Arthritis is one of the most common conditions people face as they age, often bringing pain, stiffness and limits on mobility. But while many assume it’s an unavoidable part of getting older, experts say there are steps people can take to slow its progression and even reduce the risk of developing it in the first place.

From lifestyle choices like exercise and weight management to newer treatment options, the conversation around arthritis is shifting from inevitability to prevention and management.

On this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Dr. Michael Bates, a Charlotte orthopedic surgeon recognized as a 2023 Top Doctor by Charlotte Magazine, sits down with The Ledger’s Tony Mecia to explain what arthritis is, dispel common myths, and share practical advice.

This episode is a recording of the second session of the free “Move Well, Live Well” webinar series, brought to you by The Charlotte Ledger and OrthoCarolina. This summer, we’re bringing you a three‑part series designed to help you stay strong, mobile, and pain‑free as you age. Each session will feature practical advice from experts you can use right away.

We hope you enjoy the conversation with Michael Bates. Click here for more information on the “Move Well, Life Well’ webinar series.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is presented by OrthoCarolina, a leading orthopedic care center based in Charlotte. For more information or to book an appointment with an expert, visit OrthoCarolina.com.

This episode is a recording of the first session of the free “Move Well, Live Well” webinar series, brought to you by The Charlotte Ledger and OrthoCarolina. This summer, we’re bringing you a three‑part series designed to help you stay strong, mobile, and pain‑free as you age. Each session will feature practical advice from experts you can use right away.

Whether you're managing joint pain on the pickleball court, staying active as you age or just trying to stay strong between TV episodes, Barrett A. Little, MD, has the answers on how to keep your muscles strong and active at any stage of life that you’re in, including movement, nutrition, supplements and proactive care.

Little is a board‑certified sports medicine and orthopedic surgeon with OrthoCarolina based in Fort Mill and Rock Hill. He has more than 15 years of experience treating athletes of all ages, specializing in shoulder and knee arthroscopy, joint and fracture care, and general sports orthopedics. He also serves as the team physician for Winthrop University Athletics.

We hope you enjoy the conversation with Barrett Little. Click here for more information on the “Move Well, Life Well’ webinar series.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.

Lewis Donald, better known as “Sweet Lew,” is the classically trained chef behind Sweet Lew’s Barbecue in Charlotte’s Belmont neighborhood. After two decades in fine dining and country clubs, including an apprenticeship at The Greenbrier in West Virginia, Donald traded white tablecloths for wood smoke in 2018, opening a counter-service spot dedicated to Carolina barbecue and community.

At Sweet Lew’s, the focus is on simplicity, consistency and tradition: whole pork shoulders, brisket, ribs and house-made sausages smoked entirely over wood, alongside nods to multiple regional styles like South Carolina hash and rice, Lexington-style chopped pork and both red and white slaws. Donald says the goal is to be Charlotte’s go-to neighborhood barbecue joint — approachable, unpretentious and the kind of place where memories are made over smoked meats.

In this episode, Donald shares how his fine dining skills translate to the pit, what he’s learned running a neighborhood barbecue joint and why he’s passionate about pushing North and South Carolina barbecue into the national spotlight.

For more information on Sweet Lew’s, visit SweetLewsBBQ.com.

This podcast episode is part of a series highlighting winners of The Ledger’s 40 Over 40 awards, which honor and celebrate often unheralded people over the age of 40 who are making important contributions to Charlotte. It’s hosted by Steve Dunn of Miles Mediation and Arbitration. Donald received The Ledger’s 40 Over 40 Award in 2025.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks. For more information on The Charlotte Ledger, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com.

Before Doug Madar helped launch Carolina Crown into one of the world’s top drum and bugle corps, he was simply a young music enthusiast captivated by the intensity and precision of the activity. Though he never marched himself, Madar became a lifelong supporter and, in 1990, co-founded the Fort Mill-based corps with just 57 members, homemade uniforms and used horns.

Today, Carolina Crown is celebrated for its unmatched horn line, dynamic shows and the passion of its performers, many of whom are college-age musicians from across the globe. Beyond the field, Crown also hosts NightBEAT — a premier competition that draws more than 11,000 fans each year and showcases the very best of the activity.

On this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Madar shares how Carolina Crown grew from a small local group to a world-class ensemble, why drum corps is both an art and a life lesson and the values that keep performers and fans dedicated to the activity.

Madar received The Ledger’s 40 Over 40 Award in 2025. For more information on Carolina Crown, visit CarolinaCrown.org.

This podcast episode is part of a series highlighting winners of The Ledger’s 40 Over 40 awards, which honor and celebrate often unheralded people over the age of 40 who are making important contributions to Charlotte. It’s hosted by Steve Dunn of Miles Mediation and Arbitration. Find out more about the 40 Over 40 awards by going to Ledger40over40.com.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.

Off the coast of North Carolina lies one of the world’s most treacherous stretches of sea — a place where shifting shoals, sudden storms and centuries of shipwrecks have earned it the name “Graveyard of the Atlantic.”

In July 2025, The Charlotte Ledger ran a series with that same name — researched and written by journalist Mark Washburn — that explores the region’s lore through wartime sinkings, devastating hurricanes, pirate legends, lost treasure and enduring nautical mysteries.

Washburn recently spoke in front of an audience at The Sharon at SouthPark retirement community about his research process and what he learned along the way. He was interviewed by Ledger assistant editor Lindsey Banks, and we recorded the conversation for anyone who wants to listen and dive deeper into the series.

