1 00:00:04,879 --> 00:00:07,160 Speaker 1: What's going on? Thank you so much for listening to 2 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:09,640 this podcast. It is heard live every day from noon 3 00:00:09,679 --> 00:00:12,480 to three on WBT Radio in Charlotte. And if you 4 00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:16,719 want exclusive content like invitations to events, the weekly live stream, 5 00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:19,239 my daily show prep with all the links, become a patron, 6 00:00:19,320 --> 00:00:22,640 go to vpeteclendershow dot com. Make sure you hit the 7 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:25,160 subscribe button. Get every episode for free right to your 8 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:27,719 smartphone or tablet, and again, thank you so much for 9 00:00:27,760 --> 00:00:32,399 your support. I want to welcome to the program Sean Hendrix. 10 00:00:33,320 --> 00:00:36,280 In case you are on the Twitter machine formerly known 11 00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:39,759 as X. He goes by the Sean Hendrix. That's Hendrix 12 00:00:39,799 --> 00:00:43,000 with an X, and he actually is one of the reasons, 13 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:46,399 if not the reason, why folks in western North Carolina 14 00:00:46,520 --> 00:00:50,799 got starlink set up in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. 15 00:00:50,840 --> 00:00:52,960 And so Shawn, welcome to the program, sir. How are you? 16 00:00:54,119 --> 00:00:55,920 Speaker 2: Yeah? Thanks for having me sure. 17 00:00:55,640 --> 00:00:58,000 Speaker 1: And first off, I want to thank you for all 18 00:00:58,079 --> 00:01:02,320 that you have done to help Western North Carolina, all 19 00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:05,359 your efforts, because it didn't just stop with the starlink 20 00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:09,000 tweet that Elon Musk saw apparently and then responded to. 21 00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:13,439 So walk me through. I guess the days where like 22 00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:17,079 the storm rolls in and because you're and correct me 23 00:01:17,079 --> 00:01:19,599 if I'm wrong, are you sort of eastern North Carolina? 24 00:01:20,640 --> 00:01:22,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm eastern North Carolina. 25 00:01:22,519 --> 00:01:25,359 Speaker 1: So you see the storm. Okay, all right, So you 26 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:27,959 see the storm come in, you see the aftermath of it, 27 00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:31,920 and I guess what prompts you to Well, I guess 28 00:01:31,920 --> 00:01:34,439 I should ask first, did you then go immediately to 29 00:01:34,560 --> 00:01:37,519 western North Carolina to help and then send Well, I 30 00:01:37,560 --> 00:01:38,359 don't the tweet. 31 00:01:38,400 --> 00:01:41,159 Speaker 2: Yeah, I don't think they knew how bad it was 32 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:43,599 in the beginning. You know, it's like we didn't get 33 00:01:43,680 --> 00:01:45,959 much of it on the coast, just you know, some 34 00:01:46,079 --> 00:01:50,040 rains and wind. And I got a phone call saying, hey, 35 00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:55,159 it's really bad. Everything's down communication wise. We're gonna we're 36 00:01:55,200 --> 00:01:58,719 gonna fly in on a jet with thirty starlings, but 37 00:01:58,799 --> 00:02:00,480 we can't get a hold of anyone on the ground 38 00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:03,400 to distribute them. And we know from you know, you're 39 00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:06,560 online presence that you're in North Carolina. Would you help 40 00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:08,840 us get them out? And I was like, oh, sure, 41 00:02:08,879 --> 00:02:11,039 you know one percent. So I jumped in, loaded on 42 00:02:11,080 --> 00:02:13,840 my gear up, and headed up and as I got closer, 43 00:02:13,879 --> 00:02:17,039 I realized, oh gosh, this is just getting worse, and 44 00:02:17,039 --> 00:02:21,039 then it became a apocalyptic I was just an absolutely 45 00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:24,000 nightmare to even get to the airport. And then once 46 00:02:24,039 --> 00:02:25,879 we got to starlinks, we started handing them out and 47 00:02:25,879 --> 00:02:29,000 I realized that, my goodness, these fire departments are overwhelmed. 48 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:32,840 I mean, they've lost houses, they've lost loved ones. They're 49 00:02:32,879 --> 00:02:36,439 not in any position to like take over distributing all 50 00:02:36,479 --> 00:02:39,319 these starlinks and getting them set up. And so I 51 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:41,439 ended up partnering with the United Cajun Navy. They had 52 00:02:41,439 --> 00:02:44,960 a helicopter and we started dropping these starlinks off and 53 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:47,120 all these fire stations just going in setting them up 54 00:02:47,159 --> 00:02:49,520 and going, guys, you have internet, and a lot of 55 00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:51,599 these first responders hadn't even middle check in with their 56 00:02:51,639 --> 00:02:54,759 family members outside the area. They have no cook did 57 00:02:54,759 --> 00:02:57,120 their family die in the flood? And so it's just 58 00:02:57,159 --> 00:02:59,199 it was so amazing to see these guys making phone 59 00:02:59,199 --> 00:03:01,960 calls follow in their family outside the area and saying, hey, 60 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:05,159 we're okay. You know, we lost a lot, but the kids, 61 00:03:05,159 --> 00:03:07,919 the brand kids, they're okay. And I was fold I'm like, oh, 62 00:03:07,960 --> 00:03:10,000 We've got to keep doing this. This is so important. 63 00:03:10,439 --> 00:03:13,120 Seeing people get met orders for heart medicine flown in. 64 00:03:13,639 --> 00:03:16,280 It just it was so important to get communications back up. 65 00:03:16,879 --> 00:03:20,159 Speaker 1: Yeah, I remember in the first days it was the primary, 66 00:03:20,599 --> 00:03:24,560 you know, first order response that was needed because you 67 00:03:24,639 --> 00:03:28,879 didn't even know. We couldn't get information about where people 68 00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:31,639 were that needed help because there was zero comms. 69 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:34,319 Speaker 2: And I want to I want to give a shout 70 00:03:34,319 --> 00:03:38,960 out though to Lenor my amateur radio. They the AM 71 00:03:39,080 --> 00:03:42,879 operators were actually the first line we had am communications 72 00:03:42,879 --> 00:03:45,599 the moment the storm hit, but after that we obviously 73 00:03:45,599 --> 00:03:48,560 needed more, right, So it's the HAM radio was like 74 00:03:48,599 --> 00:03:51,199 the only thing during the storm and then right after starling. 75 00:03:51,599 --> 00:03:54,919 But those guys, those guys were super critical and they 76 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:56,759 sure did a lot to help the recovery. 