Known as the "Furniture Capital of the World," North Carolina is famous for its high-quality furniture. And for over a century, it's been the heartbeat of the American furniture industry. But in recent decades, that business has changed dramatically, decimating the workforce and leaving average American consumers with two less-than-ideal options: high-end luxury products or cheap and mostly disposable mass-produced stuff. Featuring:  Zaki Khalifa, former owner of Zaki Oriental Rugs in High...

The North Carolina State Fair is one of the largest and oldest state fairs in the United States, drawing nearly a million people each year. And it's in full swing right now. We went yesterday and brought you back some funnel cake. 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.

The South is seeing the effects of a warming climate. 2024 was the hottest summer on record for much of the region. For people who work outside, it’s making jobs more difficult, dangerous... and even deadly. This week, we chat with two journalists from WUNC-North Carolina Public Radio about their multi-part series Scorched Workers, which examines the impact of rising heat on outdoor workers in North Carolina. Special thanks goes out to WUNC's Elizabeth Baier. Featuring:  Aaron...

Hurricane Helene ravaged the Southeast and brought unprecedented flooding to the mountains of western North Carolina. Helene is a devastating example of climate change’s impact on places like Appalachia, a region that poses unique challenges for relief and recovery.  Featuring:  Jay Price, Military Reporter at WUNC and The American Homefront Project Katie Myers, Climate Reporter at Blue Ridge Public Radio and Grist Links:  Follow Jay's reporting at WUNC Follow Katie's reporting at Blue...

This year, a record $12.3 billion will be spent on US political campaigns. The majority of that is earmarked for political advertising, particularly in battleground states like North Carolina. But where does that money go, and what exactly does it buy? The answers might surprise and alarm you. Featuring:  Colin Campbell, Capitol Bureau Chief at North Carolina Public Radio-WUNC Frank Eaton, ad maker and political consultant Brian Lewis, co-host of the Do Politics Better podcast, lobbyist and...

If you walk through a cemetery, you’ll see some common phrases on the gravestones. Many of them are used so often, we tend to take these very public remembrances for granted. But what happens when one *really* stands out and contains a false murder accusation? Featuring:  Margaret Martine, local historian and co-owner of Whippoorwill Academy and Village Max Longley, writer and contributor at Atlas Obscura Links:  Check out Max's article for Atlas Obscura and Margaret's story in the...

Although Latinos make up some of the most diverse communities in the South, they're often portrayed as one people or newcomers with a fairly uncomplicated backstory in the region. But from the Civil Rights Movement to South of the Border, that couldn’t be further from the truth.  Featuring:  Cecilia Márquez, author of Making the Latino South: A History of Racial Formation Links:  You can find a transcript of this episode here. Donate: The Broadside is made possible by contributions from...

You might have noticed that the word “y’all” is popping up everywhere. For decades, linguists have noted that regional American accents are disappearing. But at the same time, use of this traditionally Southern pronoun is rapidly spreading — and the reasons may surprise you. Featuring: Brody McCurdy, linguist and researcher at North Carolina State University Antonia Randolph, assistant professor of American Studies at the UNC-Chapel Hill Links: You can find a transcript of the episode...

Over the past decade, universities across America embraced DEI policies. The University of North Carolina System enacted its own in 2019. After the racial justice protests of 2020, more schools across the country rushed to embrace efforts to promote diversity, equity and inclusion. But then… came the backlash. UPDATE: Nearly 60 DEI positions eliminated from public universities in North CarolinaFeaturing: Brianna Atkinson, WUNC's higher education reporterLinks:  Check out Brianna's continuing...

Lights. Camera. Tax breaks, y’all. 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 Outer Banks Guy Gaster, director of the North Carolina Film Office Jewel Wicker, host of WABE's podcast The...

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 Southern Oral History Program at UNC-Chapel Hill for audio of Dr. George Simkins.Links:  See a photo of the Greensboro Six mural and check out...

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 Barakat, co-founder of the Light House Project Satana Deberry, Durham County District Attorney Dr. Arwin Smallwood, historian and dean of the...

