Shows
The RantFriends of the Rant podcast | Carolina Indie Fest performers Late Night Special & Ol' Joey ScrumsWe interview members of Late Night Special (Charlotte) and Ol' Joey Scrums (Raleigh) ahead of Carolina Indie Fest, which kicks off on Friday at Hugger Mugger Brewing in downtown Sanford.
Ol' Joey Scrums performs at 3:15 p.m. on Saturday, September 27, and Late Night Special performs at 7 p.m. the same day.
For more information about Carolina Indie Fest, visit www.carolinaindiefest.net.
2025-09-221h 10The RantFriends of the Rant podcast | Carolina Indie Fest performers Boom Unit Brass Band & the Corey Stevenson BandGordon interviews members of the Boom Unit Brass Band (Raleigh, NC) and the Corey Stevenson Band (Greenville, SC).
Boom Unit will perform at Carolina Indie Fest at 5:45 p.m. on Saturday, September 27. Corey Stevenson plays at 5 p.m. on Friday, September 26.
Carolina Indie Fest will be held on September 26 and 27 at Hugger Mugger Brewing, 229 Wicker St. in downtown Sanford. For more information, visit www.carolinaindiefest.net.
2025-09-151h 28The RantFriends of the Rant podcast | Carolina Indie Fest performers the Great IndoorsGordon interviews Carolina Indie Fest performers the Great Indoors, who hail from Wilmington.
Carolina Indie Fest is set for May 23 and 24 at Hugger Mugger Brewing in downtown Sanford. For more information, visit www.carolinaindiefest.net.
2025-05-2037 minThe RantFriends of the Rant podcast | Carolina Indie Fest performers Derrick Dove & the Peacekeepers and the Cliff Wheeler BandGordon interviews Derrick Dove of Derrick Dove & the Peacekeepers and Cliff and Garrett Wheeler of the Cliff Wheeler Band. Both are slated to perform at Carolina Indie Fest on May 23 and 24 at Hugger Mugger Brewing in downtown Sanford. For more information visit www.carolinaindiefest.net.
2025-05-131h 22The RantFriends of the Rant Podcast | Carolina Indie Fest performers Heavy Denim and Nor'Easter Tippers & PypesGordon interviews Carolina Indie Fest performers Heavy Denim (Durham, NC) and Nor'Easter Tippers & Pypes (Central NC) ahead of Carolina Indie Fest at Hugger Mugger Brewing in downtown Sanford on May 23-24. For more information about Carolina Indie Fest, visit www.carolinaindiefest.net.
2025-05-051h 03The RantFriends of the Rant podcast | Indie Fest performers La Unica and Droze & the DriftGordon interviews Carolina Indie Fest performers La Unica (Washington, D.C.) and Droze & the Drift (Charleston, S.C.). Both will take the stage at the event, set for May 23 and 24 at Hugger Mugger Brewing at 229 Carthage St. in downtown Sanford. For more information, visit www.carolinaindiefest.net.
2025-04-2857 minThe RantFriends of the Rant podcast | Carolina Indie Fest artists Paper Rabbit & Lipbone ReddingGordon talks with Syracuse, New York's Paper Rabbit and North Carolina's Lipbone Redding about their upcoming performances at Carolina Indie Fest, set for May 23 and 24 at Hugger Mugger Brewing in downtown Sanford. For more information visit www.carolinaindiefest.net.
2025-04-211h 07The RantFriends of the Rant Podcast - January 18, 2025Gordon, Billy and Richard talk Mexican restaurants, the public school funding debate, and snow days. Happy 2025!
2025-01-1842 minThe RantFriends of the Rant Podcast | Indie Fest veteran Cliff WheelerGordon welcomes Cliff Wheeler back to the podcast to talk about what he's been up to over the past year, as well as the ways Carolina Indie Fest has evolved over the years. The Cliff Wheeler Band headlines night one of Indie Fest on Friday, September 20 at Hugger Mugger Brewing in downtown Sanford.
2024-09-1130 minThe RantFriends of The Rant Podcast | The month in local government: Library bonds, guns at the polls & moreGordon and Richard review the month in local government for Sanford and Lee County. Topics include bond financing for a new library, guns at the polls, proposed housing and commercial developments, and the start of the new school year.
2024-09-0834 minThe RantFriends of the Rant Podcast | Indie Fest performers BombadilGordon interviews Durham, North Carolina's Bombadil, a folk rock/Americana act who headline night two of Carolina Indie Fest at Hugger Mugger Brewing in downtown Sanford on Saturday, September 21.
