Best WUNC Podcasts (2024)

1
Rising Waters (Part III): On the coast of the Carolinas, storms aren't the only flooding risk 7:13

13h ago7:13

7:13

Flooding during and after big storms is always a problem in North Carolina's coastal areas. But it's also a growing headache on clear days when high tides creep up over waterfronts, flow in through storm drains and flood streets. Experts say high-tide flooding worsens with climate change and sea-level rise, causing more frequent flooding in coastal…

1
The new Southern Hollywood 25:32

4h ago25:32

25:32

For decades, Hollywood has set up shop in the South. But in recent years, the industry has undergone some major changes. Today, tax breaks are bringing a flood of blockbuster franchises, hit TV shows and lots and lots of cash to the region. And each state has to adapt to stay in the game. Featuring: Jonas Pate, filmmaker and co-creator of Netflix's…

1
Smooched: Why You'll Never Forget Your First Kiss (Revisited) 33:06

14h ago33:06

33:06

Anita's highly-anticipated (and highly-awkward) first kiss was in eighth grade … but she remembers it like it was yesterday! A scientist tells her why our brains respond so strongly to kissing and how our kissing customs have changed over time. She also unpacks the power of a kiss with a photographer who documents queer Black love in public and thr…

1
(Encore) Starting All Over Again 29:11

2h ago29:11

29:11

Pilot episode! Laura attends her 40th high school reunion, where her former classmates open up about their own love lives and dating strategies. Then, she revisits a man she went on a date with to get schooled on online dating and the “three-date” rule. Finally, Laura gleans inspiration from a couple who met at the apartment building where they bot…

1
One year later: mental health impact of UNC-CH shooting and lockdowns; Golden Leaf series: history of NC tobacco warehouses 50:26

13h ago50:26

50:26

One year ago, Associate Professor Zijie Yan was fatally shot at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The campus was locked down for several hours as authorities searched for the suspect. The community was still in mourning when just over two weeks later a report of an “armed and dangerous person” triggered a second lockdown. UNC-CH clin…

1
Purple Ballot: the power of the millennial and Gen Z electorate in 2024 50:26

3h ago50:26

50:26

Jeff Tiberii chats with Emily Stack, chair of the North Carolina Federation of Young Republicans. Leoneda Inge speaks with David McClennan, political science professor at Meredith College and director of the Meredith Poll. Gino Nuzzolillo, campaigns manager for Common Cause NC, sits down with Leoneda Inge to discuss the upcoming youth-led CarolinaD…

1
USGS flights map critical minerals, toxins in the Carolinas and Virginia 1:24

6h ago1:24

1:24

The survey will locate rare earth minerals and help public health officials monitor deadly toxins like radon.By Zachary Turner

1
Back to school: Classroom supplies, meals, and 20 years in education 50:26

1h ago50:26

50:26

The cost of back-to-school shopping has shifted to families and teachers in NC. Durham Public Schools offers free meals for all students, other districts may follow. And, an education reporter shares the changes she’s seen in K-12 over the past two decades. Guests Liz Schlemmer, education reporter at North Carolina Public Radio WUNC Marianne Hedric…

1
Rising Waters (Part II): Ocean towns face more frequent and costly beach rebuilding projects 7:42

13h ago7:42

7:42

Beachgoers along the coast of the Carolinas are enjoying more sand with their surf this summer. Multi-million-dollar rebuilding projects the past couple of winters pumped sand from offshore to restore beaches ravaged by storms, erosion, and higher sea level. The practice is getting more frequent and expensive, and some experts wonder how long we ca…

1
Bonus: Making Music From Family Secrets 39:21

3h ago39:21

39:21

Anita brings you into part of our family secrets variety show from earlier this year, featuring North Carolina country duo Blue Cactus. She talks with the band about creating and performing an original song inspired by an anonymous secret. The secret was gathered by Song Confessional, an Austin-based podcast that matches songwriters with “confessio…

