What’s Up, Wake Episode 80 features Melissa in conversation with Van Starling II, managing broker for Hodge and Kittrell Sotheby’s International Realty, about the current Triangle real estate market and what buyers and sellers should expect heading into 2027.

Van describes the local market as balanced and much closer to pre COVID conditions, with more inventory giving buyers additional choices and time to make decisions. He also discusses the challenges facing first time home buyers, including rising home prices, down payments, insurance costs, and the importance of planning for the long term rather than searching for a forever home.

The conversation also explores how Raleigh and surrounding communities are changing as more people move into the area. Van shares which towns are seeing major growth, including Angier, Pittsboro, Garner, Clayton, Sanford, and Siler City, along with the challenges that come with building new homes, roads, schools, and other infrastructure.

The episode then shifts to the 2026 Triangle Parade of Homes, including how to use the event to explore new communities and see the latest design trends. Van highlights earth tones, sage greens, wellness spaces, indoor and outdoor living, more defined rooms, and hidden kitchens and sculleries. He also explains how the Parade of Homes app makes it easier to plan which homes to visit.

00:00 Smart Shades Intro

00:38 Local Sponsor Spots

01:52 Market Update Overview

02:56 Balanced Market Explained

05:47 First Time Buyer Advice

09:04 Affordability Reality Check

10:24 Rent Trends And Saving

11:43 Growth Versus Character

14:21 Tear Downs And Design Shifts

20:26 Where Growth Is Heading

21:35 Triangle Growth Hotspots

22:09 Roads and School Strain

23:02 2027 Market Reality Check

23:51 Budgeting Before You Buy

24:38 Why a Crash Is Unlikely

26:38 2008 vs Today Lending

27:08 Parade of Homes Overview

28:31 Design Trends to Watch

29:32 Must Have Home Features

31:22 Planning Your Parade Route

32:59 Hidden Kitchens and Secret Rooms

34:06 The 2026 Triangle Parade of Homes takes place October 3 through 4, October 9 through 11, and October 16 through 18.

North Carolina Seafood: Local Shrimp, Trawling Debate (HB 442) & the NC Seafood Festival

Sponsored in Part by Bloomin’ Blinds Raleigh, we dive into North Carolina’s commercial fishing industry with Amy McCullough of NC Catch. Amy explains NC Catch’s consumer education mission, its statewide chef ambassadors, and how to identify real local seafood by asking questions and looking for menu details. She highlights North Carolina shrimp varieties and seasons, the importance of fishing to coastal economies and multigenerational families, and discusses the controversy around House Bill 442, which proposed restricting inshore shrimp trawling where much of the shrimp is caught; she argues trawling is already highly regulated, and bycatch claims are often outdated. Melissa also interviews Nick Eatman, executive director of the North Carolina Seafood Festival in Morehead City, about the 40th festival, its focus on North Carolina-only seafood, educational tents, Fisherman’s Village, and the Blessing of the Fleet memorial.

00:00 Welcome and Sponsors

01:30 Episode Preview NC Seafood

02:39 Meet NC Catch

04:30 What Counts as Local

06:01 NC Shrimp Seasons

08:54 Fishing Heritage Impact

10:28 House Bill 442 Explained

12:13 Trawling Facts and Gear

17:43 Why It Matters Next

19:31 Commercial vs Recreational

20:23 Seafood Festival Education

22:10 Chef Demos and Dinners

22:55 Favorite Seafood Picks

23:54 Whole Fish Confidence

26:03 Oysters and Terroir

26:59 Wrap Up and Resources

27:41 Meet Nick Eatman

30:21 What Makes It Special

33:17 Local Seafood Only

34:37 Fishermans Village Tours

35:59 Blessing of the Fleet

37:22 Supporting Fishing Families

38:15 Festival Challenges Today

39:26 Final Thanks and Signoff

Episode 78 of What’s Up Wake explores the world of kitchen gardening with Corinne Beirne, founder of The Nourished Garden. Corinne shares how she went from growing herbs on her back porch to helping others create beautiful, productive gardens that fit into everyday life.

