Flippin' the Switch

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This episode gives listeners a behind-the-scenes look at how JOEMC linemen respond when an outage is caused by a vehicle accident. It focuses on the August 21 broken pole on Gum Branch, the challenges of working in rain and traffic, the safety steps involved with downed or energized lines, and the coordination needed to replace the pole and restore power. Through Eric Smith’s firsthand account, the episode highlights the skill, teamwork, long hours, and member-focused commitment behind getting the lights back on safely.

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A light switch feels ordinary until you stand in a place that has never had one. We sit down with journeyman lineman Joe Zernhild from Jones-Onslow EMC, who volunteered for a mission trip to Guatemala alongside 14 linemen from electric cooperatives across North Carolina. It is Joe’s first time out of the country, and he walks us through what it takes to say yes, get outside your comfort zone, and use your trade to deliver something life-changing: electricity access.

Joe shares the reality of getting to a remote village, including the long travel, the logistics on the ground, and the biggest surprise for many listeners: no bucket trucks. The crew relies on climbing tools, teamwork, and the fundamentals of linework to string wire, make connections, and wire roughly 50-plus homes along with a school, churches, and a small health facility. Along the way, Joe describes the culture shock of daily life without modern resources, including families cooking on indoor fires, and why basic electrification can mean safer homes and better long-term health.

The most unforgettable moment comes when the lights finally turn on for the first time. Joe explains why that scene changes how you think about storm restoration back home and why he would go again without hesitation. We also share helpful co-op updates and practical resources, including easy bill payment options, budget billing, Flex Pay, and simple summer energy efficiency steps like sealing air leaks, changing air filters, switching to LED bulbs, and adjusting your thermostat.

Subscribe for more real stories from the people who keep the power on, share this with someone who believes in service, and leave a review with the one thing you’re most grateful to have electricity for.

Joe Zernhild shares how a simple volunteer email turned into his first trip out of the country and a two-week mission to bring electricity to a Guatemalan village for the very first time. We talk through the culture shock, the hands-on reality of building lines without bucket trucks, and the moment the lights finally came on for families who had never flipped a switch. 

• volunteering for the Guatemala mission trip and preparing for first international travel 
• what a journeyman lineman does at our co-op and how different the work feels abroad 
• two-day journey to the village and working with only climbing tools 
• seeing daily life without electricity, including indoor cooking fires 
• wiring 50-plus homes plus a school, churches, and a health facility 
• the emotional impact of turning the lights on for the first time 
• safety and health benefits of electric cooktops replacing indoor fires 
• advice for linemen and anyone considering mission-driven work 

If you'd like to learn more about the mission trips that this organization provides throughout the world, check out www.NRECA International.com 

Be sure to follow us on our social media platforms to stay in the loop with Jones Onslow EMC.

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On this episode of Flippin' the Switch, we sit down with Trisha Dyal and Carol Jameson to trace how a single handmade “daddy doll” became a nationwide resource for military families, powered by a tiny team of military spouses and volunteers who understand the stakes. April brings special urgency as the Month of the Military Child, and we dig into how local sponsors and businesses help put dolls into families’ hands, plus what corporate sponsorship can look like. We also explore expanding programs for first responders, children’s hospitals, double-sided dolls, and “Heavenly Heroes” memorial dolls meant to be gifted during grief. Tune in and learn how you can give back during the Month of the Military Child and beyond.

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Career Day gets a lot more interesting when the kids take the mic. We’re at Clearview Elementary with students who tell us what they learned about Jones Onslow EMC, what electricity powers in their homes, and what they’d change if they could give “electric powers” to anything from a bed to a flying carpet.

Subscribe to Flippin’ the Switch, share this with a parent or teacher, and leave us a review. Then follow us on social media to stay in the loop with Jones Onslow EMC.

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What does it take to turn a “passage to the beach” into a small-town destination? We sit down with Maysville’s town manager, Schumata Brown, to unpack a lifetime of roots, the courage to lead at home, and the practical playbook for rural revival: professional management, grant-first funding, and a community that sees itself with fresh eyes.

