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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:

Banjo Earth Apr 15, 2020

Show notes

On this episode of the Life in the Carolinas podcast, Carl sits down with Andy Eversole, banjoist, global citizen, and creator of Banjo Earth.

Banjo Earth is a “world music project” that involves Andy traveling to different countries to find and collaborate with local folk musicians, ultimately producing albums and documentaries on each of these different cultures through the lens of music. “It’s sort of like Anthony Bourdain with a banjo,” says Andy.

Andy’s love of travel began when he studied in China for a short period in 2015 while in college. He took this newfound passion and merged it with his talent for music. “I just started walking around Beijing with a banjo, first of all, looking for music, going to music stores, going to venues, and asking them about musicians.”

Andy divides his albums into three sections: 1) folk songs unique to the country, 2) American bluegrass songs flavored with the music from the country in question, and 3) original songs written by Andy himself, inspired by his travels in that particular country.

The cultural exchange that Andy undergoes while traveling is always a “disarming” experience for him. He reflects on one such experience in India wherein he and a friend were unable to reach their local contact. While playing his banjo in a park to pass the time, a family, who had begun to observe Andy, decided to invite him and his friend over to their home and prepared a meal for them. They also happened to be a musical family, which naturally led to a jam session that lasted the rest of the evening.

Now unable to travel due to the worldwide COVID-19 situation, Andy composed a love song, Quarantined with You, which is based on reflections and conversations with his friends and family—who he is separated from, and they from each other. It’s a song that is very in line with Andy’s worldview that while we will face many situations that we can’t control, we do have control over how we react to it.

Today, Andy takes inspiration from videos that have recently been posted online from Italy, of various individuals playing music and singing songs from their balconies, bringing their communities together in spite of social distancing. “It just shows how music can bring people together,” says Andy. “I try to find [dire situations] like this and turn them into love songs if I can,” says Andy, “because, whatever’s going on, there’s always love happening, still.”

Larry Biddle Apr 01, 2020

Show notes

On this episode of the Life in the Carolinas podcast, Carl sits down with educator and businessman Larry Biddle. His mission? To help other educators apply business principles in schools, as opposed to government programs. Asked his opinion on the ever-evolving Coronavirus pandemic, Larry refers to the power of the eagle. An Eagle Scout at age 12, Larry has since come to realize that “eagleship is soaring. Eagles soar above whatever is down there, and its wings get stronger only by rising.” Larry goes on to say that an eagle thrives in the air only as long as the right wing and the left wing are in sync, and if its incredible vision is fixed on its target. He sees today’s America as embodying the eagle in flight, with every sector working together to overcome this crisis. “We are moving together—onward, upward, forward, together.”The COVID-19 situation is also illustrating that dissatisfaction is the first step towards change. “Dissatisfaction”, according to Larry, is the most misunderstood word in the English language. As an educator, he works constantly to have his students undergo the paradigm shift that dissatisfaction is, ultimately, a positive. He notes that even the founding of the United States came as a result of dissatisfaction with Great Britain. Carl digs deeper by bringing up the fact that fearis just as prevalent an emotion nowadays as dissatisfaction. Even if one uses their dissatisfaction as an impetus for growth, how will they then deal with fear—either their own or that of the people around them? Larry hearkens back to the saying that “fear is simply ‘False Evidence Appearing Real’.” One thing is certain: It’s not the end of the world. Therefore, whatever it is you are currently facing is overcomeable. Larry encourages us to think like entrepreneurs, who are flexible, resilient, and solution-oriented. When experiencing fear, take a step back, evaluate the reality of the situation, and create a proactive game plan to move forward in spite of this False Evidence. Finally, Larry stresses the importance of sticking to principles. Modern society has become rather superficial in many ways, and it could only have taken a crisis such as the COVID-19 outbreak to force civilization to reevaluate what is essential in life. “Hollow heroes bring empty messages.” Amidst a crisis, however, one’s true character is quickly unveiled depending on their words and actions in reaction to the circumstances around them. And a person of righteous character is a person of righteous principles.

