CountyCast

By North Carolina Association of County Commissioners

What's CountyCast about?

CountyCast is a podcast series from the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners designed to educate listeners about the level of government closest to the people – counties.

Join host Amber Harris as we share county stories from North Carolina, help people understand county government’s impact and why it matters, and attempt to entertain while celebrating counties and our members.

Download our free app to listen on your phone

CountyCast episodes:

10.15.2022
S4 E2: Rooted in relationships with Senator Lisa Barnes and Commissioner Sue Leggett
In this episode, we're joined by NC Senator Lisa Barnes, who is in her first term at the General Assembly, and Commissioner Sue Leggett, who is in her first term on the Nash County Board of Commissioners. Hosts Amber Harris...
09.15.2022
S4 E1: Partnering in providing opportunities with Rep. Terry Garrison and Commissioner T. Davis
We kick off the fourth season of CountyCast with NC Representative Terry Garrison, who is in his third term at the General Assembly, and Commissioner T. Davis, who is in his second term on the Warren County Board of...
06.28.2022
Special Episode: An Insider Look at Passing Legislation with Rep. Destin Hall | "All about building relationships"
The basic principles of creating laws — bill drafting, committee discussion, and passage between the two chambers of the legislature — is fairly well understood. What happens in between, then? What exactly does it mean when proposed bills "go to...
12.21.2021
Special episode: Little full, a lot of sap | “The Beyoncé of Christmas Trees”
In celebrating the most prominent Christmas decoration in the most distinguished house in the United States, we recap a special White House Christmas tree send-off from the Ashe County courthouse and talk with Tim O'Connor, Executive Director of the...
07.14.2021
S3 E11: Flexibility and partnership in public health vaccinations | "Meet them where they are"
The winding, lurching road of vaccine development quickly turned in to a speedy superhighway of vaccine distribution in the United States as the calendar turned to 2021, and true to much of the efforts to mitigate COVID-19, counties were placed...
06.16.2021
S3 E10: Librarians know every trick in the book | "If you need the answer, we're who you call"
Often, libraries bring to mind simple images like rows of books, stacks of magazines, and strict librarians quieting noisy visitors with a harsh shushing. This episode's guests remind us to not judge a book by its cover as they walk...
06.02.2021
S3 E9: Masters of fun, other duties as assigned | "A pickleball tangent"
When others are playing, you will find county parks and recreation departments working — looking to bring entertainment, social engagement, and exercise opportunities to their counties. How, then, did parks and rec managers carry out these responsibilities in the height...
05.19.2021
S3 E8: Sowing seeds of community | "Make sure that every kid has a chance"
With counties being the level of government closest to the people, the youngest citizens in those communities cannot be overlooked when ensuring that basic needs are met, especially in the midst of a pandemic. How does it look for counties...
05.05.2021
S3 E7: Humanity at the ballot box | "That's not how this works"
Tasked with carrying out one of the most impactful elections in the history of the United States, North Carolina's counties navigated their duty among extraordinary and demanding conditions. As CountyCast continues to tell the story of COVID-19 response from the...
04.21.2021
Special Episode: Leg. Table Talk | What are counties advocating for?
We invite you to the table this week for expert insight on top-of-mind issues for NC counties during this legislative session, as well as trending topics from #NCPol and the implications from legislative topics in the headlines. Two insiders and...
04.07.2021
Special Episode: Innovation through partnership | Excellence in Innovation Awards
Counties are often required to think outside the box in order to meet a wide spectrum of needs with limited resources. In recognition of counties getting creative to solve problems, NCACC partners with the Local Government Federal Credit Union to...
03.24.2021
S3 E6: Make new friends, but keep the old 2.0 | “Never misuse that trust”
Bringing back a favorite episode from season one with a COVID-era reprise, we sit down with a newly-elected commissioner and a veteran commissioner to hear their perspectives, see what they’ve learned, and what we can learn from them about their...
