Today we’d like to introduce you to Danielle Rose.
Danielle, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
In 2015, I was serving as Director of a sporting division for a nonprofit youth organization when my life took an unexpected turn, I was diagnosed with cancer. I stepped away from my career to focus on treatment and recovery, and after two years of surgeries and healing, I’m grateful to say I beat it.
Once I regained my health, I poured my energy into a lifelong passion for baking and opened Carolina Cravings in Pittsboro in 2018. It quickly became a beloved local bakery, known for its handmade cookies, pies, cakes, chocolates, and candies, just like grandma used to make. The business was thriving, but when COVID-19 hit, everything came to a standstill. Rather than taking on heavy debt to survive the shutdown, I made the tough decision to sell the bakery.
I decided to return to school under a full scholarship as a Carolina Covenant Scholar at the University of North Carolina. After graduating, I began working for the Town of Pittsboro as the Downtown Program Coordinator, where I spent nearly a year supporting local businesses and events.
Eventually, I found myself drawn back to the nonprofit world and accepted the position of Station Manager at WHUP. I’ve been here for three months now and truly enjoy being on the ground level, connecting with the community, fostering creativity, and helping bring local voices to the airwaves.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s definitely not been a smooth road. Going back to university later in life was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, neuroplasticity is a very real thing! But it also became one of my greatest accomplishments. Balancing academics, life experience, and that drive to reinvent myself was incredibly challenging, but also deeply rewarding.
Being a business owner from the ground up was no easier. Carolina Cravings truly took blood, sweat, and so many tears to build, it was like raising a child. Every challenge, from perfecting recipes to managing the business side, taught me resilience and patience. Even though the journey was tough, I’m forever grateful for the lessons I learned along the way.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
WHUP is such a special place. It’s a fiercely independent, volunteer-run community radio station based in Hillsborough, serving the Triangle and beyond. What makes it so unique is that everything on air is created by people who truly love what they do: musicians, artists, storytellers, and everyday folks who care deeply about this community.
The programming is wonderfully diverse, one minute you might hear bluegrass or jazz, and the next, indie rock or world music. We also feature talk shows that spotlight local voices, current issues, and creative stories that might not otherwise have a platform. That’s what I love most about WHUP: it’s real, unfiltered, and deeply rooted in the community.
There’s no corporate influence, no cookie-cutter playlists, just authentic radio driven by passion. This year marks our tenth anniversary, which is such a huge milestone. It really speaks to the heart and dedication of everyone who’s kept the station going all these years.
What I want people to know is that WHUP is more than a radio station, it’s a community hub. We’re here to inform, inspire, and connect people through creativity and conversation. It’s grassroots media at its best, and I’m so proud to be a part of it.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Resilience, without a doubt. Life has thrown me some major curveballs, from battling cancer to rebuilding my career from scratch, and each experience has taught me how to adapt and keep moving forward. I’ve learned that success isn’t about everything going perfectly: it’s about showing up every day with determination, integrity, and heart, even when things get hard.
I also think empathy plays a huge role in my success. Whether it’s running a business, working with the town, or managing a community radio station, connecting with people and understanding their perspectives is everything. At the end of the day, resilience keeps me grounded, and empathy keeps me connected.
Pricing:
- Sponsorship/underwriting of an individual show: $225 for a whole year.
- Underwriting/sponsorship of the station as a whole: $1500 a year.
- become a member $1000 year
- any donation is tax deductible on our website: whupfm.org
Contact Info:
- Website: https://whupfm.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whupfm/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whupfm
