My Morning Cup

Hosted by Costa Media Advisors

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Episodes

188

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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About the show

A Chattanooga podcast exploring what makes a happy, successful life through conversations with local entrepreneurs, business leaders, and professionals. Each episode goes beyond career achievements to uncover the challenges, life lessons, and daily habits that shape fulfilling lives. Discover how Chattanooga's most accomplished people start their day, and what's really in their morning cup.

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60 recent

August 17, 2026Episode 1881 hr 1 min

E188 - Reverend Bernie Miller's Morning Cup

When people have told Bernie Miller something can’t be done, his answer has always been the same: "I think it can." In this episode, Bernie shares how an early lesson in humility stuck with him for the rest of his life, how co-writing the soul classic "I Can't Stand the Rain" opened doors to working with artists like Michael Jackson, and how a radio job he didn't necessarily want led him to Chattanooga (and eventually the pulpit). Reverend Bernie Miller is the founder and Pastor of New Covenant Fellowship Church. You can connect with him on LinkedIn ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernie-miller-dmin-711616143/ ). Subscribe to the weekly newsletter and be the first to know who upcoming guests are: http://eepurl.com/iGJzII My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions .

August 10, 2026Episode 1871 hr 4 min

E187 - David Martin's Morning Cup

David Martin is committed to building a stronger, more connected Chattanooga. In this episode, David shares how his father's advice to find his own way sent him down a winding career path, how a master's in history unexpectedly launched a career in PR, and how Heed PR became a three-month "overnight" success story. David Martin is the Co-Founder and Partner of Heed Public Relations and Feed the Narrative. You can connect with him on LinkedIn ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-martin-29256210/ ). If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like: Patricks Wells’s Morning Cup (E61) Jason Provonsha’s Morning Cup (E130) Dustin Choate’s Morning Cup (E142) Subscribe to the weekly newsletter and be the first to know who upcoming guests are: http://eepurl.com/iGJzII My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions .

August 3, 2026Episode 18655 min

E186 - Matt Patterson's Morning Cup

Matt Patterson has spent his career proving that the biggest risk is often the safest bet you can make. In this episode, Matt shares why he refused to stay in any job for more than a year, how moving to a city where he knew no one helped him and his partners build Bellhops from the ground up, and why Brickyard gives other founders that same all-in experience. Matt Patterson is Co-Founder and General Partner of Brickyard. You can connect with him on LinkedIn ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-patterson-23032356/ ). If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like: Cam Doody’s Morning Cup (E63) Ted and Kelly Alling’s Morning Cups (E69) Barry Large’s Morning Cup (E73) Subscribe to the weekly newsletter and be the first to know who upcoming guests are: http://eepurl.com/iGJzII My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions .

July 27, 2026Episode 18558 min

E185 - Cindy Lee's Morning Cup

Cindy Lee has built her career on a simple belief: “I can do this.” In this episode, Cindy shares what a decade in the corporate world taught her about how NOT to run a business, how she unexpectedly fell in love with the world of trucking, and why she built Lync Logistics around the idea that people always come before transactions. Cindy Lee is the CEO of Lync Logistics. You can connect with her on LinkedIn ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/cindy-lee-966b7912/ ). If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like: Becky Blaesing’s Morning Cup (E26) Lisa McCluskey’s Morning Cup (E113) Darin Wright’s Morning Cup (E140) Subscribe to the weekly newsletter and be the first to know who upcoming guests are: http://eepurl.com/iGJzII My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions .

July 20, 2026Episode 18458 min

E184 - Darde Long's Morning Cup

Darde Long always knew she wanted to work with animals, it just didn't end up the way she originally imagined. In this episode, Darde shares how a childhood pony sparked a lifelong career caring for animals, why a trusted mentor pushed her to take a job she almost turned down, and how the Chattanooga Zoo has evolved from just 2 employees and 25 animals in 1985 to 80+ employees and 100+ species today. Darde Long is the President and CEO of the Chattanooga Zoo. You can connect with her on LinkedIn ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/darde-long-177a1b4/ ). If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like: Andy Wood’s Morning Cup (E124) Lucy Rymer’s Morning Cup (E155) Hugh Morrow’s Morning Cup (E168) Subscribe to the weekly newsletter and be the first to know who upcoming guests are: http://eepurl.com/iGJzII My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions .

