Best North Carolina Arts Council Podcasts (2024)

1
Dr. Paul Baker, CAM (Contemporary Art Museum) Raleigh 43:16

3M ago43:16

43:16

As the Executive Director of CAM Raleigh, Dr. Paul Baker's goal is not just to display thought-provoking art, it's also to help develop new artists and bring art to communities outside Raleigh's city lines. Today, Dr. Baker talks about those goals, why he's so passionate about art, what's going on at CAM today, and how the CAM team chooses what to …

1
Jenn McEwen, United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County 51:53

3M ago51:53

51:53

Jenn McEwan transformed her love of arts and performing into a career of supporting artists and performers, and uplifting the community through art. Today she shares her journey to becoming the head of the United Arts Council, and gives us inside information on what's ahead on the Raleigh and Wake County art scene. --- Jenn McEwen is the President …

1
Orage Quarles III, 16-Year News & Observer Publisher 53:10

5M ago53:10

53:10

Orage Quarles served as President and Publisher for the News & Oberserver for sixteen years, and has been on just about every Board you can think of, both locally and nationally, including the North Carolina Museum of History, the Dix Park Conservancy, and the UNC School of Media and Journalism Foundation. Today we talk to Orage about the importanc…

1
Ernest Dollar, City of Raleigh Museum 57:33

6M ago57:33

57:33

Ernest Dollar calls himself a professional hoarder, but he's actually a historian who has overseen the City of Raleigh Museum , the Pope House, and other important historical sites for over a decade, and whose role is expanding to help preserve and educate on even more of the city's history. We talked to Ernest about the role of museums and histori…

1
Nina Simone: Unraveling her Profound Legacy with Jaki Shelton Green 29:05

8M ago29:05

29:05

In this compelling episode of Carolina Calling, host David Menconi delves into the indelible legacy of Nina Simone, an iconic figure in American music. Born in Tryon, North Carolina, Nina Simone's journey unfolds through the rich tapestry of the Jim Crow South. Jaki Shelton Green, North Carolina's esteemed poet laureate, joins the conversation to e…

1
Doc Watson's Musical Legacy Still Inspires 23:13

9M ago23:13

23:13

Doc Watson has been gone for more than a decade, and yet his music and legacy remain more alive and relevant than ever. And thanks to the ongoing MerleFest, which brings a wide-ranging cast from the Americana world to Doc’s North Carolina stomping grounds every April, that’s not going to change anytime soon. We consider the enduring impact of Doc t…

1
Meg Paradise, Umbrella Dry Bar 56:45

8M ago56:45

56:45

Meg Paradise has nothing against the Raleigh bar scene. Far from it! She was an enthusiastic participant in Raleigh's nightlife, but when she became pregnant, she gained a new perspective on what life without alcohol might look like. Meg went from a fear of missing out, to wondering if a healthier (but still fun) lifestyle was possible. A lot of th…

1
Terrance Ruth, Professor and Student of the Community 54:55

9M ago54:55

54:55

Terrance Ruth is one of those people in Raleigh who seems to be everywhere at all times. He's been a public school teacher and administrator, a college professor, a policy evaluator, a foundation founder, and a mayoral candidate. But how would he describe himself? First and foremost, a student of the community. Today we talk about policy and politi…

1
Angela Salamanca: Centro, Ex-Voto, & the Day of the Dead 5K 1:01:35

10M ago1:01:35

1:01:35

As a high schooler in Columbia, Angela Salamanca had no idea where Raleigh was. Fast forward 30 years later, Angela is one of the most influential chefs and entrepreneurs in our community, owning Centro and Gallo Pelon in downtown Raleigh, as well as Ex Voto in the Durham Food Hall. Plus she's the founder of the Day of the Dead 5K (coming October 2…

1
Adrienne Cole, Raleigh Chamber 53:26

10M ago53:26

53:26

Get ready to dive into the vibrant world of Raleigh with our special guest today, Adrienne Cole, the President and CEO of the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber isn't just about stuffy business talk – it's all about fun, support, advocacy, and community-building! Join us as we uncover the many facets of the Chamber. Sure, they're expe…

