My Morning Cup

Hosted by Costa Media Advisors

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Episodes

190

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

September 14, 2026Episode 19254 min

E192 - Eleanor Cooper's Morning Cup

Eleanor Cooper was a driving force for Chattanooga Venture and Vision 2000, laying the groundwork for our city’s renaissance. In this episode, Eleanor shares why her search for "what's worth learning" led her to Japan, how a B.B. King concert showed her that Chattanooga was ready to change, and what it looked like from the inside as the city reinvented itself. Eleanor Cooper is an educator. You can learn more about her on her website, https://eleanormccalliecooper.com/about-eleanor/ If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like: Bob Corker’s Morning Cup (E52) Stephen Culp’s Morning Cup (E134) Maury Nicely’s Morning Cup (E150) 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 .

September 7, 2026Episode 19157 min

E191 - Adam Kinsey's Morning Cup

Adam Kinsey has always had a knack for seeing what a place could become (often long before anyone else does). In this episode, Adam shares how driving past construction sites as a kid shaped the way he sees a city, how Track 29 helped put Chattanooga on the map for touring musicians who used to skip right past us, and what it takes to breathe new life into a property as storied as the Chattanooga Choo Choo. Adam Kinsey is the President of The Kinsey Company and Partner of Kinsey Probasco Hays. You can connect with him on LinkedIn ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-kinsey-4741a967/ ). If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like: Andy Wood’s Morning Cup (E124) Lucy Rymer’s Morning Cup (E155) Barry Courter’s Morning Cup (E165) 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 31, 2026Episode 19058 min

E190 - Shannon Burger’s Morning Cup

Shannon Burger has been a K9 handler, a CPA, a firefighter, an entrepreneur, and now: CEO of one of Chattanooga’s fastest growing healthcare organizations. In this episode, Shannon shares how bracelets and bubblegum were the first signs of an entrepreneurial mind, what working nights as a firefighter taught her about public service and teamwork, and how Cempa has evolved over the past decade to meet the changing needs of our community. Shannon Burger is the CEO of Cempa Community Care. You can connect with her on LinkedIn ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-burger-dsc-mba-cpa-55b8391a/ ). If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like: Emily Mack’s Morning Cup (E83) April Cameron’s Morning Cup (E146) Cindy Lee’s Morning Cup (E185) 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 24, 2026Episode 18959 min

E189 - Chip Baker’s Morning Cup (Part 2)

Chip Baker is back for round two of My Morning Cup as he begins his third term as County Commissioner for District 2. In this episode, Chip shares why he gave up a fast-rising hospital career to stay in Chattanooga for good, how a knock on the door pulled him onto the school board and into a lifetime of public service, and why he refuses to accept that local politics has to be a slugfest. If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like his episode #4, his first appearance on the podcast! Chip Baker is the County Commissioner of District 2, and President of Baker Associates, an authorized licensee of Crestcom International. You can connect with him on LinkedIn ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/chip-baker-3768518/ ). 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 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 .