Downright Mindful
Downright Mindful
Podcast Description
Downright Mindful: Exploring People, Perspectives, and Purpose
Hosted by Matt Parris and Paul Sausville, Downright Mindful is a podcast that dives deep into the stories, moments, and musings that define us. From the classroom to the community, history to human connection, we share thought-provoking conversations with everyday people who leave an extraordinary impact.
Each episode brings candid discussions, insightful reflections, and a touch of humor as we explore life’s big questions: What shapes our choices? How do our perspectives evolve? And what does it truly mean to live with purpose?
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast explores themes of personal connection, historical narratives, and societal issues, with episodes covering the impact of music on history, discussions around legal concepts in education, and personal reflections on individualism and masculinity. Topics often dive deep into cultural commentary, exemplified in episodes like 'Buffalo Soldiers' which examines the power of music and language, and 'From Corrections to the Classroom,' where personal career stories intersect with broader societal discussions.
Downright Mindful
Good conversations. Great stories. People worth remembering.
Downright Mindful is hosted by Matt Parris and Paul Sausville from East Tennessee.
Some weeks, we sit down with educators, coaches, public servants, community leaders, local legends, and everyday people whose stories deserve to be preserved. Other weeks, it’s just Matt and Paul behind the microphones talking about history, culture, education, current events, or whatever has us thinking that week.
We don’t pretend to have all the answers. We just believe there’s still value in sitting across the table from someone, asking good questions, laughing a little, disagreeing sometimes, and actually listening.
Over 100 episodes in, the mission is becoming clearer: preserve the people, stories, and conversations of our time and place while staying curious about the world beyond it.
Think of Downright Mindful as a dusty old box of letters in the attic. Stories from our time and our place, preserved for whoever comes looking someday.
New episodes every Sunday at 2 PM.
Follow the show and come be part of the conversation.
From growing tobacco in the Blue Springs community to decades spent around basketball, Matt Clayton has collected plenty of stories along the way.
In Episode 105 of Downright Mindful, Matt Parris sits down with his longtime friend Matt Clayton for a conversation about growing up in Bradley County, Tennessee, family, basketball, coaching, and the memories that stick with us.
Matt recalls growing up on his family's farm, where they raised a little bit of everything. He describes the work involved in growing and processing tobacco, along with the legendary New Year's Eve Rook tournaments his parents hosted.
Then there's the Chevy S-10 story.
Matt remembers getting his dad's truck stuck in a muddy field with a very young Zech Pike behind the wheel. With Zech barely able to reach the pedals, Matt found himself pushing from behind while trying to coach him through getting the truck unstuck.
The conversation also follows Matt's lifelong love of basketball, from his earliest playing days through high school and into coaching. Along the way, he shares memories of setting three-point shooting records and coaching at Meigs County High School, Lake Forest Middle School, and Ocoee Middle School, where he spent 12 years helping develop young players.
It's a conversation full of local history, basketball memories, laughter, and stories shared between longtime friends.
🎙️ Downright Mindful — Episode 105🎤 Host: Matt Parris🎤 Guest: Matt Clayton
New episodes every Sunday at 2 PM.
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