What’s Up, Wake

Podcast Cary
Podcast Cary
  • 4.4 (7)
  • Places & Travel
  • Updated Semiweekly

What’s Up, Wake covers the people, places, restaurants, and events of Wake County, North Carolina. Through conversations with local personalities from business owners to town staff and influencers to volunteers, we’ll take a closer look at what makes Wake County an outstanding place to live. Presented by Cherokee Media Group, the publishers of local lifestyle magazines Cary Magazine, Wake Living, and Main & Broad, What’s Up, Wake covers news and happenings in Raleigh, Cary, Morrisville, Apex, Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina, and Wake Forest.

  1. 23h ago

    Brewing Something Special with Sam Nelson of Pretty Good Coffee Company

    Melissa interviews Sam Nelson, owner of Pretty Good Coffee Company, a North Carolina-based luxury mobile coffee cart business that grew from his home espresso hobby into a catering-focused operation. Sam explains why he chose the cart model over a brick-and-mortar shop, emphasizing flexibility and lower overhead, and shares how the “Pretty Good” name became a fun part of the brand. He describes his Chick-fil-A-inspired approach to fast, friendly hospitality and breaks down what “specialty coffee” means—precision, consistency, and even water quality—while noting their partnership with Black & White Coffee Roasters in Wake Forest. They discuss latte art, including a latte-art printer for custom logos and faces, how they balance speed and quality, training baristas for friendliness first, favorite events, launching a third cart, and future expansion into other mobile food and beverage concepts like bartending. 00:00 Meet Sam Nelson02:52 From Chicago to Raleigh03:22 Birthday Espresso Spark03:52 Why Coffee on Wheels05:19 The Pretty Good Name06:17 Chick-fil-A Service Mindset07:20 What Is Specialty Coffee09:14 Beans Origins and Processing12:09 Latte Art and Printers13:51 Speed Quality and Gear15:13 How Booking Works17:37 Favorite Clients and Dream Venues19:06 Decaf After 5 PM19:19 Favorite Event Venues19:59 Leadership Lessons Learned21:14 Hiring Friendly Baristas22:05 Latte Art Is Hard23:09 Perfect Day Running Carts24:00 Indoor vs Outdoor Setups24:38 Three Carts Scaling Up25:06 Future Beyond Coffee26:22 Lightning Round Fun27:16 Seasonal Signature Drinks28:31 Wild Latte Art Requests29:28 Where To Book Them29:48 Final Thanks And Wrap

    Brewing Something Special with Sam Nelson of Pretty Good Coffee Company

  2. Jul 23

    A Taste for Telling Stories with Food Writer David McCreary 

    The host interviews David McCreary, a freelance food feature writer for Cary Magazine, Wake Living, and Main & Broad since 2004, about how he got into food writing, his process for pitching and covering monthly themes, and why he focuses on positive storytelling rather than anonymous food criticism. McCreary discusses changes in the Triangle dining scene over the past 20 years, highlighting growth in Cary, Fenton, Holly Springs, Apex, and Fuquay-Varina, and emphasizes supporting local restaurateurs in a volatile industry. He shares tips for aspiring food writers, his biggest restaurant turnoff (a dirty restroom), and recommendations including Cilantro Indian Cafe, Osha Thai Kitchen & Sushi, Crawford Brothers Steakhouse, and the hidden gem Frankie Frank’s hot dog cart, plus nostalgia picks like Darryl’s and Mr. Dunderbak’s. 00:00 Meet the Food Writer02:42 How He Got Started03:24 The Art of Describing Food04:11 Behind the Scenes Process05:39 Saying No to Bad Fits06:20 Not a Critic Just Positive07:53 What Makes Dining Great08:40 Triangle Food Boom10:49 Why Local Restaurants Matter12:49 Favorite Bites and Trends16:10 Foods He Avoids17:25 Closures and COVID Impact18:37 Keeping Writing Fresh19:40 Food Critics Then and Now20:28 Food Critics Today20:53 Influencers Shape Dining21:38 Bathroom Cleanliness Test23:24 Restaurants Worth Reviving24:34 Hard Parts of Food Writing26:14 Hidden Gem Hot Dogs29:03 Awkward Check Surprise30:49 Tips for New Food Writers32:25 Triangle Weekend Must Eats34:29 Wrap Up and Thanks.