77 00:03:56,960 --> 00:04:01,360 Speaker 1: Absolutely, Yeah, the HAM operators were essential as well. So 78 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:04,520 the the All right, so you you start dropping these 79 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:08,759 off at the fire departments. But and I don't know, uh, starlink, 80 00:04:09,199 --> 00:04:11,159 I don't know how it operates or anything. But I 81 00:04:11,159 --> 00:04:14,039 heard you say that they had Internet, so does But 82 00:04:14,319 --> 00:04:16,959 I thought starlink does Internet or does it not? 83 00:04:17,160 --> 00:04:20,600 Speaker 2: Like, okay, no, it is Internet. Yeah, So starlink is 84 00:04:20,639 --> 00:04:23,120 just a Wi Fi connection. It's just a broadband connection 85 00:04:23,639 --> 00:04:26,759 to low Earth orbit satellites. The thing what we're struggling 86 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:29,160 with was is like, we're trying to set up account 87 00:04:29,199 --> 00:04:31,519 and put our credit card on them, and it was 88 00:04:31,560 --> 00:04:34,480 slowing us down. That's why I tweeted Elon. I was like, man, 89 00:04:34,519 --> 00:04:36,959 this is killing us. Please make them free just if 90 00:04:37,199 --> 00:04:40,199 starlink turns on a disaster zone. Let's just make it work, 91 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:43,040 right because minutes, you know, minutes are hours in a 92 00:04:43,079 --> 00:04:46,920 disaster situation. And that's when he retweeted me and said, hey, 93 00:04:47,160 --> 00:04:49,879 they'll be free for the entire disaster zone. And then 94 00:04:49,879 --> 00:04:52,000 they turned on and shipped me like fifty more units. 95 00:04:52,040 --> 00:04:54,759 So uh, it was it was just so critical to 96 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:56,000 the early recovery effort. 97 00:04:56,680 --> 00:04:58,759 Speaker 1: So did you know, do you know Elon Musk or 98 00:04:58,800 --> 00:05:00,319 was this just like a shot in the arc you 99 00:05:00,399 --> 00:05:04,279 were taking? Just hey, hail Mary tweeted the guy CV response. 100 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:06,879 Speaker 2: I mean it was definitely a hell Mary. I mean, 101 00:05:06,879 --> 00:05:08,480 to be fair, I said two words to him at 102 00:05:08,480 --> 00:05:11,120 the super Bowl once, but other than that we had 103 00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:14,800 no interactions. I don't even remember that moment. But but 104 00:05:14,839 --> 00:05:17,079 it wasn't like he's a good buddy of mine. I 105 00:05:17,079 --> 00:05:20,480 think he just saw from my post he fundamentally understood 106 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:23,240 what I was going through, and he immediately recognized it 107 00:05:23,319 --> 00:05:25,399 because I got once I posted it, somebody ran out 108 00:05:25,439 --> 00:05:28,600 to me like Elon retweeted Jim but what and I 109 00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:30,120 just it was a hell Mary. But then all of 110 00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:32,480 a sudden, my phone's ringing and it's like, hy this 111 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:35,680 is Starling. I'm like, that's kind of crazy. They're like, 112 00:05:35,759 --> 00:05:37,800 whatever you need, we're here to help. I was just thought. 113 00:05:37,839 --> 00:05:40,480 I was like that. I mean, I'll be a Starlink 114 00:05:40,519 --> 00:05:41,759 fan for life over without a loan. 115 00:05:42,079 --> 00:05:44,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, absolutely, all right. So all right, so you get 116 00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:48,360 the call, they give you fifty more units. So then 117 00:05:48,759 --> 00:05:49,720 what was the next phase? 118 00:05:49,759 --> 00:05:49,879 Speaker 2: Then? 119 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:52,600 Speaker 1: I guess you started dropping those off at other locations. 120 00:05:53,639 --> 00:05:56,839 Speaker 2: Yeah, really, I split them a Nick Soda or Chris 121 00:05:56,879 --> 00:05:59,319 Paul took some for me. They had a few day 122 00:05:59,319 --> 00:06:02,519 brought in as well. And Ryan Hall Ryan Paull y'all 123 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:04,759 the weather guy on YouTube, is who gave us the 124 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:08,519 original unit, so he started all this and Chandra flew 125 00:06:08,560 --> 00:06:11,920 them out to me. But then United Cajuan Navy was 126 00:06:11,959 --> 00:06:14,959 massive and getting units out today had a helicopter and 127 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:16,959 then I took care of everything up and down. I 128 00:06:17,079 --> 00:06:20,759 forty like Black Mountain Children, sell makes Self College and 129 00:06:21,480 --> 00:06:24,879 other local fire departments, but we got those out pretty quick. 130 00:06:24,920 --> 00:06:27,399 I mean we had ours deployed before FEMA returned their 131 00:06:27,399 --> 00:06:31,199 first unit on nine days later. And then then the 132 00:06:31,279 --> 00:06:34,800 weather started coming in. It's about to get really cold, 133 00:06:35,160 --> 00:06:37,879 and that's when Operation Shelter was born. We had to 134 00:06:37,959 --> 00:06:39,959 Basically we were going with like hot tins, just a 135 00:06:40,040 --> 00:06:42,120 tent with the wood burning snow, because it was all 136 00:06:42,160 --> 00:06:45,360 about survival at that point. But then all of a sudden, 137 00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:47,759 people started donating r vs to us, so we quickly 138 00:06:48,079 --> 00:06:50,199 givoted to r VS because I mean, America was just 139 00:06:50,759 --> 00:06:52,879 blown away to the generosity. People were giving us like thirty 140 00:06:52,879 --> 00:06:55,079 to forty thousand dollars RVs and just like take it 141 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:56,160 for as long as you need it. 142 00:06:57,360 --> 00:06:59,399 Speaker 1: So this is what I wanted to get into next 143 00:06:59,399 --> 00:07:04,120 Operation Shelter, And I saw the Gives send Go platform 144 00:07:04,279 --> 00:07:07,240 has Operations Shelter still listed up there? Are you still 145 00:07:07,240 --> 00:07:09,319 taking donations via that platform? 146 00:07:10,199 --> 00:07:12,720 Speaker 2: I mean we're we're building, We're just getting ready to 147 00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:15,279 break ground on a building, a brand new house. I mean, 148 00:07:15,279 --> 00:07:17,319 if somebody wanted to give more money, it would be spent. 149 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:21,600 Like there's no shortage of monetary need up there. We 150 00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:24,480 have a charity called here we grow it adopted us. 151 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:28,000 So the Growth Squad dot org. You know that's a 152 00:07:28,079 --> 00:07:30,519 five O one C three. I'd much rather go through there. 