The Broadside

Four decades after its release, the 'cocaine-fueled' movie that helped put the Southern film industry on the map still commands an audience.

The strange story of competitive whistling in America runs through North Carolina all the way to… Japan.

What’s lost when a cultural and culinary touchstone disappears?

Today's hyper-partisan brand of media savvy politics was trailblazed over 70 years ago by an uncompromising politician from North Carolina: Jesse Helms.

Schools like UNC-Chapel Hill are spending every dollar available to keep up in an athletics arms race.

Dive into the drama, the money and the science behind one of the most celebrated fishing competitions in the world.

A small army of scientists and beekeepers in the Carolinas are fighting an invasive wasp that could decimate our most important pollinators.

An unfinished roadway, deep inside the Great Smoky Mountains, is just the beginning of a fascinating and bittersweet story of remembrance.

30 years ago, a small town North Carolina cop and a notorious terrorist came face to face. The famous encounter would change the rookie police officer's life in profound ways.

For many people, marriage is a deep and powerful bond. But for politicians, those relationships are often far more complicated.

In a once overlooked place, researchers are uncovering the remnants of a brave and resilient people.

The world's most popular YouTuber and his billion-dollar business are based in a surprising place: Greenville, North Carolina.

Pimento cheese is as Southern as sweet tea and fried chicken. Or is it?

A new documentary film from Tressie McMillan Cottom is highlighting the incredible history of the first Black Panther Party chapter in the South.

The future of cricket in America is in a field next to an airport in the town of Morrisville, North Carolina.

Nearly 100 years ago, a tiny liberal arts college in North Carolina reinvented higher education and set the art world on fire.

Yep. Sasquatch is Southern. And its cultural and economic impact on Appalachia is sizable.

The country’s first Asian American citizens lived remarkable lives and left behind a complicated legacy in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Water containments like PFAS are linked to severe health problems. So why are they still in our water?

The fascinating story of one mound in Franklin, North Carolina is highlighting efforts to preserve these important sites and put them back in tribal hands.

The Charlotte Hornets of the NBA lost 60 games in 1988, but they looked incredible while doing it. Their iconic uniforms would launch a global fashion trend.

These developments are reshaping small towns, consuming vast amounts of power and striking deals that aren't always clear.

ICE is expanding its facilities in the South, but communities, from large metropolitan areas to rural small towns, are pushing back.

The rise, fall and reinvention of North Carolina's furniture industry has left average Americans with few good options.

Fascinating new research is shedding light on how clothing helped radically transform America during its darkest hour.

In 1944 two college basketball teams in North Carolina played the most important game that nobody has ever heard of.

North Carolina's complicated record of responding to hurricanes might offer a glimpse into the uncertain future of disaster relief.

A rock found on the side of the road in North Carolina appeared to solve America's old mystery. But is it a fraud?

From public syllabi to surveillance, universities across the country are embracing unprecedented policies that professors say are undermining their academic freedom. And North Carolina is front and center.Featuring:Brianna Atkinson, higher education reporter for WUNC NewsKeith Whittington, director of Center for Academic Freedom and Free Speech at Yale Law School and author of “You Can’t Teach That!: The Battle Over University Classrooms”Links:You can find more of Brianna Atkinson’s reporting hereCover Image: Liz Schlemmer See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the treacherous waters of North Carolina's Outer Banks, an extraordinary group of Black men saved hundreds of lives against all odds.

As the story goes, hip-hop was born 50 years ago at a party in the Bronx. But what if it wasn’t that simple?

A snowboard revolution is happening in a place with… very little snow.

Some of the most important historical facilities from the Space Race are hiding in plain sight in North Carolina.

From bourbon to chow chow, fermentation is everywhere in Southern food and drink.

On a cold night in January 1958, hundreds of Native Americans showed up to a field in southeast North Carolina with one mission: to boot the KKK out of their community.

Buc-ee’s, the mega-sized rest stop expanding across the South, has a legion of intense fans. But does the world really need a store with 120 gas pumps?

An old photograph and a call to action from one of the world's most famous athletes sends us on a fascinating adventure.

The Smoky Mountains of North Carolina form the backdrop for two stories of people who are reclaiming their connections to the land.

