In this episode, I sit down with Amanda Woolard to talk about Marshall, North Carolina—and what happens when disasters fade from the headlines but the recovery never comes.

During Hurricane Helene, Amanda and I helped coordinate real relief for families in crisis. But while neighbors pitched in and volunteers showed up, con artists slipped in too—eroding trust and leaving legitimate efforts struggling for support.

We talk about scammers who fabricated tragedies to solicit donations, and folks who impersonated FEMA officials. Frauds didn’t just steal money—they sabotaged the work of people trying to help. Amanda explains how she’s mentored honest grassroots groups, challenged organizations to stay accountable, and celebrated small wins—like a local church that exposed an embezzling preacher.

If you’ve ever wondered why bad actors get away with so much—or how ordinary people can make sure their help really reaches those in need—this conversation will hit home.

Connect with Amanda Woolard:

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• Knights of Pythias Cumberland Lodge No. 5

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Tags:

#MarshallNC #HurricaneHelene #DisasterRelief #GrassrootsAid #NCStories #ScamAwareness #FraudPrevention #WhereTheDogwoodBlooms #CommunityRecovery

In this episode, I sit down with Charles Jurney—one of the most respected dog trainers in the South—to talk about working dogs.

Charles has spent more than 25 years training performance and hunting dogs, producing hundreds of titled animals across the country. From Grand Hunting Retriever Champions to Master Hunters, his legacy is woven into field trials, duck blinds, and dog kennels across the region.

You may know him from his training manual Finished Dog, or from the videos Game Dog, Gun Dog, and Water Dog, which have helped thousands of amateur trainers find their footing.

If you’ve ever worked with a hunting dog, trained a puppy, or simply love watching a dog do what it was born to do, this one’s for you.

Connect with Charles Jurney:

• Website

Sponsors:

• NC/TN High Country WX
• Nascar WX
• Knights of Pythias Cumberland Lodge No. 5

Support Where the Dogwood Blooms: If you enjoy our content, consider supporting us via:

• Venmo
• Cash App

Connect with Where the Dogwood Blooms:

• Website
• Instagram
• X
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Contact:

• cassie@wherethedogwoodblooms.com

Tags:

#CharlesJurney #DogTraining #FinishedDog #GunDogs #NorthCarolina #WorkingDogs #SouthernOutdoors #NCOutdoors #FieldTrialDogs #HuntingDogs

In this episode, I sit down with Laura Pierro, Executive Director of the North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission, to talk about the life-changing work they do—and the serious threat they're facing right now. If you’ve never heard of the commission, you’re not alone. It’s the only one of its kind in the entire country, created to take a hard, honest look at possible wrongful convictions in our state.

Laura walks me through how the commission works, what sets it apart, and why its funding is now at risk. We talk about the human cost of injustice—about real people, with real families, who’ve lost years of their lives to prison for crimes they didn’t commit.

This conversation isn’t just about the legal system—it’s about fairness, accountability, and what kind of North Carolina we want to live in. If you care about justice, you’ll want to hear this.

Connect with the North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission:

• Website
• LinkedIn

Sponsors:

• NC/TN High Country WX
• Nascar WX
• Knights of Pythias Cumberland Lodge No. 5

Support Where the Dogwood Blooms: If you enjoy our content, consider supporting us via:

• Venmo
• Cash App

Connect with Where the Dogwood Blooms:

• Website
• Instagram
• X
• TikTok

Contact:

• cassie@wherethedogwoodblooms.com

Tags: #LauraPierro #NorthCarolina #NCPol #InnocenceInquiryCommission #WrongfulConvictions