The Broadside

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 the episode 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 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.

Appalachia 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 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.

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 and environment reporter at the Raleigh News & Observer Links: Check out Adam’s reporting on red wolves for the News & Observer. 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 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.

July 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” Jim Ambuske, historian and co-head of R2 Studios at the Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media at George Mason University. 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 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.

The 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 Morrisville, NC Abhiram “Abhi” Bolisetty, former US international player Philip Service, head coach for Triangle Cricket League Links: You can find a transcript of the episode here.The Broadside is made possible by contributions from listeners like you. Support WUNC-North Carolina Public Radio and this podcast by making a donation.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.

Sugarloaf 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 Due South. 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.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.

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 WUNC-North Carolina Public Radio and this podcast by making a donation.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.

Earlier 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 listeners like you. Support WUNC-North Carolina Public Radio and this podcast by making a donation.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.

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: Anthony Kelley, Professor of the Practice of Music at Duke University Verena Mösenbichler-Bryant, Chair of the Music Department at Duke University Tammy Kernodle, Distinguished Professor in the Department of Music at Miami University Chris Pattishall, Grammy-nominated piano player and composer Links: Watch the Duke Wind Symphony perform Mary Lou Williams’ “History” here. You can find a transcript of the episode here. The Broadside is made possible by contributions from listeners like you. Support WUNC-North Carolina Public Radio and this podcast by making a donation.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.

During his prolific six-decade career, Billy Graham traveled across the world preaching Christianity to millions. Along the way, he became one of the most influential religious figures in America. His prominence sparked friendships with several American presidents, and he became a regular presence as an advisor in the Oval Office. But his home was always in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains. And this month, his home state unveiled a statue of Graham in the U.S. Capitol — one of two that each state is allotted in the building.Featuring: Bill Martin, Senior Fellow in Religion and Public Policy at Rice University’s Baker Institute and author of “Prophet With Honor: The Billy Graham Story”Links: Watch the unveiling of Billy Graham’s statue at the US Capitol building. You can find a transcript of the episode here. The Broadside is made possible by contributions from listeners like you. Support WUNC-North Carolina Public Radio and this podcast by making a donation.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

NASCAR is the most popular motorsport series across America, but its roots run deep as a regional sport in the South, especially in our home state of North Carolina. That history has heavily influenced the growth of motorsports in the US, which has produced a disproportionate amount of Southern drivers — and fans. But in recent years, a surprising new trend has begun to level that playing field: the explosion in popularity of esports.Featuring: Rajah Caruth, Driver in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Steve Myers, Executive Vice President and Executive Producer at iRacing Ray Smith, Director of Gaming and Esports at NASCAR Links:You can find a transcript of the original episode here.The Broadside is made possible by contributions from listeners like you. Support WUNC-North Carolina Public Radio and this podcast by making a donationSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When it comes to where our trash goes, for most of us it's out of sight, out of mind. But for the residents of a once-thriving Black community in North Carolina, it’s right next door. Sampson County is the site of the largest landfill in the state, and isn’t projected to be full for another 20 years. For the people who live next to it, this mountain of trash has dire consequences — and they want it shut down.Featuring: Cameron Oglesby, freelance environmental journalist and oral historian Taryn Ratley, fourth-generation Snow Hill resident Whitney Parker, fourth-generation Snow Hill resident and community organizer Links: Read Cameron Oglesby’s reporting for The Assembly on Roseboro’s Snow Hill neighborhood and its 50-year fight against North Carolina’s largest landfill 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 podcast by making a donation.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, we're revisiting a story from last year that's recently been back in the headlines. Discount stores like Family Dollar and Dollar General have become ubiquitous in the American landscape — especially in the South. They can be convenient and even necessary, but some advocates warn that their rapid spread is creating food deserts. But while pushback to dollar stores grows, researchers say that we need more data to know their true impact. So how many dollar stores are too many?Featuring:Stephan Bisaha, reporter at Gulf States NewsroomLinks: Check out Stephan Bisaha’s extensive reporting for the Gulf States Newsroom on dollar stores in the South. 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 podcast by making a donation.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The 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 Wildlife Resources Commission Kip Adams, Chief Conservation Officer for the National Deer Association Links: Check out WUNC contributor Zachary Turner’s reporting on the efforts to recruit the next generation of North Carolina hunters. 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 podcast by making a donation.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 save the banana for Bloomberg Businessweek 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 podcast by making a donation.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A little more than 75 years ago, Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball's major leagues with the Brooklyn Dodgers. But integration in the South was slow going and took a slightly different path. This week, we look at what it took to integrate Southern baseball and how one group in rural North Carolina is ensuring that the next generation of young Black ballplayers get a chance at bat.Featuring: Brian Patterson, COO of the Buck Leonard Association Chris Holaday, historian and author of Cracks in the Outfield Wall: The History of Baseball Integration in the Carolinas Rose Hunter, Co-founder of the Buck Leonard Association Special thanks to the Durham Bulls for letting us record gameday audio at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.Links: Find out more about the Buck Leonard Association 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 podcast by making a donation.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A 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 Attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center Amy Adams, former Campaign Coordinator at Appalachian Voices Bill Norton, Spokesperson at Duke Energy Links: Check out Celeste’s recent reporting for WUNC on the ten year anniversary of the Dan River coal ash spill and its lasting impact on environmental policy. 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 podcast by making a donation.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

