If you've ever crossed one of North Carolina's coastal bridges and spotted shrimp boats rocking in the harbor, you've seen more than just boats. You're looking at a way of life that's been part of this state for generations.

This week, I'm joined by Monica Smith of Miss Gina's Shrimp on Harkers Island. Monica grew up around the seafood industry, married into a commercial shrimping family, left careers in teaching and nursing, and now helps run one of the best-known local shrimp businesses on our coast.

We talk about the controversy that became known as "Shrimp Gate" and why so many North Carolinians—regardless of political party—came together to defend our commercial fishing industry. Monica explains what really happened behind the scenes, why she believes science doesn't support many of the claims made against shrimpers, and how thousands of people rallied in Raleigh to protect an industry that has shaped coastal communities for generations.

But this conversation isn't just about politics.

It's about family businesses, preserving traditions, buying local seafood, and understanding where your food actually comes from. Monica also shares what life is really like aboard a shrimp boat, the incredible wildlife they encounter on the water, how modern shrimping has changed over the years, and why she believes consumers deserve to know whether the shrimp on their plate came from North Carolina or halfway around the world.

If you care about North Carolina's coast, its culture, or simply want to know where your seafood comes from, you won't want to miss this conversation.

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

• Venmo
• Cash App

Connect with Miss Gina's Shrimp:

• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram

Connect with Where the Dogwood Blooms:

• Website
• Instagram
• X
• TikTok

Contact:

• cassie@wherethedogwoodblooms.com

Tags:

#ShrimpGate, #NorthCarolinaShrimp, #MissGinasShrimp, #SaveNCShrimpers, #CommercialFishing, #CoastalCarolina, #Shrimping, #NCfishing, #LocalSeafood, #WildCaughtShrimp, #DefendOurFishermen, #HarkersIsland, #NorthCarolinaCoast, #SmallBusinessNC, #SeafoodIndustry

Artificial intelligence is changing the world at a breathtaking pace. But behind every AI chatbot, cloud service, and streaming platform is something most people rarely think about: data centers.I sat down with AI expert Craig Reynolds to talk about why those facilities have become one of the most controversial development issues facing North Carolina.We started by clearing up a common misconception. The term "data center" covers everything from small server rooms and portable emergency-response units to enterprise facilities, shared colocation sites, and the massive hyperscale campuses that can cover hundreds of acres and consume enormous amounts of electricity and water. Craig argues that these very different types of facilities are often lumped together, even though much of the public concern is focused on hyperscale developments.Our conversation explored why communities across North Carolina are pushing back. We discussed the amount of land these projects require, the long-term impact on surrounding property, concerns about backup generators, fuel storage, and industrial infrastructure, as well as the strain hyperscale facilities can place on local power grids and water supplies.We also talked about how these facilities are cooled, comparing evaporative systems with closed-loop cooling, direct-to-chip technology, and immersion cooling. That led to a broader discussion about water use, why some residents question conservation restrictions when large industrial users continue operating, and who ultimately pays for the infrastructure needed to support rapid expansion. We also examined Senate Bill 730, proposed moratoriums on new hyperscale projects, and the debate over whether North Carolina would be better served by encouraging smaller, distributed edge data centers and manufacturing the technology here instead of building more massive campuses.Technology is evolving faster than public policy.The question is whether North Carolina can keep up while balancing economic development, infrastructure, and the concerns of the communities expected to host these projects.This is a conversation about artificial intelligence, energy, water, economic development, and the difficult decisions that come with building the digital infrastructure of the future.

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

• Venmo
• Cash App

Connect with Craig Reynolds:

• X

Connect with Where the Dogwood Blooms:

• Website
• Instagram
• X
• TikTok

Contact:

• cassie@wherethedogwoodblooms.com

Tags:

#DataCenters #AIInfrastructure #NorthCarolina #Hyperscale #CraigReynolds #AIPodcast #TechPolicy #DataCenterControversy #NCEconomy #FutureOfAI

I sat down with Rose Willis to talk about something no parent ever wants to think about: what happens when you're no longer able to care for your child.

