East NC TV: On the Record

Is traditional healthcare failing patients? Why are people waiting months to see a doctor, and are alternatives like concierge medicine, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and GLP-1 medications changing the way we approach healthcare? In this episode of On the Record, I sit down with Dr. Raj Patel, founder of Denali East Group Concierge Medicine and Aesthetics in Greenville, North Carolina, to discuss his approach to patient care and why he believes the traditional healthcare system needs to change. Unlike many concierge medicine practices, Denali East Group operates on a direct-pay model without requiring monthly membership fees. Dr. Patel explains why patients who already have health insurance are choosing to pay out of pocket for longer appointments, faster access to care, and more individualized treatment. We also dive into some of today's most talked-about medical topics, including GLP-1 weight loss medications, Ozempic, hormone replacement therapy, perimenopause, testosterone therapy, childhood vaccine consultations, Botox, dermal fillers, and patient safety. Dr. Patel also discusses Greenville's growing shortage of OB-GYN appointments, his practice's early pregnancy care services, and a specialized ultrasound facial mapping training program for aesthetic injectors. Whether you're interested in alternative healthcare options, struggling to get answers from your doctor, or simply curious about the future of medicine, this conversation offers a look at one physician's approach to changing patient care in Eastern North Carolina. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Meet Dr. Raj Patel of Denali East Group 00:34 – What is concierge medicine, and how does direct-pay healthcare work? 02:38 – Why Denali East Group doesn't require monthly membership fees 04:41 – Why insured patients are choosing to pay out of pocket 06:11 – Why can't patients request their own lab work? 07:37 – Treating the root cause instead of just prescribing medication 09:55 – Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), perimenopause, and testosterone 12:15 – The Women's Health Initiative study and concerns about hormone therapy 15:41 – GLP-1 medications, weight loss, and comprehensive blood testing 19:22 – What are GLP-1s? Ozempic, muscle loss, and side effects 24:27 – Childhood vaccinations and individualized vaccine consultations 27:36 – Botox, dermal fillers, and specialized aesthetic injector training 30:05 – Who is qualified to administer Botox and filler in North Carolina? 37:37 – Greenville's growth and the demand for accessible healthcare 42:19 – Greenville's OB-GYN shortage and early pregnancy care options ABOUT DR. RAJ PATEL Dr. Raj Patel leads Denali East Group Concierge Medicine and Aesthetics in Greenville, NC. His practice offers direct-pay primary care, hormone replacement therapy, weight management consultations, aesthetic procedures, and other medical services. Learn more about Denali East Group: https://www.denalieastgroup.com/ ABOUT ON THE RECORD On the Record features conversations with the people shaping North Carolina, from business owners and community leaders to policymakers, entrepreneurs, and innovators. Subscribe for more conversations about the issues, businesses, and people making an impact across Eastern North Carolina and beyond. 👍 Like this video if you enjoyed the conversation. 💬 Comment below: Would you consider paying out of pocket for longer, more personalized doctor visits? 🔔 Subscribe to ENCTV for more episodes of On the Record. **Medical disclaimer:** This interview is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The medical opinions and treatment approaches discussed are those of the guest. Consult a qualified healthcare professional about your individual circumstances. For more information about Eastern North Carolina, questions, comments, concerns, or to be a trusted source or sponsor of ENCTV, e-mail: [email protected] To browse available homes in Eastern NC: https://www.emilysellsgreenvillenc.com/ Follow us on socials: https://www.instagram.com/realtoremilymcallister/ https://www.facebook.com/emcallister1996/ https://www.instagram.com/eastnctv/ #ConciergeMedicine #DrRajPatel #GreenvilleNC #GLP1 #HormoneReplacementTherapy #EasternNorthCarolina #OnTheRecord #ENCTV

