East Tennessee Now

Frank Murphy interviews artistic director Dr. John Orr and assistant director Andrew Duncan of the Knoxville Choral Society. The organization's 75th Anniversary Celebration Concerts will be performed at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 24, 2026 at Central Bearden Church, 6300 Deane Hill Drive, Knoxville; and at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 25, 2026 at the Community Church at Tellico Village, 130 Chota Center, Loudon. The program features "Zadok the Priest" by Handel, "Regina Caeli K276" by Mozart, and "Psalm 148" by Holst, along with the world premiere of "Images of Knoxville," a newly commissioned work by Andrew Duncan, written specifically for this anniversary and for this city.  Tickets are $15 for adults and only $0.01 for children under 18 through the Penny4Arts program. Learn more at https://www.knoxvillechoralsociety.org/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Frank Murphy interviews Drew Degges of the Volunteer Alzheimer's Foundation about the 16th annual Forget Me Not 5K to benefit the Pat Summitt Foundation. The race will be held on Saturday, April 18, 2026 starting and finishing at the Village Green Shopping Center in Farragut. The race course goes through the Village Green subdivision, which includes part of the Farragut Dogwood Trail. Sign up at https://runtheday.com/register/detail/forget-me-not-5k-10k-and-1-mile-race-2026-dh7/ The mission of the Volunteer Alzheimer’s Foundation is to raise funds and awareness in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. They are dedicated to supporting research advancing care for families affected by Alzheimer’s. Learn more at https://www.volalz.org  The Volunteer Alzheimer's Foundation will host the Vol Alz Classic golf tournament on September 28, 2026 at Tennessee National Golf Club.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Frank Murphy interviews Carter Brown, Camp Director of Camp Ba Yo Ca in Wears Valley, Tennessee. Carter began serving at Camp Ba Yo Ca at age fifteen as a counselor and kitchen staff member. He received his Master of Divinity from Gateway Seminary and served as the Camp Director at another Baptist camp before returning to Camp Ba Yo Ca.  Camp Ba Yo Ca provides outdoor adventure activities to nearly two thousand children in the Knox, Blount, and Sevier county regions. Their mission is to minister to children’s lives through evangelism, discipleship, and mentoring. Camp Ba Yo Ca is affiliated with the Knox County Association of Baptists. More information is available at https://www.campbayoca.com  The Camp Ba Yo Ca Classic is an annual golf tournament with all proceeds go directly to the Ba Yo Ca Fund, which ensures that every child who wants to attend Camp can do so, regardless of financial circumstances, while providing a safe and enriching environment for all.  This year's tournament wil

Frank Murphy interviews Knoxville Police Chief Paul Noel, who was was sworn in as Knoxville’s 27th Chief of Police on June 13, 2022. Prior to assuming command of the Knoxville Police Department, Noel was a Deputy Superintendent at the New Orleans Police Department, where he served in numerous leadership roles for over 25 years. After hiring over 100 recruits in 2025, KPD is back to full staffing levels for the first time in over a decade. The most recent recruit class started on March 23, 2026.  Murders matched a 10-year low in 2025. As of March 29, there have been no murders in Knoxville so far in 2026. Non-fatal shootings are down around 90 percent.  KPD is preparing to launch a Drone as First Responder program. They be able to deploy semi-autonomous drones to provide real-time information to officers responding to calls for service. They are also planning to activate overt cameras in areas with more incidents requiring police assistance.  More information is available about the KPD Rea

Frank Murphy interviews Kelsie Crittendon, Executive Director of Sunshine Services. Its mission is to provide person-centered supports for individuals with developmental disabilities that promote independence, inclusion, and empowerment to reach their personal vision of happiness and life satisfaction. Learn more at https://sunshineservicesknox.org/ A fundraiser titled Golden Hour: An Evening to Shine Forward will be held on Friday, March 27, 2026 at Sunshine Services, 3000 N. Central Street, Knoxville from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. "Early Shine" tickets are $75 and are expected to sell out in advance. General Admission tickets, which will be sold at the door, are $100. Each ticket includes heavy hors d’oeuvres and an open bar featuring beer and wine, along with access to the full Golden Hour experience, which includes live music, a live painting and an auction. Recently, Sunshine had to close their long-standing workshop program.  In response, they established the Sunshine Transition Fund to support the i

