Shows
Due SouthYear in Review: WUNC's top race, class and communities stories. Plus, comedian Alonzo Bodden returns to Raleigh.0:01:00Year in Review: WUNC reporters recap biggest stories of the yearWUNC's Race, Class & Communities Reporter Aaron Sánchez-Guerra talks about immigration raids, the climate of fear felt in many North Carolina communities, and the other big stories he covered in 2025.Aaron Sánchez-Guerra, Race, Class & Communities Reporter, WUNC0:13:00A new investigation by The Assembly finds North Carolina’s “…Lawyers Who Kept Screwing Up”Federal judges repeatedly cited lack of professionalism and timeliness from state lawyers in federal court. Even after repeated efforts for change, ju...
2025-12-1750 minDue SouthWUNC's top military stories; 50 years of the Hayti Heritage Center; Medicaid coverage of autism therapy0:01:00 Year in Review: WUNC reporters recap biggest stories of the yearWUNC Military Affairs Reporter Jay Price gives us a rundown of his top stories of the year.Jay Price, military and veteran affairs reporter, WUNC0:13:00Checking in with Durham's Hayti Heritage Center As Hayti Heritage Center wraps its 50th year, the organization finds itself facing a need to reset, after financial and staffing issues have led to celebration postponements and cancellations. New artistic director Tyra Dixon talks about an ambitious roster of...
2025-12-1650 minDue SouthWUNC education reporter recaps biggest stories of the year, and Duke anthropologist tackles race and college football0:01:00Year in Review: WUNC reporters recap biggest stories of the yearIn this first installment of Due South’s Year in Review conversations with WUNC reporters, co-host Jeff Tiberii talks with K-12 education reporter Liz Schlemmer about the most memorable stories she covered in 2025 and what she’ll be watching for in 2026.Liz Schlemmer, K-12 Education Reporter, WUNC0:13:00A Duke anthropologist tackles race and footballThe college football bowl season starts this weekend. Then come the playoffs, which continue for a month until the national championship game in J...
2025-12-1150 minDue SouthNC educators face financial strain, low morale. Plus, a preview of WUNC's new audio walking tour of Durham landmarks.0:01:00‘From Politics to Paychecks’ series explores financial strains faced by NC educatorsThe financial situation for many teachers in North Carolina is bleak. WUNC education reporter Liz Schlemmer interviewed several educators as part of a reporting series called "From Politics to Paychecks." The series explores how political decisions are affecting NC educators' finances and families. Liz joins Jeff Tiberii to talk about the educators she met in putting together this series, and about the politics and policies shaping their lives in very significant ways.Liz Schlemmer, education reporter, WUNC
2025-11-0650 min
The BroadsideWho gets to play the banjo in America?This past spring, Durham, North Carolina hosted a sprawling roots music festival called Biscuits and Banjos. For the thousands of attendees, it had some similarities to a lot of folk music events around the country. But one major thing set it apart. Nearly every featured performer was Black.The event is just one part of a Black folk music revival sweeping the country that's rescuing lost traditions and challenging stereotypes that for generations have influenced things like who gets to play the banjo in America.This episode is part of a collaboration between WUNC-North Carolina...
2025-09-1124 minDue SouthIs North Carolina’s civics education working? Plus, WUNC’s ‘Education 101’ series.0:01:00WUNC’s ‘Education 101’ series and navigating K-12 school optionsAs the school year gets underway, some parents may already be thinking about next year. With the Triangle region’s array of traditional public schools, magnet programs, and charters, as well as a large number of private schools, the local educational landscape can be confusing.WUNC education reporter Liz Schlemmer talks to Due South about an upcoming event “Navigate Your K-12 Options,” part of WUNC’s Education 101 series explaining how education works in North Carolina.Liz Schlemmer, education reporter, WUNC0:13:00Is North...
2025-09-1050 minThe BroadsideThe innocence experimentFor nearly 20 years, the North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission has helped incarcerated people who have evidence of their innocence walk free. But despite over a dozen headline-grabbing success stories, this independent state agency remains incredibly rare in the American legal system. In fact, there's no other neutral government-run agency like it in the entire country. And this bold experiment could soon come to an end.Featuring:Michael Hewlett, criminal justice reporter for The AssemblyWill Michaels, reporter and host for WUNC-North Carolina Public RadioLinks:Check out reporting about the North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission...
2025-08-2125 minDue SouthNC News Roundup: How federal funding rollback will impact WUNC; recovery from Chantal flooding continuesOn the North Carolina News Roundup... What recovery from flooding in central NC looks like. Why NC Attorney General Jeff Jackson is suing the US Department of Education. NIH layoffs in the Triangle are now officially official. And Congress rolls back funding for public media. Guest host Will Michaels talks with a panel of journalists about those stories and more, on Due South.Paul Hunton, President and General Manager of North Carolina Public Radio – WUNCCeleste Gracia, Environment Reporter, WUNCBrian Gordon, Business and Technology Reporter, The News & ObserverLiz Schlemmer, Education Reporter, WUNC
2025-07-1850 minThe BroadsideAppalachia’s crypto boom and bustEnticed by cheap energy and friendly zoning laws, crypto mining operations poured into Appalachia. But in many places, like Murphy, North Carolina, these incredibly invasive facilities quickly wore out their welcome. Now, communities across the region are trying to pull the plug on crypto, while grappling with a new challenge that presents many of the same problems: AI data centers.Featuring: Jane Sartwell, reporter for Carolina Public PressCyndie Roberson, former resident of Cherokee County, NCColin Campbell, Capitol Bureau Chief for WUNC-North Carolina Public RadioDina Temple-Raston, managing editor and host of the Click Here podcastLinks: ...
2025-06-2623 minThe BroadsideThe fight for free speech at public universitiesFor much of the past two years, the debate over campus free speech has been front and center in America. While protests and punishments at private universities have grabbed most of the headlines, public schools have been grappling with the issue as well. That includes the country’s oldest public university: the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. And unlike the Ivy League, what’s happening there could have much broader and lasting first amendment implications. Featuring: Gaby Del Valle, policy reporter at The VergeBrianna Atkinson, higher education reporter at WUNCReem Subei, attorney with Muslim Advoca...
2025-05-1518 minThe BroadsideThe mystery of the Big HoleTucked away in rural Chatham County, North Carolina there’s a giant concrete cube with a satellite dish on top of it. Built decades ago, the strange, windowless building is only the tip of an iceberg; below it is a massive bunker designed to withstand a nuclear holocaust. That secure site has become part of local lore and spawned countless conspiracy theories. It may have even inspired the Netflix show Stranger Things. But what’s really going on down there?Featuring: Jay Price, Military and Veterans Affairs reporter at WUNC and The American Homefront ProjectDrew Lasater, Chath...
2025-05-0817 min
WUNC PoliticsA closer look at NC's broken-down DMVFor years, the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles has been plagued by long wait times and poor service. It’s a major problem in one of America’s fastest-growing states. And in the age of DOGE and government efficiency, it's generating talk of some dramatic solutions. This week, we're sharing an episode on the issue from one of WUNC's other podcasts, The Broadside.Featuring:
Bradley George, reporter at WUNC
Larry Higgs, transportation and commuting reporter at NJ.com and the Star-Ledger
Senator Michael Lazarra, representing the NC Senate's 6th District
Richard Stradling, transportation reporter for The N...
