Big Ideas Welcome

Next up from our 100Knoxville conversations, Jalynn Baker sits down with long-time 100Knoxville mentors, Harry Boston (owner of Boston Government Services) and Rob Cochran (serial entrepreneur).

Jalynn and Harry discuss:
-Harry’s advice for budding entrepreneurs
-How leading with an inclusive, people-first approach has led to success
-Where Harry gets his best ideas and his values
-The significance of winning the KAUL Minority Business Award
-The impact of taking a collaborative approach to business and community work
-Why Harry doesn't dwell on failures
Jalynn and Rob discuss:
-Rob’s early business ventures and how he fell into the RV business
-Words of wisdom for different types of entrepreneurs
-Shifting from a mentality of micromanagement to trust and coaching
-Rob’s first mentors and the role they played in his career
In This Episode:
Jalynn Baker Instagram| Website | LinkedIn
100Knoxville Website | Instagram | LinkedInFirstBank WebsiteHarry Boston LinkedInRob Cochran LinkedIn
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KEC: Instagram | Facebook | Website I Twitter | Linkedin#MadeforKnoxville: https://www.madeforknoxville.com/Chris McAdoo: Instagram | LinkedIn | WebsiteSubscribe: Apple Podcast | SpotifyCheck Us Out: Website

If you have any questions

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Listen to all episodes of the Big Ideas Welcome podcast, available now on your favorite streaming platforms, YouTube, and at bigideaswelcome.com.

This Big Ideas Welcome podcast is brought to you by Knoxville Entrepreneur Center, hosted and curated by KEC Chief Experience Officer Chris McAdoo, and produced and edited by Palm Tree Pod Co.

A special thanks to K BREW for making this episode possible.

Original theme music “Thinking of You” courtesy of and copyright Kelsi Walker.

This week's 100Knoxville episode features a conversation with 100Knoxville mentor Dr. Angelique Adams. Angelique is a coach, author, entrepreneur, and mother whose experiences in her career have led her to help others.
Be sure to stay tuned after Jalynn's discussion with Angelique to hear a clip from #MadeforKnoxville LIVE! where Angelique shares her big pivot moment.
In this episode, Jalynn and Angelique discuss:
-how Angelique has built partnerships and support across various industries
-balancing multidisciplinary endeavors as an entrepreneur
-the key to getting help is asking
-battling imposter syndrome and the “shouldn'ts” of self-care
-the fun of motherhood and including older kids in her career
-making a community impact in science and engineering requires EQ
In This Episode:
Dr. Angelique Adams Website | LinkedIn | Twitter | Made For Knoxville Profile
Jalynn Baker Instagram| Website | LinkedIn100Knoxville Website | Instagram | LinkedInFirstBank Website
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KEC: Instagram | Facebook | Website I Twitter | Linkedin#MadeforKnoxville: https://www.madeforknoxville.com/Chris McAdoo: Instagram | LinkedIn | WebsiteSubscribe: Apple Podcast | SpotifyCheck Us Out: Website

If you have any questions, comments, or big ideas of your own, email us at

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Listen to all episodes of the Big Ideas Welcome podcast, available now on your favorite streaming platforms, YouTube, and at bigideaswelcome.com.

This Big Ideas Welcome podcast is brought to you by Knoxville Entrepreneur Center, hosted and curated by KEC Chief Experience Officer Chris McAdoo, and produced and edited by Palm Tree Pod Co.

A special thanks to K BREW for making this episode possible.

Original theme music “Thinking of You” courtesy of and copyright Kelsi Walker.

“Rather than wishing, let’s put ourselves in the position by doing something . . . starting that cognitive development process is an intentional move to put you in a position where you become, in essence, the expert of whatever you’re in.”
This week's 100Knoxville episode features a conversation with Douglas Mapp. Doug is the President and Founder of ThinkUp and is a certified cognitive professional.
In this episode, Jalynn and Doug discuss:
-what cognitive development training is
-practical applications for cognitive development training
-Doug's term, “mental obesity” and what it means
-the community impact Doug wants to see from his work
-the impact of cognitive development on people
-what happens when we don't have to be creative anymore
-and much more!

In This Episode:
Douglas Mapp LinkedInThinkUp WebsiteJalynn Baker Instagram| Website | LinkedIn100Knoxville Website | Instagram | LinkedInFirstBank Website
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KEC: Instagram | Facebook | Website I Twitter | Linkedin#MadeforKnoxville: https://www.madeforknoxville.com/Chris McAdoo: Instagram | LinkedIn | WebsiteSubscribe: Apple Podcast | SpotifyCheck Us Out: Website

If you have any questions, comments, or big ideas of your own, email us at hello@bigideaswelcom

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Listen to all episodes of the Big Ideas Welcome podcast, available now on your favorite streaming platforms, YouTube, and at bigideaswelcome.com.

