Middle Tennessee's best people won't tell you what they've done.
So we ask. You Matter Nashville is a podcast about the neighbors, founders, and volunteers quietly holding this community together, and every episode lets them tell it in their own words.
The newest conversation
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What is JUNKCO+ of Nashville, and how does it give back through junk removal?
Robert Sipp Built JUNKCO+ to Recycle, Donate, and Give Back
Robert Sipp spent 40 years in the junk and recycling business before opening JUNKCO+ of Nashville with his son Colton. They turn everyday cleanouts into a chance to recycle, donate, and keep usable goods out of the landfill.
Recent conversations
More neighbors worth meeting.
Community Impact Partner
Grant Burnside Built Superior Exteriors From $500 and Grit
1 hr 11 min
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Disability & Inclusion
How James Boehm Built You Cane Give After Losing His Sight
1 hr 18 min
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Addiction Recovery & Reentry
How the 21st District Recovery Court Rebuilds Lives
1 hr 4 min
Listen here →How every episode goes
We go to the person before we go to the work.
Most interviews start with the organization. We start with what moved somebody to build it in the first place, and three things happen in every single episode.
Where we start
"Before we talk about the organization, take us back to the beginning. What first stirred your heart toward this?"
The first real question is never about the organization. It gets asked a different way every time, and it is usually the moment a guest stops reciting and starts telling you something true.
The You Matter Five
Five quick ones, and one that lingers.
A habit that keeps them grounded. A book that shaped them. A lesson learned the hard way. Someone who made them feel seen in a hard season. And what You Matter means to them.
Community Quick Hit
One thing you can do this week.
Every episode ends with a small, human step a Middle Tennessee neighbor could actually take. Not a donate button on every page. One real next move that fits the story.
Your hosts
Jason and Mindy Hoover
We are a husband and wife in Middle Tennessee who kept meeting people doing remarkable things quietly, with no interest in being noticed for it. So we bought a couple of microphones and started asking them about it.
We are not journalists and we are not fundraisers. We are neighbors with a podcast, and the light always goes on the guest.
Thank you for listening, friends. Until next time, always remember that You Matter.
How every episode ends
What holds it together
Three things sit under every story we tell.
Love
Love is where everything begins. Every person in Middle Tennessee deserves to be seen, valued, and heard. It shows up in quiet acts of service, in businesses that give back, and in nonprofits serving with compassion. When people feel valued, they step forward.
Hope
Hope is the heartbeat of every story we share. Many of the people we feature walked through something hard and chose to build something better on the other side. Shining a light on that helps somebody else believe their own effort matters too.
Community
Community is more than geography. It is neighbors serving neighbors, nonprofits meeting real needs, and local leaders investing where they live. We stay close to Nashville and the surrounding counties because meaningful impact starts at home.
Questions we get
The short answers
What is You Matter Nashville?
You Matter Nashville is a podcast about people making a difference across Nashville and Middle Tennessee. We sit down with nonprofit founders, volunteers, business owners who give back, and neighbors doing quiet good, and we let them tell their own story.
Who hosts the show?
Jason and Mindy Hoover, a husband and wife in Middle Tennessee. Jason opens each episode and closes it with the show sign-off.
What kinds of guests are featured?
Nonprofit founders and staff, volunteers, advocates, educators, business owners who give back, and neighbors who saw a need and did something about it. Some run organizations you have heard of. Most do not.
Where can I listen?
Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Every episode is free, and the full show notes and transcript live here on the site.
How do I nominate a guest?
Use the nomination form on this site. Tell us who they are and what they are doing, and we will reach out to them.
Is the show affiliated with the organizations it features?
No. We are an independent interview and resource publisher, not the official source for any organization we feature. For current services, hours, eligibility, or donations, go to that organization's own site. We link it on every episode page.
Nominate a guest
Somebody you know should be on this show.
You already thought of them. The neighbor who shows up for everybody, the founder nobody has heard of, the volunteer who would never put their hand up. Tell us about them and we will reach out.