What does fame really do to a person?

In this From the Vault episode, musician Carrie Akre reflects on coming up in Seattle’s legendary grunge scene, the creative freedom of the 90s music era, and the unexpected emotional cost of visibility. From the rise of alternative rock to the role intuition plays in creativity, this conversation explores what it means to be seen, heard, and truly understood.

Explore how gender roles and labels shape identity in this conversation with author Craig Pomranz and Brandi Fleck. They discuss masculinity, femininity, stereotypes, and the story behind Made by Raffi, a children's book that encourages self-expression and challenges traditional gender expectations.

After losing her daughter DeEbony Groves in the 2018 Waffle House shooting, Shirl Baker turned unimaginable grief into purpose. In this moving conversation, she shares how faith, community, and the DeEbony Groves Foundation are bringing healing to grieving mothers across the U.S.

From critical thinking and media literacy to grassroots organizing and civic engagement, educator and podcaster, Len Assante, offers practical steps for making a difference—starting right where you are.

Nashville, Tenn. teaching artist, Amanda Cantrell-Roche, explains how embodied storytelling heals personal and collective trauma, fuels social-justice campaigns, and even reshapes the immigration debate.

Singer-songwriter duo Pattycakes (Patty Carasquillo) and Boomer Roe share their deeply personal journey into the Nashville music scene—proving that it’s never too late to follow your calling. 

Brandi Fleck and Emerson Wright unpack the chilling realities of today’s political and legal climate, from targeted executive orders and academic freedom under threat to the quiet erosion of civil liberties and legal protections. They explore how lawyers actually work behind the scenes to uphold society—and why now more than ever, everyday citizens need to pay attention and take action.

The Founding Fathers never saw political parties coming—and that one oversight may be tearing the country apart today. We get into that (and so much more) in this conversation with historian Grady Eades. Get ready to rethink everything you learned in school.

As a former evangelical Christian, Tia Coffey shares the deeply personal story of deconstructing her faith while navigating a toxic marriage, suicidal ideation, and the challenge of reclaiming her intuition, worth, and self-love.

From college newspaper revolutionist to Tennessee political insider, Matt shares his unique perspective on where democracy stands today, the growing threats to civil rights, and how everyday citizens can reclaim power in the face of political aggression.

Veteran journalist Pat Embry shares his 50 years of experience inside the evolution of journalism, the use of propaganda, and how to find the truth in a world full of misinformation.

For years, many people believed the law was steadily moving us forward. That assumption is getting harder to defend. A law professor shares what’s changed, what still matters, and how they think about the role of the legal system now.

Amanda JP Brown, Nashville-based psychotherapist and best-selling author, shares her expertise in healthy attachment, childhood and generational trauma, shame, and self-worthiness issues.

If you’re familiar with the Enneagram through pop culture, you might be using it as a personality test to gain more insight into what makes you tick and how you act. However, guest Micky ScottBey Jones shares that it’s not just a personality test. We're talking what Enneagram really is, it's impact, rise in popularity, how it helps you feel seen, and how to practically apply it to your life.

This is a personal story from a professional musician turned software developer about learning to appreciate self-expression in all it’s forms — you don’t have to be great at something creative to get your story out, embrace it, and still have fun while you’re doing it. Read on for inspiration to get started.