    A Taste for Telling Stories with Food Writer David McCreary 

  3. Jul 16

    Inside Holly Springs Growth with Tonya Palumbo

    Executive Director Tonya Palumbo discusses how the Holly Springs Chamber of Commerce supports local businesses as a 501(c)(6) membership organization, distinct from government and from 501(c)(3) nonprofits. She shares how member needs have shifted through rapid growth and rising costs, highlighting resources like business education, advocacy, networking, and access to small-business health insurance options through partnerships including the NC Chamber and Carolina HealthWorks. Palombo explains initiatives such as joint ribbon cuttings that connect multiple businesses at once and the chamber’s supplier program that helps historically underutilized businesses become HUB certified and connect with large employers like Fujifilm and Amgen to keep spending local. She also covers fundraising efforts that have raised over $100,000 for the Holly Springs Food Cupboard, downtown revitalization, community festivals, and the chamber’s milestone of a female-led executive committee and board. 00:00 Meet Tonya Palumbo02:20 Photography Roots03:51 What Chambers Do04:54 Small Business Needs08:06 Big Growth Impact08:44 Supplier Hub Program10:52 Downtown Boom12:52 Joint Ribbon Cuttings16:21 Food Cupboard Fundraising18:48 Women Leading Chamber21:30 Supplier Program Deep Dive23:58 Events And Future26:07 Why Join Chamber28:37 How To Connect29:11 Closing Thanks

    Inside Holly Springs Growth with Tonya Palumbo

  4. Jul 9

    The Real Story Behind the North Carolina Accent with Dr. Walt Wolfram

    What does the way you speak reveal about who you are? In this fascinating episode, Melissa sits down with Dr. Walt Wolfram, the William C. Friday Distinguished University Professor at NC State University and one of America's foremost experts on dialects and sociolinguistics. Together, they explore the rich history behind North Carolina's accents, the stories they preserve, and why language is one of our state's greatest cultural treasures.  From the famous Outer Banks "Hoi Toider" brogue to Appalachian English, African American English, Cherokee, and the rise of "y'all" across America, Dr. Wolfram explains how geography, history, immigration, and culture shaped the way North Carolinians speak. The conversation also explores disappearing dialects, the preservation of the Cherokee language, the surprising origin of the word "dingbatter," why outsiders judge Southern accents, and why every person's voice tells a unique story. Whether you're a lifelong North Carolinian, a history enthusiast, or simply fascinated by language, this episode will change the way you hear the people around you. 02:00 – Introducing Dr. Walt Wolfram 04:00 – How growing up in a German immigrant family shaped his life's work 07:00 – Why every person's story matters 09:00 – The unique dialects of Ocracoke and the Outer Banks 11:00 – Is the Outer Banks accent really Elizabethan English? 12:00 – The surprising origin of the word "dingbatter" 13:00 – Inside Talkin' Tar Heel and documenting North Carolina speech 14:00 – Hearing the famous "Hoi Toider" accent 15:00 – Harkers Island and North Carolina's coastal dialects 18:00 – Why North Carolina has more dialect diversity than any other state 23:00 – Why Southern accents should be celebrated 24:00 – Saving the Cherokee language before it's lost 29:00 – Why accents create stereotypes 30:00 – The history of "y'all" and why it's spreading across America 31:00 – Favorite stories from decades of field research 33:00 – Giving back to the communities that preserve language 35:00 – The story behind "North Cackalacky" 36:00 – Can your accent reveal where you're from? 38:00 – Dr. Wolfram's retirement and continuing his life's work

    The Real Story Behind the North Carolina Accent with Dr. Walt Wolfram

  5. Jul 2

    How Shibumi Shade Took Over the Beach with Dane Barnes

    How Shibumi Shade Became North Carolina’s Unofficial Beach Flag | 10 Years of a Homegrown Idea Ahead of the July 4th beach rush, the episode features Dane Barnes, co-founder of Shibumi Shade, reflecting on the company’s 10-year rise from a DIY, wind-powered shade prototype made from hardware-store materials to a common sight on North Carolina beaches. Barnes explains how he, his brother Scott, and friend Alex—without sewing or product experience—built early shades for their own family trips to Emerald Isle, began taking orders in 2016, and later grew into a Raleigh-based business with defined roles across sales, operations, and marketing. He shares the meaning of “Shibumi,” discusses the Quiet Canopy and the shift from local manufacturing to overseas production, clarifies misconceptions about beach bans, and highlights new products including the Shibumi Chair and the Park Vista shade for grass. 00:00 Sponsor Messages 01:44 July 4 Beach Setup 02:53 Origin Story Prototype 05:13 From Hobby to Orders 06:15 Meaning of Shibumi 06:55 How the Shade Works 08:09 Founders and Roles 09:51 Manufacturing and Quiet Canopy 10:44 Beach Bans Explained 14:26 Becoming a Must-Have 15:23 New Colors and Editions 17:05 Why Raleigh Base 18:07 Lessons in Entrepreneurship 19:54 New Products Park and Chair 23:06 What's Next and Brand Magic 24:50 Lightning Round Favorites 26:59 Where to Buy Closing