2024-09-0324 minThe RantFriends of the Rant Podcast | Indie Fest performers Suburban Key PartyWe kick off our fall 2024 Carolina Indie Fest performer podcast series with Virginia's Suburban Key Party, who play on Saturday, September 21 at 6:45 p.m.
Carolina Indie Fest will be held at Hugger Mugger Brewing in downtown Sanford on September 20 and 21. The festival, which also includes food trucks and craft vendors, is free to the public. For more information visit www.carolinaindiefest.net.
2024-08-2839 minThe RantFriends of the Rant Podcast | Longtime CCCC Trustee Bobby PowellWe welcome Central Carolina Community College President Dr. Lisa Chapman as well as Bobby Powell, who was recently awarded an honorary degree from CCCC after completing 32 years of service on the college's Board of Trustees.
2024-08-2256 minThe RantFriends of the Rant | Lee County Athletic Park, teacher shortage, storm damageThe gang talks about the forthcoming Lee County Athletic Park, now less than a year away from completion, as well as our local teacher shortage, and some damage caused by recent storming.
2024-08-0736 minThe RantFriends of the Rant podcast | Sanford Spinners coach Jeremy Palme talks "the Web"Jeremy Palme, coach of the Sanford Spinners, joins the podcast to discuss the new baseball/softball facility he and partners have opened in Jonesboro.
2024-07-1943 minThe RantFriends of the Rant Podcast | The gang is back!The Friends of the Rant podcast returns to regularity with a new format. The first week of each month we'll discuss the cover story from The Rant Monthly and do a recap of the month in local government. The gang also discusses the truly frightening prospect of songs of any genre and topic, generated in a matter of seconds by artificial intelligence. The future is bleak!
2024-07-0245 minThe RantFriends of the Rant | Indie Fest performers Jive Talk & Tuatha DeaGordon talks with Carolina Indie Fest performers Jive Talk (Nashville synth-driven alt rock) and Tuatha Dea (progressive rock from Asheville mixing Celtic and Appalachian sounds), completing the Friends of the Rant podcast's Spring 2024 artist interview series. Tune in to get familiar with these bands, and come out on May 10 and 11 to Carolina Indie Fest at Hugger Mugger Brewing in downtown Sanford.
2024-05-031h 02The RantFriends of the Rant | Indie Fest bands Julia and Blue CactusOn the Friends of the Rant podcast, Gordon interviews Indie Fest performers Julia, an "intergalactic funk" band from Raleigh, and Chapel Hill's Blue Cactus, who play a strain of Americana that brings together country, psychedelia and 70s pop.
Julia plays Carolina Indie Fest at Hugger Mugger Brewing in downtown Sanford at 6:45 p.m. on Saturday, May 11, and Blue Cactus plays at 6:15 p.m. on Friday, May 10.
2024-04-2653 minThe RantFriends of the Rant | Indie Fest performers Chris McGinnis and PalefaceOn this week’s Friends of the Rant podcast, Gordon interviews Asheville’s Chris McGinnis, whose music has been described as “Appalachian absurdity for the 21st Century,” as well as Paleface, whose career in the music industry goes back to the 1980s and who tours full time with his partner and drummer Mo. Both are slated to perform at Carolina Indie Fest at Hugger Mugger Brewing in downtown Sanford on May 10 and 11.
2024-04-1952 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Indie Fest bands Culper Ring and Gooseberry JamOn the Friends of the Rant podcast, Gordon interviews Indie Fest performers the Culper Ring, a self proclaimed “dad punk” band from Dallas, Texas with a knack for big hooks and shimmering production, as well as Greensboro’s the Gooseberry Jam, who present a “Southern fried taste of soul set to a backdrop of raw rock and roll.”
The Culper Ring plays Carolina Indie Fest at Hugger Mugger Brewing in downtown Sanford on Saturday, May 11 at 5:30 p.m., and the Gooseberry Jam headlines Friday night, May 10, at 8:45 p.m.
2024-04-131h 09The RantFriends of The Rant | Katie Basden and Newspaper TaxisCarolina Indie Fest returns to Hugger Mugger Brewing in downtown Sanford on May 10 and 11, and the Friends of the Rant podcast is back to interview the performers. This week, we talk with Nashville-based Durham native Katie Basden, who melds a diverse array of influences into a soulful take on southern Americana, and Raleigh’s Newspaper Taxis, a rock act who bring to mind a mix of British Invasion hooks, post punk energy, and power pop vibes.
