Meanwhile in Memphis with New Memphis

From economic lifts to culture and connection, Downtown is a vital piece of the Memphis ecosystem. Chandell Ryan, President and CEO of the Downtown Memphis Commission, discusses what it means to shape and share a vibrant vision for Downtown. This episode first aired on September 23, 2025 (S5E38).

References mentioned in this episode include:

Downtown Memphis Commission

State of Downtown (2025)

Previous episodes featuring Downtown Memphis commission can be found here , here , here , and here

Downtown Retail Tenant Improvement (TI) Grant

Central Business Improvement District

Downtown Connect

BuildDowntown is a master plan to help determine how Downtown Memphis will grow, evolve, and improve over the next 10 years

Beale Street

Daily Memphian

WKNO

Behind the Headlines with Chandell Ryan

Block By Block Downtown Memphis Commission

Downtown Memphis Commission announces new partnership to improve service efficiency

Hyde Family Foundation

All aboard!—Trolley buses will be returning to Downtown Memphis

Open on Main program

River City Records

Sterick Building

100 North Main

The Sheraton

Downtown Memphis Instagram

Downtown Memphis Commission newsletter

Alley Dayz

National Civil Rights Museum

Memphis Art Museum

DMC's Parking Map

Hotel Pontotoc

This episode is made possible in partnership with Independent Bank.

Memphis is a city teeming with talent, and one of the city's largest employers is working to keep that talent here through innovative partnerships. Explore how Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW) is taking a meaningful, measurable, and memorable approach to connect high school students with career pathways, and hear why they see it as a smart business decision to keep them growing and keep them in Memphis with guests Timothy Davis and Kenneth Culp.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

Memphis Light Gas and Water (MLGW)

MLGW History

Career pathways at MLGW

Student programs at MLGW

MLGW resources

MLGW Customer Service Career Academy

MLGW Workforce Community Partners

Previous conversation with Southwest Tennessee Community College

This episode is made possible in partnership with Independent Bank.

Explore how one organization's transportation model in Memphis is going the extra mile to make transportation reliable and affordable while also investing in workforce development. Guests today are David Short and Ben Walsh from My City Rides.

Resources mentioned in this conversation include:

My City Rides

Boys and Girls Club of Memphis

Bird Scooter

Vespa

RISE Memphis

Hope Works

Rhodes College

This episode is made possible in partnership with Independent Bank.

Hear from real leaders making a real impact in Memphis on the Meanwhile in Memphis podcast! Join the hosts at New Memphis for a weekly window into what makes Memphis a vibrant place to live, work, and play.

In this episode, New Memphis shares the mic with a special guest host — City of Memphis Mayor Paul Young — to explore how the city’s approach fighting blight is increasing safety and shaping civic pride.

Guests:

Karen Gause | City of Memphis

Melanie Neal | City of Memphis

Meanwhile in Memphis is produced by New Memphis and is powered by iBank.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

City of Memphis

City of Memphis' blight resources

City program pays citizens to tackle blight on Memphis streets
(WREG)

Historic Melrose

Code Enforcement

City of Memphis 311


Division of Community Enhancement

Lamar Ave. Corridor

Blight Zero initiative

This year marks huge milestones for arts and culture institutions across the city of Memphis. There are also new opportunities to get involved in all things creative. Josh Campbell of the Spillit True Story Film Festival and Noah Glenn of the Like You Film Club and Festival share the importance of film as an artistic medium as well as the impact of the shared experience film-viewing offers.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

Spillit Memphis

Spillit True Story Film Festival

Like You Film Club

Like You Film Festival

Butterfly in the Sky documentary

Indie Memphis

Tennessee Innocence Project

Previous episodes that cover similar topics can be found
here
and
here

Like You

podcast

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This episode is made possible in partnership with Independent Bank.