North 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 history of labor organizing in the South.Featuring:Liz Schlemmer, Education Reporter at WUNC-North Carolina Public RadioLinks: Check out Liz’s recent reporting on the history of unions in the South and her coverage of recent labor organizing efforts among teachers in Durham, NC. 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 podcast by making a donation.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Women 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 WUNC’s Mitch Northam, whose expertise was invaluable in the reporting of this story. Thanks also to Annabelle Myers and Matti Smith at NC State, and Dana Gelin at UNC-Chapel Hill.Links: For more on how NIL is changing college athletics, check out this recent episode of WUNC's Due South. 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 podcast by making a donation.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Each year, as March fades into April, violent storms unleash dozens of tornadoes across a huge swath of the country. The Midwest is where most of these events occur, but scientists have begun to observe a major shift in traditional tornado patterns and the South is directly in the path. Featuring: Dr. Marshall Shepherd, Professor and Director of the University of Georgia’s Atmospheric Sciences Program Dr. Stephen Strader, Associate Professor of Geography and the Environment at Villanova University 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 podcast by making a donation.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The South is the birthplace of all the big cola brands. Since the first Coca-Cola was poured in Atlanta in 1886, it's become an American icon. For many of us, these drinks are part of key childhood memories. But whether we're loyal to Coke, Pepsi, or something else, we don't drink as much soda as we used to. So why do we care so much about these brands and does soda even matter in this new beverage age?Featuring: Ralph Ashworth, owner of Ashworth Drugs in Cary, NC Sabrina Bengel, managing partner of The Birthplace of Pepsi-Cola in New Bern, NC Jerry Avery, Pepsi fan, collector and hobby historian Dr. Psyche Williams-Forson, professor and department chair in American Studies at the University of Maryland Rina Raphael, journalist and author of The Gospel of Wellness Special thanks to Jordan Blackwell at the University of Maryland College Park for technical assistance.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 podcast by making a donationSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As the president of the local chapter of the NAACP, Robert F. Williams led the small town of Monroe, North Carolina in protesting racism and segregation during the 1950s. But he was also head of a local NRA chapter that urged African Americans to defend themselves by meeting violence with violence. His story is one of the most fascinating and unusual in American history, and, in Monroe and elsewhere, it’s challenging how we talk about the Civil Rights Movement today.Featuring: Robert Heath, Monroe resident and community organizer Patricia Poland, retired genealogy and local history librarian of the Union County Library Ormand Moore, Monroe native and Humanities Instructor at North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics Special thanks to the Henry Hampton Collections at Washington University Libraries, the Southern Oral History Program at UNC-Chapel Hill, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, and WBTV in Charlotte. 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 podcast by making a donationSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In 1988, the NBA finally came to North Carolina — and the newly minted Charlotte Hornets made an unconventional choice to hire a fashion designer to create their jerseys. They lost 60 games that year, but they looked incredible while doing it. The iconic fit, inspired in part by Michael Jordan, would launch a global fashion trend that endures today. Alexander Julian, Fashion designer and creator of the original Charlotte Hornets uniform Crystal McCrary McGuire, Filmmaker and creator of the forthcoming docuseries Tunnel to Runway: The History of Fashion in the NBA Links: Watch video from the 1988 Charlotte Hornets uniform reveal press conference. 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 podcast by making a donation.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Electric vehicles and renewable energy sources are in their boom era — and that means the need for electricity is higher than ever before. The construction of an expanded energy grid to meet that demand is going to require a lot of raw minerals, metals… and a surprising commodity: lumber. This week, we take a trip to the forests of the Southern Pine Belt where demand for big trees far outstrips the supply and find out what's being done to prevent a pole-ocalypse.Featuring: Dr. Robert Bardon, Associate Dean for Extension and Professor at the College of Natural Resources at NC State University Ryan Dezember, Commodities Reporter at The Wall Street Journal Links: Check out Ryan's reporting on rising demand for utility poles. 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 podcast by making a donation.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 WUNC-North Carolina Public Radio and this podcast by making a donation.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