Are data centers coming to Eastern North Carolina — and is there a way for rural communities to benefit from them without sacrificing their quality of life? In this episode of On the Record, I sat down with Rich Deming, CEO of East Energy Renewables, to discuss the rapidly growing demand for data centers, artificial intelligence infrastructure, renewable energy and a different approach to data center development in rural North Carolina. As communities across North Carolina consider data center moratoriums and new regulations, Deming explains his concept for smaller, “community-sized” data centers designed to fit within existing rural infrastructure rather than the massive hyperscale facilities generating controversy around the country. The conversation explores what a data center actually is, how much electricity and water these facilities require, why AI is driving unprecedented demand for computing power and whether smaller data centers connected through fiber could provide an alternative to enormous hyperscale developments. Deming also breaks down the potential economic impact for rural communities, including property tax revenue, capital investment, jobs and the possibility of expanding a county's tax base without simultaneously adding thousands of new residents who require additional schools, roads, utilities and public services. Before entering the data center industry, East Energy Renewables built its business around renewable and distributed energy projects in North Carolina. Deming explains how the company converts poultry agricultural waste into steam and electricity, works alongside wastewater treatment facilities and uses infrastructure that might otherwise be underutilized. The conversation also examines the legitimate concerns surrounding data centers: power demand, water consumption, noise, neighboring property owners, environmental impacts and whether communities have enough information yet to understand the long-term consequences. Finally, the discussion expands beyond data centers into AI, the digital divide, economic inequality, capitalism, public trust, social media algorithms and why Americans increasingly struggle to have productive conversations with people they disagree with. This conversation is not an endorsement or rejection of data center development. It's an attempt to understand what is being proposed, what communities could gain, what they could potentially lose and what questions Eastern North Carolina should be asking before making long-term decisions. CHAPTERS 00:00 — Why Are Data Centers Coming to Eastern NC? 02:34 — Hyperscale vs. Community-Sized Data Centers 04:36 — From Journalism to Renewable Energy 06:58 — Turning Agricultural Waste Into Electricity 09:35 — How East Energy Uses Steam, Power & Wastewater 13:15 — How an $85 Million Energy Project Gets Built 15:40 — What's Wrong With Hyperscale Data Centers? 17:20 — What Would a 50 MW Data Center Actually Look Like? 20:07 — Why Communities Are Pushing Back 24:23 — Could Smaller Data Centers Work Together? 24:58 — What Does a Rural Community Actually Get From a Data Center? 2 8:39 — Data Centers, Property Taxes & the Rural Tax Base 31:35 — Could Distributed Data Centers Replace One Hyperscaler? 38:17 — How Data Centers Actually Make Money 42:23 — What Don't We Know About Data Center Impacts? 44:26 — The Ideal Location for a Community-Sized Data Center 46:43 — What Would Success Look Like? 48:13 — AI, the Digital Divide & Rural Communities 51:00 — Public Trust, Social Media & Why We Can't Talk Anymore 56:12 — AI, Inequality, Capitalism & the Future On the Record brings you long-form conversations with the people shaping North Carolina's communities, businesses, economy and future. Subscribe to ENCTV and turn on notifications for new episodes of On the Record. #DataCenters #NorthCarolina #EasternNC #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #RenewableEnergy #FarmvilleNC #RuralDevelopment #EconomicDevelopment #EastEnergyRenewables #DataCenter #OnTheRecord

