Best Jon Evans Of WECT TV Podcasts (2024)

1
Erika Arlee & Kristi Ray: Award-winning filmmakers who put females out front 58:20

3M ago58:20

58:20

Erika Arlee and Kristi Ray are kindred spirits. A casting call on Craigslist brought them together a decade ago, sparking a friendship that helped launch their production company, Honey Head Films. Their mission is to tell strong stories from the often-overlooked female perspective. The duo’s debut feature film, the multi award-winning A Song for I…

1
Jessica Holmes: NC’s State Auditor has gone from Pender County to public service 51:01

4M ago51:01

51:01

When Jessica Holmes took the oath of office to become North Carolina’s State Auditor in December 2023, she added another “first” to her growing list of accomplishments. It’s even more impressive when you learn Jessica Holmes experienced homelessness as a child while growing up in Pender County. But thanks to adults who took the time to care, severa…

1
Kayla Thompson: Grinding to take her golf game to the LPGA Tour 47:15

5M ago47:15

47:15

Kayla Thompson had success as a member of the West Bladen High School and UNCW women’s golf teams. Since turning professional in 2019, Kayla has chased the dream of earning her card and playing on the Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour. After several years of ups and downs, Kayla has now earned the chance to take her game to the next level, …

1
Kody Kinsley: From NC to DC and back, just in time for Covid and Medicaid expansion 44:35

6M ago44:35

44:35

Kody Kinsley’s life came full circle in 2023. The man who grew up in Wilmington without health insurance helped roll out a program that will provide coverage for 600,000 North Carolinians. That’s the latest accomplishment for the state’s Health and Human Services Secretary, whose career of firsts has combined his two passions, health care and publi…

1
Terry Hayes: Back at his storytelling best with "The Year of the Locust" 1:11:31

7M ago1:11:31

1:11:31

Terry Hayes found international success when his 2014 debut novel I am Pilgrim became a critically-acclaimed best seller. But in achieving his lifelong ambition, the former journalist and Hollywood screenwriter suddenly found himself in an abyss, searching for the emotional drive to take readers on another page-turning thriller ride. Now, with The …

1
Jim Shockey: Worldwide adventurer adds ‘thriller writer’ to his long list of accomplishments 51:54

10M ago51:54

51:54

Jim Shockey is considered one of the world’s best outdoor sportsmen. He’s taken audiences along on wildlife adventure television shows, and led hunting expeditions and conservation efforts into some of the most remote locations on earth. Shockey’s passion for folk and tribal art can be seen in the Hand of Man Museum in his native Canada. Shockey ha…

1
Don Bentley: Bestselling author closes a chapter with "Tom Clancy: Weapons Grade" 52:04

11M ago52:04

52:04

In the decade since the death of New York Times bestselling author Tom Clancy, Don Bentley is one of the novelists that have continued to bring life to Clancy’s characters. Tom Clancy: Weapons Grade, Bentley’s newly-released fourth thriller featuring Jack Ryan, Jr., ends one chapter in the former Army Apache helicopter pilot’s writing career, while…

1
Takayo Siddle & Nicole Woods: The State of Seahawk Hoops 35:13

11M ago35:13

35:13

Takayo Siddle and Nicole Woods have a lot more in common than being head basketball coaches at UNC Wilmington. They both grew up in North Carolina, played high school and college basketball in the state, and worked as assistant coaches at in-state universities before landing their first head coaching jobs in Wilmington. Woods hopes to add another s…

1
Walker Jenkins: The talented teenager who is determined to be baseball’s best 39:44

1y ago39:44

39:44

While most little league baseball players dream about making the major leagues, that’s never been enough for Walker Jenkins. Setbacks like not making the all-star team as a six-year-old have fueled his competitive fire to work harder and be better than everyone who has played the game. It made him a top draft pick of the Minnesota Twins, and earned…

1
Williston’s Legacy Graduation: Righting a wrong from 1968 23:44

1y ago23:44

23:44

At the height of America’s civil rights movement, a school board vote closed the only all-Black high school in Wilmington, North Carolina. Generations of families had graduated from Williston Senior High School since its’ inception in 1866. But, in June 1968, facing the possibility of losing federal funding over the school system’s delayed desegreg…