153 00:07:31,040 --> 00:07:32,399 I have a lot of people who want to use 154 00:07:32,439 --> 00:07:35,600 gibs send go and I get that. But you know, 155 00:07:35,800 --> 00:07:40,360 we partner together with Excel College, World Vision, Adventure Relief, 156 00:07:40,839 --> 00:07:44,720 Vallyohope Church, Murcery One. It's called the Better Together Coalition, 157 00:07:45,240 --> 00:07:47,399 and we've targeted together with a four acre campus up 158 00:07:47,399 --> 00:07:49,839 there with one hundred and fifty volunteers, and we will 159 00:07:49,879 --> 00:07:52,959 rebuild or restore three hundred and fifty houses by November. 160 00:07:53,360 --> 00:07:56,360 So yeah, I mean, like Western North Carolina is not 161 00:07:56,360 --> 00:07:58,680 going to get to a point any time soon. Whe're like, hey, 162 00:07:58,680 --> 00:08:00,560 we don't need any extra money, right, you know what 163 00:08:00,560 --> 00:08:03,120 I mean? So it's it's it's a long road, right. 164 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:06,720 Speaker 1: And I've I've done an interview with a fellow from 165 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:09,800 the Excel College. You can go to their website also 166 00:08:09,839 --> 00:08:14,480 Theexcelcollege dot com Slash Disaster Dash Relief uh And that's 167 00:08:14,519 --> 00:08:17,879 part of the Better Together Coalition. So how how did 168 00:08:17,879 --> 00:08:20,879 you get hooked up with all of all of those organizations? 169 00:08:21,360 --> 00:08:22,720 Speaker 2: Was was that Andrew? By chance? 170 00:08:23,480 --> 00:08:26,160 Speaker 1: I'm trying to remember it's been months. Yeah, so I 171 00:08:26,160 --> 00:08:28,160 think it was when it was first launched. Yeah, I 172 00:08:28,160 --> 00:08:28,480 think so. 173 00:08:28,720 --> 00:08:32,120 Speaker 2: Yeah. So the way I got hooked up with United 174 00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:35,039 Occasion Navy said, Excel College is a relief center. They 175 00:08:35,080 --> 00:08:38,519 have no internet. Please take them a starlink right now. 176 00:08:38,960 --> 00:08:40,679 I'm like, I'm on it. So I drove down there, 177 00:08:40,720 --> 00:08:42,639 I got them set up. I met Andrew, and we 178 00:08:42,799 --> 00:08:45,840 just have been working together ever since. You know, a 179 00:08:45,919 --> 00:08:48,799 dollar to any of those organizations, Mercury one is a 180 00:08:48,879 --> 00:08:51,279 very easy one to find too. A dollar to any 181 00:08:51,320 --> 00:08:55,320 of those organizations is going to help rebuild western North Carolina. 182 00:08:56,120 --> 00:08:57,720 But yeah, that's how I got connected. I set up 183 00:08:57,720 --> 00:09:00,320 a starlink, and then I got to try go to 184 00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:04,440 Prime from Logan. Paul delivered there. We got Jacklinks to 185 00:09:04,519 --> 00:09:07,120 deliver its higher semi truck full of beef turkey. It 186 00:09:07,200 --> 00:09:10,840 just kind of became our hub up in the mountains. 187 00:09:10,919 --> 00:09:11,200 Speaker 1: Yeah. 188 00:09:11,240 --> 00:09:14,519 Speaker 2: And I would run out and grab truckloads, be it 189 00:09:14,600 --> 00:09:17,240 generators or heaters or what if we needed. I would 190 00:09:17,240 --> 00:09:20,120 go down the mountains at Greenville or Raleigh or wherever, 191 00:09:20,639 --> 00:09:23,039 load up in a loads, and then we just brought 192 00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:25,840 shruckload and truckload of stuff back. I mean I remember 193 00:09:25,919 --> 00:09:28,360 Murphy one, we needed generators really bad, and he's like, well, 194 00:09:28,360 --> 00:09:31,200 send you a truckload. I'm thinking like and a semi 195 00:09:31,240 --> 00:09:33,480 truck pulled over one hundred dollars or the generators on it. 196 00:09:34,080 --> 00:09:36,320 So I was just it was just I was literally 197 00:09:36,399 --> 00:09:38,480 humbled every day of how generous everyone was. 198 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:42,559 Speaker 1: Well, it's one of these things in every disaster that 199 00:09:42,639 --> 00:09:46,960 I have covered over twenty years in media, it's it's 200 00:09:46,960 --> 00:09:50,480 always the same, which is so many people want to help, 201 00:09:50,759 --> 00:09:54,399 they just don't know how, and so giving them, you know, 202 00:09:54,519 --> 00:09:58,720 the focus or the target, and then they they just 203 00:09:58,799 --> 00:10:01,519 they want to pour everything into that thing. And so 204 00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:03,919 I always look at sort of what my role is 205 00:10:04,039 --> 00:10:07,799 like that certain entities and say, I trust these guys. 206 00:10:07,840 --> 00:10:10,960 I trust this organization they're doing this kind of work. 207 00:10:10,960 --> 00:10:12,600 And one of the things I like about Excel College 208 00:10:12,639 --> 00:10:16,399 is that they're they're organizing volunteer trips, which like some 209 00:10:16,440 --> 00:10:19,000 people can't donate money, but they can donate some time. 210 00:10:19,080 --> 00:10:21,039 They can get together with some people and go up 211 00:10:21,080 --> 00:10:23,360 there and they can do some stuff to help. And 212 00:10:23,399 --> 00:10:27,080 if you can't do that, there's also go up and visit, 213 00:10:27,159 --> 00:10:29,919 be a tourist, pump some money into the local economy. 214 00:10:29,960 --> 00:10:32,679 That's a really big deal as well, because these businesses 215 00:10:32,720 --> 00:10:35,799 were just devastated and a lot of people think that, 216 00:10:36,519 --> 00:10:38,759 you know, it's all still closed down and a lot 217 00:10:38,759 --> 00:10:41,320 of I was talking to Corey Valancourt's from the Smoky 218 00:10:41,360 --> 00:10:44,799 Mountain News and earlier this week, and you know, he 219 00:10:44,919 --> 00:10:46,720 was pointing out like there are some areas that were 220 00:10:46,759 --> 00:10:50,759 completely untouched. It's so bizarre that there are some areas 221 00:10:50,759 --> 00:10:54,720 that are right. Yeah, exactly, Like just because you happen 222 00:10:54,759 --> 00:10:56,600 to be on this side of the mountain, you were fine, 223 00:10:56,960 --> 00:10:59,759 and then right around the bend, you're just wiped out. 224 00:11:00,559 --> 00:11:02,600 And so there are still a lot of businesses that 225 00:11:02,679 --> 00:11:05,120 are open that need support, and a lot of people 226 00:11:05,120 --> 00:11:08,720 think they can't go up there. Sean, I'm gonna hold 227 00:11:08,720 --> 00:11:10,759 you over through the break to do our second segment 228 00:11:10,799 --> 00:11:13,639 if you don't mind, I appreciate your time. And by 229 00:11:13,679 --> 00:11:16,120 the way, is there uh? I mentioned Nextel College and 230 00:11:16,159 --> 00:11:19,000 you mentioned the Better Together Coalition. Are there any websites 231 00:11:19,039 --> 00:11:21,960 you want to direct people too if they want to help. 232 00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:27,799 Speaker 2: I mean the Growth squad, dot Org, Mercury One, Excel College, Like, uh, 233 00:11:28,279 --> 00:11:32,600 those are all the the main Like I said, any 234 00:11:32,679 --> 00:11:34,480 of them, we don't care where it comes in from. 235 00:11:34,559 --> 00:11:35,679 Speaker 3: Okay, we're not. 236 00:11:35,759 --> 00:11:38,879 Speaker 2: We're not keeping score here. We just whatever you can remember, 237 00:11:39,279 --> 00:11:41,240 go click on that give money. They're all five on 238 00:11:41,240 --> 00:11:45,200 one c threes. It's all strictly used for Western North Carolina. 