One community
A local identity, local guests, local stories, and sponsors who live and work there.
Local shows
Built locally. Designed to grow community by community.
The vision is a network of 1st Episode shows, each rooted in its own community and supported by five local businesses. New markets will appear here only when they have actually launched.
The model
1st Episode — [Community]
Each local show will have its own people, organizations, stories, and sponsors while sharing one recognizable 1st Episode format.
One story every week
Four consistent monthly episodes focused on people making a positive difference.
Only five sponsors
A small group of local businesses stands behind the complete show rather than a single episode.
One shared mission
Give good local work a place to be seen, remembered, and shared.
Proof of concept—not an active 1st Episode market
NEA Impact inspired what comes next.
NEA Impact is an existing Swept Away show with its own name and branding. It demonstrated the interview style, emotional storytelling, community focus, and production quality behind the model we are now building for new communities.
Current local-show directory
New 1st Episode communities will appear here when they launch.
We are building one community at a time. We will not list example cities as active, label a market coming soon, or show sponsor availability until those plans are real.
Your community could be next.
Each new show begins with local businesses willing to help tell the stories that deserve to be heard.