2025-04-1120 minThe BroadsideEveryone hates the DMVFor years, the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles has been plagued by long wait times and poor service. It’s a major problem in one of America’s fastest-growing states. And in the age of DOGE and government efficiency, it's generating talk of some dramatic solutions.Featuring:
Bradley George, reporter at WUNC
Larry Higgs, transportation and commuting reporter at NJ.com and the Star-Ledger
Senator Michael Lazarra, representing the NC Senate's 6th District
Richard Stradling, transportation reporter for The News & Observer
Links: You can find a transcript of the episode here.The Broadsi...
2025-04-0319 minThe BroadsideThe modern Graveyard of the AtlanticThe waters surrounding North Carolina’s Outer Banks are so treacherous that they’re known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic. They’ve claimed everything from Blackbeard’s pirate ship to German U-boats. And that dark legacy continues today. Oregon Inlet, a narrow gap near Roanoke Island, is one of the deadliest waterways in the United States. But it’s also an economic lifeline for a small industrial fishing community who must traverse it.Featuring:
Emily Cataneo, reporter for The Assembly
Molly Trivelpeice, education curator at The Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum
Links:
Check out Emily's...
2025-03-2717 minThe BroadsideQuarterback of the rising sunIf you want to understand America, going to a college football game is a great place to start. In a lot of ways, the culture and history of the sport is a mirror held up to the country itself. But some folks -- especially Asian Americans -- haven’t seen themselves in that reflection until recently. Or so we thought. Because an incredible discovery in North Carolina is rewriting history and changing what we thought was possible in sports.Featuring:
Shehan Jeyarajah, national college football writer for CBS Sports
Tim Peeler, North Carolina State University sports hi...
2025-03-2020 minThe BroadsidePublic schools’ big enrollment problemNearly every public school district in North Carolina has fewer students than before the pandemic: part of a larger trend happening across the country. Facing empty classrooms and dwindling dollars, many public school leaders are trying to figure out where all the kids went and what declining public school enrollment could mean for the communities they serve.Featuring:
Liz Schlemmer, education reporter for WUNC
Alec MacGillis, reporter for ProPublica
Links:
Check out Liz Schlemmer’s reporting on the enrollment decline here.
Read Alec MacGillis’ reporting on school closures here.
You can find a transcript of thi...
2025-03-1320 minThe BroadsideThe fight over fluorideFor decades, public health advocates have touted the dental health benefits of fluoride. But skepticism, conspiracy theories, and outright fear of fluoridated water have been around for just about as long. And they’re only gaining steam. In the midst of this heated debate, new scientific studies in North Carolina are combating health misinformation and trying to separate fact from fiction in the hope that they just might cool the conversation.Featuring:
Sara Israelsen-Hartley, freelance journalistLinks:
Check out Sara’s reporting for The Assembly on fluoride here.
You can find a transcript of this e...
2025-03-0620 min
EmbodiedForgive, But Don’t Forget: Sexuality & Healing From Religious TraumaWhen Celeste Gracia was 17, her religiously conservative parents sent her to conversion therapy. This was the same summer that the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage, giving queer people across the country cause for celebration. It would take years before Celeste felt that same joy and freedom, and today, the 27-year-old environment reporter at WUNC talks with Anita about how recent political events are prompting her to reflect on her decade-long path to healing. Anita also talks to therapist Jonathan Bell about how Celeste’s story fits into a broader context and why religious trauma is so challenging to heal....
2025-03-0650 minThe BroadsideThe road to rebuilding after HeleneHurricane Helene wiped out hundreds of roadways in western North Carolina. Now engineers are working to fill the holes the storm left behind. But how do you rebuild a road that’s meant to last in a climate that’s changing quicker than we can keep up?Featuring:
Nathan Moneyham, Division Construction Engineer for North Carolina Department of Transportation, Division 13
Matt Lauffer, State Hydraulics Engineer for North Carolina Department of Transportation
Lauren Sommer, climate correspondent for NPR
Jared Bowden, Associate Director for North Carolina State Climate Office
Links:
NOAA’s Atlas 14 database
The RaInDROP tool dev...
2025-02-2719 minThe BroadsideHell froze over: Southern hockey is thrivingIn the 1990s, professional ice hockey was primed for growth. But the NHL had one major problem: geography. In order to expand its footprint, the sport had to move into unlikely warm weather locations with few existing fans. The league eventually expanded to the Sun Belt with mixed early results. But in North Carolina and other Southern states, the NHL has found success with a radical long-term strategy. They've helped build the next generation of hockey fans almost completely from scratch.Featuring:
Ibraheem Khalifa, hockey fan
Cory Lavalette, freelance Carolina Hurricanes beat reporter and senior editor a...
2025-02-2020 minThe BroadsideThe hunt for a long-lost musical masterpiece (Revisited)To celebrate Black History Month, we're revisiting one of our favorite episodes from last year.Perhaps more than any other artform, the 20th century was shaped by jazz. And piano player and composer Mary Lou Williams was there at nearly every turn. In recent years, historians have documented and dissected her career and its big impact on American music. But the final chapter of her life—spent teaching at Duke University—was shrouded in mystery. Until now.Special thanks to Chris Pattishall for writing and performing the score for this episode.Featuring:
Antho...
2025-02-1321 minThe BroadsideWho gets to be Native in AmericaNorth Carolina’s Lumbee Tribe have been pursuing full federal recognition for over 130 years. A campaign promise kept by Donald Trump has given them hope. But it’s also renewed centuries-old questions about who gets to be Native in America.Featuring:
Sarah Nagem, editor of the Border Belt Independent
John Lowery, Lumbee Tribal Chairman
Carrie Lowry Schuettpelz, author of The Indian Card: Who Gets to Be Native in America
Links:
Check out more reporting from Sarah Nagem and the staff of the Border Belt Independent here.
You can find a transcript of this episode here.
...
2025-02-0621 minThe BroadsideElection season is over… right?Election Day was nearly three months ago. Since then, every race in the country has been called and certified. Except for one. A single election for a seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court remains in limbo, and its outcome might have huge ramifications for American democracy.Featuring:
Rusty Jacobs, Voting and Election Integrity reporter for WUNC
Frank Bruni, contributing writer for The New York Times and author of “The Age of Grievance”
Links:
Check out more of Rusty Jacobs’ reporting here.
Read Frank Bruni’s article for The New York Times here.
You can find a...
2025-01-3019 minThe BroadsideHow North Carolina became Japan's favorite stateNorth Carolina has been cultivating a special relationship with Japan for more than four decades… and the rewards for the American economy are only accelerating. This week, we find out how tax incentives, BBQ, and Bojangles helped make the Tar Heel State the epicenter of Japanese investment in the US.Featuring:
Teruhiro "Terry" Kawabe, President and CEO of Morinaga America
David Robinson, Honorary Consul of Japan to North Carolina
Andy Steinhauer, General Manager at Health & Nutrition North America plant in Raleigh, NC
Brian Gordon, Business & Technology reporter at The News & Observer
Links:
Read Brian Gord...
