Advertise on podcast: The Connector

In memory of former Governor James B. Hunt Jr., IEI is rereleasing previous episodes of the First in Future podcast featuring Governor Hunt. This episode was released on Jan. 2, 2018. Episode Summary:  As we move into the new year, we sat down with former Governor Jim Hunt to try to extract some of what he has learned during his lifetime – about how to get change done, what North Carolina should aspire to be, and where he thinks we might still go as a state. This week’s conversation with Governor James B. Hunt is all about leadership, what he has learned about getting stuff done, focusing priorities, the role of religion in public life, and how he learns new ideas. Original release date: Jan. 2, 2018 Host: Former IEI Director Leslie Boney The Connector podcast explores connections being made across sectors, regions and perspectives resulting in a more vibrant and prosperous North Carolina. To learn more about the Institute for Emerging Issues, visit emergingissues.org.

In memory of former Governor James B. Hunt Jr., IEI is rereleasing previous episodes of the First in Future podcast featuring Governor Hunt. This episode was released on Dec. 26, 2017. Episode summary: Throughout his long service to the state, even former North Carolina Governor Jim Hunt’s opponents admit that he was a man perfectly suited to be Governor, and in his sixteen years as governor of North Carolina, he changed the state. This week, we sat down with Governor James B. Hunt and talked about one big idea he had – starting the Emerging Issues Forum. Why he did it. What we can learn from how he thought about it. And how we can apply that to the way we learn. Original Release Date: Dec. 26, 2017 Host: Former IEI Director Leslie Boney The Connector podcast explores connections being made across sectors, regions and perspectives resulting in a more vibrant and prosperous North Carolina. To learn more about the Institute for Emerging Issues, visit emergingissues.org.

Earlier this year, IEI’s Energy Infrastructure Advisory Council (EIAC) released Strategies for Strengthening Our Energy Infrastructure – recommendations designed to help North Carolinians address the energy challenges in their communities and take advantage of opportunities in workforce development, affordability and infrastructure investments. In the season two finale of “The Connector,” IEI Policy and Program Manager Tarik Woods sits down with three EIAC members: NC Department of Commerce Assistant Secretary of Workforce Solutions Andrea DeSantis, NC Chamber Senior Director of Infrastructure Competitiveness Dana Magliola and NC Justice Center Senior Energy Policy Advocate Claire Williamson. Together, they reflect on the impact of the recommendations so far, exploring what sets them apart from typical infrastructure plans and how they can be used to meet the demands of the state’s growing population and future energy landscape. The four also highlight real-world examples that showcase the applicability of the recommendations and how this program of work connects to the Future Forward Infrastructure series, which will also address water and housing challenges across the state. The Connector podcast explores connections being made across sectors, regions and perspectives resulting in a more vibrant and prosperous North Carolina. To learn more about the Institute for Emerging Issues, visit emergingissues.org.

Financial barriers are among the most common hurdles to accessing education. Earlier this year, a federal law was passed expanding Pell Grant eligibility to include short-term workforce training programs. It was also announced that the expansion of the Short-Term Workforce Development Grant would include registered apprentices who are actively participating in an apprenticeship and are enrolled in Workforce Continuing Education courses. By making these programs more accessible, North Carolinians are able to obtain jobs in high-demand fields like data science, engineering, healthcare, information technology and manufacturing. In this episode of “The Connector,” IEI Director Sarah Hall and NC Community College System Associate VP of Workforce Strategies Dr. Andrew Gardner break down the significance of these funding opportunities for North Carolinians and the state’s community colleges, and how this helps drive progress toward the state’s workforce development and educational attainment goals. The Connector podcast explores connections being made across sectors, regions and perspectives resulting in a more vibrant and prosperous North Carolina. To learn more about the Institute for Emerging Issues, visit emergingissues.org.

The digital divide–the gap between people who have digital access and those who do not–impacts every facet of life, including healthcare, workforce opportunities, disaster response and more. To help address this issue, the N.C. Department of Information Technology’s (NCDIT) Office of Digital Opportunity recently released the North Carolina Digital Skills Standards, designed to equip North Carolinians with the digital tools and competencies necessary to thrive in today’s connected economy and society. In this episode of “The Connector,” IEI Digital Opportunities Initiative Lead Jess Epsten talks with three digital opportunity leaders: NC State William & Ida Friday Institute for Educational Innovation Director of Digital Learning Emma Braaten and Digital Literacy Coordinator Becky Evans-Wilson, and NCDIT Office of Digital Opportunity Director Maggie Woods. Together, they take a deep dive into the standard’s six key areas of focus and how practitioners across sectors can use them. The Connector podcast explores connections being made across sectors, regions and perspectives resulting in a more vibrant and prosperous North Carolina. To learn more about the Institute for Emerging Issues, visit emergingissues.org.

