The Raleigh You've Never Seen: A Secret Guide to the City with Emily Price
Secret Raleigh with Emily Price: Hidden Gems, Ghost Stories & Lost LandmarksMelissa interviews Emily Price, author of “Secret Raleigh: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful and Obscure,” about unusual and mysterious places around Raleigh. Price explains her love of weird history and how she researched mul

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From Shelters to Forever Homes: Highlighting Wake SPCA with Kim Janzen
SPCA of Wake County: Rescue Stories, Affordable Vet Care & the New Peggy Garner Britt Resource CenterThis episode features Kim Janzen, president and CEO of the SPCA of Wake County, discussing the organization’s mission, funding, and evolving approach to animal welfare. Kim explains that SPCA of Wake

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Lazy Daze: Cary's Premier Summer Festival with Jenna Kostka
50th Annual Lazy Days Arts & Crafts Festival in Cary: What to Expect + Insider TipsThe episode spotlights Cary’s 50th annual Lazy Daze Arts and Crafts Festival, a two-day downtown event that draws about 50,000 visitors and features 250+ juried artist booths, live music, food, family activities, and

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Camp Kesem: Empowering Kids through Shared Journeys
This episode features an interview with Camp Kesem regional program coordinator Jenna Rumsey and former camper turned counselor Grace Kester about Camp Kesem, a nonprofit providing free summer camp and year-round support for children whose parents are affected by cancer, including diagnosis, treatme

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Brewing Something Special with Sam Nelson of Pretty Good Coffee Company
Melissa interviews Sam Nelson, owner of Pretty Good Coffee Company, a North Carolina-based luxury mobile coffee cart business that grew from his home espresso hobby into a catering-focused operation. Sam explains why he chose the cart model over a brick-and-mortar shop, emphasizing flexibility and l

30:48

A Taste for Telling Stories with Food Writer David McCreary
The host interviews David McCreary, a freelance food feature writer for Cary Magazine, Wake Living, and Main & Broad since 2004, about how he got into food writing, his process for pitching and covering monthly themes, and why he focuses on positive storytelling rather than anonymous food criticism.

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Inside Holly Springs Growth with Tonya Palumbo
Executive Director Tonya Palumbo discusses how the Holly Springs Chamber of Commerce supports local businesses as a 501(c)(6) membership organization, distinct from government and from 501(c)(3) nonprofits. She shares how member needs have shifted through rapid growth and rising costs, highlighting

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The Real Story Behind the North Carolina Accent with Dr. Walt Wolfram
What does the way you speak reveal about who you are?In this fascinating episode, Melissa sits down with Dr. Walt Wolfram, the William C. Friday Distinguished University Professor at NC State University and one of America's foremost experts on dialects and sociolinguistics. Together, they explore th

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How Shibumi Shade Took Over the Beach with Dane Barnes
How Shibumi Shade Became North Carolina’s Unofficial Beach Flag | 10 Years of a Homegrown IdeaAhead of the July 4th beach rush, the episode features Dane Barnes, co-founder of Shibumi Shade, reflecting on the company’s 10-year rise from a DIY, wind-powered shade prototype made from hardware-store ma

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Lost Towns and Ghost Stories: A Conversation with Heather Leah
In this episode, local storyteller, historian, and author Heather Leah shares how she began writing online more than a decade ago, grew a large following by blending deep research with engaging “hidden history,” and why preserving local stories matters as places vanish. She discusses mysteries like

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Raleigh's Culinary Growth: An Interview with Amber Moshakos
Melissa interviews Amber Moshakos of family-owned LM Restaurants, the group behind concepts including Carolina Ale House, Taverna Agora, Birdie’s Ballroom, Vidrio, Oceanic/Bluewater in Wrightsville Beach, and SMASH on Glenwood South. Amber shares her parents’ immigrant story, how LM began as a 48-se

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A Fun Spin on Dentistry: Dr. McCormick’s Entertaining Venture
Bryden McCormick, a Fuquay-Varina dentist and owner of Fuquay Family Dentistry, shares how he went from economics and banking to dentistry, then to creating McWally’s after seeing the town’s need for a family entertainment spot. He explains the years-long process from concept to opening on August 20

