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.
Episodes
Monday Jun 02, 2025
E125 - Tom Glenn's Morning Cup
Monday Jun 02, 2025
Monday Jun 02, 2025
Tom Glenn is a second generation business owner who has grown the family business from a small local operation to one with a multi-state presence. Through it all, Tom has never lost sight of his father’s mission of serving people well and leading with integrity.
In this episode, recorded in front of a live audience at Chattanooga Entrepreneur Week, Tom shares lessons for entrepreneurs who want to grow without losing what makes their business special. We also discuss how he didn’t originally plan to join the family business, why he changed his mind and pushed for expansion, and why leadership means owning the outcome… especially when things go wrong.
Tom Glenn is the President of Elder’s Ace Hardware, which has grown to 37 stores with more than 1,000 employees. You can learn more about him on the Elder’s website: eldershardware.com/our-team
If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like:
Craig Fuller’s Morning Cup (E58)
Barry Large’s Morning Cup (E73)
Bill Crawford’s Morning Cup (E99)
My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions.
Subscribe to the weekly newsletter here and be the first to know who upcoming guests are!
Monday May 26, 2025
E124 - Andy Wood's Morning Cup
Monday May 26, 2025
Monday May 26, 2025
Andy Wood has always had a knack for understanding and translating how things work. It’s a skill that’s helped him stand out in every job he’s had, from restaurants in college to his ad agency days, and now as the fifth-ever CEO of the Tennessee Aquarium.
In this episode, Andy shares how a family legacy in marketing sparked his love for storytelling, what ultimately pulled him toward purpose-driven leadership in the nonprofit world, and the big vision he’s bringing to one of Chattanooga’s most beloved institutions.
Andy Wood is the President and CEO of the Tennessee Aquarium. You can connect with him on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/andrewwood).
If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like:
Tim Morgan’s Morning Cup (E24)
Keith Sanford’s Morning Cup (E86)
Dr. Anna George’s Morning Cup (E112)
My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions.
Subscribe to the weekly newsletter here and be the first to know who upcoming guests are!
Monday May 19, 2025
E123 - John Wilson's Morning Cup
Monday May 19, 2025
Monday May 19, 2025
For as long as he can remember, John Wilson wanted to be a reporter. He witnessed journalism's evolution firsthand, beginning his career when manual typewriters ruled newsrooms.
In this episode, John shares how his journey began in childhood with hand-writing the Maple Brook Gazette in 5th grade (a newspaper he created for his neighborhood), why he believes in "local" thanks to his mentor, and how he navigated the decline of print media by taking a chance on himself.
John Wilson is the owner of Chattanoogan.com, one of the first full service Internet only newspapers in the country. You can learn more at chattanoogan.com
If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like:
Vance Travis’s Morning Cup (E40)
Linda Moss Mines’s Morning Cup (E88)
David Carroll’s Morning Cup (E111)
My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions.
Subscribe to the weekly newsletter here and be the first to know who upcoming guests are!
Monday May 12, 2025
E122 - Ken Jones's Morning Cup
Monday May 12, 2025
Monday May 12, 2025
Ken Jones has always lived in Chattanooga, but he grew up “military style” - moving three times and attending eight different schools, which is likely how he’s earned the nickname of Mr. Chattanooga.
In this episode, we learn about the time he used a major setback as fuel for growth, how he switched from a “survive” mentality to a “thrive” mentality, and how his willingness to say yes to new challenges, coupled with his technical skills and people-first mentality, has propelled his career to where it is today.
Ken Jones is the Senior Director of Procurement, Vendor Relations and Minority & Women-Owned Business at EPB. You can connect with him on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/joneske).
If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like:
Valoria Armstrong’s Morning Cup (E60)
Bo Drake’s Morning Cup (E65)
Allen Clare’s Morning Cup (E97)
My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions.
Subscribe to the weekly newsletter here and be the first to know who upcoming guests are!
Monday May 05, 2025
E121 - Alnoor Dhanani's Morning Cup
Monday May 05, 2025
Monday May 05, 2025
After spending his childhood in Tanzania and then moving to London, Alnoor Dhanani expected small-town Chattanooga would be a two-year stopover. Yet, forty-five years later, he's still proud to call it home.
In this episode, Alnoor shares how growing up across different continents shaped his unique perspectives on life, a behind-the-scenes look at doing business internationally, and how Double Cola got its name.
