HWY 331

DO GOOD MEDIA

The HWY 331 is a podcast focused on connecting the people who live, work and play in Walton County, Florida.

  1. 1 Sept

    Connecting You with Tyler Williams of North Walton Doctors Hospital

    What changes for a rural community when healthcare that once required a drive becomes available close to home? In this episode of the HWY 331 Podcast, Kerri Parker sits down with Tyler Williams, interim CEO of North Walton Doctors Hospital in DeFuniak Springs, to talk about the hospital’s role in northern Walton County and what comes next as the community continues to grow. North Walton Doctors Hospital is the only full-service hospital serving northern Walton County, with emergency care, inpatient care, surgery, laboratory services and diagnostic imaging available close to home. Williams explains what distinguishes a full-service hospital from a standalone emergency department and why access to local healthcare can matter far beyond the hospital itself. The conversation explores the hospital’s investment in technology and diagnostic capabilities, its physician-owned model, plans to add mammography and MRI services, efforts to recruit physicians to the area and a partnership bringing Florida State University medical residents into a rural healthcare setting. Williams also discusses plans for a mobile CT unit that will bring lung cancer screening into surrounding rural communities, as well as his long-term vision for expanding inpatient capacity as North Walton grows. The larger story is about more than healthcare. Williams explains why a hospital can become part of a community’s economic infrastructure, supporting families, employers, schools, first responders and future growth. At the center of it all is a simple idea: bringing more healthcare closer to home. Listen to the conversation and learn more about the present and future of North Walton Doctors Hospital.

  2. 6 Jul

    Connect with Grit & Grace 2026: Nancy Hasty & Latilda Hughes-Neel

    Every community has stories worth preserving. Some are passed down around kitchen tables, shared on front porches, or remembered at family reunions. Others find new life on stage. In this episode of the HWY 331 Podcast, Kerri Parker sits down with award-winning playwright and director Nancy Hasty and producer and musical director Latilda Hughes-Neel to explore the heart behind Holding Our Own, this year's original Grit & Grace Folklife production. Built from the real voices and lived experiences of Walton County residents, Holding Our Own celebrates the resilience, humor, faith, family, and enduring connections that define our community. Nancy and Latilda share how oral histories become theater, why preserving local stories matters, and what audiences can expect when the curtain rises. Whether you've called Walton County home for generations or recently discovered its unique character, this conversation is a reminder that our greatest treasures aren't just the places we love—they're the people and stories that continue to shape them. Holding Our Own performs July 10–19 in Freeport, Santa Rosa Beach, and DeFuniak Springs. For the complete performance schedule, venue locations, and links to purchase tickets online, visit the HWY 331 Calendar of Events at HWY331.com. If you enjoy this episode, be sure to follow the HWY 331 Podcast and help us continue connecting Walton County through thoughtful storytelling.

About

The HWY 331 is a podcast focused on connecting the people who live, work and play in Walton County, Florida.