From working behind the scenes in television and the World Series of Poker to spending 100 days in a circle with MrBeast, responding to Hurricane Helene, and opening Fellowship Games in downtown Greenville, Shawn Hendrix has taken more than a few unexpected turns. In this episode of On the Record, Shawn sits down with me to talk about how a random phone call brought him to Greenville, North Carolina — and eventually into the world of MrBeast. But the conversation goes much further. Shawn recounts driving into western North Carolina immediately after Hurricane Helene, deploying Starlink systems to disconnected fire departments, watching Elon Musk respond to his request for help, and seeing firsthand both the extraordinary generosity of ordinary people and the limitations of disaster response. We also discuss the good and bad of social media, political division, Flock cameras and government, why small businesses shouldn't fear competition, the disappearance of America's “third spaces,” faith, hospitality, loneliness, and why rebuilding real community may have to start with simply knowing the people who live next door. 00:00 Meet Shawn Hendrix 01:12 How MrBeast Brought Shawn to Greenville 02:19 From the World Series of Poker to MrBeast 04:56 Winning 100 Days in a Circle & Becoming “Survival Dad” 07:19 How Social Media Changed Who Gets to Tell Stories 09:53 Hurricane Helene, Starlink & Elon Musk 12:53 The Emotional Reality of a Disaster Zone 15:50 Connecting First Responders & Isolated Communities 19:29 “We Shouldn’t Rely on Government to Save Us” 21:20 Elon Musk Responds & the Story Goes Viral 23:33 FEMA, Private Aid & Raising Nearly $500,000 30:30 Politics, Flock Cameras & Online Division 33:32 Why We’ve Lost the Ability to Disagree 38:26 Competition, Capitalism & Small Business 41:50 “Amazon Can’t Compete With Me on Hospitality” 45:09 Pokémon, Profit & Building a Business for the Long Term 47:47 Faith, Business & Loving Your Neighbor 52:33 Fighting Loneliness & Rebuilding Community 58:03 “We Have Neighborhoods, But Very Few Neighbors” 01:05:13 Spend Your 24 Hours Well   For more information about Eastern North Carolina, questions, comments, concerns, or to be a trusted source or sponsor of ENCTV, e-mail: [email protected] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecurrentenctv/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...

How does a town of 10,000 people in rural, Eastern North Carolina, suddenly become the subject of dozens of headlines regarding debt, law suits, improperly followed city ordinances and irrelevant proclamations? Last November, the city of Washington unseated three of its four city council seats, as well as its mayoral position. So what led the citizens to vote in an almost complete overall of it's local government? I sat down with sitting city councilman, Max Perrault, to discuss some of the issues plaguing this small town in Beaufort County. Including the context beyond the removal of a sitting city manager, the firing of a subsequent one, the financial challenges of providing citizens with updated utility structures, the struggle to attract industry when the team can't work together and what happens when egos interfere with the mission of serving your local community. 00:00 — Introduction & Meet Max Perrault 03:21 — Is Washington Actually a “Hot Mess”? 05:28 — The 2025 Election & Demand for Change 08:27 — Did the New Council Inherit Washington’s Problems? 12:41 — Why the City Manager Was Asked to Resign 17:45 — Washington’s Debt & Financial Problems 20:36 — Utility Bills, Infrastructure & Smart Meters 27:26 — “Good Debt” vs. Bad Debt 29:31 — Infrastructure & Economic Development 31:30 — Why Councilman Nick Fritz Resigned 38:35 — Blighted Properties & Code Enforcement 39:42 — Utilities, ElectriCities & Rising Rates 47:06 — The Personal Toll of Local Government 52:37 — Joe Davis & Social-Policy Controversies 59:00 — “Sanctuary for the Unborn” & Performative Politics 01:02:18 — Washington’s Property-Tax Fight 01:10:21 — The “Davis Tax Cut Plan” 01:14:36 — Can Washington Get Back to Revenue Neutral? 01:18:15 — Beaufort County, Growth & Economic Development 01:22:25 — What’s Happening With the Civic Center? 01:27:54 — Washington’s Airport, PGV & Aviation Growth 01:34:13 — Reelection & Perrault’s Vision for Washington   Closing Nick Fritz's resignation post: https://www.witn.com/2026/04/30/democ... For more information about Eastern North Carolina, questions, comments, concerns, or to be a trusted source or sponsor of ENCTV, e-mail: [email protected] Instagram: www.instagram.com/ontherecordenctv  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61593797286430 #easternnorthcarolina #northcarolina