1
Donald Thompson, The Diversity Movement 56:43

11M ago56:43

56:43

Today we welcome Donald Thompson, serial entrepreneur, investor, author of Underestimated: A CEO’s Unlikely Path to Success, host of the High Octane Leadership Podcast, and CEO of The Diversity Movement. Don has so much going on that’s making a difference in both the Triangle business community and the nation at large - and the accolades are starti…

1
Accessibility in the Arts with Jamie Katz Court and Eileen Bagnall 11:32

12M ago11:32

11:32

In preparation for this year’s Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disabilities (LEAD) Conference, we spoke with Jamie Katz Court, the Arts Council’s accessibility coordinator, and Eileen Bagnall, the executive director of Arts Access Inc, about what this year’s LEAD cohort can expect from the conference, what accessibility in the arts means, and why i…

1
Preeti Waas, Cheeni Indian Food Emporium 54:25

11M ago54:25

54:25

Some of you may know Preeti Waas as a 2023 James Beard nominated chef for her work at Cheeni Indian Food Emporium in North Raleigh. Or maybe you know her for Cheeni's famous chocolate chip cookies. What you probably don't know is the path Preeti took to get where she is today - how she uncovered her love of baking, lessons she learned starting a re…

1
Les Stewart, Trophy Brewing 57:05

1y ago57:05

57:05

Today's guest is Les Stewart, a builder, tinkerer, doer, and chief beverage officer and co-owner of Trophy Brewing. Les tells us how he started making beer, what the growing and waning trends in the alcohol industry are, and if you give him enough time, he'll give you dissertations on how to make a proper tomato sandwich and the movie Steel Magnoli…

1
Lauren Kennedy Brady, Theatre Raleigh 43:21

1y ago43:21

43:21

Today, Lauren Kennedy Brady shares her journey from a successful Broadway career to making great theater in her hometown. Hear her touching memories of growing up in Raleigh, filled with shows, Broadway weekends, and the magic of theater. Tune in to find out about Theatre Raleigh's new state-of-the-art facility and exciting future programming - inc…

1
Ron Pringle, Inter-Faith Food Shuttle 54:52

1y ago54:52

54:52

If you asked an average Raleigh citizen what the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle does, you'd probably consistently get answers like "help feed people" and "fight hunger"--and both of those would be correct. But did you also know they have a food truck? And run a farm? And a catering service? And will come to anyone's home and build a garden? The Inter-Fai…

1
Meet 2023 Heritage Award Honoree Cornelio Campos (Spanish and English Language) 17:53

1y ago17:53

17:53

**This episode is presented in both Spanish and English, as spoken directly by Cornelio Campos**In our final episode before the North Carolina Heritage Award ceremony, we speak with painter and muralist Cornelio Campos. Born in Cheran, in the highlands of Michoacan, Mexico, Cornelio grew up surrounded by the traditions of his indigenous Purépecha h…

1
Meet 2023 Heritage Award Honoree Cornelio Campos (English Voiceover) 12:08

1y ago12:08

12:08

**This episode is presented with translated voiceovers**In our final episode before the North Carolina Heritage Award ceremony, we speak with painter and muralist Cornelio Campos. Born in Cheran, in the highlands of Michoacan, Mexico, Cornelio grew up surrounded by the traditions of his indigenous Purépecha heritage. After years of migrant labor in…

1
Meet 2023 Heritage Award Honoree Richard Bowman 8:50

1y ago8:50

8:50

Born in Ararat, Virginia, and residing in Mount Airy, North Carolina, Richard Bowman has lived his life on both sides of the state line. Richard was inspired to teach himself the fiddle the first time he heard Tommy Jarrell playing on the Merry Go Round, a long-running old-time music program on Mount Airy’s famed radio station, WPAQ. Fifty years la…

