Carolyn Murray: A Life in Broadcasting, Charleston’s Heartbeat, and Inspiring Community Connections

Ever wondered how a brave move can catapult you into a lifelong dream career? Carolyn Murray from WCBD TV 2 in Charleston shares her inspiring journey from a snowy birth in New York to becoming a celebrated news anchor in Charleston. Carolyn recounts her bold approach to WPAL radio’s general manager, landing her first broadcasting job before even graduating from the University of South Carolina. With deep ties to Charleston and a passionate commitment to journalism, Carolyn's story is a testament to determination and community connection.

Join us as we explore Carolyn's serendipitous transition from radio to television, starting her TV career in 1989. Hear about her experiences working in various markets and the heartfelt bonds she formed with her colleagues. Carolyn's reflections on her return to Charleston and an unforgettable surprise party thrown for her 20th anniversary emphasize the importance of a supportive team culture. Engaging stories about unexpected celebrity encounters and community involvement highlight the charm and significance of local engagement, particularly in areas without major professional sports.

This episode also delves into the personal joys and challenges of balancing professional responsibilities with personal well-being. We touch on topics close to the heart, such as animal rescues and the evolution of storytelling in the media. Listen to empowering tales of resilience and adaptability, particularly from women overcoming physical challenges while maintaining influential careers. Carolyn's memorable celebrity interviews and her grounded perspective on the humanity of high-profile figures add a unique layer to the conversation. Celebrate with us as we honor family milestones and the essence of meaningful community discussions, truly capturing the unique paths that lead people to settle in Mount Pleasant.

Presenting Sponsor: Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce

Studio Sponsor: Charleston Media Solutions

Production Sponsor: RMBO.co

Design Sponsor: DK Design

Committee:
Kathleen Herrmann | Host | MPCC Immediate Past President | Mount Pleasant Towne Centre
Mike Compton | Co-host | Marketing Chair | RMBO.co
Rebecca Imholz | Co-host | MPCC Executive Director
Amanda Bunting Comen | Co-host | Social ABCs
Ben Nesvold | Co-host | In-coming President | Edward Jones

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:05):
Welcome to the Building Business Podcast
powered by the Mount PleasantChamber of Commerce.
Special thanks to theCharleston Radio Group for
sponsoring the show.
My name is Mike Compton.
I'm currently your ChamberMarketing Chair and co-owner of
Roomba Advertising GoRoombacom.
We've got a great episode aheadof us, but first I'm'm here
with my co-host, AmandaBunting-Komen Say hello, amanda.

Speaker 2 (00:26):
Hi everybody, I am Amanda Bunting-Komen, like Mike
said, and I have a marketingcompany called Social ABCs and I
help businesses with theirmarketing.

Speaker 1 (00:38):
She does a fantastic job.
Does our marketing for thechamber.

Speaker 2 (00:41):
I'm on the marketing committee for the chamber as
well and really enjoy helpingplan this podcast oh, it's a lot
of fun, isn't it?

Speaker 1 (00:52):
we have a good time.
We have a good time.
Uh, folks, we have a celebrityin the studio today.
I'm not kidding, I'm a bitstarstruck myself.
We've got the one and onlycarolyn murray from count on
news to wcbd tv in charleston.
I appreciate that.

Speaker 3 (01:09):
Oh my gosh, wow, what an introduction.

Speaker 1 (01:12):
Um hardly the celebrity when you said that I
turned around I wanted to seewho came in behind me, but but I
appreciate that no wayeverybody lit up when you walked
in the room today I don't knowabout that heck yeah, I mean, I
know my wife and I are fans.
I try to do actually too manypush-ups today to try to try to
get on the health side.

Speaker 3 (01:32):
You are inspiring well, I appreciate that.
Uh-huh, thank you so much.
Why don't?

Speaker 2 (01:38):
you start by giving us a little bit of background
about yourself, for those peoplewho aren't familiar with
Carolyn Murray.

Speaker 3 (01:47):
All right.
Well, thank you so much, amanda, and I appreciate your good
work, known you for years andyou've done a really good job of
keeping us connected in so manyways in the community.
So it's good to sit next to youand right next to you, mike,
and across from you, to sit nextto you and right next to you,
mike, and across from you, matt.

(02:08):
So again, thank you for havingme here.
I am Carolyn Murray.
I like to say that, though Iwas not born in the low country
saltwater runs through my veinsI was born in New York City.
Actually, my parents arenatives of Charleston, but they
moved to New York in 1966 and,wouldn't you know it, there was
a blizzard that year.
So I ended up being bored athome.

(02:30):
My dad delivered me how farback in my story did you?
guys my dad delivered me becausethere was a blizzard.
My parents didn't have a car.
That's a dad right there I haddad goals, but they sent my
brother outside to look for theambulance, but he fell asleep

(02:52):
actually fell asleep on theduring a blizzard, during a
blizzard, with blankets aroundhim or whatever, he nodded off
for a second typical olderbrother exactly eight years
older they.
The ambulance never made it tomy parents brownstone, so my dad
had to deliver me.
So somehow we made it back tocharleston.

(03:13):
Like three years.
We lived in new york, um, andwe moved to downtown charleston
around 69, 70, the corner ofCumming and Cannon Streets, and
my parents owned a little smallmom and pop store.
So I say that to suggest and toclarify that I am such a
Charleston girl.

(03:35):
All of my formative educationwas through the public schools
of Charleston.
I went to Courtney for firstgrade, albemarle Rivers Middle
School School and then to BurkeHigh School.
I went to the University ofSouth Carolina, graduated in
1988.
But I do want to get back towhat happened the year before I

(03:55):
graduated high college, ifthat's OK.
Oh my gosh.
So it was, and I say thatbecause just being in this space
right now it reminds me of it.
I was a journalism student atthe University of South Carolina
and obviously, you know, wantedto work in front of microphones
in some capacity.
And I went to WPAL radiostation on Waupu Road on a

(04:19):
Saturday and introduced myselfto the general manager, bill
Saunders Hi, I'd like to work inradio someday.
And he was a bit of acurmudgeon as some old.
SAT word and he sent me into thestudio adjacent to where he was
and said I'm going to point toyou.
And when I point to you, I wantyou to read these public

(04:41):
service announcements on air.
And I'm like what?
You know, I'm a kid and I'mlike all of a sudden, you know,
and this is before cell phones,so I couldn't even call my
parents to say I'm going to beon the radio, or friends or
anything.
This thing is happening.
Hopefully you have quarters inyour pocket or something,
nothing, not that I am flyingblind so I go and I do that, and

(05:01):
we actually do it for severalhours and he would come in
periodically and he would talkto me.
And so I spent an afternoonthere and he said okay, you have
some talent, you're hired,you're going to work for me this
summer.
And I did.
I did an internship.
At the end of the internship hesaid I'm going to hold your job

(05:23):
for a year.
When you graduate, you'll comeand work for me as my news and
public affairs director.
That's how my career started inbroadcasting.

Speaker 2 (05:28):
Your first knock, my first knock.
That doesn't happen.
You didn't even graduate andyou already had a job.
I had a job and I loved it.

Speaker 3 (05:40):
I knew that this was what I wanted to do.
I said it in my senior year atBurke High School that I wanted
to do.
I said it in my senior year atBurke High School that I wanted
to actually be a news anchor.
And so, some 36 years later,I'm still waiting for someone to
prove me wrong.
I somehow got that right.
That's a lot, that was a lot.

Speaker 1 (05:57):
I'm still digesting.
You're one of six.
I'm one of six.
Did your dad deliver?
Anybody else?

Speaker 3 (06:04):
No, so you must be daddy's girl.
No, he said.
You know what I'm not going tomess this up.
I got one done, one and done.

Speaker 1 (06:11):
Oh, amazing, I love that.

Speaker 3 (06:14):
Oh my gosh, that was a bit of a setup, but you know.

Speaker 1 (06:17):
What did your parents do?

Speaker 3 (06:19):
I'm sorry.
So.
My father owned severalmom-and-pop style stores and
worked with his brother.
They had a meat market that wasvery, very popular for years
Murray and Middleton's Meats,then it was just Murray's Meats
and then it was Link's and Meats.
But primarily he worked atCummins Engines for probably 20,

(06:41):
30 years.
He's now retired.
He's also a minister.
No kidding, he's a a minister.
No kidding, he's a minister atMount Moriah Missionary Baptist
Church.
My mother worked in domesticwork for many, many years, but
when we were older she went backto school and got a nursing
certificate and worked probably25 years at MUSC before retiring

(07:02):
.
Oh my gosh, Wow.

Speaker 1 (07:04):
Entrepreneurs.

Speaker 3 (07:05):
Yeah, very, very busy , very, very connected to the
community in many different ways, with six kids too, with six
kids.
So you know.

Speaker 1 (07:15):
My gosh, that's amazing.
Amanda, do you have anythingthat you wanted to bring up?

Speaker 2 (07:22):
I know I put a lot out there.
I want to know more.
How are you?
Can you tell us a little bithow you shifted from radio?

