My Morning Cup
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.
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.
Episodes
Monday Mar 25, 2024
E63 - Cam Doody's Morning Cup
Monday Mar 25, 2024
Monday Mar 25, 2024
For Cam Doody, the corporate path was just too clear and unappealing. Instead, he found a solution to a problem, and started, along with his partners, his own company, Bellhop - the fastest-growing moving & relocation brand in the U.S.
Now, 13 years later, he helps other founders “burn the ships” and make it through “the trough of sorrow” - if they’re one of the ten startups that get accepted each year (out of 4,600+ applications).
Cam Doody is Co-Founder and General Partner of Brickyard, a first-round venture capital firm and residency. He’s also the Co-Founder of Bellhop, the second-largest moving company in the country. You can connect with him on Linkedin here and learn more about Brickyard here.
My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions. Subscribe to our new weekly newsletter here.
If you liked this episode, we think you’ll also like:
Kenyatta Ashford’s Morning Cup (E05)
Felicia Jackson’s Morning Cup (E45)
Patrick Wells’s Morning Cup (E61)
Monday Mar 18, 2024
E62 - Marj Flemming's Morning Cup
Monday Mar 18, 2024
Monday Mar 18, 2024
Growing up on a farm in Iowa, Marj never dreamed of leaving her hometown. Nevertheless, with three babies under the age of 1, she moved across the country to California and began her career.
In this episode, Marj shares what it was like “dressing” chickens in Correctionville, how she moved up the ranks at a company for 19 years, and why she started her own Leadership Training business (which is still going strong decades later).
Marj Flemming is the CEO of LaunchPoint Leadership, which provides organizational and professional leadership development. You can connect with her on LinkedIn here.
My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions. Subscribe to our new weekly newsletter here.
If you liked this episode, we think you’ll also like:
John Germ’s Morning Cup (E35)
Donna McConnico’s Morning Cup (E43)
Matt Rasmussen’s Morning Cup (E57)
Monday Mar 11, 2024
E61 - Patrick Wells's Morning Cup
Monday Mar 11, 2024
Monday Mar 11, 2024
Patrick Wells got an early taste of the startup world when he won a business plan competition in college. From there, he’s grown businesses in the legal, auto salvage, and stone industries.
In this episode, Patrick shares how one good idea changed his life’s path, what he learned from pole vaulting (and the adjustments former athletes must make to be successful in business), and how he’s acquired and grown several businesses.
Patrick Wells is the CEO of Majestic Stone and StoneLoads. You can connect with him on LinkedIn here.
My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions. Subscribe to our new weekly newsletter here.
If you liked this episode, we think you’ll also like:
Brent Burks’s Morning Cup (E10)
Shawn Whitfield’s Morning Cup (E20)
Josh Manning’s Morning Cup (E27)
Monday Mar 04, 2024
E60 - Valoria Armstrong's Morning Cup
Monday Mar 04, 2024
Monday Mar 04, 2024
Growing up, Valoria Armstrong wanted to be an attorney. She never imagined that she would have a career in HR or Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
In this episode, Valoria shares how she was elected President of the NAACP board at the age of 26, how she evaluates opportunities before committing to them, and why inclusion comes before diversity at Unum.
Valoria Armstrong is the Chief Global Inclusion & Diversity Officer at Unum. You can connect with her on LinkedIn here.
My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions. Subscribe to our new weekly newsletter here.
If you liked this episode, we think you’ll also like:
Wade Hinton’s Morning Cup (E09)
Tom Cupo’s Morning Cup (E32)
Candy Johnson’s Morning Cup (E48)
Monday Feb 26, 2024
E59 - Virginia Anne Sharber's Morning Cup
Monday Feb 26, 2024
Monday Feb 26, 2024
Virginia Anne’s career did not start in the art world, despite a passion for the performing arts. She originally followed in her father’s footsteps as a lawyer, but her involvement in the community grew, leading her to the Hunter Museum nine years ago.
In this episode, we discuss what it was like to be the second woman ever hired at Miller & Martin, switching her focus from litigation to commercial real estate, and why art is so important.
Stick around until the end to hear a special announcement about an upcoming exhibit at the Hunter Museum!
Virginia Anne Sharber is the Executive Director of the Hunter Museum of American Art. You can connect with her on LinkedIn here.
My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions. Subscribe to our new weekly newsletter here.
