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0:01:00 A new book explores the long friendship between Nina Simone and Langston Hughes Harlem Renaissance icon Langston Hughes first met a 16-year-old Eunice Waymon when she was a high school student in Asheville, NC. Later, Eunice would go on to become a global music sensation under her stage name, Nina Simone. Her friendship with Hughes endured for the rest of the famed poet’s life. A new book explores their bond. W. Jason Miller, distinguished professor of English at NC State University, public scholar, author of Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood: Nina Simone, Langston Hughes and the Birth of Black Power 0:33:00 Pioneering mezzo soprano Denyce Graves directs 'Carmen' for NC Opera By the age of 30, opera singer Denyce Graves was considered one of the world’s best performers of the legendary title role in Georges Bizet’s Carmen. Now retired as a singer, Graves is pouring her talent into mentoring the next generation of opera greats. She joins NC Opera on October 16 and 18 to direct its production of Carmen. Denyce Graves, award-winning opera mezzo soprano, director and philanthropist

There’s been a barrage of news about the harmful effects of technology on our children, our schools, our lives, and – our humanity. From the Meta and TikTok lawsuits, to the use of cell phones in schools, and the potential threats of AI -- we're talking about all the ways in which tech can harm us and what we can do about it. Mary Beth Roche, founder of CHCCS Parents for Intentional Tech  Lee Rainie, Director of the Imagining the Digital Future Center at Elon University  Mick Tobin, Advocacy Director of the Young People’s Alliance  Mitch Prinstein, Psychologist and Co-Director of the Winston Center on Technology and Brain Development at UNC-Chapel Hill

0:01:00 Redbud Writing Project brings creative writing to Butner prisonThe Redbud Project is a nonprofit school based in Raleigh with the mission of bringing creative writing to everyone in their community. Redbud’s community classes have been offered to all kinds of populations in need, from people struggling with addiction to domestic violence survivors and most recently, people dealing with incarceration. We talk to founders Emily Cataneo and Arshia Simkin about why they think putting pen to paper can be life-changing. And we talk with Dasia Moore, who taught Redbud’s inaugural class at Butner Federal Correctional Facility, and Mesha Maren, a Duke professor with deep experience teaching inside prisons, about bridging the gap between imprisonment and creative expression. Emily Cataneo, Co-founder and instructor at the Redbud Writing Project Arshia Simkin, Co-founder and instructor at the Redbud Writing Project Mesha Maren, Associate Professor of the Practice of English at Duke University Dasia Moore, Poet, Journalist and Educator; instructor with Redbud Writing Project 0:33:00 30 years of working for affordable housing in Chapel HillEmpowerment Inc., a Chapel Hill nonprofit, just celebrated 30 years of building and sustaining working class communities in one of the most expensive places to live in the state of North Carolina. Executive Director Delores Bailey and longtime Chapel Hill resident and former chef Bill Smith reflect on Empowerment’s accomplishments and the work yet to be done to counter Orange County’s high rents and gentrification. Delores Bailey, Executive Director of Empowerment, Inc. Bill Smith, Chapel Hill restaurateur and philanthropist; retired owner and chef at Crook’s Corner

0:01:00 What upending the 'roadless rule' could mean for North Carolina's federal forest landsThe Trump administration wants to do away with a longstanding, little-known rule that doesn't allow for new roads in federal forests. The move could increase the risk of wildfires and harm water sources. The 'roadless rule' is a vestige from the Clinton Administration that could be upended and pave the way for roads through federal forest lands. Sasha Schroeder, digital producer, NC Local NC Local: The Trump administration wants to roll back the Roadless Rule, which protects more than 170,000 acres of public land in NC. Here’s what the change could mean for North Carolinians. This interview originally aired September 8, 2026. 0:13:00 The Broadside's "Competitive whistling and the trill of the chase"For most people, whistling is just a casual way to pass the time. But there’s a small worldwide community of whistling enthusiasts who've taken the artform to a whole new level. The Broadside podcast tells the strange story of competitive whistling in America and follows one man’s journey from North Carolina all the way to Japan in a quest to become one of the greats.  This episode of the Broadside was a co-production with The Assembly. It was produced by Jerad Walker and edited by Charlie Shelton-Ormond. Leslie Boney recorded field tape. 0:33:00 Graphic novel shares stories about Helene from people who lived through it "Islands in the Sky" shares first-person stories of people who experienced the tragedy of Helene in western North Carolina. The crowd-funded anthology puts narrators with award-winning comic artists to tell their stories.  Andrew Aydin, third-generation farmer in western North Carolina, creator of ‘Islands in the Sky: A People’s History of Hurricane Helene’  Nick Filardi, co-author of "Ripples" with his wife Shannon Burcham, in the graphic novel "Islands in the Sky: A People’s History of Hurricane Helene" This interview originally aired July 23, 2026.