Making a Difference in Alzheimer's Mar 04, 2020

Show notes

On this episode of the Life in the Carolinas podcast, Carl sits down with Bill Shilitto, executive director of the CART (Coins for Alzheimer's Research Trust) Fund, Inc.

The 22-year Army veteran carries on a work habit characterized by precision, long after Bill retired from the military. Having served in Vietnam in the midst of its highly-controversial war with the U.S., Bill is thankful that he never personally experienced the negative treatment that many of his fellow servicemen received during that time. This resulted in a relatively smooth transition back to civilian life when he retired, but at the same his experiences during that rough time in American history kept him humble and compassionate towards those he would work with in the future.

When asked about his perspective on leadership after his 22-year career in the military, Bill begins his reply by saying that “life can be stressful.” He explains that stress occurs when people are brought out of their usual environment; therefore, a good leader should have systems in place to support those who they are potentially bringing into unfamiliar territory. In short, it pays to be cognizant and empathetic with other people.

As a Rotarian, Bill was invited to the annual CART board meeting in 2005. CART, being the brainchild of Rotarian Roger Ackerman, had its first seed planted when Roger’s mother-in-law succumbed to Alzheimer’s Disease. He looked into the state of the research currently being done to combat this brain disorder and discovered that it was severely lacking in progress. One day, Roger realized that he could simply collect “loose change” at every weekly Rotary meeting, and the rest was history. This year, CART will be collecting $9.4 million in loose change.

Bill hopes that diseases such as Alzheimer’s will lose the stigma it currently has. He pines for greater openness with regards to relatives of affected individuals speaking on how this disorder has affected their families’ lives. After all, increased awareness will lead to further developments in research and, by extension, possible solutions.

Connect:

http://www.cartfund.org/

www.lifeinthecarolinas.com

www.lifeinthecarolinaspodcast.com

carl@lifeinthecarolinas.com

Louis Jeroslow The Winemaker Feb 26, 2020

Show notes

On this episode of the Life in the Carolinas podcast, Carl sits down with Louis Jeroslow who, along with his wife Carrie and partners Nick and Jennifer White, own Elkin Creek Vineyard.

Louis relates the backstory around his journey from entertainment industry professional to winemaker, as well as his partnership with the Whites. He met Nick and Jennifer while working together with them on productions for Blue Man Group. At one point, Nick White had been keeping his eye open for good properties to invest in. Around that time, Jennifer White saw a photo online of the confluence of two creeks on their property: Elkin Creek and Grassy Creek.

The Whites were smitten, and subsequently had their wedding at that spot. Louis, making full use of his expertise in technical theatre, had a grand, multimedia-laden setup put together for the wedding. It didn’t take long for the four of them to realize that there was a new opportunity for them all in that very location.

Louis continues by talking about the steep learning curve he had to overcome in order to become the master winemaker at Elkin Creek. Learning the necessary skills was one thing; knowing how to run a business he had almost no prior experience in was another. What he was prepared for, however, was the work involved in putting together events—work that he had already been engaged in for a couple of decades at that point. Over time, the four partners were able to delegate tasks and smooth out daily operations as the Vineyard saw success.

Louis talks about how his influence has led to his becoming a mentor of sorts to other aspiring winemakers. He has also spoken to the media on North Carolina wine—specifically in the Yadkin Valley, which became a federally-approved American Viticultural Area in 2003. Carl draws a parallel here to Lewis’s background in technical theatre, saying that while Louis had complete control over his stage, in viticulture he has to deal with whatever nature has already established.

Asked what he thinks of people who say, “wine is wine”, Louis says that “wine is like art. Two people standing next to each other, staring at a painting on the wall: one may be deeply moved [...] and the person standing directly beside them would be like, ‘Meh. It’s okay.’ It’s very subjective.”