239 00:11:46,279 --> 00:11:47,919 Like I said, we just want to We just want 240 00:11:47,919 --> 00:11:49,399 to get people back to living life. 241 00:11:49,440 --> 00:11:52,080 Speaker 1: Here's a great idea. 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Choose from thirteen cabins, six cottages, 257 00:12:42,399 --> 00:12:46,360 two villas, and a great lodge with eleven king sized bedrooms. 258 00:12:46,519 --> 00:12:49,720 Cabins of Ashville has the ideal spot for you for 259 00:12:49,840 --> 00:12:53,559 any occasion, and they have pet friendly accommodations. Call or 260 00:12:53,639 --> 00:12:56,960 text eight two eight three six seven seventy sixty eight 261 00:12:57,279 --> 00:12:59,399 or check out all there is to offer at Cabins 262 00:12:59,399 --> 00:13:03,000 of Ashville dot com and make memories that'll last a lifetime. 263 00:13:03,519 --> 00:13:08,039 I'm chatting with Sean Hendrix and he's he's located down 264 00:13:08,399 --> 00:13:12,600 in eastern North Carolina, Greenville, North Carolina, but did a 265 00:13:12,639 --> 00:13:14,320 lot of work and has been doing a lot of 266 00:13:14,320 --> 00:13:17,919 work to help the folks in western North Carolina. Operation 267 00:13:18,039 --> 00:13:20,480 Shelter was what he set up. It's now kind of 268 00:13:20,559 --> 00:13:23,799 been brought under sort of a coalition called the Better 269 00:13:23,840 --> 00:13:28,240 Together Coalition, and I wanted to talk with you about 270 00:13:28,320 --> 00:13:33,080 sort of the status of the relief efforts that are ongoing. 271 00:13:33,159 --> 00:13:36,240 I know and we cover you know, the legislative action 272 00:13:36,480 --> 00:13:40,919 where you know, relief funding from the state, the federal government, 273 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:44,519 packages and all of that what are you seeing with 274 00:13:45,080 --> 00:13:50,600 the the pace of donations now that we are, what 275 00:13:50,799 --> 00:13:52,759 nine months out from the disaster. 276 00:13:54,120 --> 00:13:57,919 Speaker 2: It's I mean it's one one thousand. It's a trickle, 277 00:13:59,399 --> 00:14:01,559 it's you know, it's just doesn't make the new cycle. 278 00:14:01,559 --> 00:14:04,320 I used to compost something and it would get millions 279 00:14:04,360 --> 00:14:05,759 of use because I mean it was it was in 280 00:14:05,799 --> 00:14:08,279 every new everybody was interested. It was talk. You know, 281 00:14:08,279 --> 00:14:10,799 we're up against like World War three right now, you know, 282 00:14:11,200 --> 00:14:14,480 right made to other things, you know, and also too 283 00:14:14,600 --> 00:14:17,720 to be fair, when came in, uh, you know, the 284 00:14:17,759 --> 00:14:21,720 cleanup effort really got underway. Things started getting restored, and 285 00:14:21,840 --> 00:14:23,399 we're now down to that kind of death by a 286 00:14:23,440 --> 00:14:26,879 thousand paper cuts. You know. It's it's all the leftover stuff. 287 00:14:26,919 --> 00:14:30,039 And so it's not big, big stories. And I think, 288 00:14:30,120 --> 00:14:32,399 you know, people have a lot of open the new administration, 289 00:14:32,480 --> 00:14:34,919 and rightfully so they did a lot, but you know, 290 00:14:34,960 --> 00:14:38,840 in their mind, okay, government's here, it's done, but it 291 00:14:38,960 --> 00:14:42,879 just doesn't work that way. That's the big infrastructural fixes 292 00:14:42,919 --> 00:14:46,279 that we needed. But you know, we've still got you know, 293 00:14:46,600 --> 00:14:48,919 retired couples that were living on a fixed income that 294 00:14:48,960 --> 00:14:51,639 the bridge to the house was thirty thousand dollars got 295 00:14:51,679 --> 00:14:55,120 washed away. There's just not a government fund for private bridges. 296 00:14:55,679 --> 00:14:57,600 The way that government would fix that is to take 297 00:14:57,639 --> 00:15:00,000 an easement to process everybody's property and put one government 298 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:02,519 own bridge. Yet, well that's going to take who knows 299 00:15:02,600 --> 00:15:04,919 how many years to get everybody to breed to and 300 00:15:04,960 --> 00:15:06,919 that's the current plan. I understand where they're coming from. 301 00:15:07,000 --> 00:15:11,720 They can't maintain maybe responsible for all these private bridges, 302 00:15:12,720 --> 00:15:15,080 but at the end of the day, it's it's still 303 00:15:15,080 --> 00:15:16,279 a lot of individual need. 304 00:15:16,559 --> 00:15:19,039 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, and the bridge is thing. It's interesting you 305 00:15:19,039 --> 00:15:22,600 mentioned that people who don't sort of drive the back 306 00:15:22,679 --> 00:15:25,600 roads in the mountains may not be aware of just 307 00:15:25,679 --> 00:15:29,080 how many bridges there are, because it's not like you know, 308 00:15:29,159 --> 00:15:32,919 the flat landers where we are, where you got curb 309 00:15:32,960 --> 00:15:35,240 and gutter and it's all you know, drainage and everything 310 00:15:35,279 --> 00:15:37,960 underneath the road and it all washes into the treatment 311 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:40,480 plants or out to the rivers and stuff up there. 312 00:15:40,720 --> 00:15:44,320 It's all just like you know, gravel roads. So a 313 00:15:44,320 --> 00:15:46,919 lot of them are paved, but the drop offs to 314 00:15:47,000 --> 00:15:50,080 the side, it's they're just like these little gullies that 315 00:15:50,600 --> 00:15:53,200 are used to move the water as quickly as possible 316 00:15:53,200 --> 00:15:55,799 and so people just build these bridges across and it's 317 00:15:55,919 --> 00:16:01,200 like every driveway has a bridge almost those all got washed. 318 00:16:01,240 --> 00:16:04,039 Speaker 2: Where you see a culvert in eastern North Carolina is 319 00:16:04,039 --> 00:16:06,000 basically a bridge in western North Carolina. 320 00:16:06,240 --> 00:16:10,240 Speaker 1: Yeah. Yeah, and so it's a huge problem, and so 321 00:16:10,240 --> 00:16:13,000 we keep you know, trying to get people to you know, 322 00:16:13,159 --> 00:16:16,360 remember what's happening in western North Carolina. You mentioned in 323 00:16:16,399 --> 00:16:19,559 the last segment about your goal is to do three 324 00:16:19,679 --> 00:16:22,519 hundred and fifty homes and is that is that what 325 00:16:22,559 --> 00:16:25,240 you're so is that the pace that you are working 326 00:16:25,279 --> 00:16:27,559 at or is that the goal that you're stretching for? 327 00:16:27,679 --> 00:16:28,879 What's that number? Pace? 328 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:32,720 Speaker 2: Right now? That's a time I forget a shout out 329 00:16:32,759 --> 00:16:35,440 Operation Blessing. They're part of this as well. There's a 330 00:16:35,480 --> 00:16:36,679 lot of names, and I want to make sure I 331 00:16:36,720 --> 00:16:39,759 honor everyone who's doing so much. But but yeah, that's 332 00:16:39,799 --> 00:16:41,240 what we're on pace. But a lot of those are 333 00:16:41,279 --> 00:16:45,679 just like new Drywall, Bowldy, like Flory, not that that's 334 00:16:45,720 --> 00:16:48,600 a small thing, but it's you know, uh, and so 335 00:16:48,679 --> 00:16:50,720 it's all over the place of what you know considers 336 00:16:50,720 --> 00:16:54,759 the restoration. But houses are unlivable until they are and 337 00:16:55,200 --> 00:16:56,919 the volunteers can do a lot of that work. But 338 00:16:56,960 --> 00:17:00,519 then we get into houses or businesses that need electric, Well, 339 00:17:00,679 --> 00:17:02,679 you can't just take a group of volunteers and do 340 00:17:02,720 --> 00:17:05,319 electrical want of house. It's just not the way it works. 