Best Benjamin Schachtman Podcasts (2024)

1
"Take the hits and keep on going": A conversation about journalism with NPR's Scott Simon 50:00

13d ago50:00

50:00

On this episode, we sit down with Scott Simon, longtime journalist and host of NPR's Weekend Edition to talk about the state of the news — plus highlights from Simon's remarks at the recent WHQR 40th anniversary luncheon.By Ben Schachtman

1
Cape Fear Conversations: Health and Social Equity 1:33:23

1M ago1:33:23

1:33:23

This year, WHQR's Cape Fear Conversation series is taking a closer look at the four focus areas of the New Hanover Community Endowment. On this episode: health and social equity.By Camille Mojica

1
Making the case for Port City United 55:40

1M ago55:40

55:40

New Hanover County's anti-violence department — Port City United — has been mired in criticism and bad press, and will likely be shuttered at the end of June. But the social issues that inspired its creation still exist, so it's worth talking about where the program came from, the good work it did do, and what the future could hold.…

1
A retired doctor says he nearly died at NHRMC. Now he's pushing for reform 1:02:35

2M ago1:02:35

1:02:35

On this episode, it's a conversation with Jon Martell, a retired doctor and former hospital administrator who says he nearly died at New Hanover Regional Medical Center — not because of a mistake made by a nurse or doctor, but because of systemic issues at the hospital. The experience led him to found a new nonprofit to push for a safer, higher-qua…

1
Transparency, accountability, and community: A conversation about the New Hanover Community Endowment with Harper Peterson 37:20

2M ago37:20

37:20

Former state senator Harper Peterson recently founded Heal Our People's Endowment, a nonprofit that's calling on North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein to exercise more oversight and authority over the New Hanover Community Endowment. On this episode, we sit down to talk through his concerns — and what he'd like to see done about them.…

1
Granny Flats: The secret solution to the housing crisis 50:00

2M ago50:00

50:00

The affordable housing crisis is national in scope, but it’s uniquely painful in the South because of low wages and surging demand. So what are some creative solutions to this rapidly growing and intractable problem? Backyard cottages? Flipping hotels into rental housing? Or building out job training programs? We asked smart people in the housing s…

1
Echoes of a Coup: Michael Betts and John Biewen tackle the 1898 massacre in a new Scene on Radio series 58:43

2M ago58:43

58:43

On this episode, Ben Schachtman and Rachel Keith sit down with John Biewen and Michael Betts, writers and co-hosts of Echoes of a Coup — the sixth season of the Scene on Radio podcast from Duke University’s Kenan Institute for Ethics. The five-part series takes a deep dive into Wilmington’s 1898 coup and massacre.…

1
The Mosley Story: Unpacking the misinformation and narratives around the newcomer school debate 1:05:41

3M ago1:05:41

1:05:41

Last year, we reported on the abrupt closing of the Career Readiness Academy at Mosley — a little-known but beloved program in the New Hanover County Schools district. Public pushback saved the Mosley program, but developed into a debate over a 'newcomer school' for immigrants who had recently arrived in the United States, introduced as a possible …

1
Sunshine Week: A closer look at warrants, protective orders, and NHCS' new meeting policy 57:40

4M ago57:40

57:40

In honor of Sunshine Week — an annual event focused on government transparency and reporters who work to hold governments accountable for being open to the public — WECT, Port City Daily, and WHQR took a look at warrants and domestic violence protection orders. WHQR also took a closer look at a new policy aimed at giving New Hanover County school b…

1
Forum: The Christian call to address Wilmington's housing crisis 50:00

4M ago50:00

50:00

North Carolina is the tenth most religious state in the union, according to U.S. News and World Report — but what does that mean for solving one of the most serious crises facing our community? In light of that question, One Christian Network came together in February to host a panel on solving the affordable housing crisis, and the role the church…

1
Forum: Republican candidates in the 2024 New Hanover County school board primary election 50:00

5M ago50:00

50:00

On this episode, we unpack the recent forum for Republican primary candidates running for the New Hanover County Board of Education. We’ll look at how each of the candidates tried to position themselves among their fellow conservatives. We’ll also look at some of the issues facing the district, including a staggering $20 million budget shortfall, t…

1
State Sen. Michael Lee discusses last year's controversial education legislation 50:00

5M ago50:00

50:00

On this episode, Republican State Senator Michael Lee sits down to discuss two pieces of major education legislation: a significant expansion to the 'Opportunity Scholarship' program, and the Parents' Bill of Rights.By Benjamin Schachtman