Connect: https://www.elkincreekvineyard.com/

www.lifeinthecarolinas.com www.lifeinthecarolinaspodcast.com carl@lifeinthecarolinas.com

Appalachian Music Feb 19, 2020

Show notes

On this episode of the Life in the Carolinas podcast, Carl sits down with musician William Ritter on his love for Appalachian music and culture. Having been raised by Yankee parents in the mountains, Will grew up with his “foot in both worlds”.

Will considers music as “a door opener where people with completely different backgrounds can find a place to meet.” In spite of growing up on both sides of the fence, he truly feels like he is a part of mountain culture upon hearing its music.

It was the tune Down in the Willow Garden that inspired him to become a musician. It led him to seek counsel from local instrument maker Ray Dellinger. Under his mentorship, Will built his own fiddle and deepened his appreciation of the history and culture of Appalachia. His musical career had begun.

Appalachian music is participatory—“more of a reason to get together than a reason to perform.” It is not meant to be “stage music”. Will enjoys the candid quality of old-time music. This is an individuality that the player brings to the instrument which stresses personality over professionalism. Will considers himself as a “hospice worker”, keeping alive the spirit of the old times in today’s America.

Asked why promoting traditional Appalachian music is important today, Will says that its “intrinsic state” is invaluable. That is, the fact that it exists is reason enough to keep it alive. In addition, the fact that the world has become so individualized—particularly thanks to the smartphone—necessitates the need for the type of “tactile human interaction” that Appalachian music can bring about.

Will also speaks about why he believes in the importance of saving and sharing heirloom seeds, which happens to tie in with his passion for preserving culture. After all, the simple act of planting heirloom seeds can evoke memories of the person or family tied to those seeds. Like music, heirloom seeds are a cultural gateway, with the added ability to bring people together and incentivize the sharing of family histories.

CONNECT:

https://www.blueridgeheritage.com/artist/william-ritter/

https://sarahandwilliam.weebly.com/

www.lifeinthecarolinas.com

carl@lifeinthecarolinas.com

The Culinary Curator Jan 28, 2020

Show notes

On this episode of the Life in the Carolinas podcast, Carl sits down with the always-entertaining Marti Mongiello, along with previous guest Orlando Herrera.

Marti grew up with who he calls the equivalent of the von Trapp family. His parents were stage actors in the Marian Theater Guild, as well as directors and producers. He was brought up in a thespian world, which meant he performed regularly, from school plays to professional productions. Living in an Italian household also meant that Marti was expected to earn his dues, which included having to pay for his own high school tuition. This instilled both a sense of discipline and the value of the dollar, which influences his decisions even today.

Nearing adulthood, Marti decided to go into the military, mainly due to the fact that he had two marks against him on his federal record for drug use. He was also, at that time, part of a gang and even ended up in jail (from which his mother had to bail him out of). He was rejected by the Air Force precisely for his drug use but was just able to enter the Navy and spent many days in a nuclear submarine.

Marti shares a plethora of incredible experiences in the Navy with Carl and Orlando, including his personal interactions with President Bill Clinton. Marti turned his love for the culinary arts into a profession, becoming a Navy cook. In nine years’, time, he received an opportunity to serve as a chef in the White House.

Referring to the White House as “the diaspora of the world”, Marti recalls the many diverse guests of the presidents from Bill Clinton onwards. Drawing from his own personal experiences sharing meals with different peoples all over the world, Marti says that, “People are just people, and the great confluence on Earth is eating and dining together with each other. Indeed, during the many years Marti spent living in Asia and Europe—being able to experience intimately the plights of a variety of cultures—he learned to appreciate the conveniences he grew up with as a Westerner.

