For the past few years, EPIC Carteret has been a love letter to Carteret County, telling the stories of the incredible people and places of the Crystal Coast.

But when I first launched the podcast, my goals extended beyond storytelling—I wanted to build my author platform and learn how to produce a podcast. Mission accomplished: EPIC Carteret has now been downloaded over 5,000 times, with more than 500 loyal listeners tuning in to every episode. In fact, bundle of joy Emily Carter’s episode alone has been downloaded over 1,500 times! That kind of engagement got me thinking—what if, instead of winding EPIC down, I used it to help others build their own platforms and skills?

Initially, I had planned to wrap up EPIC Carteret so I could focus on new projects. But as I considered its impact and potential, I realized that the best way forward wasn’t to end it—it was to share it. That’s why EPIC Carteret is evolving into something bigger: a small press and creative incubator under the umbrella of Planck Length Publishing (PLP).

Bringing in New Voices

One of the biggest challenges of running EPIC Carteret solo was balancing all the responsibilities that come with producing a podcast, from interviewing guests to editing episodes to promoting each release. While I’ve loved the experience, I knew that keeping it going would require bringing in more people—not just to share the workload, but also to create opportunities for others to grow and contribute to something meaningful.

That’s where Emily Carter and Melissa Kelley come in. I served on the Carteret Writers board with these two dynamic writers for two years, meet up with them twice a month (at least) in our small writing group, and interviewed both for EPIC Carteret. They’re rock stars. When I realized I’d need support with EPIC Carteret, I couldn’t imagine better people to help.

• Emily Carter is stepping in as the new host of the EPIC Carteret podcast, making her the first participant in our podcast incubator program. She’ll continue highlighting local voices, but now with the added perk of using the podcast to grow her own (already enviable) platform as a writer and storyteller. And while she’ll be inheriting those 500 loyal listeners, Emily will also be growing the platform for her successor.
• Melissa Kelley will be taking on the EPIC Blog and serving as the editorial lead of EPIC Carteret Books, an imprint of Planck Length Publishing. Together, we’ll continue publishing stories that celebrate the people, culture, and history of our region. In fact, our first project for EPIC Books is Emily’s essay collection A Spork in the Road, which is available for pre-order now and arriving in early April!

EPIC’s New Home at Planck Length Publishing

While PLP as a whole will focus on unconventional storytelling and experimental narratives, EPIC Carteret will remain committed to its roots—showcasing the people, places, and stories that make our coastal region extraordinary. Over the coming months, we’ll be sharing more details about EPIC Carteret Books, our first projects under Melissa’s leadership, and how our podcast incubator program will work. This transition marks the beginning of a new chapter—one where EPIC Carteret isn’t just about telling stories, but also about empowering others to tell their own.

We’re excited to take this next step, and we hope you’ll come along for the ride!

If you haven’t already, check out the post Building a Home Port for Stories: The Vision Behind Planck Length Publishing over at PLP HQ to learn more about our new mission to publish speculative arts and nurture diverse creative voices.