This is Raleigh Podcast: Recent Episodes
Caroline and Craig Makepeace
This is Raleigh Podcast is hosted by Caroline and Craig Makepeace, Aussie global travelers, who now call Raleigh, North Caroline home.
After living in 5 countries, traveling to over 50, and, due to their travel blogging success, could choose to live anywhere in the world, they chose Raleigh as their permanent family home.
Why Raleigh? This podcast dives deep into that why - sharing the vibrant spirit of this community and the stories of the people that make its heart and soul.
Be prepared for stories, interviews with locals and business owners, ideas for discovering or re-discovering the magic of this city (think eat, play, stay), and ideas for getaways and vacations beyond the Beltline.
This week, we welcome a very special guest to the podcast: Kevin Rudd, former Prime Minister of Australia and now Australia’s Ambassador to the United States.
During his visit to Raleigh, Ambassador Rudd sat down with us for a light-hearted yet insightful conversation about:
- What brings him to North Carolina — from touring Duke University to visiting Aussie-owned business NuFarm
- His role as Ambassador and why US–Australia ties matter more than ever
- Why North Carolina is attracting Australian businesses and opportunities for future collaboration
- Plus some fun Aussie vs American banter — from slang to sport to who really makes the better coffee
Whether you’re Aussie, American, or somewhere in between, you’ll love this mix of global insight and local flavor.
Tune in and join the conversation.
In this episode we chat about the current Raleigh real estate market in November, 2024, with our realtor partner, Chuck Belden, a local full-service and client-centered realtor. Chuck shares valuable insights into the current state of the Raleigh market for the first quarter and looking ahead, including:
- Is it a buyers or sellers market?
- Current inventory for sale (supply & demand)
- Are prices rising, stabilizing, or declining?
- Average time on market?
- Current average home price in Raleigh
- Current interest rates and their impact
- What factors are driving the Raleigh real estate market right now?
- Good value neighborhoods
- Advice for buyers and sellers
- Due dilligence fee trends
- Emerging trends
- And much more!
RESOURCES:
- All episodes: https://thisisraleigh.com/category/raleigh-life/raleigh-podcast/
- 13 great places to live in Raleigh
- 5 top neighborhoods in Wake Forest
- 5 top neighborhoods in Apex
- 11 top neighborhoods inside the beltline
In this episode we chat about the current Raleigh real estate market with our realtor partner, Chuck Belden, a local full-service and client-centered realtor. Chuck shares valuable insights into the current state of the Raleigh market for the first quarter and looking ahead, including:
- Is it a buyers or sellers market?
- Current inventory for sale (supply & demand)
- Are prices rising, stabilizing, or declining?
- Average time on market?
- Current average home price in Raleigh
- Current interest rates and their impact
- What factors are driving the Raleigh real estate market right now?
- Good value neighborhoods
- Advice for buyers and sellers
- Due dilligence fee trends
- Emerging trends
- And much more!
RESOURCES:
- All episodes: https://thisisraleigh.com/category/raleigh-life/raleigh-podcast/
- 13 great places to live in Raleigh
- 5 top neighborhoods in Wake Forest
- 5 top neighborhoods in Apex
- 11 top neighborhoods inside the beltline
In this episode we share 14 years of tips and lessons as "Influencers" and content creators. We have partnered with some of the biggest brands in the world such as American Express, Qantas, Canon, Ford, and destinations like Visit California, Visit Florida, and Tourism Singapore.
Our experience is spread over several platformas such as blogging, Facebook, Instagram and podcasting. If you're a brand looking to hire influencers, we have helpful insights for you. And if you're an influencer looking to build a business, we have been there and done that and have many tips to share!
RESOURCES:
- About ThisIsRaleigh.com
- Press on yTravelBlog.com
We love to travel and sharing our tips. After visiting 50+ countries and living in 5 countries, we have lots to share from domestic getaways from Raleigh, to internatinal trips.
In this episode we are chatting about one local and one international destination; Biltmore Estate in North Carolina, and London in the UK! What to see, do, eat and where to stay in each destination, how to get there, getting around tips and much more!
