North Augusta On Top

Ep. 05: The Bread Man of North Augusta, with Manuel Verney-Carron and Sara Hannon, feat. Local Farms & Gardens

Everyone in North Augusta knows Manuel’s Bread Café, but few know the enchanting story of how its owner, Chef Manuel Verney-Carron, came to live North Augusta all the way from a tiny village in France. Joseph Stanek tells listeners, in a cinematic and 100% factual narration, how young Manuel, heir to France’s oldest family gun-making dynasty, chose instead to follow his passion for baking, and found his happily ever after in North Augusta. This episode’s North Augusta Moment is provided by Sara Hannon in a touching tribute to the power of community. Great news! The North Augusta On Top Shop has expanded to help raise donations for North Augusta nonprofits on a much bigger scale... For now, the North Augusta On Top Shop is taking a hiatus, but we'll be back with even more good stuff soon! The North Augusta On Top podcast is presented by TourdeFierce.VIP [https://tourdefierce.vip]

Ep. 04: Future Madam Governor, with Soniya Boston, Tomia Holmes, and Stephanie Ford, feat. Friends of North Augusta Animals (FONAA)

Joseph Stanek’s search for an inspiring young leader in North Augusta led him to 14-year-old Soniya Boston, who joins this episode of North Augusta On Top with her mother Tomia Holmes. How many other 14-year-olds can you think of that spearhead initiatives to clean up local parks and create toy drives to donate to children’s hospitals? Much of Soniya’s inspiration to help the community comes from being Young Miss Teen North Augusta, a title she earned in the Little Miss South Carolina pageant system. In this episode, Soniya gives listeners a firsthand perspective on what the next generation of North Augustans considers to be the city’s best offerings and offers suggestions on how the city could retain more young people after they graduate from high school. Tomia offers valuable insight on how to be a supportive parent that actively participates in helping children explore their natural curiosities. This episode’s North Augusta Moment is provided by Stephanie Ford. Great news! The North Augusta On Top Shop has expanded to help raise donations for North Augusta nonprofits on a much bigger scale... For now, the North Augusta On Top Shop is taking a hiatus, but we'll be back with even more good stuff soon! The North Augusta On Top podcast is presented by ⁠TourdeFierce.VIP⁠ [https://tourdefierce.vip]

Ep. 03: The Lyric Coloratura Soprano Next Door, with Díana Thompson-Brewer and Maddie Jurek, feat. The Jessye Norman School of the Arts

Díana Thompson-Brewer is without a doubt the most talented vocalist in the American Southeast… and she climbed her way to the top while living in the city that was built for the top: North Augusta, South Carolina. Join host Joseph Stanek on a journey into the fascinating world of a local working opera singer making big waves as both a performer and an educator in our corner of the country. Main topics include: opera, professional opera singers, Lucia di Lammermoor, singing while pregnant, gig life, private voice instruction, music education, classical music, Jessye Norman, the Jessye Norman School of the Arts, Misty Copeland, Manuel's Bread Cafe, Honorary North Augustan Awards. This episode’s North Augusta Moment is provided by Maddie Jurek, a special homage to high school musical productions. Great news! The North Augusta On Top Shop has expanded to help raise donations for North Augusta nonprofits on a much bigger scale... For now, the North Augusta On Top Shop is taking a hiatus, but we'll be back with even more good stuff soon! The North Augusta On Top podcast is presented by ⁠TourdeFierce.VIP⁠ [https://tourdefierce.vip]

Ep. 02: Let’s All Be More Like Freddie Grimm, with Freddie Grimm & Mayor Briton Williams; feat. the Savannah River Site and North Augusta Forward

The episode title says it all. Joseph Stanek had no idea what he was in for when he reached out to Bob Bonnett from the United States Department of Energy's Savannah River Site to wrangle an employee of theirs for an interview on the North Augusta On Top podcast. Listen as he meets Freddie Grimm for the first time over the phone in this interview, and I guarantee that by the end of the episode, you'll want to be Freddie Grimm when you grow up (even if you're grown already. No one is immune to his awesomeness.). Freddie Grimm would an exemplary role model for anyone, even Oprah and Mother Teresa, and just wait until you hear how he answers the six final questions at the end of his interview segment. Freddie has worked for the US Department of Energy for nearly four decades in a number of business management roles. In addition, he serves on the Board of Directors with North Augusta Forward. All proceeds from Episode 02's product sales will benefit North Augusta Forward's mission to improve the quality of life in North Augusta. Main topics include: an overview of the history of the Savannah River Site (narrated in true "Joseph Stanek" style with music, sound effects, and plucky banter), North Augusta's municipal government and city management, North Augusta's Greeneway Trail, the Barbara S. Greene Bluebird Trail, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, and and the Savannah River National Laboratory. Mayor Briton Williams provides the North Augusta Moment for this episode, rounding out a more powerful podcast episode about leadership than we ever thought was possible. It doesn't get any better than this. Great news! The North Augusta On Top Shop has expanded to help raise donations for North Augusta nonprofits on a much bigger scale... For now, the North Augusta On Top Shop is taking a hiatus, but we'll be back with even more good stuff soon! The North Augusta On Top podcast is presented by ⁠TourdeFierce.VIP⁠ [https://tourdefierce.vip]

Ep. 01: We Should Have Been Hollywood! North Augusta History 101 with Milledge Murray

Welcome to the first official episode of North Augusta On Top! Host Joseph Stanek introduces listeners to the podcast’s unique format: each episode benefits a different charitable industry in North Augusta to help support the city’s burgeoning growth. To begin the series, he takes listeners on a journey through North Augusta’s rich history, starting with a discovery of his own that will go down in the history books from now on. Local historian Mr. Milledge Murray from the North Augusta Arts & Heritage Center joins the podcast to provide listeners with a timeline of events and valuable insights from the Augusta metropolitan area’s past. Main topics include the Augusta National Exposition of 1888, North Augusta founder James U. Jackson, the ill-fated Hampton Terrace Hotel, North Augusta’s early brush with fame as the city that was almost “Hollywood”, North Augusta’s once-famous swimming attractions (including the opulent North Augusta Natatorium), and more. This is a philanthropic podcast the world has never seen. Proceeds from Episode 01's product sales will be collected into the North Augusta On Top Historical Preservation Fund, to be used toward projects that preserve North Augusta's landmarks and cultural history.   Great news! The North Augusta On Top Shop has expanded to help raise donations for North Augusta nonprofits on a much bigger scale... For now, the North Augusta On Top Shop is taking a hiatus, but we'll be back with even more good stuff soon! The North Augusta On Top podcast is presented by ⁠TourdeFierce.VIP⁠ [https://tourdefierce.vip]