1
Cape Fear Conversations: Developing housing in New Hanover County 50:04

5M ago50:04

50:04

This year, WHQR's Cape Fear Conversation series is taking a closer look at the four focus areas of the New Hanover Community Endowment. First up, community development. It's a board area that includes a lot of different facets, but for this forum we focused on housing.By Kelly Kenoyer

1
Turnaround Task Force's latest plans, public schools competing in the education market, and hearing a Student Voice 50:00

5M ago50:00

50:00

On this episode, WHQR's Rachel Keith helps unpack the latest work from New Hanover County Schools' Turnaround Task Force. The group has been generating some actionable ideas that could see local funding — but the district as a whole still faces challenges, including increased market pressures as it struggles against charter and private schools for …

1
The past, present, and future of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge 50:00

5M ago50:00

50:00

Walk-on Day? Falling Cadillacs? Multi-million dollar politics? There's a lot to unpack when it comes to the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge (in fact, when it comes to bridges over the river, in general). On today's show, as we brace for a traffic nightmare, we add some context and historical backstory to the weedy world of bridges.…

1
How the justice system hurts, and helps, the homeless people in our community 50:00

6M ago50:00

50:00

In the past year or so in New Hanover County, we’ve seen public officials pushing back on the homeless population, even as it grows because of our housing crisis. As homeless individuals are pushed into the margins of the community, and into the woods, the justice system continues to interact with the unhoused.On this week's episode, we’ll dig deep…

1
The WHQR news team looks back at 2023 and ahead to next year 50:00

6M ago50:00

50:00

On this episode, WHQR News Director Ben Schachtman reflects on the past year with Kelly Kenoyer, Rachel Keith, Nikolai Mather, and Camille Mojica.By Benjamin Schachtman

1
Special Episode: Unpacking the New Hanover Community Endowment's $53-million second grand round 1:04:56

7M ago1:04:56

1:04:56

On Monday, the New Hanover Community Endowment announced its second grant cycle: this round features much larger, multi-year grants that take on systemic issues. But the rollout was not without criticism. In this episode, we dig into those concerns and how the Endowment is responding.By Benjamin Schachtman, Kelly Kenoyer

1
A conversation with District Attorney Ben David, who is leaving office after 20 years 50:00

7M ago50:00

50:00

Ben David has served as District Attorney for New Hanover and Pender counties since 2004. Next year, he’ll leave office, setting up an election for his replacement. WHQR News Director Ben Schachtman sat down with David to talk about why he’s leaving, how he sees his legacy, and what comes next.By Benjamin Schachtman

1
Unpacking the 2023 municipal elections: Wilmington and the beach towns 50:00

8M ago50:00

50:00

On this episode, Rachel Keith digs into voter turnout and the beach town elections, Kelly Kenoyer talks about Wilmington's city council race, and New Hanover County Democratic party chair Jill Hopman talks about her party's success this year and the challenges it will face next year.By Benjamin Schachtman

1
Unpacking the City of Wilmington candidates' forum 50:00

9M ago50:00

50:00

On this edition, WHQR's Kelly Kenoyer and Ben Schachtman break down the highlights from this week's forum for City of Wilmington Council candidates, hosted in partnership with WECT and Port City Daily.By Benjamin Schachtman, Kelly Kenoyer

1
What do teachers really need to turn NHCS' struggling schools around? 50:00

9M ago50:00

50:00

On this episode of The Newsroom, WHQR's Rachel Keith shares what she heard at a recent roundtable event, held by New Hanover County Schools' Turn Around Task Force, charged with getting to the bottom of what ails the district's lowest-performing schools. At the most recent meeting, task force members heard from teachers — who spoke unsparingly abou…

1
2023 City of Wilmington Council Elections: Candidate Kathryn Bruner 24:26

9M ago24:26

24:26

WHQR sat down with all seven candidates for Wilmington's City Council — two incumbents and five newcomers who are running for three seats. On this episode of The Newsroom, an interview with challenger Kathryn Bruner.By Benjamin Schachtman

1
2023 City of Wilmington Council Elections: Candidate John Lennon 43:18

9M ago43:18

43:18

WHQR sat down with all seven candidates for Wilmington's City Council — two incumbents and five newcomers who are running for three seats. On this episode of The Newsroom, an interview with challenger John Lennon.By Benjamin Schachtman

1
2023 City of Wilmington Council Elections: Candidate David Joyner 37:52

9M ago37:52

37:52

WHQR sat down with all seven candidates for Wilmington's City Council — two incumbents and five newcomers who are running for three seats. On this episode of The Newsroom, an interview with challenger David Joyner.By Benjamin Schachtman