    How Shibumi Shade Took Over the Beach with Dane Barnes

  6. Jun 25

    Lost Towns and Ghost Stories: A Conversation with Heather Leah

    In this episode, local storyteller, historian, and author Heather Leah shares how she began writing online more than a decade ago, grew a large following by blending deep research with engaging “hidden history,” and why preserving local stories matters as places vanish. She discusses mysteries like the Village Subway beneath Cameron Village, underwater communities beneath Jordan Lake such as Seaforth, and how towns can be erased from maps and memory. Heather explains balancing fun, shocking history with heavier subjects, her approach to ghost stories as cultural history, and why the Dorothea Dix property feels especially haunted. She also describes her research process, how followers contribute leads, and how she turned her work into her first book, “Lost Towns of North Carolina,” built through travel, photos, and interviews with people connected to lost communities. 00:00 Meet Heather Leah 03:15 How It All Started 04:56 From Community to History 06:21 Vanishing Places 09:03 Jordan Lake Ghost Towns 13:00 Towns Wiped Off Maps 14:00 Balancing Light and Heavy 16:29 Ghost Stories as Culture 18:18 Dorothy Dix Haunted History 20:11 Crybaby Lane Investigation 21:49 Paranormal Tours 24:13 Story Idea System 25:15 Follower Submitted History 27:50 From Posts to Book 31:37 Researching Lost Towns 35:19 Book Launch Emotions 37:47 Time Travel Raleigh 40:41 Where to Find Heather 41:35 Final Thanks

    Lost Towns and Ghost Stories: A Conversation with Heather Leah

  7. Jun 18

    Raleigh's Culinary Growth: An Interview with Amber Moshakos

    Melissa interviews Amber Moshakos of family-owned LM Restaurants, the group behind concepts including Carolina Ale House, Taverna Agora, Birdie’s Ballroom, Vidrio, Oceanic/Bluewater in Wrightsville Beach, and SMASH on Glenwood South. Amber shares her parents’ immigrant story, how LM began as a 48-seat Florida oyster bar, and why the family moved to Raleigh after expanding Miami Subs. She discusses growing up in the business, choosing restaurants over medical school, and the pros and cons of working with family. The conversation covers Raleigh as an emerging, diverse dining market, current industry challenges like thin margins and rising credit card fees, what makes restaurants successful, and why experience-driven venues are growing. Amber also mentions favorite menu items, spots she wants to try, and upcoming LM projects in Florida and brand updates in Raleigh. 00:00 Meet Amber Moshakos  02:42 Family Origins and First Restaurant 04:58 Greek Roots Behind Taverna Agora 05:49 Moving to Raleigh and Early Growth 07:16 Choosing Restaurants Over Medicine 07:58 Making Family Business Work 09:20 LM Expansion and Florida Return 12:00 Raleigh Food Scene Evolution 17:13 Industry Challenges and Credit Fees 19:24 Sales Tax Relief Push 20:11 Restaurant Success Formula 20:58 Experience Dining Trend 22:33 Glenwood South Safety Plan 24:44 Advice for New Restaurateurs 26:43 Favorite Dishes Rundown 28:04 Non-LM Date Night Picks 29:51 What’s Next for LM 31:36 Hiring and Career Myths 32:55 Closing Thanks and Wrap

    Raleigh's Culinary Growth: An Interview with Amber Moshakos

  8. Jun 11

    A Fun Spin on Dentistry: Dr. McCormick’s Entertaining Venture

    Bryden McCormick, a Fuquay-Varina dentist and owner of Fuquay Family Dentistry, shares how he went from economics and banking to dentistry, then to creating McWally’s after seeing the town’s need for a family entertainment spot. He explains the years-long process from concept to opening on August 20, 2025, including feasibility studies, working with family entertainment consultants, covid-driven cost increases that doubled the project to $20 million, and securing SBA financing through a small Wisconsin bank. With events and marketing manager Emily Jones, he highlights McWally’s bowling, arcade, food, bar, outdoor patio, and 5,000-square-foot laser tag arena, plus the challenges of managing a large teen staff, heavy party volume, and plans for a potential second location. 00:00 Dentist Meets Fun02:50 Why Dentistry Chose Him04:11 Landing in Fuquay-Varina05:02 The McWally's Idea06:08 Covid Costs and Investors07:43 Naming McWally's08:44 Balancing Two Businesses09:41 Financing Hurdles11:01 Emily Runs Events Marketing12:26 Laser Tag and Murals16:03 Community Reaction and Vision18:34 Running Day to Day19:26 Leadership Behind Scenes20:17 Juggling Parties21:08 Bright Open Vibe23:29 Favorite Activities24:27 Advice for New Owners26:45 Dream Add-Ons27:32 Second Location Plans28:25 Surviving Weekend Rush28:55 Year Two Excitement30:01 Follow and Book Parties30:26 Closing Thanks

    A Fun Spin on Dentistry: Dr. McCormick’s Entertaining Venture
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Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

4.4
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

What’s Up, Wake covers the people, places, restaurants, and events of Wake County, North Carolina. Through conversations with local personalities from business owners to town staff and influencers to volunteers, we’ll take a closer look at what makes Wake County an outstanding place to live. Presented by Cherokee Media Group, the publishers of local lifestyle magazines Cary Magazine, Wake Living, and Main & Broad, What’s Up, Wake covers news and happenings in Raleigh, Cary, Morrisville, Apex, Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina, and Wake Forest.

Information

  • Channel
    Podcast Cary
  • Creator
    The Publishers of Cary Magazine, Wake Living, and Main & Broad
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    73
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Publishers of Cary Magazine, Wake Living, and Main & Broad
  • Show Website
    What’s Up, Wake

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