341 00:17:05,559 --> 00:17:07,319 So now we've got to come up with thirty grand 342 00:17:07,319 --> 00:17:09,640 to rewire a business. And that's where a lot of 343 00:17:09,640 --> 00:17:13,680 the Operation Shelters Ash went to. Obviously there's a lot 344 00:17:13,720 --> 00:17:16,200 of it, but just a relief effort. But then we 345 00:17:16,240 --> 00:17:18,400 have a house where rebuilding for Christine. We announced that 346 00:17:18,440 --> 00:17:22,359 on NewsNation. We building a house is not cheap and 347 00:17:22,559 --> 00:17:25,279 not free. The materials not free, but like precision walls, 348 00:17:25,279 --> 00:17:28,799 they're making us like an insane deal for these prefabbed 349 00:17:28,839 --> 00:17:31,920 walls and everybody's really trying to help, but it's, you know, 350 00:17:32,039 --> 00:17:33,880 you still got to buy screws and wire. It's just 351 00:17:33,960 --> 00:17:36,559 there's a still a monetary cost and it's just we 352 00:17:36,640 --> 00:17:39,160 get just enough, it feels like, and it's it's we're 353 00:17:39,160 --> 00:17:41,640 always just need a little bit more, but we're making 354 00:17:41,680 --> 00:17:44,279 it work. And again, if it wasn't for the big organizations, 355 00:17:44,799 --> 00:17:46,839 none of this would be happening because like Mercury one 356 00:17:46,920 --> 00:17:49,519 is just a absolute monster when it comes to getting 357 00:17:49,519 --> 00:17:53,759 things done for us, the same with World Vision. But 358 00:17:53,799 --> 00:17:55,480 you know, as for the government money, we just don't 359 00:17:55,480 --> 00:17:57,400 see it because we're not we're not one of the 360 00:17:57,480 --> 00:18:01,559 big NGO partners tight end with all politicians. That money 361 00:18:01,599 --> 00:18:02,960 just doesn't make it to us. 362 00:18:03,440 --> 00:18:05,839 Speaker 1: Yeah. I've been a Yeah, Mercury One is awesome. I've 363 00:18:05,839 --> 00:18:09,119 been a donor to that organization for probably a decade now. 364 00:18:09,880 --> 00:18:12,480 They just do awesome work. Yeah, everywhere they go. I'm 365 00:18:12,480 --> 00:18:15,279 always impressed with the work that those guys do. If 366 00:18:15,279 --> 00:18:16,920 the radio thing doesn't work out, I might just go 367 00:18:16,960 --> 00:18:17,799 work for them or something. 368 00:18:17,839 --> 00:18:21,720 Speaker 2: But so are in their studio in Dallas. Yeah, phenomenal. 369 00:18:21,720 --> 00:18:24,200 Do you ever get a chance to go visit that's 370 00:18:24,240 --> 00:18:27,039 they got an amazing that's the Blaze media side. But yeah, 371 00:18:27,039 --> 00:18:29,119 you also got a great museum there. It's definitely worth 372 00:18:29,119 --> 00:18:29,480 a trip. 373 00:18:30,119 --> 00:18:31,720 Speaker 1: That's good to all right, good to know. I'll put 374 00:18:31,759 --> 00:18:35,480 it on the bucket list. Yeah. So I also saw 375 00:18:35,559 --> 00:18:38,960 you were at the I saw your Twitter feed and 376 00:18:39,000 --> 00:18:43,119 you were over at the North Carolina Republican Party convention 377 00:18:43,480 --> 00:18:46,960 this past weekend, and so I wanted to ask you why. 378 00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:49,000 But also I thought you made a really good point. 379 00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:51,960 You were calling out some counties that didn't have anybody there, 380 00:18:52,279 --> 00:18:55,319 and it goes to I keep telling people, if good 381 00:18:55,519 --> 00:18:58,480 competent people do not stand up and volunteer their time 382 00:18:58,880 --> 00:19:03,119 to help, you know, may maintain this infrastructure of government 383 00:19:03,279 --> 00:19:07,279 or civic organizations, then you'll be governed by bad incompetent people. 384 00:19:07,759 --> 00:19:09,519 I understand there's a lot of other things you could 385 00:19:09,519 --> 00:19:12,279 be doing, but people need to be involved in stuff. 386 00:19:12,279 --> 00:19:14,400 So why did you Why were you there? Are you? 387 00:19:14,480 --> 00:19:17,480 Are you in? Are you involved in Republican politics? You're 388 00:19:17,480 --> 00:19:18,359 getting involved in it? 389 00:19:19,119 --> 00:19:20,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm a delicate I was a delegate, but it's 390 00:19:21,079 --> 00:19:24,000 exactly what you said. I saw such an utter failure 391 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:26,200 of government. I was like, Okay, why is this? Well, 392 00:19:26,200 --> 00:19:30,160 there's incompetent people. Why is that? Because, well, the people 393 00:19:30,160 --> 00:19:33,200 that are competent or busy. But it's like you said, 394 00:19:33,200 --> 00:19:36,519 it's on us to go get involved. And you know, 395 00:19:36,559 --> 00:19:39,480 we got counties without representation, and it's there's you need 396 00:19:39,559 --> 00:19:42,160 people who know how to get things done, and it 397 00:19:42,319 --> 00:19:45,400 aren't there because of the politicans. Make everybody's life better. 398 00:19:45,559 --> 00:19:48,880 Not to be Oh, I'm sure this person that you know, 399 00:19:49,000 --> 00:19:52,880 I don't care. Just get it done. And you're right 400 00:19:53,119 --> 00:19:54,519 if you want to get involved that starts at the 401 00:19:54,519 --> 00:19:58,440 low level. Getting involved. You know, worry about federal politics 402 00:19:58,480 --> 00:20:01,319 has very little to do with your county school board. 403 00:20:01,640 --> 00:20:03,079 All this stuff. You can get involved in it make 404 00:20:03,119 --> 00:20:06,079 real change. And guess what feeds into the federal system. 405 00:20:06,359 --> 00:20:09,200 Local to state, state a federal So you get got 406 00:20:09,240 --> 00:20:12,440 trash in, you get trash out, right, So we're going 407 00:20:12,480 --> 00:20:14,640 to put better people in the system so they can 408 00:20:15,559 --> 00:20:18,279 rise up and start running things at a federal level too. 409 00:20:18,559 --> 00:20:22,319 It is a it's a bottom up solution. You can't 410 00:20:22,319 --> 00:20:24,920 just inject yourself. I can't just go run, as much 411 00:20:24,920 --> 00:20:26,519 as people want me to, I can't just go run 412 00:20:26,559 --> 00:20:28,319 for governor. Right, it doesn't work. 413 00:20:28,200 --> 00:20:31,920 Speaker 1: That maybe, Yeah, no, you're exactly right. It's sort of 414 00:20:31,920 --> 00:20:34,519 the farm team, you know. But it is the place 415 00:20:34,519 --> 00:20:36,960 where you can actually have the most direct impact. You 416 00:20:37,000 --> 00:20:39,240 have more control at that local level than at a 417 00:20:39,400 --> 00:20:43,400 national level. Congressman Dan Bishop, I've known him since he 418 00:20:43,440 --> 00:20:45,720 was a county commissioner here in Charlotte, and I would 419 00:20:45,759 --> 00:20:47,599 talk with him about it, and he's like, Dude, you 420 00:20:47,599 --> 00:20:49,119 get up there and it's four hundred and thirty five 421 00:20:49,160 --> 00:20:52,079 people in Congress, Like, you can't get stuff done up there. 