VIRGINIANS OF INTEREST

Do you want to enhance your understanding of obesity medicine and its role in combating one of the most common ailments in our society today? Brace yourselves for a captivating conversation with Dr. Sue Wolver, an esteemed associate professor of internal medicine and the director of the VCU Medical Weight Loss Clinic. Dr. Wolver reveals her professional journey, from a biochemistry major to the US...

Looking to navigate the evolving dynamics of parent-teacher relationships in education? Join us for an enlightening conversation with Peter Baur, Head of Faith Christian School, and Leslie Ramsey, Assistant to the Head of the School, who bring valuable insights on this topic. They provide a snapshot of the modern educational system from their perspective, highlighting the integral role parents pla...

Have you ever wondered how weather played a role in the Allies’ advantage in D-Day? Get ready to journey back in time as we welcome John Long from the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford onto the Virginians of Interest Podcast. Listen in as John, a Roanoke native and renowned history aficionado, takes us through the remarkable events of D-Day. He sheds light on the exceptional bravery of the Nation...

Are you ready to embark on a riveting journey with an extraordinary woman who has left an indelible mark on the political landscape of Virginia? This episode features a heart-to-heart with the impeccable Jeannie Baliles, former First Lady of Virginia, as she unveils her captivating life story. Discover the deep roots of her family in North Carolina and Maryland, and unravel the stories that have s...

Ever wondered how political history can intersect with education? Join us on an enlightening journey with our distinguished guest, Chris Peace, the President of the Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia. We navigate through the maze of his life, starting from his humble beginnings in Ashland, Virginia's "center of the universe", to his audacious run for the House of Delegates...

Samuel Parham, born and raised in Petersburg, Virginia, is a dedicated public servant and business professional who has made significant contributions to his community. A 1993 graduate of Petersburg High School, Parham furthered his education at Richard Bland College, where he earned an Associate of Science degree in 1996. During his time there, he demonstrated his leadership abilities by founding...

Don Upson is the President of Upson Technology Group and Chairman of the Government Business Executive Forum (GBEF).  Formerly, Don served as Virginia’s Secretary of Technology, the nation’s first state Cabinet-level technology secretary. States and the Federal government emulated this model in the creation of a national Chief Technology Officer role. Support the show

Tim is a native Virginian who lived in New York, Charlotte and Staunton before moving here to attend Randolph Macon College in 1967.  He began his radio career at WTON in Staunton during high school, and then went to work for WRVA in 1970.  He spent four years as trafficopter reporter in the 70s and would later join Alden Aaroe as co-host of the morning show for eight years until Alden’s passing i...

In 1993, George Allen was elected 67th Governor of Virginia. Keeping the promises he made to Virginians, he successfully cut taxes by more than $600 million; instituted his high academic Standards of Learning and School Performance Report Cards; made neighborhoods safer with the abolition of parole through truth-in-sentencing; initiated historic, pro-work welfare reforms; enacted the nation’s firs...

In 1993, George Allen was elected 67th Governor of Virginia. Keeping the promises he made to Virginians, he successfully cut taxes by more than $600 million; instituted his high academic Standards of Learning and School Performance Report Cards; made neighborhoods safer with the abolition of parole through truth-in-sentencing; initiated historic, pro-work welfare reforms; enacted the nation’s firs...

With 31 years of experience in business and economic development, Jill has managed public and private sector interests resulting in job growth and economic impact for communities in three regions of Virginia. She currently serves as the economic development director for Roanoke County where she facilitates community and economic development strategies for one of the largest suburban counties in we...

James S. Gilmore III was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. He received an undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia in 1971. After a three-year tour as a U.S. Army counterintelligence agent in West Germany, he entered the University of Virginia Law School, graduating in 1977.  He worked for a decade in community service and as a lawyer in private practice, after which he was electe...

Former FERC Commissioner Bernard L. McNamee is a partner at McGuire-Woods and a senior advisor at McGuire-Woods Consulting. McNamee provides clients legal, policy and legislative guidance on a wide range of energy and environmental issues. His practice focuses on strategic planning and policy development, legislation, and rulemakings, including issues involving Congress, the U.S. Department of Ene...

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Jerry Wallace, President of Danville Community College and Shannon Hair, Vice-President of Institutional Advancement and Development at Danville Community College are the guests for Episode 5.  The discussion focuses on the tremendous success that DCC is experiencing in the technology and trades curriculums.   Support the show

John Carlin co-anchors the 5, 5:30, 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts on WSLS 10 in Roanoke, Virginia. John returned to WSLS in July of 2013 after spending nearly five years in public relations. Prior to his departure, he served as the lead WSLS 10 anchor from 1987 – 2008. John was a part of the WSLS 10 team that earned the Peabody Award for coverage of the April 16, 2007 mass shooting at Virginia Tech. Dur...

Virgil Hamlin Goode Jr. (born October 17, 1946) is an American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 5th congressional district of Virginia between 1997 and 2009. He was initially a Democrat, but became an independent in 2000 and switched to the Republican Party in 2002. Goode was born in Richmond, Virginia, the son of Alice Clara (born Besecker) and...

Telly Tucker joined IALR as the first President on May 31, 2022. In this role, he provides high-level, strategic leadership as IALR continues its mission to catalyze regional economic transformation. Under Tucker’s stewardship, IALR continues to demonstrate success in economic development, workforce development, applied research, advanced learning and conferencing services. Prior to taking over th...

Dwayne Yancey is the Executive Editor of Cardinal News. He has more than four decades of experience in Virginia journalism, including 39 years with The Roanoke Times as a reporter, editor and, for seven years, editorial page editor. During that time he twice won the Virginia Press Association’s D. Latham Mims Award for Editorial Leadership, and was inducted into the Virginia Communications Hall of...