Daryl Norris, with City of Greenville, NC sat down to talk to us this month about storm water. What is storm water? How does it affect development? The projects we approve, the projects we don't. Currently, the state of NC requires that 100% of the stormwater generated by new development be mitigated with infrastructure as a part of that project. Time stamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:00 What Is Stormwater? 03:33 Impervious Surfaces & Why Driveways Look Different 07:05 How Stormwater Regulations Work 12:22 Stormwater Exemptions & Different Types of Retention Systems 14:31 Who Is Responsible for Maintaining Stormwater Infrastructure? 18:20 Why Does Greenville Flood? 21:00 Cedar Street Stream Bank Project Explained 25:20 How Stormwater Projects Are Funded 28:40 Greenville's Watershed Master Plan 35:20 Flood Maps vs. Real Flood Risk 39:10 Working With Winterville, Ayden & Pitt County 42:00 Why Railroads Complicate Stormwater Projects 48:51 Aging Water & Sewer Infrastructure 53:20 "Only Rain Down the Drain" 54:45 Final Thoughts For more information about Eastern North Carolina, questions, comments, concerns, or to be a trusted source or sponsor of ENCTV, e-mail: [email protected] T o browse available homes in Eastern NC: https://www.emilysellsgreenvillenc.com/ Follow us on socials:   / realtoremilymcallister     / emcallister1996     / eastnctv  

We sat down with President & CEO of Greenville, NC Convention & Visitors Bureau to discuss what tourism and travel benefits Pitt County. Everything from the filming of Beast Games to the Little League Softball World Series and other events bring in hospitality dollars for the county. Timestamps: 0:45 Introduction 1:45 Possibly expansion of PGV airport 3:00 Mr Beast local impact 6:32 State Boards (NC travel & tourism) Film incentive & tax breaks 8:40 Exposure for Greenville due to Beast Games, Softball world series 9:20 Mr. Beast & national recognition 11:30 Sports tourism impact and growth 1 3:00 Ecu & Greenville 50 year lease agreement/ bringing in larger tournaments 15:00 Public-Private partnerships 16:45 The need for an indoor complex 18:00 Greenville specific sports commission 19:05 Flag football rising popularity 20:00 Hosting Body Armor State games 21:00 Economic impact of North Rec Complex 22:05 Sawyers fun park expansion & sports tourism 23:40 Little League Softball World Series 24:24 How did we get to host the little league softball world series? 26:41 "Road to Greenville" 28:28 Marketing budget 30:15 Convention center perks 32:40 Events hosted at convention center 34:05 Greenville is a hidden gem, goals to expose that . . For more information about Greenville/Pitt County contact: [email protected] 252-300-0939 https://www.emilysellsgreenvillenc.com/contact/ . . For hosting information for sports tournaments, filming or convention contact: [email protected] #PittCountyNC #greenvillenc #easternnc #MrBeast #littleleagueworldseries

In this episode of On the Record, Emily sits down with Tori Rumineck, Executive Director of the North Carolina Ag Partnership, to unpack one of the most pressing (and misunderstood) issues in North Carolina today: the rapid loss of farmland and the future of agriculture in a growing state. From shocking statistics about farmland loss to the real reason farming isn’t as profitable as you think, this conversation dives deep into the tension between development, affordability, and preserving rural life. If you live in Eastern North Carolina—or care about where your food comes from—this is a conversation you need to hear. 👉 Expect a nuanced, real-world discussion (not black-and-white takes) on: Growth vs. preservation Why farmers are selling land The truth about GMOs, food safety & “MAHA” And what YOU can actually do to support local agriculture ⏱️ Timestamps 0:00 – Intro + why this topic matters now 1:15 – Meet Tori Renick + what the NC Ag Partnership actually does 3:30 – Agriculture is STILL NC’s #1 industry ($110B impact) 5:00 – Top commodities in North Carolina (you might be surprised) 7:30 – Why livestock production is more complex than it looks 10:15 – The hidden issue: NC is a grain-deficit state 12:00 – Hog farm moratorium (since 1997) & why new farms are nearly impossible 15:00 – The BIG stat: NC projected to lose 1M acres of farmland by 2050 17:30 – Conservation easements explained (and why they matter) 20:00 – Tax programs that keep farmers from being taxed off their land 22:30 – Voluntary ag districts + protection from nuisance lawsuits 25:00 – Where farmland loss is happening most (urban sprawl explained) 28:00 – The real culprit: low-density housing 31:00 – Why it’s NOT “anti-development vs pro-growth” 34:30 – The