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PODCAST

My Morning Cup

Costa Media Advisors

A Chattanooga podcast exploring what makes a happy, successful life through conversations with local entrepreneurs, business leaders, and professionals. Each episode goes beyond career achievements to uncover the challenges, life lessons, and daily habits that shape fulfilling lives. Discover how Chattanooga"s most accomplished people start their day, and what"s really in their morning cup.

business careers

All Episodes

62:40

E164 - Coty Wamp’s Morning Cup

My Morning Cup ·

2026/03/02

DA Coty Wamp’s career might be best described as a mix of gut, grit, and support. In this episode, Coty shares how a high school mentor inspired her to pursue law school, how she “hit the reset button” and found her true calling, and what it was like running for office at the same time as her brother - County Mayor Weston Wamp. Coty Wamp is the District Attorney General for the 11th District, which serves Hamilton County. You can connect with her on LinkedIn

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55:38

E163 - Janet Rehberg’s Morning Cup

My Morning Cup ·

2026/02/23

Janet Rehberg has led investor-owned utilities and co-ops, and now she's taking the helm at Chattanooga's pioneering municipal utility: EPB.In this episode, Janet shares how her dad's modern mindset helped her excel in a male-dominated field, what it was like leading through Texas's catastrophic 2021 winter storm, and why EPB is pioneering quantum computing (and what it means for Chattanooga's future). Janet Rehberg is the President and CEO-Elect of EPB. You can connect with her on LinkedIn

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64:17

E162 - Jeff Styles's Morning Cup

My Morning Cup ·

2026/02/16

Jeff Styles spent nearly 30 years as a talk radio personality in Chattanooga, known for challenging power, stirring debate, and trusting his audience to think for themselves.In this episode, Jeff shares how adrenaline-fueled hobbies were more valuable to his career than work experience, why a detour into advertising solidified his talk radio career, and what it was like to hold influence in a city where words carried real consequences - like getting arrested on-air for littering. If you like this

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56:19

E161 - Dr. Marilyn Helms and Dr. Deborah Arfken’s...

My Morning Cup ·

2026/02/09

Dr. Marilyn Helms and Dr. Deborah Arfken are two long-time educators whose careers were shaped as much by chance as by choice. In this episode, Marilyn and Deborah share how they were both thrown into teaching careers, how a chance meeting on university committees in the late ’80s turned into a long-running research partnership, and why it’s “publish or perish” in the academic world. Dr. Deborah Arfken is the Professor Emerita of Political Science and Public Service at the University of Tennessee

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60:53

E160 - Mike Harrell's Morning Cup

My Morning Cup ·

2026/02/02

From constant moves as a kid to navigating multiple industries and unexpected career turns, Mike Harrell learned early that adaptability isn't optional. In this episode, Mike shares how being transparent about company financials changed the way his teams understood their impact, how he learned to redefine what success actually means, and why he believes everyone should get fired at least once. Mike Harrell is the CEO and Principal Business Advisor of Latitude Advisors. You can connect with him on

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53:49

E159 - Hamp Johnston and Camille Daniel's Morning Cup

My Morning Cup ·

2026/01/26

From their first jobs at Rock City to co-founding RockPoint Bank, Hamp Johnston and Camille Daniel have come a long way.In this episode, Hamp and Camille share what it actually takes to start a bank from scratch, what they learned raising capital and opening during a pandemic, and what's possible when a bank's decision-makers are based right here in Chattanooga. Hamp Johnston is the President & CEO of RockPoint Bank and you can connect with him on LinkedIn

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63:53

E158 - Dr. Lori Mann-Bruce's Morning Cup

My Morning Cup ·

2026/01/19

Dr. Lori Mann-Bruce grew up on a working cattle farm and was never allowed to be bored.In this episode, Dr. Bruce shares why her family would read the encyclopedia at dinner every day, how 4H played a huge role in her personal and professional development, and what it’s like coming to Chattanooga (specifically UTC) when it’s at an inflection point. Dr. Lori Mann-Bruce is the Chancellor of the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga. You can connect with her on LinkedIn

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41:14

E156 - 3 Years of My Morning Cup

My Morning Cup ·

2026/01/05

To celebrate the third anniversary of the podcast, I bring back my good friends Chip Baker and Roy Vaughn to continue the tradition of an annual wrap-up episode. We look back on the guests and moments that stood out, what made certain conversations resonate, and how the show has evolved over time. Along the way, the conversation touches on community in Chattanooga, personal milestones, and what’s ahead for the podcast in 2026. Subscribe to the weekly newsletter and be the first to know who upcoming

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64:09

E151 - Troy Kemp's Morning Cup

My Morning Cup ·

2025/12/01

Troy Kemp planned to teach for only two years, but has dedicated his life to being a “hope dealer” for young boys and their families.In this episode, he shares why he turned down lucrative job offers to “feed his soul,” how leaving the classroom allowed him to multiply his impact, and how every chapter of his life has added a tool to the toolbox he now uses to rebuild trust at Chatt Prep. Troy Kemp is the CEO of Prep Public Schools, a network of all-boys public charter schools. You can connect with

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56:51

E150 - Maury Nicely’s Morning Cup

My Morning Cup ·

2025/11/24

Maury Nicely wasn't planning on becoming a lawyer when he went to law school, but three decades later, he's built a thriving practice and become one of Chattanooga's most passionate historians.In this episode, Maury shares what he learned working both sides of the table as a law firm attorney and in-house counsel, why leaving a stable corporate job to start a law firm with partners during a recession was the best risk he ever took, and how his passion for local history turned into books and walking