2025-01-2321 minThe BroadsideSegregation academies and a forgotten migrationThroughout the South, state legislatures are adopting and expanding school voucher programs designed to allow parents to use public funds to pay for private school tuition. But this modern day push for school choice is connected to a dark past that recalls America’s long and sometimes forgotten history of resisting integration in the classroom.Featuring:
Jennifer Berry Hawes, reporter with ProPublica
Crystal Sanders, author of “A Forgotten Migration: Black Southerners, Segregation Scholarships, and the Debt Owed to Public HBCUs”
Links:
Read Jennifer Berry Hawes reporting on segregation academies and school vouchers here.
You can find...
2025-01-1622 minThe BroadsideThe gambling gold rush is hereIn 2018, the US Supreme Court ruled that states could legalize sports gambling. Since then, 38 states have taken the plunge, including our home state of North Carolina. The payoff has been lucrative. But it also has a human toll.Featuring:
Jason deBruyn, Supervising Editor for Digital News at WUNC
Jason Quick, Senior Writer at The Athletic
Links:
Check out Jason Quick's incredible reporting about gambling addiction.
You can find a transcript of this episode here.
If you or a loved one need help with problem gambling you can find it at the National Problem Ga...
2025-01-0923 minThe BroadsideThat time we almost destroyed the worldOn a chilly evening in 1961, a B-52 crashed in rural eastern North Carolina near the town of Goldsboro. Any plane crash is bad, but this one was particularly dangerous because onboard that bomber were two nuclear weapons. The event was perhaps the closest the United States has ever come to accidentally detonating a nuclear bomb—and kicking off a nuclear war.Featuring:
Jay Price, Military and Veterans Affairs reporter at WUNC and The American Homefront Project
Stephen Schwartz, independent nuclear weapons expert and author of “Atomic Audit: The Costs and Consequences of U.S. Nuclear Weapons Sinc...
2025-01-0218 minThe BroadsideThe ballad and the floodThis week, we visit the small town of Marshall in western North Carolina, a region ravaged by Hurricane Helene earlier this year.But this story isn’t about the storm or climate change or the walls of water that rushed through the Black Mountains in September. It’s about what happened after. How people create systems to help each other. And how the best aspects of humanity can shine in the wake of a disaster.This episode comes to us from Outside/In. Produced by our friends at New Hampshire Public Radio, it’s a podcas...
2024-12-2639 minThe BroadsideDeck your halls with Rauch ballsIn this special holiday episode, we meet the Jewish man from Gastonia, North Carolina who became the world's largest manufacturer of Christmas ornaments and used his power to make his home more tolerant of all religions.This episode comes to us from Jeremy Markovich. Jeremy is the creator of a newsletter and podcast called the North Carolina Rabbit Hole, where he explores the strange and quirky corners of his home state. You can find all of his incredible work at ncrabbithole.com.This story was adapted from: "The Unlikely Ornament King of Gastonia" which appeared in...
2024-12-1924 minThe BroadsideTony Hawk and the skateboard rabbit holeOn a rainy day in 1979, a photograph was taken of a young girl skateboarding down a street in Fayetteville, North Carolina. 45 years later, that photo went viral with a little help from the most famous skater who ever lived: Tony Hawk. This week, we find out who the mystery girl in the picture was and why the snapshot was so ahead of its time. Featuring:
Jeremy Markovich, writer of the North Carolina Rabbit Hole
Tony Hawk, skateboarder
Shaunda Shane, skateboarder
Links:
Check out Jeremy's article about tracking down Shaunda Shane.
View photographs of Shaunda ska...
2024-12-1218 minThe BroadsideCan we save Christmas (trees)?From the White House to your living room, North Carolina’s iconic Fraser fir is the most popular Christmas tree in America. But this holiday season, something is threatening to wipe it out — and the $250 million dollar industry associated with it. Special thanks this week goes out to Kate Sheppard of The Assembly.Featuring: Steve Riley, contributor at The AssemblyLinks:
Check out Steve's article about the race to save America's favorite Christmas tree here.
You can find a transcript of this episode here.
Donate: The Broadside is made possible by contribu...
2024-12-0520 minThe BroadsideThe mystery of the Brown Mountain lightsFor more than a century, people near Brown Mountain have witnessed unusual displays of shimmering and sometimes even exploding lights. A skeptical scientist has spent years trying to solve the mystery.This week, we’re heading to the mountains of western North Carolina for an episode produced by Atlas Obscura in partnership with Visit North Carolina.Donate: The Broadside is made possible by contributions from listeners like you. Support WUNC-North Carolina Public Radio and this podcast by making a donation here.Sign up for WUNC's new Politics Newsletter here.See Privacy Po...
2024-11-2817 minWUNC PoliticsWhy women are underrepresented in NC politics"Women are underrepresented at every level of North Carolina politics": that’s the eye-catching title of a chapter in a new book called "Anatomy of a Purple State: A North Carolina Politics Primer." The book’s author, Chris Cooper, professor of political science and public affairs at Western Carolina University, has compiled statistics around the issue. Only 30% of next year's state legislators are female. Cooper joins WUNC's Colin Campbell to talk about the numbers along with Rep. Lindsey Prather of Buncombe County, who shares her experience in the legislature.Sign up for our free, weekly WUNC Politics News...
2024-11-2225 minThe BroadsideStorytelling's surprising digital age revivalTrading stories is an ancient and deeply human experience. But today, most of the stories we consume come to us through a digital screen. So it might surprise you to find out that we're in the midst of a revival of the old school style of storytelling. Turns out, sitting in a crowded room with other people, sharing funny and tragic and unbelievable stories live and in person has never been bigger. Thank you to Nancy Reeder of the North Carolina Storytelling Guild for reaching out and pitching this show idea.And special thanks also g...
2024-11-2118 minThe BroadsideThe world's biggest video game is from North CarolinaFortnite was an unlikely hit from an unlikely place: North Carolina-based Epic Games. Innovative game design and smart leveraging of social media and live streaming catapulted it into becoming one of the world's biggest video games. And today, Fortnite is a bona fide cultural phenomenon. But can the memes and viral dance moves go on forever?Featuring:
Brian Gordon, Technology & Innovation reporter for The News & Observer
Jamal Michel, video game and culture critic
Links:
Check out Brian’s multi-part series on Epic Games and Fortnite.
Read Jamal’s recent piece in The New York T...
2024-11-1420 minThe BroadsideA Day in the Life: The artistThis week we're launching a new kind of episode where we spend an ordinary day in the life of someone doing something extraordinary. Join us as we tag along with renowned North Carolina-based muralist Dare Coulter while she works to bring a very big and very public artistic vision to life.Featuring:
Dare Coulter, professional artist and muralistLinks:
View Anisa and Charlie’s horse drawings here.
You can find a transcript of this episode here.
Check out more of Dare's artwork on her Instagram and Facebook.
Donate: The Broadside is made possible by c...
2024-11-0721 minThe BroadsideThe weirdest and wildest political storiesIt’s Election Week in America–and if you’re like us, you’re probably a little burned out with politics. So we’re offering up something different. This week, we ask three veteran political reporters a single question: what’s the most bizarre story you've ever covered?Featuring:
Barry Yeoman, freelance writer and contributor at The Assembly
Jim Morrill, former politics reporter at the Charlotte Observer
Dawn Vaughan, Capitol Bureau Chief at The News & Observer
Special thanks this week goes out to WUNC’s Colin Campbell and Kate Sheppard of The Assembly.Links:
Rea...