A recent health scare involving an enlarged aortic aneurysm forced Rose to confront that question head-on. Her daughter, Morgan, is an adult living with cerebral palsy and epilepsy, and for years Morgan's care has been a family effort. Since 2012, her older sister Savannah has served as her paid caregiver, providing the consistency and support that helps Morgan thrive.

But as Rose began putting long-term plans in place, she discovered a little-known North Carolina law standing in the way.

We talked about House Bill 543, legislation passed in 2013 that prevents a non-parent family member from serving as both guardian and paid caregiver. Rose believes the law was originally intended to prevent abuse and financial exploitation in certain care settings, but says its broad language creates unintended consequences for families like hers.

Our conversation explored what that means in practical terms—not just for Morgan, but for other North Carolina families trying to plan for the future of loved ones with disabilities. We discussed continuity of care, caregiver shortages, the challenges that come with major life transitions, and why stability can be so important for individuals with complex medical needs.

Along the way, Rose shared her efforts to contact legislators, committee members, and state officials in hopes of finding a solution. She also explained why she believes greater public awareness is needed and what she hopes lawmakers will consider moving forward.

Because sometimes the biggest challenges families face aren't medical.

They're legal.

And while laws are often written with good intentions, the real test is how they affect the people who have to live with them every day.

This is a conversation about family, caregiving, disability advocacy, and the difficult questions that arise when public policy collides with real life.

00:00 Show Intro

00:45 Health Scare and Future Planning

03:06 House Bill 543 Explained

04:40 Continuity of Care at Risk

06:59 Calling Lawmakers for Help

11:45 How Many Families Affected

14:39 Workarounds and Needed Fix

17:36 Morgan’s Voice and Social Media

19:43 How Caregiver Pay Works

22:19 How to Help and Closing

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:

#SpecialNeeds #DisabilityRights #NCPolitics #CerebralPalsy #NorthCarolina

I sat down with journalist AP Dillon to talk about something a lot of North Carolinians are still trying to make sense of: the lasting impact of the Cooper years.

Like many families, AP's life was turned upside down during COVID. We talked about homeschooling, school mask policies, vaccine concerns, and what it was like trying to navigate those years while also covering state government as a reporter.

But our conversation didn't stop there.

We dug into transparency in state government, Governor Roy Cooper's record in office, disaster recovery efforts after major hurricanes, school choice battles, public safety issues, and the ways political power gets exercised behind the scenes.

Along the way, AP shared what she learned from years of following Cooper's administration—tracking executive orders, public records, vetoes, and the decisions that shaped North Carolina during some of its most contentious years.

Whether you agree with her conclusions or not, the conversation raises bigger questions about accountability, transparency, and who gets heard when major decisions are being made.

Because politics isn't just something that happens in Raleigh.

It shows up in our schools, our churches, our businesses, our communities, and sometimes right at our own kitchen tables.

And if there's one thing North Carolina has taught me, it's that the stories worth telling are usually a lot more complicated than the headlines make them seem.

00:00 Lockdown Life Hacks

00:45 Kite Science Day

01:50 Masking School Chaos

02:50 Kids Get Radicalized

03:50 Vaccine Heart Scare

06:16 Cooper Briefings Blackout

06:35 How She Tracks Cooper

08:07 HB2 And The 2016 Playbook

09:35 Vetoes And Progressivism

10:48 Transparency And Records

15:57 Campaign Dirt And Rumors

19:05 Kristin Cooper Controversy

20:43 Make Stuff Cost Less

23:49 NCORR Disaster Recovery Fail

30:22 Helene Aftermath And Volunteers

33:57 Rebuilding and Resentment

35:01 Common Core Clash

37:58 School Choice Fight

43:22 Party Pressure and Veto Power

46:26 COVID Orders and Loss

50:46 Riots and Double Standards

57:26 Untested Rape Kit Backlog

01:00:48 Curated Politics and Transparency

01:02:03 Prison Releases and Soft Crime

01:04:48 National Guard and Next Chapter

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

• Venmo
• Cash App

Connect with AP Dillon:

• X

Connect with Where the Dogwood Blooms:

• Website
• Instagram
• X
• TikTok

Contact:

• cassie@wherethedogwoodblooms.com

Tags:

#APDillon #RoyCooper #NCPolitics #NorthCarolina #ConservativePolitics

I sat down with my friend Ellie Parker to talk about her ancestor, Brodie Duke—the black sheep of the Duke family.