For our 100th episode we share some of our favorite short stories, including the effort to raise up an iconic hip-hop anthem and a tale about one of America's most infamous crime scenes.

The story of how a bite sized version of golf made it from one man’s lawn in North Carolina to the rest of the world is utterly fascinating.

In the wake of a natural disaster, some folks in the Blue Ridge Mountains are embracing foraging.

An interview with the woman who teaches the teachers about Native American history.

The immigrant from Japan who became the eyes of the American conservation movement and the dark secrets that motivated his life’s work.

Despite a century long decline in numbers, Black farmers are finding new ways to grow.

What does it take to turn one tiny seed into a colossal 3,000-pound pumpkin?

The US is in the midst of one of the biggest energy infrastructure expansions of all-time. But will it come with a price?

North Carolina is home to one of the oldest electronic music traditions in the world.

The NHL conquered the South with a radical strategy: they built the next generation of hockey fans almost completely from scratch.

Latinos are often portrayed as newcomers with an uncomplicated backstory in the South. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.

This week, we’re sharing an episode by our friends at Common Land. It’s a podcast that explores the history, science and politics behind the creation of protected lands in America.

Major changes to Medicaid are on the horizon. For those trying to assess the early political and policy fallout, all eyes are on rural America.

Arguably the most important mine in the world is located in Spruce Pine, North Carolina. And we don’t have a backup.

Country music is very white. And that's not a coincidence.

A Black folk revival is sweeping the country and challenging long-lasting stereotypes about traditional American music.

College football has become a money-sucking machine, with schools spending every dollar possible to keep up in an athletics arms race.

Every summer, a group of Jane Austen enthusiasts gather to celebrate her work… in an unexpected place.

The country’s only state agency dedicated to investigating claims of wrongful convictions could soon come to an end.

Cherokee – at one point, one of the most well-documented and commonly spoken American Indian languages – is in serious danger of dying out.

Through triumph and tragedy, freestyle bike riders in Greenville, NC have left a big mark on the world of action sports.

The subculture that embraced taboo during segregation endures and is strutting into the 21st century.

Why has a barren patch in the woods become one of North Carolina’s most enduring legends?

Native Americans have a history that goes back millennia — rooted in generations of strength and resilience that continue to influence our world today.

Like a genius Forrest Gump, Stuart Cramer showed up everywhere. From air conditioning to fashion, his work continues to shape our world.

Either someone’s lying — or we may need to rethink everything we know about American independence.

Enticed by cheap energy and friendly zoning laws, crypto mining operations poured into Appalachia. It has not gone well.

For many Black Americans, cemetery preservation highlights the power of legacy and the importance of finding your roots.

The exotic plant only grows wild in a single place on the planet: a sliver of dirt in a small corner of the Carolinas.

Dive into the drama, the money and the science behind one of the most celebrated fishing competitions in the world.

The iconic Southern carnivore’s biggest threat is also its best hope for survival: humans.

North Carolina is home to some of the world’s best Pokémon players and a secretive company that fuels America’s card game obsession.

The lasting fight for campus free speech in America isn’t at the Ivy Leagues.

Buried deep within the clay soil of the North Carolina Piedmont is a massive underground bunker that’s fueled speculation amongst locals for decades.

In the late 1800s, a community of free Black people created a monarchy in Appalachia.

Mass production and cookie-cutter design means that you can't just look at a house and tell where it lives anymore.

The South is the birthplace of all the big cola brands. But why?

Grab your musket, uniform, and iPhone. It’s time for battle.

