Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. On today's episode, Ben Kinney speaks with Whitley Adkins, fashion stylist, creative director, and style editor for South Park Magazine. From playing dress-up in her grandmother's closet in Rocky Mount to chasing her dreams in New York City, Whitley shares the winding journey that led her to launch The Queen City Style and reshape Charlotte's fashion scene. She and Ben dig into the decline of men's business attire, the power of dressing well as your "visual calling card," and why formality still matters. Plus, Whitley reveals the bands she's blasting on set and at concerts with her son.

On today's episode, Ben Kinney speaks with Doug Searcy, president of Barton College in Wilson, North Carolina. Doug shares the story of his western North Carolina upbringing, the family courage that opened the door to higher education, and an unforgettable college lesson in accountability after he dented the president's car. He and Ben dig into Barton's growth alongside a thriving Wilson, new programs in health sciences and AI-driven business, and why civil discourse and critical thinking matter more than ever. Stick around to the end for Doug's love of 80s rock, James Taylor, and a good Dick's hot dog.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. In today's episode, Ben Kinney speaks with Brian Vigna, cybersecurity specialist at NC State University's Industry Expansion Services, about why small businesses can't afford to ignore cybersecurity. Brian shares his winding path from sports broadcasting to cyber, explains the "defense in depth" mindset, and breaks down the real cost of a breach, from lost production to forensics. Then the two swap notes on live music, trading favorite jam bands (Goose, Dogs in a Pile, Eggie), the magic of Nugs, and top North Carolina venues. Plus, how to tap IES's free resources for small manufacturers.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. On today's episode, Ben Kinney speaks with Adam Sperling, Executive Director of the Truist Championship, about the return of premier professional golf to Charlotte's iconic Quail Hollow Club, May 6-10. Adam shares his winding path into the golf world — from a college internship at the 2003 PGA Championship to stints at Pebble Beach, Las Vegas, and eventually Charlotte for the 2021 Presidents Cup — and why he fell in love with the region. He breaks down what's new for this year's tournament, including three reimagined fan zones, a partnership with Atrium Health offering free water and Stanley cups, first-ever public grandstand seating on the 17th green courtesy of Hendrick Auto, and a new wayfinding app powered by CPI Security. The two also dig into what makes Charlotte's corporate community so uniquely invested in events like this, the power of golf as a community gathering, and — naturally — their shared love of Goose, Bruce Springsteen, and whether playing music on the course is still controversial.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. In this episode, Ben Kinney speaks with Ken Norton, executive director of Cakeable, a Charlotte-based nonprofit workforce development program that trains adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and places them in jobs throughout the community. An Air Force veteran turned pastor turned nonprofit leader, Ken explains how Cakeable uses its cafe and coffee house on Tryon Street in Uptown Charlotte as a training ground, then graduates participants into positions everywhere from the Carolina Panthers stadium to the Delta Sky Lounge to Compass Group cafeterias. He discusses the challenges of scaling a mission-driven nonprofit, how Cakeable's social workers support both graduates and the businesses that hire them, and why the organization sees itself not as a charity but as an advocate for highly capable people who bring real value to the workplace.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. In this episode, Ben Kinney speaks with Jim Hansen, Regional President and Southeast Territory Executive for PNC Financial Services Group, about his 25-year career journey in banking — from starting at a small North Carolina bank called Centura, through mergers and moves, to helping bring the PNC brand to life across the state. Jim discusses PNC's ambitious plan to add 50 new branches across North Carolina over the next four years, why physical branches still matter in a digital world, and how the company is embracing AI through an internal agentic AI hackathon open to all 55,000 employees. The two longtime friends also bond over their shared love of NC State, classic rock radio, and the Acquired podcast.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. In this episode, Ben Kinney speaks with Zeb Smathers, the mayor of Canton, North Carolina, about how his small western North Carolina town has weathered an extraordinary run of adversity — from COVID to Tropical Storm Fred's devastating floods, the sudden closure of the paper mill that employed 1,100 people, and Hurricane Helene. A Duke undergrad and UNC law graduate who returned home to practice law with his father, Zeb shares how Canton went from a 20% downtown occupancy rate to nearly 90% by embracing its authentic mill town identity rather than trying to become something it wasn't. He lays out his bold vision for "The Hometown of Tomorrow" — redeveloping the 150-acre former mill site into an economic engine for the entire region — and reflects on the grit and grace that define not just Canton, but North Carolina's small towns.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. In this episode, Ben Kenney interviews Whit Tuttle, Director of Visit North Carolina, about the state of travel and tourism in North Carolina in 2025, industry trends, and the impact of economic factors. They also discuss Whit's musical interests, especially Warren Zevon, and the influence of cultural icons.  

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. On today's episode of "Chatter with BNC", we speak with Sasha Weintraub, the executive vice president and chief customer officer for Duke Energy. He's worked for the company for more than 25 years, including as president of the natural gas business. He explains how North Carolina and Duke Energy are preparing for surging power demand from more data centers needed for artificial intelligence computing. The utility is balancing the need for more electricity without levying sharp increases on residential power bills, Weintraub says. He has a bachelor's degree in engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; a master's degree from Columbia University and a doctorate from NC State University.

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people. On today's episode, Ben Kinney speaks with Kit Cramer, President and CEO of the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce. Kit shares her journey from PR work in Florida to 18 years at the Charlotte Chamber, a stint leading the International Downtown Association in Washington, D.C., and ultimately landing in Asheville. The conversation covers her philosophy on leadership and being a "fixer," the ongoing recovery of Western North Carolina following Hurricane Helene, and the remarkable resilience and community spirit she's witnessed. The two also swap stories about live music, cover bands, and their shared love of yacht rock.