2024-04-051h 04The RantFriends of The Rant | Kara Grainger and Farewell FriendThe final entry in the fall 2023 Carolina Indie Fest/Friends of the Rant podcast series features Australia-born and Nashville-based blues rocker Kara Grainger and Farewell Friend, a Greensboro-based Farewell Friend, an indie–folk-rock band “known for their unique instrumentation and poetic songwriting.”
Farewell Friend takes the Carolina Indie Fest stage behind Hugger Mugger Brewing in downtown Sanford at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 30. Grainger follows Farewell Friend at 6:45 p.m.
2023-09-261h 04The RantFriends of The Rant | Gooseberry Jam and Jeremiah McKinleyThe Friends of the Rant podcast is joined this week by two Carolina Indie Fest acts, Gooseberry Jam and Jeremiah McKinley, both hailing from the Triad area.
Gooseberry Jam, who bring “a Southern fried taste of soul, set to a backdrop of raw rock and roll,” play at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 29. Jeremiah McKinley, “a band of two brothers telling stories through a mix of folk and newer rock and roll” kick the festival off at 5 p.m. on Friday.
2023-09-2256 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Heat Preacher and Shirlette AmmonsThis week, Friends of the Rant is joined by Chapel Hill band Heat Preacher, who combine alternative rock, soul, and indie sounds to create their own brand of modern pop rock music, as well as Durham's Shirlette Ammons, a poet and storyteller who uses a wide variety of genres as tools for her work.
Heat Preacher plays Carolina Indie Fest on Friday, Sept. 29 at 6:15, and Ammons takes the stage Saturday, Sept. 30 at 4:15 p.m."
2023-09-1351 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Oort PatrolWhat happens when a Friend of The Rant is an actual member of The Rant? Possibly nothing. Possibly an implosion of the space-time continuum.
The Rant’s Gordon Anderson sits on the other side of the mic as he talks to Patty Kempton about his band Oort Patrol, their music and their upcoming appearance at Carolina Indie Fest at Hugger Mugger Brewing on Sept. 30.
2023-09-0827 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Skyler Gudasz | Indie Fest ‘23Durham based singer/songwriter Skylar Gudasz has been called "the Joni Mitchell the south never had." She's headlining day two of Carolina Indie Fest on Sept. 30, and joined the Friends of the Rant podcast recently to talk about her work.
2023-09-0224 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Indie Fest 2023 - Reese McHenry, Cliff Wheeler BandAhead of the annual Carolina Indie Fest at Hugger Mugger Brewing (Sept. 29-30), The Rant’s Gordon Anderson interviews artists Reese McHenry, a garage rocker with a monster of a voice from the Triangle, and Lee County's own Cliff and Garret Wheeler of the Cliff Wheeler band.
2023-08-2253 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Indie Fest bands Hustle Souls, Regence and Rhinestone Pickup TruckThree bands from the upcoming Carolina Indie Fest — Hustle Souls, Regence and Rhinestone Pickup Truck — take the time to talk to us and become official "Friends of The Rant."
2023-05-1258 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Paleface and the Pseudo CowboysThe Friends of the Rant podcast welcomes Paleface and Mo for their third appearance, as well as Adam Pitts of Raleigh's the Pseudo Cowboys. Both acts will perform the first night of Carolina Indie Fest on May 12 at Hugger Mugger Brewing in downtown Sanford.
2023-05-0348 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Indie Fest performers ”Mom Rock”The members of Mom Rock, a 2022 Rolling Stone "Hot Band" named "one of America's best young bands" join our revived Friends of The Rant podcast leading up to their performance at Carolina Indie Fest, set for May 12-13 at Hugger Mugger Brewing in downtown Sanford.
2023-04-2437 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Indie Fest bands Crystal Bright & the Silver Hands and Oort PatrolCrystal Bright and the Silver Hands will headline day two of this weekend's Carolina Indie Fest with a variety of European and American world music influences, instruments including accordion, piano, and musical saw, and soaring operatic vocals. Oort Patrol is fronted by Rant co-founder and known criminal trash Gordon Anderson.
2022-09-1953 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Indie Fest performers Mike Dillon and Big Break’s David Myers
This week we chat with Carolina Indie Fest performers Mike Dillon, a New Orleans-based electric vibraphonist/percussionist who leads Mike Dillon’s Punkadelick, and David Myers, frontman for China Grove, N.C.'s Big Break.
2022-09-1249 minThe RantFriends of The Rant: Indie Fest performers Paleface and Whoop!It's two bands in one podcast as we talk to Carolina Indie Fest performers Whoop! and Paleface, the latter returning both to Sanford and to the podcast after appearing in Year 1. Indie Fest is Sept. 23-24 in downtown Sanford.
