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Compass Points

Scott Barker
Knoxville
Knox County
University Of Tennessee
Knox County Schools
Affordable Housing
Emerald Youth Foundation
Sales Tax Referendum
City Council
Knox County Commission
Tennessee
Covenant Health Park
Tim Burchett
Chilhowee Park
Juvenile Service Center
Knoxville Smokies
Gay Street Bridge
County Commission
Knox County School Board
Big Ears Festival
Sales Tax Increase

Compass Points Podcast provides news, insights and analysis of Knoxville and Knox County government, politics and business. Content is updated every Sunday.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes228Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNewsGovernment

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Artwork for Compass Points

Latest Episodes

As early voting gets under way this week, Scott and Jesse talk elections: specifically, the county mayor's race and the fight for offices in Farragut. Also, Knoxville ponders "What's Next" for the city's growth, and a new apartment building is ready ... more

This week, Scott looks at the Knox County school board's budget cuts and mild rebuke of County Commission, along with the Planning Commission's further delay of proposed apartments at the Kerbela Temple site. Also: City Council establishes a North Wa... more

YouTube

This week, Scott and Jesse look at Knox County Schools' plan to cut nearly $8 million from its budget, including by eliminating teaching positions. They also discuss the University of Tennessee's $1.9 million settlement with fired Professor Tamar Shi... more

YouTube

Synopsis: This week, Scott and Jesse talk about Knox County's moratorium on large new data centers; what this year's reappraisal means for your property taxes; Knox County Schools' TCAP scores; City Councilman Denzel Grant's appointment to chair the ... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Hancen Sale
Writer on development; former Government Affairs Director at East Tennessee Realtors, Substack author
Independent; formerly East Tennessee Realtors
Episode: Ep. 218 06/21/2026
Seth Barber
Lord Seth Barber, engineering/tech contributor
Episode: Ep. 216 06/07/2026
Lord Seth Barber
Local policy commentator; referenced as guest
Barbarian Productions
Episode: Ep.215 05/31/2026
Steve Smith
Executive Director of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy
Southern Alliance for Clean Energy
Episode: Ep. 200 02/15/2026
Jesse Mayshark
Podcaster extraordinaire and co-founder of Compass
Compass
Episode: Ep. 191 12/07/2025
Mike Cohen
Public relations legend of Knoxville
Episode: Ep. 177 08/31/2025
John Rose
Congressman from Tennessee and Republican candidate for governor
U.S. Congress
Episode: Ep. 176 08/24/2025
Jeff Hagood
Local attorney and partner at Hagood Moody-Hodge
Tennessee Valley Authority
Episode: Ep. 169 07/06/2025
Josh Smith
Knoxville businessman and former drug dealer, recently appointed as Deputy Director of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
Fourth Purpose Foundation
Episode: Ep. 166 06/15/2025

Hosts

Scott Barker
Host of Compass Points; editor at Compass Points; long-running figure in coverage of Knoxville politics.
Jesse Mayshark
Co-founder and host; frequent co-host and contributor to local governance coverage.
Seth A. Barber
Co-host and producer/host; contributes to in-studio discussions and production.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 12 ratings
  • So informative everybody that lives in Knox county.

    Sorry the reason not for having five stars is that is they haven’t had a new pod cast recently. Even after the reset elections for 2022. I absolutely love this! Everybody who lives in the county. Really should be ravenously consuming this podcast. That’s what a lot of people don’t understand everybody votes in the presidential election, but what really matters everyone only votes in presidential elections. So it’s a shame is what is happening in our district your home town your local elections a... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Rogin24
    United States4 years ago
  • I subscribed.

    These guys know their stuff and get after the story. The show is top level but their digital paper is in depth and they do a daily mailer that is the perfect quick out the door primer for an informed day in Knox County TN

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Callilid
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Regular guests and practical takeaways for civic engagement
Clear, informed analysis of local governance and budgets
Listeners appreciate the depth beyond daily headlines
Bipartisan tone noted by listeners

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#122
United States/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ep. 218 06/21/2026
Q: What is density 101, and how can more dense development be beneficial beyond economics?
Hancen Sale explains that higher density can preserve rural land by concentrating growth in specific areas, supports more foot traffic for retailers, reduces per-unit infrastructure costs, and helps fund services through a larger tax base, all while acknowledging the need to balance growth with infrastructure and community character.
Ep. 135 11/10/2024
Q: What did the election outcomes indicate about Knox County's political landscape?
Scott and Jesse discuss how Knox County remains solidly Republican and how that affects local Democrats, showing that they hit a ceiling in terms of voter support.
Ep. 160 05/04/2025
Q: Can you talk a little bit about the public safety initiatives?
The budget addresses pay gaps for firefighters and includes funding for violence interruption programs.
Ep. 160 05/04/2025
Q: What are the priorities in this budget?
Public safety and housing are the top priorities in the budget.
Ep. 160 05/04/2025
Q: What is your general view on the budget?
The budget is fiscally conservative, focusing on lifting struggling neighbors and maintaining essential services.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Compass Points

What is Compass Points about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show focuses on Knoxville and Knox County government, politics, and business with a practical, policy-minded lens. Episodes cover budgeting, local elections, policing, education policy, library controversies, and development projects, often mixing reporting with candid analysis and community context. A recurring strength is its clear tie between local governance and everyday civic life, delivered in a conversational, accessible style. Noteworthy traits include a collaborative host dynamic, frequent guests, and a willingness to explore how state and national trends shape local outcomes. Potential listeners who want informed, action-oriented local politics coverage, or sponsors seeking a civically engaged, policy-first audience, may find... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Compass Points?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Compass Points:

1. Headlights: Voices from The Progressive South
2. Almost in Agreement
3. The Political Scene | The New Yorker
4. Main Justice
5. The New Yorker Radio Hour

How many episodes of Compass Points are there?

Compass Points launched 4 years ago and published 228 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Compass Points?

Recent guests on Compass Points include:

1. Hancen Sale
2. Seth Barber
3. Lord Seth Barber
4. Steve Smith
5. Jesse Mayshark
6. Mike Cohen
7. John Rose
8. Jeff Hagood

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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