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The Broadside

WUNC News

Each week, host Anisa Khalifa tells one story from our home in North Carolina, at the crossroads of the South. From news to arts and culture, WUNC News’ “The Broadside” dives into issues that might not make the front page, but deserve a closer look. Along the way, we explore the nuances of our home — and how what happens here ripples across the country. Find new episodes of “The Broadside” every Thursday.

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  • 26 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 24 min
  • English

Episodes 26

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  • May 21 · 19 min

    Bigfoot is from North Carolina

    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. This episode originally published on July 18, 2024 and features a trip to the Western North Carolina Bigfoot Festival in Marion, NC. The 2026 festival is scheduled for August 29. Featuring: Emily Cataneo, reporter for The Assembly Links: Check out Emily's story on Appalachian Bigfoot culture at The Assembly here. You can find a transcript of the episode here. Cover image: Jerry Millwood walks into the woods in western North Carolina during a Bigfoot hunt with journalist Emily Cataneo. (Cornell Watson for The Assembly) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  • May 14 · 28 min

    The original Siamese Twins

    The first Asian residents of North Carolina were a world-famous pair of conjoined twin brothers. And they later became quite possibly the country’s first Asian American citizens. This week, we tell the almost unbelievable story of Chang and Eng Bunker and explore the complicated legacy they left behind in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Featuring: Joe Orser, author of The Lives of Chang and Eng: Siam's Twins in Nineteenth-Century America Eli Chen, digital news producer at WUNC News Links: From Now On from the musical Chang and Eng The Siamese Twins Museum in Mount Airy, NC Cover photo: From the National Portrait Gallery and The Frederick Hill Meserve Collection, Chang and Eng Bunker and children circa 1860. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  • May 7 · 24 min

    The shortsighted politics of forever chemicals

    Forever chemicals like PFAS have permeated much of the country’s water supply for decades. These containments are linked to severe health problems, yet critics say federal and state government efforts to clean up waterways in places like North Carolina's Cape Fear River aren't doing nearly enough. Featuring: Celeste Guajardo, environment reporter at WUNC News Will Stone, editor and reporter for NPR's Science Desk Links: NPR: The MAHA movement is mad about the weedkiller glyphosate and Trump's EPA See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  • April 30 · 22 min

    Sacred soil: Saving Native American mounds

    There are tens of thousands of Indigenous mounds located throughout the United States. For Native Americans, these earthen structures are revered as sacred places. Despite their importance to Native cultures, many of these sites have been damaged or destroyed in the past, and very few are actually owned by tribes today. But the fascinating story of one mound in Franklin, North Carolina is highlighting recent efforts to preserve these important sites and put them back in tribal hands. Featuring: Angelina Jumper, cultural resources supervisor for Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Lilly Knoepp, NC Local’s regional reporter for Western North Carolina Ben Steere, archaeologist and professor at Western Carolina University Johi Griffin, tribal historic sites keeper for Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Links: NC Local: There are dozens of Indigenous mounds in North Carolina. Why do tribes only own a few? The Trailhead newsletter from Lilly Knoepp and NC Local Cover image: Noquisiyi Mound in Franklin, North Carolina. Photo by Harrison Keely/Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  • April 23 · 18 min

    How purple and teal became the colors of the 90s

    In 1988, professional basketball came to North Carolina with the arrival of the Charlotte Hornets of the NBA. Desperate to make a splash, the new team made an unconventional early hire; they selected a famous fashion designer to create their uniforms. The Hornets lost 60 games during that bumpy first season, but they looked incredible while doing it. And their iconic look — purple, teal and pinstripes — would launch a global fashion trend that endures today. A version of this episode originally published on February 2, 2024. Featuring: Alexander Julian, fashion designer and creator of the original Charlotte Hornets uniform Crystal McCrary McGuire, writer and documentary filmmaker Links: Watch video from the 1988 Charlotte Hornets uniform reveal press conference. Cover photo: A Charlotte Hornets-branded Starter jacket that was wildly popular during the 1990s. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  • April 16 · 23 min

    Opposition to data centers is catching fire

    Data centers projects are expanding throughout the US at hyperspeed and hyperscale. These developments are reshaping small towns, consuming vast amounts of power and striking deals that aren't always clear. And in many places, like rural North Carolina, people are starting to voice concerns in the voting booth. Featuring: Zachary Turner, reporter at WFAE in Charlotte, NC Adam Wagner, editor/reporter with the NC Newsroom Links: Check out the 6-part collaborative reporting series Hyperspeed, Hyperscale: Inside the Data Center Boom Reshaping NC Communities Cover photo: An anti-data center campaign sign on a car in Stokes County, North Carolina. Credit: Zachary Turner / WFAE News See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Showing 21–26 of 26 episodes