Grand Strand Politics
🎙️ Grand Strand Politics
“The inside story of power, growth, and change along the Grand Strand.”
A local podcast from Randal Wallace Presents
A podcast covering the people, decisions, and issues shaping life along South Carolina’s Grand Strand—from Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach to Surfside Beach and across Horry County.
Local politics isn’t abstract—it affects growth, development, taxes, public safety, and the future of the community.
This show breaks down what’s happening, who’s involved, and what it means for residents, business owners, and voters across the Grand Strand.
From city council decisions to county-wide issues and election coverage, Grand Strand Politics provides context, insight, and a clear look at the forces shaping one of South Carolina’s fastest-growing regions.
🎧 What You’ll Hear
- Local elections and candidates
- Development and growth debates
- City and county decision-making
- The issues driving change across the Grand Strand
👉 If you live here, work here, or care about where the Grand Strand is headed—this is your guide to the conversation.
Episodes
27 episodes
MAYOR HIRSCH (Part 6) Ethel Hirsch, Myrtle Beach World War 2 Memorial Address, and some lasting advice....
In our final episode in this special series we will listen in as Mayor Hirsch talks about his wife of many years, Ethel Hirsch. Her many contributions to his successful life, and career, and the raising of 10 children. The real keys to ha...
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Season 2
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Episode 23
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44:57
MAYOR HIRSCH (Part 5) Mayor of Myrtle Beach 1973 - 1977 ( 6 Part Series)
In this episode, in our special series, looking at the career of former Mayor Robert Hirsch, we look back at his arrival in Myrtle Beach and his single term as Mayor. It was a term of extraordinary accomplishment, much of which may not be as we...
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Season 2
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Episode 22
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1:04:02
MAYOR HIRSCH (Special Edition) Introducing you to Strom Thurmond, Governor Jim Edwards, and General George S. Patton
In this special Edition within our special series I thought it was important to introduce you to three of the names you have heard or will hear in our series. As a person in my 50s who has worked in or around politics my entire life these...
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Season 2
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Episode 21
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44:28
Mayor Robert Hirsch (Part 4) The Holocaust and the End of the War (Special 6 Part Series)
As the War came to its end it brought about the confirmation that up to that point had been known but not confirmed. That the horrific genocide of a people had gone on throughout Europe. The Deathcamps that were discovered , one by one , by the...
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Season 2
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Episode 20
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57:32
Mayor Robert Hirsch (part 3) Operation Market Gardens (special 6 part Series)
Operation Market Garden was an enormous effort led by General Montgomery that included 41,268 troops from Allied countries. It was designed to capture several bridges so that the Army could cross over into Germany and , with any luck, end the w...
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Season 2
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Episode 19
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42:55
Mayor Robert Hirsch (Part 2) Operation Overlord (6 part special Series)
Operation Overlord, known to the world as D-Day, was the beginning of the end for the Nazi Regime of Adolf Hitler. It was the start of the Allied march across the European Continent. Bob Hirsch had not yet arrived in England in time...
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Season 2
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Episode 18
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48:47
THE BLONDE BOMBSHELL - The Life of Robert Hirsch available at Amazon
This is a quick announcement about the recent book release titled "The Blonde Bombshell: The Life of Robert J. Hirsch" available now on Amazon. We can highly recommend this book and we hope you will join us over the next few episodes as we look...
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Season 2
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1:01
FEBRUARY 2026 : A Preview for across The Wallace Podcast Network (WPN) An exciting month of podcasts
February 2026 on the Wallace Podcast Network — One Month. Three Podcasts. A Shared Journey Through History.This February, all three shows across the Wallace Podcast Network come together for a powerful month of storytelling that c...
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Season 2
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9:30
GRAND STRAND POLITICS episode 17 : Robert Hirsch - OUR MAYOR (Part 1) Preparing for War
Welcome to this rebroadcast of our documentary series on the life and legacy of former Myrtle Beach Mayor Robert J. “Bob” Hirsch.This series originally explored the remarkable journey of a man whose life mirrored the story of the ...
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Season 2
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Episode 17
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55:56
GRAND STRAND POLITICS Episode 16: WAYNE GRAY 2026 Humanitarian of the Year
Welcome to Grand Strand Politics — the show where we explore the stories that shape our community, our history, and the people who make a difference. I’m your host, Randal Wallace.Today we honor a man whose service to the City of M...