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53:49

E148 - Christie Mahn Faires’s Morning Cup

My Morning Cup ·

2025/11/10

Christie Mahn Faires has never been one to rest on her laurels. Whether campaigning for a traffic light to make her high school safer or championing recovery court to help people break the cycle of addiction, she's always looking for ways to make things better.In this episode, she shares how a passing comment changed her life's trajectory (twice!), why the path from aspiring broadcast journalist to General Sessions Court Judge made more sense than she ever imagined, and what no one tells you about

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35:44

E147 - Mitch Patel's Morning Cup (Part 2)

My Morning Cup ·

2025/11/03

Mitch Patel’s story is a masterclass in grit, gratitude, and bridge-building.In this episode recorded in front of a live audience at the Rotary Club of Chattanooga, Mitch shares how he built his first hotel at the age of 27 with just $3,000, how Vision Hospitality Group has grown to more than 40 hotels in 8 states, why the Edwin Hotel holds such a special place in his heart, and what it means to serve as this year’s Chair of the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Mitch Patel is the Founder

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61:57

E146 - April Cameron’s Morning Cup

My Morning Cup ·

2025/10/27

Most people see an airport. April Cameron sees a small city — one she's helped run for 28 years and now leads as its 'Mayor.'In this episode, April shares how a mentor's confidence launched her from accountant to CFO, what finally convinced her to pursue the CEO role, the surprising truth about how airports actually make money, and why every ticket you buy is a vote. April Cameron is the President and CEO of the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority. You can connect with her on LinkedIn

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56:33

E145 - Shawanda Mason & Jennifer Holder's Morning Cups

My Morning Cup ·

2025/10/20

Shawanda Mason’s and Jennifer Holder’s careers have been defined by scrappiness and leaps of faith.In this episode, they share how growing up somewhat isolated in small towns helped spark their creativity, how Jennifer’s early idea for The Chattery grew into a partnership after an elevator meet-cute, and how they have turned burnt lemons into lemonade. Jennifer and Shawanda are the Co-Founders of The Chattery, a Chattanooga-based nonprofit that advocates for lifelong learning. You can learn more

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63:37

E143 - Jimmy White's Morning Cup

My Morning Cup ·

2025/10/06

Jimmy White has always been able to see the end game. Whether that’s on the golf course or when putting together a complex real estate deal.In this episode, he shares how golf prepared him for the highs and lows of business, why “the third time’s the charm” pushed him to leave golf and dive into real estate, and how he’s built a career on win-win deals that create lasting value for Chattanooga. Jimmy White is the President and Managing Partner of Urban Story Ventures. You can connect with him on

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60:42

E139 - Doug Thompson's Morning Cup

My Morning Cup ·

2025/09/08

Doug Thompson has a knack for seeing the bigger picture… whether on the soccer field, in business, or in civic life.In this episode, Doug shares why the best players are the ones who make everyone else better, how a detour into screenwriting led him to USC and ultimately into a career in real estate development, and why he had to “fire” himself in order to move his career forward. Doug Thompson is the President of HFS Capital Advisors. You can connect with him on LinkedIn

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43:30

E138 - Brian Hunt's Morning Cup

My Morning Cup ·

2025/09/01

Brian Hunt grew up redeeming Coke bottles for a nickel, and now leads a century‑old, family‑founded manufacturer as its first non‑family CEO. In this episode, Brian shares how humble beginnings shaped his work ethic, how “getting cultured” in Boston taught him to be more assertive, and why he left a Fortune 250 track to join a family business built on servant-hearted values. Brian Hunt is the President and CEO of Southern Champion Tray. You can connect with him on LinkedIn

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56:03

E137 - David Wade's Morning Cup

My Morning Cup ·

2025/08/25

David Wade started his career digging holes, and now he’s finishing his career digging out of them.In this episode, he shares how he worked his way up from line helper to CEO of EPB, why he pivoted when he was “right at the finish line” of his apprenticeship, and how The Gig put Chattanooga on the map. David Wade is the President and CEO of EPB. You can learn more about him and EPB on their website: epb.com/about/leadership If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like: Matt Rasmussen’s

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50:05

E135 - Kurt Faires’s Morning Cup

My Morning Cup ·

2025/08/11

Kurt Faires learned early that average effort = average results... a principle he’s carried through every season of life.In this episode, Kurt shares why he earned a law degree but waited nearly 20 years to practice, how his career in private investing and business turnarounds ultimately brought him to Chattanooga, and how he went from running marathons to being told he had just 4 months to live… twenty years ago. Kurt Faires is a Corporate Attorney at Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, P.C and you

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01:07:53

E134 - Stephen Culp’s Morning Cup

My Morning Cup ·

2025/08/04

Stephen Culp is one of Chattanooga’s most prodigious and low-key entrepreneurs. In this episode, Stephen shares why curiosity is the driving force behind most of his decisions, what it was like being in Europe when the Berlin Wall fell (and participating in it), and how going to Stanford forced him to be entrepreneurial, which ultimately led him to start Smart Furniture and Delegator, as well as to come back to Chattanooga. Stephen Culp founded Smart Furniture and co-founded Delegator. You can

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120 results

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