Jumping In, Looking Up: Courage, Currents, and Commuter Whales

Jumping In, Looking Up: Courage, Currents, and Commuter Whales

Author: Steve Rhode - Local Good News Podcast Host June 30, 2025 Duration: 10:05

You ever have that moment where your brain blanks and your body just moves? Today we've got two stories about exactly that kind of decision-making.

First: Eddie Hunnell, a 57-year-old software engineer from Holly Springs, was at his son's wedding rehearsal when Hurricane Helene hit North Carolina. When he saw 66-year-old Leslie Worth swept into the flooded North Fork New River, his Plan A with a canoe didn't work. So he jumped in himself. Now he's receiving the Carnegie Medal—North America's highest honor for civilian heroism.

Then: Sydney commuters are discovering that sharing their morning ferry rides with 40,000 migrating humpback whales is just part of life now. These school bus-sized creatures are turning one of the world's busiest harbors into the gentlest traffic jam you've ever seen. It's a conservation success story happening in real-time, complete with whales who seem genuinely curious about the humans they're meeting.

Both stories reveal something about what happens when the unexpected shows up and people—or whales—decide to engage instead of look away.

Plus: a dad joke that might actually make you groan out loud.

From Wake Forest, North Carolina, this is Good Morning Wake County—where we find stories that remind you what's possible when ordinary people decide to jump in.

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Start your morning with Good Morning Wake County-Your Daily Dose of Good News. Each episode is a brief, focused look at the positive stories happening right here in our community, hosted by Steve Rhode. This isn't your typical news cycle; instead, it's a deliberate search for the encouraging and often overlooked moments that define Wake County. You'll hear about local entrepreneurs whose small ideas are making a big difference, volunteers whose quiet work strengthens our neighborhoods, and everyday people whose actions create genuine connection. Steve delivers these narratives in a concise, friendly format designed to fit into your morning routine, offering a genuine alternative to the day's louder headlines. Tuning into this podcast means beginning your day with a reminder of what's going right, highlighting the specific characters and efforts that collectively make this area unique. It’s a daily habit for anyone who believes that local news should inform and inspire, providing a reliable source of optimism directly from the places you know.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 97

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