Great teachers are at the heart of successful workforce development. Celebrating a quarter-century of impact since its inception in 2000, NC State’s Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership (KFP) recognizes the vital role educators play in empowering students and shaping the workforce of tomorrow. Partnering with industry experts and community leaders, KFP offers K-12 educators innovative immersion experiences within local industries, community organizations and higher education institutions, giving them firsthand insights into career pathways and relevant workforce skills. These insights are then translated into programs and resources that bridge the gap between classrooms and the workforce. In this episode of “The Connector,” IEI Director Sarah Hall is joined by KFP Director Dr. Vance Kite and Associate Director Mark Townley to explore the program’s history, how its unique industry immersions work, success stories of educators who have participated in the program and what’s next as KFP continues to evolve. The Connector podcast explores connections being made across sectors, regions and perspectives resulting in a more vibrant and prosperous North Carolina. To learn more about the Institute for Emerging Issues, visit emergingissues.org.

Today's youth are the workforce of tomorrow. In this episode of "The Connector," IEI Director Sarah Hall sits down with two leaders who are revolutionizing high school education and workforce development: SparkNC President Dr. Lynn Moody and District C CEO Dan Gonzalez, to talk about their unique model for empowering high school students to build skills and explore careers in the tech industry. Now in more than 25 school districts across the state, SparkNC ignites students' passions through learner-centered, industry-relevant experiences, while District C's re-imagined internships, known as "teamships," provide students with a hands-on, team-based approach to solve real-world problems. Hall, Gonzalez and Dr. Moody also discuss the outcomes of the inaugural SparkNC Exchange, which brought together more than 130 high school students at UNC Wilmington to explore tech fields and build valuable professional skills. The Connector podcast explores connections being made across sectors, regions and perspectives resulting in a more vibrant and prosperous North Carolina. To learn more about the Institute for Emerging Issues, visit emergingissues.org.

Imagine getting a raise, only to lose more in vital public assistance for necessities like food, housing and childcare. This is referred to as the “benefits cliff,” a concept many North Carolinians learned about at the 2024 Emerging Issues Forum on financial resilience. Public assistance programs often lack a gradual reduction in benefits as a household's income increases, leading to an abrupt “drop off” once a certain income threshold is met. In this episode of “The Connector,” Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont Stakeholder Engagement Manager Justin Taylor joins IEI Communications and Marketing Director Jennifer Heiss to talk about the basics of the benefits cliff, how the cliff impacts the financial well-being of households, and strategies organizations can use to navigate the cliff and better support their communities. Taylor also shares the Career Ladder Identifier and Financial Forecaster, also known as CLIFF tools, to help employees and job seekers understand how higher earnings affect public benefits so they can make informed decisions. The Connector podcast explores connections being made across sectors, regions and perspectives resulting in a more vibrant and prosperous North Carolina. To learn more about the Institute for Emerging Issues, visit emergingissues.org.

How can we empower the next generation to shape sustainable cities? In this special episode of “The Connector,” IEI’s 2024-2025 Hunt Intern Katherine Helms speaks with three urban planning experts: NC State University Joseph D. Moore Distinguished Professor and Faculty Scholar Dr. Kofi Boone, City of Raleigh Senior Energy & Sustainability Strategist James Hardin and McAdams Principal and Vice President of Urban Planning Mitchell Silver. They explore the crucial role education and community engagement plays in fostering sustainable urban living, discuss how students can get involved, and share emerging trends and technologies in sustainable urban design. This episode also features questions about urban planning from NC State students shared by IEI interns Jenny Browne, Crystal Leung and Nathan Yilma. This discussion is part of IEI’s ongoing series related to the 2025-2027 Emerging Issues Forums exploring North Carolina’s future-forward infrastructure, with particular focus on energy, water and housing. The Connector podcast explores connections being made across sectors, regions and perspectives resulting in a more vibrant and prosperous North Carolina. To learn more about the Institute for Emerging Issues, visit emergingissues.org.

North Carolina’s rapid population growth presents significant housing and real estate challenges. In this episode of “The Connector,” IEI Director Sarah Hall is joined by award-winning author and Peter A. Pappas Real Estate Development Program Director Chuck Flink. Together, they chat about the backstory of the Pappas Real Estate Development Program within NC State’s College of Design, and how this unique educational program equips students and professionals with the skills to build resilient communities and promote sustainable land use through practicum-based academics, sponsored research and real-world application. Hall and Flink also explore the impactful outcomes of the program and crucial next steps in addressing the state’s evolving infrastructure needs. Housing will also be the focus of the 2027 Emerging Issues Forum, part of IEI’s 2025-2027 Emerging Issues Forum series on North Carolina’s future-forward infrastructure. The Connector podcast explores connections being made across sectors, regions and perspectives resulting in a more vibrant and prosperous North Carolina. To learn more about the Institute for Emerging Issues, visit emergingissues.org.

