Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a podcast about business, parenting and living life intentionally. We're here every week to bring you intentional conversations on making your own path to success, challenging the status quo, and finding all the ways we're better. Recorded in Cookeville, TN, Kosta joins guests from all walks of life to bring fresh perspective and start your week with purpose. We're better together.
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Now or Never: Long-Term Care Strategy is a podcast for all those seeking answers and solutions in the long-term care space. Too often we don’t fully understand the necessity of care until it’s too late. This podcast is designed to create solutions, start conversations and bring awareness to the industry that will inevitably impact all Americans.
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We Work for Cats with Jennifer Hutchinson-Tracy
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Join Kosta and his guest: Jennifer Hutchinson-Tracy, Director of the Putnam County Animal Shelter. In this episode: Adopting a pet is a magical experience. What’s one of your favorite adoption stories from here in Putnam County? And what do we need to know about how to adopt our next furry friend? How many animals are currently at the Putnam County…
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All Politics Are Local with Senator Paul Bailey
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Join Kosta and his guest: Senator Paul Bailey, Tennessee State Senator, Representing the 15th District. In this episode: I know some people are listening and thinking, I know what a State Senator is - but I don’t actually know. Will you walk us through what you do at the Capitol and how the State Senate impacts our lives here in the Upper Cumberlan…
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Join Kosta and his guest: Amy McBroom (Stockwell), Director of The Upper Cumberland Family Justice Center. In this episode: It’s almost the holidays, it’s an election year, and we’re feeling stress from every angle right now. I read something really devastating on your Facebook that sometimes people feel like they have to wait until after holidays …
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Life on Life's Terms with Matt Collins
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This episode contains themes that may be distressing to some listeners: including child loss, death, extreme weather events and other content that is not intended for children. We understand if this episode is too overwhelming for you to listen to at this time. We hope all our audience will read the Collin's Family Story and consider making a donat…
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How to Win Your Costume Contest with Amy Ing
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Join Kosta and his guest: Amy Ing, Owner of Spotlight Costumes. In this episode: Collectively we spend a pretty penny on Halloween, in America alone we spent 12.2 billion dollars in 2024. So, how does renting a costume from you compare to buying a costume online or at a big box store? Because after you buy the costume, wig, shoes, and accessories, …
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Enter If You Dare with Carroll Moore and Erica McElroy
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Join Kosta and his guests: Carroll Moore and Erica McElroy, Owners of Halloween Hollow Haunted House. In this episode: Visiting a haunted house or haunted corn maze at Halloween is nothing new, but Halloween Hollow provides a multi-event experience. Will you talk about what it’s like to visit the haunt and what makes Halloween Hollow different? I l…
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Join Kosta and his guest: Eddie Walker, Magic: The Gathering community organizer and Manager of Knighthood Games. In this episode: To be totally honest with you, we’re sailing in uncharted territory. I’d venture to guess most of our audience (and myself) have very limited knowledge on games like Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons and Dragons. So let…
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A Midsemester Night's Dream with Mark Creter
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Join Kosta and his guest: Mark Creter, Professor of Theatre for the School of Music at Tennessee Technological University. Proudly serving as the artistic director of the campus theatre, the Backdoor Playhouse from 1992-2024, for the past 30-years Mark's dedicated his life to the development, expansion and betterment of the performing arts at Tenne…
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The Missing Link with Kathryn Wisinger
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Join Kosta and his guest: Kathryn Wisinger, Director of the Putnam County Library. In this episode: In this community we’re lucky to have the partnership of local government, education, public resources like the library, non-profit resources like Plenty Book Store and countless businesses and community members working to improve the “book culture” …
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The Memes That Made Us with Ryan Risher
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Join Kosta and his guest: Ryan Risher, Realtor at Skender-Newton Realty representing The Risher Team. Like the rest of Tennessee we love following Ryan you on social media. Whether it’s ghost stories, memes about Cookeville or just sharing funny things that happen with your family, he always know exactly the content we want to see. In this episode …
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We're Going to the Olympics with Emily Armstrong
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Join Kosta and his guest: Emily Armstrong, Graduate Student at TN Tech and photographer. A note for everyone listening to this episode, we’ll be exclusively talking about Emily’s trip to the 2024 Paris Olympics where she photographed the games’ archery competitions. She is an incredibly talented photographer and creator, so we hope you’ll look at h…
