Interactions + Attractions

Join us as we talk to Julius Tillery, Paul Nicholson, and Gary Rudolph Redding, three men from Tillery, North Carolina whose work spans agriculture, education, law, and community empowerment. Julius Tillery is a fifth-generation cotton farmer dedicated to preserving and redefining the legacy of Black cotton farming. He founded BlackCotton, a company that transforms raw cotton into home décor and a...

Join us as we continue the conversation about ethical wildlife experiences with Joe Jacob, President of Haw River Canoe & Kayak! An aquatic biologist and environmentalist, Joe spent over 20 years with The Nature Conservancy before launching his paddlesports business. With a background in marine ecology, teaching, and outdoor guiding, Joe is passionate about helping others connect with nature throu...

Welcome back to the fourth episode of our series leading up to the Wildlife Wednesday Series! Today, we’re joined by Jennifer Hadley, an award-winning wildlife photographer, filmmaker, and guide based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Jennifer brings expertise, heart, and a deep respect for animals and wild places into every aspect of her work — whether she’s guiding a photography workshop in Alaska or...

Welcome back to the third episode of our four-part podcast series leading up to the Wildlife Wednesday Series on June 11 & 18! In this episode, we get to talk with Kelly McCoy, a fisheries biologist and the founder of RiverGirl Fishing Company. Kelly brings education, heart, and deep-rooted respect to everything she does. Whether she’s sending her guests on a kayak trip or simply encouraging visit...

Welcome back to the second episode of our four-part podcast series leading up to the Wildlife Wednesday Series on June 11 & 18! Our guest, Grady “Tree” Cole is a graduate from the University of Oklahoma. He began traveling and found a career in ethical wildlife ecotourism, having led trips in Hawai’i, the Virgin Islands, and the Outer Banks. Tree enjoys helping people appreciate nature and wildlif...

This episode kicks off a special four-part podcast series leading up to our Wildlife Wednesday Webinar series on June 11 & 18! Our guest, Tal Galton, is a lifelong naturalist and founder of Snakeroot Ecotours, where he’s been guiding people through wild places for 30 years. Before launching his ecotourism business, Tal spent two decades teaching in experiential learning environments like the Arthu...

Join us as we talk with Maggie Moncus! A proud Yadkin County native, Maggie has always carried a deep love for her community. After earning a degree in General Marketing from Appalachian State University, she returned home to serve the place that shaped her. Now, as the Executive Assistant for both the Yadkin County Chamber of Commerce and the Yadkin County Tourism Development Authority, Maggie is...

Join us as we talk with Cynthia Ellis, founder of C. Ellis Management, who’s passionate about helping people succeed. Cynthia is a Small Business Consultant and Growth Strategist based in North Carolina with 28 years of experience in the retail, banking, and healthcare industries. As a 12-year business consultant, she focuses on the positive impact of economic development in communities as a whole...

Truth, Entertainment & Legacy: The Art of Storytelling Join us as we talk with Tyler Halstead, Director of Exhibitions and Collections at the Siamese Twins Museum, part of the Surry Arts Council in Mount Airy, North Carolina. Tyler shares his journey from earning a BFA in Arts and Visual Culture at Appalachian State University to fulfilling his dream of working in the museum field. With a passion...

Join us as we chat with Tony Waldron at the Flying Disc Clubhouse, where disc golf meets and local history in rural Caswell County. Discover how a historic 1936 cabin and its surrounding land were transformed into a community-driven destination, blending the love of private disc golf courses and local storytelling. We’ll dive into the rise of disc golf tourism, the benefits of private courses, and...

Join us as we talk with Dwayne Patterson, former Director of NC State Parks, about his impactful career in public service. Dwayne secured historic funding, helped to expand park lands, and increased diversity in park ranger hires. We’ll explore his legacy, from launching the Schools in Parks program to shaping policies that enhance access and inclusion. Tune in for insights on leadership, people s...

Join us as we talk with Dr. Lisa Nelson, a passionate cycling advocate who founded The Black Farm Tour to highlight black farmers, economic empowerment, and community. Inspired by her work with Triangle Bike Works, she turned long-distance cycling into a tool for education, connection, and change. Now in its fourth year, the tour brings riders together to explore history, support black-owned farms...