Speaker 1 (07:30):
yeah, to television?
Probably not long not long.

Speaker 3 (07:33):
So I worked at wpal for about nine months, okay, and
then I started working at wmgl,and I did that for a few months
, but I knew ultimately what Iwanted to do was work in TV.
And so while working at WMGL,which was a station West Ashley,
I started an internship at WCSCTV channel 5 on East Bay Street

(07:59):
.
So I would work at the radiostation in the mornings and then
in the evenings I did news andpublic affairs.

Speaker 1 (08:05):
Yeah, okay.

Speaker 3 (08:06):
So I would go to the television station at night and
I just did a lot of observation,but primarily I was an intern.
The news director at WCSC, donFeldman, came to me and said you

(08:27):
know, I've been watching youwork and I know you've got a
little bit of a hustle workingreally hard.
I want you to make a tape forme.
And I said, okay, fine.
So I'm kind of nervous, likewhat does he want on this tape?
I'm thinking he wants me toedit things together and he says

(08:53):
, no, I actually want you on thetape, a resume tape.
And I'm like, oh, okay, and soI got that job.
Nice, yeah it was veryinteresting, so I started first
tape first tape.
There's a lot of firsts soalways seem to be in the right
place at the right time, and sothe year was 1989, february 6th.
It's the day that I started onair at WCSC TV as their sunrise

(09:16):
anchor, and I did that for 12years, loved it, love, love,
love that Morning person.

Speaker 2 (09:22):
I'm sorry.

Speaker 3 (09:23):
What I should clarify is I worked sunrise, the
morning shift for about a year.

Speaker 2 (09:27):
Okay, and then?

Speaker 3 (09:28):
I moved to the afternoons.

Speaker 2 (09:29):
And.

Speaker 3 (09:29):
I've been working nighttime, afternoon, evening
newscasts for 35 years, so doyou prefer the afternoon evening
, not the sunrise?
Well, I'm naturally a morningperson.
I love waking up.
You know 4, know 4, 30 in themorning.

Speaker 1 (09:51):
3 in the morning.
Um what, oh my gosh.

Speaker 2 (09:52):
No, that's sorry, that's how she does it all, mike
well what time do you go to bed?

Speaker 3 (09:58):
generally 1 15 in the morning.
That's almost always the timethat I get in bed.
1 15 am.
Well, I do.

Speaker 2 (10:03):
The 11 o'clock news Are there naps in between,
sometimes Trying to figure thisout.

Speaker 3 (10:11):
Normally I try to get in a nap between 11.30, 12.30.
It's like a good hour nap forme.

Speaker 1 (10:16):
We're creeping in our nap time right now.

Speaker 3 (10:20):
But I still keep a bit of a hectic schedule.
I did not today because I wascoming here, but yesterday, the
day before I'm up at 430.
I'm on that Ravenel Bridge by 6am.
Okay, and I will get in 6 to 8.
I walk, I may get a little bitof a sprint in there.

(10:40):
Sure sure sure, but yeah soit's a lot.

Speaker 1 (10:44):
It's awesome in there , but um, but yeah, so it's a
lot, it's, a lot, it is, but um,what a great bridge, though,
what a great walk.
Oh my gosh, I'm still new.

Speaker 3 (10:48):
It gives me energy, yeah yeah, exactly I think.
Oh, the wind coming at you likethat and the height and it's
just pretty.

Speaker 1 (10:56):
Yeah, it is really pretty, it is lucky to live near
it I agree well, I'm still kindof honeymooning, you know, six,
seven years into it still well,you think about covid that
didn't count right.
All you know, six, seven yearsinto it, still Well, you think
about COVID.

Speaker 3 (11:06):
That didn't count Right, all that you know.
I'll have to get you up.

Speaker 1 (11:08):
We'll do it together one day, 6 am I'm there.

Speaker 3 (11:11):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (11:12):
Oh, maybe.

Speaker 3 (11:14):
There are two 6 o'clocks.
Yeah, one in the morning andone in the evening.
Uh-huh, 6 pm.
Yeah, I had an amazingexperience at Channel 5, just to
clarify that, I worked there 89to 2001.
And my so long to them wasactually, I think, september 9th

(11:35):
of 2001.

Speaker 2 (11:37):
Right before, Right before and 11.

Speaker 3 (11:40):
But I was on to my next adventure, which was WBBM
TV in Chicago, and I startedthere September 13th of 2001.
So really an incredible time inour nation's history to be in a
really big television market,the number three market, had an
amazing experience.

(12:00):
I worked at WBBM for two yearsand there was a big layoff.
It was a CBS station, laid offabout 30 of us at one time, but
I fortunately had maintainedreally good relationships in
Charleston and so I wanted to,just, like Dorothy, do nothing
but come back home.

(12:20):
And so I did, but this time ata different station, wc BD TV,
and I started there September29th of 2003.
Okay, yes 2003.

Speaker 1 (12:36):
Yes, so I'm coming up on my 21st year at the end of
this month did they throw you a20th, like party they did a
really big, big which took mybreath away and I was completely
surprised by it.

Speaker 3 (12:50):
Um on air and uh yeah , one of the greatest gifts ever
given to me was seeing peoplewho I love and people who I
admire and have had anopportunity to work with,
surprising me, with telling methat you know they appreciate
all that.

Speaker 1 (13:05):
I try to do so it seems like a family on set.
I mean, you guys seem close.
I'm a pretty happy girl, yeah,yeah.

Speaker 3 (13:11):
I really.
You know our schedules arereally hectic and sporadic and
it requires a lot of us.
You know when you work in frontof a camera and when you work
so closely with the community,because it means really big
sacrifices in other areas ofyour life, sure you're?

Speaker 1 (13:27):
personal.

Speaker 3 (13:27):
You all know that, right out there yeah and um and
so to work alongsideparticularly brendan and rob,
who I work most closely with,and to just absolutely love
these guys so much, it's areally special thing because it
means that even when you were atwork, you're still comfortable,

(13:48):
you're still probably havingfun, you have personal stories
and our relationship is real.

Speaker 2 (13:54):
Is that one of the things that you would say is a
positive influence on yourlongevity with Channel 2?
I never thought about that, butthat's a very good point,
Amanda.

Speaker 3 (14:08):
It is.
I mean because I will tell youthat for those who know my
tenure in television, they willask are you ready to retire?
I'm never insulted by that,first of all, but I'm like no,
because I still enjoy it so much.
And what an amazing place towork.

(14:31):
I mean this community thatmakes you.
you know, I could be all dolledup with hair and makeup and
someone will hug me, like sheand like you are now, like she
is now listeners, like she isnow and then I can be in you
know whole foods or harristeeter and someone says, well, I
didn't recognize you becauseyou're in a ball cap and a

(14:51):
cooper river bridge run t-shirt,but I heard your voice and I'm
just as comfortable.
Mean, we have such a specialcommunity.
So when we start talking aboutyou know, our neighborhoods and
our streets are full, it'sbecause this is a pretty sweet
place to live and work 100%agreed and we're not.

Speaker 1 (15:12):
I don't feel like we're starstruck, right, I mean
I feel like it's more of acommunity If you live here with
your family and your neighbor.
I ran into Dannyana mcbride attarget and his little girl was,
you know, carrying him away togo get a toilet or what have you
, I don't know.
And I double took and he's likewhat's up, man, I go hey man,
what are you doing?

Speaker 3 (15:32):
gotta go yeah, that is a very special part of our
communities because we don'thave big professional sports and
those kinds of things that wejust appreciate, everyone who
contributes, I think, to ourwell-being.
Bill Murray.

Speaker 1 (15:50):
I mean, I haven't hung out with him yet.
I'm sure you have.

Speaker 3 (15:52):
I've seen him so many times in Whole Foods and it's
always very funny, he's alwaysthe same.

Speaker 2 (15:57):
I love that.

Speaker 3 (15:59):
Yeah, everybody's got to go grocery shopping.
We have to do that, foods andit's.
It's always very funny and it'salways the same.
Yeah, I love that.
Yeah, everybody's gotta gogrocery shopping.
Every we have to do that,everybody's gotta go.
Well, we're talking about thateconomy today.

Speaker 1 (16:05):
But anyways, yeah, um , that's, yeah, I just like the.
And then mount pleasant,specifically, I feel, has a
special you know, love to it,right mean.
And then the economy in MountPleasant.
I feel like there's so manysmall businesses and popping up
left and right.

Speaker 3 (16:23):
Absolutely.
You know, amanda and I werechatting about this and I like
to tell people that I see everypart of this community every day
.
So I grew up West Ashley and soI'm West Ashley very often
because my mother is still WestAshley and my husband's mother's
there.
So there's nothing for me topop in and go and, you know,

(16:44):
kiss them on the forehead or runan errand for them, and then I
go to a gym.
I teach bar.
Oh, you teach bar.
I teach bar one day a week.

Speaker 1 (16:54):
No, I don't, I don't, I'm lying.

Speaker 3 (16:58):
You heard the word bar and got excited.

