Chatter with BNC

Hosted by Business North Carolina

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Episodes

100

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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About the show

Welcome to Chatter with BNC, Business North Carolina magazine's weekly podcast, serving up interviews with some of the Tar Heel State's most interesting people.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 26, 202619 min

Chatter with BNC | Robyn Fehrman - Executive Director of Teach for America, North Carolina

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 Robyn Fehrman, Executive Director of Teach for America, North Carolina. Robyn shares her journey from growing up as a military kid in eastern North Carolina to leading TFA's statewide efforts to transform education. They discuss the critical challenges facing North Carolina's schools, including chronic absenteeism and early literacy gaps, while highlighting bright spots like record graduation rates. Robyn explains how Teach for America serves as a talent pipeline, insight generator, and convener across the state's diverse regions. The conversation also explores the vital role the business community plays in supporting educators and building North Carolina's future workforce.

August 20, 202639 min

Chatter with BNC | Jay Gestwicki - Founder & Director of Coffee for Charlotte's Magnolia Coffee Company

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 Jay Gestwicki, founder and director of coffee for Charlotte's Magnolia Coffee Company. Jay shares his nearly 30-year journey in the coffee business, from his early days managing restaurants to opening Caribou Coffee's flagship location in Charlotte, to eventually launching Magnolia in 2010. They dive into the art of specialty coffee sourcing, how terroir affects flavor, and the craft of small-batch roasting. Jay also discusses how COVID reshaped his business, his partnership with entrepreneur Mac Lackey, and Magnolia's support of the V Foundation for Cancer Research. The conversation wraps with a lively debate about the greatest rock and roll band of all time.

August 12, 202619 min

Chatter with BNC | Kenny Flowers - Chief Deputy Secretary of the NC Department of Commerce

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 Kenny Flowers, Chief Deputy Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Commerce. A North Carolina native with rural roots from Wadesboro in Anson County, Flowers shares his journey from UNC Chapel Hill and the University of Michigan through budget battles at the General Assembly to leading rural economic development across the state. He discusses the First in Opportunity strategic plan, record-breaking years for jobs and investment, closing the rural-urban divide through intentional investment, and building a world-class workforce. And yes, he's got the playlist to prove it — from B.B. King and the blues to Tupac and North Carolina's own J. Cole.

August 5, 202622 min

Chatter with BNC | Dr. Susan Mims - CEO, Dogwood Health Trust

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 Dr. Susan Mims, CEO of the Dogwood Health Trust, about her lifelong commitment to population health and the 80% of factors beyond clinical care that shape well-being. Inspired by her work in Guatemala, she leads the place-focused foundation serving 18 counties in Western North Carolina, funding housing, education, and economic opportunity. Mims shares how flexible funding and collaboration grants helped the region respond to Hurricane Helene—including $30 million deployed within a week—and how Dogwood is documenting its disaster-preparedness learnings so others can benefit. She also explains why Western North Carolina is open for business, and shares her love of bluegrass and classical music.

July 29, 202625 min

Chatter with BNC | Brian Etheridge - VP of Business and Community Development for Delta Dental of NC

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 Brian Etheridge, the new VP of Business and Community Development for Delta Dental of North Carolina, just days after stepping down from 20-plus years leading Leadership North Carolina. Brian shares his winding career journey from elementary school teacher to the helm of LNC, the Stanley Cup energy sweeping the Carolinas, and why oral health is a gateway to overall wellness. He and Ben also bond over Willie Nelson, vinyl records, and the magic of seeing live music at venues like Red Rocks. It's a conversation about leadership, reinvention, and what makes North Carolina great.

July 22, 202627 min

Chatter with BNC | Kevin Dick - President & CEO, Carolina Small Business Development Fund

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 Kevin Dick, president and CEO of the Carolina Small Business Development Fund. Kevin shares his winding path from a first-generation American inspired by Alex P. Keaton to studying German and international business at Georgetown, then pivoting to urban planning and a career in local government. He explains how his nonprofit CDFI drives small business growth across all 100 counties through lending, coaching, and policy research — and how their new Ignite product uses bank statements instead of tax returns to unlock capital for Main Street businesses. They also bond over Big Daddy Kane, South Florida roots, and 80s hip-hop.

July 15, 202618 min

Chatter with BNC | Kathie Sidner - Director of Workforce and Partnerships Strategy and Policy for the UNC System

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 Kathie Sidner, Director of Workforce and Partnerships Strategy and Policy for the UNC System. Kathie shares her winding career journey — from engineering at UVA and a paper mill gig to the intelligence community, Army Research Office, and finally the UNC System. She discusses the new Military Equivalency System, which maps military training to academic credit across all 16 UNC campuses to help transitioning service members earn degrees and stay in North Carolina. She also breaks down UNC's latest workforce alignment report and the state's critical need for more graduates in engineering, nursing, and education.

July 8, 202618 min

Chatter with BNC | Blake Moyer - President and CEO of the Surry County Economic Development Partnership

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 Blake Moyer, president and CEO of the Surry County Economic Development Partnership. Blake shares his career journey starting in Burlington, his early COVID response experience, and how at 27 he took the helm in Surry County. They dive into Surry-Yadkin Works, an award-winning high school pre-apprenticeship program, the new Balladeer Marriott Tribute hotel in Mount Airy, and the region's growing wine country and tourism scene. They also bond over their shared love of red dirt country, Charley Crockett, and St. Paul and the Broken Bones.

July 1, 202627 min

Chatter with BNC | Dr. Leo Spector - CEO, OrthoCarolina

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, Kevin Ellis speaks with Dr. Leo Spector, CEO or OrthoCarolina. Dr. Leo Spector has been with OrthoCarolina nearly 20 years, holding multiple leadership positions. After earning his MBA from Duke University in 2020, the spine surgeon was named CEO of OrthoCarolina in 2024. Spector talks about how it's an exciting time to be in healthcare because of how advances in technology have improved patient care.

June 24, 202619 min

Chatter with BNC | Craig Alden - Senior VP & Area Manager for the Triad at Pinnacle Financial Partners

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 Craig Alden, Senior Vice President and Area Manager for the Triad at Pinnacle Financial Partners. Craig shares exciting milestones for Pinnacle — including their eighth consecutive Best Places to Work win in the Triad and their rise to the third-largest bank by market share in the region. The conversation turns to the Triad's broader economic momentum, from the Toyota plant ripple effect in Liberty to growth at GSO and the highly anticipated Grounds project at Wake Forest University. They also discuss why young professionals are increasingly choosing to call Greensboro and Winston-Salem home.