Shane, the Sheriff of Yancey County, opens up about the immense pressure of protecting his community during Helene—while grappling with failing communications and the heartbreaking knowledge that several of his own family members had lost their homes. It was a test of duty, resilience, and heart.

Austin, a firefighter with the Black Mountain Fire Department, shares the challenges his team faced during rescue efforts after Helene. With communication systems down, roads blocked by flooding, and serious sanitation concerns, they had to navigate crisis after crisis to help those in need.

Krissi, who works at a Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) in Burnsville, opens up about the emotional toll of Helene and how she copes with its lasting effects. She shares how the disaster has impacted her community—especially the children already facing challenges at home—and the ongoing efforts to support them.

After Helene, Jeramy stepped up to run an information hub in Marshall, NC, helping the community navigate the crisis. He shares how the small town came together in the aftermath—witnessing longtime rivals set aside their differences, forgive one another, and work side by side to rebuild."

I sit down with Sophia from the Appalachian Rebuild Project (ARP) in Spruce Pine. She shares what it was like to witness her community’s destruction, how she and her family began helping their neighbors, and the story behind the creation of ARP.

In this episode, Stacie shares the hardships of facing the storm on her own and how the strength and support of her community helped her get through it.

After Chip lost his gym he witnessed the local “hippies” and “mountain folks” come together to support him.

Elaine shares her journey of rebuilding her farm after the devastation of Hurricane Helene and opens up about the emotional weight of survivor’s guilt in the aftermath.

Michael works with Homeward Bound and recounts stories about the homeless population in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

Bobby discusses rescuing community members during Helene.

Hear from members of Local Cloth, a non-profit organization who lost their studio and inventory during the Helene disaster.

Hear about science-based tools to manage stress and stay resilient in response to a disaster.

Haley Polk of Olive Branch Cattle Company discusses relief efforts for the farming community.

Why I started the Helene series.