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Life In the Carolina’s Podcast — Arts
Life In the Carolina’s Podcast

Welcome to the Life in the Carolinas Podcast. Our show features a blending of stories that are primarily based on the syndicated TV show, Carl White’s Life in the Carolinas and newspaper columns written by Carl White.

Like Carl often says, “It’s never a bad time for a good story!”

The podcast is hosted by Carl and features specials guests as they share the stories behind the stories. All too often we simply do not have enough time to share everything we would like during broadcast. This podcast will allow us the opportunity to share more information and allow our viewers and readers a chance to get to know our guests more intimately.

The Carolinas offer some of the finest people, landscapes, and opportunities to explore.

We have traveled to the high elevations for the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games which are considered to be among the best in the nation.

We discovered the beauty of the brackish Waccamaw River and learned about the massive live oaks that predate the founding of America.

In Gold Hill, NC we made a connection with the past and learned about the early days of gold mining in America.

We were more than intrigued with a visit to the historic Wilcox Hotel in Aiken, SC and the stories of the Roosevelt Suite. Are the stories true? It’s fun to think about the possibilities.

Did you know Edgefield, SC was the home of ten South Carolina Governors and that the world-renowned Jazz musician Dizzy Gillespie was from Cheraw, SC?

What about those mysterious Brown Mountain Lights in the North Carolina Mountains? They have kept people guessing for hundreds of years. Do you know what they are?

The stories are abundant and only limited by how many tomorrows we have for their telling.

Join us as we share our stories, traditions, charm, and southern hospitality.

Latest Episodes:

The Leonard G. Herring Family Foundation and NC Tech Paths with Craig DeLucia Aug 31, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of the Life in the Carolinas podcast, Carl sits down with Craig DeLucia, CEO at The Leonard G. Herring Family Foundation and President and CFO at NC Tech Paths. Craig speaks on the crucial difference between charity and philanthropy. To him, being charitable is writing a check to help a good organization do well, whereas philanthropy involves human capital—direct involvement—in helping the community or organization solve problems. Discussing his role at The Leonard G. Herring Family Foundation in Wilkes County, Craig believes that the challenges presented by the pandemic over the past couple of years have heightened the urgency of his work at the nonprofit. Fueling Craig’s passion for his role is the fact that he had worked directly with the Leonards’ as their CPA before their passing. The foundation supports a variety of projects from coast to coast, with a focus on impacting the quality of life of the citizens of Wilkes County via expanding access to education. “Our work is honoring the legacy of Leonard and Rose Herring—two incredible human beings—and their service to the community in Wilkes County, as well as their family’s desire to impact their communities where they live.” Another nonprofit led by Craig is NC Tech Paths which aims to “break the urban world divide in the digital economy.” While The Leonard G. Herring Family Foundation aims to equal the playing field with regards to education, NC Tech Paths is a logical extension of sorts, as it works to provide greater access to technology jobs to young professionals in an economy where virtually every company today has technology needs. Craig says that part of succeeding in the modern economy when it comes to attracting and retaining a workforce is access to quality-of-life amenities. With greater access to education and the technological skills required to thrive in the new normal, those quality-of-life amenities naturally flow into the community. Looking to the future, Craig sees his philanthropic collaborations with amazing organizations as serving as a model for the rest of North Carolina. In his words: “We are living a case study that will be written about in the most positive ways for how a community can come together and roll up its sleeves and do the hard work to make it the best place it can be.”

Carolina In The Fall with Dale and Michelle Isom Aug 24, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of the Life in the Carolinas podcast, Carl sits down with Dale and Michelle Isom. After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, they are excited to announce the return of the Carolina In The Fall Music and Food Festival, which runs this September 23-24. Carolina In The Fall celebrates Good Food and great music, including folk, country, and bluegrass. The pandemic allowed the team to make this year’s festival a greater experience than ever before. Among the significant changes being made is a shift to a single-stage focus. Carolina In The Fall in 2022 will take place at Carolina West Wireless Community Commons in Historic Downtown Wilkesboro. There are a limited number of reserved sponsored seats this year and then opening seating for up to 2000 sponsored by the festival presenting sponsor “Window World.” Bring your family and bring your chairs. Expect an exciting lineup of talent this year, both old favorites and up-and-coming. Friday night will feature country music artists Presley Barker, Paige King Johnson, The Kruger Brothers, and Diamond Rio. Saturday’s lineup includes Terry Baucom & the Dukes of Drive, Darin & Brooke Aldridge, The Contenders, Darrell Scott Bluegrass Band, and The Kruger Brothers returning alongside Kontras Quartet to perform a special piece called Moonshine Sonata. “Our goal this year,” says Dale, “is to capture still the very best of what Carolina In The Fall has always been: a close community, great entertainment, wonderful food, and relaxation.” Learn more about Carolina In The Fall at www.carolinainthefall.org.