RESOURCES: Biltmore Estate:
- Guide to visiting Biltmore Estate
- Charming stay at the Inn on Biltmore
- 48 hours in downtown Asheville
- Lake Lure getaway
London:
- 33 things to know before traveling to London
- 55 tips for getting around London
- 24 places to visit in London
- 3 day London itinerary
- 7 day London itinerary
- 16 great pubs in London
- Where to stay in London
We love getting local insights about Raleigh, and it would be hard to find someone with their finger on the pulse of what's happening in Raleigh more than Jessica Holt, the Public Relations and International Tourism Manager at Visit Raleigh.
In this episode we ask Jess about what she thinks sets Raleigh apart from other cities as a tourist destination, how has Raleigh's tourism landscape evolved over the years what she sees for its future, her must-visit attractions, places to eat and drink, her favorite festivals, what advice she would you give to someone planning their first trip to Raleigh, and much more!
RESOURCES: * 25 top trails in Raleigh * Top festivals in Raleigh * Brewgaloo Beer Fest * Dreamville Festival * 20+ top breweries in Raleigh * Top Raleigh restaurants * Family fun in Raleigh * VisitRaleigh.com
Spring is one of our favorite times to get outdoors and enjoy the vibrant Raleigh lifestyle. The weather is warming up, the gardens are blooming, and there are fun festivals & events.
In this episode we talk about all the fun things to do in Raleigh during Spring, inlcuding best gardens, events, places to eat outside, trails and much more!
RESOURCES: * 40+ things to do in Spring * Art in Bloom at NC Art Museum * Dreamville Festival * CueGrass Fest * Brewgaloo Fest * Spring Daze * Artsplosure * Rose Garden * Dorothea Dix Park * WRAL Azalea Garden * Duke Gardens * Juniper Level Botanic Garden * Oakwood Garden Tour * Strawberry Picking * Places to eat outside in Raleigh * 25 trails in Raleigh
We are recent pet owners, two cats, and we know how much you guys in America love your pets. I think we are the only people in Raleigh without a dog, lol.
In this episode we talk about pet-friendly businesses in Raleigh including restaurants, breweries, dog parks and trails. And we also discuss adaption centers, pet supply stores, vet care, and much more!
RESOURCES: * SPCA of Wake County * Second chance pet adoptions * Wake County animal center * Safe haven for cats * Unleashed * Pet Supplies Plus * Pet Mania * Chewy.com * Trusted Housesitters (use code: YTRAVEL25 for a 25% discount) * Leash laws in Wake County * Pooper scopper law
See all podcast episodes here.
Spring Break a little early this year, mid - end of March with Easter Sunday being on March 31. In this episode we share Spring break getaway ideas from Raleigh that are easy to get to by driving. Plus, some fun international destinations that have direct flights!
If you're looking for Spring Break tips and inspiration, listen in get ready to pack your car or dust off your passport!
Here is our spring break getaway from Raleigh guide with more information: https://thisisraleigh.com/spring-break-destinations-from-raleigh/
RESOURCES: * 18 fun things to do on Ocracoke Island * Spring mountain getaway to Virginia’s Blue Ridge * 3 day Washington D.C. itinerary * Top places to go in the North Carolina Mountains * 48 hours in downtown Asheville * Guide to Wilmington, NC * 13 great beaches near Raleigh * 15 fun day trips from Raleigh * Top things to do in Beaufort, South Carolina * 3 day London itinerary * 4 days in Paris itinerary * Amicalola Falls State Park, Georgia * Unicoi State Park & Lodge, Georgia
Looking to explore Raleigh as a local in 2024? Here are our suggestions for the best things to do in Raleigh including the outdoors, food, breweries & bars, family fun, festivals, sports, and neighborhoods.
2023 is the Year of the Trail in North Carolina and we're grateful to live in an area that has so many awesome opportunities for walking and biking trails.
In this episode we share our favorite trails in Raleigh and tips for what to take to get you up off the couch, out the door, and hitting the excellent greenway and forest trails we have at our disposal.
Full show notes:
https://thisisraleigh.com/podcast-51-best-trails-in-raleigh/
Brandon McCraney is the owner, operator, and master blender at Olde Raleigh Distillery in Zebulon with a focus on the art of blending and distilling spirits, and he's been on a mission to make damn good whiskey since its establishment in 2017.
In this episode Brandon shares the differences between whiskey and bourbon, the many challenges he faced getting off the ground, the process of blending, what makes Olde Raleigh different from other distilleries, why he chose Zebulon and the community response, and much more!
