Rephonic
Artwork for Driven By

Driven By with Sam Coates

Sam Coates
Memphis, United States
Memphis
Harding Academy
Memphis, Tennessee
Med Device
Duck Hunting
PURE Academy
Private Christian Education
Diversity In Memphis
The Works
Regional One Health
Homelessness
Education
University Of Memphis
Trauma Care
New Hospital / Regional One Health Expansion
Faith
Stage Four Pancreatic Cancer
Nonprofit Education Leadership
Delhi, India

Sharing experiences, insights, and the drivers behind why my guests have built what they have built and how this applies to what drives you.

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes119Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EntrepreneurshipBusiness

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Driven By

Latest Episodes

Most people think nonprofits survive on grants and goodwill.

Roshun Austin thinks that's the wrong mindset.

As president and CEO of The Works, Inc., she's spent the last 14 years building one of Memphis' most impactful community development organiz... more

Most universities facing enrollment challenges have responded the same way: lower the bar and hope the numbers improve. Dr. Bill Hardgrave chose a different path.

As President of the University of Memphis, Hardgrave made a controversial decision to ... more

Andy Kizzee didn’t set out to build a workforce model in one of Memphis’ most challenged neighborhoods. However, after moving into Binghampton and getting to know his neighbors, he began asking a different question: not just why people weren’t workin... more

In this episode of Driven By Sam Coates, Trent Williamson, head of school at Harding Academy, shares the story of a decision that defied expectations. At a time when many Memphis institutions were moving outward, Harding chose to stay rooted in the c... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Roshun Austin
President & CEO, The Works (community development corporation)
The Works
Episode: I Don't Take No for an Answer with Roshun Austin
Bill Hardgrave
President of the University of Memphis
University of Memphis
Episode: Higher Standards in Higher Ed's Hardest Era with Dr. Bill Hardgrave
Andy Kizzee
Structural engineer turned community development leader; founder of BDC Business Hub
Binghampton Development Corporation (BDC)
Episode: Building Jobs Where Everyone Else Left with Andy Kizzee
Trent Williamson
Head of School at Harding Academy in Memphis
Harding Academy
Episode: Burning the Ships in Memphis: The Fight to Keep a School in the City with Trent Williamson
Melvin Cole
Founder of PURE Academy, Memphis nonprofit leader
PURE Academy
Episode: "Buried $500K Drug Cash, Prison Plea with God, Bootstrapped Boarding School" with Melvin Cole
Gary Stavrum
Memphis entrepreneur with two exits in medical manufacturing; founder of multiple contract manufacturing shops; private investor and philanthropist
AB Jets (private jet broker) / MTG/Med device ventures
Episode: "Blue-Collar Kid, $20k in a Garage, Second Mortgage, Big Exits" with Gary Stavrum
JW Gibson
Entrepreneur and business leader from Memphis, founder of Premier Group, Southeast Regional Development Corporation, and Tech Print
Founder/CEO of multiple companies in healthcare supplies, real estate development, and printing
Episode: “Entrepreneurship and Mom’s Garage” with JW Gibson
Mike Mosby
Head football coach at Oakhaven High School, founder of Raising the Bar
Oakhaven High School; Raising the Bar
Episode: “Beyond Football: Saving Lives on and off the Field” with Coach Mike Mosby
Jared Bingham
Founder/Leader of The Hospitality Hub
The Hospitality Hub, Memphis
Episode: “Why We’re Still Getting Homelessness Wrong — and How to Fix It” with Jarad Bingham

Host

Sam Coates
Host of Driven By Sam Coates (brand/production)

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 66 ratings
  • Top level

    Sam Coates belongs on the world stage of talented, engaging interviewers.

    Memphis is lucky to have Sam who gives is world class abilities to this market.

    His story-telling, cadence, pace, authenticity, and commitment is unmatched.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MICR Shane
    United States3 years ago
  • Well done!