03.10.2021
S3 E5: Public health directors on the front lines | “The silent miracle”
Local health departments administer critical health services and information to their communities. When the pandemic took hold, public health workers were in the center of the response and had to rethink the way they work. To take us behind the...
02.24.2021
S3 E4: Governing during a pandemic | “A flood without the water”
Across North Carolina, county offices are typically bustling with people seeking information and resources, staff carrying out county business, and elected officials implementing policy and leading their communities. In a matter of weeks, these units of government had to pivot...
02.10.2021
S3 E3: A marathon, sprint, and slow walk of emergency management during COVID-19 | “Resiliency on the horizon”
Hurricanes, floods, mudslides, pandemics—county emergency operations are on the front lines of disaster response and answer the call any time crises strike. COVID-19 has presented a challenge unlike any other, and NC Director of Emergency Management Mike Sprayberry and Deputy Director of...
01.27.2021
Special Episode: Advocacy through collaboration | NCACC’s legislative goals
Capping off a 7-month long process to set the legislative agenda for North Carolina’s counties, the NCACC held its Legislative Goals Conference in mid-January. Listen in to our conversation with two commissioners who guided and facilitated this important task as...
01.20.2021
S3 E2: Economic development in a changing landscape | “Bring down the silos”
As uncertainty reigned in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, small businesses were faced with shortfalls in revenue and meeting new standards for safety in short order, so in turn, counties stepped in to help convene resources and strategies...
01.06.2021
S3 E1: Coordinating to feed communities | “Just thinking differently”
We take a look at the issue of food system resiliency and the ways that counties have responded to challenges like food insecurity and coordinating food distribution - two issues that have been magnified during the COVID-19 pandemic. First, we...
11.13.2020
Special Episode: 2020 elections and insights on an evenly-divided state
As part of an organization that represents elected officials, NCACC’s CountyCast takes a deep dive into the impacts and implications regarding all things elections - from county boards of commissioners to statewide offices. To fill us in on takeaways, shifts...
09.18.2020
Season 2 Wrapup: “Counties are the common denominator”
After a unique sophomore stint telling the county story, we talk with NCACC Executive Director Kevin Leonard as he flips the script to interview host Amber Harris and producer Ben Christoph. Listen in as we discuss how CountyCast has adapted...
08.25.2020
S2.5 Episode 2: Dividends from mentoring students | “The best return on investment”
Continuing on in our series about disconnected youth and the Pathways Initiative, we highlight the McNair Mentors program and its efforts to increase the number of students seeking out educational opportunities after high school in Rutherford County. Listen in on...
08.13.2020
S2.5 Episode 1: “For those kids, it’s no anecdote” | Disconnected youth remedied by community collaboration
When Yadkin County Commissioner Kevin Austin launched the Pathways Initiative as president of the NCACC in late 2019, it sparked a movement to tackle the issues plaguing counties throughout North Carolina where youth find themselves disconnected from both educational advancement...
05.27.2020
S2 Episode 7: A vision for greenways | “They’ll always remember you for a park”
Take a jog, stroll, or bike ride on your local greenway, and you’re more likely to encounter a traffic jam of exercisers than ever before as more people make time outdoors a part of their new normal. Many times, these...
04.22.2020
S2 Episode 6: “Data is telling the story” | The county impact of congressional response to COVID-19
What can county leaders expect for relief funding? Where can county staff look for resources as they continue to provide essential services during the pandemic? To discuss how all levels of government are responding to and leading us through this...
04.15.2020
S2 Episode 5: The census is individual advocacy | “Standing up and being counted”
What’s at stake in the 2020 census? Why does it matter for North Carolinians, and what are the implications for NC counties? From financial resources to legislative representation to economic development, census data will powerfully shape our communities. We revisit...
