Podcasts about north carolina public radio

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 comes to us from the wonderful folks at The Broadside from North Carolina Public Radio, a weekly podcast exploring stories happening in their home at the crossroads of the American South. Other topics include how the world ‘y'all' is taking over the world, the impact of dangerous heat on workers, and why cola became the king of beverages.Featuring Emily Cataneo and Jerry Millwood. SUPPORTOutside/In is made possible with listener support. Click here to become a sustaining member.Subscribe to our (free) newsletter.Follow Outside/In on Instagram or Twitter, or join our private discussion group on Facebook. LINKSCheck out Emily Cataneo's story on Appalachian Bigfoot culture at The Assembly here. CREDITSOutside/In host: Nate HegyiOutside/In team: Justine Paradis, Felix Poon, Marina Henke, and Kate Dario.Executive Producer: Taylor Quimby Intro music by bomull. NHPR's Director of Podcasts is Rebecca LavoieOutside/In is a production of New Hampshire Public Radio.

With only a week away until the US Presidential Election, many are hotly anticipating the results - especially when it comes to the states where the outcome is less than certain.Joining Kieran to discuss what things look like on the ground across five states is Stephen Caruso, Pennsylvania Capitol Reporter for Spotlight PA, Rachel Louise-Just, Political Correspondent for ABC 15 Arizona, Tom O'Connor, Freelance Journalist in Chicago, Colin Campbell, Capitol Bureau Chief for North Carolina Public Radio and Chad Livengood, Politics Editor & Columnist for The Detroit News.

