VIRGINIANS OF INTEREST

A great wine shop can change how a city drinks, not by being flashy, but by being thoughtful, consistent, and genuinely helpful. We’re in Roanoke at Blue Ridge PBS Studios, talking with James, Jim, and Helen from J. Emerson’s Wine Shop on Grove Avenue in Richmond, the oldest continuously operated wine store in the city. They share the shop’s story from its founding on Bastille Day in 1985 to the w...

Fort Monroe looks like a postcard, but it reads like a full American biography. We sit down with Scott Martin, executive director of the Fort Monroe Authority, to trace how a sandy spit at Point Comfort becomes a coastal defense powerhouse, a cradle of layered Virginia history, and a place where the story of freedom is literally written into the ground. We talk about why Fort Monroe is called Free...

A lot of people are asking the same blunt question right now: is college still worth it? We tackle that head-on with Jonathan Young, Director of Corporate Relations at Virginia State University (VSU), who believes the answer depends on what students leave with. If a graduate walks away with only a diploma, he says the institution has missed the point. Jonathan explains how Virginia State Universit...

Virginia history isn’t just a timeline, it’s a living argument about what matters enough to save. We’re joined by Jamie Bosket, president and CEO of the Virginia Museum of History and Culture in Richmond, to talk about what it means to steward one of America’s great historical collections and how you even begin to “wrap your arms around” a place that sits at the center of so much of the nation’s s...

A biotech revolution is taking root in Virginia, and we brought in someone who’s building it from the inside. Sally Allain—Chief Health Science Growth and Innovation Officer at Virginia Tech and a double Hokie—shares how a career that began with undergraduate research evolved into leading global collaborations at Johnson & Johnson, launching JLABS in DC, and now accelerating translation and in...

Want a front‑row seat to how Virginia plans to stay a top state for talent? We bring in former Speaker of the House and VBHEC president Kirk Cox to connect the dots between policy, campuses, and paychecks. From the first spark of a career in high school to paid internships that flip underemployment on its head, this conversation lays out a concrete roadmap for students, families, and employers who...

Step into the pews where a colony weighed its future. We bring you inside St. John’s Church in Richmond for a gripping walk-through of the Second Virginia Convention, the razor-thin voice vote to arm a militia, and the eight-minute speech that helped turn a crisis into a revolution. Patrick Henry’s words didn’t just stir Virginia; they traveled across centuries and borders, inspiring people facing...

A leaking steamship. A silent mosquito. And a summer that rewrote the map of fear along the Elizabeth River. We sit down with author and veteran journalist Lon Wagner to uncover the 1855 yellow fever outbreak that ravaged Portsmouth and Norfolk—and somehow faded from local memory. What begins with a “rat lady” explaining vector control becomes a gripping true story of a captain’s denials, a health...

What happens when a coal miner's daughter from Virginia's mountains becomes a college president? Dr. Debbie Sydow's remarkable journey reveals how education transforms lives and how she's working to ensure others have the same opportunities that changed her trajectory. Growing up in Wise County with coal miners, moonshiners, and preachers for family, Dr. Sydow's path shift...

Could the future of healthcare lie in our past? Dr. Priyanka Lisbeth thinks so. As a house call physician with Harmony Cares, she's bringing back a practice many thought was confined to history books – and revolutionizing care for our most vulnerable populations in the process. When patients enter a doctor's office, they present their "best selves" – dressed, prepared, and ofte...

Standing in Thomas Jefferson's bedroom at Monticello, hearing how both he and John Adams died on July 4th, 1826—exactly 50 years after American independence—creates a moment where you don't just learn history but feel it viscerally. This "power of place" forms the heart of Virginia's approach to commemorating America's 250th anniversary. Cheryl Wilson, Executive Direc...

What happens when you take a lifelong Virginian with experience in both Democratic and Republican administrations and ask him about the biggest challenges facing the Commonwealth? Grant Neely delivers a masterclass in crossing political divides to solve real problems. Neely's journey began in Henrico County during the post-busing era, where attending a diverse public high school taught him to...

