Backstage at TENCROW Studios (BTS)

About Backstage at TENCROW Studios (BTS)

Backstage at TENCROW Studios (BTS) celebrates the creative spirit of Eastern North Carolina, exploring film, music, art, photography, technology, and the business of creativity. Each episode offers behind-the-scenes insights and conversations with local artists, filmmakers, musicians, and entrepreneurs. Tune in for inspiring stories, industry tips, and a closer look at the people and projects shaping our regional creative landscape.

Publisher

TENCROW Studios

Category

tv & film

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

10 Nov 2024

Latest episode

13 Nov 2025

Latest episodes

10 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   13 Nov 2025

   Bob Worden, esq. - Author (pt.3 Vietnam)

   Backstage at TENCROW Studios: The Vietnam War & The Cost of Miscalculation | Part 3 w/ Bob Worden In this third installment of our ongoing series with mediator and historian Bob Worden, we explore the Vietnam War — one of the most controversial, painful, and politically complex conflicts in modern American history. Drawing from his book How to Stop Wars and Save the World, Bob analyzes Vietnam the same way he would dissect a multi-party negotiation gone wrong: by examining motives, incentives, leadership decisions, and the points where peace was still possible. Alongside host Mike McCoy—retired Special Operations veteran and co-founder of TENCROW Studios—we break down how the United States entered a war it never clearly defined, how political incentives outweighed strategic logic, and how an entire generation paid the price. This conversation is not about assigning blame. It’s about understanding how wars actually start — and why they’re so hard to stop once momentum takes over. How French colonial history set the stage long before American involvement The rise of Ho Chi Minh and why communism appealed to everyday Vietnamese citizens Why the U.S. backed the wrong leaders in South Vietnam The political fear of “looking weak” and how it drove escalation The Gulf of Tonkin incident and the role misinformation played The Tet Offensive as the breaking point for public support How war becomes a self-sustaining political machine Parallels between Vietnam and modern conflicts today Vietnam isn’t just history. It’s a blueprint for how wars are justified, framed, and prolonged. This episode highlights how: Narrative can overtake reality “Strength” can be confused for wisdom And how everyday citizens often bear the cost of decisions made far above them Understanding Vietnam helps us understand the world we’re living in now. If you’re interested in geopolitical strategy, conflict resolution, military history, or just trying to make sense of current events — this conversation is worth your time. 🎧 Available wherever you listen to podcasts 📘 How to Stop Wars and Save the World — available now in print & audio 📍 Filmed at TENCROW Studios in Jacksonville, NC 🔗 https://tencrowstudios.com (https://tencrowstudios.com) #VietnamWar #ModernHistory #ForeignPolicy #ConflictResolution #Podcast #TENCROWStudios #BackstageAtTENCROW #BobWorden #Leadership #HistoryPodcast #Geopolitics #HowToStopWars 🔍 Key Themes in This Episode:💡 Why This Matters Today:

2. 

   10 Jul 2025

   First Cut Productions

   🎙️ Episode 9: Building a Horror Film Community – First Cut Productions In this episode of Backstage at TENCROW Studios, we sit down with Mark Bellinger and Christine Golden of First Cut Productions, the creative force behind the First Cut Horror Film Festival in Wilmington, NC. 🎬 Now entering its second year, the festival has quickly become a cornerstone for indie horror filmmakers—showcasing spine-tingling shorts from around the globe while spotlighting local talent with heart and humor. Mark and Christine talk about the origins of the festival, its explosive growth, their wildly creative award design, and how they’re building a deeply connected horror film community in Eastern North Carolina. We also explore: The secret sauce behind a successful horror festival 🧛♂️ What it really takes to host 31 films in a single day Why Wilmington is becoming a magnet for indie filmmakers The challenges of producing passion projects with limited budgets Future goals and how YOU can get involved as a filmmaker or sponsor 🩸 Submissions for this year’s festival are open through August 3rd — don’t miss your chance! You can submit your film on Film Freeway here: https://filmfreeway.com/TheFirstCutFilmFest?pending=true (https://filmfreeway.com/TheFirstCutFilmFest?pending=true) 💀 Visit https://www.firstcutproductionsllc.com/ (https://www.firstcutproductionsllc.com/) or follow @firstcutproductions on Instagram for more. #FirstCutFilmFest #IndieHorror #WilmingtonNC #BackstageAtTENCROW #ShotAtTENCROW

3. 

   3 Jul 2025

   Bob Worden, esq. - Author (pt.2 The Civil War)

   Historian Bob Worden discusses the economic, political, and leadership failures that led to the American Civil War with host Mike McCoy, revealing parallels to today's polarized climate in this interview.

