I’ve gone and done it, y’all—Where the Dogwood Blooms is officially on YouTube!
This has been a long time coming. After seeing the success of the podcast, I started thinking about expanding into video content and announced my plans back in March.
Since then, I’ve been gathering video equipment, learning the ropes, and practicing by creating short clips that I’ve been sharing over on X.
Most of those clips have been fun little pronunciation videos, teaching folks how to say things the North Carolina way—like “pecan” (which is absolutely pee-can) or how to pronounce those tricky town names, like Leicester (Lester).
The response was so encouraging that it gave me the confidence to pursue longer content. A couple of weeks ago, I was ready to dive in and filmed a private tour of Mill Prong House. It was an amazing experience, and I was certain that would be my first YouTube video.
But then I went back home to WNC. I saw the devastation, heard my neighbors’ stories, and spoke with folks at the local churches. And I started to wonder: where are their voices in all this?
The media was full of talking heads and politicians—most of whom don’t live in WNC, and even fewer who understand Appalachian culture. That’s when the idea hit me: to give my people, true heritage hillbillies, a platform to tell their stories.
On my next trip, I interviewed four locals, letting them share their experiences, frustrations, and grief—no holds barred. Their stories were so raw and powerful that I knew they had to be the first videos I shared.
If y’all want to see how it turned out, check out my new YouTube channel! And if you prefer, you can find the videos on Rumble too.