Frank Murphy interviews Celia Gruzalski, Executive Director of Tennessee Memory Disorders Foundation and Clinic which provides its patients with evaluation and treatment for neurodegenerative dementia syndromes, including Alzheimer’s disease, memory loss and other cognitive concerns. Learn more at https://tmdf.org/ TMDF supports health initiatives and educational empowerment through advancing early detection and precise diagnosis, leading regional clinical trials for Alzheimer’s and related diseases, driving statewide public health change, empowering future healthcare professionals, strengthening caregiver support and family resources, and providing hope and reducing stigma to the greater community.  The second annual TMDF Golf Tournament will be held Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at Egwani Farms.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Frank Murphy interviews Tracey Torres of Appalachian Bear Rescue and Jay Proulx of The Shed Smokehouse & Juke Joint about the upcoming Rockin' for the Rescue Benefit Concert. The event will be held on Sunday March 29th, 2026 from 12 noon to 7:00 p.m. at The Shed, 1820 W Lamar Alexander Pkwy, Maryville, Tennessee. Tickets are $40 and are available at https://appalachianbearrescue.org/ The bands performing in the concert are: Dreams- A Fleetwood Mac Experience Roger Hay Band- Blues,Jazz & Rock Crazy on Heart- Classic Tribute to Heart Shady Sadie- Good Ole' Southern Rock & Country SuperCharger - #1 All 70's Classic Tribute Slippery When Wet: The Ultimate Bon Jovi Tribute Local vendors will be selling a variety of items. Appalachian Bear Rescue is a black bear rescue facility located just outside of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Townsend, Tennessee. ABR is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization that has been returning black bears to the wild since 1996. Each year black bears from our nati

Frank Murphy interviews M. Janice Mitchell, founder, and Dr. Ace Edewards, conductor, of the Scruffy City Orchestra. A free concert celebrating the orchestra's tenth anniversary will be performed on Sunday, March 1, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. in The Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, 711 S. Northshore Drive, Knoxville. After the concert, the audience is invited to enjoy light refreshments at a free reception with the orchestra members in the Cathedral Hall.  Scruffy City Orchestra was founded in 2015 by a small group of musicians who wanted to create a community orchestra in Knoxville, drawing volunteer members from the greater metropolitan area. In November, 2018 SCO was invited to be part of the Cathedral Concert Series at The Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in Knoxville. Scruffy City Orchestra is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt community orchestra which relies on the generosity of the community for its funding. Learn more at https://www.scruffycityorchestra.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for priv

Frank Murphy interviews Lindsey Shanton, executive director of  Sevier County Partners in Progress Education Foundation, and board member Robbie Fox, who is also the mayor of Sevierville. The Sevier County Partners in Progress Education Foundation is a non-profit corporation chartered by the State of Tennessee in April 2016.  The purpose of the organization is to establish a scholarship fund to be used to assist area high school students with tuition for dual enrollment classes at Walters State Community College and tuition assistance for students pursuing a four-year degree at East Tennessee State University in Sevierville. Learn more at https://seviercountypip.com/ A pancake dinner benefitting Partners in Progress will be held from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at Flapjack's Pancake Cabin, 1016 Parkway, Sevierville, TN. Tickets are available online for $6 each. The D&S Builders Scholarship Shoot Sporting Clays Tournament benefitting Partners in Progress will be held on Friday, S

