About this episode

Kerri Parker interviews Nancy Hasty and Latilda Hughes-Neel about the Grit & Grace Folklife production 'Holding Our Own' and the importance of preserving community stories.

Every community has stories worth preserving. Some are passed down around kitchen tables, shared on front porches, or remembered at family reunions. Others find new life on stage. In this episode of the HWY 331 Podcast, Kerri Parker sits down with award-winning playwright and director Nancy Hasty and producer and musical director Latilda Hughes-Neel to explore the heart behind Holding Our Own, this year's original Grit & Grace Folklife production. Built from the real voices and lived experiences of Walton County residents, Holding Our Own celebrates the resilience, humor, faith, family, and enduring connections that define our community. Nancy and Latilda share how oral histories become theater, why preserving local stories matters, and what audiences can expect when the curtain rises. Whether you've called Walton County home for generations or recently discovered its unique character, this conversation is a reminder that our greatest treasures aren't just the places we love—they're the people and stories that continue to shape them. Holding Our Own performs July 10–19 in Freeport, Santa Rosa Beach, and DeFuniak Springs. For the complete performance schedule, venue locations…

People in this episode

Host: Kerri Parker

Guests: Nancy Hasty, Latilda Hughes-Neel

Topics covered

• community stories
• theater
• oral histories
• local culture
• resilience
• folklife production

Keywords

• Grit & Grace
• Walton County
• theater production
• oral history
• community resilience
• local stories
• Kerri Parker

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Holding Our Own

Places: Walton County, Freeport, Santa Rosa Beach, DeFuniak Springs

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