Alnoor Dhanani is the CEO of Double Cola, a 103-year-old beverage company headquartered in Chattanooga. You can connect with Alnoor on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/aldhanani) and you can learn more about Double Cola on their website: doublecolacompany.com
If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like:
Christian Höferle’s Morning Cup (E76)
Peppo Biscarini’s Morning Cup (E81)
Angela and Michael Ballard’s Morning Cups (E96)
My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions.
Subscribe to the weekly newsletter here and be the first to know who upcoming guests are!
Monday Apr 28, 2025
E120 - Scott Chase's Morning Cup
Monday Apr 28, 2025
Monday Apr 28, 2025
Scott Chase has always loved music. Especially classic rock, before it was “classic.”
In this episode, he shares how a college speech class was the turning point, why you should never burn a bridge, and how being told to get a “real job” helped him realize what’s truly important in life.
Scott Chase is the afternoon voice of KZ106. You can learn more about him on WSKZ’s website (wskz.com/shows/afternoons).
If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like:
Tim Dooner’s Morning Cup (E105)
David Carroll’s Morning Cup (E111)
Jim Reynolds’s Morning Cup (E114)
My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions.
Subscribe to the weekly newsletter here and be the first to know who upcoming guests are!
Monday Apr 21, 2025
E119 - Kim White's Morning Cup
Monday Apr 21, 2025
Monday Apr 21, 2025
Kim White spent the first half of her career traveling & in sales. When she came back to Chattanooga, she decided to plant roots and got hyper-involved.
In this episode, Kim shares how she’s always had a knack for knowing when it’s time to leave a job, how she was able to build her network from zero in a new city, and why she always takes the tough assignments.
Kim White is the Vice Chancellor of Development and Alumni Affairs at UTC, as well as the Executive Director of the UC Foundation. You can connect with her on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/kimhwhite).
If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like:
Bob Corker’s Morning Cup (E52)
Bridgett Massengill’s Morning Cup (E80)
Emily Mack’s Morning Cup (E83)
My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions.
Subscribe to the weekly newsletter here and be the first to know who upcoming guests are!
Monday Apr 14, 2025
E118 - Lynn Chesnutt's Morning Cup
Monday Apr 14, 2025
Monday Apr 14, 2025
If you own a business, or have considered starting one, you’re likely familiar with this week’s guest: Lynn Chesnutt, AKA the entrepreneur’s best friend.
In this episode, Lynn shares a few of the important life lessons his hero taught him, how he survived cancer not once… not twice… but FIVE times, and why he spends every day being an unbiased voice of reason for startups and established businesses.
Lynn Chesnutt is the Executive Director of the Tennessee Small Business Development Center in Chattanooga. You can connect with him on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/lynn-chesnutt-41660233).
If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like:
Jay Dale’s Morning Cup (E42)
Bo Drake’s Morning Cup (E65)
George Bryant’s Morning Cup (E98)
My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions.
Subscribe to the weekly newsletter here and be the first to know who upcoming guests are!
Monday Apr 07, 2025
E117 - Deborah Levine's Morning Cup
Monday Apr 07, 2025
Monday Apr 07, 2025
Deborah Levine has always gotten into “good trouble.”
In this episode, Deborah shares what it was like growing up in Bermuda as the granddaughter of one of its Founding 400, deciding to pursue a masters degree in urban planning without fully knowing what it was yet, and dedicating her life to sharing the legacy of those who survived the Holocaust - including her father, a US military intelligence officer who was assigned to interrogate Nazi POWs.
Deborah Levine is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of the American Diversity Report. She’s also an author of more than 20 books, a keynote speaker, and script writer. You can connect with her on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/americandiversityreport).
My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions.
Subscribe to the weekly newsletter here and be the first to know who upcoming guests are!
Monday Mar 31, 2025
E116 - Bob Culkeen's Morning Cup
Monday Mar 31, 2025
Monday Mar 31, 2025
Bob Culkeen’s passion for media began in a high school television studio, and he hasn’t left the studios since.
In this episode, Bob shares his childhood experience of losing his family home to a fire, and temporarily sheltering with nuns in a convent (an experience most men can’t say they’ve had). We also discuss the importance of educators, technological changes in the broadcast industry, and what happens behind-the-scenes at WTCI PBS.
Bob Culkeen is the President and CEO of WTCI Television, the PBS affiliate for Chattanooga. You can connect with him on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/bob-culkeen-4770b713) and learn more about the WTCI and the Ale Trail here: wtcitv.org/aletrail
If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like:
John Germ’s Morning Cup (E35)
Virginia Anne Sharber’s Morning Cup (E59)
Darren Hodge’s Morning Cup (E94)
My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions.
Subscribe to the weekly newsletter here and be the first to know who upcoming guests are!









