The Boone Show

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We welcome Daniel Bruce as the new principal of Wren High School and catch up with alum and Emmy winning journalist Makayla Evans as she comes home to the Upstate. We talk leadership, student media, investigative reporting, and how stories move from a classroom microphone to real community impact. 

• Daniel Bruce’s transition into Wren High School and what he prioritizes early 
• Building relationships with families and students to improve graduation and career readiness 
• Why athletics and the arts teach teamwork, resilience, and shared goals 
• Showing up at student events as a leadership strategy and a trust deposit 
• Makayla Evans’ journey from a shy student podcaster to Fox Carolina breaking news reporter 
• How student podcasting builds real newsroom skills like structure, sound, and quick pivots 
• Reporting high impact investigations including the Conway cross burning story and follow-up results 
• The ethics and impact of investigative journalism that leads to arrests and policy changes 
• Bigfoot calling contest stories and the live on air call 
• Privacy concerns and public safety benefits of Flock cameras and expanding surveillance tech 
• Entertainment and food recommendations from our guests 

Meanwhile, tell your friends to catch this on YouTube or Spotify if they want just the audio version. Remember, if you have anyone that wants to support the show, any of the money we get from any of that, goes right to our students to help them go on their annual field trip. Email [email protected]

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We talk with fifth generation farmer and South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture candidate Cody Simpson about protecting working farms, cutting red tape, and building real pathways for students into modern agriculture. Then we shift to Denver Downs Farm Fall Festival with Catherine Garrison and get an on-the-ground update from Trey Harris on what ACTC agriculture students are doing right now. 
• Why protecting farmland also protects heritage, culture, and food supply 
• Conservation easements and the Working Agricultural Lands Protection Act basics 
• A one-stop shop for young and beginning farmers, connecting state help to USDA programs 
• Youth loans and early business experience as a farm pipeline 
• Preparing students for high-tech agriculture careers, from drones to robotics 
• Reducing duplication in permits and inspections for eggs, meat, and seafood 
• Diesel price pressure, diesel tax suspension ideas, and red dye fuel for off-road use 
• How agritourism keeps farms viable at Denver Downs, from corn mazes to bee education 
• Pig Tucky Derby highlights, live music, fireworks, food, and ticket tips 
• ACTC program growth, plant sale, livestock work, and hands-on vet opportunities 
• Restaurant and food recommendations, from shrimp off the boat to hummingbird cake 

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We sit down with Superintendent Dr. Seth Young to talk through what’s driving District One’s growth and why the district keeps posting big results despite tough funding realities. We also get practical about safety, phones, and AI, then lighten it up with a surprisingly intense food taste-test and a quick sports check-in.
• opening Oak Hill Elementary and tying the new campus to local history
• the multi-year timeline behind school construction, staffing, and rezoning
• planning for overcrowding and rapid housing growth in multiple areas
• strong district performance on test scores, Algebra 1 results, and SC Ready
• college and career readiness gains through the career center, dual credit, and AP options
• why per-pupil funding is so low and how Act 388 affects revenue
• modern school safety features like secure entry, badges, alerts, and lockdown zones
• how cell phone restrictions are changing school days and lunchrooms
• setting AI guidelines so students learn without cheating
• trying viral food combos that claim to taste like pineapple, bubblegum, watermelon, pizza, and Coke
• entertainment and food recommendations, then a candid Clemson football discussion

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Hot air balloons are the headline, but the real story is what they lift up: people. We sit down with Angie from the Cancer Association of Anderson to get a clear update on local cancer support services and the progress on the Malik Center for Hope and Healing. From mileage-based travel reimbursement to nutrition help, medical equipment, massage therapy, and plans for a teaching kitchen, we talk about what patients actually need when life turns into appointments, bills, and long drives.

Then we zoom out to the community calendar that fuels that mission. We break down the Hot Air Affair schedule, the best times to see balloons in the air, and what’s new this year, including the Rural Agricultural Expo built to reconnect families with the county’s agriculture roots. We also highlight Warrior Day, including the moving Warrior Walk where survivors walk through balloon baskets lit like candlesticks, a moment that turns celebration into something deeper.

Brandie joins us to share what the Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce is building through Leadership Anderson and Junior Leadership Anderson, with a sharper focus on college readiness, career prep, mentors, and real-world soft skills. We also take a call from Zach with the kind of update every family wants to hear, plus a few lighter segments that keep the tone honest and human.

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We close out the year with four high school principals sharing what they’re proud of, what still needs work, and what they’re building next for students across academics, athletics, arts, and culture. We also get a leadership transition at Wren, a look at a big middle school vote, and a not-so-serious principal challenge that turns very serious very fast. 

• Dr Kyle Whitfield on leaving Wren High School and moving to the district office 
• How a principal transition works when you prioritize relationships and continuity 
• Mary Boarts: Big wins at Belton-Honea Path in football, boys basketball, band, and choir 
• The Anderson School District 2 consolidation vote and why some residents say no 
• Robby Roach: Palmetto’s growth in academics, arts, ROTC, and facility safety improvements 
• Zach’s sports corner on MLB, managers, and a quick WrestleMania check-in 
• Dr Adam Lanford: Powdersville’s dual enrollment push, expanding clubs, and building student belonging 
• The idea that excellence has no ceiling and why schools never “arrive” 
• Principal challenge games with paper airplanes, paper footballs, and a playoff round paper ball toss
• Entertainment and food picks to wrap the season plus guest of the year winners 