Melissa and Corinne discuss beginner-friendly herbs and vegetables, raised beds, seasonal gardening in Wake County, growing food in small spaces, and why gardeners should focus on growing what they actually eat. They also explore the mental benefits of gardening, including patience, resilience, mindfulness, and the importance of spending time outside.

Corinne also shares her experiences being featured in Martha Stewart, her work teaching gardening workshops, and how she helps people get started with their own kitchen gardens. Her biggest advice for new gardeners is simple: start small, find a sunny space, and grow what you love.

00:00 Show Intro Sponsor

00:06 Smart Blinds Pitch

00:39 Woodworking Sponsor Spot

01:30 Why Grow Your Food

02:36 Meet Corinne Byrne

02:59 Nourished Garden Origin

04:45 What Is Kitchen Garden

06:16 Start Any Space

08:08 Beginner Herbs Veggies

09:40 Workshops Garden Coaching

11:47 Watering Systems Timing

12:23 Fall Cool-Season Crops

14:22 Lettuce Seed Starts

15:12 Winter Harvest Herbs

19:08 Raised Beds Vs Ground

20:05 Soil Compost Basics

20:59 Hydroponics Basics

22:17 Indoor Gardening Options

22:45 Gardening Mindset Shift

24:54 Wellness Through Ritual

27:23 Kids Learning From Gardens

28:34 Start Small Garden Tips

29:58 Harvesting Carrots Right

31:28 Martha Stewart Feature

32:46 Rosemary Migraine Remedy

34:00 Where To Find Her

Find Corinne & The Nourished Garden

Website: www.thenourishedgarden.com

Instagram: @the_nourished_garden

In this episode of What's Up Wake, Melissa sits down with Amy Beros, President and CEO of the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, to discuss hunger and food insecurity across the region.

Amy shares the story of how the Food Bank began in 1980 with Barbara Oates and a small group of volunteers, growing from a card table and phone in a Cary garage into an organization serving 34 counties through six locations. She explains how rising grocery, housing, healthcare, and transportation costs are affecting working families, seniors, and children, and why food insecurity is often much closer to home than people realize.

The conversation also takes listeners behind the scenes of the Food Bank's complex logistics, from moving 100 million pounds of food each year to working with grocery stores, farmers, manufacturers, schools, and community partners. Amy explains how donations such as Food Lion's contributions, locally grown produce, and even unexpected truckloads of strawberries and eggs can quickly make their way into communities that need them.

Melissa and Amy also discuss the stigma surrounding food insecurity, the importance of providing food with dignity, and the challenges of transportation and access in both urban and rural communities. With September being Hunger Action Month, Amy shares ways people can get involved through volunteering, donating, and advocacy, including the Food Bank's Plate It Forward campaign and other community initiatives.

00:00 Bloomin' Blinds Raleigh

00:32 Local Sponsor Spotlight

01:24 Hunger Conversation Begins

02:32 Food Bank Origin Story

04:52 Amy’s Path to Service

05:43 Rising Hunger Crisis

07:08 Kids and School Meals

09:22 Schools and College Pantries

10:07 Inside Food Bank Logistics

13:41 Access and Transportation Barriers

17:01 Farmers and Food Partnerships

19:02 Stigma and Misconceptions

22:05 How You Can Help

24:35 Advocacy and SNAP

26:06 Service Area and Rural Challenges

28:10 Hunger Action Month

29:04 Hope and Youth Leadership

30:30 Get Involved and Closing

foodbankcenc.org

In this episode of What’s Up, Wake, host Melissa Wistehuff sits down with two women helping shape education in Wake County: Dr. Mariah Walker, principal of Wake Young Women’s Leadership Academy and the 2026 Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year, and Tamani Anderson Powell, director of marketing and recruitment for Wake County Public School System’s magnet programs. Both have also been recognized as Women of Western Wake honorees. They explain what makes Wake County’s magnet schools different, from leadership and STEM to visual and performing arts, International Baccalaureate programs, language immersion, early college opportunities, and specialized learning environments.

Dr. Walker shares how Wake Young Women’s Leadership Academy combines leadership development with early college opportunities, allowing students to earn up to 60 college credits at no cost through its partnership with Shaw University. Many graduates can enter college academically positioned as sophomores or juniors. Tamani breaks down how magnet schools work for Wake County families, including base schools, applications, the weighted selection process, and why choosing a school should be about finding the environment where an individual student can thrive — not simply choosing the program a parent thinks sounds best.