2024-10-3121 minWUNC PoliticsDown The Ballot: 1st Congressional DistrictThis week on our Down The Ballot series, we’re taking a look at the only one of North Carolina’s 14 congressional districts that has a close election this year.First-term Democratic Congressman Don Davis is defending his seat in a district that state lawmakers redrew to give Republicans a slightly better shot at winning. Retired Army Colonel and political newcomer Laurie Buckhout of Edenton is the GOP nominee for the 1st Congressional District, which includes about 20 counties in the state’s northeastern corner, from Henderson and Goldsboro east to Corolla on the Outer Banks. A spoke...
2024-10-2522 minThe BroadsideWhy it's so hard to find a good couchKnown as the "Furniture Capital of the World," North Carolina is famous for its high-quality furniture. And for over a century, it's been the heartbeat of the American furniture industry. But in recent decades, that business has changed dramatically, decimating the workforce and leaving average American consumers with two less-than-ideal options: high-end luxury products or cheap and mostly disposable mass-produced stuff.Featuring:
Zaki Khalifa, former owner of Zaki Oriental Rugs in High Point, NC
Tammy Nagum, President and CEO of the High Point Market Authority
Federico Contigiani, President of Hickory Chair
Matt Hartman, reporter at The A...
2024-10-2422 minThe BroadsideBonus episode: Let's go to the fair!The North Carolina State Fair is one of the largest and oldest state fairs in the United States, drawing nearly a million people each year. And it's in full swing right now. We went yesterday and brought you back some funnel cake.Donate: The Broadside is made possible by contributions from listeners like you. Support WUNC-North Carolina Public Radio and this podcast by making a donation here.Sign up for WUNC's new Politics Newsletter here.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
2024-10-2305 minWUNC PoliticsJosh Stein on his campaign for governorWe’re talking to candidates for key races on the WUNC Politics Podcast as part of our Down The Ballot series. This week, we’re taking a look at the race for governor. While the Republican candidate, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, hasn’t responded to multiple interview requests from WUNC, Due South co-host Jeff Tiberii sat down this week with the Democrat, Attorney General Josh Stein. Stein, who served in the state Senate before he was elected AG in 2016, talked about the contrasts in the campaign and how he’d approach the job opposite a powerful legislature that’s expected t...
2024-10-1820 minThe BroadsideIs it becoming too hot to work?The South is seeing the effects of a warming climate. 2024 was the hottest summer on record for much of the region. For people who work outside, it’s making jobs more difficult, dangerous... and even deadly.This week, we chat with two journalists from WUNC-North Carolina Public Radio about their multi-part series Scorched Workers, which examines the impact of rising heat on outdoor workers in North Carolina.Special thanks goes out to WUNC's Elizabeth Baier.Featuring:
Aaron Sánchez-Guerra, Race, Class & Communities Reporter at WUNC
Celeste Gracia, Environment Reporter at WUNC
Link...
2024-10-1720 minWUNC PoliticsDown The Ballot: Insurance CommissionerWe’re talking to candidates for key downballot races on the WUNC Politics Podcast as part of our Down The Ballot series. Next up: The race for insurance commissioner. The insurance commissioner gets the final say on whether insurance companies can raise the rates you pay for home and auto insurance. And this year’s election for the position comes amid a proposed 42% average homeowners insurance premium hike. The commissioner also oversees insurance fraud and consumer protection work at the agency. WUNC spoke with the Republican incumbent, Commissioner Mike Causey, and his opponent, Democratic state Sen. Natasha Marcu...
2024-10-1133 minThe BroadsideHurricanes, helicopters and how we helpHurricane Helene ravaged the Southeast and brought unprecedented flooding to the mountains of western North Carolina. Helene is a devastating example of climate change’s impact on places like Appalachia, a region that poses unique challenges for relief and recovery. Featuring:
Jay Price, Military Reporter at WUNC and The American Homefront Project
Katie Myers, Climate Reporter at Blue Ridge Public Radio and Grist
Links:
Follow Jay's reporting at WUNC
Follow Katie's reporting at Blue Ridge Public Radio
You can find a transcript of this episode here.
Donate: The Broadside is made possible by contr...
2024-10-1022 minWUNC PoliticsBonus episode: The art and alarming science of political adsHere's a midweek bonus episode from another great WUNC podcast, The Broadside:This year, a record $12.3 billion will be spent on US political campaigns. The majority of that is earmarked for political advertising, particularly in battleground states like North Carolina. But where does that money go, and what exactly does it buy? The answers might surprise and alarm you.Featuring:
Colin Campbell, Capitol Bureau Chief at North Carolina Public Radio-WUNC
Frank Eaton, ad maker and political consultant
Brian Lewis, co-host of the Do Politics Better podcast, lobbyist and principal at New Frame
2024-10-0822 minWUNC PoliticsDown The Ballot: Attorney GeneralWe’re talking to candidates for key downballot races on the WUNC Politics Podcast as part of our Down The Ballot series. Next up: The race for attorney general. North Carolina’s attorney general is a key – and powerful – position in the state. In addition to being the state’s top lawyer, it’s also been a launch pad to the governor’s office. Gov. Roy Cooper had the job for 16 years, and the current occupant of the office – Josh Stein – is the leading candidate to become the next governor. That’s part of why this year’s race for Attorney General i...
2024-10-0417 minThe BroadsideThe art and alarming science of political adsThis year, a record $12.3 billion will be spent on US political campaigns. The majority of that is earmarked for political advertising, particularly in battleground states like North Carolina. But where does that money go, and what exactly does it buy? The answers might surprise and alarm you.Featuring:
Colin Campbell, Capitol Bureau Chief at North Carolina Public Radio-WUNC
Frank Eaton, ad maker and political consultant
Brian Lewis, co-host of the Do Politics Better podcast, lobbyist and principal at New Frame
Links: You can find a transcript of this episode here.Donate: The Broadside is...
2024-10-0323 minDue SouthA labor advocate helping out after Helene; and WUNC's Scorched Workers seriesCharlotte baker Manolo Betancur and El Centro Unido's Margarita Ramirez are among the many people providing food and support for people in western North Carolina in the aftermath of Helene.Plus, workers who labor on farms, and construction sites experience extreme heat frequently in the workplace, but there are also service workers who face extreme heat. WUNC's new series "Scorched Workers" shows how outdoor workers in NC are dealing with extreme heat.Guests:Manolo Betancur, owner, Manolo's Latin Bakery, Charlotte, NCMargarita Ramirez, executive director, El Centro Unido, Marion, NC
2024-10-0250 minWUNC PoliticsDown The Ballot: State AuditorWe’re talking to candidates for key downballot races on the WUNC Politics Podcast as part of our Down The Ballot series. Next up: The race for state auditor.The office audits state agencies from the governor’s administration down to small town halls, ferreting out waste and misspent tax dollars. Republican Dave Boliek, an attorney and UNC-Chapel Hill trustee, is challenging Democrat Jessica Holmes, who was appointed to the role last year after the resignation of longtime auditor Beth Wood. WUNC spoke to both candidates about their differing views on diversity, equity and inclusion issues, the need...
