Oak City Move

In todays episode of Oak City Move, Sophs sits down with the founder and CEO of the MAKRS Society, Max Rivera. We discuss how MAKRS Society dedicates itself to supporting local makers, artists and small businesses. We discuss the the inspirations behind its creation, the challenges and rewards of building a platform for locals, and how important local markets are in creating community. Learn how the organization helps turn passion into business while fostering connections across the triangle and beyond! Tune in to learn more... 

In the wake of Affordable Care Act subsidies expiring this year, Autumn welcomes data journalist Hail Zulueta to discuss how 2026's increase in health insurance premium costs caused a decrease in insurance enrollment across North Carolina. Tune in to learn more!

In today's episode of Oak City Move, Autumn sits down with Jennifer Gibson, the Executive Director of the Foundation of Hope, to discuss Mental Health Awareness Month and the Hope in Action campaign that will bring $1.5 million to UNC-Chapel Hill's Psychiatry department for mental health research.

This week on Oak City Move, we sit down with Raleigh native and Sara Abernethy, founder of Why Hill Kitchen & Brewing, host of the podcast Her Seat at the Table, and entrepreneur. Sara shares her journey from launching one of relief most beloved gathering spaces to becoming a leader in the local business community. We discuss entrepreneurship, building meaningful connections, creating spaces where people feel welcome, and what it takes to turn a vison into a lasting impact. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about leadership, community, and the people helping shape the future of Raleigh. 

In this episode, we sit down with Rafael A. Osuba, a Puerto Rican cuotural producer, visual aritst, story teller, author, editor, mentor, and founder of the El Quixote Festival. We discuss the upcoming International Children’s Day celebration, featuring authors, presenters, and books that highlight bilingual and minority voices for children and adults alike. Rafael shares why representation in literature matters, explaining how books can help children feel safe, seen, and heard while also opening the door to understanding new cultures and experiences. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about the power of storytelling, diversity, and community. After we discuss the International Childrens Day Festival, we also get an inside scoop from Autumn Smith about the Real Tickets, Real Fans act!

In this episode, I interview Jenn McEwen, the director of Wake on Stage. We discuss how the program brings together talented students and community groups from across Wake County to showcase their creativity and passion for the arts. Jenn shares the story behind how Wake on Stage began, what inspired her to create a platform for young performers, and how the event has grown into a celebration of artistic talent in the community.

Throughout the conversation, we talk about the wide range of performances featured at Wake on Stage, from music and dance to theater and other artistic expressions. Jenn also explains the importance of giving students opportunities to perform, collaborate, and gain confidence while sharing their talents with a larger audience.

If you’d like to watch the live stream and see these incredible performances for yourself, be sure to follow the link below to tune in and support the amazing artists of Wake County. - https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1430775461690738&vanity=UnitedArtsWake 

In today’s episode, Sophs sits down with Emily Foster, the Co-Director of the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival taking place in Durham April 16th–19th. We talk about the great new films and filmmakers that will be showcased, what makes this year’s lineup especially exciting, and how the festival continues to be a vital platform for documentary storytelling.

Emily also shares insights into the curation process, highlights a few must-see premieres, and offers tips for first-time attendees looking to make the most of their festival experience. We wrap things up with a look at how documentary film is evolving and why events like Full Frame remain so important for both creators and audiences alike.

In this episode of Oak City Move, Sophs sits down with Dave Klemp, executive director of the environmental non-profit, Trees for the Triangle. Trees for the Triangle is a "pay what you can" non-profit that helps restore trees in the Triangle area, planting new trees as well as replanting old trees. During this episode Dave and Sophs discuss the importance of Urban Forestry (especially amongst climate change), how Trees for the Triangle is actively helping communities, as well as where he thinks urban forestry will be in the next 10-20 years. Listen to here about everything they are doing for the Triangle as well as to find out Dave's favorite tree species!

 Breyton Hill interviews Adriana Brassart, Head of Public Diplomacy and Press at the Delegation of the European Union [European Union] to the United States. Adriana explains what her job is and how she first got into the realm of politics.

With Adriana’s previous experience working as an International Policy Officer for the Middle East and now the Head of Public Diplomacy and Press for the United States, the pair discusses how to combat misinformation with media literacy and a critical eye.

Adriana goes on to explain why even college students should care about what is going with the European Union and offers some advice on how to get into journalism, public policy, or politics in general.

Breyton ends the interview with the next Breyton Interrogation: a series of questions to get to know you rather than what you do.

Breyton Hill interviews Dr. Laura Bottomley, an engineering professor at NC State, about her career journey, motivation, and common misconceptions about engineering. 

Dr. Bottomley talks about her original dream to be an astronaut right up until the moment she got in the classroom. “I loved it. Teaching was the ultimate puzzle… to figure out how to explain things to people so that they would understand and would get excited about stuff. I was sunk.”

Breyton asks Dr. Bottomley about her career mentors over the years and how one of those mentors prompted Dr. Bottomley to found Women in Engineering at NC State. Dr. Bottomley didn’t see a lot of change happening with regard to getting women into and excited about engineering so she became that change with her K-12 outreach program, the Engineering Place. 

The pair discusses how engineering is making a difference in the world and that “engineers are not just people who do math and science alone in their room with the door shut and never talk to people. That image is completely incorrect. [Engineers] have to be very wholistic.”

After clearing up common misconceptions about engineering, Dr. Bottomley offers the question of “what kind of difference do you want to make in the world? Where do you want the impact of your life to be?” and offers some advice on how to discern that. 

“Begin with the end in mind,” she says, “but as you learn more, be willing to change.”

The interview continues with Dr. Bottomley’s current soapbox “we need to teach more critical thinking in this country. Anti-intellectualism is dangerous. I don’t think that we should aspire to be ignorant.” 

Breyton ends the interview with the Breyton Interrogation: a series of questions to get to know you rather than what you do. 

Breyton Hill then transitions to interviewing at North Carolina Museum of Natural Science’s Astronomy Day. 

Secretary of the Raleigh Astronomy Club, Ann Murphy, discusses her interactive booth about how time passes differently and your weight and jumping height changes on different planets. 

Ann introduces Pluto’s five different moons. Breyton dives deeper into these moons and the dwarf planets in our solar system including Pluto, Eris, Ceres, Haumea, and Makemake. 

Breyton additionally spoke with volunteer, Toby, on different kinds of telescopes. Volunteer Syndey, also at the telescope booth, explains that using a telescope or binoculars, you can see Mars currently in retrograde.

Lastly, Breyton discusses the potential of alien life with Toby.