03.25.2020
S2 Episode 4: Resourcefulness & inspiration from NC counties | “Finding a way to make an impact”
So much of the work of county government is built on the day-to-day pursuit of practical solutions to systemic and seemingly insurmountable challenges. To promote some of these stories, host Amber Harris and producer Ben Christoph relive the highlights from...
03.11.2020
S2 Episode 3: From turf grass to food security | “The best kept secret"
On this episode of CountyCast, we set out to dig up more information on an often overlooked organization—the Cooperative Extension. Listen in as we talk to Dr. Rich Bonanno, the Director of NC State Extension, as well as Wake County...
02.26.2020
S2 Episode 2: Young leaders grow in county government | “A legacy of public service”
What motivates young leaders to step up to serve in local government? How can the next generation be inspired to accept the call of being a county leader? Three fellows from the NCACC County Management Fellowship Program join the show...
02.12.2020
S2 Episode 1: How secure is my ballot? | Counties make elections work
The right to vote is a fundamental part of democracy, a right that people have given their lives to protect. Fair and secure elections don’t just happen on their own. Currituck County Commissioner Kitty Etheridge and State Board of Elections Public...
11.13.2019
S1 Episode 25: Bertie County’s tall glass of water | “More than a beach”
To wrap up season one, we headed to Bertie County where host Amber Harris met with commissioners John Trent, Ron Wesson, and Tammy Lee to talk about their “Tall Glass of Water” project, which is a county-owned public beach access...
10.30.2019
S1 Episode 24: Fixing the pipeline of early childhood education | “These are our children”
Early childhood education is an investment that pays dividends for decades. In this episode we’re talking to Lisa Hayworth and Micki Bare from the Randolph County Partnership for Children, and Pat Cronin from the NC State Institute for Emerging Issues,...
10.16.2019
S1 Episode 23: Economic development and the underemployed | “Putting your money where your mouth is”
Big challenges require creative solutions, so we’re talking about how one county’s smart approach to the challenge of workforce development has paid off by attracting business, generating job placements, and creating proud legacies. Hugh Sandoe, who works as the Analytics...
10.02.2019
S1 Episode 22: How can local government shape the workforce of tomorrow? | “Red Apple Red”
In this episode, we look for ways to address the fact that 50% of occupations available today will be gone by 2050, and ask what counties can do to help prepare the workforce of tomorrow for an evolving job market....
09.18.2019
S1 Episode 21: How can census data help my community? | “A room full of nerds”
With the 2020 census approaching, we filled our studio with a census expert, a couple of data enthusiasts, and a county administrator to talk about why the census matters and how this population information can be used to make our...
09.04.2019
S1 Episode 20: Doris Kearns Goodwin on Leadership | Live From NCACC Annual Conference
On a special live recording of the show, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin drops by to impart perspectives on leadership from some of America’s most influential presidents and shares how experience in local government shaped each of their stories....
08.14.2019
S1 Episode 19: Better Outcomes Through Collaboration | 112th Annual Conference Preview
As a long-standing yearly tradition, the NCACC convenes county officials from across North Carolina to meet in August to provide educational sessions, facilitate networking opportunities, and to conduct Association business. In a word, it’s a chance for commissioners and staff...
07.31.2019
S1 Episode 18: Hope and a second chance | “A new path forward”
Mercy triumphs over judgment. That’s not an idea that will make it in to many blockbuster action movies or courtroom reality TV shows, but when it comes to real life, nothing makes for a better story than the missteps of...
07.17.2019
S1 Episode 17: The battle against human trafficking at the county level | “Hiding in plain sight”
The effort to end the practice of modern-day slavery that is human trafficking takes awareness and recognition of the business models in which this market exists. County employees are often positioned to notice the tell-tale signs of trafficking, and their...
