Memphis is a city full of innovators, visionaries, and ideas worth sharing. Today, you’ll hear a few big ideas — born out of the city’s momentum — in the form of TEDx Talks.

Whether you take a moment to think about your relationship with your morning cup of coffee or take a beat to focus on the way you breathe, use these talks as a jumping off point to seek fresh perspectives in your day-to-day!

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

• TEDxMemphis
• Bartholomew Jones' 2024 TEDxMemphis Talk
• Dr. Diana Ruggiero's 2024 TEDxMemphis Talk
• Skye Oduaran's 2024 TEDxMemphis Talk
• Lauren Vestal’s 2024 TEDxMemphis Talk
• View all of the 2024 TEDxMemphis talks here

This episode is made possible in partnership with Independent Bank.

Meanwhile in Memphis conversations showcase collaboration in Memphis and beyond, and tody's episode is part of a mini-series within the show: Legislately with Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris. This collaboration will bring together experts and local leaders to amplify the way leaders in our community are learning, collaborating, innovating, and working to set Memphis and Shelby County up for success.

Today's installment features a conversation with Beto Sanchez (Starbucks employee and member of Memphis 7) and Jessica Stewart (SEIU Local 205).

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

• "The Memphis 7"
• SEIU Local 205
• Starbucks Workers United origin story in Buffalo, NY
• Previous installments of Legislately with Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris can be found here, here, here, and here
• What the Memphis Seven Decision Means for Starbucks Workers

The Memphis Medical District is among the city’s most vibrant business districts. This success is a direct result of a strategic vision that was put in place a decade ago and brought to life by the Memphis Medical District Collaborative. This visionary organization has spent the last 10 years collaborating and coordinating efforts in the district to ensure shared success for businesses, residents, hospitals, and higher-ed institutions that share space in the heart of the city.

The model they have created is one worth replicating, and in today’s episode, we’ll be airing a live-event recording of a recent “Celebrate What’s Right” panel conversation that reflects on the first decade of impact in the distract, and to hear what’s in store for the next era. This event took place on September 15, 2025 and was made possible by BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Kroger, Regional One Health, and Turner Foundation.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

• Memphis Medical District Collaborative
• Regional One Health
• Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare
• ALSAC
• St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
• Other episodes that focus on MMDC include S5E37, S5E34, and S5E8

This episode is made possible in partnership with Independent Bank.

Memphis is a city known for its arts and culture output and with the city's expansion in support for the arts and culture sector infrastructure (which you can also learn about in this conversation), it's vital to understand what potential creative investment can unlock for youth.

Rychetta Watkins of Memphis Music Initiative and Ruth Abigail Gardner of AngelStreet join Meanwhile in Memphis to share how their organizations collaborate to help youth redefine success and creatively reimagine career pathways. Tune in, then share what you learn in a conversation this week!

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

• Memphis Music Initiative
• AngelStreet
• Orpheum
• Opera Memphis
• TN Shakespeare Co.
• New Ballet Ensemble and School
• Ballet Memphis
• Collage Dance Collective
• Matt Ross Spang's TEDxMemphis Talk
• Crosstown Arts
• Previous conversations on arts education can be found here, here, and here
• PRIZM Ensemble
• Young Actors Guild
• MMI Works Short Film
• Community Reinvestment Agency

This episode is made possible in partnership with Independent Bank.

From economic lifts to culture and connection, Downtown is a crucial piece of the Memphis ecosystem. Chandell Ryan, President and CEO of the Downtown Memphis Commission, discusses what it means to shape and share a vision for Downtown.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

• Downtown Memphis Commission
• Previous episodes featuring Downtown Memphis commission can be found here, here, here, and here
• Downtown Retail Tenant Improvement (TI) Grant
• Central Business Improvement District
• Downtown Connect
• BuildDowntown is a master plan to help determine how Downtown Memphis will grow, evolve, and improve over the next 10 years
• Beale Street
• Daily Memphian
• WKNO
• Behind the Headlines with Chandell Ryan
• Block By Block Downtown Memphis Commission
• Downtown Memphis Commission announces new partnership to improve service efficiency
• Hyde Family Foundation
• All aboard!—Trolley buses will be returning to Downtown Memphis
• Open on Main program
• River City Records
• Sterick Building
• 100 North Main
• The Sheraton
• Downtown Memphis Instagram
• Downtown Memphis Commission newsletter
• Alley Dayz
• State of Downtown
• National Civil Rights Museum
• Memphis Art Museum
• DMC's Parking Map
• Hotel Pontotoc

This episode is made possible in partnership with Independent Bank.

This conversation is a continuation of the celebration of collaboration happening in the Memphis Medical District. Dr. Tracy D. Hall of Southwest Tennessee Community College and Dr. Hampton Hopkins of Baptist Health Sciences University join the dialogue to share the ways their institutions are working in parallel and in partnership to shape the future workforce of the city.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

• Southwest Tennessee Community College
• Baptist Health Sciences University
• Baptist Memorial Health Care
• Southwest's Southwest Entertainment Production Initiative (SEPI)
• Southwest becomes first TN community college with aviation program (WREG News 3)
• Baptist College of Osteopathic Medicine to open in Memphis (WMC News 5)
• Baptist University College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Local university receives $1 million from First Horizon's foundation
• Memphis Medical District Collaborative
• Assisi Foundation of Memphis
• Tennessee Board of Regents

This episode is made possible in partnership with Independent Bank.

Memphis is a city known for its entrepreneurial spirit and drive for innovation. This conversation with Anthony Young and Nate Smith explores the ways Epicenter is working to showcase Memphis' talent and resources for compounded growth locally and across the nation. Resources mentioned in this episode include:

• Epicenter
• Innova Memphis
• Epicenter Launch
• Capital Readiness Accelerator
• Customer Readiness Accelerator
• ZeroTo510: Accelerating MedTech Innovation
• Logistics Industry Opportunity Challenge
• Patents to Products with University of Memphis
• Greater Memphis Chamber
• Start Co.
• Code Crew
• University of Memphis R1 status and University of Tennessee Health Science Center R1 status
• EDGE
• Sound Credit
• FedEx
• Smith & Nephew
• Piggly Wiggly
• Kemmons Wilson and Holiday Inn
• Innovate Xcelerate
• How Epicenter in Memphis is repositioning itself as a regional entrepreneur hub (Commercial Appeal)
• DelTech Conference
• Previous episodes of "Meanwhile in Memphis" that might provide additional context include: S5E20 "Revisiting Celebrate What's Right: Leading the Next Chapters," S5E2 "Transformative Tech Talent," S4E33 "Working Smarter: How MEM is a hub of innovation," and S3E30 "I, Robot?"

This episode is made possible in partnership with Independent Bank.