Most Recent Podcasts

February 2, 2026

A Conversation About Service, Perspective, and the Future of Johnston County

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…

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January 26, 2026

Talking Growth, Service, and Stewardship with Adam Caldwell

On this week’s episode of The Best of Johnston County Podcast, I sat down with Adam Caldwell, who’s running for the Johnston County Commissioner District 3 seat. If you’ve followed the show for a while, you know I love these conversations — not just because of politics, but because they…

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January 19, 2026

Engineer. Neighbor. Vice Chair. Why Butch Lawter Wants Four More Years

Bat Cave is a real place. That is where Butch Lawter starts his story, and it tells you a lot about him. From Bat Cave to Spartanburg to Raleigh for an NC State engineering degree, then to Clayton in 1993 with his wife and two kids, Butch’s path runs through…

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January 12, 2026

“Getting It Done”: Commissioner on Budgets and Growth

I welcomed Commissioner Mike Rose back to The Best of Johnston County Podcast to talk about his run for a full four-year term representing District 3. Mike was appointed to finish an unexpired term and, a little over a year in, he has strong views on the revaluation year, our…

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January 5, 2026

A Harbor Close to Home Healing Safety and Community in Johnston County

On this episode of The Best of Johnston County Podcast, I sat down with Kay Johnson, Executive Director of Harbor of Johnston County, for a clear, practical look at domestic violence and how our community responds. Harbor is our local domestic violence shelter and counseling center, and it also serves…

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December 29, 2025

Keeping the Spirit of Relay for Life Alive in Johnston County

If you’ve ever heard of Relay for Life, you probably picture teams walking through the night, luminaries glowing along the track, and a community bound together by remembrance and hope. For me, those images bring back a flood of memories. This week on The Best of Johnston County Podcast, I…

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December 22, 2025

Clayton on the Rise in Johnston County’s Growth

On this week’s episode of The Best of Johnston County Podcast, I sat down with Joseph Stallings, Clayton’s Economic Development Director, to talk about where Clayton has been, where it is right now, and where it is headed next. Joe has only been in this role for about seven months,…

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December 15, 2025

Ask Jonathan Anything: Life After Divorce

On this episode of The Best of Johnston County Podcast, we did something a little different. Instead of sitting down with a community leader or local business owner, I hosted a special edition we call Ask Jonathan Breeden Anything. These episodes give me the chance to answer common family law…

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December 8, 2025

Johnston County DA Shares His Vision for Law Enforcement and the Courts

When I started The Best of Johnston County Podcast a little over two years ago, I truly had no idea whether we’d make it past a handful of episodes. At first, I figured I’d have to rely on friends or people I already knew just to fill the guest list.…

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December 1, 2025

The Systems Behind the Scenes of Johnston County

When I walked into the State of the Region Chamber breakfast back in early September of 2025, I had no idea I would end up inviting the speaker onto the podcast a few days later. But when I listened to Josh Jensen talk about the sheer scale of what Community…

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November 24, 2025

Leadership, Access, and the Future of Health Care in Johnston County with Tom Williams

When I sat down with Tom Williams for his second episode on The Best of Johnston County Podcast, I did not feel like I was talking to a corporate executive. I felt like I was talking to a man who had never forgotten where he started. Tom is the president…

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November 17, 2025

How Johnston County’s New Tourism Leader Plans to Celebrate Our Community

When I sat down with Aaron Mullins for this episode of The Best of Johnston County Podcast, I knew he was brand new to the job. He had started at the beginning of August and was just finishing his fourth week as the new President and CEO of the Johnston…

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