1
2023 City of Wilmington Council Elections: Candidate Kevin Spears 30:14

9M ago30:14

30:14

WHQR sat down with all seven candidates for Wilmington's City Council — two incumbents and five newcomers who are running for three seats. On this episode of The Newsroom, an interview with incumbent Kevin Spears.By Benjamin Schachtman

1
Election 2023: WHQR's community agenda, interviews with Neil Anderson, Marlowe Foster, and Salette Andrews 50:00

9M ago50:00

50:00

On this episode, WHQR's Kelly Kenoyer breaks down how — and why — we've been running our Community Agenda program. Plus, excerpts from our interviews with three of the candidates running for Wilmington City Council.By Benjamin Schachtman, Kelly Kenoyer

1
2023 City of Wilmington Council Elections: Candidate Salette Andrews 29:05

9M ago29:05

29:05

WHQR sat down with all seven candidates for Wilmington's City Council — two incumbents and five newcomers who are running for three seats. On this episode of The Newsroom, an interview with challenger Salette Andrews.By Benjamin Schachtman

1
2023 City of Wilmington Council Elections: Candidate Marlowe Foster 44:13

9M ago44:13

44:13

WHQR sat down with all seven candidates for Wilmington's City Council — two incumbents and five newcomers who are running for three seats. On this episode of The Newsroom, an interview with challenger Marlowe Foster.By Benjamin Schachtman

1
2023 City of Wilmington Council Elections: Candidate Neil Anderson 53:48

9M ago53:48

53:48

WHQR sat down with all seven candidates for Wilmington's City Council — two incumbents and five newcomers who are running for three seats. On this episode of The Newsroom, an interview with incumbent Neil Anderson.By Benjamin Schachtman

1
Cape Fear Conversations: Housing and Homelessness 50:00

10M ago50:00

50:00

On today’s show, highlights from our most recent Cape Fear Conversations event. This is our third event, this time focusing on the issue of homelessness — looking at what factors are pushing people out of housing, what we get wrong about them and what they’re going through, and about how we might help get them back on track.Our panelists for this e…

1
What the City of Wilmington can and can't do; plus, a conversation with Braver Angels 50:00

10M ago50:00

50:00

On this episode, Kelly Kenoyer sits down with Wilmington Mayor Pro-Tem Margaret Haynes to talk about what's actually with the city's power to do — an important thing to know ahead of this year's municipal elections. Plus, Ben Schachtman talks to a 'blue' and a 'red' from Braver Angels, an organization dedicated to repairing the political divide in …

1
Call it 'removal' or 'banning,' the battle over 'Stamped' is a proxy for the culture war 50:00

10M ago50:00

50:00

On this episode of The Newsroom: how one parent’s efforts to remove a single book from a New Hanover County school curriculum became a proxy for the culture wars.In a five-hour hearing, both sides argued the fate of Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You. It’s a book based on the work of Ibram X. Kendi — but the debate went way beyond this one book, …

1
Unprecedented: A twist in the TRU Colors murder case opens the black box of NC's grand juries 50:00

10M ago50:00

50:00

The North Carolina grand jury indictment process is shrouded in absolute secrecy — or, almost absolute secrecy, because in one very rare case, we have a glimpse inside that Black Box. What defense attorneys found inside is disturbing, but the system is rigged against addressing the problem.By Benjamin Schachtman

1
From global warming warnings to medical breakthroughs, what a UNCW researcher is learning from crabeater seals 50:01

11M ago50:01

50:01

On this episode of The Newsroom, a conversation with UNCW Assistant Professor Dr. Michael Tift about his recent research trips to Antarctica to study the most populous seal species on Earth: crabeaters. On his most recent visit, Dr. Tift saw firsthand the devastating loss of ice — an area equal to the size of Greenland.We'll discuss Dr. Tift’s othe…

1
Preventing the "violent denial of diversity," and a petition for poison-free parks 50:00

11M ago50:00

50:00

Today, we're sitting down with members of Glitterpill, LLC, a company that focuses on threats to democracy and what founder Bjorn Ihler calls "the violent denial of diversity." We’ll look at how extreme beliefs work — across international boundaries, between the not-so-meaningful divide between online and real life, and in the many subtle spaces be…

1
What will it really take to turn New Hanover County's low-performing schools around? 50:00

12M ago50:00

50:00

On this episode, WHQR's Rachel Keith helps unpack the work of the Turnaround Task Force — a group charged, as the name implies, with turning around 12 of the district's lowest-performing schools. At a political moment when redistricting (that is, desegregating) the district's schools seems implausible, that means embracing a host of other strategie…