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 and commuting reporter at NJ.com and the Star-Ledger Senator Michael Lazarra, representing the NC Senate's 6th District Richard Stradling, transportation reporter for The News & Observer Links: You can find a transcript of the episode here.The Broadside is made possible by contributions from listeners like you. Support WUNC-North Carolina Public Radio and this podcast by making a donation.Sign up for WUNC's new Politics Newsletter here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 also an economic lifeline for a small industrial fishing community who must traverse it.Featuring:  Emily Cataneo, reporter for The Assembly Molly Trivelpeice, education curator at The Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum Links:  Check out Emily's story on Oregon Inlet here. You can find a transcript of the episode here. The Broadside is made possible by contributions from listeners like you. Support WUNC-North Carolina Public Radio and this podcast by making a donation.Sign up for WUNC's new Politics Newsletter here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 in North Carolina is rewriting history and changing what we thought was possible in sports.Featuring: Shehan Jeyarajah, national college football writer for CBS Sports Tim Peeler, North Carolina State University sports historian Links: Read Tim's article about trailblazing Asian American quarterback Teisaku Sugishita here. You can find a transcript of this episode here. The Broadside is made possible by contributions from listeners like you. Support WUNC-North Carolina Public Radio and this podcast by making a donation.Sign up for WUNC's new Politics Newsletter here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 they serve.Featuring:  Liz Schlemmer, education reporter for WUNC Alec MacGillis, reporter for ProPublica Links:  Check out Liz Schlemmer’s reporting on the enrollment decline here. Read Alec MacGillis’ reporting on school closures here. You can find a transcript of this episode here. The Broadside is made possible by contributions from listeners like you. Support WUNC-North Carolina Public Radio and this podcast by making a donation.Sign up for WUNC's new Politics Newsletter here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For decades, public health advocates have touted the dental health benefits of fluoride. But skepticism, conspiracy theories, and outright fear of fluoridated water have been around for just about as long. And they’re only gaining steam. In the midst of this heated debate, new scientific studies in North Carolina are combating health misinformation and trying to separate fact from fiction in the hope that they just might cool the conversation.Featuring:  Sara Israelsen-Hartley, freelance journalistLinks:  Check out Sara’s reporting for The Assembly on fluoride here. You can find a transcript of this episode here. The Broadside is made possible by contributions from listeners like you. Support WUNC-North Carolina Public Radio and this podcast by making a donation.Sign up for WUNC's new Politics Newsletter here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hurricane Helene wiped out hundreds of roadways in western North Carolina. Now engineers are working to fill the holes the storm left behind. But how do you rebuild a road that’s meant to last in a climate that’s changing quicker than we can keep up?Featuring:  Nathan Moneyham, Division Construction Engineer for North Carolina Department of Transportation, Division 13 Matt Lauffer, State Hydraulics Engineer for North Carolina Department of Transportation Lauren Sommer, climate correspondent for NPR Jared Bowden, Associate Director for North Carolina State Climate Office Links:  NOAA’s Atlas 14 database The RaInDROP tool developed by Jared Bowden  You can find a transcript of this episode here. The Broadside is made possible by contributions from listeners like you. Support WUNC-North Carolina Public Radio and this podcast by making a donation.Sign up for WUNC's new Politics Newsletter here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the 1990s, professional ice hockey was primed for growth. But the NHL had one major problem: geography. In order to expand its footprint, the sport had to move into unlikely warm weather locations with few existing fans. The league eventually expanded to the Sun Belt with mixed early results. But in North Carolina and other Southern states, the NHL has found success with a radical long-term strategy. They've helped build the next generation of hockey fans almost completely from scratch.Featuring:  Ibraheem Khalifa, hockey fan Cory Lavalette, freelance Carolina Hurricanes beat reporter and senior editor at North State Journal Shane Willis, Director of Youth Hockey & Community Outreach for the Carolina Hurricanes Joe Ovies, co-host of the Ovies & Giglio sports podcast Special thanks goes out to the Orange County Sportsplex and Coach Kevin Kamenski of the Carolina Thunder Hockey Club in Hillsborough, NC.Thanks also to WUNC's Josh Sullivan and Mitchell Northam.Links: You can find a transcript of the episode here.The Broadside is made possible by contributions from listeners like you. Support WUNC-North Carolina Public Radio and this podcast by making a donation.Sign up for WUNC's new Politics Newsletter here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

To celebrate Black History Month, we're revisiting one of our favorite episodes from last year.Perhaps more than any other artform, the 20th century was shaped by jazz. And piano player and composer Mary Lou Williams was there at nearly every turn. In recent years, historians have documented and dissected her career and its big impact on American music. But the final chapter of her life—spent teaching at Duke University—was shrouded in mystery. Until now.Special thanks to Chris Pattishall for writing and performing the score for this episode.Featuring:  Anthony Kelley, Professor of the Practice of Music at Duke University Verena Mösenbichler-Bryant, Chair of the Music Department at Duke University Tammy Kernodle, Distinguished Professor in the Department of Music at Miami University Chris Pattishall, Grammy-nominated piano player and composer Links:  Watch the Duke Wind Symphony perform Mary Lou Williams’ “History” here. You can find a transcript of the episode here. Donate: The Broadside is made possible by contributions from listeners like you. Support WUNC-North Carolina Public Radio and this podcast by making a donation here.Sign up for WUNC's new Politics Newsletter here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