2022-09-0559 minThe RantFriends of The Rant: Cliff Wheeler talks Indie Fest; we talk N.C. Press awardsMusician Cliff Wheeler returns to talk about the return of Carolina Indie Fest and his involvement in bringing it back, and hosts Billy and Gordon talk about their return to the North Carolina Press Association awards banquet.
2022-08-2642 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Durham family rock trio Secret Monkey WeekendAnother upcoming Carolina Indie Fest band, Secret Monkey Weekend, shares their unique story before their upcoming performance in September.
2022-08-1826 minThe RantFriends of The Rant: Folk musician and Indie Fest performer David ChildersSinger songwriter David Childers has been "chronicling mankind’s and his own bouts with devilishness" — mixing rock, country, rockabilly, jazz and more — since his debut in 1998. The former attorney from Mount Holly has played with some of the state's best (recently, the Avett Brothers) and will be one of the 10 featured performers at Carolina Indie Fest, Sept. 23-24, in downtown Sanford.
Childers talks about his music and his career in this week's podcast.
2022-08-1341 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Sanford Spinners coach Jeremy Palme talks Season 2Sanford Spinners head coach Jeremy Palme joins us to talk about Season 2 of the Sanford Spinners, and hosts Gordon and Billy talk about this week's big news regarding the Prince Down Town motel.
2022-06-2445 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Oscar Moreno from Central Carolina HospitalOscar Moreno, director of patient services for Central Carolina Hospital, talks to The Rant about new programs and services being offered (and on the horizon) for CCH.
This episode also offers an insight to what's coming at Fonda Lupita's new location and the news this week of a longtime Lee County Schools board member stepping down.
2022-06-1529 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Kevin Baldes from Lit talks music, Wampus Cat FestKevin Baldes from Lit — the SoCal pop/punk band that had a string of hits in the 90s, including "My Own Worst Enemy" and "Miserable" — joins the podcast to talk punk music, Lit's rise to fame in the 90s and the band's upcoming performance at the Wampus Cat Music Festival in Sanford, May 13-15.
Music aside, the rest of the podcast we talk local news — which, you know, is important.
2022-05-0645 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Country artist Jenny Tolman on storytelling and Wampus Cat FestivalCountry singer/songwriter Jenny Tolman is one of the 90-plus artists scheduled to perform at the upcoming Wampus Cat Music Fest in Sanford May 13-15. Tolman joins the podcast this week to talk about her music, her songwriting approach, the humor in her lyrics and her influences.
2022-04-2241 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Nitro Nitra returns to Sanford (and our podcast)Nitro Nitra and her band lit up the stage at Carolina Indie Fest, and the rising artist is excited to return to the area for next month's Wampus Cat Festival. Listen to our interview and stick around for frivolity and yuks.
2022-04-1539 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | J.R. Richards, former Dishwalla frontman and upcoming Wampus Cat Fest performerJ.R. Richards, the former lead singer of Dishwalla and current independent solo artist, will be among the many big names performing at the Wampus Cat Festival near Sanford on May 13-15 at Gross Farms II. Richards talks to The Rant about growing up with music, the songs that inspire him, how a massive hit like "Counting Blue Cars" changed his life and his engagement with fans on social media as a solo artist.
2022-04-0140 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Wampus Cat country artist John NorrisCountry artist and Sanford native John Norris — our first in a series of performers for the upcoming Wampus Cat Music Festival — joins the Friends of The Rant podcast to talk about his career and the upcoming three-day festival.
Learn more about John here: https://www.johnnorrismusic.com/about
2022-03-2541 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Jeff Popka shares Wampus Cat Music Festival detailsJeff Popka, CEO of Indie on Air Records and organizer of the upcoming Wampus Cat Music Festival, shares details on the May 13-15 event that will include acts like Everclear, Lit, Sister Hazel, Thompson Square, the Swon Brothers, J.R. Richards (Dishwalla) and more than 90 acts.
2022-03-1734 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Dr. Raj Swamy from Central Carolina HospitalDr. Raj Swamy of Central Carolina Hospital joins the Friends of The Rant podcast to talk about heart month and the remarkable cardiac procedures available to patients in Sanford and Lee County. Swamy is the head of cardiology at CCH in Sanford. He received his undergrad degree at Duke University and his medical degree from the University of Chicago-Pritzker. He specializes in cardiology, coronary intervention, echocardiography, arterial and venous ultrasound, vascular medicine, peripheral vascular intervention, stress testing, cardiac rhythm evaluation and management.