07.03.2019
S1 Episode 16: A story of collaborative leadership | “No one goes to school to be a county commissioner”
Some leaders assert their strategies with raucous arguments and a self-reliant mindset. Other leaders choose a wider scope, bringing additional voices to the table and building a spectrum of relationships in order to get things done. As a lifelong leader...
06.19.2019
S1 Episode 15: The state budget is wrapping up - or is it? | County budget priorities
We get down to the nitty-gritty on the process to come up with the state’s $26 billion budget and discuss how it is that the NC house, senate, and governor develop and negotiate the spending plan. What do the three...
05.22.2019
S1 Episode 14: An Inventive EMS Service | A Lifetime of Service in Emergency Management
It’s nearly impossible to overstate the value of county emergency services and the impact those services have on their communities. Even then, some departments go above and beyond and add a deeply caring and personal approach to their day-to-day responsibilities....
05.08.2019
S1 Episode 13: Laboratories of Democracy | County Advocacy From the Ground Up
Since the NCACC’s founding 110 years ago, grassroots advocacy has been a hallmark of the organization's identity. Join us as we talk to the Association's President-Elect, Commissioner Kevin Austin, along with Government Relations Coordinator Hugh Johnson, to examine how challenges...
04.24.2019
S1 Episode 12: Parks and recreation getting creative in a rural NC county | Why does community buy-in matter?
Given the shared notion that exercise, play, and outdoor space are vital for a thriving community, how can a county make sure it serves its residents in this area while being efficient with resources? Harnett County Assistant County Manager Brian...
04.10.2019
S1 Episode 11: Risky business with Safety Bob | What kind of risks do counties face? | The developing threat of cyber attacks
There is a wide scope of services that counties provide, from office administration, to waste management, to law enforcement — and all of these services carry risks which must be accounted for and minimized. NCACC Risk Control Manager Bob Carruth...
03.27.2019
S1 Episode 10: Are counties working to combat recidivism in county jails? | Reducing costs and assisting incarcerated individuals | “Building a network of care”
It is a crucial role of the sheriff’s department to serve and protect the citizens of a county, and in New Hanover County, this includes building a network of support for formerly incarcerated individuals so that they “are released from...
03.13.2019
S1 Episode 9: How can counties promote foster/adoptive services? | An award-winning approach to adoption placement | “Seeing the light coming back”
Foster care placement is a critical function of county Departments of Social Services. When children are in need of families, staff in these departments step in to coordinate and ensure the needs of children and the families that care for...
02.27.2019
S1 Episode 8: What do negotiations look like at the General Assembly? | Budget discussions relevant to counties
One month into the legislative session, we check in on trending topics at the General Assembly and discuss how they might affect counties with NCACC Government Relations Coordinator Hugh Johnson. Listen in as we talk about state budget projections and...
02.13.2019
S1 Episode 7: How are public schools funded, exactly? | A history of education funding, including school bonds and the lottery | What we love about NC
In our first episode on the current legislative session, the NCACC’s Executive Director Kevin Leonard and Legislative Counsel Adam Pridemore bring you up to speed on education funding, a trending topic in the North Carolina General Assembly. Listen in for...
01.30.2019
S1 Episode 6: Make new friends, but keep the old | Shared issues across rural and urban counties | A NASCAR legend as commissioner
Six weeks in to her position as a county commissioner, Vickie Adamson from Wake County joins us to share her journey from candidate to elected official. Commissioner Darrell Frye, who has served in Randolph County for 37 years,...
01.16.2019
S1 Episode 5: County 101 | How does the county work for me? | The best BBQ in northeast NC might not be at a restaurant
Join us for a lesson on the nuts and bolts of county administration as told by Hertford County Manager Loria Williams and for a glimpse of how commissioners serve their counties from Onslow County Commissioner Mark Price. Loria Williams...