July 13, 2026Episode 1831 hr 0 min

E183 - Dr. Dan Challener's Morning Cup

Dr. Dan Challener has spent his career supporting the people he calls the linchpin in every child's life: teachers. In this episode, Dan shares how a summer camp job changed the course of his life, why one person believing in a child can change everything, and how a friend's nudge to check out a job led him to Chattanooga for what he thought would be five years (spoiler: it's been 27). Plus, a candid conversation about the current state of public education in Tennessee. Dr. Dan Challener is the President of Public Education Forward (formerly known as Public Education Foundation). You can connect with him on LinkedIn ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/danchallener4424/ ). If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like: Dr. Edna Varner’s Morning Cup (E104) Dr. Robert Dooley’s Morning Cup (E127) Dr. Justin Robertson’s Morning Cup (E144) Subscribe to the weekly newsletter and be the first to know who upcoming guests are: http://eepurl.com/iGJzII My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions .

July 6, 2026Episode 18259 min

E182 - Harshad Shah’s Morning Cup

Harshad Shah learned early on that giving back isn't something you do once you're successful, it's just something you do. In this episode, Harshad shares what it was like growing up the youngest of 11 in post-independence India, how he didn’t plan to stay in America but a one-month visit to Chicago changed his mind, and how a $30,000 lab in his garage grew into Hamilton Plastics and a portfolio of other businesses. Harshad Shah is the President and CEO of Hamilton Plastics. You can connect with him on LinkedIn ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/harshad-shah-9aa4b722/ ). If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like: Dr. Elaine Swafford’s Morning Cup (E64) Keith Sanford’s Morning Cup (E86) Hamp Johnston and Camille Daniel’s Morning Cups (E159) Subscribe to the weekly newsletter and be the first to know who upcoming guests are: http://eepurl.com/iGJzII My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions .

June 29, 2026Episode 1811 hr 0 min

E181 - Dr. Patricia McLelland's Morning Cup

For Dr. Patricia McLelland, becoming a doctor wasn't the plan until a mission trip to Uganda changed everything. In this episode, Tricia shares how being a patient in a third-world hospital shaped the way she practices medicine today, what a mentor taught her about choosing a career based on what she *didn't* enjoy, and how a patient in Portland rewired her entire approach to women's health. Dr. Patricia McLelland is a Specialist in Obstetrics & Gynecology at Galen OB/GYN East. You can read her Substack at https://patriciamclellandmd.substack.com/ or you can connect with her on LinkedIn ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/patricia-mclelland-md-3060681b6/ ). If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like: Dr. Anna George’s Morning Cup (E112) Dr. Claudia Kramer’s Morning Cup (E115) Dr. Katie Duffy’s Morning Cup (E175) Subscribe to the weekly newsletter and be the first to know who upcoming guests are: http://eepurl.com/iGJzII My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions .

June 22, 2026Episode 18052 min

E180 - Ketha Richardson's Morning Cup

Ketha Richardson has spent his career building bridges between people, opportunities, and communities. In this episode, Ketha shares how a career in procurement led him to one of EPB's most community-facing roles, why having a mentor matters (and how to find one), and how he's helping Chattanoogans land careers they never even knew existed. Ketha Richardson is the Director of Workforce Development and Corporate Training at EPB. You can connect with him on LinkedIn ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/ketha-richardson-4b5a672/ ). If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like: Ken Jones’s Morning Cup (E122) David Wade’s Morning Cup (E137) Janet Rehberg’s Morning Cup (E163) Subscribe to the weekly newsletter and be the first to know who upcoming guests are: http://eepurl.com/iGJzII My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions .

June 15, 2026Episode 17957 min

E179 - Dr. Mina Sartipi's Morning Cup

Dr. Mina Sartipi was taught by her parents that there were no limits, and that's truly been the case throughout her life. In this episode, Mina shares how she earned one of the 100 spots at Iran's top engineering university, why the Argentinian tango led her to plant roots in Chattanooga, and how she has helped lead some of UTC's most ambitious research initiatives, such as the MLK Smart Corridor. Dr. Mina Sartipi is the Interim Vice Chancellor for Research at UTC, the Executive Director of the UTC Research Institute, the Guerry Professor and UTC Foundation Professor in UTC's Computer Science and Engineering Department, and the Joint Faculty Appointee with Oak Ridge National Laboratory. You can connect with her on LinkedIn ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/mina-sartipi-86267a1/ ). If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like: Charlie Brock’s Morning Cup (E95) Dr. Lori Mann-Bruce’s Morning Cup (E158) Janet Rehberg’s Morning Cup (E163) Subscribe to the weekly newsletter and be the first to know who upcoming guests are: http://eepurl.com/iGJzII My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions .