Podcast

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

Video thumbnail of IEI Policy & Program Manager Tarik Woods, NC Dept. 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; text reads “The Connector, Watt's Next?, NC State University Institute for Emerging Issues.”

December 02, 2025

Watt’s Next?

In the season two finale, IEI Policy and Program Manager Tarik Woods is joined by three EIAC members: Andrea DeSantis, Dana Magliola and Claire Williamson. Together, they reflect on the Strategies for Strengthening Our Energy Infrastructure, policy recommendations aimed at helping North Carolinians tackle energy challenges in their communities.

Headshots of IEI Director Sarah Hall and NCCCS Associate VP of Workforce Strategies Dr. Andrew Gardner; text reads “The Connector, NC Community Colleges: Expanding Opportunities for Students and Adult Learners, NC State University Institute for Emerging Issues.”

November 11, 2025

NC Community Colleges: Expanding Opportunities for Students and Adult Learners

Financial aid just got an upgrade! In this episode, IEI Director Sarah Hall and NCCCS Associate VP of Workforce Strategies Dr. Andrew Gardner talk about two major wins for North Carolina: expansion of Pell Grants to cover short-term training programs and the inclusion of registered apprentices in the Short-Term Workforce Development Grant.

Headshots of IEI Digital Opportunities Lead Jess Epsten with Friday Institute's Director of Digital Learning Emma Braaten, Friday Institute's Digital Literacy Coordinator Becky Evans-Wilson, and NCDIT Office of Digital Opportunity Director Maggie Woods; text reads “The Connector, Exploring NC's New Digital Skills Standards, NC State University Institute for Emerging Issues.”

October 14, 2025

Exploring NC’s New Digital Skills Standards

IEI Digital Opportunities Initiative Lead Jess Epsten sits down with digital opportunity experts from the Friday Institute and the NC Department of Information Technology to explore the newly released NC Digital Skills Standards, a framework designed to connect North Carolinians across the digital divide.

Headshots of IEI Director Sarah Hall with Kenan Fellows Program Director Dr. Vance Kite and Associate Director Mark Townley; text reads “The Connector, The Kenan Fellows Legacy: Celebrating 25 Years of Teacher Leadership, NC State University Institute for Emerging Issues.”

September 08, 2025

The Kenan Fellows Legacy: Celebrating 25 Years of Teacher Leadership

This episode explores how the Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership gives educators firsthand experience in local industries through unique immersion fellowships, helping them equip students with the skills needed for future careers.

Headshots of IEI Director Sarah Hall with District C CEO Dan Gonzalez and SparkNC President Dr. Lynn Moody; text reads “The Connector, Igniting Tomorrow's Workforce, NC State University Institute for Emerging Issues.”

August 19, 2025

Igniting Tomorrow’s Workforce

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.

Headshots of IEI Communications Director Jennifer Heiss with Stakeholder Engagement Manager Justin Taylor; text reads “The Connector, Climbing the Benefits Cliff in North Carolina, NC State University Institute for Emerging Issues.”

July 14, 2025

Climbing the Benefits Cliff in North Carolina

Are pay raises always a good thing? IEI Communications Director Jennifer Heiss sits down with Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont’s Stakeholder Engagement Manager Justin Taylor to explain the benefits cliff, the effect it has on a family’s financial well-being and practical strategies that help address this issue.

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.”.

June 24, 2025

Designing Our Future: Sustainable Cities & Urban Planning

In this special episode 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.”

June 17, 2025

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.”

June 02, 2025

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.”

May 05, 2025

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.”

April 21, 2025

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.”

April 07, 2025

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.

December 21, 2021

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.

December 08, 2021

First in Future: Can Kitty Hawk Take Flight?

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

November 23, 2021

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.

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the connector podcast