What's CountyCast about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

CountyCast episodes:

S4 E2: Rooted in relationships with Senator Lisa Barnes and Commissioner Sue Leggett

S4 E1: Partnering in providing opportunities with Rep. Terry Garrison and Commissioner T. Davis

Special Episode: An Insider Look at Passing Legislation with Rep. Destin Hall | "All about building relationships"

Special episode: Little full, a lot of sap | “The Beyoncé of Christmas Trees”

S3 E11: Flexibility and partnership in public health vaccinations | "Meet them where they are"

S3 E10: Librarians know every trick in the book | "If you need the answer, we're who you call"

S3 E9: Masters of fun, other duties as assigned | "A pickleball tangent"

S3 E8: Sowing seeds of community | "Make sure that every kid has a chance"

S3 E7: Humanity at the ballot box | "That's not how this works"

Special Episode: Leg. Table Talk | What are counties advocating for?

Special Episode: Innovation through partnership | Excellence in Innovation Awards

S3 E6: Make new friends, but keep the old 2.0 | “Never misuse that trust”

S3 E5: Public health directors on the front lines | “The silent miracle”

S3 E4: Governing during a pandemic | “A flood without the water”

S3 E3: A marathon, sprint, and slow walk of emergency management during COVID-19 | “Resiliency on the horizon”

Special Episode: Advocacy through collaboration | NCACC’s legislative goals

S3 E2: Economic development in a changing landscape | “Bring down the silos”

S3 E1: Coordinating to feed communities | “Just thinking differently”

Special Episode: 2020 elections and insights on an evenly-divided state

Season 2 Wrapup: “Counties are the common denominator”

S2.5 Episode 2: Dividends from mentoring students | “The best return on investment”

S2.5 Episode 1: “For those kids, it’s no anecdote” | Disconnected youth remedied by community collaboration

S2 Episode 7: A vision for greenways | “They’ll always remember you for a park”

S2 Episode 6: “Data is telling the story” | The county impact of congressional response to COVID-19

S2 Episode 5: The census is individual advocacy | “Standing up and being counted”

S2 Episode 4: Resourcefulness & inspiration from NC counties | “Finding a way to make an impact”

S2 Episode 3: From turf grass to food security | “The best kept secret"

S2 Episode 2: Young leaders grow in county government | “A legacy of public service”

S2 Episode 1: How secure is my ballot? | Counties make elections work

S1 Episode 25: Bertie County’s tall glass of water | “More than a beach”

S1 Episode 24: Fixing the pipeline of early childhood education | “These are our children”

S1 Episode 23: Economic development and the underemployed | “Putting your money where your mouth is”

S1 Episode 22: How can local government shape the workforce of tomorrow? | “Red Apple Red”

S1 Episode 21: How can census data help my community? | “A room full of nerds”

S1 Episode 20: Doris Kearns Goodwin on Leadership | Live From NCACC Annual Conference

S1 Episode 19: Better Outcomes Through Collaboration | 112th Annual Conference Preview

S1 Episode 18: Hope and a second chance | “A new path forward”

S1 Episode 17: The battle against human trafficking at the county level | “Hiding in plain sight”

S1 Episode 16: A story of collaborative leadership | “No one goes to school to be a county commissioner”

S1 Episode 15: The state budget is wrapping up - or is it? | County budget priorities

S1 Episode 14: An Inventive EMS Service | A Lifetime of Service in Emergency Management

S1 Episode 13: Laboratories of Democracy | County Advocacy From the Ground Up

S1 Episode 12: Parks and recreation getting creative in a rural NC county | Why does community buy-in matter?

S1 Episode 11: Risky business with Safety Bob | What kind of risks do counties face? | The developing threat of cyber attacks

S1 Episode 10: Are counties working to combat recidivism in county jails? | Reducing costs and assisting incarcerated individuals | “Building a network of care”

S1 Episode 9: How can counties promote foster/adoptive services? | An award-winning approach to adoption placement | “Seeing the light coming back”

S1 Episode 8: What do negotiations look like at the General Assembly? | Budget discussions relevant to counties

S1 Episode 7: How are public schools funded, exactly? | A history of education funding, including school bonds and the lottery | What we love about NC

S1 Episode 6: Make new friends, but keep the old | Shared issues across rural and urban counties | A NASCAR legend as commissioner

S1 Episode 5: County 101 | How does the county work for me? | The best BBQ in northeast NC might not be at a restaurant