Cassie sits down with North Carolina State Auditor Dave Boliek to talk plainly about the North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency — why it was created, and why so many North Carolinians were left frustrated and waiting.

They walk through NCORR’s beginnings after Hurricanes Matthew and Florence, when people needed help fast and trusted the state to get it right. Instead, there were leadership shakeups, expensive mistakes, and a sweeping audit that raised some hard questions.

Cassie and Auditor Boliek dig into what went wrong — from misused funds to a botched software rollout and a recovery system that moved far too slowly for families who had already lost so much. They also zoom out and talk about the bigger picture: what disaster recovery should look like in North Carolina, why local knowledge matters, why a coordinated state response is critical, and what has to change so we don’t repeat these same mistakes the next time a storm hits.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

01:03 Background on NCOR

02:12 Creation and Leadership of NCOR

03:33 NCOR's Purpose and Responsibilities

08:09 Challenges and Mismanagement

14:38 Accounting Issues and Contractor Relations

27:36 Future Recommendations and State Collaboration

29:12 The Importance of Long-Term Disaster Planning

31:03 Firsthand Accounts of Disaster Impact

31:52 Human Cost and Accountability in Disaster Recovery

32:33 Tracking and Accountability of Disaster Funds

33:28 Challenges in Long-Term Recovery

38:12 Unified Approach to Disaster Recovery

51:38 Role of Local Knowledge in Disaster Response

55:31 Ensuring Effective Use of Disaster Funds

Connect with Dave Boliek:

• Website
• X

Sponsors:

• Knights of Pythias Cumberland Lodge No. 5

Support Where the Dogwood Blooms: If you enjoy our content, consider supporting us via:

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Connect with Where the Dogwood Blooms:

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Contact:

• cassie@wherethedogwoodblooms.com

Tags:

#NCORR #DaveBoliek #HurricaneRecovery #NorthCarolina #WhereTheDogwoodBlooms

In this episode, host Cassie visits Moores Creek National Battlefield to sit down with renowned historian Dr. Chris Fonvielle for a deep dive into one of the most pivotal—and often overlooked—battles of the American Revolution.

Dr. Fonvielle, a former UNC Wilmington history professor and respected Civil War scholar, shares insights from his latest research, which turns its focus to the Revolutionary War and the decisive Battle of Moores Creek Bridge. Together, they examine the local dynamics between Loyalist and Patriot forces, the strategic decisions that shaped the battle, and its far-reaching consequences for North Carolina—and the fight for American independence.

Chris also weaves in personal history, recounting his ancestor’s participation in the battle, adding a deeply human dimension to the discussion. Along the way, he and Cassie reflect on their shared love of history and the enduring cultural roots that make places like Moores Creek continue to matter today.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:41 Meet Dr. Chris Fonvielle: Historian and Author

01:23 The Battle of Moores Creek Bridge

04:33 Scottish Immigration to North Carolina

12:06 The Moore Family Legacy

14:41 Colonial Economy and Plantations

21:29 The Loyalist Recruitment and March

26:38 The Patriots' Tactical Maneuver 2

9:37 Impact of the Battle of Moores Creek

31:53 Monuments and Memories

38:58 Personal Connections to History

46:23 The Rise and Fall of Brunswick Town

Connect with Dr. Chris Fonvielle:

• Website
• YouTube

Sponsors:

• Knights of Pythias Cumberland Lodge No. 5

Support Where the Dogwood Blooms: If you enjoy our content, consider supporting us via:

• Venmo
• Cash App

Connect with Where the Dogwood Blooms:

• Website
• Instagram
• X
• TikTok

Contact:

• cassie@wherethedogwoodblooms.com

Tags:

#RevolutionaryWar #DrChrisFonvielle #MooresCreek #NorthCarolinaHistory #WhereTheDogwoodBlooms

In this episode, I sit down with Tevin Robinson for a real, no-nonsense conversation about North Carolina, culture, and what happens when you speak your mind online.

Tevin is a Wilmington native who’s built a following of more than 100,000 on TikTok simply by telling the truth about this state—where we come from, where we’re headed, and what we risk losing along the way. We talk about Southern hospitality, the influx of transplants, and why preserving genuine Southern traditions matters more than ever in a rapidly modernizing North Carolina.

We also pull back the curtain on content creation itself—what it’s like to go viral, how social media fame changes your life, and the challenge of staying grounded and authentic in a digital world that rewards noise over nuance.

This episode is a love letter to North Carolina—its people, its culture, and the voices willing to stand up and protect what makes this place feel like home.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:32 Discussing Wilmington and Transplants

01:57 TikTok Journey and Content Creation

05:50 North Carolina's Culture and History

07:41 Southern Identity and Music

22:02 Influence of Hip Hop and Country Music

33:38 Challenges of Being an Influencer

51:03 Rant on Downtown Charlotte

51:19 Palm Trees in North Carolina

52:35 McMansions and Southern Charm

53:09 Culture Clash with Newcomers

53:48 Southern Hospitality and Traditions

54:51 Hillbilly Roots and Settlers

58:41 Weather and Geography of North Carolina

01:05:08 Barbecue and Food Traditions

01:19:11 Political and Social Issues

01:32:48 Content Creation and Personal Goals

Connect with Tevin Robinson:

• TikTok
• Instagram
• YouTube

Sponsors:

• Knights of Pythias Cumberland Lodge No. 5

Support Where the Dogwood Blooms: If you enjoy our content, consider supporting us via:

• Venmo
• Cash App

Connect with Where the Dogwood Blooms:

• Website
• Instagram
• X
• TikTok

Contact:

• cassie@wherethedogwoodblooms.com

Tags:

#Skaterat910 #WilmingtonNC #TikTok #910 #SouthernHospitality #SouthernCulture #WhereTheDogwoodBlooms