1on1 with Jon Evans

Ward Larsen flew combat missions and commercial jets—now he’s writing in one of the most iconic thriller universes ever created. In this episode, the New York Times bestselling author joins Jon Evans to talk about his first Tom Clancy/Jack Ryan novel,  Rules of Engagement —and how his aviation background helped him bring something new to the series. Larsen shares the behind-...

In this episode of  1on1 with Jon Evans , Jon sits down with  Ralph Johnson —original member, vocalist, songwriter, and percussionist for the legendary  Earth, Wind & Fire —ahead of the band’s stop in  Wilmington  at  Live Oak Bank Pavilion . Johnson shares why EWF is “not just a band,” but an energy  rooted in  Maurice Whit...

Actress, author, producer, and advocate Elaine Hendrix – who became an icon to many as Meredith Blake from the movie The Parent Trap —joins “1on1 with Jon Evans” ahead of her newest role, as Queen of the 2026 North Carolina Azalea Festival in Wilmington. Hendrix talks about returning to a celebration she remembers as “wonderfully wild&rdq...

Mattress executive-turned-studio CEO Kirk Englebright shares the unlikely pivot that led him from retail success to launching Dark Horse Stages, the newest studio for filmmakers in North Carolina. A surprise phone call turned a busted deal into a huge opportunity, and Englebright’s momentum exploded with rapid-fire productions, a major expansion with state-of-the-art stages, a head...

More than a half-century has passed since Harry Wayne Casey had his first #1 hit record. You may know him better as “KC”, the founder of KC and the Sunshine Band , the group that had a string of chart-topping singles in the 1970s and dominated the Billboard HOT 100. KC just turned 75, and continues to entertain fans with his plans to “..do a little dance, make a little love, and...

Lilah Pate had her first on-screen acting role when she was ten years old. More than a decade later, her career is taking off after starring as Sophia on the hit Prime Video series  The Runarounds . The experience also helped Lilah open her heart once again to her first love of singing. 

Clandestine late-night meetings in a park. Brushing past a contact, and discreetly sliding a note into a pocket. That was Ann E. Butler ’s life for more than 25 years as an undercover agent for the Central Intelligence Agency. She lived and worked in cities around the world, recruiting people to spy on their own government and share secrets with the United States. In her new book, Wife, Moth...

After spending decades as a screenwriter in Hollywood, Chris Hauty became a bestselling author with his series of thrillers featuring intelligence operative Hayley Chill. In his new book, Dead Ringer , Hauty delves into the world of conspiracy theories surrounding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. A former secret-service agent must protect a university professor as they chase clues i...

When Tom Llamas took over as fulltime anchor of NBC’s flagship Nightly News in June, he joined a list of legendary journalists who have had their name on that broadcast. The Miami native’s career has now come full circle from when he first joined the network as an intern 25 years ago. Many jobs and long shifts later, Llamas is now out front, dialed in, and venturing into the future of...

The Runarounds is Wilmington’s new television series from the creators of the hit show Outer Banks . It follows a group of high school grads who form a garage band and chase their dreams of being rock stars. Original music, teenage romance, and the quest for fame are the backdrop for this high-energy story featuring real-life rockers William Lipton, Axel Ellis, Jeremy Yun, Zendé Murdo...

New York Times bestselling author Kyle Mills published his first book featuring former Navy SEAL Salam al-Fayed, called  Fade , in 2005. After writing three books in Robert Ludlum’s universe and nine featuring Vince Flynn’s beloved character Mitch Rapp , Mills decided to bring Fade back from the dead. Fade In is Mills’s 24 th thriller, a pulse-pounding thrill ride of a book...

Edwin McCain says his breakthrough 1998 hit I’ll Be saved his recording career. A year later, he hit the Top-10 again with I Could Not Ask For More . Now, 30 years after the release of his first album on a major record label, McCain has released his 11 th record, Lucky , the first collection of all-new songs from the South Carolina native in 15 years. He is also going out on a coast-to-coast...

The families of five murder victims have waited years, even decades, for justice. They lost mothers, fathers, sons and daughters to violent crimes in the Wilmington area, and the killers have never paid the price. In this special podcast episode, you’ll hear detectives talk about the investigations into these unsolved murders, while loved ones share their feelings about the pain that has nev...

Larry the Cable Guy grew out of Dan Whitney's stand-up comedy routines. The character known for his Southern drawl and rapid-fire one-liners has become an American success story, selling millions of tickets, CDs and DVDs, winning several awards, and starring in the Blue Collar Comedy Tour shows. But the native of Nebraska says his biggest break came when he got the chance to voice the character of...

Bethany Joy Lenz ’s acting career took off in 2003, when she got the role of Haley James Scott on the hit show One Tree Hill . Fans of the Wilmington-based show didn’t know that while Lenz enjoyed success on-screen, her personal life was being manipulated by leaders of a religious cult. Lenz’s bestselling 2024 memoir, Dinner for Vampires , details how she was lured into ‘Th...

Mike Krzyzewski would be at or near the top of any short list ranking history’s best college basketball coaches. He won more games than any other coach in his 46-year career, leading Duke University to five men’s national championships. He also won Olympic Gold Medals coaching Team USA, and prepared countless young men for their post-college careers on and off the court. Now two years...

Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield formed the Righteous Brothers in 1962, after leaving the singing group they were in called The Paramours . The soulful duo topped the music charts with You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin'  and ( You’re My) Soul and Inspiration, and hit the top-ten with others including Unchained Melody and Rock and Roll Heaven . After Hatfield’s sudden death...

As Editor-in-Chief of her Tell-Tale TV website, Ashley Bissette Sumerel has reviewed some of the top shows on television and interviewed some of its’ biggest stars. Sumerel is a Rotten Tomatoes -approved critic and a member of the Critics Choice Association , where her vote counts in deciding the year’s best performances. Her “Talking TV” career all started as a side hustle...

Kathleen Baker overcame being diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease to become one of the best swimmers in the world, winning gold and silver medals in Rio de Janeiro with the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team. Baker set her sights on returning to the games in 2020, but she never got that second chance at Olympic gold. Now the North Carolina native is supporting a project that could help train the next generat...

Ben Folds, the acclaimed singer/songwriter and founder of the 90’s indie rock band Ben Folds Five , is returning to his home state of North Carolina to headline From Wilmington With Love , a benefit concert supporting Hurricane Helene relief. But there’s more on the platinum-record selling performer’s plate. Folds is preparing to record a live performance with the National Sympho...

Mike Oblinger took over as Athletic Director at UNCW in April of 2023, coming to Wilmington from the University of Connecticut where he worked alongside coaches and administrators who won several national championships. Oblinger brings years of experience in fundraising and administration, looking to take Seahawk athletics to the next level, while ensuring the front porch is in great shape.

They fly at 400 miles per hour in fighter jets that are inches apart. The Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron has entertained crowds for decades with precision mid-air maneuvers, and U.S. Marine Corps pilot Major Frank Zastoupil had one of the best seats in the house. Major Zastoupil, who is now stationed in North Carolina, is featured in new movie called  The Blue Angels , which takes...

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 Imogene , is resonating with festival audien...

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, several life-changing moments se...

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, and she’s working harder than ever to...