If you’ve ever heard his name, it’s probably been attached to scandal. Brodie had a reputation—alcohol, failed marriages, and headlines that followed him across the country.

For a long time, that’s where his story has started and ended.

But here’s the part most folks don’t know:

The Duke empire? It traces back to his vision.

Brodie was the one who helped pull his family into tobacco manufacturing in Durham, laying the groundwork for what would become one of the most powerful business dynasties in the South.

So I asked the question—was he really just the family’s cautionary tale? Or was he something more complicated than that?

This conversation digs into both sides of Brodie: the troublemaker the newspapers loved, and the man whose ideas helped shape North Carolina history.

Because like a lot of stories around here—it ain’t clean, it ain’t simple, and it sure ain’t one-sided.

And in that way, it might just be one of the most North Carolina stories there is.

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:

#NCHistory #UntoldStories #Storytelling #BrodieDuke #DukeFamily #DurhamNC #TobaccoHistory #SouthernRoots

I sat down with Jonah Garson, Vice Chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party, for a long conversation about politics, culture, and policy here in North Carolina.

We start with a softball: why North Carolina voters split their tickets so often. We talk about the state’s long tradition of independent voters, the fact that North Carolina elects a whole slate of executive offices, and how the governor’s power here was intentionally designed to be weaker than in most states.

From there, we get into the debate over transgender participation in sports and bathroom access, revisiting the fallout from the Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act. Jonah argues that transgender women have become a political scapegoat and that conversations about safety should include everyone. I push back by raising concerns about women’s privacy, trauma, and self-defense, which naturally leads us into a broader discussion about guns and public safety.

We also talk about disaster response and rebuilding after Hurricane Helene—from flood-zone rebuilding limits to insurance denials and the question of whether more government actually helps or just adds red tape. Jonah makes the case for better government, not necessarily bigger government.

Along the way, we wade into a whole list of thorny topics: the “socialism” label in American politics, healthcare debates like single-payer vs. frustrations with Obamacare, welfare benefit cliffs that trap people in poverty, federalism and local power, crime and prison reform, and the lingering fallout from COVID policies.

And yes—we end with the classic political hot seat moment when Jonah declines to answer the simplest question of all.

00:00 — Meet the Guest

01:45 — Why North Carolina Voters Split Tickets

03:20 — Why North Carolina Has a Weak Governor

04:37 — Trans Rights and the HB2 Debate

06:23 — Bathroom Safety and the Scapegoating Argument

13:16 — Guns, Self-Defense, and Public Safety

15:44 — Social Media and Debate Culture

18:40 — Storm Response and Infrastructure

21:16 — Hurricane Helene Recovery vs. Red Tape

26:03 — “Better Government” vs. “Bigger Government”

28:26 — Neighbors Helping Neighbors

29:04 — Teasing the Tougher Questions

29:30 — The “Socialism” Label Debate

31:58 — Healthcare: Single-Payer vs. Obamacare Frustrations

37:29 — Nordic Models and Immigration

40:51 — Federalism and Local Control

50:36 — Welfare Benefit Cliffs

54:50 — Crime, Prisons, and Reform

59:28 — COVID Policy Fallout

01:03:01 — The Gotcha Question

Connect with Jonah Garson:

• Website
• X

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:

#JonahGarson #ConservativeVersusDemocrat #CivilPoliticalDiscussion #HurricaneHeleneRecovery #TransgenderSportsDebate #WhatIsAWoman

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:

• Venmo
• Cash App

Connect with Where the Dogwood Blooms:

• Website
• Instagram
• X
• TikTok

Contact:

• cassie@wherethedogwoodblooms.com

Tags:

#NCORR #DaveBoliek #HurricaneRecovery #NorthCarolina #WhereTheDogwoodBlooms