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Sheer Determination and Willpower with Téa Phillips
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Join Kosta and his guest: Téa Phillips. CEO of ATS Innovations Inc., and inventor of MetaFlex Gloves. In this episode: Roughly 20% of adults in America are living with an Arthritis diagnosis. When we lose the ability to grip or use our hands as we normally would, with conditions like Arthritis our life changes completely. For almost the past decade…
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Join Kosta and his guest: Tyler Buck, Owner of Baskin Robbins Cookeville, and coming this fall, Baskin Robbins Algood. Tyler is the youngest Baskin Robbin's franchise owner in the company's history. In this episode: Our Baskin Robbins isn’t just in the community, it’s part of the community and that’s something you’ve championed since buying the sto…
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How Kosta Got Hacked with Dr. Muhammad Ismail
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PSA: If you get a random Dropbox Link from Kosta, please don't open it! 😬 Join Kosta and his guest: Dr. Muhammad Ismail Director of CEROC and Associate Professor of Computer Science at Tennessee Tech University. In this episode: This goes without saying, but we use the internet for everything. Even my washer and dryer are hooked up to Wi-Fi. That b…
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Life is Like a Box of... Algae?? with Dr. Mark Green
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Join Kosta and his guest: Dr. Mark Green, educator, community organizer and actor. Currently Dr. Green is a professor of biology at Tennessee Tech University and Vol State Community College where he facilitates a campus community garden and non-credit based outdoor series open to all adventurers of the Upper Cumberland. In this episode: The first t…
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We Met the Tooth Fairy with Dr. Landon Sears
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Join Kosta and his guest: Dr. Landon Sears, Pediatric Dentist and Founder of Cavity Commando's Dentistry for Kids. In this episode: For parents who are thinking about where to take their kids to the dentist, is there a difference between pediatric dentistry and going to a normal dentist? As a parent you might think, okay my kids are going to lose t…
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Know Better Do Better with Jason McCormick
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Join Kosta and his guest: Jason McCormick, Director of Liquidations at Northstar Recycling Company, and former owner of R-Cubed. In this episode: The average American creates and discards roughly 5 pounds of trash per day. As someone that’s been at the forefront of recycling and circularity for the past 15 years, what do you think is the most misun…
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Join Kosta and his guest: Mitchell White, celebrated artist, designer, and educator. In this episode: Whether it’s through painting, floral design, events or educating others - your creativity and passion for art is larger than life and larger than you. You build a community everywhere you go, and that’s the throughline of this entire episode. What…
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Our Why Starts at The Y with Mandy Perhay
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Join Kosta and his guest: Mandy Perhay, CEO of Putnam County Family YMCA. In this episode: What does our YMCA offer our community that no other facility or organization can? There are over 4,600 members at our YMCA and whether you’re 8 or 88 there’s something for everyone. Unlike most gyms, we’re encouraged to bring our kids to the Y. How does havi…
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Join Kosta and his guest: Cyril Focht, 2024 House of Representatives Candidate for Tennessee’s 6th District . In this episode: There are currently 3 candidates for the Democratic Primary of this seat including you, Lore Bergman and Clay Faircloth. Of the three, you’re the only candidate to raise campaign contributions with just under $55,000.00. Be…
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Ahead of the Curve with Blakelee Paige Smith
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Join Kosta and his guest: Blakelee Paige Smith, MSN, APRN, AGPCNP-BC, NP-C, Owner and Founder of Skin and Aesthetics. Skin and Aesthetics was created to provide the highest quality and excellence in aesthetic dermatology to the Upper Cumberland. What started as a dream in 2019 became reality in 2023 when Skin and Aesthetics opened in Cookeville’s o…
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The Business of Beauty with Mike Franklin
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Join Kosta and his guest: Mike Franklin, Co-Founder and Owner of Aspire Barber and Beauty Academy, and Owner of Cookeville’s newest luxury salon Wild Honey Beauty Co. In this episode: After over a decade of being Cookeville’s beauty destination, this summer Loxx Salon and Spa is closing. As a business owner, how did you know it was time to move on?…
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How the Internet Works with Jonathan West
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Join Kosta and his guest: Jonathan West, CEO of Twin Lakes Telephone Cooperative. In this episode: For those of us who don’t really understand how the internet works or how it’s changed over the last - let’s say 20 years - what’s fiber internet? What’s broadband? How do you know what kind of internet is right for you? How can access to broadband ch…
