What happens when someone who’s seen government from the inside decides to run for local office — not for power, but to protect a way of life?

Adam Caldwell isn’t a career politician. He’s a father of three, a former public servant, and now a candidate trying to balance growth, taxes, and heritage in Johnston County.

Can one person help a fast-growing county stay grounded in its roots?

What really decides a local election before Election Day? I sit down with Vice Chair Butch Lawter to ask the questions that shape your wallet and your weekend. Can a county actually build parks without piling on taxes? What fixes a strained school budget when enrollment barely moves? How do you plan water for peak days, not averages? And why does fund balance matter more than slogans? If you live in Johnston County, these answers touch your street, your bill, your vote.

Why would a small town business owner take a pay cut to serve, hire extra staff to cover him, then ask voters for four more years? In this episode, Commissioner Mike Rose unpacks the revaluation year in plain numbers, the billion in building needs, and why the county set the rate it did. Are incentives giveaways, or a smarter way to win jobs? What happens when the state stalls and the courts still need staff? If you care about taxes, growth, and the future of Johnston County, lean in.

What if domestic violence isn’t what you think it is? What if the most damaging scars are the ones you can’t see? In this episode, I sit down with Harbor’s Executive Director, Kay Johnson, to unpack the power and control behind abuse, why it often takes about seven attempts to leave, and how a simple plan can change everything. How do you know if it’s abuse when there’s no bruise? What does real help look like at 2 a.m.? And how can a community thrift shop fuel safety and healing? Listen in and decide what your next step could be.

What keeps a community walking—year after year—for a cause that never sleeps? In Johnston County, Relay for Life has evolved from overnight laps around a track to a full-day festival of hope, remembrance, and resilience. In this episode, I sit down with two women who refused to let the mission fade after COVID. Why does Relay still matter? What drives people to keep showing up? And how does it change lives right here at home?

Clayton is growing, but what does that really mean behind the scenes? How does a town prepare for five new people every single day? What happens when land meant for jobs turns into rooftops instead? And why do water, sewer, and timing matter more than most people realize? In this conversation with Clayton’s Economic Development Director, Joe Stallings, we unpack what growth actually takes, what’s coming next, and how a community decides what kind of future it wants to build.

What if the hardest part of divorce isn’t the divorce itself, but everything that quietly stays connected afterward?

What if your will, your life insurance, your bank accounts, or even your car are still tying you to someone you thought you’d left behind?

In this special Ask Jonathan Breeden Anything episode, I walk through the documents divorce does not change for you, the financial risks people overlook, and why divorce is not an ending. It’s a beginning that requires intention.

What happens when the person responsible for public safety in Johnston County pulls back the curtain on the justice system? In this conversation, District Attorney Jason Waller reveals how cases really move, what keeps him up at night, and why his toughest decisions matter most. If you’ve ever wondered who protects your community—and how—they do it, this episode will change the way you see the courthouse.

How many people in Johnston County can’t get to work, the doctor, or even the grocery store… simply because they don’t have a car?

I thought I understood what public services looked like here — until I sat down with Josh Jensen. From JCATS and Quick Ride to Meals on Wheels and senior housing, what he shared changed how I see this county.

What happens when the systems we never notice disappear?

What happens when a hospital CEO is still thinking like a respiratory therapist?

What decisions do you make when lives are on the line and no one has clear answers?

And if the best cancer care is meant to be shared, not hoarded, why does competition still exist?

In this conversation, I sit down with Tom Williams to explore leadership under pressure, healthcare access, and what it really means to care for a community.