Speaker 2 (17:00):
right yeah, so me too , and on a Friday, that other
bar.

Speaker 3 (17:05):
So on Fridays I teach bar at Pivotal West Ashley.
And then, of course, I live inNorth Charleston and we
absolutely love it.
We live right on the AshleyRiver.
It's beautiful.
It's a hidden gem.
No one knows about it, I can'tsay anything more about it.
And then I work in MountPleasant and then I spend most

(17:26):
of my outside time in MountPleasant working out, because
there is nothing that gives megreater joy than waking up when
it's dark and early and goingand sneaking onto that bridge
and there are about 20 of us whokind of know each other and
seeing the sun come up.

Speaker 1 (17:42):
Oh good, there is a run group.
You are around people, I amaround people.
I was a little nervous aboutthat.

Speaker 3 (17:48):
Yeah, I am around people.
My favorite yoga studio 360,which is a locally owned small
place.

Speaker 1 (17:54):
Shout out.

Speaker 3 (17:55):
Just love it I mean it's the best of all worlds to
be able to visit our communities.
You know, mount Pleasant doesthings really well and making
small areas that may or may notgo noticed still very nice and
welcoming.
That's when you make peoplefeel special.

(18:17):
The point I'm making is theentrance to Patriot's Point.
They did a littlebeautification project there and
it's also the entrance to whenyou're coming into Channel 2.
And it's much more open.
It's safer for those of us whoare walking and cycling and
those kinds of things Walkingand cycling and those kinds of
things.
But just the attention todetail with the greenery in that

(18:41):
area, it makes you feel welcome.
So well done, mount Pleasant.
You know some people may passby that and never see it, but
for those of us who are on footor on wheels we appreciate that.
It makes us feel special and itcertainly makes our community
look better.

Speaker 1 (18:59):
It's in the details for sure, and it's growing.

Speaker 2 (19:01):
There's more being built there more green space
under the bridge Right they'redoing more at the waterfront
park.

Speaker 3 (19:04):
Yeah, oh, believe me, I know I have the mud on my
shoes to prove some of thechanges that are going on there,
but it's so lovely.
I mean, everyone should.
One thing, if I had to say ifthere's something that I would
encourage more in our culture,it's that we are out of our cars

(19:24):
just a little bit more.
I could get people to step outof their cars and be in our
beautiful outdoors for about 15to 20 minutes a day and build on
that.
That would be my hope for us asa community, because our
community is so welcome and justso agreeable in terms of the
temperatures.
I mean, even if it rains, it'sprobably not raining at two

(19:44):
stores down, exactly right ifit's normally, it's raining one
place.

Speaker 2 (19:49):
It's not raining on the beaches right never you can
always count on that exactly youcan count on two.
You see how she did that.

Speaker 1 (19:57):
I did it.
She's quick, oh my goodness,speaking of count on two well, I
have kind of a quirky questionDo you have the first outfit
that you wore back in 89?

Speaker 3 (20:13):
That is an excellent question.

Speaker 1 (20:16):
That is an excellent question Because I'm trying to
span your tenure on camera, offcamera.

Speaker 3 (20:23):
Well, I, actually have several outfits from at
least 30 years ago, when I had adress on the other day and my
sweet Coenka airs it oh, I likeit and I'm like honey.
This fabric is older than you.

Speaker 2 (20:40):
I mean, I really do have outfits.

Speaker 3 (20:41):
I don't have that outfit, but that's so
interesting that you asked thatquestion you got the 80s.

Speaker 1 (20:48):
That was a great time right in a wardrobe.

Speaker 3 (20:51):
I'm sure I did wear.

Speaker 1 (20:53):
We'll get some photos of you.
We'll have to dig something up.

Speaker 3 (20:56):
This dress that I wore my going away party from
Channel 5.
They gave me a huge I mean justsuch a lovely going away party
and the dress that I wore andI've worn it a couple of times
and every time I do, every timeI wear it at Channel 2, I have
the picture of it was Bill Sharpand Debbie Chard and Warren
Pepper and me in the picturethat I still have this same

(21:19):
dress.

Speaker 1 (21:20):
That's good.

Speaker 3 (21:20):
But I did also wear my cheerleader skirt the other
day to my 40th high schoolreunion.

Speaker 2 (21:26):
How about that?

Speaker 3 (21:26):
Shout out.
That's great Wow.

Speaker 1 (21:28):
Yeah, listen, she's in great shape.
You got to give her that.

Speaker 3 (21:32):
No, I don't know about that, but it's just I
didn't say that I was breathingproperly while wearing it, but I
did say that I put it on for aminute.

Speaker 1 (21:40):
The point there, too, is you've seen a lot, you've
been through a lot, you've tolda lot of stories, in different
ways too, from the 80s until now.

Speaker 3 (21:51):
I'm blessed.
We say that so often now thatit's really easy to not even
understand what the word means,but for me it means.
I had a very simple prayer inmy life, and it was to be able
to help people communicate, andI knew it very early in my life
that it was what I wanted to do,in part because of the

(22:12):
community of leaders I livedaround.
I lived in a real neighborhoodwhere pretty much every house
had an African-American teacheror educator, and I lived across
the street from a woman namedSadie Oglesby.
Ms Oglesby was born in 1900.
And so her life had a lot ofchallenges, but her parents

(22:32):
thought it important that she beeducated.
She attended Fisk University andthen returned to Charleston
years ago and taught at AverySchool.
She taught Latin and she taughtEnglish and, for whatever
reason, this woman who was bornin 1900 and this girl who was
born in 1966 had an amazingfriendship.

(22:54):
So many afternoons I would goto her house and I would sit in
her very dark paneled libraryand we would read to each other,
and we did that for years.
She passed away in the 1980sand so she never saw me work
professionally, but as an homageto her, whenever and I have a

(23:16):
podcast called let's Talk yeahshout out, let's Talk.

Speaker 1 (23:19):
Yeah, shout out, let's Talk.
Clearly, no one.

Speaker 3 (23:21):
Carolyn loves to talk , but, as when my signature out
is, goodbye until the next time.
And that was her signature out.

Speaker 1 (23:29):
Oh, come on.

Speaker 3 (23:29):
For her show, and.
But the point is it's all I'veever wanted to do, because I
realized that if you have anability to speak with someone,
everything changes.
Everything about even if youcan't travel to a foreign land,
if you have the ability to havea conversation with someone who
did, there's exposure, there'sgrowth, and so it's.

(23:53):
I don't know that I necessarilyconnected.
You know, know, understood thatwhen I was a child, but I
certainly realized it earlyenough in my life that it would
ultimately determine who I wouldbecome and the kind of work I
would do.

Speaker 1 (24:07):
Dang, but you're more than just that, though, too.
How many boards are you on?

Speaker 3 (24:11):
A lot, you're given your time To whom much is given.
Much, much is required.
Not that it becomes a burden,but I try to associate and be a
part of boards where I see whereour missions are aligned and
I'm committed to them and so itdoesn't feel like a burden.
I mean, I really do.
I enjoy them.
I am surprised that I have nottalked about Mike and Kirby yet

(24:36):
our beloved animals rescues.
Yes, I'm a huge animal lover.

Speaker 1 (24:41):
Mike and Kirby, yet Our beloved animals.

Speaker 3 (24:43):
Oh yes, rescues, yes, I'm a huge animal lover Mike
and Kirby, mike and.

Speaker 1 (24:47):
Kirby, that's cute, yeah.

Speaker 3 (24:48):
So Mike is our pit mix.
His birthday is October 2nd.
He will be 14.
And Kirby is our sweet littlecat, very mischievous.
If you want to see videos, Iwill show them, but you need to
allot time for that.

Speaker 2 (25:00):
Do these cat and dog get along?
You want to?

Speaker 3 (25:02):
see pictures.
Oh, I'll show you pictures.
They are so in love with eachother.
You know so, Rob Fowler.
You know, Rob Fowler.

Speaker 1 (25:13):
He's a guy he works in weather.
You've seen him before.
He gives a lot of his time too,he he works in weather.
You've seen him before.
He used to have a mustache.

Speaker 3 (25:18):
He gives a lot of his time too.
He used to have a mustache, soRob Fowler will walk in the
station every day and we get apicture of Ro and Reed.

Speaker 2 (25:29):
His grandchildren, his grandchildren and sweet
Addie.

Speaker 3 (25:32):
And then I pull out the real good stuff Mike and
Kirby.
Let's see if I can find a quickvideo of them that's so cute.

Speaker 1 (25:41):
Well, you guys, um, as a team, give a lot of your
time, because I mean fowler willeven show up to my neighborhood
golf cart parade.
You know, like that is justamazing to me and I notice how
many boards you're on.
I see josh and hannah at justabout every fundraising event
that I go to, so it's justamazing how entrenched you guys
are in the community.

(26:01):
Big fan of Hannah, by the way.
My wife is very aware of this.
I watched back when she did thetraffic.

Speaker 2 (26:08):
I was up my commute is down the hall for crying out
loud.