2022-02-1050 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Jimmy Randolph talks pottery festival returnJimmy Randolph is CEO of the Sanford Area Growth Alliance, but he joins us today wearing another hat — organizer for the Sanford Pottery Exhibition & Marketplace, a reboot of sorts of the old Sanford Pottery Festival which took place here for several years and is set to return on April 30 and May 1 at the Dennis Wicker Civic Center.
2022-01-1156 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Tracy Carter talks his final days as Lee County SheriffLee County Sheriff Tracy Carter will end 30-plus years in law enforcement when he officially retires on Jan. 1. He took some time to talk about his career and not only his future, but the future of the sheriff's office, on our Friends of The Rant podcast.
2021-12-2334 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Richard Sullins, government reporter extraordinaireGovernment reporter and political science authority Richard Sullins joins the podcast to talk about his experience writing for The Rant and his first impressions of local government in Lee County.
2021-12-0735 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Dr. David Watson and his book, ‘Truth to Post-Truth in American Detective Fiction‘Dr. David Watson, a humanities instructor at Central Carolina Community College, is author of “Truth to Post-Truth in American Detective Fiction.”
The book, Sanford native Watson’s first, is described by its publisher as examining “questions of truth and relativism, turning to detectives, both real and imagined, from Poe’s C. Auguste Dupin to Robert Mueller, to establish an oblique history of the path from a world where not believing in truth was unthinkable to the present, where it is common to believe that objective truth is a remnant of a simpler, more naïve time.”
2021-11-1956 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Movies, music and moreThe Friends of the Rant podcast returns with hosts Gordon Anderson and Billy Liggett talking about Squid Games, Many Saints of Newark, last month's Carolina Indie Fest and other local news stories of interest to your listening ears.
2021-10-2038 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Paleface excited to return to live musicCarolina Indie Fest headliner Paleface talks with The Rant about his upcoming performance — his first live performance since the beginning of the pandemic — and the musicians who have influenced him in his storied career.
2021-09-1042 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Indie Fest band HaHa Charade + Saturday's POP!-ConFull podcast this week as we interview Carolina Indie Fest band HaHa Charade and talk to Beth List about this Saturday's POP!-Con at the Lee County Library.
2021-08-2046 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Nitro Nitra is a badassA self-styled “astral-pop” and “soul rock” artist from Delaware who has been singing her whole life, Nitro Nitra began a career in music in 2019 after having a “mystical, spiritual awakening” she says freed her from “repetitive loops of mental bondage.”
Nitra’s goal as a musician is to create a shared experience by lifting her fans up to a place where they can open their minds to new levels of existence and awakenings of their own. Her voice has been compared to Amy Winehouse, Erykah Badu, Tina Turner and Diana Ross.
2021-08-1332 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Addie Tonic from Carolina Indie FestContinuing our series of interviews with artists performing at the upcoming Carolina Indie Fest, this week we're joined by Denver rock duo Addie Tonic. We also talk local news, because this is a local news podcast, friends.
Addie Tonic:
Founding members Meghann5k and Matt Youngblood spent the last 4 years touring small venues under various names and with several lineup changes before deciding on “Addie Tonic” in 2020. After a series of singles released by Indie On Air Records, the band released their debut EP, “Crashin’ Cars & Fannin’ Flames” in 2021.
2021-08-0652 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | The Accidentals join our Carolina Indie Fest talk"Among the most emotionally compelling songwriters of our time." ~ NPR
"Defiant, young - powerful, and undaunted.” ~ Texas Lifestyle Magazine
This week, we interview The Accidentals, the Michigan trio who will bring their eclectic blend of indie folk, pop, bluegrass, rock and more to downtown Sanford’s Carolina Indie Fest in September. Listen to our interview and a couple of awesome Accidentals jams in our Friends of The Rant podcast.
2021-07-3125 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Tough on Fridays, Carolina Indie Fest band from TexasGeorgetown, Texas-based Tough on Fridays talks about their music, the music scene in Austin, the origin of their name and what Carolina Indie Fest-goers can expect from their set. Carolina Indie Fest is scheduled for Sept. 18-19 in downtown Sanford, North Carolina.
2021-07-2442 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Cliff Wheeler — Sanford Indie Fest series
Cliff Wheeler is the leader of the Lemon Springs-based Cliff Wheeler Band, who have performed all over the country and released music on Indie On Air records. He will be performing two sets at the Carolina Indie Fest in downtown Sanford on Sept. 18 and 19.