2024-09-2733 minThe BroadsideThe gravestone grudge that changed cemetery lawIf you walk through a cemetery, you’ll see some common phrases on the gravestones. Many of them are used so often, we tend to take these very public remembrances for granted. But what happens when one *really* stands out and contains a false murder accusation?Featuring:
Margaret Martine, local historian and co-owner of Whippoorwill Academy and Village
Max Longley, writer and contributor at Atlas Obscura
Links:
Check out Max's article for Atlas Obscura and Margaret's story in the Wilkes Journal-Patriot.
You can find a transcript of this episode here.
Donate: The Broadside is ma...
2024-09-2614 minWUNC PoliticsDown The Ballot: Superintendent of Public InstructionWe’re talking to candidates for key downballot races on the WUNC Politics Podcast as part of our Down The Ballot series. Next up: The race for superintendent of public instruction.Current Republican Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt lost in a surprise upset in the March Republican primary to Michele Morrow, a nurse and mom who homeschools her kids. Morrow quickly faced criticism for old social media posts calling for former President Barack Obama and other Democrats to be publicly executed for treason. Her candidacy is a big contrast with the Democratic candidate, Mo Green, who’s be...
2024-09-2037 minThe BroadsideThe Latino SouthAlthough Latinos make up some of the most diverse communities in the South, they're often portrayed as one people or newcomers with a fairly uncomplicated backstory in the region. But from the Civil Rights Movement to South of the Border, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Featuring: Cecilia Márquez, author of Making the Latino South: A History of Racial FormationLinks: You can find a transcript of this episode here.Donate: The Broadside is made possible by contributions from listeners like you. Support WUNC-North Carolina Public Radio and this podcast by mak...
2024-09-1923 minWUNC PoliticsDown The Ballot: NC Supreme CourtAs the election grows closer, we’re talking to candidates for key downballot races on the WUNC Politics Podcast as part of our Down The Ballot series. You can also read more about the candidates in the weekly WUNC Politics Newsletter.Next up in the series: the race for a seat on the NC Supreme Court. Republicans currently hold a 5-to-2 majority on the highest court, and they’re looking to unseat incumbent Justice Allison Riggs to leave just one Democrat on the court. Democrats hope to get Riggs elected to a full eight-year term over her chal...
2024-09-1330 minThe BroadsideHow y'all conquered the world (Revisited)You might have noticed that the word “y’all” is popping up everywhere. For decades, linguists have noted that regional American accents are disappearing. But at the same time, use of this traditionally Southern pronoun is rapidly spreading — and the reasons may surprise you.Featuring:
Brody McCurdy, linguist and researcher at North Carolina State University
Antonia Randolph, assistant professor of American Studies at the UNC-Chapel Hill
Links:You can find a transcript of the episode here.Donate: The Broadside is made possible by contributions from listeners like you. Support WUNC-North Carolina Public Radio and this...
2024-09-1219 minWUNC PoliticsDown The Ballot: The race for lieutenant governorAs the election grows closer, we’re talking to candidates for key downballot races on the WUNC Politics Podcast as part of our Down The Ballot series. You can also read more about the candidates in the weekly WUNC Politics Newsletter.Next up in the series: the race for lieutenant governor. With current Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson running for governor, Democratic state Sen. Rachel Hunt will face longtime Republican political staffer and election integrity organization founder Hal Weatherman for the open seat. The two candidates have stark differences on how they view abortion, education funding, elections administration an...
2024-09-0625 minThe BroadsideIs this the death of DEI?Over the past decade, universities across America embraced DEI policies. The University of North Carolina System enacted its own in 2019. After the racial justice protests of 2020, more schools across the country rushed to embrace efforts to promote diversity, equity and inclusion. But then… came the backlash. UPDATE: Nearly 60 DEI positions eliminated from public universities in North CarolinaFeaturing: Brianna Atkinson, WUNC's higher education reporterLinks:
Check out Brianna's continuing coverage of DEI on North Carolina college campuses.
You can find a transcript of this episode here.
Donate: The Broadside is made possi...
2024-09-0518 minWUNC PoliticsDown The Ballot: The race for state treasurerAs the election grows closer, we’re talking to candidates for key downballot races in the coming weeks on the WUNC Politics Podcast as part of our Down The Ballot series. You can also read more about the candidates in the weekly WUNC Politics Newsletter.First up in the series: the race for state treasurer. Two-term State Treasurer Dale Folwell’s decision to step down will mean a fresh face in an important financial role for state employees, and both Republican Brad Briner and Democratic candidate Wesley Harris are calling for big changes in how the state runs...
2024-08-3031 minThe BroadsideThe new Southern HollywoodLights. Camera. Tax breaks, y’all. For decades, Hollywood has set up shop in the South. But in recent years, the industry has undergone some major changes. Today, tax breaks are bringing a flood of blockbuster franchises, hit TV shows and lots and lots of cash to the region. And each state has to adapt to stay in the game.Featuring:
Jonas Pate, filmmaker and co-creator of Netflix's Outer Banks
Guy Gaster, director of the North Carolina Film Office
Jewel Wicker, host of WABE's podcast The Boom
Links:You can find a transcript of th...
2024-08-2925 minThe BroadsideHow the Greensboro Six changed golf foreverIn 1955, six Black men in Greensboro, North Carolina did something radical. They attempted to play a round of golf. Decades later, their legacy lives on.Featuring:
Josh Sullivan, social media producer at WUNC
Mark Lathan, Director of Programs for First Tee of Central Carolina
Jesse Williams, collegiate golfer at Miles College
Special thanks to the Southern Oral History Program at UNC-Chapel Hill for audio of Dr. George Simkins.Links:
See a photo of the Greensboro Six mural and check out Josh's appearance on WUNC's Due South.
You can find a transcript of th...
2024-08-2214 minThe BroadsideWhat happens after a hate crimeOn February 10, 2015 three young Muslim Americans were murdered in a Chapel Hill, North Carolina apartment. What initially seemed like a clear case of a hate crime to many turned into a battle that would play out for years in the press and in the courts. Along the way, it renewed questions about how the United States handles hate. Featuring:
Farris Barakat, co-founder of the Light House Project
Satana Deberry, Durham County District Attorney
Dr. Arwin Smallwood, historian and dean of the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities at NC Central University
Links:
Thanks t...
2024-08-1527 minThe BroadsidePro wrestling climbs back to the top ropeRegional pro wrestling was once a major cultural institution throughout the South. For decades, each state had its own stars like North Carolina's Ric Flair who performed weekly at iconic venues like Raleigh's Dorton Arena. But by the late 1980s, the emergence of a handful of large national wrestling promotions like Vince McMahon’s WWF (now WWE) destroyed that territorial system. 30 years later, regional wrestling is making an unlikely comeback.Featuring:
Cliff Bumgardner, documentary filmmaker and director of When Giants Walked Here
Chris Lea, WRAL sports reporter, former wrestler and producer of When Giants Walked Here
L...
2024-08-0822 minThe BroadsideLove found while ‘chasing the light’Cheryl Shelton-Roberts and her husband, renowned photographer Bruce Roberts, worked for years to preserve North Carolina’s iconic lighthouses. Meanwhile, their relationship blossomed into a love story unlike any other.This episode is an adaptation of a story that originally appeared in Our State magazine. Featuring:Cheryl Shelton-Roberts, co-founder of the Outer Banks Lighthouse Society and former schoolteacher. Links:Check out “Chasing the Light” in Our State here.Donate: The Broadside is made possible by contributions from listeners like you. Support WUNC-North Carolina Public Radio and this podcast by making a donation...