This Big Ideas Welcome podcast is brought to you by Knoxville Entrepreneur Center, hosted and curated by KEC Chief Experience Officer Chris McAdoo, and produced and edited by Palm Tree Pod Co.

A special thanks to K BREW for making this episode possible.

Original theme music “Thinking of You” courtesy of and copyright Kelsi Walker.

Matt Ryerson is the President and CEO of the United Way of Greater Knoxville.
He joins the Big Ideas Welcome podcast for a conversation about the intersection of nonprofits and entrepreneurship.
In this episode, Chris and Matt discuss:
-the difference between philanthropy and charity
-some of the lessons that you can only learn through failing, and why failing forward is a good thing
-how Matt got started in the nonprofit world
-some stories from his time at United Way and how thinking differently about how a nonprofit works has lead to success
-the power of mentorship - and how they help us to break down barriers
-food systems and food security and how looking at systems can help to create change
-organizational discipline
-and so much more!

In This Episode:
Matt Ryerson LinkedIn
United Way of Greater Knoxville Website | Facebook- - - - - - - - - -
KEC: Instagram | Facebook | Website I Twitter | Linkedin#MadeforKnoxville: https://www.madeforknoxville.com/Chris McAdoo: Instagram | LinkedIn | WebsiteSubscribe: Apple Podcast | SpotifyCheck Us Out: Website

If you have any questions, comments, or big ideas of your own, email us at [email protected]

The show is Produced and Edited by Palm Tree Pod Co.

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Listen to all episodes of the Big Ideas Welcome podcast, available now on your favorite streaming platforms, YouTube, and at bigideaswelcome.com.

This Big Ideas Welcome podcast is brought to you by Knoxville Entrepreneur Center, hosted and curated by KEC Chief Experience Officer Chris McAdoo, and produced and edited by Palm Tree Pod Co.

A special thanks to K BREW for making this episode possible.

Original theme music “Thinking of You” courtesy of and copyright Kelsi Walker.

Meet Our Guests

Randy Boyd is the President of the University of Tennessee and a lifelong entrepreneur. He’s best known for founding Radio Systems Corporation (the company behind PetSafe, Invisible Fence, and other brands), growing it into a global leader. But beyond business, Randy has dedicated much of his career to education, economic development, and community investment, serving as Tennessee’s Commissioner of Economic and Community Development and playing a key role in launching Tennessee Promise, which has provided free community college to thousands of students. He’s also a passionate supporter of Knoxville’s arts and culture scene—and, of course, a big believer in baseball’s role in placemaking.

Jaleria Rivera is an artist, activist, and the founder of Spacecraft Knoxville—a creative incubator that describes itself as a constellation of artists, misfits, and dreamers, focused on joy activism and community care. She’s helping build a grassroots arts economy that creates real opportunities for artists to live, work, and thrive in Knoxville. Jaleria moved here during the pandemic, and like so many creative people, she had to figure out how to find her people, build connections, and create opportunities where they didn’t exist before. Spacecraft is the result of that work, and it’s just getting started.

What’s This Conversation About?

This episode is about how people like Randy and Jaleria shape places - and how the places they build shape the people and communities from the ground up.

We dig into:

• How communities attract and retain talent—and why the arts are just as important as jobs and infrastructure.
• What makes a city feel real—how Knoxville can avoid the pitfalls of becoming “just another mid-sized city” and instead double down on what makes it special.
• The role of failure in success—Randy shares some of his early entrepreneurial failures and why he believes in “failing early and often.”
• The power of grassroots collaboration—how Jaleria and her peers are building an arts economy from the ground up, creating spaces where creativity and economic opportunity go hand in hand.
• Big moves on the horizon—from the UT system’s billion-dollar investments to a stadium that aims to host 700 events a year, including concerts, markets, and more.

A huge thank you to Dr. Marianne Wanamaker of the Howard H. Baker Jr. School of Public Policy and Public Affairs for kicking off this conversation with such a great question: How do entrepreneurs, innovators, and leaders get involved in civic life and make a real impact on their communities? That question sets the stage for everything we’re about to discuss.

Why Should You Listen?

If you care about YOUR city, if you care about making your community better, whether you’re an entrepreneur, an artist, a civic leader, or just someone who believes in the power of big ideas, this conversation is for you.

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Listen to all episodes of the Big Ideas Welcome podcast, available now on your favorite streaming platforms, YouTube, and at bigideaswelcome.com.

This Big Ideas Welcome podcast is brought to you by Knoxville Entrepreneur Center, hosted and curated by KEC Chief Experience Officer Chris McAdoo, and produced and edited by Palm Tree Pod Co.

A special thanks to K BREW for making this episode possible.

Original theme music “Thinking of You” courtesy of and copyright Kelsi Walker.