Most Recent Podcasts

June 30, 2025

The Wildlife Insider: How Robert Weaver Solves the Problems You Hope You Never Have

One of my favorite parts of hosting The Best of Johnston County Podcast is learning about jobs I never even knew existed — and the people who are quietly making our community safer, smarter, and sometimes… a little less wild. In this week’s episode, I sat down with Robert Weaver,…

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June 23, 2025

How a WRAL Reporter Became the Voice of Novo Nordisk—and What It Means for Johnston County

If you’ve lived in Johnston County for a while, there’s a good chance you’ve seen Stacy Beard — either reporting live from WRAL, leading communication efforts for the Town of Clayton, or now helping tell the story of one of the largest companies in the world: Novo Nordisk. In this…

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June 16, 2025

The Eyes on Every Beam: How Randy Berry Is Raising the Bar in Johnston County

I’ve bought and sold a lot of property over the years—and I’ve had mixed experiences with home inspectors. Some I’ve liked. Others… not so much. So when I met Randy Berry of Advanced Quality Inspections (AQI) here in Clayton, I knew I wanted to have him on the podcast. Randy…

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June 9, 2025

Why Johnston County’s Workforce Future Is in Good Hands

Reflections on my conversation with Joy Callahan of Callahan Connections I’ve known Joy Callahan for a long time. We’ve worked together, served on boards together, and I’ve admired her dedication to Johnston County for years. But sitting down with her for this episode of The Best of Johnston County Podcast…

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June 2, 2025

Ask Jonathan Breeden Anything: Custody & New School Year

Hi, I’m Jonathan Breeden, a family law attorney and host of The Best of Johnston County Podcast. In this special “Ask Jonathan Anything” episode, I sat down with Raena Burch to talk about something that comes up a lot in my law office: how to handle custody during the school…

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May 26, 2025

There Is Life After Narcissism — I Sat Down with Someone Who Proves It

Every so often, I have a guest on this show who leaves me thinking about our conversation long after we’ve wrapped the mics. That’s exactly what happened when I sat down with Denise Kavaliauskas. She’s the founder of the Life After Narcissism Foundation, and she’s not just talking the talk—she’s…

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May 19, 2025

Giving Back to the Community: The Blue Knights Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club

In Johnston County, there’s a unique group of individuals who blend their love for motorcycles with a deep commitment to giving back to their community. The Blue Knights Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club is made up of current and retired law enforcement officers, and they’re doing some amazing work to support…

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May 12, 2025

Gameday Men’s Health: A New Way to Feel Your Best

As many of you know, life gets busy—work, family, and everything in between. And for a lot of men, their health sometimes takes a backseat. But what if there was a place where you could regain your energy, vitality, and confidence, without feeling like you’re walking into another sterile doctor’s…

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May 5, 2025

Building a Life Around Dogs: Katie Ast’s Journey from Kennels to Just Dog People

As a lifelong dog lover, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting some truly inspiring people in Johnston County, but none have left an impression quite like Katie Ast. Katie is the owner of Just Dog People, a local gem that has become the go-to spot for dog lovers in the…

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April 28, 2025

Navigating Custody During School Breaks: What Parents Need to Know

When it comes to co-parenting, managing custody during the school year is one thing — but school breaks add a whole new layer of complexity. In a special edition of the Best of Johnston County Podcast, family law attorney Jonathan Breeden and social media coordinator Raena Birch dove into what…

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April 21, 2025

Steering Johnston County’s Future — My Second Sit‑Down with County Manager Rick Hester

I’ve had the privilege of watching Johnston County transform from dusty backroads into one of North Carolina’s most dynamic communities—and County Manager Rick Hester has been at the center of every milestone. Fresh off a dream of playing Major League Baseball, Rick joined the county’s planning department in 1987, trading…

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April 14, 2025

Building New Beginnings in Johnston County: My Journey with Hope Center Ministries

As the host of The Best of Johnston County Podcast, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing life-changing stories right here in our community. One of the most inspiring is the new recovery home opened by Hope Center Ministries in Wilsons Mills—a place where faith, discipline, and community come together to…

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