On the heels of President Trump’s visit to Gastonia last week, Vice President JD Vance came to Greensboro this week to stump for Republican candidates from Michael Whatley for U.S. Senate to Laurie Buckhout for NC’s 1st Congressional District. As we approach the two-year anniversary of Helene, we get an update from Western North Carolina on the recovery. Plus, Rep. Virginia Foxx weighs in on press access. Colin Campbell, Capitol Bureau Chief, WUNC News Dawn Vaughan, Capitol Bureau Chief, The News & Observer Danielle Battaglia, Congressional impact reporter for The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer Laura Hackett, Helene Recovery Reporter, Blue Ridge Public Radio (BPR)

Helene upended life in many ways, for many people, in Western North Carolina. Though, in other ways, little has changed and this means continued risks for for some particularly vulnerable communities.  Reporter Ren Larson has delved into the issue of people still living in flood-prone regions of our state. We also touch down in Marshall, NC where artist and entrepreneur Josh Copus is working with the community to build a monument, brick by brick.  And we examine the role houses of worship play in the aftermath of disasters with East Carolina University professor Jason Pudlo. Ren Larson, Investigative reporter The Assembly Josh Copus, Artist and Entrepreneur from Marshall, NC Jason Pudlo, Assistant Professor of Political Science at East Carolina University

0:01:00 Fall foliage forecast for North CarolinaGet ready for those red, orange and yellow bursts of color throughout our region. It's time to check out the fall leaves in the mountains, and soon enough, here in the Piedmont. Howard Neufeld, recently retired professor of biology, Appalachian State University, a.k.a. “The Fall Color Guy” 0:13:00 The long, winding history of the Blue Ridge ParkwayThe vast collection of trails and scenic views all along the Blue Ridge Parkway didn’t just happen on their own – the construction of the parkway was part of a big government effort to bring national parks to more concentrated population centers in the eastern United States. Leoneda Inge talks with public historian Anne Mitchell Whisnant about the history of the Blue Ridge Parkway and the legacy it’s created for generations. Anne Mitchell Whisnant, author of "Super-Scenic Motorway: A Blue Ridge Parkway History;" Associate Professor of the Practice at Duke University’s Social Science Research Institute; director of Graduate Liberal Studies at Duke 0:33:00 “Ten to Try: By Way of the Blue Ridge”PBS North Carolina recently premiered “Ten to Try: By Way of the Blue Ridge,” a half-hour journey down that majestic roadway with ten stops along the way capturing some of that vast natural beauty and rich culture of the North Carolina mountains. “Ten to Try” series producer Cliff Bumgardner talks with Leoneda Inge about the episode. Cliff Bumgardner, producer/director, PBS North Carolina This interview originally aired August 25, 2026.

0:01:00 Holding space for historyAs the National Museum of African American History and Cultures celebrates its tenth birthday, the museum’s founding director, Lonnie Bunch, is retiring from the top job at the Smithsonian Institution amid pressure from the White House over how American history is portrayed. Leoneda Inge talks with one of the museum’s architects to reflect on its impact, and the challenging moment facing the spaces and places holding a light up to our nation’s history. Zena Howard, Principal and Global Cultural and Civic Practice Chair, at Perkins &Will Architectural Firm 0:33:00 Telling the story of the Tar Heel StateA conversation with Michelle Lanier about the monuments and museums, and the battlefields and birthplaces, that are part of the North Carolina State Historic Sites program. Michelle Lanier, Director, North Carolina Historic Sites, N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources

North Carolina in the conversation for Major League Baseball expansionAs Major League Baseball runs toward home plate with expansion, North Carolina is in the national conversation for getting a team. What would it take to attract a major-league team in terms of money, demographics, land availability, and a good team name? Jeff Tiberii asks two experts who have been crunching the numbers. Michael Walden, economist, NC State University Lou Pascucci, co-founder of MLB Raleigh/MLB 2 NC This interview originally aired July 14, 2026. History of baseball in North CarolinaNorth Carolina’s history with baseball is rooted deep like a longleaf pine — from stick-and-ball games in colonial times to players that made history, and how the state was the home of the minor leagues. We explore baseball stories and players that most folks don’t know about. Marshal Lamm, curator, North Carolina Baseball Museum Tony Riggsbee, baseball historian and Durham Bulls PA announcer This interview originally aired July 14, 2026.

