Best Nc Idea Podcasts (2025)

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How to Build an Ecosystem that Builds Back w/ Nicola Corzine | Ep. 21 33:52

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1d ago33:52

33:52

On this episode of Ecosysteming, we are thrilled to feature Nicola Corzine, CEO and Executive Director of the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center. As the founding leader of this nonprofit dedicated to expanding access and knowledge in entrepreneurship, Nicola brings over 18 years of experience in venture investment, entrepreneurship, and nonprofit leader…

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Ep 39: The app you need when watching F1: Formula Live Pulse 40:15

1d ago40:15

40:15

What tyre did Hamilton change to in the pitstop? Has Leclerc pitted yet? Who was fastest in the middle sector? What is Norris’ engineer saying to him? What’s the interval between Piastri and Verstappen? You can have all the data at your fingertips in real time with the Formula Live Pulse app. Di and Mon chat with the app creator Simone Scanu about …

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Ep 38: Hungarian F1 Grand Prix dishes up the unexpected 33:36

9d ago33:36

33:36

Anything but predictable, the Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix was full of surprises (even for a certain Ferrari driver!) and unexpected results. Ferrari’s first pole of the season, two Aston Martins qualifying in the top ten ahead of Max Verstappen who qualified eight. In fact, it was the closest qualifying in Formula history. Strategy played a big …

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Designer Insights into Furniture Trends and Inspiring Ideas For Your Home 44:14

10d ago44:14

44:14

Welcome to the debut episode of Inspiring Charlotte, the official podcast from Goods Home Furnishings in Pineville, NC. Hosts Lori Zannino and George Plumides share their unique journeys into interior design and discuss the evolution of Charlotte’s hottest neighborhoods. Learn about current furniture trends, performance fabrics, custom upholstery, …

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Why Society Values Diversity to Win, Not to Share w/ Farad Ali | Ep. 20 46:05

18d ago46:05

46:05

Our 20th episode of Ecosysteming is here! Join host Thom Ruhe for a thoughtful conversation with Farad Ali—business leader, executive consultant, community builder, and passionate advocate for equity. Farad has spent his career advancing the economic empowerment of underrepresented communities and currently serves on several influential boards. In …

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Ep 37: A wet Belgian Grand Prix and an Aussie winner 34:00

16d ago34:00

34:00

In Di's own words: "The Belgian Grand Prix was exciting, then a fizzer". What could have been an action-packed wet race was mighty mundane after the first ten or so laps, with just one driver daring to try a different strategy. But, Belgium (the country) makes up for Belgium (the race) with beautiful architecture and some pretty bangin' national di…

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Ep36: F1, FIA and Motorsports PR - Alexandra Schieren 40:49

24d ago40:49

40:49

Since accidentally starting a career in motorsport, Alexandra Schieren has clocked up 25+ years’ experience that includes single-seater racing to being the FIA Formula 1 Press Delegate, working for race promoters, and drivers and in many different disciplines. Alexandra generously shares stories of how she got her career start, and keeps Di and Mon…

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Taking Cutting-Edge Research to Market w/ Paul J. Corson | Ep. 19 49:35

1M ago49:35

49:35

This week on Ecosysteming we are joined by Paul Corson. With nearly three decades of experience pursuing entrepreneurial initiatives across the U.S., Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia, Paul’s work spans the public and private sectors, NGOs, and higher education. His journey has taken him from startups to shaping public policy at the …

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Ep35: Horner sacked and F1 the Movie review 31:57

30d ago31:57

31:57

Huge news in Formula 1 this week with Red Bull team boss Christian Horner sacked with immediate effect. Over the last few days, we’ve read the news and the speculation continues. Did IT happen again? Did Max give an ultimatum? Is next year’s power unit a dud? Is Max leaving Red Bull? What have you heard? What do you think? Comment below. Finally Mo…

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Ep34: British F1 Grand Prix, Hectic AF, history made and a harsh penalty for Oscar Piastri 39:24

1M ago39:24

39:24

The Formula 1 British Grand Prix did not disappoint. Wind, rain, sunshine and rain again, and again, brought the safety car out more times than changes to Red Bull’s second seat. The best story of the weekend was Nico Hulkenberg’s first podium finish after 15 years and 239 races. McLaren’s Lando Norris took the top step to be the hometown hero winn…

