Mission, Hosts, and Collaborators

Christa is the owner of Topsail Insider and a Host of the Topsail Insider Podcast, interviewing local businesses and nonprofits in the coastal towns of Greater Topsail, North Carolina.

Having grown up in North Carolina, she loved the local culture and community but moved to Los Angeles for college and worked in and around the entertainment industry after 25 years. Eventually, as a mother of two young boys, she felt the pull back to North Carolina for a quieter, more peaceful lifestyle.

Returning home didn't mean leaving that passion behind. Instead, it allowed her to combine her love for media with her desire for community connection. Topsail Insider is the best of both worlds: the tranquility of coastal living and the creative freedom to produce content that resonates with the community and highlights all that Greater Topsail has to offer.

Christa is also a Founding Partner of Topsail’s Top Choice Awards, with 2024 marking the inaugural year. She collaborated with Topsail Magazine and the Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism to create the people's choice awards allowing the community to nominate and vote for their favorite small businesses, events, and nonprofits highlighting excellence throughout the area.

Jim began editing Topsail Insider’s audio podcasts during Season 1 in 2023 and has recently expanded his role to include video editing for Amplified CEO.

Jim Mendes-Pouget is a Canadian living in Portugal. As an experienced Audio & Video Podcast Producer, Manager, and Editor, Jim works with entrepreneurs, startups, and businesses to create high-quality podcasts. With meticulous attention to detail and standardized procedures, he ensures a consistent listening experience while freeing up clients’ time.

Previously, Jim had a successful career as a Captain in the aviation industry, where he honed skills like precision, decision-making under pressure, and meeting tight deadlines—expertise he now applies to podcast production.

Jim combines aviation precision with creativity to deliver consistent, on-time episodes and bring clients’ podcast visions to life.

Trudy is very dedicated to the Topsail community. She actively seeks opportunities to connect with people, expand collective knowledge, and improve family and work life for everyone involved.

Born and raised in Mt. Olive, North Carolina, Trudy pursued her education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-Chapel Hill). Her career began in advertising and publishing but later she joined Cisco Systems in Research Triangle Park. At Cisco, Trudy achieved professional success and met her husband, Mark. After job advancements, living in Texas for 10 years and building a family with the birth of three children, the family returned to North Carolina and settled on Topsail Island in 2009.

Since moving to Surf City, Trudy has contributed to the community in several ways. She volunteers with the Topsail Turtle Project as a Beach Coordinator, protecting sea turtle nests and educating visitors about local marine life. Additionally, she works at The Gathering as one of the Children's Ministry Directors, organizing special events for kids and families.

In 2023, Trudy expanded her community involvement by winning election to the Surf City Town Council. Recently, the Pender County Advisory Board of Boys & Girls Club of Southeastern North Carolina also selected her as a member.

As a local public servant, neighbor, and friend, Trudy values the efforts of Topsail Insider and its guests in contributing to the community.

Marlon Weems is a former finance professional with over thirty years of industry experience. He began his career in Arkansas, where he founded the state’s first Black-owned investment bank. He later spent more than a decade on Wall Street organizing and managing several securities trading businesses.

After leaving the industry, Weems consulted as a subject matter expert in fintech and use cases for blockchain applications in finance and healthcare.

He has authored numerous essays, white papers, and reports on various aspects of the capital markets, the economy, and American culture. His work has been featured in a variety of digital publications. The Journeyman, his Substack newsletter has thousands of subscribers.

Marlon and his wife Shannon are co-owners of Soulstice Botanicals, a mobile plant store that specializes in pop-up events in and around the Topsail Island area.

La Rhea is a 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, La 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.”

La 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. La 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.

Mari is a trauma practitioner, mindset and embodiment coach, and somatic and energy healer, dedicated to helping women heal their past, connect with their highest selves, and achieve their most meaningful goals.

Originally from Michigan, Mari earned her business degree from Grand Valley State University before moving to the Florida Keys, where she became the Marketing Director of a nonprofit focused on coral reef restoration. During this time, she also pursued her passion for movement and healing, becoming a yoga instructor and Reiki practitioner.

With a long-standing desire to own a business, Mari launched a marketing and design studio, working with a range of clients—from startups to consulting for larger corporations such as Mailchimp. Despite her success, she knew marketing wasn't her true passion. After earning additional certifications and gaining deeper insights into her purpose from her own healing journey, she founded Mari Leigh becoming a coaching and healer focused on helping women step into the lives they truly desire.

Having endured the loss of her home to Hurricane Irma, personal health challenges, family losses, and other hardships, Mari is no stranger to life's ups and downs. She ultimately found her way to Wilmington, NC, where she planted roots—drawn to its balance of ocean and seasons.

In addition to her healing work, Mari finds great joy in learning about others' stories, and her passion for personal growth extends naturally into her curiosity about how people turn their visions into reality. Whether it&… Read More

I'm Eden Mills, an independent artist with my business Art of Eden and assistant for Pender County Tourism (visitpender.com). With a passion for creative expression, I find inspiration in everything from painting and jewelry-making to cooking and exploring the beauty of historic small towns and the outdoors. I have a love for vintage home decor and decorating that capture timeless aesthetics. With experience in podcasting, I enjoy sharing stories and connecting with others through both art and tourism, creating a blend of creativity and community engagement.