422 00:20:52,200 --> 00:20:56,160 When you were a county commissioner, you could get stuff done. 423 00:20:56,519 --> 00:20:59,319 And so it's just if good people, competent people step 424 00:20:59,319 --> 00:21:01,839 forward at the local level. And if you're really good 425 00:21:02,119 --> 00:21:04,759 and you're really competent, then yeah, you could advance up 426 00:21:04,759 --> 00:21:08,119 and go into the you know, go into larger offices 427 00:21:08,359 --> 00:21:10,079 and then have more of an impact. But you got 428 00:21:10,079 --> 00:21:12,480 to know how to do that, and you learn that 429 00:21:12,519 --> 00:21:16,200 at the local level. So Sean, I appreciate you spending 430 00:21:16,200 --> 00:21:18,880 some time. Again, I'm grateful for all the work that 431 00:21:19,200 --> 00:21:22,079 you're doing to help the people western North Carolina. Sincerely, 432 00:21:22,680 --> 00:21:24,839 good for you, Good on you, and hope to have 433 00:21:24,839 --> 00:21:26,559 you on the show at any point in the future. 434 00:21:26,599 --> 00:21:27,599 You need anything, you'll let me. 435 00:21:27,559 --> 00:21:30,480 Speaker 2: Know, all right, So good, thank you, all right. 436 00:21:30,319 --> 00:21:32,440 Speaker 1: Thank you. That's Sean Hendrix. I appreciate your time. 437 00:21:32,680 --> 00:21:33,000 Speaker 2: All right. 438 00:21:33,039 --> 00:21:34,880 Speaker 1: If you're listening to this show, you know I try 439 00:21:34,880 --> 00:21:36,640 to keep up with all sorts of current events, and 440 00:21:36,720 --> 00:21:38,759 I know you do too. And you've probably heard me 441 00:21:38,799 --> 00:21:43,039 say get your news from multiple sources. Why, well, because 442 00:21:43,039 --> 00:21:45,720 it's how you detect media bias, which is why I've 443 00:21:45,759 --> 00:21:49,079 been so impressed with ground News. It's an app and 444 00:21:49,279 --> 00:21:52,200 it's a website, and it combines news from around the 445 00:21:52,200 --> 00:21:54,920 world in one place so you can compare coverage and 446 00:21:55,039 --> 00:21:58,839 verify information. You can check it out at check dot ground, 447 00:21:59,160 --> 00:22:02,200 dot news slash pete. I put the link in the 448 00:22:02,200 --> 00:22:05,440 podcast description too. I started using ground News a few 449 00:22:05,440 --> 00:22:08,160 months ago and more recently chose to work with them 450 00:22:08,200 --> 00:22:10,960 as an affiliate because it lets me see clearly how 451 00:22:11,119 --> 00:22:14,519 stories get covered and by whom. The blind spot feature 452 00:22:14,559 --> 00:22:17,200 shows you which stories get ignored by the left and 453 00:22:17,319 --> 00:22:21,319 the right. See for yourself. Check dot ground, dot news 454 00:22:21,680 --> 00:22:24,799 slash pete. Subscribe through that link and you'll get fifteen 455 00:22:24,799 --> 00:22:27,920 percent off any subscription. I use the Vantage plan to 456 00:22:27,920 --> 00:22:31,359 get unlimited access to every feature. Your subscription then not 457 00:22:31,400 --> 00:22:34,400 only helps my podcast, but it also supports ground News 458 00:22:34,440 --> 00:22:38,000 as they make the media landscape more transparent. I just 459 00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:42,079 want to give a shout out also my former colleagues 460 00:22:42,160 --> 00:22:48,200 up in Ashville at WWNC, Mark Starling, Tank Spencer. Mark 461 00:22:48,279 --> 00:22:50,160 was the morning guy here is the morning guy still 462 00:22:51,200 --> 00:22:54,640 and the news director up there. And Tank was my 463 00:22:54,759 --> 00:22:58,160 producer when I was afternoons and now he does product. 464 00:22:58,240 --> 00:23:02,480 He's the producer for Mark Show. And they were just 465 00:23:02,599 --> 00:23:08,039 honored with a Service Excellence Award. They flew them up 466 00:23:08,039 --> 00:23:11,880 to DC and for their coverage in the wake of 467 00:23:11,960 --> 00:23:17,240 Hurricane Helene. They lived at that studio for four days. 468 00:23:17,240 --> 00:23:19,039 They couldn't even get out, and they were about to 469 00:23:19,079 --> 00:23:24,000 run out of fuel in the generator because the road 470 00:23:24,039 --> 00:23:27,880 that leads to the studio it's probably like a I 471 00:23:27,880 --> 00:23:30,720 don't know, an eighth of a mile maybe, and it's 472 00:23:30,759 --> 00:23:35,279 through the woods and so like dozens of trees had 473 00:23:35,279 --> 00:23:39,400 fallen across this road, and they were like, we can't 474 00:23:39,400 --> 00:23:43,920 get fuel into the site in order to fill up 475 00:23:43,960 --> 00:23:47,039 the generator, and Mark and Tank could not get out. 476 00:23:48,039 --> 00:23:50,400 So they were living on We had a in the 477 00:23:50,440 --> 00:23:55,160 break room. There was a cupboard that had various assortments 478 00:23:55,240 --> 00:24:02,680 of shelf stable product that I believe it amounted to 479 00:24:02,759 --> 00:24:08,440 basically like chili dogs or something like being a sausages 480 00:24:08,640 --> 00:24:11,400 with some chili whatever. And that's what they lived on 481 00:24:11,440 --> 00:24:14,000 for four days. Up there maybe some packets of ketchup 482 00:24:14,039 --> 00:24:18,319 and stuff. And so they said they were talking about 483 00:24:18,319 --> 00:24:20,559 it on their on their rate because they went they 484 00:24:20,920 --> 00:24:23,559 blew out all commercials. They went live twenty four to 485 00:24:23,559 --> 00:24:30,880 seven and they they put the call out like we 486 00:24:30,920 --> 00:24:33,480 can't get fuel in for the generator. We're gonna we're 487 00:24:33,480 --> 00:24:34,920 gonna run out of fuel and then we're going to 488 00:24:34,960 --> 00:24:37,680 be off air. And they had guys come in with 489 00:24:37,799 --> 00:24:41,759 chainsaws and clear that road so they could get the 490 00:24:41,799 --> 00:24:43,960 fuel in, so they could keep the station on the 491 00:24:44,000 --> 00:24:49,359 air like sort of like double O seven style disarming 492 00:24:49,400 --> 00:24:51,759 the bomb, you know, filling up the generator when there 493 00:24:51,799 --> 00:24:55,759 was like no time left. And so kudos to them, 494 00:24:55,799 --> 00:25:01,079 congratulations to them, but also their families that people don't 495 00:25:01,079 --> 00:25:03,720 realize this when when we come in, when anybody in 496 00:25:03,839 --> 00:25:09,799 radio comes in to work those types of disasters, it 497 00:25:09,920 --> 00:25:13,319 is very difficult on the families because we leave our 498 00:25:13,400 --> 00:25:17,759 family at home to come here, and if we are here, 499 00:25:18,039 --> 00:25:20,559 we may not be able to get home. And so 500 00:25:21,160 --> 00:25:25,279 I want to shout out to to Brandy and to 501 00:25:28,880 --> 00:25:30,799 why am I drawing a blank on Tank's wives. I 502 00:25:30,839 --> 00:25:33,359 know her name, I'm just I just drew a blank 503 00:25:33,400 --> 00:25:36,680 on her name. Andy good lord, Oh my goodness. I 504 00:25:36,759 --> 00:25:39,599 worked with them and I knew him for eight years anyway, 505 00:25:40,200 --> 00:25:42,519 and Brandy and Andy, oh, I just realized that. Now, 506 00:25:42,559 --> 00:25:46,119 Brandy and Andy, that's funny. And uh and the kids 507 00:25:46,160 --> 00:25:52,119 for letting their dads do that. A story at Inside 508 00:25:52,119 --> 00:25:56,279 Climate News by Lisa Sword last month, the North Carolina 509 00:25:56,319 --> 00:26:00,559 Division of Emergency Management fired a subcontractor that had been 510 00:26:00,599 --> 00:26:06,240 founded by top officials at Rebuild NC, the now discredited 511 00:26:06,279 --> 00:26:11,160 state agency that botched response efforts after Hurricanes Matthew and 512 00:26:11,319 --> 00:26:15,640 Florence in twenty sixteen and twenty eighteen. The company is 513 00:26:15,680 --> 00:26:18,519 called Path Built. It had been hired to work on 514 00:26:18,599 --> 00:26:23,279 disaster recovery in western North Carolina. Yeah, so the people 515 00:26:23,279 --> 00:26:28,440 that ran Rebuild NC and utterly failed to rebuild NC 516 00:26:28,720 --> 00:26:32,960 after the two hurricanes. They then left the agency, started 517 00:26:32,960 --> 00:26:39,000 their own company, and then got a contract in under 518 00:26:39,039 --> 00:26:43,920 Emergency Management. When Lisa Sorg reported all of this at 519 00:26:43,920 --> 00:26:49,480 Inside Climate News, that contract got scrapped, as it should. 