harsh truth: farming isn’t very profitable 38:00 – Why small farms are disappearing faster 41:00 – Input costs are up 40% (and what that means for farmers) 45:00 – Short-term vs long-term solutions for agriculture 48:00 – The consumer’s role (yes, YOU matter more than you think) 52:00 – GMO / bioengineered foods: are they actually safe? 57:00 – “MAHA” movement: what’s real vs what’s misunderstood 1:02:00 – The convenience problem: we want local food… but not the effort 1:06:00 – Why grocery stores respond to YOUR buying behavior 1:09:00 – 75% of ag production comes from just 3,500 farms 1:12:00 – How small farms survive (value-added products explained) 1:15:00 – The cost of farming equipment (and tough business decisions) 1:18:00 – The impossible balance: growth vs preserving rural land 1:22:00 – The “everyone wants land” problem (and why it’s complicated) 1:26:00 – Why there is no simple solution 1:29:00 – What you can actually do to support local agriculture 1:32:00 – Closing thoughts + how to get involved Additional Sources: https://www.ncagr.gov/march-2026/open    • NC Ag Partnership 2025   https://www.osbm.nc.gov/blog/2024/08/... https://storage.googleapis.com/csp-fu... https://ncfarmlink.ces.ncsu.edu/nc-fa... https://ncchamber.com/2023/08/02/stat.... https://www.wral.com/story/where-does... NC Ag Partnership & How to Support: https://ncagpartnership.com/ If you're interested in buying/selling real estate in Pitt or the surrounding counties: [email protected] 252-300-0939 https://www.emilysellsgreenvillenc.co... Chapters

In this episode of my 2026 passion project, I’m sitting down with local leaders to unpack what growth in Greenville and Pitt County really looks like—not just “more houses,” but the behind-the-scenes decisions that shape our quality of life for the next 10–20+ years. Today’s guests are Pitt County Commissioners Chris Nunnally (District 3) and Rochelle Brown (Super District B). We talk about what county commissioners actually do, what they don’t control (yes, including a lot of roads), and where the real influence lives—budget priorities, long-term planning, education funding, and advocating for the projects the community needs. We cover: 1. How Pitt County and Greenville can collaborate better as one growing region 2. What “quality of life” means beyond just shopping and restaurants 3. The strategic planning process and why it matters right now 4. Roads and the STIP process (MPO/RPO, project prioritization, and why things move slowly) 5. School growth and capacity, capital funding, and how long-term planning affects taxes and costs 6. Economic development and what it actually takes to attract major employers and retail If you’ve ever wondered who to contact when you want change, why certain projects take forever, or what the county’s role is in growth, this conversation will help connect a lot of dots. Drop your questions in the comments—and if there’s a local leader you want me to interview next, tell me who!   00:00 Intro: Emily explains the 2026 local-leaders passion project in Pitt County 00:35 Meet today’s guests: Chris Nunley and Rochelle Brown 01:10 Chris: district overview + how long he’s served 02:05 Chris “day jobs”: attorney (dental transitions) + teaching + cello studio 03:10 Rochelle: super district explanation (B / 3 & 6) + general boundaries 04:15 Rochelle “day job”: hospitality company background + recent transition 05:30 Why they ran for office: collaboration, growth, and community priorities 06:15 Chris: city/county collaboration + economic development focus 07:40 Rochelle: mom perspective + schools/public safety/quality of life + fiscal responsibility 09:40 What county commissioners control vs. what they don’t 10:20 Quality of life: cost of living + strategic planning + investing for long-term impact 12:10 Strategic plan: “front porch” readiness + benchmarking for Eastern NC 13:45 Roads & infrastructure: who handles what (county vs. state vs. MPO/RPO) 14:40 What is the MPO and RPO? 16:20 How projects get prioritized and submitted (STIP process) 17:50 Why state road projects move slowly + examples of major corridors/projects 20:10 “Lobbying” / advocacy: what’s realistic and who to contact at the state level 22:05 Bike lanes / municipal roads example in Winterville and how to push projects forward 24:10 Schools & growth: capacity pressures and what’s next 25:10 DH Conley High School capacity + potential future campus discussion 