Beach Road Banter - The Outer Banks Podcast

Randy Jones
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Investing
  • Updated Weekly

Beach Road Banter celebrates the people, places, and stories that make North Carolina's Outer Banks such a unique coastal community. Through conversations with local personalities, business owners, fisherman, surfers, artists, community leaders, and other fascinating guests, we explore the culture, history, traditions, and character of the OBX. Whether you're a local, a visitor, a second-home owner, or simply someone who loves the Outer Banks, you'll find something to enjoy. We'll also sprinkle in the occasional real estate tip or local market update, but our focus is simple: sharing what makes the Outer Banks unlike anywhere else.

  1. 3d ago

    True Blue: Tim Cafferty on the Outer Banks Then & Now

    The Outer Banks Tim Cafferty grew up in would be almost unrecognizable today. Growing up here in the '70s, Tim watched the area transform from a quiet seasonal beach community into one of the country's leading vacation rental markets. Today, he owns Outer Banks Blue and Sandbridge Blue and has spent decades in the vacation rental business, tourism leadership, and the local community. We talk about what the Outer Banks was like before today's giant rental homes and nonstop connectivity, how Airbnb and changing travel habits have reshaped vacations, what's really happening with rental income in 2026, and why shorter, more flexible stays may be part of the future. Tim also shares his perspective on national rental companies, the importance of local ownership, giving back to the community, and how we protect what makes the Outer Banks special for the next generation. It's Outer Banks history, business, tourism, and plenty of great stories from someone who has lived through, and helped shape, decades of change.

  2. Aug 30

    Pirates, Passport Plates & the Outer Banks Hustle

    Fran Marlar has definitely earned her Outer Banks résumé. After moving here in 2007, Fran built a life around surfing, fishing, food, writing, travel, and, like a lot of locals, more than a few careers along the way. In this episode, we talk about her latest adventure with husband Lance: Black Flag Galley OBX, their new takeout restaurant in Kitty Hawk. We get into the story behind the restaurant, fresh local seafood and their creative "passport plates," plus Lance's charter fishing business and Fran's background as a writer. We also venture well beyond the kitchen, from Fran's love of surfing, travel which stretches from Ocracoke to Indonesia and we even get into her fascination with Pirate History on the Outer Banks.    It's food, travel, the water, and the unique path of building a life on the Outer Banks.

  3. Aug 14

    The 12 Weeks of August: Surviving Summer on the OBX

    Living at the beach sounds pretty great—until August hits. In this solo episode of Beach Road Banter, Randy breaks down the good, the bad and the ugly of living year-round on the Outer Banks during the "12 weeks of August." The heat won't quit, traffic somehow gets worse, the ocean turns into Lake Atlantic, black flies attack, summer employees disappear, and friends and family keep applying relentless pressure to… meet them for drinks. It's a tough life. But with fall, football, hurricane swells and a little breathing room right around the corner, there's hope. And despite all the complaining, there's still nowhere else Randy would rather call home. A slightly sarcastic look at what it's really like to live at the beach when everyone else is on vacation.

  4. Jul 31

    Can the Outer Banks Keep Its Small-Town Soul? | Jeff Schwarzenberg on Tourism, Growth & the Future of OB

    Jeff explains how the Visitors Bureau is funded, where tourism dollars really go, and why responsible tourism has become a major focus since the post-COVID boom. We discuss the challenges of balancing growth with quality of life, the misconceptions many residents have about tourism, and why protecting the Outer Banks' unique character is more important than simply attracting more visitors. Along the way, Jeff shares his own journey from New York and Nashville to the Outer Banks, talks about the award-winning Outer Edge video series, and offers a behind-the-scenes look at the people, planning, and partnerships shaping the future of Dare County. Whether you're a local, second homeowner, frequent visitor, or simply love the Outer Banks, this episode provides a thoughtful perspective on where our community is headed—and why preserving what makes it special is everyone's responsibility.

  5. Jul 17

    Unwritten Rules of the Outer Banks

    Randy goes solo to settle the locals vs. tourists debate—starting with the question of what actually makes someone a local on the Outer Banks (spoiler: even 30 years here doesn't necessarily qualify). From restaurant perks and pool hopping to bypass lane rules, grocery store chaos, beach safety, and why middle-aged men shouldn't challenge the Atlantic after eight White Claws, this hilarious episode is packed with insider Outer Banks vacation tips, local stories, and plenty of laughs. You're at the beach... act like it.

  6. Jul 3

    Building a Life on the Outer Banks: A Conversation with Gray Berrman

    Arrived on the Outer Banks with little more than an old truck and a surfboard, Gray Berrman built a thriving real estate career, raised a family, and still finds time to give back — leading Scout troops and coaching a state runner-up track team. A conversation about building a life you're proud of in a place worth fighting for.

  7. Jun 17

    From Hatteras to Kitty Hawk: John Head on Community, Clients & Room in the Inn

    John Head has called Hatteras home for over 25 years. As Director of Sales at Resort Realty, he's built a career on knowing this community inside and out — but ask anyone who knows him and they'll tell you that's only part of the story. In this episode, John talks about what it means to truly be part of the Outer Banks and how that shapes the way he works with clients one on one. We also dig into his involvement with OBX Room in the Inn, a Dare County nonprofit dedicated year-round to serving people experiencing homelessness. Right now they're able to provide transitional housing from November through April — and John opens up about what it will take to expand that mission, including an urgent push to secure land of their own. If you care about the people behind the beaches, this conversation is for you.

  8. May 29

    Why Experience Matters in Today's Outer Banks Real Estate Market

    Lynn and Randy discuss why experience matters in today's Outer Banks real estate market.  The Outer Banks real estate market is shifting back to normal after years of unprecedented demand. In this episode, Randy Jones and Lynn Sherman discuss why experience matters when markets become more challenging. Drawing on decades of combined experience and thousands of transactions, we share real-life examples, lessons learned from past market cycles, and insights into what buyers and sellers need to know today. From pricing and negotiations to avoiding costly mistakes, this conversation highlights why experience can make all the difference in a changing market.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Beach Road Banter celebrates the people, places, and stories that make North Carolina's Outer Banks such a unique coastal community. Through conversations with local personalities, business owners, fisherman, surfers, artists, community leaders, and other fascinating guests, we explore the culture, history, traditions, and character of the OBX. Whether you're a local, a visitor, a second-home owner, or simply someone who loves the Outer Banks, you'll find something to enjoy. We'll also sprinkle in the occasional real estate tip or local market update, but our focus is simple: sharing what makes the Outer Banks unlike anywhere else.

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