Podcast

Earlier this season Waves of Awareness welcomed Chelsey Herron on to discuss the Extended Option with the Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS). We heard from a mother’s perspective and now we welcome Angie Sexton from TEIS to discuss the state’s perspective on this week’s episode! Stacie Davis, Jimmy Parnell, and Hannah Rose host Angie along with Waves Early Learning Director, Gina Wilson, and Waves Early Interventionist, Jen Choate, to chat about TEIS and how the Extended Option has impacted thousands. The group first learns about Angie’s background working with children and how her passion led her to TEIS. Working at …

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Season 8 of Waves of Awareness has finally arrived! For episode one we welcome the new Executive Director of Waves, Staci Davis, to the host seat, as well as Tripp Davis from Waves’ Employment and Community First Program. WOA wouldn’t be the same without Matt “the Man” Moore co-hosting the episode and leading our listeners through all things summer. The group kickstarts the episode with our Summer Theme, asking everything from what our plans everyone’s plans are for the summer to their favorite summer spot they have visited! Matt comes prepared to the episode, letting us know his answers like …

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This week’s episode features Kaci Fisher with Northwestern Mutual. Kaci works in Financial Planning at Northwestern and has personally been involved with the IDD community through her son. Matt, Eric, and Staci gather together to hear Kaci share her story about her family and personal journey over the years. Eric picks Kaci’s brain about how she found herself in the world of Financial Planning. Kaci specializes in Special Needs Financial Planning, allowing her to help the community that has played a key role in her family’s journey. As a parent who had to manage the financial stress that can come …

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WOA has two celebrations to cover in this week’s episode, with Waves’ very own Matt “The Man” Moore celebrating his 34th birthday and Backlight Productions celebrating 10 years! The Executive Director of Backlight Productions, Melissa Smith, joins us and shares how Backlight has been offering opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to engage with the performing arts for 10 years now. This year they’re putting on their biggest production yet, “Cinderella”, with over 100 individuals performing and only half the time they usually have to put the show together. Matt talks about his own work on Cinderella as …

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Halloween is around the corner and that means kids of every age will be out repping their best costumes. This week we welcome Waves Early Learning Director Gina Wilson and Waves Early Interventionist Jen Choate to help you prep your child for the experience! With host Trent and co-host Christy Webb, the group started off by sharing their own experience with Halloween. Gina and Jen remember prepping their kids when they were younger for talking with strangers, getting candy, and exploring the neighborhood! We hear Christy share her plans for Halloween after she finishes her shift at Goodwill, and also …

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Waves of Awareness can’t let October go by withour a special Movie Review! This episode features The Addams Family (1991 v.) Movie Review with Trent, Matt, Christy, and Eric. Listen to the group talk about their thoughts on a classic Halloween movie. Trent asks the group who their favorite characters are, which scenes stood out, and if they’d recommend it to a friend. This podcast is made possible through partnerships with Spread the Positive, TN’s Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, and the Community Foundation of Middle TN. If you like what you hear, share it with a friend and …

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This week’s episode features a special event for the entire Waves family. This year marks 50 years of spreading awareness and supporting adults and children with developmental and intellectual disabilities for Waves. To celebrate the amazing community Waves supports, Waves hosted their annual Brews & Grooves Fundraiser featuring performances by Aaron Bucks and Waves Adults. Additionally, the event hosted an online auction with an amazing array of items for anyone to bid on and support Waves. During the event Waves of Awareness host Trent Denson set up and interviewed guests you’ve heard on the podcast and newcomers supporting the fundraiser. …

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WOA heads to Fairview for this week’s episode and it’s a packed house! With Trent, Hannah Rose, Jimmy, Jeff, Eric, Adam, Paul and our special guest Debbie Rainey the episode is packed with conversation. Debby Rainey currently works for United Way in Fairview but first connect with Waves through Meals on Wheels, where she worked for 14 years. She regularly saw the Waves Fairview Day Program Adults volunteer there and built a bond with the group. Jimmy shares her connection with Debbie and how they’ve built a positive relationship through community outreach. The rest of the group shares there plans …

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When it comes to treatment for Autism, WOA welcomes Jenny Baggett to share the best, current information for you to learn from. Jenny Baggett works with Vanderbilts Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders (TRIAD) as a Behavioral Analyst. Jenny is joined by Waves Early Learning Director Gina Wilson to talk about their many collaborations together over the years, having supported the same families and assisted their growth. Trent and Matt listen to Gina and Jenny discuss how research and treatment have evolved over the years for autism and how some of the treatments would be useful for anyone …

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For WOA’s final episode, guests from the Residential Program, Day Program, and ECF Program gather around the mic to talk all things Thanksgiving. Trent, Matt Moore, Christy Webb, John Lynch, Beth Hughes, Waves Executive Director Lance Jordan, and Waves Development and Community Relations Director Stavi Davis start the show with Thanksgiving traditions. Listen to the group share who invested in the food and who’s there for the Thanksgiving parade. The group dives into past Thanksgivings together, having known each other for years through Waves. As the conversation goes through what everyone has planned for the holiday season, we also hear …

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