2024-08-0118 minThe BroadsideHow beach music taught Southerners to 'dance sexy'A type of music known as beach music has been baked into the culture of the Carolina coast for generations, along with a specific type of dancing that goes with it: shag. But how did these smooth, soulful sounds become tied to the sandy shores of North and South Carolina? The answer is a little more complicated and transgressive than you might expect.Featuring:
John Hook, radio DJ and beach music historian
Curtis Platt, founder of Softtoe Entertainment & Dance Production and the annual Beach Urban Dance Classic
Links: You can find a transcript of th...
2024-07-2527 minWUNC PoliticsVP candidate Roy Cooper? The NC impact of a presidential resetWith all the news swirling this week about the presidential campaign and the possibility of Gov. Roy Cooper as a vice presidential candidate, we’re bringing you a segment from WUNC’s Due South. Host Jeff Tiberii spoke with Western Carolina University political scientist Chris Cooper and WUNC Capitol Bureau Chief Colin Campbell about where things stand and what Cooper would bring to the race.Sign up for our free, weekly WUNC Politics Newsletter here.
2024-07-2411 minThe BroadsideBigfoot is from North CarolinaAppalachia is Bigfoot territory. In a big way. This week, we look at the mythical beast's legend, lore and sizable economic impact in the region. And we follow one reporter’s journey through the mountains and foothills of western North Carolina in search of Sasquatch. Featuring: Emily Cataneo, reporter for The AssemblyLinks:
Check out Emily's story on Appalachian Bigfoot culture at The Assembly here.
You can find a transcript of the episode here.
Donate: The Broadside is made possible by contributions from listeners like you. Support WUNC-North Carolina Public Radio and this podca...
2024-07-1819 minWUNC PoliticsNC's only unaffiliated congressional candidate charts a unique pathNorth Carolina law makes it extremely hard to run for office if you’re not willing to register as a Republican or Democrat and go through the party primary process. This year though, an unaffiliated candidate for Congress has made it onto the ballot for the first time in memory. Shelane Etchison is an Army veteran who served in special forces units in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan, and she's running in the 9th District against incumbent Republican Congressman Richard Hudson. She speaks with WUNC's Colin Campbell about her petition drive to get on the ballot and the issues she's ca...
2024-07-1226 minThe BroadsideCan we bring red wolves back from the brink (again)?Red wolves were declared extinct in the wild in 1980. But in a stunning success for conservationists, a captive breeding program reintroduced the animal less than a decade later. That effort has stalled in recent years. Today, there are fewer than 30 animals left in the wild, all located in an isolated corner of North Carolina. Ultimately, the iconic Southern carnivore’s biggest threat is also its best hope for survival: humans.Featuring:
Dr. Tara Harrison, Assistant Professor at NC State’s College of Veterinary Medicine
Sean Hubbard, NC State University’s Canine Conversation Crew
Adam Wagner, climate change...
2024-07-1118 minThe BroadsideThe other Declaration of IndependenceJuly 4th, 1776 is arguably the most important date in American history. That's when citizens of the colonies declared total independence from Great Britain for the very first time. But what if it wasn’t the first? This week, we travel down the rabbit hole of North Carolina’s Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence and entertain a couple of shocking possibilities: either someone’s lying — or we may need to rethink everything we know about American independence.Featuring:
Dave Fleming, author of “Who's Your Founding Father?: One Man’s Epic Quest to Uncover the First, True Declaration of Independence”
...
2024-07-0418 minThe BroadsideThe surprising cricket capital of the SouthThe game of cricket is rapidly gaining popularity across the US. The country is currently co-hosting the Men's T20 Cricket World Cup for the very first time at venues in major cities like New York, Miami and Dallas. But if you want to see what the future of the sport in America might look like, you need to visit a field next to an airport in the small town of Morrisville, North Carolina.Featuring:
Hasham Malik, captain of Morrisville Warriors Cricket Club
Babar Baig, former president of Triangle Cricket League
Satish Garimella, Mayor Pro Tem of M...
2024-06-2721 minDue SouthSummer EBT; Archiving early gay radio shows; and Southern Mixtape with WUNC's Brian BurnsThe archivists who are digitizing radio programs in Houston from the 1970s on, in which openly gay hosts led listeners, out or not, into pride parades, and tough conversations. Plus, encore broadcasts of a segment on a summer program to get children food, and a Southern Mixtape with Brian Burns.GuestsEmily Vinson, Preservation Coordinator at Houston UniversityBethany Scott, Head of Preservation & Reformatting at Houston UniversityTamara Baker, Project & Communications Director at the Carolina Hunger Initiative Brian Burns, WUNC music directorSign up f...
2024-06-2449 minWUNC PoliticsPrivate records: A look at NC legislature's transparency problemsThanks to a budget provision last year, state lawmakers can now deny the public access to their emails, documents and other records that most other branches of state government are required to release. That move toward secrecy is just one of many transparency concerns at the legislature. A few weeks ago, Democrats in the legislature filed a proposed constitutional amendment to guarantee public access to government records. One of the amendment's sponsors, Rep. Pricey Harrison, D-Guilford, joins WUNC's Colin Campbell to discuss the proposal along with a wide range of issues that make it difficult for the public to...
2024-06-2127 minThe BroadsideThe science behind saving an islandSugarloaf Island protects the community of Morehead City from hurricanes and storm surge. But in recent decades, it’s begun to disappear. A multimillion dollar project is underway to save this North Carolina town's last line of defense from the pounding waves of the Atlantic Ocean. The plan's mix of science and engineering could offer a solution for coastal erosion across the country. Featuring: Celeste Gracia, Environmental Reporter at WUNC-North Carolina Public RadioLinks:
Check out Celeste’s recent reporting for WUNC on the project to save Sugarloaf Island.
Listen to Celeste's appearance on WUNC's...
2024-06-2017 minThe BroadsideCraft beer’s emerging Southern flavor (Revisited)In the last decade, the craft industry’s boom has steadily spread across Southern states. There are now thousands of breweries in the region (400 in North Carolina alone). But what exactly is a Southern beer?Featuring:
Sean Lilly Wilson, Founder of Fullsteam Brewery in Durham, NC
Tinu Diver, Documentary Filmmaker
Owen Racer, Freelance Journalist
Todd Boera, Co-founder and Creative Director of Fonta Flora Brewery in Nebo, NC
Links:Check out Owen Racer's Gulf Coast beer reporting at Good Beer Hunting.Donate: The Broadside is made possible by contributions from listeners like you. Support WU...
2024-06-1319 minThe BroadsideCharlotte the stingray's tangled webEarlier this year, an aquarium in a small-town in western North Carolina claimed that a stingray named Charlotte got impregnated by a shark. Charlotte became an internet sensation in the aftermath and quite possibly the most famous fish in the world. Then, things got weird.Featuring:Emily Cataneo, reporter for The AssemblyLinks:
Check out Emily’s deep dive on Charlotte the stingray at The Assembly here.
Watch the full WLOS ABC13 News interview with Brenda Ramer here.
Read the transcript of this episode here.
The Broadside is made possible by contributions from li...