When Dwayne Yancey founded Cardinal News four years ago, he never imagined how quickly it would transform Virginia's media landscape. What began as a modest effort to fill the void left by shrinking newspapers in Southwest and Southside Virginia has blossomed into a vital statewide news source with ten reporters and an audience extending far beyond its coverage area. "We blew past our fi...

What if America's founders were right all along about divided government? As our nation approaches its 250th birthday amid unprecedented polarization, Virginia might hold the blueprint for making democracy work again. Frank Atkinson, attorney, author, and veteran of both the Reagan administration and Virginia politics, takes us on a fascinating journey through the Commonwealth's politica...

Paul Steiner from Fairfax County Public Schools shares how Virginia's approach to workforce development and apprenticeship programs has evolved to meet critical needs in trades, healthcare, and technology sectors. He explains the paradigm shift occurring as more young people seek alternatives to four-year degrees that allow them to enter the workforce quickly without accruing significant stud...

Dr. Katherine Rowe, the first female president of William & Mary, shares her journey from a Shakespeare scholar to an entrepreneur and how this university aims to foster civic engagement and inclusivity. We explore the strategic plan, Vision 2026, which emphasizes access for first-generation students, hands-on learning experiences, and the importance of marine science. - Introduction to Dr. Ka...

Imagine growing up in a tight-knit waterman community and rising to lead one of Virginia's most crucial state agencies. This week, we're honored to have Jamie Green, Commissioner of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, join us to share his inspiring journey. From his roots in Gloucester's commercial fishing heritage to his ascent in law enforcement, Jamie's career is a tes...

What does it take to transition from a middle school civics teacher to one of the most influential political figures in Virginia? Join us as we welcome Kirk Cox, former Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, who shares his inspiring journey from the classroom to the legislature. Kirk recounts his early political involvement during the 1985 gubernatorial campaign of Wyatt Durrett, where he cro...

Have you ever wondered what it takes to climb the judicial ranks from a small town to the prestigious Court of Appeals for the Commonwealth of Virginia? Join us as we sit down with Judge Kim White, who shares her incredible journey from Halifax County to becoming a key figure in Virginia’s judicial system. In our conversation, Judge White opens up about her upbringing, her educational experiences...

What if you could honor our veterans in a way that truly makes a difference? Join us as we welcome Pam Seay and Bob Archer from the Virginia War Memorial. Pam, a passionate advocate for veterans, shares her inspiring journey from Floyd County to Richmond and her transition from nonprofit work to her meaningful role at the War Memorial Foundation. Bob, a proud Hokie and dedicated board member since...

Curious about the journey from investment banking to tackling the recycling industry's inefficiencies? Join us as we sit down with Simon Glossop, now a proud U.S. citizen and CEO of Data Company One, Incorporated. Simon shares his fascinating experiences growing up in East Anglia, studying at prestigious institutions like Rugby School and Queen Mary in Westfield College, London, and his impre...

What does it take to navigate the ever-changing world of journalism? Veteran reporter and editor Todd Jackson from the Roanoke Times joins us to share his extensive experience, from his early days in Bristol, Virginia, to his impactful coverage of local government bodies. Todd's story is not just about his career journey but also a reflection on the dynamic process of story selection, the pre...

Curious about the intertwining of personal legacy and political evolution in Virginia? In this episode of the Virginians of Interest podcast, we invite you to explore the life of CL Sigmon, born and raised in the Turner’s Creek region of Franklin County. Sigmon shares captivating tales from his childhood on his family's Poplar Grove Farm, detailing its crucial role in the local timber industr...

Curious about how a basketball scholarship can lead to revolutionizing pharmaceutical manufacturing? Join us as Dr. Frank Gupton, the Gottwald Chair of Chemical and Life Sciences and Pharmaceutical Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University, shares his incredible journey from the basketball courts of the University of Richmond to the forefront of pharmaceutical innovation. Frank's story,...

Imagine uncovering the layers of a family legacy that has weathered the storms of time, technology, and economic turbulence. That's exactly what we do with Bruce Christian, a man whose blood ties to the NB Handy Company span four generations. Bruce escorts us through a captivating history, from the company's 19th-century roots to its recent sale, and how the Christian family navigated th...