Best WUNC Podcasts (2025)

1
Blue Cactus braves the storm on their new record "Believer" 6:01

1d ago6:01

6:01

North Carolina based Blue Cactus chats with Brian Burns about their new album "Believer."By Brian Burns

1
Meet the only Democrat (so far) running for U.S. Senate in 2026 25:30

1h ago25:30

25:30

Earlier this month, former Congressman Wiley Nickel became the first Democrat to officially launch a campaign in North Carolina’s 2026 U.S. Senate race. He’s an attorney and former Barack Obama aide who represented Wake County in the state Senate before being elected to Congress in 2022 from one of the state’s only swing districts. He spoke with WU…

1
NC News Roundup: Fight for control over state election board; Trump's immigration overhaul reverberates in NC 38:13

6h ago38:13

38:13

On the North Carolina News Roundup... Another development in the decade-long fight over control over the state election board. One Republican congressman is asking the Trump administration to remove red tape as Western North Carolina continues Helene recovery. The Trump administration's efforts to overhaul immigration are having reverberations in D…

1
Fast-growing Zebulon grapples with staff resignations, developer's lawsuit 4:27

2d ago4:27

4:27

The two top administrators of the fast-growing Wake County town of Zebulon resigned in the same week, as the town seeks to resolve a legal battle with a housing developer whose plans were rejected by Zebulon commissioners.By Colin Campbell

1
Visas revoked for some international students in NC; Real ID deadline looms; Biscuits + Banjos hits Durham 36:11

1h ago36:11

36:11

Duke University, UNC-Chapel Hill, and N.C. State University have all reported visa terminations for some international students. How higher education institutions are responding, and what it could mean for the reputation, and future, of some of the world’s top research universities. As the federal implementation date for the Real ID Act looms, Nort…

1
What exactly is a Southern home? 22:08

3d ago22:08

22:08

Last year, over half of all new homes in the US were built in the South. And if you drive through the suburban sprawl of growing Southern cities like Raleigh, North Carolina, you can see them. Sometimes it's the same home. Over and over and over again. In many locales, mass production and cookie-cutter design have made it feel like you could be any…

1
Due Ssssouth talks snakes: What to do if you get a snakebite in NC, and how to appreciate snakes from afar 35:31

2h ago35:31

35:31

As warm weather emerges in North Carolina, so do the snakes. A reptile expert tells us how to observe — and enjoy — snakes from afar. Then, an emergency medicine doctor tells us what to do if you’re bitten by a venomous snake: first, stay calm, and second, seek medical care. Featuring: Jeff Hall, reptile conservation biologist, North Carolina Wildl…

1
Durham's Pauli Murray Center loses $300,000+ federal grant; NC architect reflects on challenges facing Smithsonian museum she helped design 38:17

18h ago38:17

38:17

The Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice in Durham is a historical site dedicated to the commemoration of the life and work of Reverend Doctor Pauli Murray, a queer, Black human rights and social justice advocate, priest, poet and organizer from Durham. The museum opened to the public in 2024 and is located in and around Murray’s chil…

1
Due South visits 'My Black Country' with Alice Randall, Rhiannon Giddens and Rissi Palmer 50:26

1d ago50:26

50:26

Due South's Leoneda Inge talks with Alice Randall, author of “My Black Country: A Journey Through Country Music’s Black Past, Present and Future.” And we welcome the future! Award-winning folk and country music artists Rhiannon Giddens and Rissi Palmer tell us how they’ve made it this far in the biz. Alice Randall, Rhiannon Giddens, and Rissi Palme…

1
A roundup of NC housing trends: homeownership accessibility; 'co-living;' modernist homes 50:26

5d ago50:26

50:26

Who has access to homeownership in North Carolina? Spring is typically home buying time, but housing affordability concerns combined with general economic uncertainty may mean that even fewer people in the Triangle are looking or able to buy homes. News & Observer real estate journalist Chantal Allam joins co-host Jeff Tiberii to talk about the hom…