Full show notes: https://thisisraleigh.com/podcast-olde-raleigh-distillery/
We love our local Raleigh Durham Airport (RDU) for many reasons, and in this episode, we discuss international flight options from RDU as well as tips for parking, eating, and getting to RDU.
Plus, we share our personal experiences of flying to London, Dublin, and The Bahamas from RDU, why it might be best sometimes to drive to Charlotte for international flights, plus other important flying and travel tips!
Full show notes: https://thisisraleigh.com/podcast-international-flights-from-raleigh-durham-airport/
We prescribe to the notion that “prevention is better than cure” when it comes to health and wellness, and in this episode, we share local businesses in the Raleigh area that we personally use for various health and wellness needs and the services they offer.
Full show notes: https://thisisraleigh.com/health-wellness-companies-raleigh/
We are back Raleigh! Back on the podcast for the new year ahead.
We've listened to the feedback and suggestions of over 400 people who completed our annual survey. It was so helpful and important for planning our 2023 year of Raleigh content.
In this episode we chat about what we see ahead for 2023 in Raleigh, based upon the survey results. We share our business plans, life goals, and of course our travel plans.
Let's do this 2023!
We'd love to hear your goals for 2023 in the comments!
Full show notes: https://thisisraleigh.com/podcast-whats-ahead-for-2023/
The Boylan Heights neighborhood in Raleigh is one of our favorites!
It's hard to beat location - on the edge of Downtown Raleigh and next door to Pullen Park - plus Charming Southern homes and small neighborly feel makes it an ideal place to live in Raleigh.
It's also a great place for anybody to grab a coffee from Rebus Works, some pastries from Boulted Bread, a craft brew from Vaulted Craft Brew, and lunch/dinner from Wye Hill!
It's almost Fall, y'all, our favorite time of year. It's the time of fun festivals, leaf peeping, patio dining, picnics, trails to hike, pumpkin flavored everything and Halloween fun. In this episode we chat about the best things to do in Raleigh in Fall.
Full show notes: https://thisisraleigh.com/ep-45-raleigh-in-the-fall/
It's almost Fall, y'all, our favorite time of year. It's the time of fun festivals, leaf peeping, patio dining, picnics, trails to hike, pumpkin flavored everything and Halloween fun. In this episode we chat about the best things to do in Raleigh in Fall.
Full show notes: https://thisisraleigh.com/ep-45-raleigh-in-the-fall/
If you are visiting Raleigh for the first time, let us be your personal chaperone.
Listen in as we share all the experiences you'd have, and the places we'd take you to get to know all about the city of Raleigh including neighborhoods, restaurants, festivals, sporting events, parks, trails, breweries and much more!
Full show notes: https://thisisraleigh.com/podcast-44-getting-to-know-raleigh/
If you are visiting Raleigh for the first time, let us be your personal chaperone.
Listen in as we share all the experiences you'd have, and the places we'd take you to get to know all about the city of Raleigh including neighborhoods, restaurants, festivals, sporting events, parks, trails, breweries and much more!
Full show notes: https://thisisraleigh.com/podcast-44-getting-to-know-raleigh/
You don't have to travel all the way to Florida from Raleigh to get your thrills and spills at theme parks. In this episode we share three great theme parks near Raleigh for riding big roller coasters, water slides and creating family memories.
We're traveling to Carowinds near Charlotte, Wet & Wild in Greensboro and Busch Gardens in Virginia.
Full Show Notes: https://thisisraleigh.com/ep-43-theme-parks-near-raleigh/
In this episode we chat with the founder of Well Centered Wellness in Apex, Dr. Allison Puja Peters, and why our own family has been going to see her for years now for various health treatments and preventative care. She specializes in many areas of wellness including chiropractic, Ozone therapy, PEMF sound technology, Brain Tap, Red Light Therapy, Infrared laser, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, Genetic Based Nutrition, CBD & Hemp. Listen in for some great insights on physical, mental, and spiritual health.
Full show notes: https://thisisraleigh.com/dr-allison-peters-wellness/
It is hot out there y’all, but we do love a Raleigh summer and embracing all the fun things to do at this time of year.
In this episode, we chat about a fun list of activities and events to help cool you down and enjoy the beautiful weather!