The first in our series of Indie Fest podcasts.
2021-07-1746 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | John Cawley from SugarneckJohn Cawley, co-owner of Sugarneck — one of Sanford's premiere events venues — talks about the local wedding industry, the history of his venue and his career in music management working with some of music's biggest names.
2021-05-2148 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | CCCC President Dr. Lisa Chapman and Board Chairman Julian PhilpottCCCC President Dr. Lisa Chapman and Board Chairman Julian Philpott join The Rant to discuss its mission, its growing number of programs and its role as an employment pipeline for the city's and region's workforce.
Our hosts also talk about the lifting of mask mandates, gas shortages and becoming neighbors.
2021-05-1555 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Sandra Torres and Angel Mills from El RefugioSandra Torres and Angel Mills talk about El Refugio, a Christian organization based in Lee County working to build bridges between immigrants and established residents through cultural sharing. El Refugio is currently sponsoring the Sanford Sings Karaoke competition, a fundraising effort to support area nonprofit organizations.
2021-05-0819 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Bret Schaller on his "Assembly Required" TV appearanceSanford's own Bret Schaller talks about his experience (and his win) on Episode 9 of History Channel's "Assembly Required," hosted by former "Home Improvement" duo Tim Allen and Richard Karn.
2021-04-2350 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Old State North League baseball organizers talk Sanford SpinnersOld North State League organizers talk about the Sanford Spinners' return to the diamond. Guests this week are Spinners head coach Jeremy Palme, league owner Alec Allred, league marketing director Lexie Allred.
2021-04-0936 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | CCH CEO Spencer Thomas on COVID and local health careCentral Carolina Hospital CEO Spencer Thomas joined The Rant podcast to talk about where the hospital is at with the recent COVID-19 surge, the status of CCH’s vaccination operation and what things look like going forward.
Your hosts also talk about the 10th anniversary of the April 16, 2011, tornado; the housing market and Gordon's messed up dream.
2021-03-3151 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Britton Buchanan talks new music, upcoming albumFriend and fan of The Rant Britton Buchanan has released three singles so far in 2021, with more coming soon. His long-awaited first album is also set to drop this year. Buchanan joins us this month to talk these things and more.
2021-03-2536 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Margaret Murchison and Gordon's Oxygen appearanceFriend of the Rant Margaret Murchison returns to talk about CCCC's Black Lives Matter scholarship, and the Rant talks about Gordon's appearance on the Oxygen "murder show," Killer Motive.
2021-03-2050 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Joni Martin and Kelli Laudate on the future agri-market downtownJoni Martin of Progressive Development and Downtown Sanford Inc. Executive Director Kelli Laudate join the podcast to talk about the future agriculture marketplace coming to downtown Sanford, funded by a $500,000-plus grant from Pilgrim's.
2021-03-1247 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Joseph Keel shares news about Lee County Parks & RecJoseph Keel, Parks and Recreation director, talks about the return of youth and adult sports this spring and what the future sports complex will mean to youth athletics in Lee County.
2021-02-2540 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Sheriff Tracy Carter on his decision to retire in 2022The Rant talks to longtime friend Lee County Sheriff Tracy Carter, who talks about his decision to step down in 2022, his 15-year career as sheriff and who he's supporting in next year's election.
2021-02-1247 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Jeff Popka and Tim Emmert talk Carolina Indie FestIndie On Air CEO Jeff Popka and Hugger Mugger Brewing owner Tim Emmert talk about the upcoming Carolina Indie Fest (September 2021) in Sanford and some of the bands and musicians slated to perform (Paleface, The Accidentals, Willow Hill and the Cliff Wheeler Band, to name a few).
2021-02-041h 00The RantFriends of The Rant | Jaime Osborne and outdoor education in Lee CountyLee County Parks & Recreation outdoor specialist Jaime Osborne joins The Rant to talk about outdoor education programs offered by the county and the likelihood of whether they'll let us handle some snakes and turtles in the near future.
2021-01-2354 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Robert Reives II, the new leader of N.C.'s Democratic caucusState Rep. Robert Reives II (D-Chatham) joins The Rant to talk about becoming the new leader of North Carolina's Democratic caucus and about his work in Raleigh over the past year.
2020-12-1850 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Jeni Harris talks about overseeing the 2020 election in Lee CountyLee County Elections Director Jeni Harris joins The Rant to talk about her role overseeing the 2020 election locally, the process of ensuring a fair election and her thoughts on allegations of fraud in the national election.
