Location manager Wendall Hinkle pulls back the curtain on how major productions like Superman, Nashville, and 9-1-1 Nashville find and transform real places into the backdrops of our favorite shows. From knocking on doors in neighborhoods to shutting down bridges for rescue scenes, Wendall reveals the logistics, relationships, and grit required to bring scripts to life in Tennessee's booming film industry.

At the Creative Discovery Museum in Chattanooga, learning looks a lot like play, and play is serious work. From the center of the museum’s atrium, Mackenzie Steele, Director of Marketing and Communications, shares how one of Tennessee’s most beloved children’s museums has spent 30 years helping families learn together through hands-on experiences, creativity, and curiosity. The conversation explores what makes Creative Discovery Museum uniquely place-based, how its exhibits reflect Chattanooga’s culture and growth, and why children’s museums are a powerful indicator of a healthy community.

Signature Required sits down with Vernon Shaw, Manager of Donor Relationships for Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, for a conversation about food insecurity, community care, and the complexity behind feeding thousands of families across the region. What many people think of as simply “passing out food” is actually a massive operation involving logistics, nutrition, volunteers, partner agencies, and strategic support across 46 counties in Middle and West Tennessee.

Signature Required sits down with Scott Peck, Executive Chef of Loveless Cafe, for a conversation about Southern cooking, culinary leadership, and what it takes to steward one of Tennessee’s most iconic restaurants. From biscuits and fried chicken to cast iron, kitchen culture, and the tension between tradition and innovation, Scott shares his journey from a nervous first interview to leading a Nashville institution. As Loveless celebrates 75 years, the episode explores the craftsmanship behind its famous food, the business discipline required to sustain a beloved brand, and the hospitality that keeps people coming back generation after generation.

Jack Daniel’s is one of the most recognizable brands in the world, but its story is deeply rooted in a small Tennessee town, generations of family legacy, and an uncompromising commitment to doing things the right way. From the Bethel House at the entrance of the Lynchburg distillery, Chris Fletcher, Vice President, Master Distiller, and Director of Distillery Operations, shares what it really means to steward a brand that produces every drop of its whiskey in Moore County, one of the smallest counties in Tennessee. The conversation explores how Jack Daniel’s balances tradition and innovation, why Tennessee whiskey is different, and how quality and consistency have carried the brand across nearly 160 years.

Signature Required sits down with CJ Centel, CEO of the Nashville Food Project, to explore food insecurity from a community and systems perspective. The conversation goes beyond emergency food aid to examine why hunger exists, how food deserts and food swamps shape neighborhoods, and what it takes to build long-term access to nutritious food.

Dr. Leah Melber is the President & CEO of Adventure Science Center in Nashville, where she leads efforts to advance equity, foster innovation, and expand community engagement through immersive STEM learning experiences that inspire curiosity across all ages.

Stacey Nickens is the Vice President of Corporate Communications and Marketing at the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, where she leads corporate messaging, media relations, crisis communications, and customer experience initiatives to strengthen engagement with travelers and the broader community.

Sheila Noone has served as the Communications Manager at the Museum of Science & History (MoSH) in Memphis for nearly five years, helping guide one of the city’s most historic institutions through a time of significant change and renewed purpose.

Thom Demas is the Vice President and Chief Husbandry & Exhibits Officer at the Tennessee Aquarium, where he leads animal care, conservation initiatives, and the creation of engaging exhibits that connect visitors to the natural world.

Andy Holt serves as Deputy Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, overseeing operations, policy, and statewide programs supporting food safety, animal and plant health, consumer protection, forestry, and agricultural development.

Sean Phipps serves as Director of Marketing for Chattanooga Tourism Co., leading storytelling, media relations, and strategic communications that elevate Chattanooga’s national profile and drive tourism-driven economic impact.

Rachel Guymon is the Director of Special Events for the Tennessee Titans, where she orchestrates high-impact events and corporate partnerships at Nissan Stadium. In this episode, Rachel opens up about her role in transforming the stadium into a year-round entertainment destination and what fans can expect from the upcoming, state-of-the-art stadium set to debut in 2027.

Heather Middleton is the Chief Marketing Officer for Visit Music City. Throughout the conversation, Heather shares insights into Nashville's booming tourism industry, touching upon the economic impact of visitors, including astonishing stats like the $29 million spent daily in Nashville.

Chris and Elaine Whitney, founders of One Generation Away, join Spencer and Carli to discuss their nonprofit food ministry that began out of the back of a Hyundai Santa Fe and now distributes millions of pounds of food annually. With a mission to bring hope, honor, and dignity through food, the Whitney’s share their deeply personal journey from facing food insecurity themselves to creating a logistics-driven solution that serves thousands across multiple states. In this inspiring episode, they discuss the faces of hunger, the power of collaboration among nonprofits, and their innovative approach to rescuing and delivering food same-day.

Kelly Magill, a eighth-generation Tennessean and founder of a video production company, sits down with Spencer and Carli to share the remarkable story behind her upcoming documentary on the Tennessee maneuvers during World War II. Inspired by her grandmother’s memoirs, Kelly discusses how these forgotten military exercises helped prepare soldiers for D-Day and shaped the Allied victory. She delves into the emotional journey of interviewing the last living participants and highlights the significance of preserving these untold stories. With major platforms and prominent narrators showing interest, Kelly’s documentary promises to be a powerful reflection on history, legacy, and the vital contributions of Tennesseans in uncovering the past.

Charles Hatcher, a sixth-generation farmer at Hatcher Family Dairy, shares the remarkable legacy of his family's 200-year-old farm in Williamson County, Tennessee. In this episode, Charles delves into the challenges and joys of modern farming, from running a fully integrated dairy operation to the alarming loss of farmland across the state. Passionate about inspiring the next generation of farmers, Charles highlights how his family has embraced cutting-edge technology to remain viable in an industry where the average farmer is nearing 60 years old. He also discusses the impact of the Hatcher family's appearance on National Geographic's docuseries and their mission to maintain their land despite pressures from development. Get an inside look at the future of farming in Tennessee and the importance of agricultural sustainability in a changing world.

Jennifer Turner joined TPAC in 2019, bringing over 20 years of nonprofit arts experience to the role of President and CEO. In her five years, she's guided TPAC through the pandemic, an aging facility, and a business model re-evaluation. In this episode, she shares her journey to becoming CEO, TPAC's developments, outreach and upcoming touring broadway shows.