Full show notes: https://thisisraleigh.com/ep-41-raleigh-summer-bucket-list/
Cary, and her partner Kristen Sydow, are amazing. @DesignedForJoy in downtown Raleigh provides women in crisis (those living at high risk for sex and labor trafficking and/or food and housing insecurities) with stability through immediate employment (a living wage) and support, removing the stigma of vulnerability.
This is an inspiring story of women helping women. Cary shares all about how Designed For Joy came about, what women they can help, how they help them, why she wanted to serve women, where you can purchase their beautiful products, how you can volunteer for them, and so much more! Full show notes: https://thisisraleigh.com/cary-heise-designed-for-joy/
Half the year gone again! Each quarter we record a wrap on what we've been doing in Raleigh, new fun finds, any important news and what's coming up for third quarter!
In this second quarter wrap for 2022, we talk about cool beaches near Raleigh, a great new camping lakeside camping location we discovered, some fun festivals and events, and being Raleigh real estate agents!
We also introduce a new Australian word!
Full show notes: https://thisisraleigh.com/podcast-39-second-quarter-raleigh-wrap-up/
Only 30 minutes up the road from Raleigh is Durham, named the "tastiest town in the South". Durham is also famous for Duke University and Durham Bulls' baseball. We also love the inclusive, entrepreneurial spirit of Durham.
We chat about our recent staycation in Durham with our top recommendations on things to do - even if just on a one day trip!
We explore art, culture, and of course food and drink! Cool wine bars and frozen custard ahead.
Full show notes: https://thisisraleigh.com/podcast-38-durham-nc/
One of the great things about living in Raleigh is not being too far from the North Carolina Coast. In this podcast we share some of our favorite beaches near Raleigh. We discuss their different personalities, what we love about them, and some standout things to do and see in each one.
Show notes: https://thisisraleigh.com/podcast-37-beaches-near-raleigh/
Read more: 12 great beaches near Raleigh https://thisisraleigh.com/beaches-near-raleigh/
In this episode we talk about our new Raleigh real estate business, how we can connect you to awesome realtors, a mortgage broker, and experts in all areas of moving to Raleigh. This is Raleigh podcast is hosted by Caroline and Craig Makepeace
Marcus Ginyard graduated from UNC in 2010 with all the basketball accolades you can imagine including NCAA champion, team captain, defensive player of the year, and All-ACC defense. After a 12-year career playing overseas in various countries - Poland, France, Ukraine to name a few - Marcus is back in the Triangle and starting his second career with Medalist Capital. Tune in to find out what his time at UNC was like, playing professionally overseas, what's going on with his next chapter, and so much more!
This is Raleigh is hosted by Caroline and Craig Makepeace, and is produced by Earfluence.
When Raleigh native Zack Johnson (Leesville High School) was playing drums in shows throughout the Carolinas, he was always the business guy - the one who didn't want to just jam out, but he also wanted to figure out how to build a music empire. After touring with acts like Afroman and ending up in Los Angeles, he started Empire Agency, which represents musicians and athletes. In 2020, Zack and his growing family came back home, and he's now helping local musicians take their genius to the next level.
Empire Agency has partnered with the Kay Yow Cancer Fund for Girl's Night Out at Koka Booth on Saturday May 21st. We hope to see you there!
This is Raleigh is hosted by Caroline and Craig Makepeace, and is produced by Earfluence.
The This is Raleigh family visited London recently and loved every minute of it. Today they give their London travel tips and compare the City of Royals to the City of Oaks.
This is Raleigh is hosted by Caroline and Craig Makepeace, and is produced by Earfluence.
Raleigh native Kristen Mullins comes on to tell us how she and her dad made (baked?) the idea for Slice Pie Company, the company's expansion, the most popular sellers, and what makes Raleigh so special.
This is Raleigh is hosted by Caroline and Craig Makepeace, and is produced by Earfluence.
Pick up a pie at Slice's new location, 1400 S. Saunders St. Raleigh, NC 27603.
The first quarter of 2022 has absolutely flown by! Today we talk about some of the amazing experiences we've had in Raleigh and throughout North Carolina, and what's ahead for the rest of the year!
This is Raleigh is hosted by Caroline and Craig Makepeace, and is produced by Earfluence.
Dr. Terrance Ruth may be the next mayor of Raleigh. Kiara Ruth is an influencer and blogger at The Banana Moon. Together, they're a Raleigh power couple, and they share their story on today's episode.