1
Erik Estrada: Former CHiPs star is now busy making Divine Renovations 28:58

1y ago28:58

28:58

With the uniform, badge, helmet, motorcycle and million-dollar smile, Erik Estrada rocketed to television stardom as Officer Frank Poncherello on CHiPs, one of NBC’s most successful shows of the 70s and 80s. More than 40 years and dozens of roles later, Estrada’s on-screen career brought him to Wilmington for Divine Renovation. It's a home remodeli…

1
Elle Graham: Teen actress celebrating new movie and hit TV series 20:11

1+ y ago20:11

20:11

Elle Graham already has an impressive acting resume, with appearances on high-profile projects like Stranger Things and The Walking Dead. The 13-year-old from Hampstead is riding a wave of popularity right now, thanks in part to starring in the hit Disney television show The Secrets of Sulphur Springs, which is in its third season. Elle also has a …

1
Carli Batson: Former Miss North Carolina to soon wear the crown as Queen Azalea 30:58

1+ y ago30:58

30:58

Carli Batson did not enter her first pageant until her teenage years, a decision made after her father lost his job. Once Batson started, though, she found success, winning several titles and enough scholarship money to avoid the burden of college tuition debt. Now the former Miss Wilmington and Miss North Carolina is preparing to wear a new crown,…

1
Jonas Pate: Riding the wave of excitement for Outer Banks: Season 3 23:43

1+ y ago23:43

23:43

Fans can’t wait to see what Jonas Pate and the other co-creators of the smash hit television series Outer Banks have planned for the show’s third season, which starts streaming February 23 on Netflix. The writer/director/producer has taken the Pogues on whirlwind adventures and audiences have loved it, sending OBX2 all the way to #1. The North Caro…

1
Dane Barnes: The co-founders of the Shibumi Shade are a wind-driven success story 31:06

1+ y ago31:06

31:06

Their recognizable blue and teal canopies wave on nearly every beach in the United States. Dane Barnes, his brother Scott and best friend Alex Slater invented the Shibumi Shade after years of lugging their family’s heavy umbrellas on beach vacations. As the wind-driven sunshade gained in popularity, the three UNC grads learned that launching their …

1
Bevin Prince: Determined to show up, with strength, in her new role 53:22

1+ y ago53:22

53:22

Bevin Prince has had many roles in her life. The best-known may be playing Bevin Mirskey on the still-popular TV show One Tree Hill. As an entrepreneur, she launched Recess by Bevin Prince, a high-intensity cycling center in Wilmington. Bevin is now cast in a role she never wanted, as a widow. On this episode of the 1on1 with Jon Evans podcast, Bev…

1
Mark Robinson: He stood up and spoke his mind, and he says others should, too 30:15

2y ago30:15

30:15

Mark Robinson pulls no punches when it comes to his beliefs and principles. Robinson’s direct, some would even say fiery, approach to sharing his opinions is one reason for his rapid ascension into political relevance and history in North Carolina. The outspoken lieutenant governor has written a memoir, We Are The Majority, that recalls how his lif…

1
Morgan Myles: A finalist on “The Voice” after years as a touring musician 30:28

2y ago30:28

30:28

When Morgan Myles started singing Hallelujah in her blind audition on The Voice, she got a four-chair turn from the celebrity judges within 40 seconds. The response and high praise Myles received from Camila Cabello, Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani and John Legend did more than raise her profile on the national stage. It reaffirmed Myles’s faith in her…

1
Martin Jarmond: A career of firsts, launched by a life-changing phone call 32:28

2y ago32:28

32:28

Martin Jarmond knows about success. The UNCW alum has done the hard work it takes to succeed on both personal and professional levels. But had it not been for a single phone call, made at one of Jarmond’s lowest moments when self-doubt threatened to become an obstacle, his achievements may have never happened. Ground may have remained unbroken. Rac…

1
Carson Kressley: Original ‘Fab Five’ fashion savant set to emcee Wilmington charity event 20:23

2y ago20:23

20:23

Carson Kressley had started a career in fashion when a friend urged him to audition for a reality show. That opportunity turned into his breakthrough role as fashion savant for Bravo TV’s original Queer Eye for the Straight Guy series, which won an Emmy and changed the trajectory of Kressley’s life. The television personality, best-selling author a…