2024-06-0621 minWUNC PoliticsThe Tuscarora Nation's long struggle for recognition in NCMembers of the Tuscarora Nation of North Carolina recently visited the state legislature to push for a House bill that would grant them formal state recognition as an American Indian tribe. They've been fighting for the benefits provided to other tribes for decades, and the history of conflict stretches back centuries to the 1700s war between Tuscarora ancestors and British colonists. House Speaker Tim Moore says the recognition bill is unlikely to move forward, in part due to opposition from the Lumbee Tribe, the Tuscarora Nation's neighbors in Robeson County. To learn more about the Tuscarora Indians and their...
2024-05-3121 minThe BroadsideThe hunt for a long-lost musical masterpiecePerhaps more than any other artform, the 20th century was shaped by jazz. And piano player and composer Mary Lou Williams was there at nearly every turn. In recent years, historians have documented and dissected her career and its big impact on American music. But the final chapter of her life—spent teaching at Duke University—was shrouded in mystery. Until now.Special thanks to Chris Pattishall for writing and performing the score for this episode.Featuring:
Anthony Kelley, Professor of the Practice of Music at Duke University
Verena Mösenbichler-Bryant, Chair of the Music...
2024-05-3021 minWUNC PoliticsState auditor candidates face off in rare statewide runoff electionPolls will once again open all across North Carolina on Tuesday, May 14. But with mostly down-ballot races on the ballot, will Republican primaries be decided by a tiny number of voters? Political scientist Chris Cooper of Western Carolina University shares some turnout trends and other dynamics for North Carolina’s rare runoff primaries with WUNC's Colin Campbell. And we hear from the two Republican candidates for state auditor, Jack Clark and Dave Boliek, who offer contrasting backgrounds and visions for an important state government watchdog role.Sign up for WUNC's new Politics Newsletter here.
2024-05-1032 minWUNC PoliticsPreviewing the 2024 legislative session with Sen. Gale AdcockState lawmakers are back in Raleigh to begin what’s known as the short session – several months in which they’ll make adjustments to the state budget for the upcoming year and consider a variety of other legislation that didn’t make it across the finish line in the 2023 long session. One of the biggest partisan battles is likely to be over education funding: How much of the state's projected revenue surplus will go to public schools, and how much will address high demand for private school vouchers? Will the state address the funding cliff that childcare centers are experien...
2024-04-2618 minThe BroadsideZombie deer and our looming conservation crisisThe majority of funding for state wildlife programs comes from hunting licenses and taxes associated with hunting, fishing and guns. But a generational decline in hunters and a deadly disease are threatening the foundation of that wildlife management system. In North Carolina, a coalition of hunters and conservationists are trying to head off this looming crisis in the great outdoors.Featuring:
Guy Gardner, Co-manager at the Harnett Area Deer Donation Site
Judy Gardner, Co-manager at the Harnett Area Deer Donation Site
Gabor Szentivanyi, hunter and mentor in training
Deet James, Hunter Engagement Coordinator at North Carolina...
2024-04-2520 minThe BroadsideCan we save the banana from extinction?The grocery store banana as we know it is a monoculture, which means that from Tokyo to Tulsa nearly everyone eats the same variety. That lack of diversity makes the plant incredibly vulnerable, and it’s facing an existential threat in the form of a devastating fungus. The cure may be growing in an office park in North Carolina.Featuring:
Bradley George, Reporter at WUNC-North Carolina Public Radio
Matt DiLeo, VP of Product Development at Elo Life Systems
Andrew Zaleski, Contributor at Bloomberg Businessweek
Links:
Read Andrew’s deep dive into the worldwide race to sav...
2024-04-1812 minWUNC PoliticsSocial studies teacher from 'the Neglected Northeast' wins NC House seatRodney Pierce, a middle school social studies teacher from Roanoke Rapids, narrowly defeated longtime incumbent Rep. Michael Wray in last month's Democratic primary. He campaigned with what he describes as an effort to "educate" voters about Wray's record in the N.C. House of voting with Republicans. Because no Republicans filed for the seat, Pierce will represent majority Black Warren, Halifax and Northampton counties in the legislature next year. Pierce spoke with WUNC's Colin Campbell about his goals to address economic development in an area he calls North Carolina's "Neglected Northeast," as well as how he mounted a successful...
2024-04-1219 minThe BroadsideThe toxic spill that left a legacy of changeA decade ago, thousands of tons of toxic coal ash poured into the Dan River. The spill—the third largest of its kind in US history—was a devastating environmental disaster. But today, the event is perhaps best known for its legacy of legislation, as environmental activists and communities across North Carolina turned a local disaster into a national rallying cry for change.Featuring:
Celeste Gracia, Environmental Reporter at WUNC-North Carolina Public Radio
Brian Williams, Program Manager at the Dan River Basin Association
Tiffany Hayworth, Executive Director at the Dan River Basin Association
Frank Holloman, Senior Attor...
2024-04-0420 minWUNC PoliticsMeet the ECU student who defeated a 10-term NC lawmakerWyatt Gable, a 21-year-old student at East Carolina University, unseated 10-term Republican Rep. George Cleveland of Jacksonville, who’s in his 80s and is one of the oldest members of the state House. Gable will face Democrat Carmen Spicer in November, but House District 14 leans heavily conservative and he’s likely to become the youngest member of the state legislature next year. Gable spoke with WUNC's Colin Campbell about how he won a surprise victory in the primary and how to get more young people involved in politics. He also explained the issues he wants to prioritize. He wa...
2024-03-2913 minThe BroadsideTeachers challenge the nation's toughest union banNorth Carolina and South Carolina are home to the most restrictive public sector collective bargaining laws in the country. In fact, they’re the only two states that ban all government employees from unionizing. And that doesn’t show signs of changing anytime soon. But a group of educators in Durham, North Carolina isn’t letting that stop them from fighting for a seat at the table. This week on the Broadside, we ask what it means to call yourself a union in a state where striking and collective bargaining are both illegal—and what that says about the...
2024-03-2822 minThe BroadsideWomen's basketball is having its momentWomen have been playing basketball since the game was invented, but the most fervent fandom has always been reserved for the men's game — until now. We explore why it took so long for us to pay attention to women's basketball, and what that means for the future of the sport.Featuring:
Kate Fagan, journalist and author of Hoop Muses: An Insider's Guide to Pop Culture and the (Women's) Game
Kayla Jones, Graduate Assistant Coach for NC State women's basketball
Stephanie Menio, Assistant Athletic Director and Sports Supervisor for women's basketball at NC State
Special thanks to...
2024-03-2120 minWUNC PoliticsMain Street NC: Murphy's struggle to quiet a cryptocurrency mineThis episode is the sixth installment in our Main Street NC series from the WUNC Politics Podcast.One of the state’s only cryptocurrency mining operations is located a few miles outside Murphy at North Carolina’s far-western tip – and it’s driving the neighbors crazy. Even at a house a mile away, the sound can make it seem like you're next to a busy freeway. It comes from massive computer servers that are running the complex computations needed to power cryptocurrency. The out-of-state companies were drawn here by cheap electricity and a lack of zoning restrictions, forcing...
2024-01-1934 minWUNC PoliticsMain Street NC: Star's quest to replace 100-year-old infrastructureThis episode is the fifth installment in our Main Street NC series from the WUNC Politics Podcast.Dozens of small towns across North Carolina are struggling to replace aging, often failing water and sewer infrastructure. The upgrades are needed to attract industry and residents back to places where textile and manufacturing plants have closed down. The tiny town of Star in Montgomery County, near Asheboro, is leading the way in addressing the problem -- securing more than $35 million in state and federal funds to replace water lines that break often as well as its water t...
