Pastor Chris Haymore joins The Town Square Podcast for a Faith and Community conversation about his Newton County roots, his career in local public education, and the new calling that led him to help plant Wesley Methodist Church of Covington. He also looks back on walking on to the University of Georgia football team under Vince Dooley and the lessons in preparation and leadership that followed him from the practice field to the principal’s office and the pulpit.

Haymore explains the Global Methodist Church’s traditional approach to Scripture, the Wesleyan understanding of grace and holiness, and the role of baptism, Communion, small groups, and accountability in Methodist life. He also walks listeners through a typical Sunday at Wesley Methodist, introduces its growing ministries, and shares the vision for a new 300-seat sanctuary whose beams have been covered with Scripture and prayer.

(Listen now at TheTownSquarePodcast.com or watch on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.)

Marshall McCart of The Piedmont Chronicles returns to The Town Square Podcast for a candid conversation about political burnout, the growing number of voters who feel politically homeless, and his belief that “the messy middle is the majority.” He and Trey examine the liberty-versus-security tradeoff surrounding Flock license plate readers, debate permanent standard time, and consider how homeownership and economic opportunity shape trust in American institutions.

The episode also takes a lively turn through Covington and Newton County music history—from Led Zeppelin and Steely Dan to Southern Freight, Rocketboy, Fox Hill Road, and a memorable 1996 farm show. Marshall closes with the reason he has not given up: faith, good people, and the hope of leaving something better for the next generation.

(Listen now at TheTownSquarePodcast.com or watch on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.)

Rockdale County Board of Education member Larry Cox joins The Town Square Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about public education, fiscal stewardship, and one of Georgia's most talked-about development issues: data centers. Joined by guest co-host Dr. Gregory Brown, the discussion explores Rockdale County School's FY27 budget, Georgia's QBE funding formula, superintendent leadership, property taxes, senior tax relief, and the responsibilities of locally elected school boards.

The second half of the episode takes a deep dive into the rapidly expanding world of data centers. Drawing from interviews with engineers, energy experts, and state officials, Cox shares what he learned about water usage, electricity demand, infrastructure costs, noise concerns, and the potential economic impact on local communities. Whether you're interested in public education, local government, or the future of growth across East Metro Georgia, Episode 96 offers a thoughtful conversation designed to inform rather than inflame.

(Listen now at TheTownSquarePodcast.com or watch on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.)

Fayth Park, a conservative candidate in the special election for Georgia’s 13th Congressional District, joins Candidate Conversations to share her journey from a blue-collar California family and collegiate wrestling to motherhood, community advocacy and a grassroots run for Congress. Park explains why she believes voters want a representative who will continue showing up after Election Day.

The conversation examines Park’s call for a pause and impact studies on data-center development, along with her views on affordability, healthcare access, immigration, school choice, skilled trades and the federal debt. Georgia’s special election is July 28, 2026; if no candidate wins a majority, the top two advance to an August runoff.

(Listen now at TheTownSquarePodcast.com or watch on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.)

Fr. Justin Clemente joins Episode 94 of The Town Square Podcast to explain Anglican Christianity—from liturgy, incense, and the sacraments to the Book of Common Prayer and the Daily Office. Fr. Clemente describes how ancient patterns of worship engage the whole person, train Christians to pray, and connect modern believers with centuries of Christian faith and practice.

The conversation also introduces Lamb of God Anglican Church, a new congregation taking root in Covington. Fr. Clemente discusses what he calls a “quiet revival” among young men seeking traditional Christianity, why those men need pastoral care and community, and how Lamb of God hopes to combine historic conviction with genuine hospitality: “Come and see.”

(Listen now at TheTownSquarePodcast.com or watch on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.)

After several weeks of candidate interviews, Trey Bailey and Gabriel Stovall return behind the microphones to reflect on a busy season, share personal updates, and preview the future of The Town Square Podcast. From college graduations and family vacations to international travel and the lessons that come from seeing America through fresh eyes, this episode offers an honest look at life beyond the headlines.

The hosts also unveil exciting plans for the podcast’s next chapter, including youth-led episodes, conversations featuring guests with differing perspectives, and expanded coverage across East Metro communities. It’s a conversation about growth, curiosity, and continuing the mission of building unity—not uniformity.

(Listen now at TheTownSquarePodcast.com or watch on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.)

Detective DJ Seals of the Covington Police Department joins The Town Square Podcast for Episode 92 as the show returns to regular programming after the Candidate Conversations series. Known by many as the familiar voice of local radio and Miracle League baseball, DJ shares his journey from broadcasting to law enforcement, his return to CPD, and the specialized work he now does investigating fraud, forgery, identity theft, and scams.

This conversation is both practical and personal, covering the emotional tactics scammers use through relationship fraud, fake warrants, toll texts, funeral scams, Bitcoin machines, and social media deception. DJ offers clear advice for families, caregivers, churches, civic groups, and older adults while also sharing his passion for community education, justice for victims, and the joy he finds announcing Miracle League baseball in Newton County.

