South Georgia Insider

In this podcast, Joshua Whittington, assistant dean of Technical and Instructional Programs at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College, explains Industry 4.0 and its impact on local manufacturing.

From the introduction of mechanization through water and steam power, the industrial revolution advanced to mass production and assembly lines, and then the adoption of computers and automation. Now industry 4.0 takes technology to new levels ...

In this podcast, Georgia Senator Russ Goodman provides an overview of the 2022 legislative session and the agricultural industry. 

Representing Georgia’s 8th district—Atkinson, Clinch, Echols, Lanier, Lowndes, Pierce, and part of Ware counties—Goodman is a seventh-generation farmer and co-owner of Cogdell Berry Farm and the Great American Cobbler Company. He is passionate about saving family farms and understands the regional and gl...

For more than a century, Georgia Christian School (GCS) has provided a Christian-based and rigorous academic curriculum in Dasher, Georgia, located just minutes from the Florida border.

In this podcast, Dr. Brad Lawson, GCS president, talks about how the school's recognition has risen over the past decade, primarily due to the growing popularity of the annual Georgia Christian Benefit Dinner.

 What you'll learn in this podc...

On this podcast, Dave DiSalvo, executive director of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Tourism Authority, shares why Valdosta is more than a convenient I-75 stop for gas, food, and an overnight stay. 

A native of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, DiSalvo arrived in Valdosta in 2021 and was pleased to find a community that shares his passion for tourism.

With Georgia on their minds, last year, more than 159 million domestic and internation...

With more than 200 million people with intellectual disabilities worldwide, the Special Olympics has remained a vital movement to create a better world by fostering the acceptance and inclusion of all people.

Meredith Elizabeth Crum, senior program manager for Special Olympics in Georgia,  talks about the organization’s growth and upcoming State Fall Games, Oct. 7-8, 2022, in Valdosta.

Special Olympics is the first, and st...

If you're craving a tasty burger—or maybe a foot-long hot dog with slaw or chili—head over to Ella's Top Corral in Valdosta, where locals have named it the "Best Burger of South Georgia" for the past several years.

In this podcast, Nick Perry, co-owner and general manager of Ella's Top Corral, shares his entrepreneurial journey from the early days when he formed the hamburger patties by hand to managing the ...

Where do entrepreneurs and small business owners go to find the right tool and resources to start a business or expand an existing one? A good starting place is the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center. 

In this week’s podcast, Walt Moore, area director of the UGA SBDC at Valdosta State University, talks about how the SBDC provides a wide range of consulting services and educational training for small business own...

Discussing South Georgia Medical Center’s continued focus on healthcare access, our guests in this podcast include Erika Bennett, director of marketing, and Lara Davis, women’s healthcare coordinator, share how SGMC is transforming healthcare for women. 

What you will learn in this podcast: 

• Latest technology for mothers
  • Angel Eye video technology 
  • State-of-the-art birthing beds
  • Wireless maternal/fetal monitoring
  • OB/GYN hospitali...

In this week’s podcast, Sementha Mathews, executive director for the Turner Center for the Arts, provides a broad-stroke description of the programs and events and a glimpse into the center’s future growth. 

Presenter Series
The 2022-23 Presenter Series opens on November 15, 2022, at Mathis Auditorium with Neil Berg’s “60 Years of Rock N Roll,” featuring a slight twist from the popular 50-year show. 

Mathews said the show honors ...

When it comes to rural communities, there is no cookie-cutter approach to developing economic strategies. 

In this podcast, Darrell Moore talks about how the Center for South Georgia Regional Impact (SGRI) connects Valdosta State University's resources to the needs of communities across the region. 

During the past four years, the SGRI has utilized the services of VSU's faculty, staff, and students to complete more than 150...

In this podcast, Brandie Dame talks about events, events, and more events happening in Downtown Valdosta. Less than six months on the job as Valdosta's new Main Street Director, Dame is busy preparing for the official opening of the much-anticipated Unity Park Amphitheater.

The amphitheater will be a focal point for downtown events and available for organizations to rent. "We really want concerts…to bring people downtown V...

Declining accessibility to healthcare professionals has been a topic of conversation in rural communities for decades. In 2016, the discussion moved to action when local visionaries approached the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) about establishing the first four-year medical college in South Georgia. 

Located on a sprawling 31-acre site in Moultrie, Colquitt County, in August 2019, PCOM South Georgia welcomed its...

In this episode, DeAnnia Clements, president of Wiregrass Georgia Technical College, explains that providing a trained workforce within its 11-county service area is a top priority.

With more than 20 years of experience within the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG), Clements was recently appointed the third president of Wiregrass Tech after serving more than six months as the college’s interim president. 

Wiregrass Tech ...

In this episode, we are talking about Thomas University’s new football program, the first in the nation designed specifically to assist veterans and military personnel in their transition from military to civilian life. 

Giving us insights into this unique combination of academic and athletic programs is Stephen Ferguson, vice president for military and corporate relations at Thomas University.

Located in Thomasville, Georgia, Thomas...

Straddling the Georgia-Florida line, just a few miles from Valdosta, people of all ages are finding Wild Adventures Theme Park to be their ticket for an affordable day of fun. 

Part of Herschend Enterprise, Wild Adventures started as Liberty Farms Animal Park in 1996 and has morphed into a 177-acre theme park with thrilling rides for all ages, a waterpark, a zoo with hundreds of exotic animals, and an all-star concert venue.

But ther...

It started with a casual conversation, and now the Valdosta Young Professionals (VYP) group has about 300 registered members.

In this episode, we're talking to VYP co-founders Chloe Wade, membership and events director at the Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce, and Lauren Pope, director of public relations at Lowndes County Schools. 

Are you between 21 and 40 years old? Do you live, work, or conduct business i...

In this episode, we're talking to Michael Smith, executive director of the Greater Valdosta United Way (GVUW), and Emily Anne Vall, PhD., executive director of Resilient Georgia, about Georgia's escalating mental health challenges.

Before COVID-19, mental health issues like anger, stress, worry, and depression were rising globally. 

According to the National Alliance for Mental Illness, more than 1.4 million adults in Georg...

In this episode, we’re having a roadside chat with Stephanie Stuckey, CEO of Stuckey’s Corporation, who shares the journey of revitalizing the company her grandfather, W.S. “Sylvester” Stuckey, Sr., founded in 1937. 

Part of Americana, Stuckey’s and its iconic teal roof stores became popular stops for travelers to find a clean and convenient place to fill up their cars, grab a quick bite to eat, and even purchase souvenirs. 

Aft...

Welcome to the South Georgia Insider Podcast. In this episode, we're getting an insider's look at the tech side of agriculture from Chris Chammoun, director of AgTech at the Center of Innovation, a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD)

 What you'll discover in this episode:

· When Max Manufacturing had an idea to improve poultry composting, the Ag-Tech center connected the Mitchell County b...