Speaker 3 (26:11):
I was watching the traffic for my wife?
Yes, exactly, she's wonderful,she is a joy to be around.

Speaker 1 (26:17):
Oh is she.

Speaker 3 (26:20):
Okay, good, good to know.
But anyway, still talking aboutMike and Kirby, yes, yeah, we
really do, and I think that alsoagain speaks to culture.
So when people come into ourstation, you know we have a very
, very young staff.
Yeah, they see the way that weoperate, they see the way we
communicate, they see the waythat we operate, they see the
way we communicate, they see theway that we get along and they

(26:41):
pretty much you know asdelicately as I can say they
step in line.
This is how we operate, this ishow the wheel continues to move
along.
Smoothly is if we all operatein this way, and I love it.

Speaker 1 (26:55):
You need good leadership.
You need good leadership.
You need a good culture thisway and and I love it you need
good leadership.
You need good leadership.
You need a good culture and, um, and and I'm sure the crew is
just as lovely as you guys are Iwould imagine the guys you were
.
I'm a producer, so I love theproduction oh my goodness
storyteller at heart as well.
Yes and uh, your whole staff ispretty cool, I bet they are a
shout out to them.

Speaker 3 (27:15):
if you want, we absolutely, and we try to, and
it's unfortunate that peopledon't realize.
I think the work we do, what Ido sitting on the desk every
night, I mean it does take a lotof effort to put on makeup
every day.

Speaker 2 (27:33):
I'm joking.

Speaker 3 (27:34):
But the real hard work is done before I even walk
in the building.
So I try every day to saysomething kind, and not just to
placate them, but just to letthem know how much we appreciate
their hard work.
That it's not recognized by thethousands of people watching.
People think that we've doneall the work, but usually they

(27:56):
are carrying the weight of thenewscast every day.
So, oh yeah, we love our staff,staff and we couldn't do
without them.
Yeah, yeah, All of theproducers and all of the people
behind the scenes, the technicaldirectors, our engineers who
are on the ground, our salesassociates.
I mean it takes a lot.
People walk into the station.
They're like this place is hugeand I'm like yeah there's a lot

(28:18):
that's going on here that youdon't see when you're looking at
the screen.
Oh my, gosh.

Speaker 1 (28:23):
So much the whole well-oiled machine, I'd imagine.

Speaker 2 (28:27):
Well, on that note, I wanted to ask you know, from
when you first started to now,how has storytelling changed,
and also if you could maybe talkabout what you think is going
to happen in the future withstorytelling.

Speaker 3 (28:45):
Well, great question, because you know, there are
many, many changes.

Speaker 2 (28:50):
So I remember We've talked about AI a lot on this
podcast.

Speaker 1 (28:55):
I'm seeing the AI conference next Tuesday in.
Somerville First time I'mseeing it.
I'm a little nervous.

Speaker 3 (29:00):
Oh, that sounds really interesting.
Yeah, I'll tell you more aboutit.
Is it open to everyone?

Speaker 1 (29:04):
Uh-huh AI for SMBs, the first of its kind small to
medium-sized businesses is whatSMB?

Speaker 3 (29:10):
stands for Very good, okay, yeah, yeah, yeah, uh-huh.
Well, you're right.
When I walked into the newsrooma television newsroom we had
typewriters.
Yes, and I remember being soexcited when we got computers,
and people smoked cigarettes inthe newsroom People smoked that.

Speaker 2 (29:33):
That's not a thing anymore.

Speaker 3 (29:35):
When you went to a news story you had a map a thing
anymore we.
When you went to a news story,you had a map and a person could
become very disgruntled,frankly angry, if someone had
taken the map out of their car.
The map, the map the map wasimportant.
Yes, yes, oh, and remember oh Ialso can remember my excitement
when map quest was createdbecause, then I could just print

(29:57):
it on a printer and carry my 10sheets, you know, for my drive
to Somerville with me but then Ihad another um.
In more recent years, when wewere still reliant on maps, I
had this other um, really strongtool in my chest my six, five
co-anchor, brendan Clark.
Because nothing gave BrendanClark more joy than to write a

(30:21):
to draw directions to Brendanwas doing sports at the time to
a football game.
On a paper, he someone would beheading out the building and he
would say, no, come here, let medraw this map, and he would
clear his desk and he would draw, and then you're going to turn,
here there's a tree and thenright around here there's a
convenience store.
Then you make a left here.
So I mean, the changes areunbelievable.

(30:44):
I remember having to go to thecounty library to do research
for stories oh yeah, actuallyhaving to pick up a phone and
have a conversation with someoneto get research, so it's
changed tremendously.

Speaker 1 (30:58):
No Google, no tremendously no Google.
No Google, no Google.

Speaker 3 (31:01):
But I think there's something to be said for what I
personally and it may notnecessarily be the case for
everyone, but I think it's aloss because there's a nuance,
there's intrinsic learning.
When you have to have aconversation with someone, you
learn things justserendipitously.

(31:22):
It comes out in the course of aconversation, like today.
So I think that is what's lostin the industry.
But I think, because people arethinking in 15-second sound
bites and things, they don'teven notice that it's lost
because they're on to somethingelse anyway, Right, so I take it
in stride.

(31:42):
You know, it's just somethingthat we adapt.
You know we just have learnedto adapt to the pace of what the
world requires.

Speaker 1 (31:52):
But it's fascinating because you have to be on that
pulse of that pace that theworld requires and you're doing
it on a daily basis.

Speaker 3 (31:59):
Well, some, some our 22 year old daughter would say
that I'm slipping at remarkablespeeds.
As a 22 year old daughter couldonly say to their mother, she's
like keep up, mom, carolyn.

Speaker 1 (32:11):
Murray is not slipping.
Don't let that go.

Speaker 2 (32:13):
I don't know she knows the news for anyone else.

Speaker 3 (32:17):
You're slipping.

Speaker 1 (32:18):
I don't know, I don't know.
She knows the news for anyoneelse You're slipping.
I don't know, I don't know.

Speaker 3 (32:20):
As many times as I have to call on our daughter or
someone like help me with thisor whatever I don't like being
that person, I try to keep upbecause I certainly don't want
to be a burden to anyone, and Ienjoy learning.

Speaker 1 (32:33):
Yes, I enjoy learning .
So there's a balance.
Yeah, we remember life beforeall that and then I, we still
are learning more about it.
Gen x was more of a curiositycurious generation that knew how
to live back in the day.
No, google, you know knockingon doors, you know hustling and
grit, and now it's like you canjust google anything.

(32:55):
And now ai is coming aroundmaking it even more easier, and
I'm not complaining.

Speaker 2 (32:58):
We just have to.
You know I AI is coming aroundmaking it even more easier and
I'm not complaining.
We just have to use it.
You have to use it the rightway.
The right way, what is the?

Speaker 1 (33:04):
right way.
We have to figure that out.

Speaker 3 (33:07):
Because it's human nature to seek ease and comfort.
Oh my gosh, so you have to beso disciplined and to not allow
yourself to slip in a placewhere that becomes your brain.
And so you know, for those whoare already naturally

(33:29):
disciplined and are aware of I,can't do too much of this,
though I like it.
I like how it feels, it'smaking this part of my life
easier.
You know, I think that there'salways going to be a balance and
it's just being mature anddetermining how to, you know.

Speaker 1 (33:45):
Learning, learning about it, talking about it.

Speaker 3 (33:47):
Because you could use anything to your advantage.
I mean, I certainly like theadvantage of using an ATM
machine and not having to gointo a bank, but every once in a
while I want to see the folksat the bank Right, you know,
make sure everybody's doing goodmachine and not having to go
into a bank.
But every once in a while Iwant to see the folks at the
bank, right, you know, make sureeverybody's doing good.

Speaker 1 (34:03):
That's so true.
What else you got, Amanda?
You had a couple of questionsyou want to discuss.

Speaker 2 (34:09):
Well, the last time, I think, I saw you in person,
you were at a women's event andyou were on a panel.
It was for Charleston WomenMagazine.

Speaker 1 (34:19):
Oh nice.

Speaker 2 (34:20):
You were on a panel with realtor Terry Haas and Kim
Powell.

Speaker 3 (34:26):
Oh yes, it was out at the Allendorf Farm.
Yes, that's right.
Salty Oaks, salty Oaks, yes.

Speaker 2 (34:31):
So I just had a few questions about you know things
that you can share for aspiringwomen entrepreneurs, women
leaders, women in business fromyour perspective and your tenure
.

Speaker 1 (34:49):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (34:50):
Well, that was a very special event, gosh, I didn't
want to leave.

Speaker 1 (34:55):
What was the event?
Talk about the event.

Speaker 2 (34:57):
It was a brunch that Charleston Women's Magazine put
on Okay.

Speaker 1 (35:02):
Shout out to that.

Speaker 2 (35:03):
Out at Salty Oaks in Onda.

Speaker 1 (35:05):
Do?
They do a yearly thing.

Speaker 2 (35:06):
They do they do, yeah , okay, so check it out for next
year.