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EP 259: Meet the 2025-26 Teachers of the Year PT.2 5:34

1M ago5:34

5:34

On this episode, we’re joined by the 2025-26 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teachers of the Year. These outstanding educators have been recognized for their dedication to students and contributions to their school communities, and during the episode we hear about their inspiration, experiences and hopes for the future.Guests:Rachel Candaso,…

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Community Is the New Currency w/ Laura Smailes | Ep. 18 44:35

2M ago44:35

44:35

In Episode 18 of Ecosysteming, we are joined by Laura Smailes, Relationship Manager at Everblue and former Assistant Director of Charlotte’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI). A longtime NC IDEA MICRO reviewer, Laura has helped shape Charlotte’s entrepreneurial landscape by supporting students, faculty, and community partners in deve…

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Ep33: Austria F1 Grand Prix, the McLaren Fight and first thoughts on F1 the movie 25:55

1M ago25:55

25:55

Flying solo this week, Di recaps all the action from Spielberg at the Austrian Grand Prix. While Monique is living her best travel writer life on board a cruise in Svalbard seeing polar bears and kayaking through icebergs, Di revelled in the thrill of the race. The fight between the McLarens is well and truly on with Lando Norris qualifying on pole…

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Meet the 2025-26 Teachers of the Year 24:30

2M ago24:30

24:30

EPISODE: On this episode, we’re joined by the 2025-26 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teachers of the Year. These outstanding educators have been recognized for their dedication to students and contributions to their school communities, and during the episode we hear about their inspiration, experiences and hopes for the future.Guests:Rachel…

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Ep32: It's F1 fashion, darling (and some movie and team principle talk) 28:52

2M ago28:52

28:52

After missing in action last week, Di is back on deck to tackle all of the important topics with Mon, like how difficult watching the F1 in another language is, the best and worst dressed drivers at the F1 Movie premiere, and the re-signing of one of our favourite team principals. Send us a text Support the show You’ll find more photos and videos o…

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From Entrepreneur to a New Kind of Mayor w/ Mayor Leonardo Williams | Ep. 17 46:48

2M ago46:48

46:48

In this episode of Ecosysteming, host Thom Ruhe speaks with Mayor Leonardo Williams of Durham, North Carolina, about leadership, economic development, entrepreneurship, and the untold story behind his viral speech at the 2024 Democratic National Convention. Mayor Williams reflects on his journey—from music teacher to entrepreneur to public office—a…

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Ep31: The Canadian Grand Prix, minus one familiar voice... 19:39

2M ago19:39

19:39

While Dianne is away, the internet doesn't want to play, so Monique is holding down the fort and hosting this episode solo. Unfortunately, there's no banter between friends, and no poking fun at Di for having to watch the entire race weekend in French because, though she's in Italy, the cruise ship she's on is French. But, there's plenty of praise …

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Ep 257: Leading the Way in Business and Education 24:30

2M ago24:30

24:30

On this episode, we’re joined by business leaders to discuss the important relationship between businesses and local public schools in their communities, and the role those schools play in maintaining our status as a leading state for business.Guests:Tom Oxholm, Retired Executive Vice President, Wake Stone Corporation Mike Hawkins, President, Pisga…

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Ep30: Binging on F1: The Academy and making tough calls on who to put in the car to replace Stroll 24:57

2M ago24:57

24:57

Though there wasn't a race to keep us occupied this week, we managed just fine with seven episodes of F1: The Academy to get through on Netflix. Spoiler alert: we loved it. Why? You'll have to have a listen. While we're free of racing action, we also tackle the hard questions—like who we'd put in the car to replace Stroll while he's injured, and wh…

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#3: Queens Who Shaped History — From Thrones to Modern Parallels 7:44

2M ago7:44

7:44

Welcome to Season 1, Episode 3 of Shakespeare’s Quills! 🎙️ 👑 Warrior. Diplomat. Trailblazer. In this episode, we uncover the untold stories of six legendary female rulers—from Cleopatra to Hatshepsut—and draw bold connections to modern leaders like Angela Merkel and Greta Thunberg. Join Archana, Andrea, and Cypher as we reframe history through a fe…

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Ep 256: Meet the 2025-26 NC Principals of the Year Pt. 2 24:30