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We talk with Pelzer Mayor Chase Smithwick about why local leadership moves faster than national politics and how showing up changes what a town can become. Along the way we get a preview of the Great Anderson County Fair plus a grounded look at budgets, grants, and rebuilding quality of life in a mill town. 
• deciding to run for office after seeing a need for change 
• a service mindset shaped by charity work and military disaster response 
• why council meetings beat Facebook for learning how government works 
• the time demands of a full-time mayor role without full-time pay 
• Pelzer’s no city tax reality, Act 388 limits, and the need for grants 
• lowering poverty through workforce training and practical health support 
• revitalising parks, preserving mill houses, and rebuilding rec programs 
• riverfront opportunities like trails, camping, kayaking, and conservation space 
• working with nearby towns to coordinate events and share resources 
• Great Anderson County Fair Manager Tod Miller shares highlights, new shows, food, deals, and safety rules for this year's Fair

If you want to be a sponsor or a guest on the program, [email protected] for more information. Any money we make from the show goes to the media broadcasting students for their annual trip. 

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We catch up with Chef Chris as his ProStart team heads back to nationals, where five teenagers have one hour and minimal equipment to cook a three-course fine dining meal for scholarship-level judging. We also preview the Belton chili cook-off with Gene Jameson and end with a quick run through of odd headlines plus our weekly picks for entertainment and food. 
• why ProStart is so hard and why ACTC keeps winning 
• how students design a menu and practice it 30 to 40 times 
• this year’s Southern fine dining menu from mousse tart to catfish 
• what nationals looks like from product check-in to penalties 
• a Comic-Con “donut burger” gets a chef upgrade 
• Gene’s background from biomechanics to Jameson Woodworks 
• how the SC State Chili Cook-Off works and what ICS means 
• the four chili categories and how winners reach worlds 
• the fundraiser mission and the festival feel on Belton Square 
• our guest bracket contest plus a quick news roundup 

If you want to sponsor or be a guest, just shoot us an email at [email protected].

Remember, you can also watch the show on YouTube (WPPB).

Support the show

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SC Comic-Con weekend is almost here, and we sit down with Rob and Michele Young to talk about how a family-run convention grew into one of the biggest pop culture events in South Carolina. We dig into guests, vendors, community impact, and the behind-the-scenes decisions that keep the show fun and manageable. 
• using the Greenville Convention Center at full capacity and managing the morning line indoors 
• what changed after COVID and why being first back mattered 
• standout guests including Ron Perlman plus Star Wars, Supernatural, and Walking Dead favorites 
• the limited coffee date with “Luke” and other fan-focused extras 
• new vendors, refreshed booths, and a big Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles spotlight with Kevin Eastman 
• how the convention supports the community through charities, blood drives, and Vet Tix 
• picking up wristbands early at Borderlands to speed up entry 
• why Borderlands stays in-person only and how the gaming area builds community 
• what’s trending in comics right now and why physical comics are up 
• student questions on supervillains, favorite series, artists, collecting, and getting started 
Tickets at sccomicon.com. You can come by Borderlands and get your wristband. 

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We sit down with ACTC Sports Medicine Instructor Julia Voyles to talk about building a hands-on program that helps students test-drive real healthcare and fitness careers before college. Then we hear from her husband, former MLB pitcher Brad Voyles about the long minor league grind, his big-league debut, and what it’s like to play baseball around the world.  

• building a sports medicine program from scratch and meeting state standards  
• using early career exposure to help students avoid costly wrong turns in college majors  
• teaching taping basics while expanding into the full sports medicine umbrella of jobs  
• sending seniors into internships and co-ops at gyms, PT clinics, chiropractic offices, and more  
• coaching early-morning fitness classes and training for Hyrox-style competitions  
• how Julia and Brad met while working pro baseball in Gary, Indiana  
• getting drafted late, developing in the minors, and staying healthy long enough to advance  
• making a Major League debut and handling nerves on the field  
• the A-Rod strikeout and the next-day home run reality check  
• playing in Japan and winter ball, plus what travel does to routine and performance  
• superfan trivia with Justin Atkin, memorabilia stories, and what it means to inspire someone else  

Podcast on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts, plus re-listen or watch on YouTube.  
And remember, if you want to be a sponsor, we would really appreciate that.  
All that money goes to the kids for their field trips in the class.  
Contact John Boone at [email protected].  

We hope you enjoyed the show!

Support the show

Thanks for listening! Direct all inquiries to [email protected].

Text us what you think of this episode!

Rick Sanders explains how West Pelzer goes from empty storefronts to a thriving Main Street and why he steps into the mayor’s seat to keep that progress moving. Blake Sanders breaks down what changes when you jump from local government to the State House, from taxes and conservation to the realities of passing bills. 
• Rick’s path from Michelin career to restoring the old Pelzer Library as a home 
• Building Westy’s Antiques into a multi-vendor shop and collector destination 
• Launching the Lincoln Tap Room with craft beer and community fundraising events 
• Why downtown West Pelzer fills up and what happens when space runs out 
• Taking over as mayor and focusing on resident involvement over keyboard noise 
• Coordinating events across West Pelzer, Pelzer, and Williamston for shared momentum 
• Blake’s District 9 map and why state government moves slower than local 
• Tax priorities including income tax reform, boat tax relief, and homestead exemption 
• Conservation and growth management tools like concurrency, impact fees, and farmland protection 
• The difference between policy work and political theatre 
• Funny news takes from boomer phone booths to Buc-ee’s complaints to Waffle House therapy 
• School challenges from basic skills to AI use and accountability 

If you want to sponsor or be our next guest to tell your story, email [email protected]. Anything we raise by you being a sponsor on the show goes towards our ACTC Media students going on their field trips for the program. 

Support the show

Thanks for listening! Direct all inquiries to [email protected].