From the mountains to the coast, extreme weather events, like Hurricane Helene and Tropical Storm Chantal, are reshaping North Carolina’s water systems. Additionally, rapid population growth, labor shortages and aging infrastructure are also placing immense pressure on the state’s water landscape. The American Society of Civil Engineers’ 2026 Report Card for North Carolina’s Infrastructure underscores these challenges, grading drinking water at a C+, stormwater at a C-, and a D+ for dams and wastewater.

To continue the momentum from the 2026 Emerging Issues Forum: Future Forward Water, we are kicking off to a special series of The Connector podcast–Water Wednesdays. In this episode, IEI Policy and Program Manager Jessica Solis Aguilar sits down with three guests: North Carolina Coastal Federation Coastal Management Program Director Kerri Allen, GROW NC Deputy Director for Engagement Scott Elliott and Haw River Assembly Executive Director Emily Sutton. Together, they dive deeper into these challenges, sharing insights on how practitioners and local leaders can prepare our water systems for a more resilient future.

The Connector podcast explores connections being made across sectors, regions and perspectives, resulting in a more vibrant and prosperous North Carolina. To learn more about the Institute for Emerging Issues, visit emergingissues.org.

In memory of former Governor James B. Hunt Jr., IEI is rereleasing previous episodes of the First in Future podcast featuring Governor Hunt. This episode was released on Jan. 2, 2018.

Episode Summary: As we move into the new year, we sat down with former Governor Jim Hunt to try to extract some of what he has learned during his lifetime – about how to get change done, what North Carolina should aspire to be, and where he thinks we might still go as a state. This week’s conversation with Governor James B. Hunt is all about leadership, what he has learned about getting stuff done, focusing priorities, the role of religion in public life, and how he learns new ideas.

Original release date: Jan. 2, 2018

Host: Former IEI Director Leslie Boney

The Connector podcast explores connections being made across sectors, regions and perspectives, resulting in a more vibrant and prosperous North Carolina. To learn more about the Institute for Emerging Issues, visit emergingissues.org.

In memory of former Governor James B. Hunt Jr., IEI is rereleasing previous episodes of the First in Future podcast featuring Governor Hunt. This episode was released on Dec. 26, 2017.

Episode summary: Throughout his long service to the state, even former North Carolina Governor Jim Hunt’s opponents admit that he was a man perfectly suited to be Governor, and in his sixteen years as governor of North Carolina, he changed the state. This week, we sat down with Governor James B. Hunt and talked about one big idea he had – starting the Emerging Issues Forum. Why he did it. What we can learn from how he thought about it. And how we can apply that to the way we learn.

Original Release Date: Dec. 26, 2017

Host: Former IEI Director Leslie Boney

The Connector podcast explores connections being made across sectors, regions and perspectives, resulting in a more vibrant and prosperous North Carolina. To learn more about the Institute for Emerging Issues, visit emergingissues.org.