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Season 2
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Episode 16
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26:46
GRAND STRAND POLITICS Episode 15 : Looking back at North Myrtle Beach's Mayor MARILYN HATLEY
Grand Strand Politics – Season Two, Episode 15 “Looking Back at North Myrtle Beach’s Mayor Marilyn Hatley”In this episode, we look back on the extraordinary 24-year mayoral career of Marilyn Hatley, the longest-s...
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Season 2
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Episode 15
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55:37
GRAND STRAND POLITICS Episode 14: A Look back at Myrtle Beach Mayor JOHN RHODES
Rebroadcast: A Tribute to Mayor John Rhodes (Five Years Later)This special rebroadcast revisits our original tribute to former Myrtle Beach Mayor John Rhodes, who passed away five years ago this month. The episode opens wit...
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Season 2
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Episode 14
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18:25
GRAND STRAND POLITICS Update about the Coming Attractions for Season 2!!!
Coming Attractions & Housekeeping: What’s Ahead in Season Two of Grand Strand PoliticsIn this special “housekeeping” episode, we roll out the roadmap for Season Two and preview the major stories and tributes yo...
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Season 2
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6:27
Grand Strand Politics 2026 The MARK KRUEA ERA BEGINS (Season Two Premiere) episode 13
Season Two Premiere: The Mark Kruea Era BeginsA new chapter in Myrtle Beach politics is officially underway.In the Season Two premiere of Grand Strand Politics, we break down the first City Council ...
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Season 2
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Episode 13
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1:10:13
Grand Strand Politics 2025 Myrtle Beach City Council Run Off Wrap up and thank You edition Episode 12 (First Season Finale)
This episode is a simple thank you for tuning in and joining our Grand Strand Politics Group. Congratulations to Mayor Elect Mark Kruea, Councilman Mike Lowder, Councilwoman Jackie Hatley, and returning councilman Phil Render,...
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8:04
Grand Strand Politics The Results and the 2025 Myrtle Beach City Council Run off Election Episode 11
In this episode we look back at the election of Mayor Elect Mark Kruea and Councilman Mike Lowder and then review the Myrtle Beach City Council Race. We share our own thoughts for the race and the recommendation of Mayor Elect Mark Kruea. ...
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20:50
J Black Out and About Interviews with the Myrtle Beach City Council Candidates episode 10
Our podcast wishes to thank J Black Out and About for the use of his interviews with the various City Council and Mayoral candidates. This episode is with 6 of the council candidates that he interviewed. We earlier used the interview with Mark ...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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1:22:22
The 2025 Myrtle Beach Mayoral Forum from the Market Common Episode 9
The 2025 Market Commons - Grand Dunes Debate at the Robert Reed Recreation Center featuring all five Mayoral Candidates: Mayor Brenda BethuneFormer Mayor Mark McBrideMark KrueaDaniel AumenEva Rigney ...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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1:02:28
The 2025 Myrtle Beach City Council Forum from the Market Common Episode 8
This episode is the debate from the Robert Reed Center put together by the Market Commons Home Owners Association group and the Grand Dunes Sub Associations. All of the City Council Candidates appeared. Former WBTW-13 News Anchor Bo...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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44:36
The Forest Dunes Homeowners Association 2025 Myrtle Beach Mayoral and City Council Meet and Greet Oct 18, 2025 Episode 7
The Forest Dunes Homeowner Association every election cycle invites all the Myrtle Beach City Council and Mayoral candidates to come speak at their Association meeting. It is always a very interesting event. This one was no different. It was a ...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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1:06:33
The 2025 NAACP Myrtle Beach Mayoral Forum from Horry Georgetown tech (Part B) Episode 6
This is part B of the NAACP Candidates forum and this one features the Mayoral candidates. One candidate, incumbent Mayor Brenda Bethune did not appear. This debates features the other four candidates for Mayor : Mark Kruea, Mark McBride, Eve R...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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1:21:20
The 2025 NAACP Myrtle Beach City Council Forum from Horry Georgetown Tech (Part A) Episode 5
Here is the NAACP forum for the candidates for the Myrtle Beach City Council. There was one candidate unable to be there Dr. Phil Render but all the others were in attendance. Enjoy this opportunity to learn the positions of the candidates for ...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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30:14
Myrtle Beach Mayoral and Council Meet and Greet from the Robert Reed Recreation Center - Episode 4
This is the Myrtle Beach Municipal Meet and Greet from late September of 2025. It features all the candidates for Mayor of Myrtle Beach and most of the candidates for Myrtle Beach City Council. Our Host, Randal Wallace, a former Myrtle Beach Ci...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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1:15:46