North Wilkesboro Speedway with Graig Hoffman Aug 19, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of the Life in the Carolinas podcast, Carl sits down with Graig Hoffman, who as of April 2022 has served as the Executive Director at the North Wilkesboro Speedway. For the past 24 years, he has also managed accounts at the Bristol Motor Speedway. Graig speaks on being swept away by racing promoter Barry Braun and the mission to restore and reopen the legendary North Carolina Speedway. He talks about the Speedway’s historic preservation efforts. “One of my main jobs,” says Graig, “is to establish myself in the community as a Speedway Motorsports ambassador and to walk alongside promoters to make sure the events that they are putting on are up to our standards in what we want to deliver as a race experience for our fans.” Once the new track is officially unveiled in 2024, Graig sees visitors admiring a blend of old and new—preservation of the original Speedway’s classic profile while being touched up with modern amenities. The team also plans on turning the space into a multipurpose venue that can accommodate a variety of event types, from concerts to car shows. “What stokes my passion is reestablishing that place and giving the sense of pride that the community deserves. We’re going back to celebrate that legacy, but history will still be made in the future.” Learn more at www.northwilkesborospeedway.com.

Wallendas and Circus Incredible Jul 22, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of the Life in the Carolinas podcast, Carl sits down with Lyric Wallenda, Simon Arestov, and Alex “The Mooch” Arestov of Circus Incredible. Lyric is a 7th generation circus performer of the Flying Wallenda family while Simon, a member of the Arestov Circus Troup from Moscow, is 2nd generation. The Mooch, now five years old, is the 8th and latest generation to carry on the Wallenda legacy.

Lyric reflects on the achievements of the most famous member of her family, her great-grandfather Karl Wallenda, who immigrated from Germany to the U.S. where he and his wife Helen performed with the Ringling Brothers for 17 years.

Their immediate success at their debut performance at Madison Square Garden gave the Wallendas the opportunity to bring many more of their relatives over from Germany.

Listen in as Lyric and Simon tell the riveting and often-heartbreaking story of their family’s rise to fame in America.

They explain why, after several generations, they continue to see the circus as their calling, and why they love performing in front of a wide variety of audiences, from major state and county fairs all the way to the Hollywood Bowl and NBA Halftime shows at Madison Square Garden!

Mr. Puppet Jul 15, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of the Life in the Carolinas podcast, Carl sits down with Bob Abdou, aka “Mr. Puppet”, an Ohio-born ventriloquist who built his early career in Atlanta and now calls Hilton Head Island, South Carolina his home.

Bob’s foray into professional entertainment in 1996 saw him performing at many a school and birthday party. He married seminarian June Wilkins in 2002 and settled for a time in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After June’s graduation, the pair moved to Austin, Texas in 2003, where Bob continued to share his love for puppets and ventriloquism to all who were willing to be entertained!

Eight years later, Bob and June made the move to Columbus, Ohio where, for the next ten years, Bob’s career really gained steam. Among the many great opportunities that came his way was an invitation to perform for the Amish community, which he continued to do for five years, and to become a county fair performer.

As the COVID-19 scare began to settle in February 2021, Bob and June decided for a change of scenery yet again, and ultimately chose Hilton Head Island, South Carolina as the latest place they would call home.

Listen in as Bob and Carl discuss a very special milestone in Bob’s professional career: the opportunity to do his 7000th show at North Carolina’s county fair. He shares his dream to “make puppetry cool” to audiences of all ages.

He talks about the three keys to success as an entertainer: the ability to read a room, the willingness to get to know the audience, and the openness to love the audience. His goal in every performance is to turn the spotlight away from himself and onto the children and adults in that room, to make them feel joyful and special.

“We live in a world where people just don’t know how to react,” says Bob. “They don’t know how to smile. There are strangers sitting next to each other in the audience. My job is to lasso them in and laugh as a group.”

Bob reflects on his path to discovering the magical world of puppetry. He recalls being the odd one out growing up, initially turning to entertainment as a way to bring in money rather than because of a passion. Over time, he realized that “being onstage makes a difference”, as his inspiring and heart-wrenching stories of his favorite performances illustrate.

Don’t miss the end of the show, where Bob brings to life a couple of his friends, Baby Elvis and Henrietta Operetta!

The Walker Center with Tabitha Hudler Jun 01, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of the Life in the Carolinas podcast, Carl sits down with Tabitha Hudler, Director of The Walker Center at Wilkes Community College.

She celebrates the theater’s huge and intensely loyal customer base, demonstrated by the 4000 volunteers that show up every year for MerleFest, not to mention the high volume of patrons who have availed of The Walker Center’s Lifetime Patron and Season Ticket programs. This customer loyalty was, in part, directly responsible for the theater’s ability to thrive over the past two, turbulent years.

Since the theater’s inception in 1984, there has been a lot of passion among folks in the rural community of Wilkesboro to develop a platform for the many talented local entertainers. Tabitha says, “Because of the passion and the dedication not just then, but all through the years—that is why we’re so successful.”

Listen in as Carl and Tabitha go on to reflect on the importance of music and theater in any community and why a visit to The Walker Center to experience the best of Wilkesboro is absolutely worth it!