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Join Kosta and his guest Jennifer Gray, Autism Advocate, Mother of Cookeville Lifestyle’s Cover Thomas Golz and Co-Founder of Small World Dioramas. Find this issue of Cookeville Lifestyles Magazine: https://cookevillelifestyles.com/find-the-magazine/ In this episode: How it felt for Jennifer and Thomas to share their story with Cookeville and beyon…
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🌈 Happy Pride Month! Y'all means ALL, and no matter what month it is, we're proud to represent all the people who make our community better when we're together. Join Kosta and his guest: Katie Love, honored Upper Cumberland Pride Royalty, Queen 2019 and 2015, Miss RoadHouse 2017 and Miss Gay East Tennessee America 2013, Katie’s work in entertainmen…
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Join Kosta and his guest: Holly Williams, Director of Area Agency on Aging and Disability at Upper Cumberland Development District. Roughly 14,000 Putnam County residents are over the age of 65. That’s approximately 17% of our population. In this episode: What opportunities and advantages do we have in the Upper Cumberland for this age group that m…
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Evidence Based with Dr. Elizabeth Lisic
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Join Kosta and his guest: Dr. Elizabeth Lisic, Assistant Director of BIRCH Professional Learning Center at Branch Alliance for Educator Diversity. In addition to her achievements in research and development in education, Dr. Lisic is the proud Mother of actors: Elle Lisic and Evan Lisic. In this episode: You have over a decade of experience in prof…
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Audition! Audition! Audition! with Kathleen Gilpatrick
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Join Kosta and his guest: Kathleen Gilpatrick, Co-Founder and President of Cookeville Theatre Company, Owner of Out On A Limb Productions and celebrated director, producer, writer and actor. Find out more about Cookeville Theatre Company: https://cookevilletheatreco.org/ Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media a…
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To Live By the Girl Scout Law with Danielle Barnes
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Join Kosta and his guest: Danielle Barnes, CEO/President of the Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee. In this episode: The world is changing and Girl Scouts is changing with it. Will you talk about a few of the ways Girls Scouts has evolved since our listeners were active members? In less populated and underserved areas of Tennessee, access to programs …
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Join Kosta and his guest: Katelyn Dunn, Fibers Artist and owner of Dunn Spunn Studio. Find out more about Dunn Spunn Studio: https://dunnspunn.wixsite.com/home https://www.facebook.com/dunnspunn/ Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN. This episode of Better Together with Kosta Ye…
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Join Kosta and his guest: Shaquawana Wester, Philanthropist, Community Organizer and Empower Community Engagement Coordinator with UCHRA. Find out more about Empower Upper Cumberland: https://empoweruppercumberland.org/ Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN. This episode of Bette…
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Rediscover George Halford with George Halford
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Join Kosta and his guest: George Halford, former President and CEO of Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce. In December of 2019 George retired from the Chamber and a near 50 year career in community development. Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN. This episode of Bette…
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Join Kosta and his guest: Rafferty Cleary, Cultural Administrator for the Town of Monterey, Host, Producer and champion of development and tourism in the Upper Cumberland. Find out more about visiting Monterey, TN: https://www.exploremontereytn.com/ Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookevi…
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The Word with Christopher McMichael
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Join Kosta and his guest: Christopher McMichael, Author, Publisher and Pastor of Engrafted Word Church. Find out more information about Engrafted Word Church: https://engraftedword.org/ Redemptive Botany of the Bible: https://petrapress.com/product/redemptive-botany-of-bible/ Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Me…
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Join Kosta and his guest: Lisa Garcia, Owner of Cleanse Wellness Spa, National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, National Board Credentialed Colon Hydrotherapist and a Certified Electro Lymphatic Therapist from California Coastal Cleansing Institute in San Diego. In this episode: More than 80% of our immune system is in the gut, and when y…
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Where Your Food Comes From with Craig Pyle
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Join Kosta and his guest: Craig Pyle, Owner and Farmer of Hidden Holly Farm, a 125-acre farm located in Monterey Tennessee focused on raising animals naturally, humanely and sustainably. In this episode: Food costs are up almost 30% in the past 10 years. How can we bridge the gap to provide access to quality, all-natural food while acknowledging th…
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Helping Hands with Rebecca Duncan
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Join Kosta and his guest: Rebecca Duncan, Director at Helping Hands of Putnam County. In this episode: One of the biggest misconceptions about poverty in our area is that welfare primarily goes to people who are not working. When in reality, the problem isn’t that people aren’t working, it's that our employers aren’t paying enough. Will you tell us…