1
Dr. Aswani Volety: UNCW’s new chancellor got an early start in education 41:16

2y ago41:16

41:16

Dr. Aswani Volety has spent nearly all his life in education. In fact, he started school at the age of two in his native India, and hasn’t stopped learning since. Now the newly-installed UNCW Chancellor wants to use his experiences as a student, teacher, scholar, researcher and administrator to ensure every Seahawk receives what he calls ‘a great e…

1
Jerrod Mustaf: Former NBA star combines life skills and hoops at hometown summer camp 49:06

2y ago49:06

49:06

Jerrod Mustaf played against the best basketball talent in the world. The Whiteville, NC native was a first-round NBA draft pick, and made it all the way to the finals, before taking his game overseas and winning a pair of championships in international leagues. Since then, as the CEO and Executive Director of the Take Charge Program his father fou…

1
Nina de Gramont: UNCW professor lands on NYT Best Seller List with Agatha Christie novel 38:03

2+ y ago38:03

38:03

Nina de Gramont’s career as a published author began in 2001 with Of Cats and Men. The UNCW professor’s ninth book, The Christie Affair, has made her a ‘best-selling author’. De Gramont’s fictional novel of Agatha Christie’s famous 11-day disappearance landed on the New York Times’ list shortly after its’ release, thanks in part to being chosen for…

1
Kevin Cronin: REO Speedwagon front man on playing live again post-pandemic 27:18

2+ y ago27:18

27:18

REO Speedwagon has sold more than 40 million records since its’ debut in 1971, and Kevin Cronin has been the front man for the past 45 years. After a mandatory, unscheduled hiatus from touring because of the pandemic, Cronin and the band are ‘Back on the Road Again’ in 2022, with live shows packed with fan favorites, while the singer-songwriter als…

1
Brantley Gilbert: Country rocker ready to get back out on tour in 2022 29:47

2+ y ago29:47

29:47

Brantley Gilbert has toured with some of the biggest names in country music. The rock star has hundreds of sold-out shows and more than a half-dozen #1 records to his credit. But, like many singer-songwriters, the pandemic has kept the self-proclaimed ‘road dog’ from performing live as often as he wanted. In our conversation, Gilbert talks about ge…

1
Carson Holmes: The teenager who’s become Ozark’s Three Langmore 32:07

2+ y ago32:07

32:07

At just 13-years-old, Carson Holmes experienced what he now calls a “life-changing” event. He auditioned for and got the part of Three Langmore on the Netflix series Ozark, which has become one of the streaming service’s biggest hits. The Wilmington actor talks about working alongside the award-winning cast, the scripts his parents wouldn’t let him…

1
Michelle Li: Turning a racist voicemail message into a positive #veryasian movement 1:00:27

2+ y ago1:00:27

1:00:27

Michelle Li is an excellent journalist. Several Murrow and Emmy awards are proof of her skills. But nothing in her two decades of television news could have prepared Michelle for the racist voicemail a viewer left her on New Year’s Day. By gracefully sharing her pain, and letting the world hear the viewer’s rant, Michelle started a conversation abo…

1
2021: The Year in Review 41:37

2+ y ago41:37

41:37

The fifth season of the award-winning “1on1 with Jon Evans” podcast is in the books. Season five featured interviews with authors, actors, athletes, directors, television personalities, comedians and newsmakers with ties to southeastern North Carolina. This end-of-the-year compilation features several of the most interesting excerpts from some of t…

1
Nick Ochsner & Michael Graff: Their book “The Vote Collectors” documents what led to the 2018 election fraud scandal in Bladen County 45:05

2+ y ago45:05

45:05

Reporters Nick Ochsner and Michael Graff covered the 2018 election fraud scandal in North Carolina’s Ninth Congressional District for different news organizations. The more time they spent in Bladen County, uncovering networks and identifying individuals working to influence elections, the more they realized politics in this rural county has its’ o…

1
Wiley Cash: Why his new novel will make readers think about life’s ghosts 50:20

3y ago50:20

50:20

Wiley Cash’s fourth novel, When Ghosts Come Home, represents several firsts in the New York Times best-selling author’s career. He’s crafted a murder-mystery and set it along the coast of his native North Carolina. Despite the mid-1980s timeframe, Cash’s characters deal with many of the same social issues making today’s headlines, while they work t…