Marti ends by saying, “I just encourage people to think about what you do have during the amount of time you have left here; and stop comparing yourself to what everyone else has.”

www.theinnofthepatriots.com

www.lifeinthecarolinas.com

carl@lifeinthecarolinas.com

Charters of Freedom Jan 22, 2020

Show notes

On this episode of the Life in the Carolinas podcast, Vance Patterson, founder of Foundation Forward, talks about his advocacy to bring the Charters of Freedom to communities across the whole United States in the form of installations—or what Vance calls “Settings”. The Burke County native is a serial entrepreneur, having started 21 companies over the years. Two of them made the list for the Inc. 500 Fastest-Growing Companies; and Vance himself twice became a finalist for Entrepreneur of the Year in the Southeast region.

While they always considered themselves patriots, Vance and his wife Mary Jo never had the Charters of Freedom at the forefront of their minds before establishing their non-profit. In fact, Vance had learned almost nothing about civics or government in school, despite having had a passion for history.

However, it was after a close reading of the actual Declaration of Independence—with particular emphasis on the signatures of the Founding Fathers and the words “We the People”—that the spirit behind the founding of the United States truly entered the Pattersons’ hearts. At that point, they sought to duplicate their experience with others, starting in Burt County. After two years, “Your Charters of Freedom Settings” was launched to a great reception. The Pattersons took this as a cue to continue the project in more locations.

Vance emphasizes the fact that he refers to the installation as “settings” as opposed to a “monument”. A monument, he defines, is a memorial honoring an event or a person. Vance states, “This is not a memorial. This is an active, hands-on educational supplement for a school's curriculum.” He envisions teachers bringing their students on field trips to the Charters of Freedom Settings in their local community. “We don’t just put these in and walk away,” continues Vance. Foundation Forward has an ongoing education program where materials are sent out to teachers who have visited the Settings.

Vance’s short-term goal is to establish the Settings in all 100 counties in North Carolina, as well as in all 46 counties in South Carolina. By doing this, they hope to bring widespread awareness to the project, to get other states to say, “What is going on in the Carolinas?” Vance will then commence his long-term goal: place Your Charters of Freedom Settings to as many of the 3,242 counties in the United States as possible within the next ten years. He imagines future generations referring to their Constitution and their Bill of Rights—those that they grew up with right in their home community, and not just the original ones in Washington D.C.

Vance looks to Founding Fathers Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, both of whom were major proponents of education. “These two believe that in order to have a free and independent country,” says Vance, “you must understand how government works. You cannot control what you do not understand.”

Resources:

Website: www.chartersoffreedom.com

www.lfieinthecarolinaspodcast.com

Nikki Morgan finds her music Jan 15, 2020

Show notes

On this episode of the Life in the Carolinas podcast, singer-songwriter Nikki Morgan talks about what led her down her musical path. Her father being a pastor, Nikki grew up in a church and was exposed almost daily to Christian and gospel music. However, while she appreciated how moving music can be, she never really created any music of her own during her formative years.

From grade school to college, Nikki was more or less set on being an engineer. However, she can remember daydreaming occasionally about being an entertainer since the age of 10. She casually, yet gradually took on bigger and bigger opportunities to sing in front of groups. At 18, she began to explore different types of secular music. A series of events led her to take theatre in community college, allowing her creativity to express itself greater than ever before.

However, even as an actress, Nikki felt unfulfilled. It was the book The Artist’s Way that led to an epiphany, causing her to realize that her true passion is music. She sang a tan open mic to great reception. A little bit of confidence was built, and from there she continued to look for more opportunities to perform her songs, which were characterized by her diverse life experiences.

Nikki’s mother, while initially resistant to her decision to switch from engineering to songwriting, eventually turned out to be her biggest fan. Nikki found that walking down this path also “opened the floodgates” of creativity in her family: Many of her cousins decided to get into music as well.

Nikki believes that no matter where life takes you, you can’t escape your roots. Nikki ventured out on her own to find herself, and this really was the spark that opened her up to the wider world of music—her true passion. At the same time, she realized she couldn’t shake off the North Carolina in her, nor her gospel roots. Nikki came full circle, fully embracing her musical background while taking that inspiration and forging her own path.

