Join me in conversation with Beaufort Mayor Sharon Harker on getting involved, building connections, and voting every chance you get. Mayor Harker talks about what concerned her when she ran for office, how she earned the trust of her constituents, and why your vote matters, among other things.

Join me as I chat with Catissa Head, Executive Director of Coastal Community Action, an organization that serves the most vulnerable members of our eastern North Carolina community. Catissa credits her mom with teaching her compassion and shares how she reciprocates that loving care. Then, we explore the challenges faced by impoverished people in Carteret County and how organizations like CCA and local volunteers offer our most resource-strapped neighbors with critical opportunities to improve their circumstances.

Join Emily and me at Vlad’s Lookout Lodge, a seasonal haunt in Beaufort, to explore how Carteret County folks use celebrations as an excuse to have more fun while doing more good. It was the perfect setting for a spirited conversation about how good times together help strengthen community bonds.

In Episode 2, Amanda and I are setting our sights on the educational horizon to consider how a community of learners can make progress together. Could it be that a collective commitment to personal growth is one of the secret ingredients when you’re cultivating an epic community?

The first stop on our quest to uncover what makes Carteret County so inviting is the community’s dynamic business ecosystem. In conversation with Tom Kies, Chamber of Commerce President and Edgar-nominated author of the popular Geneva Chase mystery series, we’ll explore how business owners and creatives in Carteret County thrive by collaborating with each other and the broader community. Get ready for some enlightening stories of entrepreneurial teamwork and community partnership. Dive deeper into Tom’s writing career, the Chamber, and other topics mentioned in the episode by visiting epic-carteret.com, where you'll find links to organizations mentioned and articles that provide more insights into Carteret County.

In this Epic Extra Tom Kies talks about an interesting trend he's noticed toward more creative exploration.

What does it take to create an epic community?

Join writer Autumn Ware on an audio journey to find out.