Get ready for an unforgettable night of style, sound, and culture. Join us as we talk with Jennifer Everett about the 3rd annual Queens March, happening March 26 at the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art. This passion project is more than just an event. It’s a movement, celebrating the diverse talents, gifts, and voices of women. From live performances to fashion, art, and mentorship, Queens March is a...

Join us as we talk to Jessica Roberts, Executive Director at Mount Airy Tourism Development Authority & Tourism Partnership of Surry County. Jessica shares insights on everything from the rise of ‘bleisure’ travel to the region’s other offerings such as weddings and wineries. Be sure to tune in to learn more about how to experience all the Blue Ridge and Mayberry areas have to offer and learn abou...

Join us as we talk with Joey Bennett! Joey is Director of the Cole Auditorium at Richmond Community College, having earned an associate degree from Richmond Community College and an undergrad degree and a M.B.A. from UNC-Pembroke. He has been with Richmond Community College Cole Auditorium full-time since 2001 and has served as Auditorium Director since 2008. A born-again believer in Jesus Christ,...

Join us as we talk with Dana Horne! Dana, co-founder of Twisted Vines Vineyard, has crafted a legacy of love, faith, and resilience alongside her high school sweetheart. Together, they planted the first vines in 2009, stepping into winemaking with little experience but a lot of determination. Through years of hard work, they cultivated a thriving vineyard. In 2019, they introduced a u-pick vineyar...

Join us as we talk with Aletha Williams! Aletha, originally from Montego Bay, Jamaica, is a wellness coach and founder of Inner Starr Compass Healing, a business dedicated to integrative wellness and personal empowerment. After an impactful 20-year career in the U.S. Navy, where she was among the first women to serve on Naval Combatant Ships, Aletha shifted her focus to helping others overcome per...

Join us as we chat with Danielle Capps, Assistant Professor in Hospitality at Appalachian State University's Walker College of Business. Danni brings a deep passion in distillery tourism, consumer behavior in the bourbon industry, wine tourism, and hospitality employee well-being. She teaches students about the vast opportunities within the hospitality and tourism industry, empowering them to appl...

Join us as we talk with Derek Crawford! Derek is the owner and general manager of MEGA Park, a family-friendly entertainment center in Hamlet, North Carolina. Inspired by his love of travel, community, and his faith, Derek created MEGA Park as a place where people of all ages could come together for fun, excitement, and connection. As a certified member of the UPLIFT NC Tourism Incubator and Accel...

Join us as we talk with Nicole Outlaw! Originally from Bertie County, Nicole has extensive leadership experience in the healthcare and education sectors, as well as an Associate of Science degree in business administration from Averett University. As a self-proclaimed change agent, Nicole serves on local community boards such as the Albemarle chapter of the North Carolina Community Foundation, the...

Explore the dynamic energy of the Great Trails State Conference in this special episode! UPLIFT team member Jennifer Everett takes you behind the scenes with exclusive interviews, capturing the insights and experiences of attendees. Hear from Katie Elliott, Vivianette Ortiz Caraballo, Palmer McIntyre, Jimmy Prestwood, Charlynne Smith, Trey Fouché, Iona Thomas, and Bruce Naegelen as they share thei...

Join us as we get to talk with Christina Riley! Christina is the social media guru and chief barbecue taster for the popular brand, NC Tripping. Growing up in both Pennsylvania and West Virginia, Christina found her forever home in North Carolina in 2015. Since then, she’s been traveling all 100 counties and documenting it for the website she and her husband have built to inspire others to also fa...

Welcome to Season 3! Join as as we talk with Zoe van Buren. Zoe serves as the Folklife Director for the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. In this role, Zoe manages grants and projects dedicated to preserving and revitalizing folk and traditional arts across all 100 counties of North Carolina. Her work includes overseeing pro...

Join us for an engaging conversation with Palmer McIntyre from the Great Trails State Coalition! Palmer is the Coordinator for the North Carolina Great Trails State Coalition and former Director of the NC Year of the Trail, and shared insights into the coalition's primary objectives and origins. We explore initiatives like the Year of the Trail, which ignited statewide enthusiasm for trails, and d...

Join us as we get to talk with Kullen and Philip Bell, from the Coharie Tribe in Sampson County! Kullen has stepped into a leadership role within the Great Coharie River Initiative and been at the helm of the Coharie’s eco-tourism activities (Coharie River Tours), coordinating and leading kayaking tours for hundreds of individuals throughout the state. Philip is the co-creator of The Great Coharie...