828 Elite Podcast

S1-E8 The Xaveria Baird Interview

Xaveria Baird, born in Asheville, NC, was raised by his grandmother Justine Baird after his mother, Sharyn, struggled with addiction and incarceration. The oldest of two, he grew up in the Shiloh community and found his first passions in basketball and football at Asheville High School, later playing football at Brevard College while studying Early Childhood Education. In 2014, he began working with preschoolers as a teacher’s assistant and soon discovered acting through mentor Jon Menick. With the support of agent Jessica Boswell, he became a professional actor in 2017 with Screen Artist Talent. After losing his mother to cancer in 2018, Xaveria took on a greater role in raising his sister, Zamarii, and deepened his commitment to art and inspiring positive change.

S1-E7 The Aiden Hyatt Interview (Youth Voice)

Aiden Hyatt, a recent graduate of Asheville High School, is driven by the dream of becoming a successful model. In this episode of our Youth Voice platform, we explore Aiden’s journey—highlighting the everyday experiences, aspirations, and challenges of navigating the modeling industry as an emerging talent.

S1-E6 Roger and Nina "Situation-Ships"

In this episode, Nina and Roger dive deep into the world of relationships, asking the question: are marriages becoming “cancel-cultured”? The conversation explores cheating, getting caught, and whether infidelity means the end of a relationship—or if it’s still possible to rebuild and move forward together.

S1-E5 Youth Voice The Elijah Cox Interview

In this episode of our Youth Voice series, we sit down with rising star Elijah Cox — a recent Asheville High graduate and incoming Class of 2029 student at UNC Greensboro. But Elijah isn’t just hitting the books — he’s also the young founder of Chill Cereal Bar, a bold business venture that’s been turning heads across Western North Carolina. Joining him on this entrepreneurial journey is his biggest supporter and partner-in-grind, his mom Patricia, affectionately known as the “Mom-mager.” Together, they share the inspiring story behind Chill Cereal Bar, navigating the highs, the setbacks, and the powerful comeback that’s redefining their brand. Tune in as we explore the hustle, heart, and hustle-again spirit of this incredible mother-son duo — a true powerhouse from the 828! You’ll laugh, you’ll learn, and you’ll be inspired. We hope you enjoy the conversation! Chill Cereal Bar website: www.chillcerealbar.com

S1-E4 The Maria Young Interview

In this episode of the 828 Elite Podcast, we had the incredible privilege of sitting down with the talented and dynamic Maria Young — a proud Western North Carolina native and All-American collegiate basketball player. Maria shares insights from her powerful book, Lost In A Game: The Journey to self Discovery, and gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the exciting stage productions she’s currently directing. From the court to the creative arts, Maria's journey is one of resilience, purpose, and vision. You don’t want to miss this inspiring conversation — we hope you enjoy the episode!