Podcast

IEI’s The Connector podcast explores connections being made across sectors, regions and perspectives resulting in a more vibrant and prosperous North Carolina.

Decorative graphic with headshots of Dr. Kofi Boone, Mitchell Silver, and Jason Hardin; text reads “Designing Our Future: Sustainable Cities & Urban Planning, NC State University Institute for Emerging Issues.”.

Designing Our Future: Sustainable Cities & Urban Planning

In this special episode of The Connector led by IEI interns, three urban planning experts explore the role education and community engagement plays in urban design and how we can integrate the next generation’s vision into building resilient, sustainable cities.

Headshots of IEI Director Sarah Hall with Pappas Real Estate Development Program Director Chuck Flink; text reads “The Connector, The Pappas Effect: Building Resilient Communities, NC State University Institute for Emerging Issues.”

The Pappas Effect: Building Resilient Communities

How is North Carolina preparing for its housing and real estate future? IEI Director Sarah Hall and Director of NC State’s Peter A. Pappas Real Estate Development Program Chuck Flink discuss the Pappas program’s mission to foster resilient communities and sustainable land use, revealing its impact and future plans for addressing the state’s growth-driven challenges.

Headshots of IEI Director Sarah Hall with UWNC President and CEO Brittany Pruitt Fletcher; text reads “The Connector, The ALICE Report: Unpacking Financial Need in North Carolina, NC State University Institute for Emerging Issues.”

The ALICE Report: Unpacking Financial Need in North Carolina

Many families across North Carolina are just one emergency away from a financial crisis. United Way of North Carolina President and CEO Brittany Pruitt Fletcher joins IEI Director Sarah Hall to unpack the state’s financial need and the newly released ALICE Report.

Headshots of IEI Director Sarah Hall with Samantha Cole, Mary Scott and Dr. Shannon White; text reads “The Connector, NC Tri-Share: Accessible Childcare for Working Families, NC State University Institute for Emerging Issues.”

NC Tri-Share: Accessible Childcare for Working Families

What’s being done to enhance childcare accessibility for North Carolina’s working families? Join IEI Director Sarah Hall and experts from the NC Department of Commerce and NC Partnership for Children as they dive into two key solutions: the new Child Care Business Liaison role and the NC Tri-Share pilot program.

Headshots of IEI Community Initiatives Director Samantha Graham and City of Raleigh Sustainability Director Megan Anderson; text reads “The Connector, Building Raleigh's Sustainable Future, NC State University Institute for Emerging Issues.”

Building Raleigh’s Sustainable Future

North Carolina’s growing population demands a look at our infrastructure needs. As part of IEI’s Future Forward series on energy, water and housing, this episode features IEI Community Initiatives Director Samantha Graham and City of Raleigh Sustainability Director Megan Anderson discussing Raleigh’s sustainable infrastructure journey and how North Carolinians can get involved.

Headshots of IEI Director Sarah Hall and myFutureNC President and CEO Cecilia Holden; text reads “The Connector, Closing the Gap: Educational Attainment in North Carolina, NC State University Institute for Emerging Issues.”

Closing the Gap: Educational Attainment in North Carolina

How is North Carolina tackling its educational attainment gap? What’s the story behind the “2 million by 2030” goal? In this episode of The Connector, IEI Director Sarah Hall and myFutureNC President and CEO Cecilia Holden break it down. They explore the latest insights from the 2025 State of Educational Attainment Report and outline next steps to achieve this goal.

Headshots of IEI Director Sarah Hall and Forbes Field Associates Principal Ron Painter; text reads “The Connector, Preparing North Carolina's Workforce Leaders, NC State University Institute for Emerging Issues.”

Preparing North Carolina’s Workforce Leaders

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.

Headshots of IEI Policy and Program Manager Tarik Woods, Carolinas Clean Energy Business Association Executive Director Chris Carmody and Research Triangle Cleantech Cluster Executive Director Deb Wojcik; text reads “The Connector, Watt’s It Going to Take: How Does NC Reach Its Energy Goals?, NC State University Institute for Emerging Issues.”

Watt’s It Going to Take: How Does NC Reach Its Energy Goals?

In this episode of The Connector, Host Tarik Woods sits down with CCEBA Executive Director Chris Carmody and RTCC Executive Director Dr. Deb Wojcik to discuss the path to achieving North Carolina’s energy goals.

Headshots of IEI Policy and Program Manager Tarik Woods, NC Sustainable Energy Association Director of Policy Cassie Gavin and BEST NC Vice President of Policy and Programs Maureen Stover; text reads “The Connector, Watt's Up?: Energy 101 and Preparing Students, NC State University Institute for Emerging Issues.”.

Watt’s Up?: Energy 101 and Preparing Students

In this episode of The Connector, NCSEA Director of Policy Cassie Gavin and BEST NC Vice President of Policy & Programs Maureen Stover chat with Host Tarik Woods about the basics of energy policy and emerging careers in the energy industry.

Headshots of IEI Policy and Program Manager Tarik Woods, NC State Demographer Dr. Michael Cline and EDPNC Research Director Alyssa Brown Moseley; text reads “The Connector, Population, Industry and Energy: The Future of NC, NC State University Institute for Emerging Issues.”.

Population, Industry and Energy: The Future of North Carolina

In the season two premiere of The Connector, IEI Policy and Program Manager Tarik Woods sits down with North Carolina State Demographer Dr. Mike Cline and EDPNC Research Director Alyssa Brown Moseley to explore the demographic trends shaping North Carolina and their influence on the state’s energy landscape.

From Unbanked to Banked

In this episode of The Connector, The Collaborative Executive Director Marquita Robertson and Center for Responsible Lending Director of NC Policy Rochelle Sparko discuss what it means to be unbanked and how those without traditional bank accounts can protect their money.

How Benefits Can Support Financial Resilience

In this episode of The Connector, SaverLife Vice President of Research and Policy Mat Despard discusses how the benefits employees receive through their jobs – such as health insurance, retirement savings accounts and more – can help support financial resilience.

First in Future: Conversation with Governor Cooper

In this episode, we talk with North Carolina’s Governor Cooper on his look back at 2021 and forward to 2022.

First in Future: Can Kitty Hawk Take Flight?

In this episode, we focus on a college solution for 1.5 million NC adults.

First in Future: Where Are The Workers?

In this episode, we discuss the most difficult hiring environment for employers in a generation or more and the most promising labor market for jobseekers in recent memory.