Best WHQR Podcasts (2024)

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

22d 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

3M 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

3M 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
CoastLine: David Gessner and daughter Hadley on what climate science reveals about the earth in 2063 and why it's personal (rebroadcast from January 16, 2024) 49:59

4M ago49:59

49:59

A Traveler’s Guide to the End of the World: Tales of Fire, Wind, and Water, is the newest book from nature writer and New York Times bestselling author David Gessner. His daughter, Hadley, is an undergraduate at New York University. They join us to explore what climate science tells us about the prospect of a hotter, drier, more storm-prone, less l…

1
CoastLine: Orrin Pilkey on surviving climate change catastrophes 48:29

4M ago48:29

48:29

Climate change is coming for life on earth – in the form of floods, more severe and destructive storms, drought, ocean acidification, marine and terrestrial heat waves, water supply problems, air pollution. The list goes on, but humans can adapt, mitigate, and maybe even survive.That's the focus of Dr. Orrin Pilkey's newest book, Escaping Nature: H…

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
CoastLine: Remembering Lenny Simpson (1948-2024) and his "pay it forward" credo 49:56

4M ago49:56

49:56

When Lenny Simpson was just 5 years old, tennis great Althea Gibson handed him a tennis racket and called him "champ". That moment changed his life. He went on at age 15 to play his mentor Arthur Ashe in the U.S. Open. Lenny Simpson returned to Wilmington in 2013 and launched One Love Tennis in honor of the mentors who did so much to help him live …

1
CoastLine: Artist Thomas Sayre, musician Tift Merritt explore sacred space in Four Walls at the CAM 50:00

4M ago50:00

50:00

Singer / songwriter Tift Merritt and visual artist Thomas Sayre explore the unorthodox making of an upcoming show at the Cameron Art Museum called Four Walls.In this episode, Sayre raises questions about the sacred structures that undergird society, Tift Merritt interrogates the form of concert, and CAM Executive Director Heather Wilson explains wh…

1
CoastLine: How Peace Corps service influenced four volunteers who worked in Ukraine, Namibia, Armenia, and Tonga 50:00

5M ago50:00

50:00

Since 1961, the Peace Corps, envisioned and created by President John F. Kennedy, has sent volunteers around the globe to help developing countries. The obvious aim is to meet the goals identified by the host country – not the Americans. But just as important are the relationships that develop from this work, promoting world peace and friendship.…

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
CoastLine: Palestinian-American on his culture and why he started rescuing animals in the West Bank (Rebroadcast from December 19, 2023) 50:00

5M ago50:00

50:00

"Mahatma Gandi said the way you measure a society is how they treat the weakest in the society."Maad Abu-Ghazalah says this is why he started rescuing abused and abandoned dogs and donkeys in the West Bank. As a Palestinian-American with family still there, he explores his culture and his hopes for peace.…

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
CoastLine: Appearing on The Voice transformed the way musician Carlos Rising saw his "weaknesses" (Rebroadcast from December 19, 2023) 49:55

5M ago49:55

49:55

He won a spot on Blake Shelton's last team in 2023, after caving to family pressure to audition for the NBC show. And that's when the way Carlos Rising thought about his musical talent began to shift.By Rachel Lewis Hilburn

1
CoastLine: Breaking the News is a study on inclusivity for both film team and the news team at The 19th* 49:34

5M ago49:34

49:34

Breaking The News was supposed to be a documentary about a new nonpartisan, nonprofit newsroom called The 19th*, started by two women who wanted to cover news at the intersection of gender, politics, and policy. But when The 19th* launched in early 2020, so did an international pandemic. The way the filmmakers had to film changed. And the story the…

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
CoastLine: Disappearing grasslands major threat to biodiversity in coastal plain of SE NC 49:57

6M ago49:57

49:57

UNCW restoration ecologist Amy Long is rehabilitating local tidal marshes, grasslands, and savannahs. Strategic restoration can bring back biodiversity that was nearly lost, as evidenced by the New Hanover County Landfill property. Two dramatic examples: diverse butterfly populations and regular sightings of bald eagles.…

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

6M 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
CoastLine: UNCW Study raises questions about mental health and disconnect from nature 49:56

6M ago49:56

49:56

Research clearly shows that spending time in nature is critical for mental, physical, even cognitive health. Can our mental health crises make a stronger case for conservation?By Rachel Lewis Hilburn

1
CoastLine: David Gessner and daughter Hadley on what climate science reveals about the earth in 2063 and why it's personal 49:59

6M ago49:59

49:59

A Traveler’s Guide to the End of the World: Tales of Fire, Wind, and Water, is the newest book from nature writer and New York Times bestselling author David Gessner. His daughter, Hadley, is an undergraduate at New York University. They join us to explore what climate science tells us about the prospect of a hotter, drier, more storm-prone, less l…

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
CoastLine: Invasive plants are changing NC wetlands; soundscapes are helping scientists figure out how 49:56

6M ago49:56

49:56

Evolutionary Ecologist Stacy Endriss of UNCW’s Environmental Sciences Department is exploring how invasive plants are affecting North Carolina wetlands. She’s also looking at creative approaches – including biocontrol – for dealing with the impacts.By Rachel Lewis Hilburn

1
CoastLine: Racial healing activists of all races need to interrogate themselves first, says Dr. Catherine Meeks (rebroadcast from August 30, 2023) 50:05

7M ago50:05

50:05

“A fundamental question that each of us must answer is: Who are the victims of racism? Upon careful investigation, it seems quite clear that the answer is ‘everyone’.” Dr. Catherine Meeks, Exec. Director, Absalom Jones Center for Racial HealingBy Rachel Lewis Hilburn

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

7M 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
In the Wild Coastal Plain with surprisingly wild suburban ponds, amid pervasive pollution (rebroadcast from Oct. 17, 2023) 49:58

7M ago49:58

49:58

Andy Wood: Bullfrog tadpoles have an alkaloid in their skin. It’s a chemical compound that tastes a little bit like rotten lemon and Ajax. It’s a horrible taste, so very few things eat them.RLH: Have you tried this? It’s a very, um, specific description.AW: I would never admit that.In the wild coastal plain of southeastern NC, Andy Wood and I explo…

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
CoastLine: Palestinian-American on his culture and why he started rescuing animals in the West Bank 50:00

7M ago50:00

50:00

"Mahatma Gandi said the way you measure a society is how they treat the weakest in the society."Maad Abu-Ghazalah says this is why he started rescuing abused and abandoned dogs and donkeys in the West Bank. As a Palestinian-American with family still there, he explores his culture and his hopes for peace.…

1
CoastLine: Needs of vulnerable people, animals, and plants escalated in 2023, say advocates 49:59

7M ago49:59

49:59

The most vulnerable populations around the region struggled during 2023 – including humans, animals, and even native plants. What does the state of these groups say about us?By Rachel Lewis Hilburn

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