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, we're bringing you a powerhouse lineup of guests. First, we welcome Congresswoman Nancy Mace from South Carolina's 1st Congressional District, who will discuss current hot-button issues like women's rights, the global IT outage, and the recent resignation of US Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle. Next, Elizabeth Nolan Brown, senior editor at Reason, joins us to delve into topics ranging from Kamala Harris's performance to the media covering for Biden. Finally, independent journalist Peter Bernegger, President of Election Watch, Inc., reveals insights into ActBlue's ghost donors and 'smurfing.' During Kiley's Corner, she dissects what we know about the Trump almost-assassin, and as always, we end on a positive note with the Sunshine Moment. Don't miss this compelling discussion as we unpack critical issues impacting our political landscape.Connect with us:www.breakingbattlegrounds.voteTwitter: www.twitter.com/Breaking_BattleFacebook: www.facebook.com/breakingbattlegroundsInstagram: www.instagram.com/breakingbattlegroundsLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/breakingbattlegrounds-Show sponsors:Invest YrefyYrefy offers a secure, collateralized portfolio with a strong, fixed rate of return - up to a 10.25%. There is no attack on your principal if you ever need your money back. You can let your investment compound daily, or take your income whenever you choose. Make sure you tell them Sam and Chuck sent you!Learn more at investyrefy.com4Freedom MobileExperience true freedom with 4Freedom Mobile, the exclusive provider offering nationwide coverage on all three major US networks (Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile) with just one SIM card. Our service not only connects you but also shields you from data collection by network operators, social media platforms, government agencies, and more.Use code ‘Battleground' to get your first month for $9 and save $10 a month every month after.Learn more at: 4FreedomMobile.comDot VoteWith a .VOTE website, you ensure your political campaign stands out among the competition while simplifying how you reach voters.Learn more at: dotvote.vote-About our guests:Congresswoman Nancy Mace, raised in the Lowcountry, hails from Goose Creek, South Carolina. Raised by a retired Army General and a retired school teacher, Mace learned the value of hard work early on. After leaving high school at 17, she began her journey in the workforce, starting as a waitress at the Waffle House on College Park Road in Ladson.Despite early setbacks, Mace's determination led her to achieve academic excellence. She earned her high school diploma by taking college classes at Trident Technical College in North Charleston. She then graduated magna cum laude from The Citadel, the military college of South Carolina, making history as the first female graduate from its Corps of Cadets in 1999. Continuing her education, she earned a master's degree from The University of Georgia in 2004.Mace transitioned into public service, gaining recognition as one of the most fiscally conservative members of the South Carolina General Assembly while also championing conservation efforts. An accomplished author, she penned “In The Company of Men: A Woman at The Citadel,” published by Simon & Schuster in 2001.In 2008, Mace founded her own company, specializing in technology and marketing, and commercial real estate. Her leadership embodies integrity, compassion, and a tireless pursuit of delivering results for the South Carolina. She has worked with colleagues on a nonpartisan basis, successfully getting several bills signed into law by the President, including the Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act and the Human Trafficking Prevention Act of 2022.Mace has been recognized with esteemed awards such as the 2021 Club for Growth Defender of Economic Freedom Award and the 2019 Taxpayer Hero Award from the South Carolina Club for Growth for her consistent efforts to lower taxes. She is also the recipient of the Champion Award from Palmetto Goodwill for her dedication to education and job training for the underprivileged, and she holds a 97% rating with Conservation Voters of South Carolina.A devoted single mother to two teenagers, a sweet little Havanese named Liberty, and a cat named Tyler, Mace continues to serve the Lowcountry with unwavering dedication and resilience.-Elizabeth Nolan Brown is a senior editor at Reason and the author of Reason's biweekly Sex & Tech newsletter, which covers issues surrounding sex, technology, bodily autonomy, law, and online culture. She is also co-founder of the libertarian feminist group Feminists for Liberty, and a professional affiliate of the journalism program at the University of Cincinnati.Brown has covered a broad range of political and cultural topics since starting at Reason in 2014, with special emphasis on the politics, policy, and legal issues surrounding sex, speech, tech, justice, reproductive freedom, and women's rights. She can be found frequently reporting and opining on topics such as sex work, social media, antitrust law, abortion, feminism, the First Amendment, policing, and Section 230. A few of her more memorable Reason features include a trio of cover stories on the federal government's war on sex ("The War on Sex Trafficking Is the New War on Drugs," "American Sex Police," and "Massage Parlor Panic"), a political profile of Kamala Harris ("Kamala Harris Is a Cop Who Wants to Be President"), a deep dive into the prosecution of the founders of Backpage.com, and a look at "The Bipartisan Antitrust Crusade Against Big Tech."Brown's work has also been published by The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Buzzfeed, The Daily Beast, Politico, Playboy, Persuasion, Fox News, Newsweek, TIME, The Dish, The Week, Spectator World, Libertarianism.org (where she wrote the Encyclopedia of Libertarianism entry on sex work), and numerous other outlets.She is the winner of the Western Publishing Association's 2016 award for best feature article and has been a finalist for seven awards from the Los Angeles Press Club, taking one second place and three third place awards for articles including Hot Girls Wanted: Exploiting Sex Workers in the Name of Exposing Porn Exploitation?" and "The Truth About the Biggest U.S. Sex Trafficking Story of the Year".Brown is a frequent commenter on panels, podcasts, radio, and television. She has debated sex work decriminalization at New York University and the Soho Forum; spoken before audiences at SXSW, the First Amendment Lawyer's Association meeting, the Sexual Freedom Summit, the Knight Foundation, the Mont Pelerin Society, George Mason University's Law & Economics Center, the 2022 Libertarian Party convention, FreedomFest, and numerous other places; and appeared on programs on NPR, C-SPAN, the BBC, Fox News, ESPN, and North Carolina Public Radio, among others.Prior to coming to Reason, Brown covered legal issues for the Daily Reporter in Columbus, Ohio; wrote about health and nutrition for Bustle and other women's websites; and served as an editor for AARP publications. She is a graduate of American University, where she earned a master's degree in public communication, and Ohio University, where she studied playwriting, English, and film. She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, with her husband, sons, and two cats.-Peter Bernegger is an independent journalist and President of Election Watch, Inc. You can follow him on X @PeterBernegger. Get full access to Breaking Battlegrounds at breakingbattlegrounds.substack.com/subscribe

Coach Amy Schoen returns for do's, don'ts, and dishing with host Laura Stassi and Paulina, who can't figure out if dating is different because she's older, or because she's dating Americans. What is a date, anyway? Then there's Glyn, who offers cautionary tales about manners, and menu choices. Finally, we hear from Paula, who recounts that time she fielded a highly personal question.

Gray dater Karen shares a dilemma that's all too common: She's getting attention online, but not necessarily the kind she wants. Maybe it's her online profile? For help, Laura taps photographer Ann Maas, and dating and relationship coach Amy Schoen. They critique Karen's photos and write-up while offering advice for all of us on the love-seeking journey. Plus, listeners – and Laura! – weigh in on profiles that have won them over, or turned them off. 

With just eight days left until the midterm elections, a tight race for an open Senate seat in North Carolina has largely stayed under the radar. Republican Congressman Ted Budd is facing former state Supreme Court Justice Cheri Beasley. Jeff Tiberii, capitol bureau chief for North Carolina Public Radio, joins John Yang to discuss. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

With just eight days left until the midterm elections, a tight race for an open Senate seat in North Carolina has largely stayed under the radar. Republican Congressman Ted Budd is facing former state Supreme Court Justice Cheri Beasley. Jeff Tiberii, capitol bureau chief for North Carolina Public Radio, joins John Yang to discuss. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

On this episode, Laura talks with science journalist Florence Williams, author of “Heartbreak: A Personal and Scientific Journey.” Florence shares how the end of her long marriage sparked a health crisis and details her journey to healing – including turning to Mother Nature. We also hear from listeners who have rely on the great outdoors for help feeling better.