Speaker 3 (35:09):
A panel of maybe eight to ten women.
You spend a day there, there isa farm and you get to spend
some time with the animals andit's just.
It's very relaxed and yet stillis quite comprehensive in its
approach, because there's a nicemeal and there's conversation,
and then you still get theempowered speeches and then

(35:31):
there are cute animals.
So it's quite comprehensive.
I think my husband was the onlyguy there, so I'll tell a
couple of stories.

Speaker 2 (35:38):
Are we still good on time?
Oh yeah.

Speaker 3 (35:40):
Okay, so that particular event.
I will start with why myhusband was there.
It was because I wasn't drivinglong distances yet, and I still
drive pretty much every daywhen I'm going to the bridge,
but for the most part, myhusband does all of the driving

(36:02):
okay, driver.

Speaker 1 (36:04):
Oh, I didn't see him today.

Speaker 2 (36:05):
I know it's because we have someone who's working on
our working on something at ourhouse, and so he needed to be
there, right?

Speaker 3 (36:13):
so, um, but he will go back to the station with me
tonight for the 11 o'clock news.
So I'm going to slip this storyin very quickly.
I had some major healthconcerns in 2019 that came up
and the bottom line is I keptfalling.
So I was doing the bridge allthe time.
I wasn't tripping over anything, but I would fall.

(36:34):
I'm like why am I falling?
What do I?
Do I go to the doctor?
Why am I falling?
You do I?
Do I go to the doctor?
Why am I falling?
You're getting older, carolyn.

Speaker 2 (36:41):
No, I'm okay, that's the first thing, right.

Speaker 3 (36:44):
But so you know it's like, okay, well, let's monitor
this.
And I did so.
I kept falling, Not every day,you know, maybe once a week I
would lose my balance, or itjust seems like my legs would
give out.
Once a week I would lose mybalance, or it just seems like
my legs would give out.
So, to make a long story short,went to the doctor and they

(37:09):
determined that I had twoconditions in my spine
Neurosarcoidosis andneurofibromatosis.
Neurofibromatosis are tumors onmy spinal cord and
neurosarcoidosis is inflammationin the spinal cord, both things
happening at the same time.
They couldn't remove the tumorsbecause they are actually
connected to the nerves, theyare part of the nerves.
So March I think it was March17th of 2020 is when this

(37:37):
determination is made and I'mgoing to have to have surgery.
And the next day or two dayslater, a pandemic is declared
and the world shuts down.
And the next day I'mhospitalized and my husband
drops me off at the curve atMUSC and I don't see my family
again until June.

(37:58):
Oh my.

Speaker 2 (37:59):
Carolyn June.
Oh, my Carolyn.

Speaker 3 (38:00):
Yeah, I was in the hospital that entire time.
I lost the ability to walk.
I was in a wheelchair prettymuch until I came home.
So that's why I still carry thestick, because I still have the
conditions in my spine.
It causes some problems withbalance and if I'm in a heel I
feel discomfort, but I can stilldo the bridge.

(38:25):
I still practice yoga every day.
I teach barre you wouldn't know.
So sometimes you know I am verycareful or I try to be when I
say for some people we are able,mind over matter or I'm able to
do some things despite what myMRI will show.

(38:45):
I don't know how and I don'tsay that to challenge someone
who might be dealing with somehealth issue and they can't do
it.
I don't know why, but I justknow that it is what it is and
there are some things I can doand some things that I can't do.
I just live with it and wisheveryone well with whatever
they're dealing with Everybody'sdealing with something.

(39:05):
Everyone's dealing withsomething.
Everyone's dealing withsomething 100%.
That was a big story as to whyJimmy was the only guy at that
event but he was the guy at thatevent.

Speaker 1 (39:14):
It's an important story, it's part of your journey
and thank you for sharing, ohmy gosh

Speaker 3 (39:19):
I don't know if anybody knows that yeah,
something a lot of people knowand so they'll see this stick
and they're like, oh, you'restill dealing with that and like
, yeah, and it's fine earlieryou said it was no big deal and
listener, she's wearing heels Itold you not to wear heels she
would not take her heels off butyou know when I when I think
about just to circle back toyour original question, Amanda,

(39:41):
I was so humbled to be on thatpanel with those women and I
felt absolutely inadequate tosit alongside them, because they
are doing really big thingswith their lives.

Speaker 2 (39:52):
No, they really are, I mean.

Speaker 3 (39:55):
Woodhouse Spa and Terry and a real estate company,
and I can't remember the otherwoman's industry, but but you
know they are doing really bigthings and I think that we all
respect what we bring to thetable and what we bring to the
world.
I think for me why this feelsso natural, that in a lot of

(40:18):
ways it doesn't feel like work,it just feels so natural to me.
I'm like, oh you know, which iswhy sometimes I have a problem
saying no to things, becauseit's like, oh my gosh, that
sounds like so much fun, or Ienjoy that person's company.
Of course I'll be there.
Oh what.
I haven't slept an hour in twodays.
I'll get to it eventually.

Speaker 1 (40:38):
You should probably check your husband's schedule
too and see if he's available todrive you.

Speaker 3 (40:41):
Well, he yes.

Speaker 1 (40:43):
Oh, he's an automatic available.
Oh, that's what she's saying.

Speaker 3 (40:45):
He's pretty much an automatic available, but you
know.
But at the end of the day, oneof my favorite things about the
community that we have inCharleston with women is, I
think, back 30 years ago, towardthe beginning of my
professional career, I didn'tsee us doing the same kinds of
things, but I think that,overall, society has changed.

(41:10):
I think that women are in placeswhere they are much more
influential.
They are calling the shotsreally good ones, and I think
that we have just become muchmore comfortable with not only
being at the head table butmaking sure that the people
around the head table look likeus, sound like us, share similar

(41:33):
concerns, constraints withschedules, balancing, you know,
managing families and thosekinds of things.
I love myself a good man whounderstands that.
Yeah, you know, she probably isthe person managing the
household, sure, and my husbandcertainly does, and you know

(41:55):
he's my biggest cheerleader.
So you know it feels good and Ilove that.
Those kinds of attitudes allowwomen, such as the women who
were at that event, to step intodoing those the kinds of work
that they really want to do yeahto non-genderfy the the daily

(42:16):
duties of the household it's ahuge thing, I think it's.

Speaker 1 (42:20):
It's changed now.
I don't think it's the same.
I don't think it was like ourparents, right?
I had good growth role models.
My mom is a strong woman, mywife is a strong woman and you
know, you could just see thedifference and I think that
y'all are trailblazing for you.

Speaker 3 (42:37):
Just said y'all I did .

Speaker 2 (42:38):
I know, I know Right, I'm from Detroit, I live in.

Speaker 1 (42:41):
Tampa.
You know it does, it does, itdoes.
I think you guys aretrailblazing that for the future
generations you know,especially here in Charleston.

Speaker 3 (42:50):
Yeah, yeah.
This really is a good communityand you really can call on
anyone on any given day.
You can see it through socialmedia.
You know, women supporting eachother and genuinely supporting
each other Not, you know,supporting each other with just
a hashtag and then turning asideand doing something else or

(43:12):
whatever.
I mean really showing up forwomen Because, you know, I mean
it's not just a something on at-shirt.
I mean we really are strongertogether, we're better when we
help each other.
Just because I have doesn'tmean you can't right.
It's not one or the other, weboth can and be really happy

(43:35):
yeah, a hand up, not a handoutthere you go.

Speaker 1 (43:38):
I like that um, so is there any lessons along the way
that you could give thataspiring?

Speaker 3 (43:48):
Oh boy, every day there's a lesson, Every single
day there is a lesson.
I had the amazing experience of, you know, living here in my
home community where a lot of myfamily still is, and a story
that will actually air next week.

(44:09):
But we are so happy that wewill be together on Saturday.
My cousin, my cousin Ursel, isturning 110.

Speaker 2 (44:18):
110.
That is amazing 110 on Saturday.
Born in 1914.

Speaker 3 (44:25):
We need to have them on the podcast, oh my gosh,
isn't that amazing.

Speaker 1 (44:28):
That is amazing.
So you've got some genes, thenGetting some tips, I tell you.

Speaker 3 (44:31):
So we spent an afternoon with her and we were
hoping this story would airtonight, but we've got some
issues with our staff and weweren't able to.
It was again supposed to airtonight, but anyway, but it will
air next week and it will beeven better.
Air next week and it will beeven better.

(44:51):
But you will just be amazed ather vibrancy.
You would think that this is avery fractured conversation.
No, she sounds like she's inher 50s.
I mean, still gets her nailsdone and oh, it's just all this
stuff.
And so you know, at the end ofthe day, if there is a lesson to
be learned is that whateveryour experience is, whatever

(45:12):
wherever your professional lifeand personal life takes, you try
to find a little bit of joy andstay in that moment and
appreciate what is happening inthat moment, because it goes
really really fast, reallyreally fast.
I've worked 36 yearsprofessionally and I can recount

(45:33):
a lot of stories, but a lot hashappened and I'm still as eager
to go to work today as I wasFebruary 6th 1989.
Crazy.
Well, it is for me.
I mean because what's thealternative?
I could be sour about it, andthen what a waste.

