Meanwhile in Memphis with New Memphis

Memphis is made vibrant by its green spaces and the wildlife that inhabit them. Those spaces exist, and wildlife populations persist thanks in part to the organizations dedicated to protecting and preserving them, including today's guests from Ducks Unlimited and Wolf River Conservancy. From Ducks Unlimited's work conserving more than 20 million acres of waterfowl habitat across North America to Wolf River Conservancy's work planting more than 60,000 trees and protecting upwards of 20,000 acres of land, there's a lot to unpack in today's conversation. Joining us from Ducks Unlimited is Chief Operating Officer Karen Waldrop, and joining from Wolf River Conservancy is Chief Conservation Officer Ryan Hall.

A proven model of success is helping students in Memphis persist to graduation and launch careers in the Mid-South thanks to an impact-driven collaboration between tnAchieves and MDRC. Listen in to learn how a state-wide program is taking a tailored approach to help students in Memphis succeed!
Guests:

Krissy DeAlejandro (tnAchieves)

Sonia Drohojowska (MDRC).

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

tnAchieves

MDRC

MEMcomplete

MDRC Post Secondary focus

Tennessee Promise

Slingshot Memphis

MEMworks

Southwest Tennessee Community College

Previous Meanwhile in Memphis episodes on related topics can be found here , here , here , here , and here

This episode is made possible in partnership with Independent Bank.

Whether it's Giving Tuesday or just a regular Tuesday, nonprofits play a vital role in the Memphis community. The 901 is repeatedly ranked as one of the most philanthropic cities in the U.S., but is everyone clear on what a nonprofit is? Why do they matter? This conversation covers the fundamentals of nonprofits: What makes these organizations unique? Who governs them? How do they operate? We’re getting answers to all of these questions and more with Tennessee Nonprofit Network's Kevin Dean.
This episode originally aired on December 4, 2024.
Resources mentioned in this episode include:

Tennessee Nonprofit Network

"I was told there would be snacks..." A Nonprofit Podcast

Hope House

Literacy Midsouth

National Council of Nonprofits

University of Memphis' Institute for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership

CARES Act 2020

Memphis Zoo

Arrow Creative

Hattiloo Theatre

Children's Museum of Memphis

LiveGive MidSouth

Community Foundation

Volunteer Odyssey

New Memphis activation work

This episode is made possible in partnership with Independent Bank.

The challenges of daily life aren't organized by a single department or eligibility category, so it stands to reason that the resources shouldn't be siloed either. Today's conversation digs into a statewide initiative to create an easily accessible solution for Tennesseans. Here to share more about the Human Flourishing Initiative are David Jordan and Jeff Piker.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

Agape Memphis

Restore Hope

Human Flourishing Initiative

Science of Hope

Powerlines Community Network

HopeHub

The Tennessee Governor's Faith-Based and Community Initiative

Tennessee Division of Labor and Workforce Development

Memphis Leaders Unite Around New Human Flourishing Initiative

Memphis Hope Summit

One By One Ministries

Porter Leath

Hope Research Center at University of Oklahoma

This episode is made possible in partnership with Independent Bank.

Renowned as the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll and home to blues, soul, and hip-hop icons, Memphis’s role in global music influence is undeniable. The music ecosystem in Memphis contributes significantly to the local economy — to the tune of $720+ million. Beyond the economic impact of the ecosystem itself, music has the power to be a significant source of social and cultural value.

As decades change and musical tastes shift, some are left asking what the future holds for this music city. Today’s conversation will feature music industry giants sharing how leaders are ensuring the industry is thriving for both artists and the city’s economy,

This conversation originally took place as a live event on June 18, 2026, as part of New Memphis’ Celebrate What’s Right series and was made possible by Tennessee Valley Authority and Kroger.

Today’s conversation features Jared "Jay B." Boyd of WYXR as moderator, and the panelists are:

Elizabeth Cawein I Music Export Memphis

Nykesha Cole I City of Memphis - Office of Creative & Cultural Economy

Boo Mitchell | Royal Studios

Brandon Seavers | Memphis Record Pressing

Gebre Waddell I Sound Credit

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

WYXR

The City of Memphis - Office of Creative and Cultural Economy

Memphis Record Pressing

Sound Credit

Royal Studios

Music Export Memphis

Music Ecosystem Fund

Code Crew

Previous episodes relating to the content featured in this conversation include: S5E51 , S5E46 , S5E33 , S5E16

J Brooks Coffee

Willie Mitchell

Americana Fest

Sam Phillips Studio

UNAPOLOGETIC. Studio

Memphis Magnetic Studio

Memphis Grammy Chapter

Hernando's Hideaway

Minglewood Hall

MEM's Merchandise Fund

The Levitt Foundation

Grind City Amp

Joe's Records in Wolfchase Galleria

This episode is made possible in partnership with Independent Bank.