Benchmark Happenings

How A Northeast Tennessee Mom Became A GOP Leader

COVID didn’t just disrupt routines. For a lot of families, it exposed who actually holds power over your kids, your job, and your ability to live out your faith. We sit down with Danielle Goodrich, chair of the Washington County Republican Party, to talk about the moment she went from focused on home and school to fully engaged in local politics in Northeast Tennessee. We get into why local government matters as much as national elections, especially when school boards and state policy can change your life overnight. Danielle explains what she means by a biblical worldview and how she believes it should shape political decisions, from the sanctity of life to freedom of conscience. We also talk about the frustration many people felt watching inconsistent standards during COVID, and why “my body, my choice” became a flashpoint across multiple issues. Then we zoom out to the Constitution, limited government, and the balance of power between the federal government and the states. Danielle shares why grassroots organizing matters, what it looks like to “follow principles, not politicians,” and how listeners can evaluate candidates during Tennessee primaries and the governor’s race. We also highlight the America 250 dinner as a chance to hear directly from candidates and support local races. If you care about civic engagement, conservative principles, and what keeps Northeast Tennessee free, listen now, then subscribe, share the episode, and leave a review. To help you to navigate the home buying and mortgage process, Jonathan & Steve are currently licensed in Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia, contact us today at 423-491-5405 or visit www.jonathanandsteve.com [http://www.jonathanandsteve.com/].

Steve Darden Explains Why He Is Running To Serve A Busy Tennessee Court

A courtroom can’t pause when life gets messy, and in Northeast Tennessee, the volume is only climbing. We’re joined by longtime attorney, Rule 31 mediator, and judge candidate Steve Darden for a frank look at what general sessions court really is: the place where misdemeanors move, felonies begin their path, juvenile matters surface, and everyday civil disputes up to $25,000 get decided often with people representing themselves. Steve breaks down what it means to be the finder of fact with no jury, how a judge sets the tone for fairness, and why the basics matter more than most people think: start on time, end on time, expect lawyers to prepare, and treat every person with dignity and respect. We also talk about the “team” behind the bench, especially court clerks, and why keeping cases from piling up is not just an efficiency issue, it’s a trust issue. Then we zoom out to problem-solving courts and the bigger question of community impact. Steve shares why mental health court and dependency court are steps in the right direction, and why he believes a veterans court deserves serious attention in a region with a large veteran population and a top VA nearby. We also discuss the safe baby court idea and how local support networks can help families get stable during the most crucial early years. You’ll also hear how local history at Sycamore Shoals and a lifetime of public service shape Steve’s “why,” plus the key voting details: the Republican primary is May 5, with early voting from April 15 through April 30. If you find the conversation useful, subscribe, share it with a neighbor, and leave a quick rating and review. To help you to navigate the home buying and mortgage process, Jonathan & Steve are currently licensed in Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia, contact us today at 423-491-5405 or visit www.jonathanandsteve.com [http://www.jonathanandsteve.com/].

Find Your Sparkle Again

Style isn’t shallow when it helps you show up with confidence. We’re joined by Lindsey Lawson, founder of Brilliantly Bespoke in the Tri-Cities of Northeast Tennessee, for a grounded conversation about color analysis, personal style, and the real reasons so many women stop dressing like themselves over time. She shares how a simple shift in color harmony can change how your face looks, how people respond to you, and how quickly you can get dressed without second-guessing every choice.  We also dig into what Lindsey learned during advanced training in the UK, where modern color and style analysis is booming again. That trip shapes her approach to clean beauty makeup and palette-based makeup matching, including why ingredient standards matter and how skincare and primer act like the foundation of a great outfit. If you’ve ever wondered why certain lipsticks pop while others dull your skin tone, the seasonal palette conversation will click fast.  From there, we get practical: body architecture, proportion, silhouettes, face shape, and why the right bra fitting can change everything about how clothes sit on your body. Lindsey explains how she builds clothing personality into the process, creates custom style boards, helps clients create closet harmony, and even supports trip packing with outfit photos so travel feels easy. We close with a faith-forward reminder that the most important “glow” starts within.  Subscribe for more conversations with local experts, share this with a friend who needs a confidence reset, and leave a review so more listeners can find Benchmark Happenings. To help you to navigate the home buying and mortgage process, Jonathan & Steve are currently licensed in Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia, contact us today at 423-491-5405 or visit www.jonathanandsteve.com [http://www.jonathanandsteve.com/].

Running For Governor On Faith

A bill that could make it harder to sue the government over constitutionality. A budget that grows fast while everyday people feel ignored. A state capital that starts acting like it runs the counties instead of serving them. That’s the backdrop for our conversation with Tennessee State Representative Monty Fritts, who joins us to share why he’s running for Tennessee governor and why he keeps coming back to one theme: liberty and less government. We talk candidly about what pushed him into public office, from COVID-era overreach to corporate welfare and centralized power in Nashville. Monty explains why he believes HB 1971 is a serious threat to citizens who need declaratory or injunctive relief against unconstitutional laws, and why restoring trust matters as much as winning debates. He also lays out what he would measure as real progress: Tennesseans feeling heard, a tighter state budget, and a clear shift back toward local control. The conversation goes beyond state lines too, including concerns about war powers and deployments through Defend The Guard, plus his view of illegal immigration and how Tennessee should work with ICE. We also address cultural issues shaping the legislature, including a school chaplains proposal and the fight over equal protection for unborn children in HB 570. If you care about the Tennessee governor race, constitutional conservative leadership, limited government, and the policies changing life across the state, you’ll want to hear this one. Subscribe for more conversations on Tennessee living, real estate, and the decisions that shape our communities, then share this with a friend and leave us a review. What topic do you want us to press candidates on next? To help you to navigate the home buying and mortgage process, Jonathan & Steve are currently licensed in Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia, contact us today at 423-491-5405 or visit www.jonathanandsteve.com [http://www.jonathanandsteve.com/].

Young Courage In County Politics

A burst of courage can change a county. We sit down with Lakie Derrick, a 23-year-old Sullivan County Commission candidate who connects every stance to a biblical worldview, and trace how a sixth-grade conviction grew into campus leadership, a winning ground game, and a clear plan for transparent local government. From starting a Turning Point USA chapter at ETSU during COVID to hosting high-heat events and handling protests with poise, Lakie shows how students can defend free speech, shape culture, and move from ideas to impact. We walk through the data behind a quiet Gen Z realignment—young adults returning to church, rediscovering family, and questioning bloated systems that make homeownership feel out of reach. Lakie shares lessons from knocking 5,000+ doors on a state senate race that unseated an eighteen-year incumbent, serving in a congressional district office, and now mentoring high school chapters across East Tennessee. The through-line is practical: when neighbors meet face to face, trust forms; when budgets are clear and limited, families breathe; when leaders hold to the constitution, policy gets simpler and fairer. You’ll hear a sharp test for every local vote—Is this the government’s job?—and a roadmap for aligning county spending with core responsibilities. We dig into tax transparency, nonprofit funding, and why strong homes fuel strong communities. Lakie’s training at Patriot Academy adds structure to that vision, turning convictions into legislative craft. If you care about Northeast Tennessee, school culture, free speech, and the path to attainable homeownership, this conversation offers both hope and a plan rooted in faith, family, and the future of freedom. If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a neighbor, and leave a quick review to help more locals find it. To help you to navigate the home buying and mortgage process, Jonathan & Steve are currently licensed in Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia, contact us today at 423-491-5405 or visit www.jonathanandsteve.com [http://www.jonathanandsteve.com/].