1
In ‘Happy Land,’ a historical kingdom in Western N.C. comes alive 50:27

6d ago50:27

50:27

Commerce and economic leaders in North Carolina say many large companies are in a holding pattern, waiting to make decisions on new factories, or other major investments. During Reconstruction, a community of free Black residents formed a “kingdom” in Western North Carolina. They called it “Happy Land.” Novelist Dolen Perkins Valdez’s new book of t…

1
Why cola became king (Revisited) 21:27

10d ago21:27

21:27

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 br…

1
The latest on NC's still-undecided Supreme Court election; Durham's beloved 'Major the Bull' turns 21! 50:26

7d ago50:26

50:26

The latest update in NC's Supreme Court race We get an update on the still-undecided election for a seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court. Judges recently broke with precedent in upholding a lower-court ruling. Still, the saga is not over. Next stop: federal court. WUNC’s Rusty Jacobs fills us in. Rusty Jacobs, Voting and Election Integrity Repo…

1
Who Gets to be Native in America? A conversation with the author of 'The Indian Card.' Plus, the rise of 'HillmanTok' 50:26

8d ago50:26

50:26

Due South’s Leoneda Inge talks with Carrie Lowry Schuettpelz, an enrolled member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina and director of the Native Policy Lab at the University of Iowa, about her recently published book, The Indian Card: Who Gets to be Native in America. Then, NC A&T professor Leah Barlow made a TikTok for the 35 students in her Intr…

1
Remains of NC WWII veteran come home; Charlotte's 'Trump-like' city council member elevates to federal position 50:26

9d ago50:26

50:26

The remains of a North Carolina WWII veteran return home The remains of one of the final victims of the Pearl Harbor bombing have been identified and brought to North Carolina. Neil Frye was 20 years old, and serving as a Mess Attendant 3rd Class in the Navy on the USS West Virginia. For decades, his relatives wanted final confirmation that Frye di…

1
NC News Roundup: trade war impact in NC; FEMA cuts threaten rebuilding efforts across state; Tax Day extension 50:14

12d ago50:14

50:14

On the NC News Roundup... We take a look at the local economic impact of fast-paced tariff developments, check in on state legislative happenings and discuss why Tax Day has been extended in North Carolina. Co-host Jeff Tiberii talks with a panel of journalists about those stories and more, on Due South. Guests: Dawn Vaughan, Capital Bureau Chief, …

1
A closer look at NC's broken-down DMV 20:46

12d ago20:46

20:46

For 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…

1
Unpacking the latest twist in NC Supreme Court contest; "Wait Wait" host Peter Sagal gets grilled on the South by Leoneda 50:26

13d ago50:26

50:26

The latest in the ongoing saga over NC’s Supreme Court seat. What Republican Jefferson Griffin’s win (for now) with the state appeals court means, and what happens next. With the fast-approaching, sold-out live taping at DPAC, Peter Sagal needs all the help he can get to prepare. Thankfully, he’s got a one-on-one study session with Due South’s Leon…

1
The wild world of Civil War reenactment 27:54

17d ago27:54

27:54

There are dozens of major Civil War reenactments across the United States each year. They're incredible spectacles filled with cannons, muskets and marching orders. But the most interesting part of it all might just be the people who put on the show. We visited the 160th Anniversary of the Battle of Bentonville in rural eastern North Carolina to fi…

1
NC naturalist takes us to the 'Wild South' where natural wonders abound 50:27

14d ago50:27

50:27

Lush language abounds in local naturalist’s book about the ‘Wild South’ Spring in the South brings a bevy of sights and sounds. In her new book, naturalist and writer Georgann Eubanks chronicles fifteen natural phenomena from across the region that are simultaneously routine and breathtaking. Eubanks talks with Due South’s Leoneda Inge about The Fa…

1
'Power grab' at state legislature impacts funds for sexual assault survivors; hummingbirds head to NC 50:27