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From Broadway to Raleigh: The Journey of Lauren Kennedy Brady
Lauren Kennedy Brady, a Raleigh native and Broadway performer, shares how early community theater and mentors led her to a BFA at the University of Cincinnati and a Broadway debut in Sunset Boulevard through an agent connection, while describing the instability and rejection of acting careers. She e

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Beyond Awareness: The Invictus Project's Mission Against Exploitation
Melissa talks with Whitney Miller, vice president of The Invictus Project, about combating the sexual exploitation and trafficking of children in North Carolina through partnerships with law enforcement, including four sheriff’s offices, the State Bureau of Investigation, and Homeland Security Inves

43:36

Batter Up! Michael Villafana Talks Salamanders Baseball
Melissa interviews Michael Villafana, general manager of the Holly Springs Salamanders, about his path from sport management and marketing at Seton Hall to baseball roles in St. Paul and Worcester before moving to North Carolina and joining the Salamanders at Ting Park.  Michael explains the team’s

29:51

Debunking Skincare Myths with Dr. Thomas Knackstedt
In this summer skincare episode, the host Melissa talks with dermatologist Dr. Thomas Knackstedt about keeping skin healthy without overcomplicating routines, emphasizing a simple cleanser–moisturizer–sunscreen approach and the importance of consistency, sleep, diet, hydration, and avoiding smoking

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Seaside Stories with NY Times Bestselling Author Kristy Woodson Harvey
The episode features an interview with New York Times bestselling author Kristy Woodson Harvey, celebrating the release of her 13th novel, Summer State of Mind. Harvey discusses studying journalism at UNC, pivoting through a finance sales job that built resilience, and breaking into publishing after

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Bagel Haven: Jeff's Bagel Run Owner and 127 Haven Founder Ryan McEvoy
Ryan McEvoy, owner of Jeff’s Bagel Run locations in Wake Forest and Rolesville (with a Raleigh shop opening near Glen Lake), shares how his experience helping build the uBreakiFix franchise led him into the bagel business and helps fund his nonprofit, 127 Haven. He explains 127 Haven’s James 1:27-in

35:23

Unlocking Your Full Potential with Jody Donaldson
Join us as we dive into a conversation with Jody Donaldson, owner of Alloy Personal Training and host of The Progress Zone podcast. Discover the key to sustainable growth in fitness and life, as Jody shares his journey from a real estate business owner to a fitness entrepreneur, author, and podcast

27:35

Moves Like Swagger: Shop Success with Mandy Becker
Melissa interviews Mandy Becker, owner of Swagger Boutique, a women’s style destination in Wake County with locations in Raleigh and Cary. Becker shares how a beloved South Georgia gift shop inspired her, how she earned an engineering degree at Georgia Tech, opened Swagger as a gift store in 2002, a

38:29

The Big Cheese with Frank Yarborough of Frankie B's
Host Melissa interviews Frank Yarborough, creator of Frankie B’s pimento cheese, just days before the Pimento Cheese Festival in Downtown Cary Park. Frank shares how he grew up with his mother’s pimento cheese, learned the family recipe after she passed, and refined it into three flavors with a focu

34:38

From Sgt. Pepper to Sasq'et with Storyteller Maxim Langstaff
Storyteller and Grammy/Emmy-nominated writer-producer Maxim Langstaff discusses his decades behind the scenes with music legends including John Denver and Beatles producer George Martin, describing how his John Denver Wildlife Concert work led to a 16–17 year collaboration with Martin on a live stag

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Chatting Collectibles with Adam and Tara of Triangle Area Trading Cards
Join us as we dive into the world of card collecting with Tara and Adam Reynolds, the masterminds behind Triangle Area Trading Cards. From childhood nostalgia to serious collecting, they share their journey from avid collectors to successful business owners running a beloved local hub in North Carol

35:57

Rolling the Dice with That's Spot On! Designers Sue and Linda
Join us as we dive deep into the inspiring story behind That's Spot On!, a board game created by friends Linda Pelnik and Sue Dohm. Discover how their shared love for family game nights led to the creation of a game that captured hearts at the New York Toy Fair. Linda and Sue discuss the origins of

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