1
Truitt reflects on reading, innovation and politics in her NC superintendent term 6:01

18h ago6:01

6:01

Catherine Truitt talks about reading, innovation and politics as she nears the end of her term as North Carolina's superintendent of public instruction.By Ann Doss Helms

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NC News Roundup: Cooper puts NC in DNC spotlight; Trump talks national security in Asheboro; campaign fundraising update 50:25

11h ago50:25

50:25

On the North Carolina News Roundup… With the Democratic National Convention wrapping up, the Democrats are boasting unity following a convention of firsts in Chicago. How long will the now-extended moment of enthusiasm persist? The DNC also had a NC surprise – Governor Roy Cooper was the opening act for VP Kamala Harris. We'll recap the DNC and the…

1
Rising Waters (Part I): How can communities prevent more houses from falling into the ocean? 6:50

2d ago6:50

6:50

Over the past couple of decades, many North Carolina beachfront houses have been lost to the Atlantic Ocean. As climate change brings rising sea levels, the search for solutions becomes more pressing. As part of our "Rising Waters," WHQR's David Boraks has this report.By David Boraks

1
Piedmont Natural Gas proposes rate hike for residential gas despite lower fuel prices 1:12

1d ago1:12

1:12

Home heating bills for Piedmont Natural Gas customers could be higher this winter. A virtual hearing on a proposal to raise gas rates is scheduled for Monday.By Zachary Turner

1
Due South's "Golden Leaf" series on tobacco's deep roots in NC; gap year student learns lessons outside the classroom 50:26

12h ago50:26

50:26

North Carolina is predicted to harvest well over 100,000 acres of tobacco this year, and grows most of the flue-cured tobacco produced in the U.S. As farmers and laborers take to the fields to harvest the crop, Due South takes a look at the impact of tobacco on our state – past, present, and future – in an occasional series called “Golden Leaf.” Ou…

1
How the Greensboro Six changed golf forever 14:55

1h ago14:55

14:55

In 1955, six Black men in Greensboro, North Carolina did something radical. They attempted to play a round of golf. Decades later, their legacy lives on. Featuring: Josh Sullivan, social media producer at WUNC Mark Lathan, Director of Programs for First Tee of Central Carolina Jesse Williams, collegiate golfer at Miles College Special thanks to the…

1
(Un)Circumcised: How Parents Decide (Revisited) 32:09

3d ago32:09

32:09

It's a small procedure, but a big question. Anita talks with a urologist about what medical advice to consider while making the circumcision decision (and where medicine doesn't have the answers). She also meets a rabbi and mother who offers alternatives to centuries-old circumcision rituals and hears from a circumcised father raising an uncircumci…

1
(Encore) Pants on Fire 31:02

7d ago31:02

31:02

Can we keep the love faith while circumventing the deceivers? Security analyst Kim Key offers advice and tips on avoiding online romance scams, based on her research and reporting for PCMag. Then, Laura hears about conducting background checks on potential dating partners from listeners including Paula, who says it’s her new M.O. after her experien…

1
The Triangle's shifting real estate market; affordable housing in Chapel Hill; preserving modernist home design 50:25

8d ago50:25

50:25

The State of Real Estate in the Triangle Home listings and home sales prices continue to increase in North Carolina, but sales have slowed slightly in recent months, with homes staying on the market for an average of just over 4 months. The median sales price of homes in the area has increased by 4% to $374,700, year over year. Leoneda Inge discuss…

1
Purple Ballot: NC perspectives on the Democratic National Convention 50:04

8h ago50:04

50:04

What to watch for at the Democratic National Convention The Democratic National Convention is underway in Chicago through Friday. In the latest edition of our Purple Ballot series, co-host Jeff Tiberii sits down with a panel of reporters and political analysts to discuss the Democratic Party's platform, key issues, and campaign strategies leading u…

1
Outgoing NCSU Chancellor Randy Woodson; 'Vera Stark' at Raleigh's Theatre in the Park 50:27

6h ago50:27

50:27

NC State Chancellor Randy Woodson is one of the longest serving at a major public research university in recent years, especially in North Carolina. He talks with Leoneda Inge about what he's learned on the job, the highs and lows, and reflects on his long career at the start of his final year at NC State. Theatre in the Park, Raleigh’s beloved bla…