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) destroyed that territorial system. 30 years later, regional wrestling is making an unlikely comeback.Featuring:  Cliff Bumgardner, documentary...

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-founder of the Outer Banks Lighthouse Society and former schoolteacher. Links:Check out “Chasing the Light” in Our State here.Donate: The Broadside is...

A type of music known as beach music has been baked into the culture of the Carolina coast for generations, along with a specific type of dancing that goes with it: shag. But how did these smooth, soulful sounds become tied to the sandy shores of North and South Carolina? The answer is a little more complicated and transgressive than you might expect.Featuring:  John Hook, radio DJ and beach music historian Curtis Platt, founder of Softtoe Entertainment & Dance Production and the annual...

Appalachia is Bigfoot territory. In a big way. This week, we look at the mythical beast's legend, lore and sizable economic impact in the region. And we follow one reporter’s journey through the mountains and foothills of western North Carolina in search of Sasquatch. Featuring: Emily Cataneo, reporter for The AssemblyLinks:  Check out Emily's story on Appalachian Bigfoot culture at The Assembly here. You can find a transcript of the episode here. Donate: The Broadside is made possible by...

Red wolves were declared extinct in the wild in 1980. But in a stunning success for conservationists, a captive breeding program reintroduced the animal less than a decade later. That effort has stalled in recent years. Today, there are fewer than 30 animals left in the wild, all located in an isolated corner of North Carolina. Ultimately, the iconic Southern carnivore’s biggest threat is also its best hope for survival: humans.Featuring:  Dr. Tara Harrison, Assistant Professor at NC State’s...

July 4th, 1776 is arguably the most important date in American history. That's when citizens of the colonies declared total independence from Great Britain for the very first time. But what if it wasn’t the first? This week, we travel down the rabbit hole of North Carolina’s Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence and entertain a couple of shocking possibilities: either someone’s lying — or we may need to rethink everything we know about American independence.Featuring:  Dave Fleming, author...

The game of cricket is rapidly gaining popularity across the US. The country is currently co-hosting the Men's T20 Cricket World Cup for the very first time at venues in major cities like New York, Miami and Dallas. But if you want to see what the future of the sport in America might look like, you need to visit a field next to an airport in the small town of Morrisville, North Carolina.Featuring:  Hasham Malik, captain of Morrisville Warriors Cricket Club Babar Baig, former president of...

Sugarloaf Island protects the community of Morehead City from hurricanes and storm surge. But in recent decades, it’s begun to disappear. A multimillion dollar project is underway to save this North Carolina town's last line of defense from the pounding waves of the Atlantic Ocean. The plan's mix of science and engineering could offer a solution for coastal erosion across the country. Featuring: Celeste Gracia, Environmental Reporter at WUNC-North Carolina Public RadioLinks:  Check out...

In the last decade, the craft industry’s boom has steadily spread across Southern states. There are now thousands of breweries in the region (400 in North Carolina alone). But what exactly is a Southern beer?Featuring: Sean Lilly Wilson, Founder of Fullsteam Brewery in Durham, NC Tinu Diver, Documentary Filmmaker Owen Racer, Freelance Journalist Todd Boera, Co-founder and Creative Director of Fonta Flora Brewery in Nebo, NC Links:Check out Owen Racer's Gulf Coast beer reporting at Good Beer...

Earlier this year, an aquarium in a small-town in Western North Carolina claimed that a stingray named Charlotte got impregnated by a shark. Charlotte became an internet sensation in the aftermath and quite possibly the most famous fish in the world. Then, things got weird.Featuring:Emily Cataneo, reporter for The AssemblyLinks: Check out Emily’s deep dive on Charlotte the stingray at The Assembly here. Watch the full WLOS ABC13 News interview with Brenda Ramer here. Read the transcript of...

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...

During his prolific six-decade career, Billy Graham traveled across the world preaching Christianity to millions. Along the way, he became one of the most influential religious figures in America. His prominence sparked friendships with several American presidents, and he became a regular presence as an advisor in the Oval Office. But his home was always in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains. And this month, his home state unveiled a statue of Graham in the U.S. Capitol — one of two that...