Many families across North Carolina are unprepared for an economic downturn or just one emergency away from a financial crisis. According to a 2023 survey by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 40 percent of American households reported they would be unable to cover more than a month’s expenses if they lost their main source of income. The 2024 Emerging Issues Forum examined financial resilience: a household’s ability to financially withstand and recover from economic challenges. In this episode of “The Connector” IEI Director Sarah Hall and United Way of North Carolina President and CEO Brittany Pruitt Fletcher unpack the newly released ALICE Report – “Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.” The report is a comprehensive depiction of financial need in the state, placing a spotlight on households earning more than the official Federal Poverty Level, but not enough to afford basic expenses such as housing, transportation, food and childcare. The Connector podcast explores connections being made across sectors, regions and perspectives resulting in a more vibrant and prosperous North Carolina. To learn more about the Institute for Emerging Issues, visit emergingissues.org.

The 2023 Emerging Issues Forum, Talent First Economics, examined labor force participation and the barriers various worker groups face in finding and keeping jobs. A key barrier identified was access to childcare for parents and caregivers of young children. This episode of "The Connector" features IEI Director Sarah Hall joined by three special guests: NC Department of Commerce Child Care Business Liaison Samantha Cole, NC Partnership for Children Director of Strategic Initiatives Mary Scott and Cleveland County Partnership for Children Executive Director Dr. Shannon White. They dive into the new Child Care Business Liaison role, created to address the childcare gap as part of the state's economic development plan, and NC Tri-Share, a pilot program designed to make childcare more accessible for working families. The Connector podcast explores connections being made across sectors, regions and perspectives resulting in a more vibrant and prosperous North Carolina. To learn more about the Institute for Emerging Issues, visit emergingissues.org.

Over the next three years, IEI’s Emerging Issues Forum will examine North Carolina’s key infrastructure needs as a result of the state’s rapidly growing population and evolving economic opportunities. The Future Forward Infrastructure series will focus on three interrelated issues: energy, water and housing, while also folding in other challenges and themes like transportation, broadband access, workforce development and affordability. In this episode, IEI Community Initiatives Director Samantha Graham and City of Raleigh Sustainability Director Megan Anderson dive into the past, present and future of sustainable infrastructure plans and programming in Raleigh and ways North Carolinians can get involved in the City’s efforts. The Connector podcast explores connections being made across sectors, regions and perspectives resulting in a more vibrant and prosperous North Carolina. To learn more about the Institute for Emerging Issues, visit emergingissues.org.

What exactly is the educational attainment gap? Why should North Carolinians care and how are we tackling this challenge? For the 2022 Emerging Issues Forum, IEI partnered with myFutureNC to highlight North Carolina’s educational attainment gap and the state’s goal of 2 million North Carolinians aged 25-44 holding an industry-valued credential or postsecondary degree by the year 2030.  In this episode of The Connector, IEI Director Sarah Hall and myFutureNC President and CEO Cecilia Holden break down what the educational attainment gap is, the story behind “2 million by 2030” and where we are now in reaching that goal. They also explore the latest insights from the 2025 State of Educational Attainment Report as well as next steps to achieve this ambitious goal. The Connector podcast explores connections being made across sectors, regions and perspectives resulting in a more vibrant and prosperous North Carolina. To learn more about the Institute for Emerging Issues, visit emergingissues.org.

In this episode of The Connector, IEI Director Sarah Hall is joined by Forbes Field Associates Principal Ron Painter to talk about workforce development in North Carolina and the importance of bolstering today's workforce leaders while building the leaders of tomorrow. They also give a preview of the 2025 Strategic Workforce Leadership Initiative, a comprehensive professional development program designed for leaders engaged in workforce or economic development.  The program, which takes place April 29 - May 2 at NC State University, aims to equip professionals with the strategic insights and leadership skills needed to understand the economic conditions of their community and state, and leverage those strengths to capitalize on opportunities as they emerge. To learn more about the 2025 Strategic Workforce Leadership Initiative and to reserve your spot, visit go.ncsu.edu/workforceleader. The Connector podcast explores connections being made across sectors, regions and perspectives resulting in a more vibrant and prosperous North Carolina. To learn more about the Institute for Emerging Issues, visit emergingissues.org.