Who Killed Laura Foster May 17, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of the Life in the Carolinas podcast, Carl sits down with Jan Kronsell, a Danish university business professor and the author of Land of friendliness and beauty: A Danes Guide to Western North Carolina, The Doctor's Secret: Another version of the Tom Dooley legend, and his latest release, Who killed Laura Foster?: My view on a 150-year old murder.

While admitting that “the truth will never be found, unless someone invests a time machine,” Jan wrote Who killed Laura Foster as a sort of culmination piece to satisfy, to the best of his ability, his immense curiosity towards the North Carolina legend since first learning about it in the late 1990s.

Jan shares his 20+-year journey to painting the clearest picture he could of the murder of Laura Foster, including the possible reasons behind the suspicious behaviors of Laura’s father and her cousin Anne’s younger brother Thomas directly before and after her death, and the series of events that allowed Jan to pinpoint the most likely location of her grave. He also offers his thoughts on why this particular story is so enduring over a century later.

“Everybody has their own version of the story,” says Jan. “And I think that’s great because [...] it’s not about telling the truth⁠—it’s about keeping the legends alive.”

Time Travel with Doug Mitchell Apr 28, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of the Life in the Carolinas podcast, Carl sits down with historian Doug Mitchell of the Overmountain Victory Trail Association. Originally born in Ohio, Doug now lives in North Road, North Carolina with his wife of 40 years, three daughters, and seven grandkids.

Doug recalls the moment that began his love of history and culture at age 16 when he was asked to help auction off his late grandfather’s belongings. It was there where he came across a Civil War-era letter written by his great-great-great grandfather. Reading that letter sparked an endless curiosity: Young Doug had caught the history bug.

He believes that “each town has its own unique flavor. To cover that up is a loss for everybody.” History, Doug continues, isn’t only limited to that of the individual—there is also community history, county history, state history, country history, all the way to world history. To him, history offers a multilayered appreciation for our culture and brings us all together in a way that simply cannot be captured if we remain in the dark about our past.

Doug shows Carl an amazing artifact that he and his grandson recently discovered while looking around Big Elkin Creek: a 250-year-old remnant of iron ore beside David Allen’s forge—one of about 2000 pieces found in the area.

Doug also is passionate about living history, which led him to meet Mary Bohlen of the North Carolina Daniel Boone Heritage Trail. “Meeting Mary,” he says, “set me on this whole new path where I’m not only reading about history, but am a participant in it.” He loves seeing children’s eyes light up as he tells stories about the past, clad in historical attire.

For Doug, this journey started with a box of letters. Firmly believing that the study of history is for everybody, he encourages us all to “get past our grandparents” and remember that we all came from someplace.

“Take time,” says Doug. “Get out and explore.”

Yadkin River Adventures Apr 20, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of the Life in the Carolinas podcast, Carl sits down with R.G. Absher, Executive Director at Yadkin River Greenway, a nonprofit created in 1994 through the cooperative efforts of citizen volunteers, landowners, and the governments of Wilkes County. The first phase of the Greenway became a reality and was opened May 18, 2002. This Greenway is a natural area between urban communities where wildlife, vegetation, and streams are preserved and enjoyed. Greenways also provide transportation, recreation, and exercise opportunities for the community.

R.G. is a treasure trove of information on the Greenway, and in today’s conversation, he specifically highlights a map focusing on the Yadkin Valley Heritage Corridor. It provides an introductory guide to enjoying the river, whether through kayaking or fishing.

This map (which is available in digital form as well) aims to promote outdoor activities in the region, which is steeped in natural beauty and is rich with history as well—having had a Native American presence for about 12,000 years.

R.G. explains how best to prepare for a visit to the region and the most pressing safety concerns to keep in mind when considering an adventure on the Yadkin River. He also describes the agricultural importance of the area going back centuries since the settlement of Native Americans and our duty as tourists to adhere to the old Boy Scout lesson of “leaving an area better than we found it.” R.G. believes that cleanliness begins with you if you are to be an ambassador for the outdoors.

Ultimately, says R.G., “The goal of the brochure is to encourage activity; and to enjoy it in a safe way.”

https://goyadkinvalley.com/

https://www.yadkinrivergreenway.com/

The Meat Sweats Apr 13, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of the Life in the Carolinas podcast, Carl sits down with Jason and Chantelle Sargood, co-owners of the veteran-owned meat processing business, The Meat Sweats. The dynamic husband and wife team kick off the conversation by discussing their secrets to raising their large family, mainly how they are teaching their five kids the value of respect and always going beyond what is expected of them.

Having grown up in small towns, Jason and Chantelle believe that their grounded and value-driven approach to life has carried over into their role as parents and now as business owners.

Curiosity is yet another trait that the Sargoods have in common. Jason tells how he ended up getting a job as the site engineer for a medical robotics company simply because the opportunity arose to take on a challenging yet rewarding position. This same mindset of “go big or go home” naturally extended to Jason and Chantelle’s decision to start their own meat processing business later on.

Finally, our guests imagine how life and career will look five years from now and how they view the seasons of life in general. As Chantelle puts it:

“This is just the season we’re in right now. It’s not going to be like this forever. It’s just about enjoying the crazy, chaotic life we have right now because anything can change at any given time.”

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