Frank Murphy interviews Steve Hodges and Frank Venable about the 13th Annual Shakin' Not Stirred Gala, which will be held on Saturday, February 28, 2026 at The Venue at Lenoir City. Steve Hodges is the founder of the KiMe Cure Neurological Disorders Fund. Frank and Lisha Venable are the event hosts. Sportscaster Mark Packer will be the emcee. Tickets and information are available at https://www.parkinson.org/sns  Steve Hodges was diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease in 2009. The KiMe Fund has been successful in raising awareness and donations to fund high risk/high reward research to find a cure for Parkinson’s. 80% of funds raised will be designated towards the Parkinson’s Virtual Biotech – a partnership between the Parkinson’s Foundation and Parkinson’s UK that funds high risk, high reward research conducted by biotech companies to accelerate new treatments and ideally a cure for Parkinson’s disease; 20% of funds raised by TEAM KIME will be designated

Frank Murphy interviews Ken Martin, Artistic Director of the Clarence Brown Theatre and Head of the Theatre Department at the University of Tennessee, about the opening of the new Jenny Boyd Theatre. The first production in the new theatre is Cabaret, with performances February 11 to March 1, 2026. Upcoming productions are The Royale in the Jenny Boyd Theatre from March 25 to April 12, 2026; and You Can't Take It With You in the Clarence Brown Theatre from April 15 to May 3, 2026. Tickets and information are available at https://clarencebrowntheatre.com/ The Clarence Brown Theatre and the Jenny Boyd Theatre are located on the campus of the University of Tennessee. Each season, roughly 35,000 patrons within a 50-miles radius of Knoxville attend their productions. The theatre is fully integrated with the Department of Theatre in all aspects of mission and function. They bring professional actors and designers to the theater to work one-on-one with students. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info

Frank Murphy interviews Akima Club of Knoxville president Cindy Connor and Akima Cabaret chairperson Donna Brown about the Akima Cabaret 2026, titled "The Wizard of Hawz." In the show, a couple who hates country music goes moonshine tasting in Gatlinburg only to find themselves transported to the colorful land of Hee Haw. The Akima Cabaret is held every other year. Performances will be at the Mill and Mine on Friday, February 27, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.; Saturday, February 28th, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.; and Saturday, February 28th, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets and information at https://www.akimaclub.org/ The Akima grant program provides financial support to several local nonprofit agencies. Over $186,000 was given to non-profit Knoxville area agencies over the past two years through funds raised by Akima Cabaret 2024. Over the last thirty years, Akima has raised over 1.5 million dollars through Akima Cabaret all of which has gone back into the community through Akima grants. Grant applications for 2026 are due by February

Frank Murphy interviews Shannon Herron, Marketing & Creative Director of Dogwood Arts, and Landon Shewmake Owner and COO of BlueWing Homes, about the Dogwood Arts House & Garden Show. The 48th annual House & Garden Show will be held on February 6, 7, and 8, 2026 at the Knoxville Convention Center. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors/veterans, and free for children 12 and under. Tickets can be purchased online in advance or at the door. Discounted tickets can be purchased in advance at any ORNL Federal Credit Union branch. The House and Garden Show features hundreds of vendors showcasing products and services for  home and garden; 10,000 square feet of garden displays created by local landscape designers; stage presentations by experts; and live music. Learn more at https://www.dogwoodarts.com/houseandgardenshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Frank Murphy interviews Kirstin Kropilak and Abigail Jumper of the Knoxville Academy of Medicine Alliance (KAMA) about their legacy fundraiser, Doc Rock for Health, which will be held on Saturday, January 24, 2026 at the Mill & Mine. Tickets are available at https://kamalliance.org/docrock  KAMA is a non-profit organization established in partnership with the Knoxville Academy of Medicine to promote health education programs that impact the welfare of our community and to encourage friendships among its membership. The event features a "battle of the bands" in which at least two members from each band are physicians. Each band represents a local health-related charity and plays to win a percentage of the proceeds. During the event, attendees vote for their favorite band. The funds are distributed based on the number of votes each band receives, with a portion of the night’s proceeds donated to the respective charities represented by the bands. This year's lineup: 7:00pm - Dr. Zoster and the Po

