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What's Up, Wake
The Other Side of Raleigh: Tyree Dudley Shares the Stories of Raleigh’s Unhoused Community
What’s Up Wake features Tyree Dudley, founder of The Other Side of Raleigh, an organization working to connect with Raleigh’s unhoused community and bring attention to stories that often go unnoticed.Tyree shares how he moved from New Jersey to Raleigh to expand his marketing and branding business,
Calling the Canes: Behind the Mic with Carolina Hurricanes Broadcaster Mike Maniscalco
This episode of What's Up Wake goes behind the mic with Carolina Hurricanes play-by-play announcer Mike Maniscalco. Mike shares how his love of sports turned into a career in broadcasting, from student radio and television to calling Hurricanes games and covering some of the biggest moments in franc
Home Sweet Home: Exploring the Triangle Real Estate Market with Van Starling of Hodge & Kittrell Sotheby’s International Realty
What’s Up, Wake Episode 80 features Melissa in conversation with Van Starling II, managing broker for Hodge and Kittrell Sotheby’s International Realty, about the current Triangle real estate market and what buyers and sellers should expect heading into 2027.Van describes the local market as balance
Fresh Catch: The NC Seafood Festival and Local Industry
North Carolina Seafood: Local Shrimp, Trawling Debate (HB 442) & the NC Seafood FestivalSponsored in Part by Bloomin’ Blinds Raleigh, we dive into North Carolina’s commercial fishing industry with Amy McCullough of NC Catch. Amy explains NC Catch’s consumer education mission, its statewide chef amba
Dig in: Backyard-to-Table Tips from Corinne Beirne of The Nourished Garden
Episode 78 of What’s Up Wake explores the world of kitchen gardening with Corinne Beirne, founder of The Nourished Garden. Corinne shares how she went from growing herbs on her back porch to helping others create beautiful, productive gardens that fit into everyday life.Melissa and Corinne discuss b
Feeding NC: Amy Beros of Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina Fights to End Hunger
In this episode of What's Up Wake, Melissa sits down with Amy Beros, President and CEO of the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, to discuss hunger and food insecurity across the region.Amy shares the story of how the Food Bank began in 1980 with Barbara Oates and a small group of volun
Exploring Wake County Magnet Schools With Dr. Mariah Walker & Tamani Powell
In this episode of What’s Up, Wake, host Melissa Wistehuff sits down with two women helping shape education in Wake County: Dr. Mariah Walker, principal of Wake Young Women’s Leadership Academy and the 2026 Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year, and Tamani Anderson Powell, director of mar
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
