Nathan Sparks 90 posts 0 comments

You may not have met me, but if you are reading this, in a way, you know me. That you are choosing to take time to read is helping to support part of my mission in this life, and for that, I thank you.It doesn’t matter whether you agree…
Read More...

Hoisting the sails for a week-long adventure in the British Virgin Islands Second time’s a charm, or so the saying goes. My first trip to the British Virgin Islands wasn’t as smooth as I would have liked. But that was 20 years ago. So,…
Read More...

There’s a time in my life that’s been coming to mind recently. I was 35. I had lost pretty much everything I had. I was forced to sell my home, lost my business, had a failed relationship. I was in the dumps. As I listened to a self-help…
Read More...

Finding time for my sons on the South Holston River brings back memories of a simpler time with just as good company We are just below the small weir dam on the South Holston River outside Bristol. Waiting for the water to come on gives…
Read More...

Time spent in nature alongside Tennessee veterans reminds us all to slow down, be present, and appreciate all we have It’s a little after 5:30a.m. The day is pleasant and we have settled into our ground blind. To my left is Jason…
Read More...

How to Apply Before Time Runs Out No one could have ever dreamed that a pandemic would effectively shut down many sectors of our economy. Companies big and small were devastated. In an attempt to offset the damage, Congress passed the…
Read More...

The Value of Tenacity I first met Deron Little when he was located in the Renaissance Center in Farragut. Deron had made quite a name for himself as head chef at Fox Den Country Club and had recently left to open his new concept,…
Read More...

No matter where you are, there is nothing like watching dogs work in the field. Let's take a step back in time. It’s a brisk but pleasant day in December of 2020. I am meeting John Burrell, the owner of High Adventure Company, at the…
Read More...

Losing a Legend I first met John Pirkle when he was trying to refinance his Hit-Kicker radio station. Learning about how he had built a 100,000 watt FM station when most cars still had AM radios piqued my interest. Clearly a forward…
Read More...

Unapologetically Authentic Southern culture, in my opinion, is often misunderstood. That very fact has for years insulated us here in Knoxville from change. I have heard it said that far up the steep hollows of Eastern Tennessee was the…
Read More...