1
Adrian Mangano, Skate Raleigh 31:18

1y ago31:18

31:18

What do you do with a future city park site that currently sits kind of as an empty parking lot? Enloe student Adrian Mangano had an idea: why not make it a skate park? And that idea became Skate Raleigh, a venture to build a temporary skate park between Capital Boulevard and West Street on the future site of Smoky Hollow Park. The area has long be…

1
Meet 2023 Heritage Award Honorees Butch and Louise Goings 15:20

1y ago15:20

15:20

In this episode, we head West to the Qualla Boundary, the land of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, where Luther “Butch” Goings and Lydia Louise Goings share a life of dedication to craft and culture.Butch was a student of the renowned carver Amanda Crowe, who received the North Carolina Heritage Award in the year 2000. Louise was taught by her…

1
Meet 2023 Heritage Award Honoree Rhonda Gouge 8:17

1+ y ago8:17

8:17

This week we go to Bakersville, up in Mitchell County, where Rhonda Gouge has been teaching music since the 1970s. Steeped in the faith and traditions of the Toe River Valley, Rhonda’s life’s work has been to give the gift of music back to her community, her congregation, and the students who come from miles around to learn from her.Get more inform…

1
Meet 2023 Heritage Award Honoree Neal Thomas 6:25

1+ y ago6:25

6:25

In this episode, we head to Wendell, NC, just east of Raleigh, where Neal Thomas has been making white oak baskets for more than half a century.Neal and his brothers learned to make traditional white oak baskets from a man in Johnston County named Herman Holder, but today he is one of very few basket makers left who still harvests his own wood from…

1
The North Carolina Heritage Awards are coming back! 9:22

1+ y ago9:22

9:22

In episode one of this mini-series, Folklife Director Zoe Van Buren speaks with two former folklife directors for the North Carolina Arts Council, Wayne Martin and Sally Peterson, about the history of the Heritage Awards and why it’s so important to celebrate the culture that comes from the people of North Carolina.Get more information about the Ma…

1
Jason DeGroff, Swing Racquet + Paddle 46:20

1+ y ago46:20

46:20

A little more than 5 years ago, Raleigh almost became home to the new USTA headquarters that eventually landed just outside Orlando. But the message was clear: Raleigh has a lot of people who spend a lot of time with racquets in their hands. Now the Triangle is on the verge of getting a 45-acre racquet and paddle sports super park that includes fac…

1
Jonathan Melton, City Council member at-large 59:49

1+ y ago59:49

59:49

Jonathan Melton is serving in his second term as an at-large member of the Raleigh City Council, serving on the Economic Development & Innovation and Transportation & Transit Committees. He was inspired by seeing other young leaders run for and take office, and saw a need for the city to have more varying voices making decisions. And calling back o…

1
Johnny Hackett of Black Dollar NC, Black Friday Market and The Factory 1:05:44

1+ y ago1:05:44

1:05:44

Johnny Hackett had a successful stint in the corporate world before deciding to seek out work that had more meaning. This led to the founding of #BlackDollarNC, a black owned business directory, the Black Friday Market, a retail store hosting goods from 60+ small businesses, and The Factory, and co-working and manufacturing space. We talked to John…

1
SPECIAL: Office Talk with Raleigh Magazine, Raleigh's Best Restaurants 19:32

1+ y ago19:32

19:32

We plan to roll out new Podcast Raleigh episodes soon, but in the mean time we’re kicking off the year with a Podcast Swap! Today’s episode will be from Raleigh Magazine’s Office Talk podcast. Raleigh Magazine Publisher Gina Stephens (a Podcast Raleigh guest--check out the episode!) discusses some of the top Raleigh restaurants, including which one…

1
The arts are BACK! 29:44

2y ago29:44

29:44

As we wrap up this season, we introduce you to Piedmont Opera and Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center--- two arts organizations that had contrasting experiences during the pandemic. One was forced to shut down almost completely because of its location and the vulnerable aging population it serves, while the other was the only opera company in NC to…