On this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Washburn discusses the inspiration behind the “Graveyard of the Atlantic” series, how he approached the research and the surprising discoveries he made along the way.

To read the full series, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com and subscribe today.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.

Running a large parks system in a fast-growing county might sound overwhelming, but for Nick Walker, it’s exactly the kind of challenge he was looking for. The former Memphis parks director took over as head of Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation in February 2025 and now oversees more than 290 parks, greenways and facilities across 22,500 acres.

Since arriving in Charlotte, Walker has been getting to know the system from the inside out. He’s toured parks, met staff and listened to residents’ feedback as the department begins updating its master plan — a process that will help shape future investments in parks, sports fields, pools and community centers. While the county has made major progress in recent years — completing more than 50 of 85 planned projects — Walker says the demand still outpaces what’s currently in place.

On this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Walker sits down with The Ledger’s Lindsey Banks to talk about his vision for the county’s parks and recreation system, the challenges of managing a growing park system, and upcoming projects he’s excited about. They also discuss what drew Walker to Charlotte, big-picture needs like more ball fields and pools, and the accuracy of the NBC sitcom “Parks & Rec."

Today’s episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is sponsored by Child Care Search, a service of Child Care Resources Inc. Looking for child care? Our team provides guidance every step of the way! Search online at www.FindChildCareNC.org or call 1-888-600-1685 for live assistance and free, customized referrals.

For more information on The Charlotte Ledger, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com. This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.

What happens when a major foundation suddenly triples its giving?

In this episode, we talk with Tom Lawrence, CEO of The Leon Levine Foundation, about the decision by the 3rd-largest foundation in the Carolinas to boost its annual grantmaking to $100 million.

Ledger editor Tony Mecia talks with Lawrence and board chair Michael Tarwater about how the move fulfills Leon Levine’s longtime vision, what kinds of organizations stand to benefit and how the foundation is navigating this turning point.

Lawrence shares insights on giving priorities, how funding decisions are made, and what the surge in grant-making means for communities across the Carolinas.

For more information on The Charlotte Ledger, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com.

Running a business with your sibling might sound like a challenge, but for Amoura and Avery Carter, it’s become their secret weapon. The Charlotte-based sisters co-founded AC Creative Collective, a firm offering marketing and learning and development services across the Carolinas. With complementary skills — Amoura in strategy and operations, Avery in design and messaging — the two are helping businesses cut through the noise and build authentic, effective brands.

On this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, the Carters talk about what led them to entrepreneurship, how they combine creativity with structure and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. They also discuss why so many companies struggle with consistent branding and employee development, the importance of planning and authenticity in a noisy digital landscape, and the advantages (and quirks) of running a business as sisters.

Listen in for a wide-ranging conversation about purpose-driven entrepreneurship, and how two Charlotte natives turned their passion into a growing, people-centered business.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks. For more information on The Charlotte Ledger, please visit TheCharlotteLedger.com.

This episode is sponsored by AC Creative Collective. Based in Charlotte, N.C., and founded by sisters Amoura and Avery Carter, AC Creative Collective specializes in end-to-end marketing and learning and development services. They are dedicated to helping businesses and organizations streamline their operations and achieve their goals with creativity and precision. From social media strategies to workshops and brand launches, they’ve got you covered. Visit www.accreativecollective.com to learn more.

Joy Callaway started her career in marketing, but after rediscovering her childhood love of storytelling, she traded spreadsheets for stories. Now the Charlotte-based author has seven books to her name, including two new releases in very different genres: a World War I-era historical novel set in west Charlotte called “The Star of Camp Greene,” and a contemporary romance rooted in small-town charm called “Sing Me Home to Carolina.”

On this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Callaway talks with former Ledger managing editor Cristina Bolling about her journey to becoming a full-time author, how she researches her books and why setting plays such a central role in her work.

Listen in for a conversation about writing, research and the unexpected ways stories find us.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is sponsored by Child Care Search, a service of Child Care Resources Inc. Looking for child care? Our team provides guidance every step of the way! Search online at FindChildCareNC.org or call 1-888-600-1685 for live assistance and free, customized referrals. 

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks. For more information on The Charlotte Ledger, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com.

As North Carolina employers grapple with a tight labor market and rapid technological change, community colleges are stepping up to meet the demand, and more students are taking notice. Enrollment at the state’s two-year colleges jumped 8.3% this spring compared with the previous year, outpacing the national average.

John Loyack, vice president of economic development for the North Carolina Community College System, attributes the growth to the system’s flexible pathways, from associate degrees and short-term certificates to custom training for local employers. The state’s community colleges are playing a key role in preparing workers for fast-growing industries like advanced manufacturing, aviation, life sciences and cybersecurity — all sectors where hands-on training and technical credentials are essential.

On this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Loyack sits down with Ledger editor Tony Mecia to talk about the role community colleges play in the local economy, the impact of student debt debates on educational choices, "hot jobs" and specific industries and skills that are in high demand, and much more!

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is sponsored by Child Care Search, a service of Child Care Resources Inc. Looking for child care? Our team provides guidance every step of the way! Search online at FindChildCareNC.org or call 1-888-600-1685 for live assistance and free, customized referrals. 

For more information on The Charlotte Ledger or to subscribe to one of our newsletters, please visit TheCharlotteLedger.com

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.