00:00 Smart Shades Intro

00:32 Local Sponsor Spots

01:25 Show Opens

01:48 Meet The Guests

02:41 Mariah Background

06:00 Tamani Background

08:05 Principal Of The Year

11:02 Leadership Advice

14:37 Women Of Western Wake

15:12 Wake YWLA Explained

16:56 Early College Credits

20:22 What Magnet Means

23:32 Magnet Logistics Basics

24:15 Choosing Magnet Schools

25:14 Lottery and Student Fit

27:29 Magnet Themes Explained

28:08 IB and Immersion Options

30:20 College and Career Prep

35:06 Tours and Info Sessions

36:53 Final Thanks and Wrap

Secret Raleigh with Emily Price: Hidden Gems, Ghost Stories & Lost Landmarks

Melissa interviews Emily Price, author of “Secret Raleigh: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful and Obscure,” about unusual and mysterious places around Raleigh. Price explains her love of weird history and how she researched multiple versions of local legends using the North Carolina Archives and old newspapers. She shares crowd-pleasing finds like one of the first electric guitars being made at NC State, the pink dog remnant of Gotno Farm behind Preservation NC on Oberlin Road, and haunted lore including the Heck-Andrews House and a reportedly haunted room in the governor’s mansion. The conversation also covers Hargett Street’s “Black Main Street,” Bloomsbury Park’s former rides and carousel now at Pullen Park, and recommendations like downtown wandering, the Muffler Man landmark, and visiting Raleigh Times.

00:00 Sponsor Messages
01:44 Meet Emily Price
03:05 Why Raleigh Secrets
04:48 Fact Checking Legends
05:59 Crowd Pleasers
07:00 Cut Stories Food Focus
08:33 Gotno Farm Pink Dog
10:14 Hotels Taverns History
14:28 Pretty Places Waterfall
18:00 Ghost Stories Begin
19:04 Haunted House Update
19:48 Raleigh Ghost Stories
20:46 Black Main Street History
24:00 Bloomsbury Park Rides
26:40 Pullen Park Zoo Tales
28:21 Future North Carolina Book
29:14 Lightning Round Favorites
32:56 Where to Buy Secret Raleigh

SPCA of Wake County: Rescue Stories, Affordable Vet Care & the New Peggy Garner Britt Resource Center

This episode features Kim Janzen, president and CEO of the SPCA of Wake County, discussing the organization’s mission, funding, and evolving approach to animal welfare. Kim explains that SPCA of Wake County is not affiliated with the ASPCA and is funded primarily by private donations and fees for service. She shares how the shelter has shifted in recent years toward supporting “the other end of the leash” by helping families keep pets at home, especially as veterinary costs rise and financially driven surrenders increase. The conversation covers misconceptions about shelter animals, trends showing more cats than dogs entering shelters, and the SPCA’s intake of animals from 58 rural counties to prevent unnecessary euthanasia. Kim highlights expanded low-cost spay/neuter services and the new 47,000-square-foot Peggy Garner Britt Resource Center in South Raleigh, and outlines ways to help through adopting, donating, volunteering, fostering, and birthday donation drives.

00:00 Sponsor Ting Internet
00:30 Local Woodworking Sponsor
00:45 Cary Car Care Sponsor
01:44 Meet SPCA Wake Leader
03:13 Kim’s Path to SPCA
03:36 Mission and Funding
04:25 No Typical Day
04:51 How SPCA Evolved
06:18 Shelter Misconceptions
08:51 Adoption Trends and Costs
10:46 Beyond Cats and Dogs
13:25 Rescue Story Spotlight
15:15 Spay Neuter Programs
16:55 Why Adopt First
17:15 Finding the Right Match
18:59 Ways to Support SPCA
20:07 Volunteers and Fosters
20:53 New Resource Center Tour
22:28 How You Can Help Now
23:09 Hope and Closing

50th Annual Lazy Days Arts & Crafts Festival in Cary: What to Expect + Insider Tips

