Leap & Grow

Insights from the Film

Photo of South Carolina Council on Competitiveness logo

Photo of South Carolina Department of Commerce logo

I've always been a wanderer, it always seemed kinda harder to find where I appreciate. &gt;&gt; I'm always trying to help other people, and I'm not focusing on what Alexis actually wants to do. [MUSIC] &gt;&gt; I just wanna be happy and I don't really know what that looks like yet. [MUSIC] &gt;&gt; Today we're gonna talk to Ed Currie. He's the founder of PuckerButt Pepper Company. &gt;&gt; We're cutting up a Carolina Reaper. &gt;&gt; I don't even know. I'm doing it no matter what, so. &gt;&gt; Now, chew it up really well because if you put that chunk in your gut, then you're gonna have a- [MUSIC] &gt;&gt; We're going on a road trip across South Carolina, to interview different people who do what they love. &gt;&gt; To learn about how they got there and also get to see the South Carolina and all its glory. [MUSIC] &gt;&gt; I'm coming here to drive an RV. But it's okay to be scared, [LAUGH] &gt;&gt; Part of me wants to say I have no idea what I'm doing and I'm throwing myself into it. &gt;&gt; We have a lot of industry in South Carolina and I'm excited to explore that on the trip. &gt;&gt; People are coming here because there's opportunities. A lot of these people that are coming have different skill sets from what we've seen 20 years ago &gt;&gt; I do hear negative things, I do see negative things, but I don't let it steal my joy because I love what I do. [MUSIC] &gt;&gt; You have to always be true to you and what you want to do what you love to do. Eventually the truth of who you are is gonna come. &gt;&gt; I feel good. I think I'm kind of loosened me up. I don't like stepping out of my comfort zone and I've done a lot of that the past three weeks. &gt;&gt; It really makes me realize that if I don't wanna be in a situation, I'm gonna have be the one that gets up and goes somewhere. No one else is gonna do it for me. &gt;&gt; My perspective on life has changed throughout this whole trip. I learned that you can look at any situation and turn it into something helpful. [MUSIC] 

Three young people set out across South Carolina to find career paths they can use to take themselves and their home state into the future.

Leap & Grow Trailer

Explore South Carolina with three roadtrippers eager to innovate and find their place in their home state.

Meet the people working to bring South Carolina into a bright new future. Follow three young citizens of the state as they explore both legacy industries and exciting emerging opportunities. 

At left, Elizabeth Rhue, Sonoco’s VP of Global Sustainability, poses with the three roadtrippers after their interview.

At left, Bonita Clemons, founder of FarmaSis and executive director of Dianne’s Call, talks with the roadtrippers.

From left, roadtrippers Alexis, Emily, and Russel pose for the camera on the back of a train.

Matthew Krugh, a postdoctoral research fellow for Clemson University, poses for the camera after his interview with the roadtrippers.

From left, roadtrippers Emily, Alexis, and Russel pose for the camera atop the green RV as they take a break from driving.

Third from left, Bradley Victor, a structural technician for Lockheed Martin, smiles alongside the roadtrippers and fellow employees.

From left, roadtrippers Emily, Russel, and Alexis take a break from their travels to gaze out at a large body of water.

J. Drew Lanham, an ecologist, birder, and professor of wildlife ecology at Clemson University, smiles and poses alongside Roadtrip Nation’s green RV.

Ed Currie, president and founder of Puckerbutt Pepper Company, right, poses with the roadtrippers outside their RV after an interview.

Rodney Scott, owner and chef at Rodney Scott’s BBQ, left, sits with the roadtrippers outside of his restaurant.

Emma L. Paz, a geospatial app developer for Blue Raster, left, consults with the roadtrippers after their interview.

See what South Carolina has to offer

From left, photo of roadtrippers Alexis, Russel, and Emily walking on a bridge by a body of water

Poster for Leap & Grow displaying a pathway surrounded by foliage

Photo of roadtripper Alexis hard at work in a greenhouse

Headshot of roadtripper Alexis smiling for the camera

Photo of Roadtripper Russel conducting an experiment in a lab

Headshot of Roadtripper Russel smiling for the camera

Photo of Emily gazing off pensively while sitting on a bench

Headshot of roadtripper Emily smiling for the camera