North Carolina’s Lumbee Tribe have been pursuing full federal recognition for over 130 years. A campaign promise kept by Donald Trump has given them hope. But it’s also renewed centuries-old questions about who gets to be Native in America.Featuring:  Sarah Nagem, editor of the Border Belt Independent John Lowery, Lumbee Tribal Chairman Carrie Lowry Schuettpelz, author of The Indian Card: Who Gets to Be Native in America Links:  Check out more reporting from Sarah Nagem and the staff of the Border Belt Independent here. You can find a transcript of this episode here. Special thanks this week goes out to WUNC’s Will Michaels for providing us audio from his interview with John Lowery. Donate: The Broadside is made possible by contributions from listeners like you. Support WUNC-North Carolina Public Radio and this podcast by making a donation here.Sign up for WUNC's new Politics Newsletter here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Election Day was nearly three months ago. Since then, every race in the country has been called and certified. Except for one. A single election for a seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court remains in limbo, and its outcome might have huge ramifications for American democracy.Featuring:  Rusty Jacobs, Voting and Election Integrity reporter for WUNC Frank Bruni, contributing writer for The New York Times and author of “The Age of Grievance” Links:  Check out more of Rusty Jacobs’ reporting here. Read Frank Bruni’s article for The New York Times here. You can find a transcript of this episode here. Donate: The Broadside is made possible by contributions from listeners like you. Support WUNC-North Carolina Public Radio and this podcast by making a donation here.Sign up for WUNC's new Politics Newsletter here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

