Explore Northeast State at Kingsport as co-hosts Tom Wilson and Mackenzie Moore-Gent sit down with Northeast State at Kingsport Executive Director Dr. Stephanie Barham and Assistant Vice President for Economic and Workforce Development Blake Montgomery to discuss recent growth in the Academic Village and the expanding opportunities it's creating for students and the region.

In this episode, Barham and Montgomery share what's new at Northeast State at Kingsport, as well as what's ahead for the Academic Village in terms of higher education and regional workforce development opportunities.

• (00:00:08) - Welcome to the Sound Bearier!
• (00:00:51) - Meet the Northeast State at Kingsport team
• (00:02:14) - Northeast State at Kingsport — from RCAM, RCHP, KCHE and more!
• (00:05:44) - What is RCAM and its role in workforce development?
• (00:10:50) - What makes RCHP so special?
• (00:19:58) - Kingsport's Academic Village
• (00:25:37) - Random question time!
• (00:27:49) - Thanks for listening!

Northeast State Community College's Because of You Campaign (BOYC) is just around the corner! Co-hosts Thomas Wilson and Mackenzie Moore-Gent sit with the College's Assistant Director of Alumni & Advancement, Joshua Johnson, to talk all things Because of You! From a golf tournament and concert to rummage sales, chili cook-offs, community trick-or-treating and more, the 2025 BOYC is slated to be jam-packed with events the entire family can enjoy! The best part? Proceeds fuel student scholarships and programs at Northeast State!

Learn about all the fun happenings, the story behind the campaign, and the surrounding community and donors who make it all possible in this episode of "The Sound Bearier!"

• (00:00:08) - Behind the Sound Barrier
• (00:01:18) - Because of You
• (00:02:51) - The Because of You Campaign
• (00:08:35) - Five major fundraisers for the Northeast State Community this year
• (00:10:40) - Northeast State College License Plate Campaign
• (00:13:45) - Parking Spot Auction
• (00:15:56) - The Because of You Campaign
• (00:17:15) - The NEASU Alumni and Donors
• (00:21:10) - What it Takes to Raise Money for Student Programs
• (00:24:49) - The Campaign for the Foundation
• (00:26:46) - Philanthropy at NE Tennessee Community College
• (00:32:08) - Because of You

This week on The Sound Bearier, co-hosts Tom Wilson and Mackenzie Moore-Gent welcome Northeast State Police Chief Andrew Mitchem. In honor of Campus Safety Week, Chief Mitchem highlights the week’s initiatives and shares important insights on how the College keeps students, faculty, and staff safe every day.

• (00:00:44) - Introducing Chief Mitchem
• (00:01:15) - Chief Mitchem's Background
• (00:01:39) - Campus Safety Week Overview
• (00:04:09) - Events During Campus Safety Week
• (00:08:04) - Safety Training at Northeast State
• (00:10:08) - Common Safety Concerns
• (00:15:19) - Resources at Northeast State
• (00:18:08) - Partnerships with Local Agencies
• (00:20:47) - Social Issues: Active Shooter Response
• (00:24:39) - Technology in Campus Safety
• (00:27:34) - Safety Advice From Chief Mitchem
• (00:29:38) - Campus Safety Week Takeaways
• (00:31:02) - Looking Ahead: Incoming Safety Initiatives
• (00:32:49) - Chief Mitchem's Hidden Talent
• (00:35:03) - Outro

What's bubbling at Northeast State Community College, you ask? A brand-new Chemical Laboratory Technology program! Join co-hosts Thomas Wilson and Mackenzie Moore-Gent as they sit down with program head Dr. Sam Stevenson to explore what the program offers, the cutting-edge technology students will use, and the exciting career paths this degree can open!

The Northeast State Center for Leadership, Enrichment, Access, and Discovery provides Northeast State students with the support and access to navigate college life and persevere when life outside college challenges them.

We were privileged to welcome Brittany Wick, Assistant Director of Strategy and Innvation for Access and Learning Enrichment at Northeast State, to the podcast. Brittany discusses the LEAD Center's mission, helping students, and why a college education extends beyond the classroom.

Learn more about the LEAD Center's opportunities for students at https://www.northeaststate.edu/iac/lead-center.html.

Northeast State's Debate Team is turning up the volume on critical thinking and confidence! Meet a standout student from the debate team, Matthew Hughes, and hear firsthand how the art of argument is more than a quick rebuttal; it’s about listening, learning, and leading.

Plus, Debate Team Coach Emily Napier drops in to share how the team prepares for tournaments, builds community, and turns nerves into conviction.

In this episode of The Sound Bearier, co-hosts Thomas Wilson and Mackenzie Moore-Gent sit down with Engineering Design Instructor Daniel Arnett and Associate Professor of History, Tabetha Garman, to discuss the roles technology and humanities play in society and around the world.

Though Daniel and Tabetha teach in two seemingly opposite corners of the academic world — technology and the humanities — we explore where their fields intersect. From digital storytelling to the ethical use of AI, we dive into the unexpected ways the two disciplines shape one another.

Tune in as we unpack how these fields don't just coexist; they thrive together.

The study of economics strives to explain the forces behind money, markets, and human choices.

In this episode the Sound Bearier’s Mackenzie Moore-Gent and Tom Wilson talk with Northeast State Economics professor, Wayne Loving, who explains how economics is defined as the science of choices.

We discuss the growing role of digital currency in the world economy, the nature of wealth, and how tariffs affect economies. We discuss the decisions that drive wealth and why your net worth is worthwhile.

We also explore the impact of inflation on purchasing power and how consumer behavior shapes market trends. Join us as we delve deeper into these topics and the intricacies of economic systems on The Sound Bearier podcast.

https://www.northeaststate.edu