2M ago24:30

24:30

On this episode, we’re joined by some outstanding educators, the 2025-26 North Carolina Wells Fargo Regional Principals of the Year. They’ve been recognized for their strong leadership and commitment to student success, and today they’ll share some insight on how they’re striving to lead learning environments that prepare students for life.Guests:J…

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What Two Decades in the NC Ecosystem Taught Him w/ David Baxter | Ep. 16 33:49

2M ago33:49

33:49

We are thrilled to welcome David Baxter, Chief Pixel and Strategist at Big Pixel, to this week’s episode of Ecosysteming. Big Pixel is a fully US-based strategic design and development firm that specializes in UX, startups, and a little bit of magic. Their mission? Helping businesses get to the core of what they truly want to achieve. As the leader…

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Ep29: Formula 1 Barcelona Grand Prix, a Max Verstappen moment, and a touch of Spanish food inspiration 42:00

2M ago42:00

42:00

We can all thank Mercedes, a dodgy power unit, and a terrible Red Bull tyre strategy for this week's Grand Prix action. The race, held in Barcelona, was a bit of a bust until lap 55, when Kimi Antonelli's car, once again, failed him. A safety car, cheap pit stops, and a poorly chosen three-stop strategy meant there was a whole lot of action in the …

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EP 255:Meet the 2025-26 NC Principals of the Year 24:31

3M ago24:31

24:31

On this episode, we’re joined by some outstanding educators, the 2025-26 North Carolina Wells Fargo Regional Principals of the Year. They’ve been recognized for their strong leadership and commitment to student success, and today they’ll share some insight on how they’re striving to lead learning environments that prepare students for life.Guests:J…

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Ep28: Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix, failed new rule and Monaco travel tips 34:29

3M ago34:29

34:29

To spice up the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix, the FIA introduced a mandatory two-pit stop rule where drivers had to use two different compound tyres. After a lot of hype and talk about this new rule, it made the race oh-so-utterly boring. Di describes it as a ‘snooze fest’. The best part? Australian Oscar Piastri on the podium getting a little bit m…

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Resilience, Recovery, and a Shot of Optimism w/ Jeffrey Kaplan | Ep. 15 43:28

3M ago43:28

43:28

Navigating a natural disaster is no easy feat — and our friends in Western North Carolina are still grappling with the lasting effects of Hurricane Helene. In this episode, we are joined by ECOSYSTEM partner Jeffrey Kaplan, CEO of Optimist Ventures and Director of Venture Asheville. With deep experience in the entrepreneurial landscape, Jeffrey and…

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Ep27: F1 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - it was all in the safety cars and strategy 33:31

3M ago33:31

33:31

Considering Imola is a race track the commentators kept telling us was 'a hard one to overtake on', this year's Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was anything but boring. We lost count of the number of overtakes we saw on track. And, we couldn't possibly discuss the race without mentioning the gold-standard overtake and the two safety cars that completely …

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EP 254: Innovating School Nutrition in NC 24:30

3M ago24:30

24:30

On this episode, we’re exploring the importance of school nutrition and the innovative strategies being used to ensure every student has access to healthy, consistent meals. We’re joined by leaders from the Carolina Hunger Initiative, the Department of Public Instruction and the Department of Agriculture to discuss the challenges, opportunities, an…

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Ep26: The F1 season so far...Alpine, Antics, Lifetime Bans and Lego 35:38

3M ago35:38

35:38

We're only six races into the 2025 F1 season, but it feels like we've been through a whole lot more together. Just in the last week, we've seen a Doohan demotion, a team principal departure (ciao, Ollie Oakes), and one of the current drivers' dads eyeing off top spot at the FIA. Naturally, we tackle all of this and more in this week's episode of An…

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#2: The Future of Education (pt. 2) — Student Ideas 5:07

3M ago5:07

5:07

Welcome to Season 1, Episode 2 of Shakespeare’s Quills! 🎙️ What if school wasn’t about tests and textbooks? In this episode of Shakespeare’s Quills, Maryam, Madeeha, and Cypher explore bold new ideas for education—personalized learning, immersive tech like AR and VR, and the importance of creativity and student voice in shaping the classroom of tom…

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The Blue Economy Boom w/ Heather McWhorter | Ep. 14 44:15

