MCNC's Community Connect Podcast

Welcome to Community Connect, a podcast hosted by MCNC, where leaders and innovators regularly meet to discuss some of today’s hottest technology topics and trends.

On the latest MCNC Community Connect podcast, MCNC President and CEO Tracy Doaks is joined by MCNC Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Tommy Jacobson to discuss the exciting new HERO Project.

The lack of high-speed Internet and technology for many in North Carolina, particularly in rural areas, has deep social and economic consequences. Over the next few months, you’ll be seeing and hearing a lot about the HERO Project, and this latest podcast helps to paint the bigger picture of what it is we’re working on, the significance of it, and how you might be able to get involved.

You can listen or download episodes via Apple or Spotify.

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Past Episodes

Each episode is aimed to inspire fresh ideas and to have engaging conversations around technology’s vital role in economic development, digital equity and inclusion, broadband infrastructure, cybersecurity, and more.

Episode 7: Building Digital Freedom One Community At A Time

Summary: MCNC President and CEO Tracy Doaks is joined by Jeremy Collins, founder and president of Providence Omnistructure. Listen as Tracy and Jeremy discuss Providence’s social enterprise model in Williamston as a way to build an innovation corridor to surrounding areas in Eastern North Carolina. This important work includes boosting broadband access and connectivity, supporting digital literacy and skills, and servicing important community anchor institutions in these communities.

Looking back, looking forward with MCNC Senior Leadership Episode 6: Tracy Doaks, Tommy Jacobson, & the rest of MCNC's Senior Leadership Team Community Connect Podcast

Episode 6: Looking Back, Looking Forward with MCNC Senior Leadership

Summary: In this episode, Tracy Doaks, Tommy Jacobson, and the rest of MCNC’s Senior Leadership Team reflect on the past year of growth for MCNC and look ahead to the future of broadband in North Carolina. Listen as they discuss how MCNC is expanding its practices to serve the community and provide insight into why MCNC was recognized one of the Triangle’s best places to work.

Community Connect Podcast: Sync Up! How High-Speed Tech helps develop people to their full potential, Episode 5

Episode 5: Sync Up! How High-Speed Tech Helps Develop People to Their Full Potential

Summary: On this episode, MCNC President & CEO Tracy Doaks is joined by two experts working to bring digital equity and inclusion to Winston Salem and surrounding Forsyth County: Lakisha Jordan, executive director of WinstonNet, and Layla Garms, the Equity in Education program officer at The Winston-Salem Foundation.

MCNC Community Connect podcast Episode 4: Safeguarding Students: Cyberthreats and Cybersecurity in the Classroom

Episode 4: Safeguarding Students: Cyberthreats & Cybersecurity in the Classroom

Summary: In this episode, MCNC President and CEO Tracy Doaks sits down with members of the MCNC Vital Cyber and K12 teams to examine cybersecurity in education, why it has become a hot target for criminals, and how institutions and staff can maximize resources to mitigate the growing number of attacks and threats increasing almost daily.

MCNC Community Connect podcast Episode 3: Digital Equity and Inclusion in NC

Episode 3: Digital Equity & Inclusion in North Carolina

Summary: In this episode, our host Tracy Doaks is joined by experts in the area of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI): Dr. Marc Hoit, Vice Chancellor for IT and Chief Information Officer at NC State University, and Stephanie Jane Edwards, Senior GIS Analyst and Digital Inclusion Liaison at MCNC.

MCNC Community Connect podcast Episode 2: High-speed Health care for NC

Episode 2: High-Speed Health Care for North Carolina

Summary: In this episode, MCNC’s Tracy Doaks is joined by Tracy Olson and John Graham of the North Carolina Telehealth Network Association (NCTNA) to discuss how the pandemic has forever changed healthcare by exposing inequities and connectivity gaps followed by how NCTNA and MCNC’s partnership addresses the challenges facing North Carolina head-on.

MCNC Community Connect podcast Episode 1: Cybersecurity in NC and Beyond

Episode 1: It’s Not a Matter of ‘If’ but ‘When’: Cyber Experts Talk Cybersecurity in North Carolina and Beyond

Summary: In this episode, MCNC’s Tracy Doaks and Chris Beal are joined by Douglas Holland of Akamai to discuss the growing cybersecurity concerns on global, national, and statewide levels and how MCNC and Akamai are responding to protect their clients and networks.