1
The trials and tribulations of evictions. Plus, development in northern New Hanover is on tricky ground. 50:00

1y ago50:00

50:00

On this episode, Kelly Kenoyer takes a deep dive into what actually happens when a tenant gets evicted — and what their rights are during the process. Plus, a conversation with environmentalist Andy Wood and UNCW Prof. Roger Shew at look at 'hydric soils,' and why they mean more flooding than some would expect in the northern part of New Hanover Co…

1
The daunting but doable task of turning New Hanover County's low-performing schools around 50:00

1y ago50:00

50:00

On today's show, a look at New Hanover County's 12 low-performing schools. It's a perfect storm of segregation, childhood trauma, systemic poverty, and changing workforce dynamics — but despite that daunting challenge, New Hanover County has established a task force to help deal with the problem. WHQR's Rachel Keith attended the first meeting and j…

1
The Newsroom: Conversations about Pride, identity, and finding the gay bars 50:00

1y ago50:00

50:00

WHQR's second Cape Fear Conversation is focused on the queer community — just in time for Pride Month.By Kelly Kenoyer

1
NHCS Superintendent Charles Foust on school safety; Marie Parker bids farewell to WAVE 49:59

1y ago49:59

49:59

On today's show, we sit down with New Hanover County Schools district Superintendent Dr. Charles Foust about his reaction to an increase in guns and drugs on school campus. Then, WHQR's Kelly Kenoyer has an exit interview with Marie Parker, who helped right the ship at WAVE as executive director for the last two years.…

1
Three new faces in New Hanover County politics 50:00

1y ago50:00

50:00

On today's show, we sit down with Jill Hopman and Nevin Carr, the newly-minted chairs of the Democratic and Republican parties in New Hanover County. Plus, excerpts from our recent interview with Dane Scalise, who was recently appointed to the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners.By Benjamin Schachtman

1
Special episode: An in-depth interview with New Hanover County's newest commissioner, Dane Scalise 53:53

1y ago53:53

53:53

On today’s special episode, an in-depth conversation with Dane Scalise, who was recently appointed to the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners.By Benjamin Schachtman

1
Fractured: A major investigation from WFAE and PBS's FRONTLINE 50:00

1y ago50:00

50:00

The mental health care system in North Carolina has been failing for years. Perhaps nowhere is that more evident than those who get caught up in the criminal justice system, out of sight, therefore out of mind for the general public and policymakers. But their plight — and the brokenness of the mental health system — affects everyone in the state.…

1
ACEs and oxygen masks: A deep dive on Adverse Childhood Events and resiliency work 49:59

1y ago49:59

49:59

On this episode, we take a closer look at trauma-informed approaches to education, criminal justice, and even our everyday lives. WHQR's Rachel Keith, who just published a three-part series on ACEs, joins us to dig deeper into the issue.By Benjamin Schachtman, Rachel Keith

1
Conversations about education: Provost James Winebrake on UNCW's new colleges, Dorian Cromartie on Rachel Freeman's struggles 49:59

1+ y ago49:59

49:59

On this episode, UNCW Provost James Winebrake on this week's big news — the restructuring of the College of Arts and Sciences into two new separate colleges. And, on a related note, we’ll get into the tension between two visions of the university: one, as an institution for workforce development, and the other, as a place of personal exploration an…

1
Fish wars: The decades-old battle over North Carolina's fisheries 49:59

1+ y ago49:59

49:59

For years, the state of North Carolina has struggled to balance economic interests, environmental concerns, and the public's right to recreational access to natural resources — that is, fish. The issue is complicated by the difficulty of knowing the exact status of many of the state's most popular fish species. On this episode, WHQR's Grace Vitagli…

1
Three strikes and you're out: The short tenure of CFCC Trustee Ray Funderburk 50:00

1+ y ago50:00

50:00

Less than a year after he was appointed, Ray Funderburk was ousted from the Cape Fear Community College Board of Trustees. In his brief time on the board, he stepped out of line three times, starting with his vote against President Jim Morton's raise — the only dissenting vote. On this episode, a look at the trial to remove him and what we've learn…

1
Cape Fear Conversations: Black History in Wilmington 50:00

1+ y ago50:00

50:00

If you missed WHQR's February 11 Black History event, you're in luck: We have the highlights for you in this episode of The Newsroom. Hear from great speakers about local history, and tune in next week for an episode on our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion panel.By WHQR Staff

1
Genesis Block's focus on minority entrepreneurship, the long wait for Florence recovery, and public-private partnerships galore 49:59

1+ y ago49:59

49:59

On this week's show: Tracey and Girard Newkirk on Genesis Block's work with minority entrepreneurs, WHQR's Grace Vitaglione on the maze of federal, state, and local disaster recovery efforts, and WECT's Michael Praats on the region's public-private partnerships.By Benjamin Schachtman

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