The episode spotlights Cary’s 50th annual Lazy Daze Arts and Crafts Festival, a two-day downtown event that draws about 50,000 visitors and features 250+ juried artist booths, live music, food, family activities, and more. Host interviews Jenna Kostka, the Town of Cary’s festival and events supervisor, about the festival’s origins (named for the “lazy days of summer” by founder Jerry Miller), the juried artist selection process (500 applicants for just over 250 spots), and what makes the festival unique, including four stages, a beer garden with local breweries, Kid Daze programming, and the Kid Collectors Market for ages 6–12. Jenna shares planning details, Sunday’s sensory-friendly first two hours, and how to prepare using carync.gov/lazydaze and @caryartdaze.

00:00 Welcome to Lazy Daze

02:40 Meet Jenna Kostka

04:00 Festival Scale and Name

05:21 What to Expect

06:06 How Artists Are Chosen

07:22 Beyond Art Kids and Music

09:07 Kid Collectors Market

10:34 Planning and Logistics

18:01 Volunteers and Chaos

19:45 Festival Mishaps and Weather

21:07 Why Lazy Daze Stands Out

22:34 Best Food Picks

23:53 Pro Tips and Sunday Calm

26:03 Beer Garden and Lounge

27:03 Anniversary and New Artists

29:49 Dates, Links, and Farewell

This episode features an interview with Camp Kesem regional program coordinator Jenna Rumsey and former camper turned counselor Grace Kester about Camp Kesem, a nonprofit providing free summer camp and year-round support for children whose parents are affected by cancer, including diagnosis, treatment, remission, and loss. They explain Kesem’s three main programs — Camp Kesem, Club Kesem (monthly virtual meetups), and Kesem Together (daytime community programs) — and how 115 college chapters and thousands of student volunteers, many of them former campers, create trust and relatability. The conversation highlights camp traditions, nicknames, and the “empowerment” session that helps kids share stories and build resilience, plus how to donate or get involved via kesem.org and local North Carolina chapters.

00:00 Local Sponsors Intro
01:44 Summer Camp Setup
03:04 Kesem Mission Programs
04:29 Student Volunteers Origins
08:12 Grace Camper Story
11:02 Fun Plus Empowerment
16:56 Nicknames Traditions
19:23 Chapter Vibes Moments
23:02 Growth Impact Stories
26:32 Partners' Favorite Memories
29:55 Donate Get Involved

Melissa interviews Sam Nelson, owner of Pretty Good Coffee Company, a North Carolina-based luxury mobile coffee cart business that grew from his home espresso hobby into a catering-focused operation. Sam explains why he chose the cart model over a brick-and-mortar shop, emphasizing flexibility and lower overhead, and shares how the “Pretty Good” name became a fun part of the brand. He describes his Chick-fil-A-inspired approach to fast, friendly hospitality and breaks down what “specialty coffee” means — precision, consistency, and even water quality — while noting their partnership with Black & White Coffee Roasters in Wake Forest. They discuss latte art, including a latte-art printer for custom logos and faces, how they balance speed and quality, training baristas for friendliness first, favorite events, launching a third cart, and future expansion into other mobile food and beverage concepts like bartending.

00:00 Meet Sam Nelson
02:52 From Chicago to Raleigh
03:22 Birthday Espresso Spark
03:52 Why Coffee on Wheels
05:19 The Pretty Good Name
06:17 Chick-fil-A Service Mindset
07:20 What Is Specialty Coffee
09:14 Beans Origins and Processing
12:09 Latte Art and Printers
13:51 Speed Quality and Gear
15:13 How Booking Works
17:37 Favorite Clients and Dream Venues
19:06 Decaf After 5 PM
19:19 Favorite Event Venues
19:59 Leadership Lessons Learned
21:14 Hiring Friendly Baristas
22:05 Latte Art Is Hard
23:09 Perfect Day Running Carts
24:00 Indoor vs. Outdoor Setups
24:38 Three Carts Scaling Up
25:06 Future Beyond Coffee
26:22 Lightning Round Fun
27:16 Seasonal Signature Drinks
28:31 Wild Latte Art Requests
29:28 Where to Book Them
29:48 Final Thanks and Wrap