26:40 What the county funds: capital (buildings) vs operational support (supplements, staffing) 28:10 Big-picture needs: long-term capital planning (multi-year funding scale) 30:10 Accountability + how funding flows between commissioners and the Board of Education 32:10 Revenue conversation: taxes vs. fees vs. “value for increases” (parks/rec example) 34:30 Unfunded mandates + class size standards impact at the county level 36:15 Economic development & “big names”: what commissioners can influence (and what they can’t) 37:10 Attracting major retail (Costco / Trader Joe’s) + what metrics matter 38:40 Regional branding + key community players like MrBeast and economic impact 41:10 Quick explanation: what a county commissioner does + why local government matters 43:00 Closing thoughts + appreciation + wrap-up Follow me on other platforms or contact me:   / realtoremilymcallister   [email protected] https://www.rochellebrown.net/ https://chrisnunnally.com/

Welcome to our 2026 Passion Project. I’m Emily McAllister, local real estate agent here in Greenville, NC, and once a month this year I’m sitting down with local leaders to talk about what’s happening in Greenville — the real behind-the-scenes stuff: growth, infrastructure, development, long-range planning, and how decisions get made. For our first episode, I’m joined by Phil Dixon, attorney for Greenville Utilities Commission (GUC). We talk about why GUC is structured differently than most utilities in North Carolina, how that impacts growth, why infrastructure planning is so expensive (and so critical), and what big opportunities could be coming next for Pitt County. If you’ve ever looked at your utility bill and thought, “What am I even paying for?”… this one’s for you. 👇 Drop your questions for future guests in the comments. Chapters / Timestamps 0:00 – Intro: Emily’s 2026 Greenville “Passion Project” 1:05 – Meet Phil Dixon + his role at Greenville Utilities Commission (GUC) 3:00 – Why Greenville created a utilities commission in the first place (taking politics out of utilities) 6:10 – What it means that GUC is separately chartered (and why only Fayetteville is similar) 8:25 – Why utilities can’t be run like “extra money” for city budgets 10:30 – Reserves, borrowing, and why infrastructure planning has to be long-range 12:10 – How GUC supports the city financially (return on investment + utility discounts) 13:40 – Natural gas + “buy low, store it” strategy (yes… freezing natural gas) 15:55 – Water: aquifers vs. river water + why eastern NC is changing how it sources water 18:10 – “Greenville gets water twice” (river dynamics near the coast) 20:00 – Why water/sewer is often the real limiter for development (not electricity) 21:30 – County water corporations (Bell Arthur, Eastern Pines, etc.) and how territories work 24:10 – Ironwood case study: capacity, fire flow, and why it went to court 26:20 – Regional utilities: why small towns struggle and why consolidation keeps coming up 28:40 – Taking over Bethel’s system: refinancing debt, lowering rates, upgrading reliability 31:30 – Aging infrastructure statewide (replacement costs + what’s coming next) 33:05 – “Monopoly” concerns: why competition doesn’t work the same with utilities 35:00 – The most misunderstood things about GUC (and what’s actually on the homeowner’s side) 37:00 – Budget billing explained (and why it helps stabilize monthly costs) 38:20 – Beat the Peak: peak demand, load management, and saving serious money 40:30 – Planning for growth: capacity, megasite potential, and what major industry would need 42:45 – Why Greenville is positioned for growth (hospital, ECU, location, quality of life) 45:10 – Final thoughts + GUC’s new operations center and strategic positioning   Helpful Links / Notes Learn more about Greenville Utilities Commission (GUC): https://www.guc.com/about-us   Want more Greenville + relocation content? Follow me here: https://www.instagram.com/realtoremil... https://www.facebook.com/emcallister1...

Local decisions shape our lives every day — from growth and housing to schools, infrastructure, and public resources. But most of the time, it’s hard to know who makes those decisions, how they’re made, or why they matter. On the Record is a monthly conversation with the people shaping our communities, focused on clarity, context, and real answers — without the jargon. On the Record with Emily McAllister, releasing January 27th, 2026.