County General Elections will be held on August 6th with early voting from July 17th to August 1st. All early voting takes place at the Putnam County Election Commission on 705 County Services Dr, Cookeville, TN 38501. For more information visit on Putnam County polling locations visit: https://putnamcountytn.gov/election-commission Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN. This episode of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is made possible by our partners at Miss Sallie's Market. Find out more about Miss Sallie's Market: https://www.misssallies.com

June 29, 2026Episode 16152 min

The Evolution of Chad with Chad Gilbert

Join Kosta and his guest: Chad Gilbert , Cookeville City Council Member and Candidate for Cookeville City Council. In this episode: Less than 30% of registered voters in the City of Cookeville vote. As a sitting City Council Member and Candidate, what’s your message to the 70% of Cookevillians who don’t see the purpose or benefit in voting? Why does local government matter? As we said in the introduction, you’re a current member of the Cookeville City Council, you’ve served for the past 4 years, and are now hoping to serve another 4. What do you see as your greatest accomplishment and what’s still left to be done? One of the loudest concerns I’m hearing from voters in this election cycle is about jobs. We’re bringing in hundreds of new jobs with large retailers like Home Depot, Target and In-N-Out Burger, but these are the same low wage careers we’ve provided our workforce for decades. How do we bring high paid, skilled professions to Cookeville? Find out more about Chad's Campaign for Cookeville City Council: https://chadgilbertforcookeville.com/ Register to vote, check your registration or update your voter registration: https://sos.tn.gov/govotetn Important Putnam County Election dates and information: Putnam County General Elections will be held on August 6th with early voting from July 17th to August 1st. All early voting takes place at the Putnam County Election Commission on 705 County Services Dr, Cookeville, TN 38501. For more information visit on Putnam County polling locations visit: https://putnamcountytn.gov/election-commission Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN. This episode of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is made possible by our partners at Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy. Find out more about Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy: https://aspirebarberandbeauty.com

June 22, 2026Episode 1601 hr 25 min

Power in the Word with Brett Knight

Join Kosta and his guest: Brett Knight , criminal defense attorney, pastor and author of From the Gavel to Grace: Setting People Free From Addiction and Into Healing. In this episode: The symptoms of addiction begin long before the actual addiction. We’ve hosted many guests in and around the recovery community, and the throughline is: there’s always more to the story. What do you hope readers will learn about the complexity of both addiction and recovery? One of the central themes of From the Gavel to Grace is that punishment alone fails. Alternatively, compassion without structure collapses. Accountability and mercy aren't opposites. As an attorney and pastor, what do you wish more people understood about what it actually takes to change behavior? The book speaks to three very different audiences: families, the legal system, and the faith community. Did you find the message had to evolve depending on who you were writing to, or is the core the same for all three? Find out more about Brett Knight: https://brettknight.com/ Purchase From the Gavel to Grace: Setting People Free From Addiction and into Healing on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4ahC5WW Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN. This episode of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is made possible by our partners at Miss Sallie's Market. Find out more about Miss Sallie's Market: https://www.misssallies.com

June 15, 2026Episode 15950 min

Meet the Meat Puppet with Mack Lunn

Join Kosta and his guest: Mack Lunn , Associate Director of iCube at Tennessee Technological University, Owner of Mack Lunn Enterprises, and Candidates for Putnam County Commission District 2 . In this episode: Today’s episode is special because you’re not only my neighbor, you’re also running for County Commission in my District, District 2. We’ve hosted candidates Stacye Choate and Sam Sandlin and it’s a pleasure to have you on today. What’s the greatest issue facing District 2 specifically and why are you the best County Commission candidate to best address it? Putnam County is changing everyday and whether we want it or not, the AI revolution is here. You’re pursuing a PhdD focused on artificial intelligence and its role in higher education, how will that translate to the County Commission and Putnam County Government overall? On a scale of 1-10 how well would you say our County Commission performing their duties. If not 10 how would you personally advocate within the commission and our community to get to a 10? Find out more about Mack Lunn, Candidate for Putnam County Commission District 2: https://putnamdemocrats.org/candidate/mack-lunn/ https://www.instagram.com/votemacklunn/ Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN. This episode of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is made possible by our partners at Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy. Find out more about Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy: https://aspirebarberandbeauty.com