(Listen now at TheTownSquarePodcast.com or watch on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.)

Commissioner Demond Mason joins The Town Square Podcast for Episode 91 of the Candidate Conversations series. Mason, the current Newton County Board of Commissioners representative for District 2, shares his journey from Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Newton County, his call into public service, and how faith, family, ministry, and community involvement shaped his leadership.

In this conversation, Mason discusses his record in office, including Salem Road widening, Denny Dobbs Park improvements, the new Senior Enrichment Center, economic development, public safety, and efforts to support Newton County’s unsheltered residents. He also explains why he is seeking re-election and how he views servant leadership in local government.

(Listen now at TheTownSquarePodcast.com or watch on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.)

Tamara Strong, candidate for Newton County Board of Commissioners District 2, joins The Town Square Podcast for this Candidate Conversations episode. A lifelong Newton County resident, wife, mother, woman of faith, and community advocate, Strong shares why she decided to run and how her campaign message — “Your Voice, Our Future” — reflects her desire to listen to residents and serve the community.

In the conversation, Strong discusses economic development, public safety, youth programs, transparency, town halls, emergency response, and her vision for “One Newton.” She also shares her heart for family, faith, cooking, and community connection as voters prepare for the May 19 primary.

(Listen now at TheTownSquarePodcast.com or watch on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.)

Jodi Lewis, candidate for Georgia House District 118, joins The Town Square Podcast for Episode 89 of the Candidate Conversations series. In this conversation, Lewis shares her story as a Newton County homeowner, mother, entrepreneur, communications strategist, and first-time candidate seeking to represent a district that includes south Newton County, all of Butts County, and much of Monroe County.

The conversation covers affordability, housing costs, healthcare, property taxes, education, school safety, and Lewis’s advocacy work connected to Miya’s Law. Lewis also discusses the importance of communication, accountability, and working across political differences to focus on the real issues facing District 118.

(Listen now at TheTownSquarePodcast.com or watch on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.)

State Representative Houston Gaines joins The Town Square Podcast for Episode 88 of the Candidate Conversations series to discuss his campaign for Georgia’s 10th Congressional District. Gaines shares his background as an Athens native, eighth-generation northeast Georgian, small-business professional, and current member of the Georgia House of Representatives.

In this conversation, Trey and Gabriel talk with Gaines about public service, his legislative record, the Baker-Coleman Act, immigration enforcement, public safety, fiscal responsibility, housing affordability, small business growth, agriculture, constituent service, and why he believes now is the right time to run for Congress.

(Listen now at TheTownSquarePodcast.com or watch on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.)

Wendell McNeal, candidate for Georgia House of Representatives District 114, joins The Town Square Podcast for another episode in our Candidate Conversations series. McNeal shares his story of growing up in Gordon and Milledgeville, losing his father at a young age, building a business from the ground up, and eventually growing a Curtis Mathis franchise into multiple locations before transitioning into real estate and community investment.

In this conversation, McNeal discusses property taxes, public education funding, senior tax relief, data centers, Rivian, economic development, and the importance of protecting quality of life while encouraging responsible growth. He also reflects on his time working with the Georgia House Judiciary Committee, his role as a Georgia presidential elector, and why he describes himself as a “workhorse, not a show horse.”

(Listen now at TheTownSquarePodcast.com or watch on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.)

Nytravious “Nytro” Smith joins The Town Square Podcast for this Candidate Conversations episode as a candidate for Newton County Board of Commissioners District 4. A lifelong Newton County resident, Eastside High School graduate, ordained minister, community coach, and tradesman, Smith shares how his roots in Green Acres, Nelson Heights, Newton County Schools, and the Washington Street Community Center shaped his desire to serve.

In this conversation, Smith discusses his campaign theme, “Preserving Newton. Preparing for the Future,” and outlines his thoughts on growth, taxes, economic development, housing, transparency, workforce development, and county-wide collaboration. He also explains his “Visionary Mentor” approach to leadership and why he believes Newton County needs fresh energy, accountability, and long-term planning.

(Listen now at TheTownSquarePodcast.com or watch on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.)

Ryan Millsap joins The Town Square Podcast for Episode 85 as part of the ongoing Candidate Conversations series, which aims to help voters hear directly from the individuals seeking public office. A Republican candidate for Georgia’s 10th Congressional District, Millsap shares the story behind his candidacy, beginning with his upbringing in a middle-class family, his academic path through Biola, Oxford, and USC, and his career as an entrepreneur in commercial real estate and film studio development.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Millsap explains why he sees himself as an outsider to politics, what drove him to run for Congress, and how his experiences in business, property battles, and public conflict shaped his views on government, the Constitution, immigration, corruption, and the role of leadership in America. He also offers a passionate vision for what he believes Georgia’s 10th District can become and why he believes this moment calls for a different kind of representative in Washington.

(Listen now at TheTownSquarePodcast.com or watch on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.)