For more on things to do in and around Raleigh, visit ThisIsRaleigh.com.
This is Raleigh is hosted by Caroline and Craig Makepeace, and is produced by Earfluence.
Did you know that there's a huge eSports scene here in the Triangle? Today we chat with Caleb Smith, owner of Contender eSports Gaming Center about what eSports is all about, the money that's available, and how his team is training the job force of the future.
For more on things to do in and around Raleigh, visit ThisIsRaleigh.com.
This is Raleigh is hosted by Caroline and Craig Makepeace, and is produced by Earfluence.
We took another beach vacation in the winter, this time to the Outer Banks (Nags Head, Manteo, Kitty Hawk, Duck, Corolla). There's so much culture and history, and here we tell you about all the things to do when the weather isn't right for a dip in the ocean.
For more on things to do in and around Raleigh, visit ThisIsRaleigh.com.
This is Raleigh is hosted by Caroline and Craig Makepeace, and is produced by Earfluence.
The Wake County School System is massive and sometimes pretty confusing to navigate. There are traditional or year-round schools, magnet schools, charter schools, private schools. You always want to choose what's best for your kids, but how do you find all the right information? Today we're joined by Libby Taylor from SchoolUp Wake, who saw many parents were strugglling with their school choice and found a way to help them.
For more on things to do in and around Raleigh, visit ThisIsRaleigh.com.
This is Raleigh is hosted by Caroline and Craig Makepeace, and is produced by Earfluence.
Most people don't think about the beach for a winter weekend getaway or vacation, but it's actually pretty amazing. There are so many things to do...and it's not nearly as crowded. Today we talk about our trip to the Crystal Coast of North Carolina - Beaufort, Indian Beach, Pine Knoll Shores, Atlantic Beach, Morehead City, and Emerald Isle.
Check out our blog post on the Crystal Coast things to do and places to eat!
For more on things to do in and around Raleigh, visit ThisIsRaleigh.com.
This is Raleigh is hosted by Caroline and Craig Makepeace, and is produced by Earfluence.
Are you ready for an excellent 2022? It's about time right?
In this episode we chat about our plans for 2022 related to our ThisIsRaleigh podcast, our blog, social media channels, plus plans for our community, travel plans we have both domestically and internationally, personal life updates, and much more!
If there's one thing that can cause overwhelm, overstimulation, and stress in a household, it's clutter. Sarah Valeri from Hello Clutter has made it her business to make homes better organized, less stressful, and clutter free, and she joins us today on the This is Raleigh Podcast!
For more on things to do in and around Raleigh, visit ThisIsRaleigh.com.
This is Raleigh is hosted by Caroline and Craig Makepeace, and is produced by Earfluence.
The housing market in Raleigh right now is ridiculous - mortgage rates are low, prices are sky-high, and supply can't keep up with demand. So when you put in an offer to buy, you better be prepared.
Today, we welcome our mortgage broker, April Young Blackwell from Blackwell Mortgage, to give us some tips on how to navigate this wild time in the Triangle.
For more on things to do in and around Raleigh, visit ThisIsRaleigh.com.
This is Raleigh is hosted by Caroline and Craig Makepeace, and is produced by Earfluence.
Today we are talking about Boone, North Carolina, just three hours from Raleigh. Boone is right off the Blue Ridge Parkway in the High Country of NC, and close enough to Blowing Rock and Grandfather Mountain that we went there too. Hear about it all on today's episode!
For more on things to do in and around Raleigh, visit ThisIsRaleigh.com.
This is Raleigh is hosted by Caroline and Craig Makepeace, and is produced by Earfluence.
The holidays are a great time to visit Bryson City in the Great Smoky Mountains. You've got the Polar Express, Tweetsie Railroad Theme Park, and a whole lot more in this small town. Tune in to hear where we ate, where we drank, and what we did on our little getaway!
Full show notes: https://thisisraleigh.com/bryson-city-podcast/
Blog post: https://www.ytravelblog.com/things-to-do-in-bryson-city/
For more on things to do in and around Raleigh, visit ThisIsRaleigh.com.
This is Raleigh is hosted by Caroline and Craig Makepeace, and is produced by Earfluence.
When Chuan Tsay told his mom he was starting a coffee shop, she was devastated - because she'd been there before and seen the toll the restaurant industry takes. But for Chuan and his wife Anna Phommavong, they wanted to "create something that completes our parents' journeys or at least takes it one step further because when they were doing this, it was at a time and place in which they weren't as respected for their identities as much as we have been in our time and place and time."