1
Dr. Brian Ralph, William Peace University 54:44

2y ago54:44

54:44

It's been almost a decade since Peace College became William Peace University and, since 2015, its leader under the new banner has been Dr. Brian Ralph. We talked to him about the school's diverse student body and array of academic studies, its focus on immersive learning, the expansion of arts and athletic programs, the growth of the North Person …

1
The arts and its impact on underserved communities in the midst of a pandemic” 16:04

2+ y ago16:04

16:04

What do ArtsTogether in Raleigh and DREAMs center for arts education in Wilmington have in common? Besides being amazing safe spaces where young people can thrive, the two arts organizations are committed to serving disadvantaged communities. In this episode, we speak with Nikki Turner, dance instructor and preschool teacher at Arts Together, and L…

1
Cody Charland & Meetal Shah, Raleigh Sister Cities 1:00:08

2+ y ago1:00:08

1:00:08

Can you name Raleigh's Sister Cities? Do you know what it means to be Sister Cities? And did you know you (yes, YOU) have the ability to help start a Sister City relationship? Cody Charland, President, and Meetal Shah, Development Director, want to take Raleigh Sister Cities--a program that started in the 1980's--and grow it even bigger. More Siste…

1
The Wilmington Effect 25:58

2+ y ago25:58

25:58

From Blue Velvet to One Tree Hill, scores of movies & TV shows have been filmed in & around Wilmington, North Carolina. Perhaps the best-known is Dawson’s Creek, the popular late-90s coming-of-age drama series. While the show tried to tackle progressive storylines, its stark lack of diversity made Dawson’s Creek frequently cited as the whitest show…

1
Identity Loss: Navigating the Pandemic as a Teaching Artist 17:34

2+ y ago17:34

17:34

Beyond the material struggles artists and arts organizations have faced over the last two years, there was also an ever-present and less explored existential struggle. Being an artist, specifically a teaching artist, isn’t just a career. It’s an identity. And when you can’t do the job that makes you who you are anymore, well, who are you?In this ep…

1
Ashley Campbell, Blanchard Community Law Clinic 45:05

2+ y ago45:05

45:05

Ashley Campbell grew up watching Perry Mason on TV, so it was no surprise that she followed her dream and became a lawyer. Along the way she discovered her passion: helping ensure everyone has access to representation in the justice system. Now--after a decorated career in real estate law with Ragsdale Liggett--that passion is her singular focus as…

1
Reimagining Grantmaking to Advance Equity 41:55

2+ y ago41:55

41:55

In 2019, Laura Way became the president and CEO of ArtsGreensboro, one of our state’s local arts councils, and immediately began implementing changes. North Carolina has one of the most highly developed networks of local arts councils in the country. For over half a century, we have provided funding and technical assistance to encourage arts organi…

1
How the Pandemic Expanded JazzArts Audience 16:22

2+ y ago16:22

16:22

Hailing from New Orleans, the birthplace of Jazz, husband and wife duo Lonnie and Ocie Davis relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina after the devastating impact of Hurricane Katrina dislocated them. With no intentions of starting an arts non-profit, when they arrived in Charlotte, the two Jazz musicians saw an opportunity to curate a thriving Jazz …

1
Scott Dupree, Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance 1:04:00

2+ y ago1:04:00

1:04:00

Scott Dupree grew up watching and playing sports, now he brings sports to Wake County as the executive director of the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance. Sports are a major part of any city's tourism plan, and our area has a sterling reputation as event hosts. We talked to Scott about the economic impact of sports in our area, the rise of e-sports, o…

1
Durham: Art and Community in the Bull City 36:38

2+ y ago36:38

36:38

Durham, North Carolina - a city that blossomed out of the tobacco industry and was originally fueled by manufacturing - has gone through many phases. Today its factories house performing arts centers and bougie lofts, but this place has just as long and varied a musical history going back a century or more. Then and now, it’s been a center for jazz…

1
The Show Must Go On: How Children's Theatre of Charlotte Remained Innovative 22:57

2+ y ago22:57

22:57

During the pandemic, performance venues and organizations were stuck on hold, hoping for a sign of normalcy that would allow for live audiences and actors on stage once again. In March of 2020, like many theaters across the United States, Children’s Theatre of Charlotte (CTC) was forced to stop all production. Due to social distancing requirements …

