Melissa Kelley, a community leader and former Marine Corps officer, shares how her military service shaped her leadership in volunteer work, from the Carteret Writers to local theaters. She discusses the impact of local cultural initiatives like writing conferences and community arts, offering insights on balancing your personal life with a passion for service. Through her story, we explore the vital role dedicated volunteers play in fostering engagement and strengthening the cultural fabric of Carteret County.

Barbara Garrity-Blake, a cultural anthropologist, musician, and festival organizer, delves into the integration of cultural heritage and modern community engagement in this episode of EPIC Carteret. We explore her initiatives like the Wild Caught Local Seafood and Music Festival and her work with community movements like Saltwater Connections. Highlighting her efforts in preserving traditional folkways, Barbara offers insights into how committed individuals can keep local culture alive and vibrant.

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.

We’ve distilled the spirit of our Winter Hauntings to a chilling hour of storytelling in poem, prose and music in our broadcast of Summer Spirits, including: John Greenleaf Whittier’s “The Palantine” performed by local playwright and actor Doug Miron; poems written and read by Pamlico County Poet Laureate Malaika King Albrecht; songs written and performed by the musical duo Emily and John Carter (a.k.a. Chick ‘N’ Biscuit); and the top three stories in our 2023 ghost story competition “A Fireside Chat” by Willow Red, “Heaven or Hell” by Jessi Waugh, and contest winner “The Causeway” by Melissa Kelley performed by Carteret Community Theater superstars Alex Russell, Matt Brooks, and Kimberly Murdoch.

Content warning

The locally inspired stories, poems, and songs performed in this episode of EPIC Carteret’s Summer Spirits 2024 contain mature themes and scenes that may be distressing to some listeners, including but not limited to: Fire and related destruction Encounters with dastardly pirates Ghostly apparitions and supernatural events Depictions of murder and violence Discussions of adultery and witchcraft Other frightening and unsettling content

Listener discretion is advised.

Rights Retention Statement: All artists retain full rights to their submitted stories, poems, and songs shared in this special episode of EPIC Carteret.

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.