Tune in to Chuan's fascinating story, and visit Heirloom as well in the Warehouse District of Downtown Raleigh.
For more on things to do in and around Raleigh, visit ThisIsRaleigh.com.
This is Raleigh is hosted by Caroline and Craig Makepeace, and is produced by Earfluence.
In January 2018, Raleigh native Maggie Kane opened Raleigh's first pay-what-you-can cafe, A Place at the Table. Today she talks to Caroline and Craig about the why and how of how it all got started, how the Triangle community has been so supportive, and what she likes to do in the City of Oaks when she's not working.
Instagram | @TableRaleigh | Go help get them 20K followers!
Thanksgiving morning at Place at the Table, Gonza will be providing breakfast tacos and hot chocolate!
Full show notes: https://thisisraleigh.com/maggie-kane-table-raleigh/(opens in a new tab)
For more on things to do in and around Raleigh, visit ThisIsRaleigh.com.
This is Raleigh is hosted by Caroline and Craig Makepeace, and is produced by Earfluence.
Adrienne Cole was born in Raleigh and went to college at Meredith. She's seen how the City of Oaks has evolved over the years, and in 2017, she was named the first female CEO of the Raleigh Chamber. Today Adrienne talks about how Raleigh has changed, what she loves to do in the Triangle, and her vision for the future.
Full show notes: https://thisisraleigh.com/podcast-adrienne-cole/
For more on things to do in and around Raleigh, visit ThisIsRaleigh.com.
This is Raleigh is hosted by Caroline and Craig Makepeace, and is produced by Earfluence.
We recently went to the North Carolina coast for some rest and relaxation. Tune in for our recommendations on what to do (climb the lighthouse, avoid the alligators, visit Fishy Fishy) at Ocean Isle.
For more on things to do in and around Raleigh, visit ThisIsRaleigh.com.
This is Raleigh is hosted by Caroline and Craig Makepeace, and is produced by Earfluence.
Full show notes: https://thisisraleigh.com/brunswick-islands-podcast/
Hannah Weisberg was excited to launch her new company, an indoor space in Raleigh for workshops and events...until COVID took away all indoor events. So she made the pivot to The Women's Social Club, a place that provides approachable opportunities to support mentorships, relationships and networking opportunities for women in the City of Oaks.
@WomensSocialClub
For more on things to do in and around Raleigh, visit ThisIsRaleigh.com.
This is Raleigh is hosted by Caroline and Craig Makepeace, and is produced by Earfluence.
The Innovate Raleigh Summit will be held Friday October 29th at 1PM at the Raleigh Convention Center. Today we talk to interim director Clark Rinehart about what Innovate Raleigh is, why he's so passionate about the City of Oaks, and why our first college football experience was awful for him. For more on things to do in and around Raleigh, visit ThisIsRaleigh.com.
This is Raleigh is hosted by Caroline and Craig Makepeace, and is produced by Earfluence.
It's hard to find things to do that are fun for both kids and parents. We've been there (and yes, we've heard complaining), but we've come up with a list of things to do in Raleigh that both children and parents will enjoy.
For more on things to do in and around Raleigh, visit ThisIsRaleigh.com.
This is Raleigh is hosted by Caroline and Craig Makepeace, and is produced by Earfluence.
Spiders, fences, discovering Cheerwine, and we don't cook "shrimp" on the Barbie!
There are some major differences between living in Raleigh and living in Australia, and today we talk about some of the more notable ones.
Full video: https://youtu.be/yhwLlxfVyDk
Full Show Notes: https://thisisraleigh.com/raleigh-vs-australia-cultural-differences/
For more on things to do in and around Raleigh, visit ThisIsRaleigh.com.
This is Raleigh is hosted by Caroline and Craig Makepeace, and is produced by Earfluence.
We love living in Raleigh and buying our first home in Raleigh was a dream come true. But, the Raleigh real estate market is NUTS, listen in for our tips & insights!
Full video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=do38VLnBajM&t
Full show notes: https://thisisraleigh.com/buying-a-house-in-raleigh-podcast/
For more on things to do in and around Raleigh, visit ThisIsRaleigh.com.