1
Dancing in a Pandemic 14:30

2+ y ago14:30

14:30

Did you know that on average, a dancer's performance career tends to end around the age of 35? Dancers' retirement comes for a multitude of reasons: physical injuries, a slowing down of the body, the decision to have children, or just a desire to try something new in their 20s or 30s after the intense dedication given since early childhood--and a p…

1
Arts Across NC Season 2 Promo 1:23

2+ y ago1:23

1:23

Arts Across NC Podcast is back with a new season! Join us as we look back on the pandemic and its impact on North Carolina’s arts sector over the last two years. With the help of artists, arts organizations, and arts leaders from all across North Carolina, we are telling the stories of mental struggles, canceled performances, and difficult decision…

1
Greensboro: the Crossroads of Carolina 30:38

2+ y ago30:38

30:38

Known as the Gate City, Greensboro, North Carolina is a transitional town: hub of the Piedmont between the mountain high country to the west and coastal Sandhill Plains to the east, and a city defined by the people who have come, gone, and passed through over the years. As a crossroads location, it has long been a way station for many endeavors, in…

1
Marchell Adams-David, City Manager 1:02:11

2+ y ago1:02:11

1:02:11

As City Manager, Marchell Adams-David is responsible for a lot of employees (about 9,000) who serve a lot of people (about a half a million citizens, plus a few hundred thousand more who work and play here). So when she hires people to work for the City of Raleigh--she has one of three roles selected by the City Council, the rest are hired, directl…

1
Shelby: Local Legends Breathe New Life into Small Town 33:08

2+ y ago33:08

33:08

The image of bluegrass is mountain music played and heard at high altitudes and towns like Deep Gap and remote mountain hollers across the Appalachians. But the earliest form of the music originated at lower elevations, in textile towns across the North Carolina Piedmont. As far back as the 1920s, old-time string bands like Charlie Poole's North Ca…

1
Rhett Fussell, Raleigh Area Land Trust 58:14

2+ y ago58:14

58:14

Rhett Fussell is a transportation engineer, but when he bought some real estate he realized something important: it's not that feasible for everyone to purchase real estate. That sent him down a path that eventually led to him becoming a founder and interim director of the Raleigh Area Land Trust. RALT is Wake County's first land trust; there are l…

1
Asheville: A Retreat for the Creative Spirit 25:01

2+ y ago25:01

25:01

Asheville, North Carolina’s history as a music center goes back to the 1920s and string-band troubadours like Lesley Riddle and Bascom Lamar Lunsford, and country-music pioneer Jimmie Rodgers. But there’s always been a lot more to this town than acoustic music and scenic mountain views. From the experimental Black Mountain College that drew a range…

1
Mitchell Silver, VP of Urban Planning at McAdams 59:20

2+ y ago59:20

59:20

It's not hyperbole to say Mitchell Silver is one of the most experienced, most respected city planners in the world. And for a second time, we've got him right here in Raleigh. Silver helped develop Raleigh's comprehensive plan as its chief planning officer before moving to New York City to serve as Commissioner of the Department of Parks and Recre…

1
Tinu Diver, Filmmaker "This Belongs To Us" 1:09:58

2+ y ago1:09:58

1:09:58

Tinu Diver is an attorney, writer, community activist and filmmaker who went from tinkering with a camera to make her first movie in elementary school in Maryland to being featured at the Sundance Film Festival. In between, she graduated from UNC's Creative Writing Program and UNC Law and pursued (and continues to pursue) a number of different inte…

1
Preview - Carolina Calling 1:36

2+ y ago1:36

1:36

Join David Menconi - host, writer, and longtime North Carolinian - for Carolina Calling: a podcast exploring the history of North Carolina, as told through its music and the musicians who made it. From Asheville to Wilmington, we’ll be diving into the cities and regions that have cultivated decades of talent as diverse as Blind Boy Fuller to the St…

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