15d ago50:27

50:27

How a political power grab led to unprecedented control of funds for sexual abuse survivor programs in NC A budget move by Republican lawmakers in North Carolina redirected funding for sexual assault victims “away from Democratic-led agencies that had long overseen such money,” ProPublica reports. Doug Bock Clark, reporter in ProPublica’s South Uni…

1
Who has access to homeownership in North Carolina? Plus, growth of hockey in the South 50:26

16d ago50:26

50:26

Who has access to homeownership in North Carolina? Spring is typically home buying time, but housing affordability concerns combined with general economic uncertainty may mean that even fewer people in the Triangle are looking or able to buy homes. News & Observer real estate journalist Chantal Allam joins co-host Jeff Tiberii to talk about the hom…

1
Our Road — Then — EP 44: Extraordinary People, Extraordinary Times 42:40

17d ago42:40

42:40

Send us a text Ken and Deborah were recently asked by Michael Lamphier, Executive Director of the Wake Forest University School of Business, if they will speak to a class he is taking called “Communication and Conflict.” The class is part of the Master of Arts Sustainability Program at Wake Forest University. Michael then asked them if they would s…

1
NC News Roundup: Sen. Tillis on Trump's tariffs, NC State students' visas revoked; driving with lapdog could lead to a fine 50:28

19d ago50:28

50:28

On the North Carolina News Roundup... Financial markets take a tumble after the president’s latest announcement on tariffs. Some Republicans are pushing back and speaking out. Including North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis who says tariffs could do irreparable harm to North Carolina farmers. Will his overtures make any difference in the ongoing trade…

1
As Duke heads to Final Four, a complicated history of the storied program; a preview of this weekend's Dreamville music festival 50:26

20d ago50:26

50:26

The Duke men's basketball team plays in the Final Four this weekend and has its sights set on a possible sixth national championship. While the program’s success is clear, its history is complicated. Javier Wallace, a postdoctoral associate at Duke University and a former college athlete, teaches a class at Duke called "Race, Sport & Education: Duk…

1
Everyone hates the DMV 19:50

24d ago19:50

19:50

For 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 a…

1
Black bear encounters on the rise in NC; Southeast becoming wildfire hot spot; Durham's Full Frame Documentary Film Festival 50:26

21d ago50:26

50:26

Wildfires in North Carolina Six months after Helene’s flooding devastated parts of western North Carolina, wildfires have now added to the destruction in the region. While fire officials say the current fires are getting under control, the conditions that led to them are not going away. Jeff Tiberii talks with NC State's Robert Scheller about why w…

1
NPR’s Emily Feng shares stories of people pushing back against China in new book 50:26

22d ago50:26

50:26

The foreign correspondent based in China for seven years recently returned to Duke University for a conversation hosted by the Asian Pacific Studies Institute (APSI), and for her class reunion. Plus, a conversation with Durham County's Tax Administrator breaking down county property revaluations. And, a Raleigh office space buy up in North Hills re…

1
Durham County Library Fest opens on April 6; Zelda Lockhart talks libraries and writing; new exhibit celebrates Black contributions to NC seafood industry 50:26

23d ago50:26

50:26

Durham County Library welcomes its fifth annual Library Fest during National Library Week, April 6-12. Leoneda Inge sits down with Sara Stephens, Library Development Officer, to learn more about the festival. Zelda Lockhart. Lockhart is one of the week’s keynote speakers and will be delivering a talk on how to write multigenerational stories. The n…

1
NC News Roundup: wildfire update from WNC; a new North Carolina "bathroom bill"; a leading state lawmaker steps down 50:35

26d ago50:35

50:35

Wildfires in the western reaches of our state, a new North Carolina "bathroom bill," a leading state lawmaker steps down, updates on two state immigration bills, and the Duke men's basketball team advances to the Elite Eight. Due South's Jeff Tiberii is joined by a panel of journalists to talk about all that and more on the North Carolina News Roun…