2020-12-0937 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Wendy Bryan and Sanford's growing tourism industryWendy Bryan, executive director of the City of Sanford's Tourism Development Authority, joins The Rant to talk about how golf, breweries, parks, restaurants and a surprisingly big local wedding industry have sparked Sanford tourism in recent years.
2020-12-0357 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Chris Kelley and the Salvation Army's annual kettle driveChris Kelley, director of the Salvation Army of Lee County, talks about the organization's annual kettle drive and how COVID-19 has affected not only donations, but the number of volunteers out there.
The boys also rank the best coins (hint: quarters are the best).
2020-11-2441 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | John Ramsperger and Sanford's booming real estate marketJohn Ramperger from Sanford Real Estate joins us this week to talk about Sanford's real estate market and what subdivisions like Galvin's Ridge and Laurel Oaks will mean to the city in the coming years.
2020-11-2056 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Local election round-upThe Rant returns after a two-week hiatus to talk about the election in Lee County and North Carolina (we even talk a little national vote, too). Jonathan reporting live from Four Seasons Total Landscaping.
2020-11-1131 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Megadeth, horror movies and the electionThis week's episode of The Friends of The Rant podcast talks heavy metal horror movies, all while reminding you very politely to get out and vote on Nov. 3 (or before). Enjoy.
2020-10-2340 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Aslan Freeman on the music industry, his success in NashvilleAslan Freeman — a songwriter, musician, producer and engineer in Nashville and guitarist for country star Lainey Wilson — joins the podcast this week to talk about his career, the state of the music industry during the pandemic and his love for North Carolina-based rock bands.
2020-10-091h 10The RantFriends of The Rant | Britton Buchanan talks life post-VoiceBritton Buchanan talks about his career since leaving the Voice and shares big news about his upcoming debut album.
2020-10-0329 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Our friends from Boys & Girls Clubs of Central CarolinaJaslyn Walker, Bob Bridwell and Meg Moss — representing Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Carolina — join Friends of The Rant to talk about fundraising for their nonprofit (including an upcoming golf tournament) and the impact the organization has on the community, especially during the pandemic.
Hosts Gordon Anderson and Billy Liggett also share drive-in movie memories and talk local headlines.
2020-09-2649 minThe RantFriends of the Rant | Tina Gross and local fall agritourismTina Gross, co-owner of Gross Farms in Sanford, joins the podcast to talk about Gross Farms' fall offerings — the annual corn maze and pumpkin-picking — and the importance of agritourism for the state's economy.
2020-09-1847 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Bob Joyce and Sanford's extraordinary growthBob Joyce, economic development executive director for the Sanford Area Growth Alliance, talks about the state of the economy in Sanford and much more. Hosts Gordon Anderson, Billy Liggett and Jonathan Owens also share their 9/11 memories.
2020-09-1252 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Sept. 5, 2020No guest and an abbreviated episode this week — still a fun time had by all (and a look back at a classic Rant radio skit involving Jon and a Vince Gill concert from nine years ago). Enjoy!
2020-09-0533 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Susan Keller and the proposed Sanford sports complexSusan Weber, co-chair of the Lee Grow Play Succeed campaign to pass a bond in November to fund a multi-million dollar sports complex in Sanford, joins The Rant to talk about plans for the complex, the upcoming bond referendum and what a complex could mean for Sanford's future. Hosted by Gordon Anderson, Jonathan Owens and Billy Liggett.
2020-08-2846 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Lisa Mathis and Brandon Jones talk DOT and road projectsLisa Mathis from the North Carolina Board of Transportation and engineer Brandon Jones from NCDOT Division 8 join The Rant to talk about road projects in and around Lee County and to share a little highway trivia.
2020-08-2153 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Ricky Secor and a different start to the school yearRicky Secor, the principal at Broadway Elementary School for the past four years, talks about the preparations he and his faculty have taken to start the 2020-2021 school year — which begins Monday with online classes. Hosted by Gordon Anderson, Billy Liggett and Jonathan Owens.
2020-08-1448 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Beth List and everything you ever wanted to know about librariesBeth List, the director of library services for the Lee County Library, talks about how they've adapted to the pandemic to continue to offer books, internet and other services to the community. She also answers questions we all want to know about the library (Dewey Decimal system, anyone?) and shares updates on upcoming events.
The Rant also discusses the most recent edition of The Rant Monthly, the demolition of a historic home on Hillcrest Drive and more.
2020-08-071h 08The RantFriends of The Rant | WRAL's Tar Heel Traveler, Scott MasonScott Mason, known throughout North Carolina as the Tar Heel Traveler on WRAL, joins The Rant to talk about his career, what goes into making a Tar Heel Traveler segment and why The Rant was on his radar.