520 00:26:50,440 --> 00:26:52,880 You guys do not get to be around any other 521 00:26:53,319 --> 00:26:57,279 disasters in North Carolina. I'm sorry, but not sorry. All right? 522 00:26:57,359 --> 00:27:00,640 So spring is here a time of renewal, and so librations. 523 00:27:00,839 --> 00:27:04,440 You got graduations, weddings, anniversaries and the special days for 524 00:27:04,599 --> 00:27:06,880 mom and dad. Your family's making memories that are going 525 00:27:06,960 --> 00:27:09,359 to last a lifetime. But let me ask you, are 526 00:27:09,440 --> 00:27:12,599 all of those treasured moments from days gone by? Are 527 00:27:12,599 --> 00:27:17,440 they hidden away on old VCR tapes, eight millimeter films, photos, slides? 528 00:27:17,759 --> 00:27:21,039 Are they preserved? Because over time, these precious memories can 529 00:27:21,119 --> 00:27:25,799 fade and deteriorate, losing the magic of yesterday. At Creative Video, 530 00:27:25,880 --> 00:27:29,000 they help you protect what matters most. Their expert team 531 00:27:29,079 --> 00:27:32,599 digitizes your cherished family moments and transfers them onto a 532 00:27:32,720 --> 00:27:35,319 USB drive, freezing them in time so they can be 533 00:27:35,440 --> 00:27:38,680 enjoyed for generations to come. I urge you do not 534 00:27:38,839 --> 00:27:42,319 wait until it's too late. This spring, celebrate your past. 535 00:27:42,559 --> 00:27:45,960 Visit Creative Video today and let them preserve your legacy 536 00:27:46,000 --> 00:27:49,160 with the love and care that it deserves. Creative Video 537 00:27:49,240 --> 00:27:53,359 Preserving Family Memories since nineteen ninety seven, located in mint Hill, 538 00:27:53,559 --> 00:27:56,240 just off four eighty five. Mail orders are accepted to 539 00:27:56,559 --> 00:28:01,279 get all the details that createavideo dot Com. Alrighty, now 540 00:28:01,279 --> 00:28:03,480 it's time for a little segment we like to call 541 00:28:03,559 --> 00:28:05,960 Pregaming with Brett winter Bull because he comes up at 542 00:28:05,960 --> 00:28:08,720 three o'clock and so I uh, I helped get him 543 00:28:08,720 --> 00:28:11,160 in the right frame of mind for his uh his 544 00:28:11,240 --> 00:28:14,519 final Friday program and then he hangs me over for 545 00:28:14,640 --> 00:28:17,680 the hangover. So Brett, good to see you, happy, happy, 546 00:28:17,680 --> 00:28:19,240 hang on, hang on, let's get the mic turned on. 547 00:28:19,319 --> 00:28:21,240 There we go, there we go. See that one is 548 00:28:21,319 --> 00:28:23,480 that Mike has never used. I know right that, Mike 549 00:28:23,599 --> 00:28:24,359 is like, never used. 550 00:28:24,400 --> 00:28:25,920 Speaker 3: I'm glad you came in with Metallica. 551 00:28:26,240 --> 00:28:28,799 Speaker 1: That was for you, Nick producer, Nick the bet that 552 00:28:28,880 --> 00:28:31,119 tune for you the best, the best song of all time, 553 00:28:31,319 --> 00:28:31,720 all of it. 554 00:28:32,200 --> 00:28:33,920 Speaker 3: There are people who got married to that song. 555 00:28:34,440 --> 00:28:36,359 Speaker 1: Really, I don't know. I was gonna say people you 556 00:28:36,480 --> 00:28:39,160 know not that I know. Have you been to a wedding? 557 00:28:39,440 --> 00:28:40,640 I was at a wedding one time. 558 00:28:40,720 --> 00:28:42,799 Speaker 3: I did. I attended a wedding with my wife we 559 00:28:43,000 --> 00:28:43,680 were married. 560 00:28:44,000 --> 00:28:47,240 Speaker 1: Oh nice, but that makes sense though. I went to 561 00:28:47,279 --> 00:28:52,720 a wedding one time where during the reception they played 562 00:28:52,759 --> 00:28:57,559 the DJ played Living on a Prayer by bon Jovi. Okay, okay, 563 00:28:57,559 --> 00:29:04,119 which fair I But the groomsmen then proceeded to do 564 00:29:05,039 --> 00:29:11,599 a lip syncing air guitar uh Millie Vanilli kind of performance, 565 00:29:12,799 --> 00:29:15,720 like complete with the like on the knees, sliding across 566 00:29:15,759 --> 00:29:18,440 the floor deal. Not like choreographed like it was meant 567 00:29:18,440 --> 00:29:20,000 to be, but like they drank too much. Oh I 568 00:29:20,000 --> 00:29:23,720 believe that, and then we're like screaming Living on a prayeranos. 569 00:29:23,759 --> 00:29:27,079 They were from up in you know, Jersey area. It 570 00:29:27,200 --> 00:29:30,119 was a little it was a little disturbing really. Well, 571 00:29:30,119 --> 00:29:33,720 they had mullets so well, I mean really, you know, 572 00:29:34,039 --> 00:29:35,960 they were in style once upon a time. Yeah, this 573 00:29:36,079 --> 00:29:38,319 was recent though, this was like within the last five years, 574 00:29:38,519 --> 00:29:42,119 what well seven years or so? Well, you know, yeah, 575 00:29:42,160 --> 00:29:45,079 so but never I've never had Metallica played at a wedding. 576 00:29:45,119 --> 00:29:47,279 Did you have Metallica played at your wedding? No, like 577 00:29:47,319 --> 00:29:47,960 even the reception. 578 00:29:48,079 --> 00:29:50,119 Speaker 3: No, we had a classy, super classy. 579 00:29:50,279 --> 00:29:51,799 Speaker 1: Are you saying Metallica is not classic? 580 00:29:51,920 --> 00:29:54,599 Speaker 3: It is classy for the right venue. 581 00:29:55,519 --> 00:29:58,640 Speaker 1: Now it's not a concert. Was that? Did you ask 582 00:29:58,720 --> 00:30:01,400 your wife can we blame it? And she she would 583 00:30:01,440 --> 00:30:02,559 have said she vetoed that. 584 00:30:02,640 --> 00:30:04,119 Speaker 4: She would have said yes, she'd have been like, yeah, 585 00:30:04,160 --> 00:30:06,519 of course, let's blame me, Telly. No, this was one 586 00:30:06,519 --> 00:30:08,720 of those like kind of sinatrac kind of music kind 587 00:30:08,759 --> 00:30:09,559 of things that. 588 00:30:09,519 --> 00:30:12,480 Speaker 1: Is classic, class that is classic. I did see. I 589 00:30:12,519 --> 00:30:14,200 was not invited to this wedding, but I did see 590 00:30:14,200 --> 00:30:19,480 a wedding where from the church to the reception hall 591 00:30:19,839 --> 00:30:25,519 they were escorted by various local mascots like from the 592 00:30:25,559 --> 00:30:32,279 high school or something, from businesses, from sports sports teams. 593 00:30:32,480 --> 00:30:36,119 Really yeah, there was like there was like half a 594 00:30:36,119 --> 00:30:38,799 dozen of these mascots that walked them down the streets. 