1
NC News Roundup: Trump stumps in Asheville; reactions to new UNC-CH chancellor; Democrats prep for DNC 51:07

5h ago51:07

51:07

On the North Carolina News Roundup... It's another busy week for the presidential candidates in North Carolina with former President Trump stumping in Asheville and Vice President Harris rallying in Raleigh. At the state level, yet more drama surrounding the Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson. Then, as colleges and universities prepar…

1
Paleo Hour: Jurassic-era climate research; new dinosaur discovery; work to "de-extinct" extinct species 50:26

10h ago50:26

50:26

Jurassic-era climate research Researchers at Duke University have uncovered information about a major extinction during the Jurassic period that they believe sheds light on how climate change affects our oceans. Jeff Tiberii talks with Duke researcher Mike Kipp about the discovery. Mike Kipp, earth and climate science assistant professor at Duke Un…

1
What happens after a hate crime 27:57

7d ago27:57

27:57

On February 10, 2015 three young Muslim Americans were murdered in a Chapel Hill, North Carolina apartment. What initially seemed like a clear case of a hate crime to many turned into a battle that would play out for years in the press and in the courts. Along the way, it renewed questions about how the United States handles hate. Featuring: Farris…

1
Life After A Gray Divorce 49:33

4h ago49:33

49:33

In Anita's lifetime, the divorce rate for Americans over 55 has doubled. People are living longer, divorce stigma has decreased and women are more financially independent. But leaving a decades-long marriage … is a big life upheaval. Anita gets personal accounts from two gray divorcees about what it was like to rebuild their identities, finances an…

1
(Encore) Sage Advice 35:30

14d ago35:30

35:30

Words of romance wisdom from: Writer Sophy Burnham, who offers insights based on decades of personal experience; Leora Hoffman, an attorney-turned- matchmaker who built her business while finding a partner for herself; DWG listeners; and marriage and family therapist Katherine Woodward Thomas, author of “Calling In The One" and "Conscious Uncouplin…

1
Florida's Python problem; post-hurricane flooding; and rescuing the nation's largest amphibian 49:27

2h ago49:27

49:27

Burmese pythons have decimated the populations of small mammals in the Florida Everglades since they established a breeding population in the 1990s. Nearly 1,000 have been removed through the annual Florida python challenge since it began in 2013. Tropical storm Debby dropped more than a foot of rain in some parts of North Carolina. The water level…

1
Local college student heads to DNC as delegate; DNC rules and procedures; Latino voters in NC 49:27

5h ago49:27

49:27

Classes at North Carolina Central University start on Monday, but NCCU senior Devin Freeman won't be there. Instead, he'll be on the floor at the Democratic National Convention. Devin talks with co-host Leoneda Inge about how he became one of North Carolina’s delegates for the DNC and what it means to him to be headed to Chicago. Then, Caitlin E. J…

1
NC News Roundup: Debby’s deluge drenches NC; Robinson pivots on abortion; Dems react to Walz 49:24

20d ago49:24

49:24

On the North Carolina News Roundup… Debby leaves her mark on the state. We recap the impact and survey the damage caused by the storm with a meteorologist and reporter out on the coast. Democrats react to Tim Walz as Kamala Harris' running mate. Republican Mark Robinson tries to pivot on the issue of abortion. And we’ll check-in on how some local O…

1
South Sudan Olympic basketball team has North Carolina connections; Paperhand Puppet Project's new show; sustainable toilet paper 49:27

8d ago49:27

49:27

The South Sudan men’s national basketball team has a story to tell – with a few North Carolina connections. The team participated in the Paris 2024 Olympics – falling to the U.S., Serbia, and logging its first-ever win at the games, against Puerto Rico. Former NBA and Duke star Luol Deng has been a driving force behind the team since the beginning.…