Schumata shares how growing up where everyone knew your name forged integrity and accountability that guide every decision today. From rebranding the gateway sign to acquiring distressed buildings before the grant money was certain, we walk through the bold bets that lit a spark on Main Street—now home to mixed-use apartments, a new laundromat, and the kind of construction fences that signal progress, not decay.

We also honor the people who laid the groundwork whose stories shaped Maysville’s identity, plus Schumata's own family legacy in public service. If you care about rural development, civic leadership, and turning pride into projects, this story delivers a clear, gritty blueprint. 

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Your winter bill doesn’t have to be a mystery. We sit down with Member Services representative Staci Berkner to unpack the hidden habits that raise costs, the simple tweaks that actually work, and the free tools that help you manage energy like a pro. From the 68-degree thermostat baseline to spotting when auxiliary heat kicks in, we walk through how to interpret your daily usage, connect it to real-life choices, and act before a small spike becomes an expensive surprise.

We also highlight key dates and opportunities around the cooperative, including the virtual annual meeting streaming Friday, March 27 at 10 a.m., and details on youth basketball camp scholarships for rising sixth and seventh graders. Along the way, you’ll get winter readiness tips, safety reminders, and a clear path to making 2026 your most efficient year yet. Ready to take control? Follow your daily usage, try one small habit change this week, and explore the free EnergyWise tools at joemc.com. 

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A ten-year-old with a big heart is changing the holidays for veterans. Tucker, the force behind In Tucker’s Mailbox, shows how handwritten cards can bring comfort to veterans living in VA homes—and how a simple idea can rally an entire community. We follow his journey from practicing his signature to organizing and hand-delivering thousands of Christmas cards to VA homes in Eastern North Carolina.

Along the way, Tucker’s letters spark unexpected replies, powerful connections, and living lessons about service, kindness, and showing up for others. He also shares advice for kids who want to make a difference: start with what you love and use it to help someone else.

We round out the episode with practical holiday energy-saving and safety tips, plus a look at PowerBucks—an easy way to help a neighbor with their electric bill. If this story inspired you, share it, subscribe, and consider writing a card of your own. Sometimes, the smallest gestures bring the most warmth.

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On this episode of Flippin' the Switch, we highlight how United Way of Onslow County shows what happens when generosity works like infrastructure—steady, practical, and built to last. Raquel Painter joins us to share how small, consistent acts can have a real impact: students are fed through the CHEW program, families gain access to fresh produce, and neighbors move from crisis to stable housing with wraparound support.

Raquel walks us through their model—funding vetted nonprofits, coordinating a volunteer network that runs smoothly, and expanding food access through a community garden that’s now growing into plans for a 28-acre farm. That future farm will supply disaster relief hubs and help the community learn where to turn long before an emergency hits.

We also dive into their transitional housing project: 111 units designed with on-site services for therapy, substance-use support, documentation, banking, and job pathways that help people rebuild long-term. United Way’s reentry efforts show what’s possible when barriers come down.

And in a rapid-fire segment, Joe—our lineman preparing to join NRECA International in Guatemala—reminds us how technical skills can become life-changing service. Bringing electricity to a village opens doors in education, health, and opportunity.

Want to help? Volunteer through Volunteer Onslow, donate at uwonslow.org, or share this episode with someone who believes local action creates lasting change.

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What happens when you take four high school students from small-town North Carolina and drop them into the heart of Washington, DC for a week? Magic, transformation, and lifelong connections.

The Electric Cooperative Youth Tour has been sending students to our nation's capital for over 60 years. In this episode, we get a firsthand account from Giana Cadwallader, a Jacksonville High School senior who experienced this journey of discovery over the summer. From trading state pins with students across America to standing in awe before towering monuments that remind us "freedom isn't free," Giana's story captures the essence of what makes this program so powerful. 

For any high school juniors listening, applications open in December for next summer's trip. Check our website or social media for details on how you could experience this transformative opportunity. As Gianna's story demonstrates, some lessons can only be learned by walking in the footsteps of history.

Run Time: 19 Minutes