3M ago44:15

44:15

In this episode of Ecosysteming, we welcome our friend and #ECOSYSTEM partner Heather McWhorter, Director of the UNCW Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Host Thom Ruhe and Heather dive into her journey to Wilmington, NC, and the incredible growth of the region’s coastal startup ecosystem. They explore the rising tide of the Blue Economy—an…

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Ep25: F1 Miami Grand Prix - Aussie hat trick! So much to unpack 45:08

3M ago45:08

45:08

We love sprint weekends! This one was full of action; we had the youngest ever F1 pole sitter, a rain-delayed sprint race, penalties and DNFs in both the sprint and the main race, and some very cool sponsor activations. The best part? Australian Oscar Piastri scored a hat-trick in winning the Miami GP, and continues his charge at the top of the F1 …

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Ep24: Gunn for hire - interview with F1 veteran Stuart Gunn 49:05

4M ago49:05

49:05

The co-author of Mark Webber’s two books, plus about 16 others, seasoned Formula 1 editorial manager and writer Stuart Gunn opens up about his 40-year career working on F1 events and writing about motorsport. From insights into the biography writing process to how he got his break working in motorsport and working with greats like Jackie Stewart, t…

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Why Empathy Is the Most Valuable Currency w/ Liz S. Brigham | Ep. 13 47:07

4M ago47:07

47:07

It’s not every day you get a masterclass in leadership and team building. On this week’s episode of Ecosysteming, host Thom Ruhe is joined by Liz S. Brigham for an insightful conversation on leading with purpose. As the W. Spencer Mitchem Executive Director of The Hurt Hub@Davidson and an NC IDEA #ECOSYSTEM partner, Liz brings deep experience to No…

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Ep23: F1 Saudi Arabia Grand Prix - Australians have waited 15 years for this 32:50

4M ago32:50

32:50

It was glorious back-to-back wins for McLaren’s Oscar Piastri who now leads the F1 World Drivers Championship, the first time an Australian had led the WDC since Mark Webber in 2010, Piastri’s manager. Max Verstappen put up a fight, but getting his elbows out cost him a five second penalty, and perhaps, ultimately the race. While Max was angry with…

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EP 253: Community Connections: The Power of Rural Schools and Local Businesses 24:30

4M ago24:30

24:30

On this episode, we explore the value of partnerships between rural schools and local businesses and how these collaborations can strengthen both education and community. We’re joined by a business owner, two community school coordinators, and the president of Wilson Chamber of Commerce to discuss the impact of these vital connections.Guests:Ryan S…

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Ep22: Bahrain Grand Prix - Perfection from Piastri and a unique souvenir 37:56

4M ago37:56

37:56

It was perfection from Piastri with a pole position that Monique watched from the Paddock Club. The oldest F1 track in the Middle East delivered excitement with plenty of overtaking action, penalties galore, an opportune safety car, a DNF, and a disqualification. The (mostly) two stop race had drivers on different strategies and different tyres, wi…

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Is Your Startup Ready for a $50M Fund? w/ Tim McLoughlin | Ep. 12 43:37

4M ago43:37

43:37

On this week’s episode of Ecosysteming, host Thom Ruhe talks with Tim McLoughlin, Managing Partner at Cofounders Capital. Tim’s connection to NC IDEA dates back to 2015 when he served as a Young Entrepreneur in Residence—now known as a Startup Analyst Associate. Since then, he’s become an active investor and advisor to several companies across the …

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Ep21: Japanese Formula 1 Grand Prix - unpacking the snoozefest 37:12

4M ago37:12

37:12

There might not have been much excitement on the track, but there’s plenty to unpack from the Japanese Formula 1 Grand Prix at Suzuka. It was Red Bull’s Max Verstappen’s first pole since Austria last year, which he converted to a win in a flawless drive, and the McLaren’s finished in second and third thanks to a risk-free race strategy. All eyes we…

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Ep20: Motorsport Australia, what does it do? Interview with CEO Sunil Vohra 35:50

4M ago35:50

35:50

Motorsport Australia is the governing body of four-wheeled motorsport in Australia with delegated authority from the FIA, but what does it do? We sit down with Motorsport Australia CEO Sunil Vohra who tells us how you can get involved in motorsport, the different career and volunteer pathways available to all members of the community and what it’s …