Speaker 1 (45:49):
Exactly why.
Why Might be negative?

Speaker 2 (45:52):
And then why?
And then what does that teachyour daughter and the community?

Speaker 1 (45:57):
Yeah, how you making the best of your day if you're
going to go through negative.

Speaker 3 (46:00):
Yeah, every day I try to find a little bit of joy.

Speaker 1 (46:02):
That's.

Speaker 3 (46:03):
Carolyn.

Speaker 1 (46:05):
I was, you know, as we're doing research over the
past couple days, one of thethoughts that came to my mind
was that more good news.
I want to hear more good news.
I wake up in the morning, Iturn on my podcast news channels
what have you?
And it's all just banging myhead, negative, like people,

(46:25):
it's just the world.
You know what I'm saying, yes,and you obviously know what I'm
saying, yes, and, and youobviously know what I'm saying,
you were the one there tellingus all about it every night if
it, if it bleeds, it leads.

Speaker 2 (46:35):
That's so true.

Speaker 1 (46:36):
Yeah, I'm not trying to say I'm not trying to point
fingers and I'm not.
You guys are doing a great jobI love it, but yeah but I think
that curiosity, I thinkeverybody kind of is like who
says what goes on tv, what goeson air?
Do you, do you push for thegood news, or is it?

Speaker 3 (46:52):
you know what I?

Speaker 1 (46:52):
mean like how?

Speaker 3 (46:54):
all good.
What a delicate balance,everything that the two of you
are saying right now.
Your point I agree with you 100.
So of course you know, or veryoften when we go and we speak
with groups, the sentiment isthe same People challenge us on
it.
They love this community.
They want to hear about thegood news.
And I will generally ask didyou watch last night's newscast?

(47:19):
Let's say half the group saysyes.
Can you tell me a good story?
Nope, can you tell me a badstory?
Yep, there were good storiesthere.
Why don't you remember them?
Why don't you remember them?
Why don't you remember?

Speaker 1 (47:30):
them.

Speaker 3 (47:30):
Good point.
Good point it is.
That's human nature.
Our brain is designed toremember that what might have
put us in danger?

Speaker 2 (47:42):
It's just the natural thing.
And when people tell me, this Inever ever.

Speaker 1 (47:47):
I don't discount it.

Speaker 3 (47:48):
I understand it, we all do it.

Speaker 1 (47:50):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (47:51):
Even when we walk away from the conversations
today, the things that will beremembered are oh my gosh, you
were in the hospital.
This bad thing, this bad thing.
Your dad delivered you whateverthat was a good thing.
That's awesome I could havesaid a million good things and
those things it will beremembered eventually.
But the thing that you mightshare with someone else or that

(48:12):
you might think about again isthat thing that seems
extraordinary out of theordinary, a challenge, difficult
, because we're human.

Speaker 1 (48:24):
Right, yeah, you've been doing this a long time,
haven't you?
That was a very pro answerright there.
I loved it.
I loved it, but it's just true,so true, it's just true, and so
what I do?
To try to control my thoughts,because I'm that was my next
question is how do you ingest?
I do, because otherwise it'snot healthy.

Speaker 3 (48:43):
Yeah and um, yeah, exactly I, you know, I said this
to the two of you just duringour conversation in the green
room that our daughter's inpsychology and she is such a
good reminder she's not onsocial media and those kinds of
things and I'm like, well, I'vegot to be.
She's like, well, I know you do, you have a responsibility here

(49:06):
, so just be more intentionalwith it.
So I do not watch news before Istep in my building.
Okay, yeah, I don't watch news.

Speaker 1 (49:16):
I am very intentional .

Speaker 3 (49:18):
I listen to podcasts and I'm not saying that they're
necessarily zen and breathedeeply.
Carolyn, you know they areinformative.
They may be your podcasts.
Yes, you know they areinformative, they may be your
podcast.

Speaker 1 (49:30):
Yes, yeah.

Speaker 3 (49:31):
So like Hidden Brain.

Speaker 1 (49:33):
Yeah, give us some podcasts.
I'm sorry.

Speaker 3 (49:34):
Hidden Brain with Shankar Vedantam.
Hidden Brain.
Hidden Brain is my absolutefavorite, and let's see.

Speaker 1 (49:41):
So this is my podcast lineup.
I haven't found mine in a while, so I was wondering maybe he
could find mine.

Speaker 3 (49:44):
This one is Psychology on Purpose, the
Happiness Lab, hidden Brainlet's Talk.
I got to have that there, whichis mine and Oprah's Masterclass
.
That's it.
Those are ones I listen to andright now and I am an avid book
listener, not necessarilybecause I tend to use them with
my when I'm on the bridge and soright now I am listening to

(50:06):
Wait for it.

Speaker 1 (50:10):
We got a bad signal here, listen.

Speaker 3 (50:11):
Okay, it's a lovely one, katonji Brown Jackson, us
Supreme Court Justice, which wascame out this week, and yeah,
so, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 2 (50:23):
That's great.
I'm going to add that to myreading list too.

Speaker 3 (50:25):
It's exceptionally good, yeah, so it's really good,
and then I'll throw out someothers Hundreds of books.
It's my jam.

Speaker 1 (50:34):
In the reading list.

Speaker 3 (50:34):
Darius Rucker is a favorite.
His book is excellent.

Speaker 1 (50:37):
Really yes.

Speaker 3 (50:38):
Okay, must read, must read.
I could just go through themall day long.

Speaker 1 (50:43):
Is he a cool guy?

Speaker 3 (50:44):
He's wonderful.
I'm assuming we had hisbandmate on.

Speaker 2 (50:47):
Also among the bros, Jim Sonfield.
Jim Sonfield was on oh yeah,super nice guy the drummer.

Speaker 3 (50:52):
Yeah, I met Dean.

Speaker 1 (50:54):
Dean.

Speaker 3 (50:55):
Dean sorry.

Speaker 1 (50:55):
Dean.
Who's Dean Is Dean part of theband too.

Speaker 3 (50:57):
Yes, yes, yes, yes.
You just lost your car building.

Speaker 2 (51:06):
sorry this is so good , while it lasted.

Speaker 1 (51:08):
I get to edit this too.
Oh man, what, what?
I'm sorry I'm still asking thedumb question here what is he?
Is he a drummer?
Now, he's not the drummer.

Speaker 3 (51:19):
He's a guitarist.
Guitar, yeah, he's the bassist.

Speaker 1 (51:21):
He's the bassist yeah , did you know that, matthew?

Speaker 3 (51:24):
okay all, I'm bringing somebody else down with
me.
Well, the two of you will betogether wherever you end up.

Speaker 1 (51:30):
In a dunce corner somewhere.
Amazing, carolyn.
Is there anything that you wantto talk about on spars, on your
boards and the nonprofits thatyou are on right now?
Is there an event that's comingup?

Speaker 3 (51:43):
So I serve on a lot of boards.
I serve on the MedicalUniversity of South Carolina
Neuroscience Advisory Board,charleston Animal Society, the
International African AmericanMuseum.
I am just literally coming offthis month first tee of Greater
Charleston.
We had our gala this pastweekend.

(52:04):
Neighbors Together, formerlyTri-County Family Ministries,
and there's one more.

Speaker 1 (52:12):
How do you spend all?
I mean good Lord.

Speaker 3 (52:14):
And the City of Charleston Health and Wellness
Committee.

Speaker 2 (52:16):
She doesn't sleep.
Remember, I don't sleep.

Speaker 3 (52:19):
I actually you'll love this story.
A few years ago, I knew I wasdealing with sleep deprivation
and was falling asleep as soonas I would get in a car or
something.
I mean, I just was not anothercompany for your husband.

Speaker 1 (52:34):
Yeah, right, what's your husband's name anyways,
jimmy.
Hi, jimmy, jimmy, love you,jimmy.

Speaker 3 (52:40):
Yes, I haven't met you yet, but thank you but um,
so I decided to do as part ofhis story, which is always one
of the secret.
You know the advantages ofbeing a reporter is something
that interests you.
You get to investigate as areporter.

Speaker 1 (52:55):
Right.

Speaker 3 (52:56):
And so I went to Roper and I said I'm curious
about my sleep hygiene.
Oh, okay, well, we'll, let's,let's do a sleep study.
So I spent a night at Roperwith these electrodes on my head
to monitor my sleep, and so Iwanted everything to be out
there in the open.
You know the results of thestudy, so we're all mic'd up,

(53:17):
everything's mic'd up.

Speaker 1 (53:19):
And you're documenting this too.

Speaker 3 (53:20):
This is all.
This is for a story.

Speaker 1 (53:22):
I love it, I love it.
You're putting your full selfinto these stories.