At the turn of the 20th century, the epicenter of America’s Black middle class was in a midsize city in central North Carolina. Durham was home to NC Mutual, an insurance company that provided a foundation for Black wealth in the South amidst Jim Crow segregation. Recently though, NC Mutual closed its doors, marking the end to more than a hundred years of business.Featuring: Kimberly Moore, Director of Civic Engagement for North Carolina’s 2nd Congressional District Andre Vann, Coordinator of University Archives and Instructor of Public History at NC Central University Carl Webb, Co-founder of Provident 1898 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 podcast by making a donation.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

NASCAR is the most popular motorsport series across America, but its roots run deep as a regional sport in the South, especially in our home state of North Carolina. That history has heavily influenced the growth of motorsports in the US, which has produced a disproportionate amount of Southern drivers — and fans. But in recent years, a surprising new trend has begun to level that playing field: the explosion in popularity of esports.Featuring: Rajah Caruth, Driver in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Steve Myers, Executive Vice President and Executive Producer at iRacing Ray Smith, Director of Gaming and Esports at NASCAR 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 podcast by making a donationSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Any kind of environmental crisis – whether it's caused by an act of God or big industry – can upend a community. That's especially true for the smaller, more rural towns that dot the landscape of the South. In the past century, natural and man-made environmental changes have transformed and even erased some of these places.What happens to small towns when they meet BIG opponents and who fights for these communities to be preserved — or at least, remembered – when the dust settles?Featuring: Danny McArthur, Environmental Justice Reporter for the Gulf States Newsroom Drew Hawkins, Health Equity Reporter for the Gulf States Newsroom Links: Check out Danny and Drew’s three-part series Place, Erased 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 podcast by making a donation.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Stanton, Tennessee -- population 400 -- is getting ready to welcome a Ford auto-manufacturing campus that will employ 6,000 people. And with it, prosperity and some serious growing pains. This one small town is a microcosm of the powerful new economics at play in states throughout the American South.Featuring:Nora Eckert, Auto Industry Reporter at The Wall Street JournalLinks: Check out Nora's reporting from Stanton. 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 podcast by making a donation.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This year marks the 120th anniversary of Orville and Wilbur Wright's powered airplane flight at Kill Devil Hills in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. But the Wright Brothers aren’t the only icons of aviation with ties to the South. This week, we tell the unlikely story of a woman named Tiny Broadwick. Born into extreme poverty, Broadwick went on to become a trailblazer in the male-dominated world of parachute jumping, saving thousands of lives along the way.Featuring: Lt. Col. Jessica Brown, History Instructor at US Air Force Academy 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 podcast by making a donation.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This 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 means to be a fan.Meet the guests:- Lynn Zubernis, a psychologist and professor at West Chester University, talks about what poises some people to become superfans more than others, and how being in a fandom can be mentally beneficial- Candice Lim, co-host of ICYMI, Slate's podcast about internet culture, talks about how different internet platforms shape fan communities, and the increasing ways that fandom and regular life are overlapping- Paroma Chakravarty and Saya, Anisa's co-hosts on the podcast Dramas over Flowers, share how the K-drama fandom bonded them together, and what responsibilities fans hold in their communitiesDig Deeper:Lynn's research and writing on fan psychologyThe ICYMI episode on this summer's hacking of AO3Read the transcript | Review the podcastDonate: The Broadside is made possible by contributions from listeners like you. Support WUNC-North Carolina Public Radio and this podcast by making a donation.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