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Your Favorite Episode with Morgan Franklin
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Join Kosta and his guest: Morgan Franklin, Owner and Founder of Morgan Franklin Media, Podcast Producer, Strategist and Educator. Featured on Good Morning America, Martha Stewart Living, Style Me Pretty, The Knot Magazine and countless other publications, Morgan’s work as a podcaster, creative and brand manager spans over a decade and is just getti…
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Join Kosta and his guest: Melissa Ellis, professional performer, jazz musician The Southern Spitfire, owner and founder of The Autumn Agency, music coach and talent buyer. In this episode: What do you think should be the first major goal or objective of an up-and-coming artist? We can only eat the elephant one bite at a time, so what are the first …
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My Ancestors' Wildest Dreams with Lori Strode
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Join Kosta and his guest: Lori Jackson-Strode, Counselor, Real Estate Agent, Cookeville Theatre Company Board Member, and 'I Am My Ancestors Wildest Dream' Co-Creator, Producer and Director. In this episode: We're celebrating Black History Month and talking about what it's like to be black and grow up in Middle Tennessee. What racial equality looks…
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Join Kosta and his guest: Tess Mann, Owner of Couture by Tess Bridal and Designer of Tess Mann Haute Couture. In this episode: Your achievements as a designer, and bridal stylist would take most of us a lifetime to accomplish. But I find one of the most intriguing parts of your story is that you spent an entire career in Federal Law Enforcement bef…
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How Our Election Commission Works with Michele Honeycutt
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Join Kosta and his guest: Michele Honeycutt, Election Commission Administrator for Putnam County Election Commission. In this episode: Generally speaking, across the United States, over the past decade the accuracy and legitimacy of our elections has become a point of concern for many. As someone that sees every aspect of our elections, what’s your…
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Join Kosta and his guest: Matt Billings, Economic Development and Grants Coordinator for the City of Cookeville. In this episode: For Millennials and Gen Z there’s been a great effort to advocate on our behalf to participate in public service, run for office and take leadership, but the problem remains that so far not many Baby Boomers and Gen X ar…
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Join Kosta and his guest: Bridgett Jones, Co-Founder and Owner of Mill Creek Farm. In this episode: How is Mill Creek Farm bringing a fresh take on agritourism and bringing our community back to the farms that started it all? You didn’t just create a destination for guests to visit cattle, you created an experience for guests to become part of the …
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Join Kosta and his guest: Kevin Maxwell, Engineer, Entrepreneur and Owner of 37 Cedar Restaurant and Bar. In this episode: At the last Cookeville City Council Meeting on December 21, City Manager James Mills brought forth an ordinance that prohibits the sale and consumption of alcohol at public parks, on municipal grounds, streets and sidewalks. Ev…
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Join Kosta and his guest: Jamie Lankford, Owner and Founder of Jamie’s Eats and Sweets. In this episode: We know you as Jamie from Jamie’s Eats and Sweets. Although, just 3 short years ago, this was just a dream getting cooked up in your kitchen. How did you scale this business so quickly? Your Mom was a Pampered Chef Consultant and you grew up wat…
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Join Kosta and his guest: Wesley Adkins, Principal Auctioneer for Highland Elite Auction, Affiliate Broker and Real Estate Agent at Highlands Elite Real Estate and General Manager of Cookeville Panera Bread. Wesley is a Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce Ambassador, member of the Cookeville Jaycees, regular volunteer for Upper Cumberland …
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What is Adult Foster Care? with Jim Bourke
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Join Kosta and his guest: Jim Bourke, Director of Adult Foster Care Services at Home Caregivers. In this episode: What is adult foster care? What kinds of families or individuals are you looking for to become adult foster parents? What kind of compensation can a family expect? Does the compensation vary? Does this cover the cost of living for the i…
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If You Went Missing with Todd Matthews
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Join Kosta and his guest: Todd Matthews, one of the leading voices in the true crime community, a pioneer of the amateur sleuthing, an architect of that community’s online presence as well as the US government programs to identify missing and unidentified persons (NAMUS), Executive Director of The Doe Network and a sought-after speaker and consulta…
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How to Access Veteran Care Benefits with John Mozdzien
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Join Kosta and his guest: John Mozdzien, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Veterans First. Aging veterans and their families often face unique challenges, and it can be difficult trying to maintain a level of independence. That’s why Veterans First works to provide veterans and their families the support they need for independent living at home.…
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