1
A closer look at NC's projected 'fiscal cliff' 25:28

28d ago25:28

25:28

Budget season at the state legislature has officially kicked off with the release of Gov. Josh Stein’s budget recommendations. He’s calling on lawmakers to pause scheduled corporate and personal income tax cuts to avoid projected revenue shortfalls starting next year. He says those revenue drops will make it difficult to fund teacher raises and oth…

1
Six months after Helene, a check-in on tourism, restaurants, relief funding, and the wildfires hampering cleanup 50:26

27d ago50:26

50:26

Western North Carolina continues to await state and federal funding six months after Helene Six months after Helene, Gov. Josh Stein has signed into a law a bill that will provide more than a half-million dollars in relief funding. The funding approval comes as a new disaster is further ravaging the region, as Henderson and Polk counties continue t…

1
The modern Graveyard of the Atlantic 17:31

1M ago17:31

17:31

The 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…

1
Brunswick County eliminates PFAS in water; Southern accents in 'The White Lotus;' NCMA welcomes 'The Time is Always Now' exhibition 50:26

28d ago50:26

50:26

Celeste Gracia, Environment Reporter at WUNC, takes a look at Brunswick County's PFAS problem. Walt Wolfram, William C. Friday Distinguished University Professor of English at North Carolina State University and the director of the North Carolina Language and Life Project, analyzes the Southern accents on Season 3 of The White Lotus. Linda Johnson …

1
Charlotte bakery owner says deportation fears keep patrons at home; Main Street NC: Midway 50:26

29d ago50:26

50:26

There are approximately 300,000 people living in North Carolina without legal status. And they are not the only North Carolinians grappling with the Trump administration’s deportation promises. Mixed status families, people who had their legal status revoked through recent changes made by the Trump administration, and even people who hold visas and…

1
NC food banks brace for funding cuts; State Treasurer Brad Briner; Durham Chefs Melanie Wilkerson and Sicily Sierra 50:26

1M ago50:26

50:26

North Carolina food banks brace for funding cuts Local schools, food banks, and farmers in North Carolina are expected to be impacted by the Trump administration’s cuts to federal programs through the USDA. These programs allow schools and food banks to buy fresh produce and meat from NC farmers. We’ll talk with the head of one of the state’s large…

1
NC News Roundup: Helene relief bill passes; Gov. Stein announces new budget proposal; law professionals urge Jefferson Griffin to end lawsuit 50:27

1M ago50:27

50:27

On this week’s North Carolina News Roundup... the North Carolina Senate passes a $500 million Helene relief bill. Gov. Josh Stein unveils his budget proposal. And more than 200 justices, judges and attorneys called for Jefferson Griffin to end his election lawsuit. Co-host Jeff Tiberii talks with a panel of journalists about those stories and more,…

1
Should NC's teacher pay start at $50,000? 26:40

1M ago26:40

26:40

As North Carolina schools face staffing shortages, both Republicans and Democrats are pushing for bigger raises for starting teacher pay -- but the proposals could face tough odds in a tight budget year. Gov. Josh Stein’s proposal to increase starting teacher pay above $50,000 is similar to one filed recently by Republicans in the state House. Rep.…

1
A seasonal allergy forecast as pollen rains down on NC; Local sports reporters talk March Madness! 50:26

1M ago50:26

50:26

A seasonal allergy forecast as pollen rains down on NC It’s springtime in North Carolina – flowers are growing, trees are blooming, and people are sneezing. The notorious yellow-green particles of pollen are dusting cars, roads and surfaces everywhere. Robert Bardon, a professor of forestry and environmental resources at NC State, joins Jeff Tiberi…

1
Quarterback of the rising sun 20:59

1M ago20:59

20:59

If 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 …

1
Asheville's Mayor Esther Manheimer; Can industrial hemp replace tobacco for NC farmers? 50:26

1M ago50:26

50:26

It's been almost six months since Tropical Storm Helene caused catastrophic flooding and damage in the city of Asheville. In Due South's latest edition of "Meet the Mayors," Leoneda Inge talks to Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer about the logistical and political complexities of leading her city during a time of recovery and rebuilding. Then, Due S…

