In this episode of Beyond the Adjustment, Dr. Scott sits down with Paul Pitney, CEO of the Dickson County YMCA, to explore how the Y impacts health far beyond the gym walls. Paul shares his personal journey, the YMCA’s deep roots in community service, and exciting plans for the future that will continue shaping wellness in Dickson County.
Dr. Scott: I want to welcome Paul Pitney to the podcast today. Paul, this podcast is called Beyond the Adjustment. The goal is to highlight that health is more than just chiropractic care, eating right, or exercise. It’s about the many individuals and organizations in our community that impact health and well-being.
I know the YMCA plays a tremendous role in that and will continue to do so, especially with some exciting things happening. To start us off, I’d love to hear your origin story. How did you get involved with the YMCA?
Paul Pitney: I’ve been with the YMCA professionally for 26 years, and my story actually goes back to when I was six years old. I grew up in Madisonville, Kentucky. My dad was a Kentucky State Police officer, and my mom was a high school English teacher. Even though they both had degrees and good jobs, together they made about $17,000 a year, so we qualified for food stamps.
Because of that, my sister and I couldn’t afford things like away summer camps. The YMCA provided scholarships so we could attend day camp. That’s really where it all started for me.
Dr. Scott: No way.
Paul Pitney: I remember riding an old Chevy bus, listening to Steve Miller, going to city parks, swimming, and just being a kid. That experience stuck with me. Later on, I worked at the Y part-time—teaching swim lessons, lifeguarding, and helping with programs throughout high school.
Dr. Scott: How did that turn into a career?
Paul Pitney: Like a lot of students, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. I went to a local community college affiliated with the University of Kentucky. During my second year, I took a service-learning class that highlighted the YMCA. That was a real epiphany moment for me—I realized I could do this for the rest of my life.
Dr. Scott: That’s an incredible full-circle story.
Paul Pitney: At one point, I even considered going into ministry. A mentor told me, “Have you ever considered that the YMCA might be your ministry?” That really sealed it for me. I went on to Murray State University and majored in recreation and nonprofit administration—my kids like to say I majored in camping.
Dr. Scott: I know some football players who probably majored in worse things.
Paul Pitney: My first full-time job was with the YMCA in North Carolina at Blue Ridge Assembly, a historic conference center outside Asheville. That place has been around since the early 1900s and has an incredible legacy.
Dr. Scott: How far back does the YMCA itself go?
Paul Pitney: The YMCA started over 180 years ago in London, England, above a drapery shop during the textile revolution. A man named George Williams started a Bible study to help keep young men on a positive path as they moved into cities. About six years later, the movement came to North America, landing in Boston and Montreal.
Over the years, the YMCA has played a major role in history—from supporting soldiers during World Wars I and II to helping found the USO.
Dr. Scott: That’s incredible. And when I moved to Dickson, there wasn’t a YMCA yet. You’ve really been here from the beginning.
Paul Pitney: Yes, a group of local volunteers hired me to help start the YMCA here in Dickson.
Dr. Scott: One thing I’ve always noticed is how welcoming and well-maintained the YMCA feels. It’s more than just a gym—it feels intentional, and I love seeing the scripture and values represented.
Paul Pitney: That’s because it’s about more than fitness—it’s about community. If we weren’t social beings, we’d all just work out at home. But community connection is essential to health.
Dr. Scott: Absolutely. There’s a different level of energy when you’re exercising alongside others.
Paul Pitney: Friendships form here. People notice when you don’t show up. And during life’s hardships—job loss, divorce, illness, housing emergencies—we try not to turn anyone away due to inability to pay. Someone running next to you on a treadmill might be paying half price or nothing at all.
Dr. Scott: That community care really shows, especially with programs like the warming station in winter.
Paul Pitney: When temperatures drop below 18 degrees, we open the YMCA as a warming station. People can sleep overnight, take a hot shower, eat, and stay safe. Sometimes families come in simply because their pipes froze and they don’t have water. It’s about meeting real, immediate needs.
Dr. Scott: That’s such an important service.
Paul Pitney: Beyond that, we offer youth programs like NFL Flag Football, summer day camps, and fall break camps. We partner with organizations like the Dickson County Health Center and Second Harvest for mobile food pantries, and we host a large turkey giveaway every year.
We’re also working on a summer feeding program because many people don’t lack food—they lack access to healthy food.
Dr. Scott: That’s very well said.
Paul Pitney: We also offer programs like Journey to Freedom, which helps people address addictions of all kinds, and we’re launching a cancer survivorship program based on the Livestrong model to provide support after insurance coverage ends.
Dr. Scott: That gives people real hope.
Paul Pitney: Looking ahead, we’re planning to break ground on a new YMCA facility around May or June of 2026, with an estimated opening in late 2027.
Dr. Scott: What will the new facility include?
Paul Pitney: It will be located at Hensley Park and feature a full aquatic center—the only indoor pool from Bellevue to Jackson. It will serve as a regional hub for multiple counties and open doors for things like swim teams and expanded wellness programming.
Dr. Scott: That’s huge for the community.
Paul Pitney: At its core, the YMCA is for everyone. It’s a true community center. We host about 60 free community meetings a month and work closely with nonprofits throughout Dickson County. For me, that’s the ministry—serving people and meeting the needs of the community.
Dr. Scott: You can really see the impact, especially knowing that some of the kids you serve today may one day lead this community.
Paul Pitney: We already see that happening. Kids who grew up in our programs now work for us, have families, and bring their own children to the YMCA. It’s generational.
Dr. Scott: That’s what makes it feel like a family. Paul, thank you for sharing your story and for everything you do for this community.
Paul Pitney: Thank you. There really is nothing like the YMCA. I love the people and I love this community.