April 20, 2026
From Small-Town Roots to Big Vision Barry Woodard’s story starts the way many Johnston County stories do, with deep roots. “I grew up in Clayton… I remember when Clayton was just a small town… everybody knew everybody.” Back then, nearly everyone who lived in Clayton was actually from Clayton. Today,…
April 13, 2026
A House With History, A Vision for the Future Some places carry stories long before we ever step inside them. For Jordan Robinson, stepping into ownership of the Magnolia Inn wasn’t just a business decision, it was stepping into a legacy. The home dates back more than a century, once…
April 6, 2026
A Journey That Didn’t Start Where You’d Expect Michael Soler didn’t set out to become a dog trainer. His path moved through entrepreneurship at sixteen, military service, law enforcement, and a season of feeling completely lost. It wasn’t until a simple suggestion—“get a dog”—that everything began to shift. What started…
March 30, 2026
Why Adoption Feels Different From Everything Else Family law is often filled with conflict. Custody battles, separation, difficult transitions. But adoption stands apart. As Jonathan shared, it’s “probably the happiest thing” they handle in family law. It’s one of the few areas where the outcome is centered on building something…
March 23, 2026
From Appliance Tech to Community Connector Chet Hardaway didn’t start out building a network, he started by fixing things. After getting his start in appliance repair through a chance encounter in a home improvement store, he spent over 16 years learning the ins and outs of the trade. Along the…
March 16, 2026
From a Textile Town to Civil Engineering Joey Hopkins grew up in Eden, North Carolina, a community once deeply rooted in textiles and tobacco. Like many young people from the area, he initially planned to follow that same path. At NC State University, he started studying textiles. But he soon…
March 9, 2026
From Las Vegas to Johnston County James Woodall’s path into the fitness industry started long before his gym opened in Clayton. After growing up in a military family and spending time moving between Air Force bases, James eventually attended Western Carolina University, where he ran track. Later, he transferred to…
March 2, 2026
What Counts as Digital Evidence? Digital evidence is almost anything created or stored electronically. Text messages. Emails. Voicemails. Social media posts. Photos and videos. Parenting apps like Our Family Wizard. If it lives on a phone, computer, or tablet, it can likely show up in court. But here is the…
February 23, 2026
A Lifelong Johnston County Perspective Keith Branch isn’t new to public service. A Smithfield-Selma graduate, NC State accounting major, former state auditor, two-term school board member, and former county commissioner, Keith has spent much of his career around public finance and governance. He began with the North Carolina State Auditor’s…
February 16, 2026
Why would a former County Commissioner step down… and then decide to run again? In this candidate series episode of The Best of Johnston County Podcast, Jonathan Breeden sits down with Chad Stewart to talk about his years on the Board, his decision to lead the ABC system, and why…
February 9, 2026
When I sat down with Johnston County Sheriff Steve Bizzell, I wasn’t just talking to a long-serving elected official. I was talking to someone who sees the role of sheriff as a calling, not a job. Steve has been sheriff since 1998. If reelected, this will be his eighth term.…
February 2, 2026
Every election season brings a familiar responsibility. Not just to know who is running, but to understand why. On this episode of the Best of Johnston County Podcast, I sat down with Randall Ackley, a Republican candidate for Johnston County Sheriff, to talk through his background, his experience, and the…
“Best of Johnston County" is a heartwarming, educational podcast that dives into the stories that make this community unique. Brought to you by the trusted legal experts of Breeden Law Office and hosted by Jonathan Breeden, this show creates a platform showcasing all aspects of life in Johnston County. It features insights from business owners, political figures, community members, and even engages with significant subjects in the realm of family law. Amid the daily hustle and bustle, sometimes, we just take a step back to appreciate what lies at the heart of Johnston County.