Guest Host
Rhea is the guest host of the Topsail Insider podcast, where she shines a light on local businesses, community stories, and nonprofit efforts across Topsail’s coastal towns in North Carolina. Originally from Ohio, Rhea attended Ohio University before her journey led her to the beaches of North Carolina, where she embraced the vibrant, open-hearted community of Topsail.
With a love for creativity and new challenges, Rhea often says, “I’m a creative person. I need new challenges to keep me stimulated.” True to her words, she wears many hats: she’s the owner of Picnic Haven in Surf City, a certified personal trainer with Beyond Fitness with LaLa, a cardio Kickboxing instructor, author, and women’s bodybuilding champion. She also founded Loves Active, which began as an activewear retail store and has since evolved into a T-shirt brand that embodies her belief that “love is active.”
Rhea leads with compassion and believes in the power of personal growth, often inspired by her role as a mother to a child with autism. She values unity, especially among women, and finds strength in Topsail’s welcoming community. Reflecting on her journey, she attributes much of her resilience to her own mother’s support and the Topsail community, who welcomed her with open arms. Rhea believes deeply in giving back, especially to women facing adversity, feeling a strong sense of purpose in sharing her experiences and supporting others along their paths.
