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. 4d ago

    Exploring Wake County Magnet Schools With Dr. Mariah Walker & Tamani Powell

    In this episode of What’s Up, Wake, host Melissa Wistehuff sits down with two women helping shape education in Wake County: Dr. Mariah Walker, principal of Wake Young Women’s Leadership Academy and the 2026 Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year, and Tamani Anderson Powell, director of marketing and recruitment for Wake County Public School System’s magnet programs. Both have also been recognized as Women of Western Wake honorees. They explain what makes Wake County’s magnet schools different, from leadership and STEM to visual and performing arts, International Baccalaureate programs, language immersion, early college opportunities, and specialized learning environments. Dr. Walker shares how Wake Young Women’s Leadership Academy combines leadership development with early college opportunities, allowing students to earn up to 60 college credits at no cost through its partnership with Shaw University. Many graduates can enter college academically positioned as sophomores or juniors. Tamani breaks down how magnet schools work for Wake County families, including base schools, applications, the weighted selection process, and why choosing a school should be about finding the environment where an individual student can thrive — not simply choosing the program a parent thinks sounds best. 00:00 Smart Shades Intro 00:32 Local Sponsor Spots 01:25 Show Opens 01:48 Meet The Guests 02:41 Mariah Background 06:00 Tamani Background 08:05 Principal Of The Year 11:02 Leadership Advice 14:37 Women Of Western Wake 15:12 Wake YWLA Explained 16:56 Early College Credits 20:22 What Magnet Means 23:32 Magnet Logistics Basics 24:15 Choosing Magnet Schools 25:14 Lottery and Student Fit 27:29 Magnet Themes Explained 28:08 IB and Immersion Options 30:20 College and Career Prep 35:06 Tours and Info Sessions 36:53 Final Thanks and Wrap

  2. Aug 27

    The Raleigh You've Never Seen: A Secret Guide to the City with Emily Price

    Secret Raleigh with Emily Price: Hidden Gems, Ghost Stories & Lost Landmarks Melissa interviews Emily Price, author of “Secret Raleigh: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful and Obscure,” about unusual and mysterious places around Raleigh. Price explains her love of weird history and how she researched multiple versions of local legends using the North Carolina Archives and old newspapers. She shares crowd-pleasing finds like one of the first electric guitars being made at NC State, the pink dog remnant of Gotno Farm behind Preservation NC on Oberlin Road, and haunted lore including the Heck-Andrews House and a reportedly haunted room in the governor’s mansion. The conversation also covers Hargett Street’s “Black Main Street,” Bloomsbury Park’s former rides and carousel now at Pullen Park, and recommendations like downtown wandering, the Muffler Man landmark, and visiting Raleigh Times. 00:00 Sponsor Messages01:44 Meet Emily Price03:05 Why Raleigh Secrets04:48 Fact Checking Legends05:59 Crowd Pleasers07:00 Cut Stories Food Focus08:33 Gotno Farm Pink Dog10:14 Hotels Taverns History14:28 Pretty Places Waterfall18:00 Ghost Stories Begin19:04 Haunted House Update19:48 Raleigh Ghost Stories20:46 Black Main Street History24:00 Bloomsbury Park Rides26:40 Pullen Park Zoo Tales28:21 Future North Carolina Book29:14 Lightning Round Favorites32:56 Where to Buy Secret Raleigh