4. 

   25 Jun 2025

   Honey Head Films - Indie Filmmaking, Growth & Strategy

   Kristi Ray and Erika Arlee from Honey Head Films discuss grassroots filmmaking, team building, and leveling up from micro-budget features, offering insights into packaging, pre-sales, and the emotional aspects of filmmaking in this interview.

5. 

   30 May 2025

   How to Fund a Film - Ross Campbell

   Industry strategist Ross Campbell discusses independent film financing, including securing minimum guarantees, foreign pre-sales, and the role of state incentives, in an interview on how films transition from script to screen.

6. 

   7 May 2025

   Bob Worden, esq. - Author (pt. 1 - American Revolution)

   In this episode, we sit down with attorney, mediator, and author Bob Worden, Esq., who brings a fresh lens to some of the most pivotal wars in history. Drawing from his book How to Stop Wars and Save the World, Bob shares what happens when you apply the mindset of a professional dispute resolver to global conflict—specifically the American Revolution, Civil War, and Vietnam.We dive into the real reasons behind the American Revolution, including Britain's strategic missteps, leadership failures, and a deep misunderstanding of colonial life. Bob unpacks how bad information, personal egos, and logistical chaos made war inevitable—and what could have changed the outcome.He also explores modern parallels to Ukraine, the dangers of government overreach, and how well-intentioned systems often get hijacked by opportunists. From King George III's isolation to George Washington’s reluctant leadership, this episode uncovers forgotten insights with surprising relevance to today's geopolitical tensions.📚 Topics include:Why Britain misunderstood the coloniesThe truth about Loyalists, taxes, and colonial class warfareHow misinformation and ego escalate conflictWhat history teaches us about mediation and powerThe ripple effects of the French alliance and post-war economicsLessons modern leaders can learn from past empiresIf you're a student of history, a fan of political philosophy, or just want a no-BS take on how wars start—and how they might be prevented—this episode is for you.🎧 Listen now on Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.📖 Grab the book: How to Stop Wars and Save the World by Bob Worden, Esq.

7. 

   21 Apr 2025

   Wasted Potential & Ark Entertainment

   In this episode of Backstage at TENCROW Studios, we sit down with the founders of Wasted Potential Studios and Ark Entertainment to pull back the curtain on a game-changing partnership. What happens when a film studio, a $100M game dev powerhouse, and a film financing company decide to build something bigger — together? We break down: 🎮 How gaming, filmmaking, and VFX are merging in real-time 💡 The origins of their joint venture — and why Eastern NC is the launchpad 🏗️ What it takes to scale production capabilities across film and interactive media 💰 How they’re approaching funding, IP protection, and long-term creative control Whether you're a filmmaker, investor, or just obsessed with where media is headed — this conversation offers a rare inside look at the future being built right now.

8. 

   31 Mar 2025

   Jesse LaFlair - Actor, Stuntman, and Freerunning Professional

   In this episode we're sitting down and chatting with Jesse LaFlair, a world-renowned freerunner, pro stuntman, and content creator who's pushed the boundaries of movement both on screen and online. Known for his viral parkour videos and roles in major films like X-Men: Apocalypse and Alita: Battle Angel, Jesse blends athleticism with storytelling to inspire a global audience. Whether he's navigating Hollywood sets or urban landscapes, Jesse is all about defying limits and staying true to the grind.

9. 

   31 Dec 2024

   Joe Tracey - Orion Studios

   We're sitting down with Joe Tracey, one of the owners of Baltimore's biggest music recording and rehearsal studios - Orion Studios (https://www.orionsound.com/). In this episode we talk about his studio, some of the challenges they overcame during the pandemic, film, and music.

10. 

    10 Nov 2024

    James Jones Jr. - Bearhug Productions

    In our first ever Backstage at TENCROW Studios podcast we're chatting with Writer, Director, Producer - James Jones Jr. from Greenville, NC. He's best known for his film Freedom of NC and recently PAYDERT which is out in select theaters and also screening at TENCROW Studios from November 9-11 and 15-17. In this episode we talk about his filmmaking journey and some of the challenges he encountered during the making of PAYDERT.

Who has been a guest on Backstage at TENCROW Studios (BTS)

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Bob Worden
• Kristi Ray
• Erika Arlee
• Ross Campbell

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

1,939

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Podcast Authority Score: 38 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

50

Social presence

0

YouTube

68

Engagement

0

Contact Backstage at TENCROW Studios (BTS)

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.