This is Raleigh is hosted by Caroline and Craig Makepeace, and is produced by Earfluence.
We’ve been singing Raleigh’s praises since 2004 and have often called it America’s best kept secret.
But, we KNOW it’s not for everyone. No place is perfect and we all have different values, priorities, likes and dislikes.
So we thought we do a fun podcast episode sharing why you may not LOVE living in Raleigh and perhaps save you a disastrous decision by moving here if it does not check your non-negotiable lists on livability!
Full show notes: https://thisisraleigh.com/reasons-not-to-live-in-raleigh-podcast/
We are back recording podcasts y'all. In this episode we share about our house hunting in Raleigh, sending our kids to school for the first time, why Caz joined the Women's Social Club in Raleigh, restaurants in Raleigh we're loving, and our experience tasting Cheerwine for the first time!
Here's what we talk about:
- New podcasting studio @ Raleigh Founded via Earfluence
- Challenges of our old podcast setup and managing a podcast with a CRAZY travel life
- Time for our daughters to return to traditional school and the challenges of carpooling and finding the right school.
- Why we love a year round calendar: great for us as travelers, better for kids & teachers
- The many schooling options and the difficulties of caps, zones, and applications!
- Raleigh City Farm. and volunteering at their Wednesday Wine & Weeds
- Our journey into house hunting during this crazy real estate market.
- The secret is out on Raleigh being Americas best kept secret.
- Our top lesson: Don't Assume!! Always ask to get the facts.
- WOW!! In American you can get 30yr fixed interest with low rates! Certainly not the case Down Under!
- Our excitement at owning our own home after 20yrs of renting & traveling
- Joining the Women's Social Club
- Restaurants we’ve been to lately: Sitti, Bosphorus, Kakabish
- Burial beer and their cool mural!
- Cheerwine...yuck!!!
Full show notes: https://thisisraleigh.com/raleigh-life-update-podcast/
Downtown Cary has evolved a lot in recent years and we love how charming and vibrant it is,. It’s offering some of the best places to eat and drink in the Triangle.
There’s the locally owned coffee shop, bakery, bagel place, ice cream shop, pizza joint, local boutiques and art galleries, the park, the theater and arts center, a wine market, and the classic soda fountain inside the drugstore – not to mention one of the best breweries in America!
We can’t do a Raleigh podcast without talking about our favorite Raleigh breweries. The beer scene has exploded in recent years, and if you love a craft brew, this is the episode for you.
We’ve been to Asheville, Portland, Washington State, San Diego, Denver, and Raleigh has just as good craft beer as any of them! As Australians we thought American beer consisted of Budweiser, Coors, and Miller.
Now we know better. You cannot beat an American craft beer and you’ll find any style you like all over Wake County and beyond! There are now at least 41 breweries in Raleigh area and it seems more popping up each week.
We have yet to visit all of these breweries. We keep getting sidetracked returning to the ones we love. We’re sharing those ones in this episode.
Full Show Notes: https://thisisraleigh.com/breweries-in-raleigh-podcast/
Looking for ideas about cool day trips from Raleigh? One of the things we love about living in Raleigh is its central location to so many other great places.
Today we chat about 5 great getaway ideas for everyone, whether you desire a beach break, you’re a foodie, or you’re into history, the arts, or sports.
They are easy to visit in a day – but there is no reason why you shouldn’t stay longer.
We visit these places near Raleigh often, and will continue to do so. Be sure to join our VIP email community so you don’t miss an update. And follow our current adventures – near and far – on Instagram.
For each place, we share some of the best things to do in a day, including places to eat!
EP 07: WHAT WE TALK ABOUT * Why we think Wrightsville Beach is the best beach in the USA * What makes Wilmington – the Hollywood of the East – full of so much Southern Charm * The exciting food and cultural destination of Durham and its unique Black History. * The college town of Chapel Hill and how it has a very unique personality. (and of course the best basketball team!!) * The surprising enjoyable rural (but moving to urban) Johnston County.
Full show notes: https://thisisraleigh.com/places-near-raleigh-to-visit-hour-trip/
When in Raleigh, here are the classic Southern dishes to try to get yourself introduced to the food history of the area, and the top Raleigh restaurants to taste each dish!
We know you’re itching to break free from the confines of your homes and travel again. In this podcast episode, we use our travel expertise and insider knowledge to share how travel will look in 2021.