Connect with Nikki:

Website: www.nikkimorganmusic.com

Instagram: @heynikkimorgan

Connect with us:

http://www.lifeinthecarolinas.com/

https://www.lifeinthecarolinaspodcast.com/

Carl@lifeinthecarolinas.com

Orlando Herrera Jan 06, 2020

Show notes

On this episode of the Life in the Carolinas podcast, Carl sits down Orlando Herrera and Marty Mongiello. Orlando discusses his incredibly eclectic life—a life which Carl White sums up as “the Great American Story influenced by a lot more than just America.”

Orlando talks about his varied career paths and social causes, from becoming a musician as a coping mechanism after surviving the 1983 Beirut bombing, to his time in the US Marine Corps, to his push to bring the deeper issues surrounding America’s troubled history with race to the masses. As diverse as these passions and initiatives are, what they all have in common is a universal emotional core that brings together communities of people.

As Orlando tells his story, a singular message shines through. As Carl aptly muses: “We as human beings are on this journey together, and we’ve always had a problem with some wanting to be above others. But at the end of the day, when we lay our heads down, it’s pretty much the same for all of us.”

The conversation between Carl, Marty, and Orlando also goes into the subject of Rosa Parks and her lesser-known fellow civil rights pioneer Claudette Colvin. The three agree that many of the racially-charged issues of the previous decades are still present in some form or another in modern-day America. By making the public aware of the story of Black American civil rights from the perspective of those who initially led the charge, Orlando hopes to eradicate stereotypes based off of inaccurate readings of history.

“People need to know and learn [about] other cultures,” says Orlando. He states that by deepening one’s appreciation of different cultures, it becomes virtually impossible to blame an entire race for the perverse actions of a few individuals of that particular race.

Connect with us:

http://www.lifeinthecarolinas.com/

https://www.lifeinthecarolinaspodcast.com/

Carl@lifeinthecarolinas.com

Lights of Forest City Nov 25, 2019

Show notes

On this episode of the Life in the Carolinas podcast, Carl talks with Amy Bridges, Downtown and Community Development Manager of the Town of Forest City, North Carolina. A small community of about 7,500 people in Western North Carolina, about 20 miles from the South Carolina border, Forest City has never been the county seat, but they have made a name for themselves in community development.

After being hit hard by the recession and the closing of the textile mills that were the main industry in the region, the town of Forest City made a conscious decision to dig in deeper and commit to revitalize their downtown area. Many restaurants and merchants have jumped on board in the 10 years since, and just this past spring, the town unveiled the Pavilion on Park Square (POPS) which features a 1,500-capacity amphitheater and two splash pads. Considered by the state to be a Tier 1 community, characterized by financial distress, these amenities are the first of their kind for the town and are actually driving tourism. At the debut concert at the Burnt Chimney amphitheater (as Forest City used to be called), people came from all over North and South Carolina and were impressed by the facilities.

On the night of Thanksgiving, the town holds its Christmas tree lighting ceremony, usually attended by 2,000 people, and the season is officially welcomed in. Forest City goes all out for Christmas with lights wrapping the trunks of the trees lining Main Street, outlining the buildings, and spanning the width of Main Street. The festivities peak on Friday and Saturday nights between Thanksgiving and Christmas with live music, carriage rides, hayrides, ice skating, movies in the park, Santa’s house, and carolers.

Amy has had a front-row seat to the collaboration and partnerships between local businesses and the mutual efforts to make Christmas such a special time in Forest City. In fact, RomanticAsheville.com has named Forest City the #1 Christmas town and the #2 place to see Christmas lights in western North Carolina. She is excited for the future development of the town and the unique opportunities that are headed their way.

For more information:

https://www.townofforestcity.com/

https://www.facebook.com/townofforestcity/

https://www.facebook.com/forestcityevents/

Connect with us:

http://www.lifeinthecarolinas.com/

https://www.lifeinthecarolinaspodcast.com/

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