NPR's annual Student Podcast Challenge is kind of a big deal. In 2023 alone, they received over 3,300 entries. This week on the Broadside, we highlight the work of one of the finalists who uncovered the history of her neighborhood -- Oberlin Village in Raleigh, NC -- and fought to bring it into the light and preserve it for future generations. Featuring: Leeya Chaudhuri - Journalist (and student) at Enloe High School in Raleigh, NC Brian Hedgepeth - Teacher at Enloe High School Links: Listen to The Down 'Loe, Enloe High School's student podcast. This year's NPR College Podcast Challenge is open for entries and will close on Jan. 5, 2024. 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 podcast by making a donation.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We 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 player and long COVID patient Links: Check out Jason’s recent reporting on long Covid and WUNC's original story featuring Eleanor and Justin from 2022. 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 podcast by making a donation.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The water supply for millions of people across the South has serious problems. Many of these folks live in majority Black cities like Jackson, Mississippi and Memphis, Tennessee. Billions in federal funds were recently allocated to help fix cities' poor water quality, but will it be enough? Join us as we tap into the water across the region and learn what it’ll take to clean it up.Featuring: Adam Mahoney, Climate and Environment Reporter at Capital BLinks: Check out Adam Mahoney’s reporting on Black America’s water crisis. 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 podcast by making a donation.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Recent litigation to hold drug makers accountable for the opioid epidemic has led to settlements totaling $50 billion that are being distributed to state governments throughout the United States. We explore some of the potential solutions in our home state of North Carolina and find out how its hyper local model for distributing funds could be a compelling test case for tackling the crisis nationwide.Featuring:Jason deBruyn, Health Reporter at North Carolina Public RadioLinks: Check out Jason’s reporting on the distribution of opioid settlement funds. His work was part of a joint state-wide project with contributions from fellow public radio reporters Ben Schachtman at WHQR, Helen Chickering, Lilly Knoepp and Laura Lee at BPR, April Laissle at WFDD, and Kenneth Lee, Jr. at WFAE. 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 podcast by making a donation.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As we all take the week to reconnect with our loved ones, we're presenting a story about what's on our tables this Thanksgiving – and we don't just mean the food, but the plates it sits on. In this episode from the podcast Gravy, producer Wilson Sayre takes us to central North Carolina to tell the story of hand-thrown pottery and its relationship with food. In North Carolina, the history of baking clay into plates and bowls is an ancient one. Step through that past into the present day with us.Gravy is produced by our friends at the Southern Foodways Alliance and distributed by APT Podcast Studios. Each episode shares stories of the changing American South through the foods we eat.Find more episodes from Gravy here:https://www.southernfoodways.org/gravy-format/gravy-podcast/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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For over a hundred years, Western archeologists built vast collections of looted Native American artifacts and human remains. For many Native Americans today, those violations have left a painful legacy. A glimmer of hope appeared in 1990, with the passage of a federal law intended to facilitate the repatriation of Native American ancestors to their tribes. But 30 years later, tens of thousands of remains and funerary artifacts are still held at institutions around the country. Featuring: Laura Pellicer, Contributor at North Carolina Public Radio Lilly Knoepp, Senior Regional Reporter for Blue Ridge Public Radio Miranda Panther, NAGPRA Officer for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Tribal Historic Preservation Office Shana Bushyhead Condill, Executive Director at Museum of the Cherokee People Margaret Scarry, Director of Research Labs of Archaeology at UNC-Chapel Hill Links: Check out North Carolina Public Radio and Blue Ridge Public Radio’s reporting on NAGPRA. Explore The Repatriation Project from ProPublica. 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 podcast by making a donation.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