I grew up in the small town of Burgaw, where a deep sense of community and local charm shaped my artistic journey. After attending Heide Trask High School, I pursued my passion for art at Cape Fear Community College, graduating with an associate degree in fine arts. Since 2018, I’ve had the privilege of renting an art studio above the Burgaw Antiqueplace, where I create my art, prep for murals, classes and other handmade projects. I have also been a board member of Pender Arts Council for 3 years where we help promote the arts in Pender County.

In 2021, my family and I renovated my house in historic downtown Burgaw. Living in the heart of the town allowed me to fall in love with the coastal/small town lifestyle. This also complements my work in tourism and the hospitality industry. Being surrounded by the coast and local culture of Pender County deepens my connection to the community and allows me to share the unique beauty of Southeastern North Carolina with others, through art and networking…

Anthony Sampogna is currently employed in the law enforcement field as an Investigator. He started his law enforcement career with the North Topsail Beach Police Department as a K9 Officer, and now works for the State of North Carolina!

Anthony is a former Podcast Co-Host, that concentrated and highlighted the stories of the brave men and women from across the country, who work as frontline first responders!

Anthony is dedicated to helping multiple non-profit organizations through volunteer work and fundraising!

Anthony lives with his family in the Topsail Island Area. He is looking forward to hearing and sharing the stories of our community members with Topsail Insider’s followers!

Born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, I was always a creative little kid. My first fascination with cinema was Jurrasic Park, followed by an unhealthy obsession with OG Toho Godzilla films. I always wanted to tell stories that kept people's imaginations fueled and raging like mine when I saw heroes and villains on screen. I wrote my first novel at 14; then I burned it because it was, as the kids call it, "cringe.”

At 23, I joined the USMC and did a fun-filled 4 years messing with computers and being a gym rat. Despite being knee-deep in the hyper-masculine world of military life, my love for creating and storytelling never left me. Once my time was over, I used my GI bill to attend The Los Angeles Film School, where I graduated with honors with a bachelor's degree in Science and Digital Filmmaking. I started my film studio, Angry Pharoah Studios LLC, back in 2021, and I have made it my ABSOLUTE mission to get one film on the big screen. The best part is, I want to take my community along for the ride, one name at a time.

I was practically born ready to entertain! As a middle school drama teacher, I thrive on creating engaging conversations and am always hungry to learn something new. Growing up in Wilmington, North Carolina, as the child of an analytical chemist and an engineer, I learned early on how to mix creativity with a grounded approach to life. My love for the stage began when I was just eight years old, playing the clown in The Velveteen Rabbit—and that’s where the spark for theater truly ignited! By the time I was in 6th grade, I knew I wanted to be a drama teacher. From that moment on, everything just clicked into place.

I went on to attend East Carolina University, where I met my partner, Joshua Williams, who owns Surf Dogs here in town. We’ve been together for over a decade now, and we live on the island with our sweet cat, Beef Wellington. About four years ago, after many visits to see Josh and his family—who’ve been rooted on the island for generations—I finally made the move to Surf City. It’s been an incredible journey to embrace this community as my own.

Josh, a true local, introduced me to all the wonderful aspects of Topsail Island. In the summer, I spend a lot of time gazing at the ocean, lost in thought over life’s big questions, like, "Why are we here?" or, "What’s for dinner?" I love filling my days with bike rides, boat rides, and stops at my favorite local spots for bites and brews. But once the school year starts, it’s back to the classroom, where I teach theater to around 140 students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades.

I … Read More

Owner and Host of Topsail Talk and Guest Host and Collaborator on Topsail Insider Podcast

Leah likes to playfully consider herself a Texan who landed in Topsail. Born and raised a military brat, she's lived all over. Now, she's been here with her family of seven since 2019, documenting her local explorations on "Topsail Talk" since 2021. She's the definition of a foodie and hopes to spend her podcast time speaking to our local chefs and eateries.

Follow Leah's "Topsail Talk" on Facebook and Instagram!

Topsail Talk explores and promotes the unique businesses, services, individuals, and activities in Topsail and its surrounding areas.

When Leah isn't exploring, she's doing social media management for local businesses and nonprofits.

Check out Topsail Insider's Ocean City Jazz Festival episode from June 14, 2024 with Leah as Guest Host.

Owner of Nomadic Orca | Videographer | Social Media Agency | Brand Builder

My passion began with early life lessons, where I learned independence, patience, love, understanding, and a desire to share stories.

I started Nomadic Orca to pursue my dream of traveling to different cultures, interviewing locals, and sharing amazing stories. What better way to create a business centered around sharing culture than by helping businesses build and share their own stories and messages?

I aim to help business owners elevate their brand, share their message, tell their story, and connect with their ideal clients who are seeking solutions.

Visit me at NomadicOrca.com to explore my package offers, and follow me on Facebook and Instagram for special deals!