Frank Murphy interviews Kristy Altman, Vice President of Communications and Public Relations of MEDIC Regional Blood Center. MEDIC is the provider of blood and blood-related products for 25 hospitals in 23 counties in East Tennessee and Southeastern Kentucky and regional air transport services. January is National Blood Donor Month. This month, donors can receive a Feelin' Frosty t-shirt. During Roll Up Your Sleeve Week, donors can receive a sweatshirt and a raffle entry for other prizes. Upcoming incentives include hoodies and orange t-shirts.  Starting January 1, 2026, platelet donors will receive a $50 e-gift card following their donation. The IRS raised the limit for rewards from $600 to $2000 for 2026. With this change, donors should not reach the limit. Therefore will not need to have a 1099 issued. Learn more or make an appointment to donate at https://medicblood.org/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Frank Murphy interviews Kelly Orrico, Co-Founder and President of the Widowed Parent Relief Project. Kelly and her husband C.J. were inspired to start the WPRP after Kelly survived a massive stroke at age 39. A series of unlikely events led to her being found by a stranger and being brought to the only hospital in her area that had the technology to perform life-saving surgery she needed.  Widowed Parent Relief Project's mission is to help build an enduring support system and alleviate everyday stressors for widowed parents so they can spend more time on their family's mental health and healing. A WPRP “Family Friend” volunteer walks alongside the parent for one year, staying apprised of current needs and advocating for the family in the community. During that year, WPRP also provides paid services, which include regular cleaning services, home organizing, and self-care/babysitting stipends. Learn more at https://www.wprp.org/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Frank Murphy interviews Mike Witcher, owner and chief meteorologist of eastTNweather. Mike became well known as the morning meteorologist on WBIR-TV from 2005 to 2014 and again from 2017 to 2023. He decided to leave television and become an entrepreneur by starting his own digital forecast service. His ad-supported business provides weather information free of charge via multiple social media platforms and via his own eastTNweather app and website. Learn more at https://easttnweather.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Frank Murphy interviews Chris Hall, Chief Operating Officer at Remote Area Medical. Since 1985, Remote Area Medical (RAM®) has provided free healthcare services to those in need through the operation of mobile pop-up clinics around the country. Remote Area Medical was founded in 1985 by Stan Brock, known as co-host of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom.  RAM will offer a free medical, dental, and vision clinic in the Jacob Building at Chilhowee Park in Knoxville on February 6, 7, and 8, 2026. Learn more at https://www.ramusa.org/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Frank Murphy interviews Dana Soehn, President and CEO of Friends of the Smokies. Dana joined Friends in 2023 after serving as a National Park Service employee for more than 30 years, including ten years as Park Spokesperson. During the government shutdown, Friends of the Smokies joined with other partners to provide funding to  keep the Great Smoky Mountains National Park open to the public. Friends of the Smokies is seeking donations to continue funding projects in the Park.  Learn more at https://friendsofthesmokies.org/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Frank Murphy interviews Jen Corbin, this year's president of the Nativity Pageant of Knoxville and Erica Moore, this year's vice president. The 57th annual Nativity Pageant will be presented on Saturday, December 13, 2025 at 3:00 p.m.; Sunday, December 14, 2025 at 3:00 p.m., and Monday, December 15, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. in the Knoxville Civic Coliseum.  Parking is $5, credit or debit card only. Admission to the Pageant is free. Doors open one hour prior to each performance. A musical prelude begins 30 minutes prior to each performance. Arrive early enough to find seats before the performance, which begins in total darkness. The performance lasts about one hour.  The Nativity Pageant of Knoxville features live animals, a cast of over 100 actors, a choir of over 100 singers, a full orchestra and four professional narrators. It tells the biblical story of the birth of Jesus. For more information, visit https://www.knoxvillenativity.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.