2024-01-0523 minThe BroadsideFeaturing: Embodied - How fandoms build communityThis week we're highlighting a recent episode of the award-winning podcast Embodied (which is also produced at WUNC). We hear a lot about toxic fandoms in our culture — but there's also a lot to share about the brighter side. Guest host Anisa Khalifa first became a fan in high school. She gets an explanation from a psychologist about how being in fandoms benefits mental health, and a journalist describes what role the internet has played in shaping fan culture. Plus, Anisa invites the co-hosts of her K-drama podcast to reflect on how fandom brought them together — and what it mean...
2023-12-2836 minWUNC PoliticsMain Street NC: Lumbees help turn Robeson County toward GOPThis episode is the fourth installment in our Main Street NC series from the WUNC Politics Podcast.The Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina is based in the small town of Pembroke, and this corner of Robeson County has one of the highest concentrations of American Indians in the state. The Lumbee Tribe is also a considerable political force across Robeson – and it’s had to fight hard throughout its history to gain that political power. In recent years, many Lumbees have helped shift Robeson County politically from a place with a reliable majority for the Democratic Party to a...
2023-12-1523 minThe BroadsideRecovering from long Covid could be a long journeyWe now know an incredible amount about the COVID-19 virus. But long Covid symptoms and treatment options remain a blind spot. This week, we check in on a group of patients and doctors from the Carolinas who we’ve been following for over a year in order to see how we’re adapting to this second silent pandemic.Featuring:
Jason deBruyn, Health Reporter at WUNC-North Carolina Public Radio.
Eleanor Spicer Rice, science writer and long COVID patient
Dr. John Baratta, Founder and Co-director of the UNC Health COVID Recovery Clinic
Justin Foster, former Clemson University football play...
2023-12-1418 minWUNC PoliticsMain Street NC: Hurricane-ravaged downtown rebuilds on higher groundThis episode is the third installment in our new Main Street NC series from the WUNC Politics Podcast. When Hurricane Matthew hit North Carolina in 2016, every business on Main Street in the small Columbus County town of Fair Bluff was underwater. A few had reopened by 2018 when Hurricane Florence brought a repeat of the same flood damage. Mayor Billy Hammond and other town leaders ultimately came up with a dramatic plan to address the issue: Build a whole new downtown-style commercial district a few blocks up the street on higher ground. To hear more about Fair Bluff's p...
2023-12-0122 minWUNC PoliticsMain Street NC: 'Tremendous change' in the state's fastest-growing townThis is the second installment in our new Main Street NC series from the WUNC Politics Podcast. In the coming months, we’ll be visiting communities across the state to hear from local leaders about the positives going on in their towns, and the challenges they face, from population loss to flooding to aging utility infrastructure. East of Raleigh, the once sleepy suburb of Wendell ranked as the fastest-growing town in North Carolina between 2020 and 2021, with a population that increased by 16% in a single year. Signs of growth are everywhere you look in the Wake County town. It’...
2023-11-1720 minWUNC PoliticsThe Swine Spread: Meet The Feral Hogs Finding Themselves At Home In The SouthSample an episode of WUNC's new podcast CREEP, all about the creatures invading our state and region. Learn more at wunc.org/creep.
2021-08-0628 min
The State of Things on WUNCSex And Bodies Belong In Our Headlines. WUNC To Continue Broadcasting EmbodiedBack in November, WUNC chose to discontinue “The State of Things,” North Carolina’s only live public radio program heard in the mountains, on the coast and in the Piedmont. Those of us who make the daily talk show were surprised and saddened by the decision — however, we are thrilled to continue offering the Embodied series into 2021 as a live weekly program from noon to one on Fridays. Listeners can also look forward to season two of the podcast adaptation.
2021-01-0130 minThe State of Things on WUNCHidden Symbols in Quilla’s New Album, ‘The Handbook of Vivid Moments’Anna Luisa Daigneault, known as Quilla , is the audio muse that makes the Embodied podcast sparkle. WUNC collaborated with Quilla to craft the theme for Embodied and other background music for the recurring series, which approaches taboo topics through a feminist lens. Her music and the podcast amplify one another. To evoke the show’s emphasis on pleasure and sex, Quilla created a blooming synth refrains. The Greensboro musician and producer emphasizes biological cycles, family relationships and women’s liberation in her music. And those themes stand out even more clearly thanks to the addition of lyrics for her most rece...
2021-01-0120 min
American Songster RadioDom Flemons: He's A Lone Ranger - WUNC's Songs We Love PodcastSongs We Love is a series and a podcast that looks at the stories behind some of the songs we're playing on our new music discovery station, WUNC Music . On this episode we're featuring 'He's A Lone Ranger' by Dom Flemons. It's a song off of his latest record Black Cowboys. The record redefines the image of the American Cowboy with songs like the one featured here. It's one Dom wrote after hearing the story of Bass Reeves, who was born into slavery in 1838. Listen to the episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ch98cFkA7a4
2018-11-0908 minWUNC PoliticsWUNCPolitics Podcast: A Conversation With KJZZ Reporter Jorge ValenciaOn this week's episode of the WUNCPolitics Podcast, a conversation with former WUNC reporter and producer Jorge Valencia. Jorge now reports from Mexico City for KJZZ, the public radio station in Phoenix.WUNC Capitol Bureau Chief Jeff Tiberii talks with his former reporting sidekick about the recent earthquake in Mexico, staying safe as a reporter, and Jorge's affinity for languages.
2017-10-1325 min
Stories With A HeartbeatEpisode 8: Classroom ConflictSchool is full of conflict. This week we explore three conflicts in the classroom. Students and teachers use poetry and stories to reflect on moments of friction at school and help us understand why they matter. Stories with a Heartbeat is a new podcast from WUNC hosted by poet Will McIneney that uses poetry and storytelling to explore the complexity of conflict.
2016-07-0120 minStories With A HeartbeatEpisode 4: Breakfast ConversationsWas the Chapel Hill Shooting a parking dispute or a hate crime? In this episode of Stories with a Heartbeat we talk about apologies and personal connections with two people at the heart of this question, reporter Reema Khrais and Chapel Hill Police Chief Chris Blue. Subscribe to this Podcast On February 10th, 2015 Deah Barakat, his wife Yusor Abu-Salha, and her sister Razan Abu-Salha were murdered in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. All three young American-Muslims were shot and killed execution style in their home. Their neighbor, Craig Stephen Hicks, turned himself in, was arrested, and charged with three counts of...
2016-05-0526 minStories With A HeartbeatEpisode 1: ListeningIn episode one, host Will McInerney talks with Farris Barakat about the night his brother Deah was killed along with Deah's wife Yusor Abu-Salha and sister-in-law Razan Abu-Salha. All three Muslim-Americans were shot execution style in their home. Subscribe to this Podcast Stories with a Heartbeat is a new WUNC podcast about the human condition in conflict. Host Will McInerney is an award-winning poet who travels the globe exploring conflict and what it says about us as people. This podcast weaves together interviews, sound, music and poetic reflection into 15 minutes that will pull listeners in and encourage them to explore...
2016-03-2513 min