1on1 with Jon Evans

What happens when a high-level corporate finance executive spends nine years rising before dawn to write a gritty North Carolina-based crime novel that catches the attention of an acclaimed, award-winning indie filmmaker? In this episode of 1on1 with Jon Evans, author Michael Sledge and NC native filmmaker Daniel Peddle join Jon to discuss their creative partnership adapting Sledge’s debut crime novel, Cold Moon Rising, into a feature-length screenplay.

Michael shares the disciplined writing routine that carried him from the corporate boardroom to the literary world, while Daniel reflects on his 25-year filmmaking career and what drew him back to the rich landscapes of North Carolina—from the historic streets of Raleigh and Wilmington to the remote wilderness of the Alligator River Preserve. Together, they break down the challenges of turning words into visual storytelling, peeling back layers of complex characters, and pitching an authentic North Carolina story to Hollywood producers.

Whether you're an aspiring author, film buff, or fan of homegrown Carolina stories, this conversation offers a fascinating look at creative reinvention, collaboration, and cinematic storytelling.

Check out past episodes of the 1on1 with Jon Evans podcast online at wect.com and across your favorite podcast platforms.

Thirty years after Category 3 Hurricane Fran devastated southeastern North Carolina with 115 mph winds and a 13-foot storm surge, we look back at the costliest natural disaster in the state's history at the time. In this special episode of 1on1, former emergency management directors Dan Summers and Carson Smith share behind-the-scenes stories of holding communities together when all outside rescue help was cut off. You will also hear the chilling survival accounts of residents who stayed behind, including a terrifying recorded 911 call of a family huddling in a bathroom as the ocean tore their home apart.

What happens when a real-world TOPGUN graduate and commercial airline pilot takes the helm of a character in the legendary Tom Clancy universe? In this episode, retired U.S. Navy fighter pilot and bestselling author Jack Stewart joins the show to discuss his heart-pounding new thriller, Pressure Depth. He shares how he traded thirty-seven thousand feet for the claustrophobic depths of deep-sea saturation diving to put Jack Ryan Jr. in his most dangerous setting yet, the intense mental pressure of honoring the Clancy legacy, and how a chance mentorship with Ward Larsen helped him pilot his way to the bestseller list. Strap in for a deep dive into high-stress environments, technical realism, and the ultimate military techno-thriller.

Peter Zampa is everywhere. As the senior national correspondent for Gray Media, Peter travels the country covering major news stories for WECT News and more than 100 other newsrooms nationwide. From the halls of Capitol Hill and high-profile trials in New York City to the quiet heartland of America, he has spent over a decade shaping what it means to deliver trusted, localized national news.

In this episode, Peter takes us behind the scenes of his acclaimed travel series, Listening to America, sharing what it is truly like to step into the living rooms of everyday Americans to tell their stories. He opens up about his early days as a "one-man band" reporter in Washington, D.C.—carrying his own camera, microphone, and tripod while going toe-to-toe with network giants—and how those gritty roots made him a more precise and empathetic storyteller.

We also dive into the real, raw anxieties that come with modern journalism. Peter shares a candid look at the "cold sweat" moments of waking up in the middle of the night, worrying if he has done justice to the people who trusted him with their stories. From growing up in a household of journalists to his heartbreak over the Oakland A's leaving his hometown, this is a wide-ranging conversation about passion, perfectionism, and the privilege of being invited into people's homes every single day.

Jesse La Flair is a professional freerunner, actor, director and entrepreneur who has amassed a social media following in the millions — and his story is built on the idea of progressions.

In this episode of the 1on1 with Jon Evans podcast, Jesse explains how he first discovered parkour, why fear isn’t something elite athletes “turn off,” and how training for precision on the ground eventually becomes confidence in the air. We also talk about the moment Casino Royale helped put parkour on the map, and how Jesse used early YouTube momentum to build a massive audience.

Jesse shares what it’s really like working in stunts, including a late-night Marvel production moment that made him step back and ask bigger questions about risk, family, and why he wasn’t the actor on camera. He also talks about training at Actors Arsenal in Wilmington — and how “stillness” and emotion became the next skill set to master — plus the whirlwind experience of booking and filming a guest star role on Law & Order: SVU.

And when I asked Jesse what he sees in the mirror at 41, he gave an honest answer about the highs, the pressure, and the grind that continues even after a major win.

If you’re into parkour, filmmaking, acting, or if you’ve ever had to find a new way in — Jesse’s “third door” mindset is worth hearing.

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-the-scenes process of writing for the Clancy estate, the pressure of meeting a devoted fanbase’s expectations, and how he balances realism with readability when he puts readers in the cockpit. We also dive into his path from a first solo flight in a Cessna to flying 22 missions in Operation Desert Storm, then spending more than 30 years as a Southwest Airlines captain before retiring in 2026—plus where his thriller ideas come from, and why his writing style is more “seat-of-the-pants” than checklist-driven.

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 White’s vision—built on movement, musicianship, and a nightly pre-show circle of prayer to “bring that energy in” and send it out to the crowd. He reflects on the surreal reach of the catalog (including the claim that an EWF song plays somewhere in the world every 98 seconds) and what it means when fans call the music the soundtrack to their lives.

Ralph also opens up about the band’s abrupt 1982 pause, the years he spent doing whatever it took to provide for his family—including construction work and selling stereos in Hollywood—and the call that brought him back to help carry the torch with Verdine White and Philip Bailey. Plus: why “September” still closes the show—and what it means if you walk in and hear it.

Listen now for a conbversation about timeless hits, big energy, and the rhythm that never quits!

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”, and why she can’t wait to connect with the community. She also opens up about the life-changing accident that ended her dance career, the “second chance” she found on Dancing with the Stars, and the unexpected fan support that carried her through injury setbacks. Plus, we get a pop-culture gem: how her Inspector Gadget 2 character became the Happy Meal toy she still treasures today.

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 headline-making booking of MrBeast, and a growing role as an advocate for North Carolina’s film industry.

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 Get Down Tonight!”