Western Wednesdays
Welcome to Western Wednesdays, the podcast edition! While Western Wednesdays have been around for 18 months, we’re excited to bring it to you in the world of podcasts. Every month we’ll be sitting down with alumni from all different backgrounds to talk about how WCU influenced them and their careers.
Episodes
30 episodes
Managing Champions ft. Josh Jones
Join us for an exciting episode of Western Wednesdays as we chat with Josh Jones, the Vice President of Sports Marketing and Management at Kevin Harvick Incorporated. A Western Carolina University alumnus, Josh played football and majored in sp...
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Season 4
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Episode 5
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52:19
Marching Foward ft. Matt Henley
Join us for an inspiring episode of Western Wednesdays as we sit down with Matt Henley, the current Director of Athletic Bands at Western Carolina University. A proud alumnus, Matt is celebrating his 35th season with the renowned Pride of the M...
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Season 4
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Episode 4
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54:08
Breaking Barriers ft. Nora Lynn Finch
Join us on this special episode of Western Wednesdays as we sit down with Nora Lynn Finch, a proud WCU alumna and a pioneering figure in women's college sports. Discover her inspiring journey, the challenges she overcame, and her lasting impact...
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Season 4
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Episode 3
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51:45
Balancing Life and Leadership ft. Mike Crawford
Join us on this episode of Western Wednesdays as we explore the inspiring journey of Western Carolina University alum Mike Crawford, who became the COO of Forvis, one of the top accounting firms in the US. Discover how he balanced his successfu...
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Season 4
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Episode 2
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54:18
Swimming with the Sharks ft. Garrett Ozar
Join us on Western Wednesdays as we chat with Garrett Ozar, co-founder of Eterneva and proud Western Carolina University alum. Discover how his innovative company, featured on Shark Tank, is transforming the way we remember our loved ones.
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Season 4
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Episode 1
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55:38
The Art of Winemaking ft. Sharon Fenchak
In this episode of Western Wednesdays, we chat with Sharon Fenchak, the esteemed winemaker at Biltmore Estate and a proud graduate of Western Carolina University's MBA program. Sharon shares her journey from the classroom to crafting award-winn...
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Season 3
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Episode 12
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50:49
Tee Time ft. JT Poston
PGA Tour golfer and Western Carolina University alumnus JT Poston joins us for Western Wednesdays, sharing his inspiring journey from Hickory, North Carolina to the pinnacle of professional golf. Discover the stories behind his passion for the ...
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Season 3
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Episode 11
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43:05
Navigating Recovery ft. Jim Rowell and John Connet
In this episode of Western Wednesdays, join us as we talk with Jim Rowell and John Connet, two local leaders who played pivotal roles in their communities’ recovery after Hurricane Helene. Hear their inspiring stories of resilience, leadership,...
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Season 3
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Episode 10
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55:59
Wildlife and Waterways ft. Dale Collins and Preston Jacobsen
Join us on this episode of Western Wednesdays as we chat with Western Carolina University alumni Dale Collins, owner of Tuckaseegee Fly Shop, and Preston Jacobsen from Haywood Waterways. Discover their journeys and insights into the world of fl...
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Season 3
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Episode 9
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54:21
Olympic Silver to Bobsled Dreams ft. Manteo Mitchell
In this episode of Western Wednesdays, we chat with alumnus and Olympic silver medalist Manteo Mitchell. Known for his incredible performance in track and field at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Manteo shares his journey and insights. Now embarking ...
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Season 3
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Episode 8
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48:40
NC Teachers of the Year! ft. Heather Smith and Abby Bentley
In this episode of Western Wednesdays, we shine a spotlight on Heather Smith and Abby Bentley, the remarkable educators honored as North Carolina's Teacher and Beginning Teacher of the Year. Both graduates of Western Carolina University, Abby a...
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Season 3
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Episode 7
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43:40
Drumroll, please... ft. Randall Harris of NEEDTOBREATHE
Join us on Western Wednesdays for an enlightening discussion with Randall Harris, drummer of NEEDTOBREATHE and proud graduate of Western Carolina University. Explore his musical journey and how his education has influenced his craft.
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Season 3
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Episode 6
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1:03:12
Ensuring Prosperity ft. Cherokee Indian Hospital
In this episode of Western Wednesdays, alumni and friends of Western Carolina University share their journey from students to healthcare professionals at the Cherokee Indian Hospital, dedicated to serving the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. T...
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Season 3
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Episode 5
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55:11
One Day for Western!
Join us for a special live episode of Western Wednesdays as we celebrate WCU's annual day of giving, One Day for Western. Tune in to hear our students share their stories of impact and learn how you can support our university's legacy with ...
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Season 3
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Episode 4
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45:07
Deeply Determined ft. Amanda Muse
Join us on this week's Western Wednesdays episode as we chat with Amanda Muse, a talented film composer based in Los Angeles, California, who graduated from Western Carolina University. Amanda shares insights into her journey from the mountains...
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Season 3
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Episode 3
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1:03:02
Serendipity ft. Brenda Gorsuch
In this episode of Western Wednesdays, we sit down with Brenda Gorsuch, a seasoned educator who graduated from Western Carolina University. With a career devoted to shaping young minds, Brenda shares insights from her journey as a high school j...
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Season 3
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Episode 2
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1:04:52
Right Place at the Right Time ft. Debbie Wright
When she was a high school student in rural eastern North Carolina, Debbie Wright’s algebra teacher happened to submit her name to a National Science Foundation math program. Soon, Debbie was one of ten students selected to participate in the p...
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Season 3
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Episode 1
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57:18
Swinging to Success ft. Courtney Gunter and Victoria Ladd
In this episode, we shine the spotlight on Victoria Ladd and Courtney Gunter, two outstanding Catamounts from Western Carolina University's women's golf team. Victoria shares her passion for the game and the dedication that helped propel the te...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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49:50
Nature, Addiction, and the Human Condition ft. David Joy
In this episode, we explore the life and work of David Joy, an alumnus of Western Carolina University and a critically acclaimed author. Joy's writing is rooted in the Appalachian region, and his novels and essays often explore themes of povert...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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1:01:56
Behind the Camera ft. Will and Deni McIntyre
What do Maya Angelou, Dick Vitale, and Tammy Bakker all have in common? They've all been on the other side of the camera from Will and Deni McIntyre. We had the chance to sit down with these former catamounts to talk about a life, and career, i...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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1:12:07
The Costs of College
As we enter into the heart of the college admission cycle, it’s worth asking: what is the value of a college degree? What drives the cost of higher education? What’s the best way to pay for it? We’ve pulled together an expert panel...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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1:00:48
Catamounts in the Classroom
Western Carolina University was founded in the late 19th century as a teachers college and has graduated thousands of educators who have poured their hearts into classrooms in the region and across the state. But it is safe to say that today's ...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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52:54
An Impact that Reverberates ft. Pride of the Mountains
Few things about WCU’s Pride of the Mountains marching band fly under the radar—a 500-member ensemble is hard to miss, after all. However, Western’s marching band has changed leadership and education in our region in a way that few other organi...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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47:53
The Power of Place: the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and WCU
WCU’s recently updated mission statement specifically calls for a “robust connectedness” with the communities of southern Appalachia, including the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, or EBCI. That relationship is the topic of this month’s Wester...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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1:03:39