Speaker 3 (53:26):
Yes.
So the doctor says I don't wantyou to drive home from this
interview because I can see howsleep deprived you are.
And he said I'm certain you arefalling asleep while driving.
He said it should take about 15minutes to fall into REM sleep
and it was taking me less than aminute.
He said you are going fromtalking to sleep to REM sleep.

Speaker 1 (53:52):
And I was that's not healthy, is it?
I was Wow.
So what are you doing?
How did you so?

Speaker 3 (53:59):
I will just add this to what he said in terms of his
directive and what he advised.
He said Carolyn, I know whatyou think you are doing.
You think but I've got toexercise.
That's better for me, right?
I've got to fit all this, I'vegot to be yeah, so I've got to
exercise, Like you're telling meto not do something and sleep

(54:20):
when I could be exercising.
He said I know it'scounterintuitive.
He said, but you are agingyourself by not getting sleep.
You hear that that'scounterintuitive, he said, but
you are aging yourself by notgetting sleep here, that.
That's how important sleep isyeah, that's your only takeaway
from our form not the onlytakeaway thus it is, it is
important but um so fulldisclosure.

(54:42):
I still, it's still hard for meto do it it's hard for you to
grasp.
It is because, just naturally,I think, any person thinks
effort, movement, is thehealthier thing to do.

Speaker 1 (54:55):
We're all going through it too.

Speaker 2 (54:56):
We're all trying to work hard got the kids, even if
you don't have kids.
You've got the gym.
You've got your friends.

Speaker 1 (55:03):
You're constantly going.
I got to go to bed by 10, 11o'clock the latest and I'm up at
six, so I'm getting okay, sleep, I don't, but I need a new
pillow.
I think you know anyways butsleep and self-care is so
important, so will you pleaseself-care a little bit, carolyn,
I mean as a fan.

Speaker 3 (55:21):
But I'm just.
I'm very honest.
It's so difficult for me andand I work on it every day it
would have been nothing for meto have still.
I mean, on average, I probablyget three or four hours sleep an
hour Come on.

Speaker 2 (55:38):
Yeah, but we had this conversation earlier.
She gets her energy from beingaround people and communicating.

Speaker 3 (55:46):
I understand I do.
That's where I get energy, likewhen I don't have it, and I
don't know if it's being one ofsix or whatever it started I get
fomo.

Speaker 1 (55:54):
Yeah, you know it could be a self, you know, some
sort of fear of missing out.
You know like, so you justsleep.

Speaker 3 (56:02):
I mean just well, and it's in part why my husband
will see he comes to work withme every day.

Speaker 1 (56:08):
Yeah, no, I get it now.
This is, and he stays with meall day.

Speaker 3 (56:11):
Yeah, he's there and so he drives.
And because he knows, as soonas we get in that car, you know
we turn on the radio before wemake that right turn going on to
the bridge, before we hit thatfirst band oh gosh I'm in
another world.
I'm dreaming of willie wonkaand meeting oprah and trips to

(56:33):
paris.

Speaker 1 (56:34):
I mean I'm, I'm sleeping you know what about
your kids?

Speaker 3 (56:38):
one so we have a daughter who's 22.
So proud of her.
She graduated johns hopkins inmay with a degree in Bachelor of
Arts in Psychology and aBachelor of Arts in French Our
little French speaker.

Speaker 1 (56:52):
Oh, really yeah.

Speaker 3 (56:52):
That's all I got.

Speaker 1 (56:55):
I don't even have that, so silly.

Speaker 3 (56:57):
So she's working in research right now at NUSC.

Speaker 1 (57:00):
My question is is she sleeping?

Speaker 3 (57:03):
She thinks there's nothing more important on earth
than sleep.
Okay, okay.
And it's funny that you, youknow, this child comes from me
like how?

Speaker 1 (57:10):
genetics is weird, but it also came from jimmy too,
but I also think it's theresult of her observation too.

Speaker 3 (57:16):
You know, I get none of it and she's always trying to
.
She, she's, she does itdelicately, very gently.
Mom, you have got to get somesleep, and when I didn't leave
the house this morning, a chairrose up from her bedroom that I
slept in this is today this istoday.

Speaker 1 (57:36):
So yeah, this morning that I did not go and do
something before coming here.

Speaker 3 (57:40):
Yeah, I'm telling you I.
I feel like I've shared alittle too much, oh my gosh.

Speaker 1 (57:45):
But and, at the end of the day, if you, I'll send
this to you.
If you want me to cut anything,out, we cut it out yeah, this
is totally.
This is great.
Thank you for your time.

Speaker 2 (57:54):
I appreciate it well you mentioned oprah oh, dear
this is a fun question don't.

Speaker 1 (57:59):
Don't forget um, if you could have any celebrity
anchor uh oh, that was my yeah.
You like that question yeah?

Speaker 2 (58:07):
As you, four day yeah .

Speaker 3 (58:09):
Or Well, you know, I interviewed Oprah.
I interviewed Oprah.

Speaker 1 (58:12):
You did, I did.
It's one of my all timefavorite interviews.
So, we're three degrees fromOprah right now.

Speaker 2 (58:16):
I met Oprah too.

Speaker 1 (58:18):
You did.

Speaker 3 (58:18):
Yeah, oprah was wonderful.

Speaker 1 (58:20):
You also met.

Speaker 3 (58:20):
Taylor Swift no, I did not miss.

Speaker 2 (58:22):
Yes, yes, because the organization I worked for at
the time Was received, becausethe organization I worked for at
the time received the AngelGrant when she came to
Charleston.
So we met her backstage forlike a minute.
We shook our hands.
I have a picture to prove it.
It's over my desk.
I believe you.

Speaker 1 (58:37):
I believe you.

Speaker 3 (58:37):
Well, and then you also know she did one interview
that day and it was with me andthere were so many sweet moments
in that day At the time.
She had this penchant for whitechairs and she had white chairs
brought in for our interviewCome on.
So you know, you go through thiscrazy thing called life and you
have these people who you arejust like.
I don't know why I love you somuch.

(58:59):
It's not because of your wealth, it's just because there's
something about you, things thatyou say I would have said, or I
laugh so hard.
I mean just like you know thatthere's a connection.
And my Oprah Winfrey experiencewas that I mean, it wasn't that
I simply idolized her, I justunderstood her and I knew.
You know, I had these thoughtsin my head as a young journalist

(59:19):
, like if I ever met Oprah, Iknow she would get me and she
did, and she let me know thatshe did, and we were as warm and
comfortable around each otheras if I had known her my entire
life.
Of course it's a naturalquality that she has to help
people feel that way, but it'snot in the sense to just make

(59:41):
you comfortable.
That's just how she is.
And so the interview waseverything I wanted it to be.
So we go after the interview.
I'm on cloud nine, literally.
There's no way, my feet areuntouchable, Right yeah.
I go to sit down, they have meon the front row and this man is
sitting there and I, as I'mgoing to the front row, I also

(01:00:04):
meet Diane Sawyer and I.
I'm a huge.

Speaker 2 (01:00:08):
Diane Sawyer fan, right.

Speaker 3 (01:00:09):
So I'm telling this man as you guys know, I love to
talk.
I'm like this day has been anabsolute dream.
I just met Oprah Winfrey.
I just met Diane Sawyer.
I can't believe this.
I'm on the front row, blah,blah, blah, blah, blah.
I'm talking and he's justenjoying all of this.
We hug.
You know, I go on my merry way.
I'm telling someone how I metthe guy who oh, I'm sorry, what

(01:00:34):
I didn't say was he's dianesawyer's husband oh, okay neat.
Do you know who he is?
no mike nichols yeah yeah, mikenichols, than you, mike Nichols,
he said nothing.
He said nothing.
Sure, he just let you talk, hejust let me talk.
Of course he just enjoyed itand it was just really, really

(01:00:55):
special.
Oh yeah, it was your day, itwas, and I've had the
opportunity.
I have always it's been myexperience to meet people who
genuinely, like I, have a prettyhard press, I think, of anyone
who was not kind, and so that'swhy I'm very comfortable,

(01:01:17):
regardless of the situation I'min.
You know these three decades,I'm realizing people are just
people.
There's hardly anyone thatmakes me nervous.
President Clinton, hillaryClinton, charles Bolden
astronaut I've interviewed allof them are just people.
There's hardly anyone thatmakes me nervous, right?
President clinton?
Hillary clinton, charles boldenthese are people not I've
interviewed all of theminterviewed supreme court
justice sandra day o'connor ohmy gosh, I mean every single

(01:01:39):
person.
The only person who was somewhatof a challenge or seemed
uncomfortable but it was becauseshe was dealing with a criminal
trial was martha stewart oh,that was interesting, especially
the time that you wereinterviewing yeah, yeah.
But billy d williams, um, Imean, that was just, oh my gosh,

(01:02:01):
he was so charming, he was here, he was doing an art show and
um, and took my mom and I out todinner.
I'm like what oh?
that's cool I've had some reallyamazing experiences.
Yeah, yeah, and at the end ofthe day, people are just people,
people are just people.

