From slides to spotlights, today’s episode is packed with Wake County joy — and a few moments that might just stick with you.

We begin in Raleigh, where the brand-new Gipson Play Plaza at Dix Park is finally open for play — complete with a swing terrace, sunflower sculptures, and a splash-ready waterfall grand plaza. You'll hear about 9-year-old Susanna Scheffel’s first trip down the slides, a memory shared by longtime Raleigh donor Tom Gipson, and why city leaders like Stephen Bentley and Ruffin Hall believe this park is unlike anything else in the Southeast.

Then, Steve reflects on what growth has really given Wake County — from new neighbors and coffee shops to international listeners tuning in from Germany, Canada, the UK, and Spain. There’s even a grocery store moment with a brand-new transplant from upstate New York. Growth isn’t the enemy… it might just be the invitation.

And finally, we head to Ting Stadium in Holly Springs, where Alexia Jorge made baseball history. She’s the first woman to start in a Coastal Plain League game — and she didn’t just show up, she was named Player of the Game after leading the Holly Springs Salamanders to victory over the Carolina Pirates. With a gold medal from the U.S. Women’s National Team and a dream that started when people told her “no,” Alexia’s story is the kind of Wake County moment worth remembering.

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