Jeff Mathes - Know Their Stories: Voices from March 27, 2023

In this episode, we sit down with Sergeant Jeff Mathes of the Metro Nashville Police Department—one of the first officers on the scene at The Covenant School on March 27, 2023. Jeff walks us through the sights, sounds, and split-second decisions of that day. He speaks candidly about what it means to be a leader in a crisis—and healing through accepting that there was nothing he could have changed about his actions that day to save lives.

Jeff opens up about returning home that day to his family and the moment he heard a clip of the fire alarm on the radio the next morning that triggered a mental break.

Awarded the Medal of Valor and recognized in the Oval Office, Jeff reflects on why the relationships formed through this tragedy mean more than any honor, and the personal truth he’s had to embrace: “You can’t live your life based on this event that was one day of your life.”

Notes:

5:58: How Jeff got into law enforcement/degree at Harding University

42:47: "I need to be able to do the job that I expect my people to do."

45:35: Understanding the gravity of the situation and that his actions will be scrutinized or recognized

1:15:29: Jeff's mindset on the way to the school and preparing himself

1:21:12: The rest of Jeff's day and returning home

1:24:24 The following day having a mental break because a radio ad started with a fire alarm sound

1:29:25: Pushing through mental trauma by accepting that he did his job and couldn't have changed the other outcomes

1:35:10: Jeff awarded the Medal of Valor by President Biden at the White House

1:39:30: "What interests me is the relationships I've formed from this event and the community I serve, not the awards or papers for my desk."

1:40:35: Jeff's advice for others that have gone through similar incidents

Rachel Sanderson - Know Their Stories: Voices from March 27, 2023

On March 27, 2023, Rachel Sanderson walked onto The Covenant School campus for her first day as a substitute teacher there. It was a beautiful morning—calm, full of worship, and seemingly ordinary. Within hours, everything changed.

In this conversation, Rachel recounts what happened that day—from the moment the fire alarm went off to the terrifying minutes spent locked inside a classroom with students. With raw honesty, she shares how training kicked in and how faith held her steady.

Rachel reflects on the trauma, isolation, and the unexpected strength she found in processing it. She also speaks about how connecting with others—including mass shooting survivors—has been key to her healing. Through it all, her hope is clear: to help others feel less alone, to encourage preparation, and to point toward the God moments even in the darkest hour.

Rachel’s story is a reminder of what this series is about—naming the hard things, honoring the good that still breaks through, and not looking away. This episode reminds us why we keep listening: because light still shines in the darkness.

Notes:

8:00 – March 27, 2023: Rachel's first day subbing at Covenant

18:25 – Fire alarm triggers confusion

19:30 – Rachel hears banging noises—normalcy bias sets in

25:50 – Rachel begins praying aloud

29:10 – The 911 call: confirmation of an active shooter

35:00 – Fire station, comforting children, and immediate aftermath

43:20 – “I’m glad I was the sub that day” – leaning on training

49:00 – Debriefing with Brink; importance of safe people to process with

53:40 – Balancing trauma and motherhood

59:40 – Frustration with media

1:06:00 – Facing evil in the flesh

1:13:05 – Healing through hearing others’ stories

1:14:30 – Purpose of this podcast series: “I didn’t know someone else felt that way too”

1:19:00 – Reaching out to other survivors

1:28:00 – “I want to help others—even if it’s just being prepared for an emergency situation”