North Carolina has been cultivating a special relationship with Japan for more than four decades… and the rewards for the American economy are only accelerating. This week, we find out how tax incentives, BBQ, and Bojangles helped make the Tar Heel State the epicenter of Japanese investment in the US.Featuring:  Teruhiro "Terry" Kawabe, President and CEO of Morinaga America David Robinson, Honorary Consul of Japan to North Carolina Andy Steinhauer, General Manager at Health & Nutrition North America plant in Raleigh, NC Brian Gordon, Business & Technology reporter at The News & Observer Links:  Read Brian Gordon's continuing coverage of Japanese investment in North Carolina at The News & Observer here. You can find a transcript of this episode here. Donate: The Broadside is made possible by contributions from listeners like you. Support WUNC-North Carolina Public Radio and this podcast by making a donation here.Sign up for WUNC's new Politics Newsletter here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Throughout the South, state legislatures are adopting and expanding school voucher programs designed to allow parents to use public funds to pay for private school tuition. But this modern day push for school choice is connected to a dark past that recalls America’s long and sometimes forgotten history of resisting integration in the classroom.Featuring:  Jennifer Berry Hawes, reporter with ProPublica Crystal Sanders, author of “A Forgotten Migration: Black Southerners, Segregation Scholarships, and the Debt Owed to Public HBCUs” Links:  Read Jennifer Berry Hawes reporting on segregation academies and school vouchers here. You can find a transcript of this episode here. Donate: The Broadside is made possible by contributions from listeners like you. Support WUNC-North Carolina Public Radio and this podcast by making a donation here.Sign up for WUNC's new Politics Newsletter here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In 2018, the US Supreme Court ruled that states could legalize sports gambling. Since then, 38 states have taken the plunge, including our home state of North Carolina. The payoff has been lucrative. But it also has a human toll.Featuring:  Jason deBruyn, Supervising Editor for Digital News at WUNC Jason Quick, Senior Writer at The Athletic Links:  Check out Jason Quick's incredible reporting about gambling addiction. You can find a transcript of this episode here. If you or a loved one need help with problem gambling you can find it at the National Problem Gambling Helpline. That number is 1-800-GAMBLER. There are also state programs across the country like the North Carolina Problem Gambling Helpline which is 1-877-718-5543.Donate: The Broadside is made possible by contributions from listeners like you. Support WUNC-North Carolina Public Radio and this podcast by making a donation here.Sign up for WUNC's new Politics Newsletter here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On a chilly evening in 1961, a B-52 crashed in rural eastern North Carolina near the town of Goldsboro. Any plane crash is bad, but this one was particularly dangerous because onboard that bomber were two nuclear weapons. The event was perhaps the closest the United States has ever come to accidentally detonating a nuclear bomb—and kicking off a nuclear war.Featuring: Jay Price, Military and Veterans Affairs reporter at WUNC and The American Homefront Project Stephen Schwartz, independent nuclear weapons expert and author of “Atomic Audit: The Costs and Consequences of U.S. Nuclear Weapons Since 1940” Links: Read Jay's article from 2018 marking the 50th anniversary of the Goldsboro nuclear accident.  View photos of the Mars Bluff Crater left behind by the nuclear accident in Florence, South Carolina. Donate: The Broadside is made possible by contributions from listeners like you. Support WUNC-North Carolina Public Radio and this podcast by making a donation here.Sign up for WUNC's new Politics Newsletter here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, we visit the small town of Marshall in western North Carolina, a region ravaged by Hurricane Helene earlier this year.But this story isn’t about the storm or climate change or the walls of water that rushed through the Black Mountains in September. It’s about what happened after. How people create systems to help each other. And how the best aspects of humanity can shine in the wake of a disaster.This episode comes to us from Outside/In. Produced by our friends at New Hampshire Public Radio, it’s a podcast where curiosity and the natural world collide. Credits: Outside/In host: Nate Hegyi Reported, written, produced, and mixed by Justine Paradis  Edited by Taylor Quimby The Outside/In team also includes Felix Poon, Marina Henke, and Kate Dario. NHPR’s Director of Podcasts is Rebecca Lavoie Special thanks to the folks at Poder Emma and Collaborativa La Milpa in Asheville. Thanks also to Rural Organizing and Resilience (ROAR). Donate: The Broadside is made possible by contributions from listeners like you. Support WUNC-North Carolina Public Radio and this podcast by making a donation here.Sign up for WUNC's new Politics Newsletter here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this special holiday episode, we meet the Jewish man from Gastonia, North Carolina who became the world's largest manufacturer of Christmas ornaments and used his power to make his home more tolerant of all religions.This episode comes to us from Jeremy Markovich. Jeremy is the creator of a newsletter and podcast called the North Carolina Rabbit Hole, where he explores the strange and quirky corners of his home state. You can find all of his incredible work at ncrabbithole.com.This story was adapted from: "The Unlikely Ornament King of Gastonia" which appeared in Our State's December 2016 issue.Music in this episode: "Dad, Get Up" by Peter Lamb and the Wolves (Raleigh) Additional Music: Blue Dot Sessions, U.S. Marine Band Special Thanks: The Rauch Family, Jack Betts, Don Walser, Kimberly Simpson, Alexis Castanos, and Todd Dulaney.Donate: The Broadside is made possible by contributions from listeners like you. Support WUNC-North Carolina Public Radio and this podcast by making a donation here.Sign up for WUNC's new Politics Newsletter here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On a rainy day in 1979, a photograph was taken of a young girl skateboarding down a street in Fayetteville, North Carolina. 