If you liked this episode, we think you’ll also like:
Todd Womack’s Morning Cup (E21)
Vance Travis’s Morning Cup (E40)
Bob Corker’s Morning Cup (E52)
Monday Feb 19, 2024
E58 - Craig Fuller's Morning Cup
Monday Feb 19, 2024
Monday Feb 19, 2024
Entrepreneurship has always been in Craig Fuller’s blood. From a young age, he’s been starting and growing businesses.
In this episode, Craig shares the ups and downs of his career, starting with growing Xpress Direct to $140 million in revenue within two years, then getting fired from the family businesses (twice), and now leading FreightWaves and acquiring legacy media brands.
Craig Fuller is the Founder and CEO of FreightWaves, the leading provider of global supply chain market intelligence and news. You can connect with him on LinkedIn here.
My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions. Subscribe to our new weekly newsletter here.
If you liked this episode, we think you’ll also like:
Brian Elrod’s Morning Cup (E29)
Stephanie Stuckey’s Morning Cup (E33)
Tiffanie Robinson’s Morning Cup (E39)
Monday Feb 12, 2024
E57 - Matt Rasmussen's Morning Cup
Monday Feb 12, 2024
Monday Feb 12, 2024
Matt Rasmussen originally wanted to be an archeologist (thanks, Indiana Jones!) or a forester, but after settling into engineering in college, he never looked back and has had a wildly successful career with the Tennessee Valley Authority.
In this episode, Matt shares his many steps up the corporate ladder and what makes someone stay at one company for 22 years. He also gives the inside scoop on nuclear power and what happens behind the scenes at TVA.
Matt Rasmussen is the SVP of Engineering and Operations Support at TVA. You can connect with him on LinkedIn here.
My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions. Subscribe to our new weekly newsletter here.
If you liked this episode, we think you’ll also like:
Tom Cupo’s Morning Cup (E32)
Mark McKnight’s Morning Cup (E39)
Mark Reeves’s Morning Cup (E46)
Monday Feb 05, 2024
E56 - Dr. Ternae Jordan’s Morning Cup
Monday Feb 05, 2024
Monday Feb 05, 2024
Dr. Jordan is not a “pulpit pastor” - he’s active in the community. He’s the pastor of Mt. Canaan Baptist Church and some will tell you he is the pastor of Chattanooga. He founded an anti-violence program called Stop the Madness, which combatted the crack epidemic in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1992. Now, Stop the Madness is a national non-profit.
In this episode, we discuss gratitude, finding inner peace despite adversity, Stop the Madness, why he refused his life’s calling for so long, and what it was like growing up in the 70s as a black man in Chattanooga.
Dr. Ternae Jordan is the Pastor of Mt. Canaan Baptist Church. You can learn more about him here and you can find his book, Crossing Jordan, here.
My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions. Subscribe to our new weekly newsletter here.
If you liked this episode, we think you’ll also like:
Wade Hinton’s Morning Cup (E09)
DeJuan Jordan’s Morning Cup (E34)
Father Dale Hall’s Morning Cup (E49)
Monday Jan 29, 2024
E55 - Charles Wood's Morning Cup
Monday Jan 29, 2024
Monday Jan 29, 2024
Charles Wood is a self-proclaimed “class clown” turned salesman. Despite an unstable childhood, he’s built a solid career in Economic Development.
In this episode, we discuss how backpacking through Central America changed his perspective on life and his pit stops in Mobile, College Station, and Pensacola before arriving in Chattanooga 12 years ago. Plus, how he’s steering the Chamber towards Economic Development by inviting the right people to the right rooms.
Charles is the President and CEO of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce. You can connect with him on LinkedIn here.
My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions. Subscribe to our new weekly newsletter here.
If you liked this episode, we think you’ll also like:
Leslie Gower’s Morning Cup (E02)
Ron Harr’s Morning Cup (E17)
Jim Kennedy’s Morning Cup (E37)
Monday Jan 22, 2024
E54 - Eric Foster’s Morning Cup
Monday Jan 22, 2024
Monday Jan 22, 2024
With a passion for music and comedy, no wonder Eric Foster became an on-air personality for a radio station!
In this episode, Eric shares his process for writing his stand-up acts, how he got started in radio, and what it’s like to donate a kidney?!
Eric is the Program Director and an on-air personality for Brewer Media Group. You can learn more about him here.
My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions. Subscribe to our new weekly newsletter here.
If you liked this episode, we think you’ll also like:
Clint Powell’s Morning Cup (E01)
Callie Starnes’s Morning Cup (E13)
Jared Stehney’s Morning Cup (E30)