1
Meredith Viera: How leading with ‘Yes’ helped launch her award-winning career 20:43

3y ago20:43

20:43

Meredith Viera’s current project, the Fox-syndicated game show 25 Words or Less is now in its’ third season and seen on television stations across the country. It’s another success in Viera’s award-winning career that began in local radio more than four decades ago, and has taken her around the world to cover the biggest stories and newsmakers.…

1
Lee Loughnane: Playing horns on Chicago’s hit songs for more than 50 years 29:55

3y ago29:55

29:55

They came out of Chicago and put the city’s name at the top of the music charts, where it stayed for decades. Trumpet player Lee Loughnane is one of three founding members of Chicago still touring with the rock and roll band 52 years after releasing their first album in 1969. Now back on the road after a pandemic-forced break, Loughnane talks about…

1
Yaya DaCosta: What led the actress from “Chicago Med’ to “Our Kind of People” 19:57

3y ago19:57

19:57

Actress Yaya DaCosta left NBC’s Chicago Med after six seasons to play the lead character of Angela Vaughn in Our Kind of People. The new Fox show, which shoots in Wilmington, NC, is inspired by Lawrence Otis Graham’s bestseller that goes inside America’s Black Upper Class. DaCosta talks about the importance of the show, what drew her to the project…

1
Dr. Muneeb Shah: How the @DermDoctor became a social media superstar 50:26

3y ago50:26

50:26

Dr. Muneeb Shah has had a meteoric rise to social media stardom. The fourth-year Dermatology Resident in Wilmington, NC posted his first TikTok video about skin care on May 1, 2020, and now has more than ten million followers. Dr. Shah’s videos on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube have more than three billion views. This is the story of how he became o…

1
John Maginnes: Taking advantage of his second chance with golf and fatherhood 36:52

3y ago36:52

36:52

John Maginnes accomplished his dream of becoming a pro golfer, playing on the PGA Tour for a decade and competing alongside some of the biggest names in the sport like Tiger Woods and Nick Faldo. But when an injury presented an opportunity, Maginnes grabbed it. Now, as a host, analyst and on-course reporter on Sirius XM PGA Tour Radio, Maginnes sti…

1
Jay Leno & Kevin Eubanks: Together on TV again on ‘You Bet Your Life’ 14:59

3y ago14:59

14:59

Jay Leno and Kevin Eubanks are working together again on television. Leno is rebooting the comedy show You Bet Your Life, and he wanted Eubanks to co-host. Their relationship goes back to the early 90s, when Leno took over as host of The Tonight Show and Eubanks became the bandleader. The two friends talk about what fans can expect to see when the …

1
Brad Thor: Bestselling author brings back his alter ego Scot Harvath in “Black Ice” 38:05

3y ago38:05

38:05

Brad Thor tried once to launch a writing career, and it didn’t work. When the pieces started falling into place to give him a second chance, he jumped at it, and is now a #1 bestselling author of 21 thrillers, selling tens of millions of books around the world. Brad joins WECT’s Jon Evans to talk about the idea behind his new Scot Harvath book “Bla…

1
Kathy Reichs: A hurricane, an outbreak and the unsolved murders in her new book, “The Bone Code” 32:13

3y ago32:13

32:13

Kathy Reichs’ new book, The Bone Code, is the 20th in her bestselling Bones series that features forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan. It’s a murder-mystery ‘ripped from the headlines’ that takes Tempe back to an unsolved case from her past. Reichs has also co-authored the young adult Virals books, and produced episodes of the long-running Bo…

1
Jack Carr: Bestselling author & former Navy Seal on making the transition from military to civilian life 41:32

3y ago41:32

41:32

Jack Carr spent two decades on the front lines of America’s war on terrorism. The former Navy Seal sniper and Special Operations Commander transitioned into a second career, and is now a New York Times bestselling author. While crafting novels like The Devil’s Hand, which keep readers riveted, Carr supports organizations that help other veterans be…

1
Hannah Black & Megan Petersen: The co-everything forces behind award-winning indie film "Drought" 44:24

3y ago44:24

44:24

Hannah Black and Megan Petersen have taken different roads to their place in the film industry. Once their paths converged in an acting class, it set off a chain of creative events that resulted in the award-winning independent film, Drought. The co-creators, co-directors and co-stars talk about the project’s long road from start to finish, the mes…