    As a former Memphian who loves to keep connection to the city, I especially love hearing these stories from respected Memphis business leaders. Sam has a natural ability to drive free-flowing conversation and allow his guests to take center stage.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CameronRushing
    United States5 years ago
  • Muddys

    So impressed with Kat. Authentic, vulnerable and smart. So grateful to have listened

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    steve of the south
    United States5 years ago
  • Highly recommend episode with Kat Gordon

    Very thought provoking. Sam is so good at asking questions that get the people he’s interviewing to open up. His podcast with Kat Gordon would be beneficial for any of us in assessing our motivations in life. She is so honest about missteps and doubts she’s had along the way, yet was willing to adjust the course of her very successful business. Good lessons in life here!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DeniseS77
    United States5 years ago
  • In my top Five favorite podcast!

    I really look forward every week to see what conversations Sam is going to bring on the show. Love how he has guest from all walks of life and fields. But all have the same thing they are driven.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    @lsparks_flyin
    United States6 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Episodes are a standout for Memphis-focused leadership stories and practical takeaways.
Guests and host are described as authentic, engaging, and inspirational, with strong community impact themes.
Listeners praise the host's thoughtful questioning and ability to draw out meaningful insights from guests.

Top Entrepreneurship Podcasts

Proven Podcast
Proven PodcastCharles Schwartz
Young and Profiting with Hala Taha (Entrepreneurship, Sales, Marketing)
Young and Profiting with Hala Taha (Entrepreneurship, Sales, Marketing)Hala Taha | Entrepreneurship, Sales, Marketing | YAP Media Network
The Money Mondays
The Money MondaysDan Fleyshman
The Code To Winning
The Code To WinningKagiso Dikane

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

I Don't Take No for an Answer with Roshun Austin
Q: What five characteristics are essential to get things done in government and drive real change?
She outlines five traits: an executive ability to connect and inspire people; strong policy understanding; a resilient backbone to withstand criticism; vision to guide strategy; and tenacity to continue despite frequent 'nos' and public scrutiny.
I Don't Take No for an Answer with Roshun Austin
Q: How have you been able to sustain your impact with private funding instead of relying on government grants?
Austin explains that she treats the organization as a corporation with a charitable mission, emphasizing private philanthropy, donor relationships, and revenue-generating activities like fee-based development work to reduce funding risk. She frames fundraising as a sales process, and highlights the importance of communicating value to corporate partners and maintaining affordability through long-term commitments.
“From $20 Million in the Red to a Vision for Memphis Healthcare” Dr. Reginald Coopwood
Q: What was the vision for the hospital, and how did you articulate it to get buy-in?
The vision was to become an institution where people choose to come for high-quality care, diversify services, and retain staff by building an environment that supports excellence; buying into that vision required hiring the right people and demonstrating visible commitment to the mission.
“From $20 Million in the Red to a Vision for Memphis Healthcare” Dr. Reginald Coopwood
Q: Would you say that's rare, given the public bad publicity at the time?
Yes, it was rare to see staff stay committed and engaged through such intense public scrutiny, and that loyalty was a pivotal factor in enabling the turnaround.
Burning the Ships in Memphis: The Fight to Keep a School in the City with Trent Williamson
Q: What's been the personal impact of your cancer journey on your leadership and priorities?
The illness has sharpened focus on relationships and time with loved ones, reinforced the importance of faith and community support, and underscored the need to stay the long-term course despite hardship.

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 Driven By

What is Driven By about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A collection of conversations with Memphis-area leaders across education, healthcare, entrepreneurship, and nonprofit sectors. Guests discuss turning challenges into opportunities, building community-focused organizations, and scaling impact through partnerships, funding, and purposeful leadership. The show stands out for its deep local context, candid personal backstories, and practical takeaways on governance, strategic growth, and social impact that are likely valuable to listeners aiming to lead mission-driven organizations or sponsor community-focused initiatives.

Where can I find podcast stats for Driven By?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Driven By. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Driven By and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Driven By get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Driven By, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Driven By?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Driven By, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Driven By have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Driven By has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Driven By?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Driven By:

1. Morning Wire
2. The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture
3. Gary Parrish Show

How many episodes of Driven By are there?

Driven By launched 6 years ago and published 119 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Driven By?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Driven By?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Driven By from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Driven By?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Driven By. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Driven By?

Recent guests on Driven By include:

1. Roshun Austin
2. Bill Hardgrave
3. Andy Kizzee
4. Trent Williamson
5. Melvin Cole
6. Gary Stavrum
7. JW Gibson
8. Mike Mosby

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days