595 00:30:38,839 --> 00:30:40,839 I think this was up in like Philadelphia or Pittsburgh 596 00:30:40,920 --> 00:30:42,759 or something fantastic. They walked them down the street. And 597 00:30:42,839 --> 00:30:44,440 then when they walked in, you know, like when the 598 00:30:44,440 --> 00:30:47,880 bride and groom walked into the reception. Huh. They the 599 00:30:47,960 --> 00:30:50,799 mascot like walked them in, like was standing between the 600 00:30:50,799 --> 00:30:53,119 bride and groom holding both of their hands and they 601 00:30:53,160 --> 00:30:54,279 all walked in together. 602 00:30:55,200 --> 00:30:58,680 Speaker 3: While that is bizarre, Yes, that is not cool. 603 00:30:58,839 --> 00:31:01,359 Speaker 1: I would I would not be a fit. It was 604 00:31:01,400 --> 00:31:03,880 like a business too, Like you don't even know the mascot, 605 00:31:04,240 --> 00:31:05,279 you know, it's like. 606 00:31:06,519 --> 00:31:11,559 Speaker 4: Tom's plumbing right with the dirty with the dirty plunger 607 00:31:11,599 --> 00:31:12,200 in his hand. 608 00:31:12,759 --> 00:31:16,640 Speaker 1: Now, I'm kind of curious how the call went, like, Hey, 609 00:31:16,880 --> 00:31:20,880 I'm getting married, Oh can I can I rent your 610 00:31:21,039 --> 00:31:22,920 mascot for our wedding? Resists? 611 00:31:23,039 --> 00:31:25,799 Speaker 3: Of course they're probably getting paid. Yeah, they're getting they're 612 00:31:25,799 --> 00:31:26,599 getting paid for this. 613 00:31:26,920 --> 00:31:29,200 Speaker 1: What's the hottest wedding you've ever been to? Not like 614 00:31:29,319 --> 00:31:31,079 sexy hot, but like temperature hot. 615 00:31:31,319 --> 00:31:37,880 Speaker 4: Oh gosh, Cape Cod back in like two ninety seven, 616 00:31:38,559 --> 00:31:41,839 Cape Cod ninety seven summer summer. 617 00:31:41,759 --> 00:31:48,359 Speaker 1: Suits oh outdoors heavy suits, yes, oh yes, yes, I 618 00:31:48,359 --> 00:31:52,400 mean it was really brutal, how about you July? Yeah, 619 00:31:52,519 --> 00:31:58,680 South Carolina. Outside suits, no bride took two laps around 620 00:31:58,759 --> 00:32:02,920 the entire outdoor. Were seated area in a horse drawn 621 00:32:02,920 --> 00:32:05,920 carriage that went about one mile an hour. Wow, so 622 00:32:05,960 --> 00:32:10,079 we're just cooking. Reception hall quote unquote was the little 623 00:32:10,119 --> 00:32:12,680 plantation house because it was like on this old plantation 624 00:32:12,839 --> 00:32:13,119 or whatever. 625 00:32:14,640 --> 00:32:18,279 Speaker 3: H that's great for them, for them, for the. 626 00:32:18,359 --> 00:32:21,720 Speaker 1: In the house. It was such a small hall that 627 00:32:21,920 --> 00:32:24,960 only the wedding party and family were in there. They 628 00:32:24,960 --> 00:32:29,599 set up a large tent outside, which just trapped all 629 00:32:29,680 --> 00:32:34,559 the heat, so it was hotter in the tent. We left, 630 00:32:34,799 --> 00:32:35,440 are you kidding? 631 00:32:35,440 --> 00:32:36,160 Speaker 3: Made we never? 632 00:32:36,759 --> 00:32:39,720 Speaker 1: We left. We saw the we saw the ceremony. 633 00:32:40,039 --> 00:32:41,920 Speaker 3: We you got to wring out your shirt on the 634 00:32:41,960 --> 00:32:42,400 way home. 635 00:32:42,559 --> 00:32:46,119 Speaker 1: Literally, that's terrible. It was brutal. I was not planning 636 00:32:46,160 --> 00:32:48,920 to ask you any of this, but Metallica prompted it, 637 00:32:49,480 --> 00:32:51,559 so I did want to ask you this. Have you 638 00:32:51,599 --> 00:32:55,960 heard of Denise Casper, Obama judge who has now decided 639 00:32:55,960 --> 00:33:00,160 that Trump's executive order requiring all voters in federal electtion 640 00:33:00,279 --> 00:33:02,880 to be citizens. She says that's illegal, No, it's not, 641 00:33:03,000 --> 00:33:06,720 and she implemented an injunction really blocking the implementation of 642 00:33:06,759 --> 00:33:07,720 that executive order. 643 00:33:07,799 --> 00:33:10,559 Speaker 4: Wow, wow, you know, can I just tell you we 644 00:33:10,640 --> 00:33:14,839 have to go back to the seventies, right, the injunction junction? 645 00:33:15,160 --> 00:33:17,599 What's your function? Oh yeah, the after school that's what 646 00:33:17,640 --> 00:33:20,039 we gotta do. Yeah, yeah, I mean that's what we need. 647 00:33:20,200 --> 00:33:22,160 Speaker 1: I'm a bill. How I became a law thing? Was 648 00:33:22,160 --> 00:33:24,359 it his schoolhouse rocks? The school house rocks? Yeah, yeah, 649 00:33:24,400 --> 00:33:29,000 that's right. So this is on Twitter. We've got judges 650 00:33:29,000 --> 00:33:30,920 removing Trump from command of the army. 651 00:33:32,519 --> 00:33:35,440 Speaker 3: Judge is going to remove him from the command of 652 00:33:35,440 --> 00:33:35,799 the army. 653 00:33:35,839 --> 00:33:39,400 Speaker 1: Well yeah, until the Ninth Circuit of all Circuits stepped 654 00:33:39,440 --> 00:33:42,359 in and said, whoa, whoa, my word, right, even that's 655 00:33:42,400 --> 00:33:45,000 too much, even that's too far. They were like, no, 656 00:33:45,160 --> 00:33:47,880 he's allowed to do this, but we'll have a hearing. Right, 657 00:33:47,920 --> 00:33:49,480 So they're going to have a hearing on this. But 658 00:33:49,519 --> 00:33:51,319 you had the lower court judge. Do you know who 659 00:33:51,319 --> 00:33:53,400 that lower court judge was that said that he couldn't 660 00:33:53,720 --> 00:33:55,880 send the National Guard there ruled for Gavin. 661 00:33:55,599 --> 00:33:56,759 Speaker 3: Newsom, Judge Bosberg. 662 00:33:57,240 --> 00:34:01,400 Speaker 1: No, he flew out to San Francisco the issue the injunction. No, 663 00:34:01,480 --> 00:34:03,359 it's a guy by the last name of I think 664 00:34:03,400 --> 00:34:06,519 his first name is Charles's last name Briar ring a 665 00:34:06,519 --> 00:34:12,960 bell Oh, the Briar of the Briar, the Briar Fancial Clan. Wow. Yes, 666 00:34:13,079 --> 00:34:16,639 Stephen Briar, Stephen bres Son, Wow? Who issued there? The 667 00:34:16,719 --> 00:34:19,039 dude is eighty three? And where to believe that? He 668 00:34:19,119 --> 00:34:22,360 wrote like some forty page ruling in an hour? 669 00:34:22,639 --> 00:34:22,840 Speaker 2: Right? 670 00:34:23,159 --> 00:34:29,519 Speaker 3: But no, but the upside, No, the ice cream is delicious. 671 00:34:27,880 --> 00:34:31,400 Speaker 1: Mint chocolate chip, chocolate chocolate chip, one hundred per chocolate 672 00:34:31,480 --> 00:34:31,960 chocolate chip. 673 00:34:31,960 --> 00:34:33,599 Speaker 3: Who could have used that? In South Carolina? 674 00:34:34,800 --> 00:34:39,199 Speaker 1: It would never have survived because they had no refrigeration outside. 675 00:34:39,360 --> 00:34:40,000 It was brutal. 676 00:34:40,119 --> 00:34:43,960 Speaker 3: Just put a lot of salt around it, all. 677 00:34:43,920 --> 00:34:46,199 Speaker 1: Right, that'll do it for this episode. Thank you so 678 00:34:46,280 --> 00:34:48,360 much for listening. I could not do the show without 679 00:34:48,400 --> 00:34:51,199 your support and the support of the businesses that advertise 680 00:34:51,280 --> 00:34:54,000 on the podcast, so if you'd like, please support them 681 00:34:54,039 --> 00:34:55,639 too and tell them you heard it here. You can 682 00:34:55,679 --> 00:34:58,400 also become a patron at my Patreon page or go 683 00:34:58,440 --> 00:35:01,519 to the Pete Callaner show dot com. Again, thank you 684 00:35:01,559 --> 00:35:08,360 so much for listening, and don't break anything while I'm gone.