1
Private school vouchers in Wilmington; data centers popping up across NC; fight over fluoride 50:26

1M ago50:26

50:26

Secret buildings. Loud electronic hums. You might be closer to a data center than you think. We get the scoop on the energy-needy facilities that make your smartphone go. And, a zoomed-in look at private school vouchers in North Carolina focusing on one county. New Hanover County. Plus, the fight over fluoride in NC. Guests Brian Gordon, Business &…

1
A 2025 look at real estate in the Triangle; co-living trends as housing prices soar; Modernist homes and millennials 50:26

1M ago50:26

50:26

Realtor John Wood talks housing prices across the Triangle. Axios reporters Zachery Eanes and Brianna Crane talk with Due South's Jeff Tiberii about "co-buying" and "co-living." USModernist founder and CEO George Smart weighs in on generational changes in attitudes toward modernist homes.By Jeff Tiberii, Leoneda Inge

1
NC News Roundup: Gov. Stein's State of the State address; NC Senate votes to ban DEI in public schools; ACC men's basketball 50:27

1M ago50:27

50:27

On this week’s North Carolina News Roundup... Governor Josh Stein’s State of the State address and the Speaker Destin Hall’s Republican response, the NC Senate votes to ban DEI in public schools, how USDA grant freezes impact a Warren County farmer, and an ACC men's basketball tournament update from Charlotte. All that and more, on Due South's Nort…

1
Should NC take the racist literacy test out of its constitution? 25:33

1M ago25:33

25:33

It’s been more than 50 years since North Carolina used a racist, Jim Crow-era “literacy test” that was designed to prevent Black people from registering to vote. But that requirement remains in the state’s constitution, unenforced. Rep. Terry Brown, D-Mecklenburg, is making another attempt this year to get the language removed. He’ll have to persua…

1
Layoffs at NC's national parks; local AME churches join Target 'fast;' new pilot program addresses unsheltered homelessness in Raleigh 50:27

1M ago50:27

50:27

Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management professor Lincoln Larson joins Leoneda Inge to explain how budget cuts and layoffs can impact spring and summer travel, tourism dollars, and protected ecosystems. Rev. Jonathan “Jay” Augustine of Pastor of St. Joseph African Methodist Episcopal Church in Durham discusses his participation in a 40-day fast from…

1
Public schools’ big enrollment problem 20:55

2M ago20:55

20:55

Nearly 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 …

1
Dr. Mandy Cohen reflects on changing politics of health care, five years after COVID-19 hit NC 50:26

1M ago50:26

50:26

Doctor Mandy Cohen became a household name in North Carolina after the virus spread to the state. She led the State Department of Health and Human Services from 2017-2021, and went on to become the CDC Director under President Biden. Plus, now in its fourth edition, the Carrboro Django Reinhardt Festival honors the musician's influence and the genr…

1
How President Trump’s agenda impacts North Carolina, 50 days in 50:26

1M ago50:26

50:26

From university funding to DEI to deportation policy to Medicaid, a panel of WUNC reporters looks at how Trump 2.0 affects North Carolina and the people who call our state home. Guests Brianna Atkinson, Higher Education Reporter, WUNC Colin Campbell, Capitol Bureau Chief, WUNC Jay Price, Military Reporter, WUNC Aaron Sánchez-Guerra, Race, Class & C…

1
NC A&T professor’s TikTok unintentionally launched ‘HillmanTok;’ what's next for a NC Confederate monument? 50:26

1M ago50:26

50:26

Edenton’s Confederate monument still stands, two years after a vote to take it down A deal to move a Confederate monument in front of the Edenton Town Council fell through. What’s next for the statue, and the lawsuits over its position. Mechelle Hankerson, News Director at WHRO Public Media In “Confederates,” Black women in two eras face the same c…

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