Speaker 1 (01:02:20):
Well, yeah, you're pretty, you're pretty cool too,
meaning you know the vibe youbring to the room is very, very
chill, very, as matter of fact.
So thank you I appreciate againfor being, for being that,
because I was a little littleimposter syndrome coming into
this.
I'm like, oh my gosh, I'm likewhat?

Speaker 3 (01:02:38):
no, at the end of the day, people are people.
People are just people that'swhat you said.

Speaker 1 (01:02:43):
I like it.
I like that a lot.
Thanks for your time, carolyn.
Um, how can people get a holdof you?
Is there?
You know you talked aboutsocial media.
You have to be on it, I get it.
Do you know your handlesoffhand, I think.

Speaker 3 (01:02:58):
I do.

Speaker 2 (01:02:58):
We'll put them in the notes.
So do you mind if I share yourInstagram handle?

Speaker 3 (01:03:03):
Yeah, it's CarolynMurrayWCBDTV handle.
Yeah, it's carolyn murray wcbdtv.

Speaker 1 (01:03:13):
There it is, and then I think I'm just carolyn murray
, wcbd for facebook, right?
Yeah, that's all meta.

Speaker 2 (01:03:15):
We'll find you from there, yeah and you're on tv
every night, right, I'm on tvevery night that's awesome yeah,
no plans of um yeah, onfacebook it's carolyn murray tv2
okay there you go thanks,carolyn, for being on the show
with us.
Um, I've always appreciate whatyou have to say.

(01:03:38):
I love listening to you everyday.

Speaker 1 (01:03:40):
Um yeah, amanda was the one who brought you on I'm
like what are you kidding meright now?
The actual celebrity gets to beon the show.

Speaker 2 (01:03:47):
That's awesome, my husband cannot function unless
he watches the news every night.

Speaker 1 (01:03:51):
Oh, he's a nighttime guy, okay.

Speaker 2 (01:03:53):
Well, the 6 o'clock.

Speaker 1 (01:03:56):
And which one are you on?
Again, carolyn, remind me.

Speaker 3 (01:03:58):
So I co-anchor the 4, the 5, the 6, the 10, and the
11.
What so?

Speaker 1 (01:04:10):
my co-anchor at four is aaron morgan, and then at
five it's six.
I call him six five.
Brendan clark, and is he tall?
Is that why you call him sixfive?
Yeah, okay, I mean the dumbquestion there.
Yeah, I have.

Speaker 3 (01:04:18):
Well, actually I have a million nicknames for brendan
, but um, but my favorite forhim is six, five and um, and
then we call it brendan and Ico-anchor the 10 and 11 and of
course, our meteorologist forthose newscasts is rob fowler.
And um, yeah, and then I have apodcast, let's talk.
Yes, and I love the podcastbecause it says everything about

(01:04:41):
me.
Let's talk.
I love a good conversation.
Um, for the reasons that I'vealready explained, and this
happened, um, organically, I didan interview and we wanted to
make it a long format.
In this age of everything justbeing so condensed, it didn't
sit well with me and my, just mynatural way.
I like a good, long, in-depthconversation because of the

(01:05:04):
nuances, the things that comeout that you didn't know right,
and so, um, that's why westarted the the podcast.
It's not for everyone, but Ithink you know a 20 or 30 minute
drive and just hearing a voiceand hearing a conversation, I
just personally find it to beentertaining, and so it was

(01:05:25):
awesome.
I listened to the governor, thenew mayor, yeah yeah, you
interviewed the new mayor and Ihaven't heard doing it yeah I
love doing which new mayor, theuh coxwell yeah, city of
charleston, yeah, city ofcharleston there's all new
mayors this year, except formount pleasant yeah
right you know that is one thingthat I will say that did not
come up in our conversation.
One thing that I have alwaysappreciated and recognized in

(01:05:48):
mount pleasant, at my localcommunities that I'm a part of,
is the only one we've had womenmayors really wasn't yeah, I
didn't know that okay yeah,linda page and um cheryl woods
flowers.
What are?

Speaker 1 (01:06:02):
you doing in the next 10 years?

Speaker 3 (01:06:04):
what's going on, huh.

Speaker 1 (01:06:05):
Huh.

Speaker 3 (01:06:06):
On the bridge, of course, oh well, I will say this
this is something that's.

Speaker 2 (01:06:10):
She's the mayor of the bridge.

Speaker 3 (01:06:12):
Kind of interesting.
The bride, the beloved wife ofour late mayor Harry Hallman,
brooke Hallman, is my seamstress.
Oh.
And so Brooke and I have anamazing friendship, and we have
for decades now, because I veryoften have to have things
altered, and maybe once or twicea week, and you know, of course

(01:06:34):
we have a daughter and I have ahusband, so anything I go to
Brooke and so our little setupis, I will go and I'll put
something at her front door andthen under the cover of darkness
I may pick something up is onmy way to yoga and it's just the
sweetest relationship.
I adore her.
She's such a jewel in thiscommunity.
I don't want to say the wrongage for her, but I think Miss

(01:06:56):
Brooke is mid-80s and stilldances and still works as a
beloved seamstress for many,many a girl in more pleasant
going to prom.
So she's quite a gem.
She's busy, she's very busy.

Speaker 1 (01:07:11):
She doesn't need a shout out, then she doesn't need
it.

Speaker 3 (01:07:13):
Love Brooke Holman.
Yeah, that's awesome.

Speaker 1 (01:07:17):
But in your podcast you interview a lot of great
people.
I love it.
It's a lot of fun, Isn't it?

Speaker 3 (01:07:23):
It's so much fun.
Charlemagne the god.

Speaker 2 (01:07:28):
He's local too.

Speaker 3 (01:07:29):
Well right, he's from Monk's Corner and what I think
the biggest radio show in NewYork now.
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:07:39):
But the list goes on, you know.

Speaker 3 (01:07:39):
I mean you definitely see a tendency for me to
interview people who have aconnection to this area, but I'm
certainly not limited to that.
But it's easy.
Usually people want to talk.

Speaker 1 (01:07:51):
That's what we like to do is talk to the people that
live and work in Mount Pleasant.
I mean, it's just a really coolarea you know, and again, I
feel like there's a lot ofunder-the-radar just really cool
people that live here and makechange here.

Speaker 3 (01:08:07):
Not everybody's from this area, you know well.
How did you end up here?

Speaker 1 (01:08:12):
yeah, I just visited the in-laws every once a year.
Coming from tampa, it's a sevenand a half hour drive.
We just popped up every easterand that commute down.
I did, I cut I cut the big timeand and landed in mount
pleasant, etched right in onnorth mount pleasant with
everybody else and haven'tlooked back.
Loved every minute of it.

Speaker 2 (01:08:31):
He was smart too.
One of the first things he didwas attend a chamber event.

Speaker 1 (01:08:35):
It is, it is.
We jumped right into thechamber.

Speaker 3 (01:08:38):
So we do.
How did you know to do that I?

Speaker 1 (01:08:40):
build community like yourself just to meet people,
just to join a board and dothings.
That's what we do, that's whatyou know.
Room builds culture has alwaysbeen.

Speaker 2 (01:08:48):
Right.

Speaker 1 (01:08:49):
Build yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:08:51):
It's interesting to me how people just don't know to
like they don't know when youmove to a new community.

Speaker 1 (01:08:57):
To seek out chambers Right To seek out chambers or
businesses, or businessassociations.
Or whatever industry you're inyou got to put yourself out
there, whatever industry you'rein, like marketing, ama.
Not everybody can do one knockand get an internship and then
do one tape and get a job,carolyn.

Speaker 2 (01:09:13):
We got to hustle out here.
All right, some people have tonetwork, that's funny.

Speaker 3 (01:09:17):
That's good.
Well, I've been very fortunate,so I've been very fortunate.
But you know, I agree with youand I respect that and I think
perhaps it needs to be said moreoften because we know that it
works.
And so sometimes, when you knowthat it works, you don't say it

(01:09:40):
because you assume everyoneelse does and people don't.

Speaker 1 (01:09:44):
Exactly, yeah, people don't.
If it was easy, everybody wouldbe doing it Right.
So thanks again.
Awesome conversation,carolynolyn, thank you.
Thank you so much for your time.
Uh, thanks, amanda, good workthanks, mike yeah, yeah, always
a pleasure to co-host.
Uh, we miss our presidents rightnow.
Uh, they're.
They're busy being president,busy being president, so the
marketing team had to step upand do this lovely conversation

(01:10:07):
with you, carolyn murray, thanksto our sponsors, the charleston
radio group, thank you tomatthew for engineering.
Um and uh, yeah, we'll see youon the flip.
What's your what's?
What's, what do you say?
Uh, what's your ending?

Speaker 3 (01:10:20):
I'm gonna steal it so my ending for let's talk is
goodbye until the next, goodbyeuntil the next time.

Speaker 2 (01:10:25):
Goodbye until the next time, let's leave it at
that Lovely, you say it thistime.

Speaker 3 (01:10:31):
Goodbye, until the next time.
All right, well done.

Speaker 2 (01:10:38):
Stronger than a dream .