Due to our unique position as one of the world’s top travel bloggers, we get access to information to the word on the street, through our ambassador partnerships and conversations with tourism board representatives from around the world.
Full episode notes: https://thisisraleigh.com/travel-tips-2021
- The general outlook for 2021 travel that most tourism reps we've spoken to have.
- What will open up first and how that will roll out to international travel
- What the popular travel trends will be
- Why people are craving stories more than Instagram photo likes (and how to balance this on your travels)
- Why you should do your due diligence and run some practice tests before selling everything to buy an RV and hit the road
- Embracing the workation lifestyle - we've been doing it for 10 years and agree , it's awesome.
- The importance of travel insurance - how it can break your finances if you don't get it (even domestic)
- What can we expect from vaccinations (keep yourself updated)
What are our favorite places to eat, drink, play, and explore in Raleigh? And what are our favorite things about living in Raleigh? In this episode, we share our contrasting, and sometimes the same, opinions.
- Favorite breakfast, lunch and dinner spots
- Favorite brewery and bar
- Favorite festival / event including the fun ones that had us running in flip flops and gorging on doughnuts.
- We share what we call flip flops in Australia and an embarrassing experience mixing it up in the USA
- A special concert experienced at our favorite music venue.
- Favorite neighborhood to explore
- Our dilemma - torn between two dream places to live in Raleigh
Full show notes and resources here: https://thisisraleigh.com/raleigh-favorites-podcast/
How we lost $500K in assets, started blogging, and got awarded Green Cards.
This episode dives deep into our past real estate disaster that happened right here in Raleigh during the GFC, how we ended up losing everything, including two properties, our jobs, our savings, and ended up in serious credit card debt. But fortunately we were able to turn it all around. Listen in to how we did that, and how overcoming those challenges has helped us get through this current COVID crisis. We have had quite the journey behind the scenes, and recording this episode brought back so many tough memories but powerful life lessons! Full show notes: https://thisisraleigh.com/blogging-green-cards-podcast/
In episode 2, we share the many different reasons we love living in Raleigh. It captured us immediately, and when we returned to Australia in 2006, we missed it so much, we realized it's where we wanted our forever home to be.
Listen in to hear how we came to love the community, what jobs we worked, interesting people we met, fun stories and much more!
Full show notes: https://thisisraleigh.com/love-raleigh-podcast/
We talk about:
- How the friendliness of people in Raleigh and North Carolina drew us in
- The beauty of the City of Oaks
- Our first friend in Raleigh, Hitesh (we're still great mates)
- The joy of traveling like the locals
- The rich cultural experiences we had like:
- election parties
- jumping over the fires in Franklin St
- crashing a frat party
- Kirby Derby (before it was in Dorothea Dix
- The benefits of having connections to your own culture when you live in a foreign place
- But, why you should also branch out to meet the locals
- The amazing location for travel Raleigh offers
- Craig's jobs in Raleigh: Construction and working for Delta Airlines
- The work life balance of Australia compared to the US
- The strangeness of why Americans don't take their vacation leave!!
- The end of our first two-year teaching experience in the USA
- How our road trip across the US on the way back to Australia convinced us to come back.
Thanks for listening. Remember to subscribe and leave a review!
Welcome to the first episode of This is Raleigh podcast, where we share the warm and vibrant lifestyle of a place we chose as our permanent home (after 23 years of nomadic travels)
In this episode we share the first part of our story where I was randomly placed at a school in Johnston County on a cultural teaching exchange program.
We knew nothing about Raleigh and instantly felt we belonged.
We share:
- How we first heard of Raleigh and what brought us here
- The cultural exchange program I joined and the local Triangle company behind it (and their important mission)
- The very difficult application process for my teaching job (spanning 3 continents)
- When we first felt like Raleigh was home (like immediately)
- The challenges of settling into a new country + ways to overcome culture shock and make it great
- My teaching experience in Johnston County and working through Educational cultural shock
- How the people we met helped us fall in love with Raleigh
- Other reasons we loved living in Raleigh
In the first three episodes of our This is Raleigh podcast, we're diving deep into our story of how ended up in Raleigh in 2004, moved back and forth several times since, and eventually got a green card to live permanently.
Thanks for listening. Leave a review, subscribe and share us with your friends.
Full show notes: https://thisisraleigh.com/moving-to-raleigh-podcast/