1
Drew & Owen Scheid: Actors discuss the messages behind award-winning indie film "Drought" 41:00

3y ago41:00

41:00

Drew and Owen Scheid play two of the central characters in the award-winning independent film Drought, now streaming on Amazon Prime. While Drew has more acting experience, Drought marks Owen’s film debut, playing a young man on the autism spectrum who is fascinated with weather and storm chasing. The two brothers talk about the messages the movie …

1
Shaneequa Vereen: From SENC to NASA, now documenting our journeys into space 35:18

3+ y ago35:18

35:18

Shaneequa Vereen took a leap of faith to move halfway across the country without a job. Now, as Public Affairs Officer and Live Mission Commentator at NASA, Shaneequa is helping document mankind’s leaps into the heavens and beyond, while showing other young women of color that anything is possible with hard work and dedication.…

1
Alex Highsmith: How the chip on his shoulder helped him make the NFL 21:51

3+ y ago21:51

21:51

Alex Highsmith is an imposing figure in his shoulder pads and Pittsburgh Steelers uniform. If you look closely, you will also see a little chip on his shoulder. It’s the fuel that has powered Highsmith’s internal engine, helping the Wilmington native reach the National Football League, where he is now paid to play the game he used to play for fun. …

1
Patrick Brien: CEO of CFC is investing in staff, stuff, space and systems 35:26

3+ y ago35:26

35:26

Patrick Brien doesn’t look at complicated issues the way most people do. The Army veteran and CEO of Cape Fear Collective has a view from about ten thousand feet, where he sees potential partnerships and innovative opportunities to address issues like poverty, affordable housing and healthcare. By using data to light the way, and capital to fuel th…

1
Greta Van Susteren: How a toga party helped her become an accidental anchor 41:09

3+ y ago41:09

41:09

Long before Greta Van Susteren became Chief National Political Analyst for Gray TV and the host of “Full Court Press” on WECT, before she anchored shows on CNN, Fox News Channel, MSNBC and Voice of America, and before she first gained national attention providing legal analysis during the O.J. Simpson Trial, the Wisconsin native had earned two law …

1
Cliff Cash: Comedian who says he’s "Half Way There" reaches #1 on iTunes 50:34

3+ y ago50:34

50:34

Cliff Cash hasn’t had many chances to make people laugh with his stand-up comedy since the pandemic hit. But fans can get their fill with Half Way There, Cliff’s new album that spent three days at #1 on the iTunes Comedy Chart. In our podcast, Cliff talks about his first on-stage performance, why some people cry during his shows, and the time he ha…

1
Chris Everett: Filmmaker working on the follow-up to his award-winning ‘Wilmington on Fire’ documentary 45:39

3+ y ago45:39

45:39

Chris Everett is now working on the follow-up to his award-winning 2015 documentary film Wilmington on Fire, which chronicled the 1898 Wilmington Massacre that overthrew the existing city government and resulted in the deaths of dozens of Black leaders. Chris talks about the film’s renewed importance in conversations about racial justice, the retir…

1
Jen Lilley: Star of ‘USS Christmas’ movie is making sure Christmas is not cancelled by COVID-19 43:25

3+ y ago43:25

43:25

Actress Jen Lilley’s latest project for The Hallmark Channel brought her to Wilmington to shoot USS Christmas during the pandemic. Along with spreading holiday cheer through the movie, Jen also came up with a way to keep COVID-19 from cancelling Christmas for families and children in need. She’s also channeled her advocacy for foster children and a…

1
Takayo Siddle: UNCW's Head Coach reflects on the unanswered calls he made to his Mom 35:21

4y ago35:21

35:21

Takayo Siddle became the head coach of the UNCW Men’s Basketball Team in March of 2020. He’s had to work hard, on and off the court, to keep his team virus-free during the COVID-19 pandemic. Siddle talks about that challenge, his journey to becoming a head coach, and the tough love lesson he learned when his Mom did not pick up the phone.…

1
Charles Foust: Taking over New Hanover County Schools at a turbulent time 40:33

4y ago40:33

40:33

Dr. Charles Foust takes over as the Superintendent of New Hanover County Schools at a turbulent time. The COVID-19 pandemic has created challenges for students, families, teachers and staff. Three educators from inside the system were arrested and charged with sex crimes against children in the past two years, and the investigation into whether adm…

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Jon Evans Of WECT TV Podcasts

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