An army depot in Eastern Kentucky once housed something extraordinary and terrible: an arsenal of chemical weapons. The dangers of this stockpile hovered over the residents of the nearby city of Richmond for decades. Recently, the Army fulfilled a long-standing mandate to destroy their entire supply of these deadly weapons, but the road to get there wasn’t easy.Special thanks to Ben Evans and Ben Sollee for providing archival audio from the documentary NERVE included in this episode.Featuring: John Ismay, Pentagon correspondent for The New York Times Craig Williams, activist and Director of Kentucky Environmental Foundation Mike Kester, shift plant manager at Blue Grass Army Depot Links: Check out John Ismay’s reporting on the dismantling of America’s chemical weapon’s stockpile. 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 podcast by making a donation.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In 1988, two armed Native American men occupied a newspaper office in Southeastern North Carolina. In an effort to raise the alarm on corruption and racism in their mostly rural community, they took 17 hostages and demanded to negotiate with the governor. Decades later, the small town is still grappling with the events surrounding that day.Special thanks to WRAL for providing archival audio included in this episode.Featuring:Sarah Nagem, editor at Border Belt Independent and contributor at The AssemblyLinks: Check out Sarah Nagem’s features on The Robesonian takeover at The Assembly and Border Belt Independent. 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 podcast by making a donation.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Discount stores like Family Dollar and Dollar General have become ubiquitous in the American landscape — especially in the South. They can be convenient and even necessary, but some advocates warn that their rapid spread is creating food deserts. But while pushback to dollar stores grows, researchers say that we need more data to know their true impact. So how many dollar stores are too many?Featuring:Stephan Bisaha, reporter at Gulf States NewsroomLinks: Check out Stephan Bisaha’s extensive reporting for the Gulf States Newsroom on dollar stores in the South. 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 podcast by making a donation.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As a person incarcerated in the state of Virginia, rapper Deon Thomas doesn’t have access to a recording studio. Instead, he’s part of a small group of artists who record songs via phone calls and distribute them through a prison-only digital music service. It's a modern twist on a long and complicated tradition. Join us as we explore the influential, exploitative and ever-evolving world of music in Southern prisons.Featuring: Zeb Larson, writer and historian, contributor at Scalawag Magazine Deon Thomas, incarcerated musician Carla Simmons, incarcerated musician Links: Check out Zeb Larson’s articles on JPAY and the history of Southern prison music. 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 podcast by making a donation.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Asian Americans are the fastest growing demographic in the country, yet historically, they've been near-invisible in our popular culture. But that's beginning to change. We examine the long history of Asian American Studies, and why it's finally having its moment in the South.Featuring: Nayoung Aimee Kwon, professor at Duke University Esther Kim Lee, professor and director of Duke's Asian American and Diaspora Studies program Iris Kim, founder of the Vanderbilt University Asian American Studies Initiative David Lee, student activist at Duke University 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 podcast by making a donation.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Embedded in a warehouse within the Blue Ridge Mountains, climate scientists are collecting rows upon rows of weather data going back centuries. But these archives aren’t just collecting dust – they’re helping us anticipate weather events in the future and create tools to navigate the fallout of the climate crisis.Featuring: Kathie Dello, North Carolina’s state climatologist Jason Cooper, archivist at NCEI Greg Hammer, meteorologist at NCEI Adam Smith, applied climatologist at NCEI Joe Williams, farmer at Blue River Legacy Farms 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 podcast by making a donation.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 NC State 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 podcast by making a donation.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Each week, The Broadside highlights a story from the heart of the American South and asks why it matters to you. From news to arts and culture, we dive into issues that might not be on a front page, but deserve a closer look. Along the way, we explore the nuances of our home—and how what happens here ripples across the country. Hosted by Anisa Khalifa, The Broadside is a production of North Carolina Public Radio-WUNC. Find it every Thursday, starting on September 28th, wherever you listen to podcasts.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.