September 28, 2026
When Keith Branch returned to The Best of Johnston County Podcast, we were talking about something much bigger than politics or public service. We were talking about life. Keith has been a longtime part of the Clayton community as a business owner and elected official. Today, he is mostly retired…
September 21, 2026
Sometimes a great community event starts with a complicated plan. Other times, it starts with two friends who love shopping, meeting people, and supporting their neighbors. That is essentially how the Southern Women’s Show of Johnston County began. On this episode of The Best of Johnston County Podcast, I sat…
September 14, 2026
Divorce negotiations can feel like a series of battles. Custody, property, support, money, schedules, and even seemingly small disagreements can begin to feel like something you have to win. But winning every individual issue may not get you closer to the outcome you actually want. In this Ask Jonathan Anything…
September 7, 2026
Sometimes the best ideas are the ones you never planned. Chris Creech never set out to become a food creator. He grew up in Clayton, works full time for a pharmaceutical company, and started making videos almost as an experiment. Then one food hack led to another, the views started…
August 31, 2026
Jonathan Breeden and David Hall have known each other for 26 years. They met at a Clayton Chamber of Commerce event before Jonathan had even taken the bar exam, back when both were still building careers and finding their place in Johnston County. A lot has changed since then. They…
August 24, 2026
Sometimes you know something has changed before you understand why. Maybe you are not sleeping the way you used to. Anxiety shows up when it was never a problem before. Your energy changes, your mood feels different, or you simply do not feel like yourself anymore. That experience is part…
August 17, 2026
When you think about a great high school marching band, you probably think about the performance. The music. The uniforms. Hundreds of students somehow moving together in exactly the right direction. What you may not see is everything that had to happen before those students ever stepped onto the field.…
August 10, 2026
Most people going through a divorce or custody dispute know there will be paperwork, conversations with attorneys, and potentially a trip to court. What they may not realize is just how much information can come into play once litigation begins. In this special edition of The Best of Johnston County…
August 3, 2026
Justice Beyond the Bench For nearly two decades, Judge Addie Rawls served as a District Court Judge with one guiding belief: "A judge who stands for justice does more than sit on a bench." That philosophy shaped every decision she made. After serving as a prosecutor for ten years, she…
July 27, 2026
Judge Addie Rawls has spent decades serving Johnston County in the courtroom, in the community, and now through ministry. In this first of a two-part conversation, she joins Jonathan Breeden to share the experiences that shaped her career and the values that continue to guide her work today. From navigating…
July 20, 2026
Real Estate Through Every Market The real estate market has changed dramatically over the past two decades. Buyers have experienced historically low interest rates, bidding wars, and now a return to a more balanced marketplace. Through every stage of those changes, Lynn Hellman has remained focused on one thing: helping…
July 13, 2026
More Than Just a Red Hot Dog When most people think about Carolina Packers, they immediately think of one thing, the famous Bright Leaf Red Hot Dog. But after sitting down with Justin Raymond, I quickly realized there is much more to this Johnston County company than many of us…
“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.