45 years later, that photo went viral with a little help from the most famous skater who ever lived: Tony Hawk. This week, we find out who the mystery girl in the picture was and why the snapshot was so ahead of its time. Featuring:  Jeremy Markovich, writer of the North Carolina Rabbit Hole Tony Hawk, skateboarder Shaunda Shane, skateboarder Links:  Check out Jeremy's article about tracking down Shaunda Shane. View photographs of Shaunda skateboarding from the Fayetteville Observer. You can find a transcript of this episode here. Donate: The Broadside is made possible by contributions from listeners like you. Support WUNC-North Carolina Public Radio and this podcast by making a donation here.Sign up for WUNC's new Politics Newsletter here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From the White House to your living room, North Carolina’s iconic Fraser fir is the most popular Christmas tree in America. But this holiday season, something is threatening to wipe it out —  and the $250 million dollar industry associated with it. Special thanks this week goes out to Kate Sheppard of The Assembly.Featuring: Steve Riley, contributor at The AssemblyLinks:  Check out Steve's article about the race to save America's favorite Christmas tree here. You can find a transcript of this episode here. Donate: The Broadside is made possible by contributions from listeners like you. Support WUNC-North Carolina Public Radio and this podcast by making a donation here.Sign up for WUNC's new Politics Newsletter here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For more than a century, people near Brown Mountain have witnessed unusual displays of shimmering and sometimes even exploding lights. A skeptical scientist has spent years trying to solve the mystery.This week, we’re heading to the mountains of western North Carolina for an episode produced by Atlas Obscura in partnership with Visit North Carolina.Donate: The Broadside is made possible by contributions from listeners like you. Support WUNC-North Carolina Public Radio and this podcast by making a donation here.Sign up for WUNC's new Politics Newsletter here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Trading stories is an ancient and deeply human experience. But today, most of the stories we consume come to us through a digital screen. So it might surprise you to find out that we're in the midst of a revival of the old school style of storytelling. Turns out, sitting in a crowded room with other people, sharing funny and tragic and unbelievable stories live and in person has never been bigger.  Thank you to Nancy Reeder of the North Carolina Storytelling Guild for reaching out and pitching this show idea.And special thanks also goes out to linguist and former Broadside guest Brody McCurdy for providing us with audio from the Voices of Chatham project, an ongoing oral history and documentary recording the history, culture, and language of Chatham County. Voices of Chatham was created in collaboration between NC State’s Language & Life Project and the Chatham County Historical Association. Featuring:  Ellen Bland, organizer of Mill Town Yarns in Chatham County, NC Willa Brigham, professional storyteller Alan Hoal, founder and chair of the Old North State Storytelling Festival in Cary, NC Jeff Polish, founder and executive director of The Monti in Durham, NC Links: You can find a transcript of this episode here.Donate: The Broadside is made possible by contributions from listeners like you. Support WUNC-North Carolina Public Radio and this podcast by making a donation here.Sign up for WUNC's new Politics Newsletter here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Fortnite was an unlikely hit from an unlikely place: North Carolina-based Epic Games. Innovative game design and smart leveraging of social media and live streaming catapulted it into becoming one of the world's biggest video games. And today, Fortnite is a bona fide cultural phenomenon. But can the memes and viral dance moves go on forever?Featuring:  Brian Gordon, Technology & Innovation reporter for The News & Observer Jamal Michel, video game and culture critic Links:  Check out Brian’s multi-part series on Epic Games and Fortnite. Read Jamal’s recent piece in The New York Times about the history of female characters in video games. You can find a transcript of this episode here. Donate: The Broadside is made possible by contributions from listeners like you. Support WUNC-North Carolina Public Radio and this podcast by making a donation here.Sign up for WUNC's new Politics Newsletter here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week we're launching a new kind of episode where we spend an ordinary day in the life of someone doing something extraordinary. Join us as we tag along with renowned North Carolina-based muralist Dare Coulter while she works to bring a very big and very public artistic vision to life.Featuring:  Dare Coulter, professional artist and muralistLinks:  View Anisa and Charlie’s horse drawings here. You can find a transcript of this episode here. Check out more of Dare's artwork on her Instagram and Facebook. Donate: The Broadside is made possible by contributions from listeners like you. Support WUNC-North Carolina Public Radio and this podcast by making a donation here.Sign up for WUNC's new Politics Newsletter here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s Election Week in America–and if you’re like us, you’re probably a little burned out with politics. So we’re offering up something different. This week, we ask three veteran political reporters a single question: what’s the most bizarre story you've ever covered?Featuring:  Barry Yeoman, freelance writer and contributor at The Assembly Jim Morrill, former politics reporter at the Charlotte Observer Dawn Vaughan, Capitol Bureau Chief at The News & Observer Special thanks this week goes out to WUNC’s Colin Campbell and Kate Sheppard of The Assembly.Links:  Read about the 1996 "political campaign" of Jolene Strickland at The Assembly here. Check out Dawn's story about Diet Sun Drop soda at The News & Observer here. You can find a transcript of this episode here. Donate: The Broadside is made possible by contributions from listeners like you. Support WUNC-North Carolina Public Radio and this podcast by making a donation here.Sign up for WUNC's new Politics Newsletter here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.