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Strengthening Trust in Our Communities w/ José Alvarez | Ep. 11 44:58

5M ago44:58

44:58

Another episode of Ecosysteming with our host, Thom Ruhe, featuring Prospera USA Vice President José Alvarez . In this special episode, we explore Prospera’s expansion to North Carolina and why they chose our state as their next hub for empowering Hispanic entrepreneurs. As an NC IDEA board member, #ECOSYSTEM partner, and #SEED core reviewer, José …

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Ep19: Chinese F1 Grand Prix, Piastri’s first pole and Lewis’s first win in red 35:36

5M ago35:36

35:36

The 2025 Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix delivered all the action, epic results, and kept fans in suspense - and then dreams were shattered with post-race disqualifications. The Sprint Race added an exciting win for the Tifosi, and Australians are still beaming from Piastri’s first pole and his dominating conversion to the top step. Di and Mon chat ab…

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Ep18: Melbourne GP 2025 - the season opener! 33:03

5M ago33:03

33:03

Well, who could have predicted that? The 2025 Formula 1 season opener was an absolute rollercoaster of a ride, with some characteristically uncharacteristic weather patterns passing over Melbourne and more DNFs than Mazepin mustered up over his *short-lived* career. In this episode, we unpack the race that was, talk about heartwarming and heartbrea…

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EP 252: Celebrating 50 Years of IDEA 24:31

5M ago24:31

24:31

On this episode, we’re celebrating the legacy of The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the first iteration of which was signed into law in 1975. We’re joined by educators, advocates and a student to learn more about how IDEA serves students and families across the nation.Guests:Dr. Tiece Ruffin, Chair, UNC Asheville Department of Educati…

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The Blueprint for a Thriving Entrepreneurial Ecosystem w/ Jim Roberts | Ep. 10 49:28

5M ago49:28

49:28

To mark ten episodes of Ecosysteming, host Thom Ruhe is joined by Jim Roberts, Founder of the Network for Entrepreneurs in Wilmington, the WALE Angel Network, and NC IDEA ECOSYSTEM partner. With years of experience as an ecosystem leader and NC IDEA reviewer, Jim has contributed to several entrepreneurial ecosystems and now focuses on supporting Wi…

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Ep17: Flops, drops, and all the surprises; our predictions ahead of the 2025 F1 season 32:27

5M ago32:27

32:27

To say we’re excited for the upcoming 2025 F1 season is an understatement: we’ve said it at least 35 million times in just this episode. There’s so much to look forward to when the lights go out at Melbourne’s Albert Park this Sunday, 16th March, so we take a moment to sit down and discuss all the things we think we’re going to see over this 24-rac…

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Ep16: IWD Special - which F1 destination would you choose for a holiday? 33:33

5M ago33:33

33:33

Travel can make the world a better place. If you could travel to any Formula 1 race destination for a holiday, which would you choose and why? A special episode for International Women’s Day where we ask five female travel podcaster friends to answer that question with some surprising answers. We also ask that question to Formula 1 podcasters Tiggy…

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The Fabric of Our Economy w/ Anne Wiper | Ep. 9 49:44

6M ago49:44

49:44

In this episode of Ecosysteming, host Thom Ruhe speaks with Anne Wiper, CEO of The Textile Engine: NSF Regional Innovation Engine. They discuss her accomplished career at Nike, Salomon, Pearl Izumi, Smartwool, and beyond, leading up to her work accelerating innovation in textile sustainability and circularity. Learn how rural North Carolina is uniq…

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Ep15: F1 75 Launch unpacked 33:27

6M ago33:27

33:27

Lights, camera, glamour. For the first time in Formula 1’s 75-year history, the season was launched in a mega glitzy showcase in a sold out show at London’s O2 Arena. A slick production, there was a lot of video, plenty of bright lights, lots of music, and some fun and some awkward banter between the host, the drivers and the commentary team. Did y…

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EP 251: Policymaker Perspectives at Eggs & Issues 2025 24:30

6M ago24:30

24:30

Welcome to Education Matters presented by the Public School Forum of North Carolina. In today’s episode, we’re taking a look at Eggs & Issues 2025 where the Public School Forum presented our Top Education Issues which represent the Forum’s legislative priorities for the 2025-26 biennium. Today, we’ll hear from policymakers who took part in a discus…