1on1 With Jon Evans

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 conveys, overcoming a hurricane interruption, and working together on-screen for the first time.

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.

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. Highsmith has already noticed the difference.

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 the engine, Brien believes CFC can be the vehicle to drive understanding and generational change.

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 degrees, taught courses at law school and practiced law for a dozen years. But in the end, Greta says attending a toga party made a bigger difference in launching her television career.

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 had to tell his brother to stop being so funny.

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 retired pro basketball player who helped to get it finished, and the stories he wants to tell in Chapter II. 

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 adoption into the successful Fostering Hope podcast.

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.

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 administrators violated any laws in handling allegations brought to their attention. Dr. Foust talks about how he plans to address the challenges that lie ahead, in and out of the classroom.

Trevor Donovan has been on hiatus since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. But the actor is getting back in front of the cameras, coming to Wilmington in September to star in another Christmas movie for the Hallmark Channel. Donovan talks about working under new pandemic-related safety rules, the importance of his breakthrough role on the CW's 90210, and the decision he calls the ‘best of his career’.

New Hanover Regional Medical Center has operated for more than 50 years as a public hospital. That's likely to change by the end of 2020, as negotiations are underway to sell NHRMC to Novant Health in a deal worth upwards of $5 billion. Jon interviews the two Chief Executive Officers, John Gizdic of NHRMC and Carl Armato of Novant, with questions raised by the public, and hears how they believe the partnership will reform healthcare and improve lives in southeastern North Carolina.

Beck Black grew up in rural North Carolina loving to sing and play music. Little did she know one day, she would be teamed up with one of the most famous musicians in the world. Beck’s new song, “Who’s Gonna Save Rock n’ Roll”, features Ringo Starr on drums, and the former Beatle also appears in the music video. Here’s the story of how it all came together, and what’s on the horizon for Beck Black’s music career.

According to the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, 129 journalists were physically attacked while covering protests that followed the death of George Floyd. They were shoved to the ground, hit with batons, rubber rounds, tear gas, rocks, bottles and other projectiles, all while trying to document the history-making Black Lives Matter movement. Four television news reporters describe their experiences and emotions of covering the civil unrest.

After earning three degrees from Ivy League schools and handling multiple health crises on the federal and state levels, Dr. Mandy Cohen says she never anticipated having to help ten million people through a pandemic. Now, as Secretary of North Carolina's Department of Health and Human Services, Dr. Cohen is the face of the state’s effort to stop the spread of COVID-19, while balancing being a wife and mom to two little girls.

Few partnerships in radio or television have lasted as long as the one forged by John Isley and Bill James. They met in 1980 and are still together today on the wildly successful “John Boy & Billy Big Show”, waking people up with laughter on radio stations across the country. We caught up with John Isley in Wrightsville Beach, where he spends a lot of time away from work, and asked about how he got his start, the crew involved in producing the ‘Big Show’ magic, and how much longer the show will go on.

As a child growing up along the North Carolina coast, Christina Koch used to look up at the stars from her backyard and dream about exploring the heavens. Decades later, she rode a rocket to the International Space Station and set the record for longest single space flight by a woman. The NASA astronaut shares stories about her journey, almost missing the phone call, and her favorite memories of working and living in outer space.

The coronavirus pandemic could cost the North Carolina Community College System $2 billion. Future enrollment numbers are an unknown. Students are struggling financially and need assistance. Online learning must be improved, especially in rural areas. NCCCS President Peter Hans says schools are meeting these challenges and will be ready to offer educational opportunities when campuses are allowed to re-open.

Sanah Sayani had to close her spa business in March because of the coronavirus pandemic. But once the former television news reporter learned about the vital need for personal protection equipment in the fight against COVID-19, her space became headquarters for an all-volunteer effort to get free facemasks to anyone in need. So far, Tucker Makes Masks is at seven thousand, and counting.

You’ve watched them on WECT News for years. Frances Weller and Ashlea Kosikowski continue to deliver vital information to viewers during the coronavirus pandemic, but they are not broadcasting live from the television studio. These award-winning journalists are anchoring newscasts remotely from their homes, practicing social distancing to stay safe. While it may be convenient, both news anchors say it’s not as easy as you might think.