1
Pro wrestling climbs back to the top rope 22:06

5d ago22:06

22:06

Regional pro wrestling was once a major cultural institution throughout the South. For decades, each state had its own stars like North Carolina's Ric Flair who performed weekly at iconic venues like Raleigh's Dorton Arena. But by the late 1980s, the emergence of a handful of large national wrestling promotions like Vince McMahon’s WWF (now WWE) de…

1
The Making Of Great Erotica 50:03

19d ago50:03

50:03

Anita's been deep in romantasy land this year reading Fourth Wing & ACOTAR. And it's gotten her thinking about the skill required to make steamy sex scenes come alive on the page and out loud. She goes behind the scenes with two prolific erotica author-editors and a former producer for the audio erotica app Dipsea to figure out how the sausage — an…

1
(Encore) Romance and Money 32:49

21d ago32:49

32:49

Laura talks with Shawn Leamon, a financial expert who usually explores money from an uncoupling point of view. Shawn offers tips and advice to Laura's other guests: Ginny, who's been so financially burned that she literally can't afford to be vulnerable; Sue, who's finding trouble meeting someone whom she considers her financial equal; and Barry, w…

1
Asbestos case delays, honoring The Greensboro Six, and saving OBX history 49:26

20d ago49:26

49:26

Legal maneuvers hold up lawsuits by victims of asbestos exposure, via bankruptcy court in Charlotte. How ‘The Greensboro Six’ broke golf’s color barrier. And, before there was a U.S. Coast Guard, there were US Life-Saving Service stations dotting the Outer Banks and the Atlantic coast. Guests Ames Alexander, investigative reporter, The Charlotte Ob…

1
Purple Ballot: South Asian voters for Harris for President; A conversation with Rep. Mickey Michaux 49:27

21d ago49:27

49:27

Due South co-host Jeff Tiberii chats with WUNC's Eli Chen about South Asian voters in NC and their perspectives on the Harris for President campaign. And Rep. Mickey Michaux talks about his storied career as the longest-serving member of the NC General Assembly and his hopes for the outcome of the 2024 election.…

1
Teach history with a video game; plus, Southern food goes healthy 49:27

12d ago49:27

49:27

The book Red Dead's History: A Video Game, an Obsession, and America's Violent Past is out this week. It's about “the most-played digital renditions of American history since The Oregon Trail.” We talk with the author of that book who teaches an American history course based on the video game Red Dead Redemption. And, translating a Mediterranean di…

1
NC News Roundup: Cooper out of VP race; school voucher funding 49:27

18d ago49:27

49:27

It has been a week in North Carolina news. Gov. Roy Cooper dropped out of the race to be Kamala Harris’ running mate. Families on a waiting list for private school vouchers push for more funding. And state House republicans vote to override three of the governor’s vetoes. WUNC Capitol Bureau Chief Colin Campbell guests hosts this week's roundup. Gu…

1
'A Sojourn for Harriet Jacobs'; NC family has seven living generations; NC Highway Historical Marker program 49:27

12d ago49:27

49:27

Earlier this year, a group of Black women traveled to Edenton, North Carolina for a cultural experience they wouldn’t forget called “A Sojourn for Harriet Jacobs.” It was a trip to honor the life of Jacobs, a Black woman who lived from 1813 to 1897 and wrote the book Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl about her early life. Co-host Leoneda Inge t…

1
Love found while ‘chasing the light’ 18:07

12d ago18:07

18:07

Cheryl Shelton-Roberts and her husband, renowned photographer Bruce Roberts, worked for years to preserve North Carolina’s iconic lighthouses. Meanwhile, their relationship blossomed into a love story unlike any other. This episode is an adaptation of a story that originally appeared in Our State magazine. Featuring: Cheryl Shelton-Roberts, co-foun…

1
Amplified: Building Intimacy With Hearing Loss (Revisited) 40:27

29d ago40:27

40:27

Anita and her partner John have started talking more openly about how his hearing loss informs their relationship and how they'll continue to navigate that as they age. She meets another interabled couple (Anna and Vika) who share the sometimes humorous, sometimes challenging moments that accompany sex and dating with hearing loss. Plus, former gue…

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