    The Raleigh You've Never Seen: A Secret Guide to the City with Emily Price

  3. Aug 20

    From Shelters to Forever Homes: Highlighting Wake SPCA with Kim Janzen

    SPCA of Wake County: Rescue Stories, Affordable Vet Care & the New Peggy Garner Britt Resource Center This episode features Kim Janzen, president and CEO of the SPCA of Wake County, discussing the organization’s mission, funding, and evolving approach to animal welfare. Kim explains that SPCA of Wake County is not affiliated with the ASPCA and is funded primarily by private donations and fees for service. She shares how the shelter has shifted in recent years toward supporting “the other end of the leash” by helping families keep pets at home, especially as veterinary costs rise and financially driven surrenders increase. The conversation covers misconceptions about shelter animals, trends showing more cats than dogs entering shelters, and the SPCA’s intake of animals from 58 rural counties to prevent unnecessary euthanasia. Kim highlights expanded low-cost spay/neuter services and the new 47,000-square-foot Peggy Garner Britt Resource Center in South Raleigh, and outlines ways to help through adopting, donating, volunteering, fostering, and birthday donation drives. 00:00 Sponsor Ting Internet00:30 Local Woodworking Sponsor00:45 Cary Car Care Sponsor01:44 Meet SPCA Wake Leader03:13 Kim’s Path to SPCA03:36 Mission and Funding04:25 No Typical Day04:51 How SPCA Evolved06:18 Shelter Misconceptions08:51 Adoption Trends and Costs10:46 Beyond Cats and Dogs13:25 Rescue Story Spotlight15:15 Spay Neuter Programs16:55 Why Adopt First17:15 Finding the Right Match18:59 Ways to Support SPCA20:07 Volunteers and Fosters20:53 New Resource Center Tour22:28 How You Can Help Now23:09 Hope and Closing

    From Shelters to Forever Homes: Highlighting Wake SPCA with Kim Janzen

  4. Aug 13

    Lazy Daze: Cary's Premier Summer Festival with Jenna Kostka

    50th Annual Lazy Days Arts & Crafts Festival in Cary: What to Expect + Insider Tips The episode spotlights Cary’s 50th annual Lazy Daze Arts and Crafts Festival, a two-day downtown event that draws about 50,000 visitors and features 250+ juried artist booths, live music, food, family activities, and more. Host interviews Jenna Kostka, the Town of Cary’s festival and events supervisor, about the festival’s origins (named for the “lazy days of summer” by founder Jerry Miller), the juried artist selection process (500 applicants for just over 250 spots), and what makes the festival unique, including four stages, a beer garden with local breweries, Kid Daze programming, and the Kid Collectors Market for ages 6–12. Jenna shares planning details, Sunday’s sensory-friendly first two hours, and how to prepare using carync.gov/lazydaze and @caryartdaze. 00:00 Welcome to Lazy Daze 02:40 Meet Jenna Kostka 04:00 Festival Scale and Name 05:21 What to Expect 06:06 How Artists Are Chosen 07:22 Beyond Art Kids and Music 09:07 Kid Collectors Market 10:34 Planning and Logistics 18:01 Volunteers and Chaos 19:45 Festival Mishaps and Weather 21:07 Why Lazy Daze Stands Out 22:34 Best Food Picks 23:53 Pro Tips and Sunday Calm 26:03 Beer Garden and Lounge 27:03 Anniversary and New Artists 29:49 Dates, Links, and Farewell

    Lazy Daze: Cary's Premier Summer Festival with Jenna Kostka

  5. Aug 6

    Camp Kesem: Empowering Kids through Shared Journeys

    This episode features an interview with Camp Kesem regional program coordinator Jenna Rumsey and former camper turned counselor Grace Kester about Camp Kesem, a nonprofit providing free summer camp and year-round support for children whose parents are affected by cancer, including diagnosis, treatment, remission, and loss. They explain Kesem’s three main programs — Camp Kesem, Club Kesem (monthly virtual meetups), and Kesem Together (daytime community programs) — and how 115 college chapters and thousands of student volunteers, many of them former campers, create trust and relatability. The conversation highlights camp traditions, nicknames, and the “empowerment” session that helps kids share stories and build resilience, plus how to donate or get involved via kesem.org and local North Carolina chapters. 00:00 Local Sponsors Intro01:44 Summer Camp Setup03:04 Kesem Mission Programs04:29 Student Volunteers Origins08:12 Grace Camper Story11:02 Fun Plus Empowerment16:56 Nicknames Traditions19:23 Chapter Vibes Moments23:02 Growth Impact Stories26:32 Partners' Favorite Memories29:55 Donate Get Involved

    Camp Kesem: Empowering Kids through Shared Journeys

  6. Jul 30

    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

  7. 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 

  8. 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
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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
    78
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Publishers of Cary Magazine, Wake Living, and Main & Broad
  • Show Website
    What’s Up, Wake

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