President Trump delivered remarks criticizing North Carolina in Gastonia, erroneously claiming crime is up while threatening to withhold Helene funding. In sports, a new tennis tournament comes to Charlotte, and a Belichick leaves Chapel Hill. We review the week in news on our North Carolina Friday News Roundup.  Claudia Rivera Cotto, Political Reporter, Enlace Latino NC  Bryan Anderson, Statewide Politics Reporter for The Assembly, creator of the “Anderson Alerts” newsletter  Ely Portillo, Executive Editor, WFAE   Danielle Battaglia, Congressional impact reporter for The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer  Brian Murphy, WRAL, Investigative Sports Reporter

0:01:00 New book sheds light on the work of an ‘after pastor’ Sarah York spent eight years pastoring a Unitarian Universalist church in Santa Barbara, California during the 1990s. She was appointed in the aftermath of clergy misconduct and inherited the many challenges that come with caring for a congregation rocked by scandal. She talks to Due South about her new memoir on the subject. Sarah York, retired Unitarian Universalist minister, “after pastor,” author of Trouble in Paradise: A Story of Ministry in the Aftermath of Clergy Misconduct 0:33:00 At Playmakers, the ancient story of Oedipus can be viewed through new eyes A sweeping tale of fate, prophecy and reckoning, the Greek tragedy of Oedipus makes its way to Playmakers Repertory Company. This fresh adaptation of a timeless story opens Playmakers’ historic 50th anniversary year. Carey Perloff, adapter, director, Oedipus: King/Colonus

0:01:00 Rare, historic prints of the Declaration of Independence visit Durham Duke University and Durham are commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence by bringing three rare, historic prints of the document to the main library in downtown Durham and then to the Nasher Museum of Art. Deborah Rutter, Vice Provost of the Arts at Duke University, joins host Leoneda Inge to discuss why it’s important to engage with a text that can seem both out of date and out of touch. Deborah Rutter, Vice Provost of the Arts at Duke University 0:13:00 Public radio's Joshua Johnson on conflict resolution, journalistic neutrality, and democracy Public radio fans probably remember Joshua Johnson from his years as a founding host of the national talk show 1A. His most recent reinvention is as a fake TV news host for the satirical news network, The Onion, a viral TED talk speaker, an expert on overcoming conflict and the creator of an online conflict resolution game called “The Resolution.” He joins host Jeff Tiberii to talk about his career arc and what public radio taught him about humor, neutrality and our democracy. Joshua Johnson, Actor for the Onion News Network and creator of The Resolution online conflict resolution game

0:01:00 Gloria Steinem’s impact on feminism and journalism  Groundbreaking journalist and public intellectual Gloria Steinem passed away on September 2 at the age of 92. Best-known as the co-founder of Ms. Magazine and a prominent voice in second-wave feminism, Steinem also had some North Carolina connections, as a speaker at various colleges and conferences across the state. Katherine Turk, associate professor of history and adjunct associate professor of women's and gender studies at UNC-Chapel Hill; author of The Women of NOW: How Feminists Built an Organization that Transformed America 0:13:00 Mark Anthony Neal takes a long look at fatherhood in America Professor Mark Anthony Neal has been called "the preeminent scholar on Black masculinity in America." In his latest book, "Save a Seat for Me: Notes on American Fatherhood," Neal confronts "the various political, cultural, historical narratives and messages that inform the role of Black fatherhood...which puts him at odds with the way he fathers his own children." Mark Anthony Neal, James B. Duke Professor of African American Studies, Duke University; author of “Save a Seat for Me – Notes on American Fatherhood”

0:01:00 Mahalia Jackson’s civil rights legacy takes center stage in new bookA new biography explores the underreported civil rights legacy of legendary gospel singer and activist Mahalia Jackson. The co-authors discuss Jackson's rise from humble beginnings in Louisiana to superstardom, crossover success and civil rights movement prominence. Timothy B. Tyson, researcher and author of five books, including the New York Times bestseller The Blood of Emmett Till Mary D. Williams, gospel singer, civil rights historian, and former adjunct professor at Duke University This interview originally aired August 25, 2026. 0:33:00 The Broadside: That time we almost destroyed the worldOn 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. Jay Price, Military and Veterans Affairs reporter at WUNC News 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” This excerpt of The Broadside was hosted by Anisa Khalifa. It was produced byCharlie Shelton-Ormond and edited by Jerad Walker.

On this week’s Friday News Roundup… live from The Sunrise Theater in Southern Pines, Jeff Tiberii speaks to local reporters and WUNC’s Colin Campbell about the 25th anniversary of 9/11, local midterm elections and longstanding Southern Pines institutions like The Pilot newspaper and Sandhills Community College. Leoneda Inge talks to two local community advocates about historical preservation efforts for West Southern Pines, one of the first Black townships on the East Coast. Colin Campbell, Capitol Bureau Chief, WUNC News David Woronoff, Publisher, The Pilot Morgan Casey, Reporter and Report for America fellow, Border Belt Independent Kim Wade, West Southern Pines town historian, president of the West Southern Pines Civic Club Asya Walden, administrative manager, Southern Pines Land and Housing Trust