In Episode 84 of The Town Square Podcast, Trey Bailey sits down with Richard Wright, Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Georgia, for a wide-ranging conversation as part of the Candidate Conversations series. Wright shares his remarkable personal story — from dropping out of high school, moving to Atlanta with dreams of becoming a rapper, and working at the airport for $6.25 an hour, to earning his undergraduate degree, MBA, CPA, and studying at Georgetown Law. Along the way, he explains how his life experience shaped his belief that Georgia needs leaders who can speak to people in the political middle and focus on practical solutions instead of partisan warfare. His campaign site frames that approach around “common sense leadership” and putting Georgians first.  

The conversation explores Wright’s platform on healthcare, Medicaid expansion, rural hospitals, housing affordability, tax policy, workforce development, and the need for more civility in state government. He makes the case that Georgia needs a lieutenant governor who can work with both parties, explain policy in plain English, and focus on helping working families, farmers, small business owners, and communities across the state. The episode also highlights his pitch as a moderate Democrat who believes most Georgians live in the “messy middle” and want better schools, effective taxation, and practical leadership.  

(Listen now at TheTownSquarePodcast.com or watch on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.)

Alan Fowler joins The Town Square Podcast for Episode 83 of Candidate Conversations as the Republican candidate for Newton County Board of Education District 5, the seat currently held by retiring board chair Abigail Coggin. In a thoughtful and personal conversation, Fowler reflects on his decades in public education, including 26 years at Eastside High School and his current role as Executive Director of the Georgia Music Educators Association. He shares stories about family, teaching, community, and the values that have shaped both his career and his campaign.

Throughout the episode, Fowler explains why he believes the purpose of a school system is to develop great citizens. He discusses the importance of teamwork, fiscal responsibility, listening to teachers, supporting staff, maintaining strong school safety practices, and preparing students for a variety of futures—from college to technical careers to the workforce. It’s a warm, substantive conversation that helps voters better understand both the candidate and the heart behind his run for office.

(Listen now at TheTownSquarePodcast.com or watch on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.)

Alana Sanders joins The Town Square Podcast for Episode 82 of our Candidate Conversations series to discuss her run for Georgia House District 113. In this wide-ranging conversation, she shares her personal story, her path from Louisiana to Newton County, the loss of her parents at a young age, and the many roles that have shaped her public service journey—from commissioner to lobbyist, professor, and community advocate.

Sanders also lays out her vision for Newton County, including housing affordability, infrastructure readiness, public education, data center regulation, youth programming, economic development, and the importance of transparency in government. This episode gives voters a closer look at a candidate who says she is ready to serve on day one.

(Listen now at TheTownSquarePodcast.com or watch on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.)

In Episode 81 of The Town Square Podcast, Trey Bailey continues the Candidate Conversations series with Everton Blair, Democratic candidate for U.S. Congress in Georgia’s 13th District. Blair shares his story as the son of Jamaican immigrants, a former high school math teacher, and a trailblazing member of the Gwinnett County Board of Education, where he became the board’s youngest, first Black, and first openly gay member before later serving as chair during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The conversation explores Blair’s vision for a new generation of leadership in Washington, along with his views on affordability, housing, healthcare, immigration, public education, workforce development, and the growing influence of corporations in public life. Blair also reflects on servant leadership, faith, and why he believes voters in the May primary should see this race as one of the most important opportunities to shape the future of Georgia’s 13th District.

(Listen now at TheTownSquarePodcast.com or watch on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.)

In this episode of The Town Square Podcast, Trey Bailey and Gabriel Stovall continue their Candidate Conversations series with Brett Mauldin, Republican candidate for Georgia House District 114. Mauldin shares his background as a second-generation small business owner, husband, father, and man of faith, while explaining how his upbringing, family life, and experience in construction have shaped his conservative worldview and leadership style.

The conversation covers property taxes, public education funding, local control, rural preservation, economic development, red tape on small businesses, and what Mauldin sees as the top priorities for the people of District 114. He also discusses his commitment to protecting children, supporting law enforcement, defending constitutional rights, and keeping government closer to the people it serves.

(Listen now at TheTownSquarePodcast.com or watch on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.)

In Episode 79 of The Town Square Podcast, Trey Bailey and Gabriel Stovall continue the Candidate Conversationsseries with Karla Hooper, candidate for Georgia House of Representatives District 113. Hooper shares her personal story, from her Arkansas roots and Emory University journey to more than two decades of life in Newton County. She reflects on her family legacy of public service, including her father’s participation in the Selma movement, and explains how advocacy, faith, and community engagement shaped her desire to run for office.

The conversation explores Hooper’s campaign priorities, including affordability, mental health resources, housing access, healthcare costs, public education, transparency, and responsible growth. She makes the case for a leadership style built on listening, integrity, and bridge-building across political lines, while emphasizing her desire to help bring healing and unity to Newton County and District 113.

(Listen now at TheTownSquarePodcast.com or watch on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.)