2020-07-281h 06The RantFriends of The Rant | Laura Brummett talks journalism and college in the pandemic eraSanford native, UNC senior and Rant contributor Laura Brummett joins The Rant's Friends of The Rant podcast to talk about her passion for journalism and college life during the pandemic. Hosted by Gordon Anderson, Billy Liggett and Jonathan Owens.
2020-07-2354 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Ari Wright Thompson talks racism, making a differenceIn the July 2020 edition of The Rant Monthly, Morehouse College student and Southern Lee grad Ari Wright Thompson wrote about his experience growing up in Sanford and racism he faced. Ari talks goes into more detail for the podcast and talks about how studying political science and law will make him a better advocate.
2020-07-1452 min
The RantFriends of The Rant | Chad Blackwelder talks foodThe Rant was joined this week by Chad Blackwelder, longtime chef and current food service marketing specialist for the N.C. Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Blackwelder talks about the industry, how restaurants have adapted to COVID-19 regulations and why Thousand Island dressing is frowned upon. We also play a little game of “guess that tune” in the beginning.
2020-06-2656 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Cardinal & Pine’s Billy Ball on the state of journalismCardinal & Pine managing editor Billy Ball (formerly a writer for The Sanford Herald), talks to The Rant about starting a news site from scratch, the state of journalism today and how his site has covered COVID-19 and Black Lives Matter protests in North Carolina. Hosted by Gordon Anderson, Billy Liggett and Jonathan Owens.
2020-06-1755 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Our old newspapering days and ukulele coversThe Friends of The Rant podcast had a little bit of everything this week. Hosts Gordon Anderson, Billy Liggett and Jonathan Owens relive their newspaper days, discuss local news regarding COVID-19 and controversial commissioners and share a ukulele cover of an Oort Patrol tune performed by a 10-year-old girl. Fun times were had by all. Thanks for listening.
2020-06-1252 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Margaret Murchison on losing her sister to COVID-19Margaret Murchison, longtime news director at WWGP in Sanford, joined The Friends of The Rant podcast this week to talk about losing her sister, Renda McRae, to COVID-19 last week. She also gives her thoughts on the nationwide protests of the death of George Floyd and her own experiences facing segregation in Sanford during the 1960s.
2020-06-0353 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Jimmy Randolph talks big job announcementsSanford Area Growth Alliance Existing Industry Development Manager Jimmy Randolph joins the Friends of The Rant podcast to talk about the recent announcement of clothing manufacturer Through6 coming to Sanford and other recent big job announcements made in the past six months.
Hosts Gordon Anderson, Billy Liggett and Jonathan Owens also talk ukuleles and post-WWII Germany.
2020-05-2943 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Restaurant reopening talkThe Rant discusses today’s second phase of “reopening North Carolina” and talk about restaurants, as well as other tangents in what is a mostly rambling, incoherent beautiful mess of a podcast. Enjoy.
2020-05-2343 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Stephanie Hoover on opioid abuse in Lee CountyStephanie Hoover, First Health of the Carolinas peer support specialist for Lee, Hoke and Montgomery counties, joins the podcast this week to talk about the rising cases of opioid overdose in Lee County and how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected addiction and addiction treatment in this area. Hoover — also a health coach, former Army spouse, mother and grandmother — lost her 22-year-old son to an opioid overdose in 2017, and since that day, she’s fought to change the outcome for other families.
2020-05-1439 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Newspaper columns and conspiracy theoriesFriends of The Rant hosts Gordon Anderson, Billy Liggett and Jonathan Owens talk about current COVID-19 conspiracies, the columns they wrote for the most recent edition of The Rant Monthly and Billy’s childhood friend who smoked in the fourth grade.
2020-05-0833 minThe RantFriends of The Rant | Ben Brown talks about his Tourette's Podcast and musicThe Friends of The Rant podcast returns this week with longtime “friend of The Rant,” Ben Brown, creator of our theme music, and host of the national – and international – “Tourettes Podcast”. Hosts Gordon Anderson, Billy Liggett and Jonathan Owens talk about his podcast(s), time travel and the most recent edition of The Rant Monthly.
2020-05-0352 min
The RantFriends of The Rant | Jeff Towson | Sept. 13, 2019The Rant returns in podcast form with "Friends of the Rant." Our first guest is Jeff Towson, owner of Smoke & Barrel in Downtown Sanford. We talk food, restaurants, downtown, newspapers and more.
2019-09-1347 min