On this episode, Laura talks with entrepreneur Rob. He's taken a kind of  statistician approach to recoupling and in the process has gathered some data dating points that may lead to a new business venture. Then Laura chats with journalist Vicki Larson, who uncovers a surprising statistic or two in her latest book, Not Too Old For That: How Women Are Changing the Story of Aging. Finally, Laura talks with Tim, who was startled to discover that his expectations changed once he'd settled into single life.

Black Girl's Guide to Surviving Menopause measures our impact by the continuation of expanding and normalizing the conversations and understanding around menopause to be inclusive and centering all Black people---all gender identities, sexual expression, and ages. There is a growing ecosystem of Black people talking about menopause and aging. Black Girl's Guide to Surviving Menopause has played a vital leadership role in ushering in this landscape and movement. We are menopausal alchemists, doulas, cartographers, and advocates. We have created a space that hasn't existed on this scale before this platform for Black women, women-identified and gender-expansive people navigating menopause no matter their age, and those who are curious about menopause and want to be prepared for the experience. For example, in our most recent episodes of season 4 of the podcast, we interviewed Austen Smith. Austen is a Black genderqueer transmasculine writer, creative, and activist who experienced menopause two years ago as a result of their gender-affirming surgery. While Austen is not the first genderqueer, gender-expansive, or trans-masculine person we have interviewed for the podcast --we have interviewed Mo George and Ignacio Rivera in season 2, the late Chass Grissom in season 3 and Syd Yang in our first episode of season 4, he is the youngest at 30. Austen's interview is an exemplar of menopausal truths that typically are not addressed, affirmed, or elevated in the traditional white cishet menopause landscape. These truths include: *Menopause doesn't always happen in your 40s and 50s *Menopause happens to people who don't identify as women *Menopause happens to people who aren't heterosexual *Individual menopause experiences are impacted by white supremacy, patriarchy, homophobia, transphobia, and misogyny In this episode, our producer, Mariah M. and I talk about our work as a team and our ethos around intergenerational work. We explore our relationship, what we have learned about working intergenerational and what we hope for the podcast. ENJOY! REGISTER TODAY!! Black Girls' Guide to Surviving Menopause Podcast and Embodied WUNC @embodiedwunc presents “Say More: From Menarche to Menopause” on November 2nd at 7:00 pm EST. Join me and Embodied WUNC host Anita Rao for an intergenerational exchange about the changes our bodies experience and how we can normalize conversations about menstruation, menopause and aging through storytelling. This event is VIRTUAL and space is LIMITED so register today! https://bit.ly/SayMoreWUNC Check out our open source toolkit http://bit.ly/saymoretoolkit Learn more! www.blackgirlsguidetosurvivingmenopause.com Produced by Mariah M. Hosted by Omisade Burney-Scott Theme Music by Taj Cullen Scott Season 4 of the podcast is sponsored by our local NPR station, WUNC, North Carolina Public Radio! www.wunc.org

On this episode, Laura talks with Carson, whose change in relationship status sparked a cross-country move. Then, Laura hears from unlucky-in-love Albert, who wonders if it makes sense to re-establish himself somewhere other than his longtime hometown to find what he's looking for, relationship-wise. For advice, Laura taps Bill Chopik, associate psychology professor and director of Michigan State University's Close Relationships Lab.  Finally, Laura meets up with Margo, who lives in the big rig she drives cross-country for her career. Margo loves her life behind the wheel but is starting to think that for her personal life as well as dog Xander's well-being, it might be time to come off the road.   Don't forget to like the show on Facebook and follow Laura @datingwhilegray on Twitter. We always want to hear from you! Send your stories and questions to datingwhilegray@wunc.org or leave us a message below.

In this episode, Laura talks with Carrie, who found a “hunkering down buddy” during lockdown. As quarantine lifted, though, their personality differences emerged. Then Laura chats with Betty, from Season 2, who out of the blue fell madly in love and changed her entire life. That was in February 2020. Did Betty's new relationship withstand the challenges? Finally,  two listeners weigh in with their experiences. Neither was looking for romance, necessarily. They found it anyway.           Don't forget to like the show on Facebook and follow Laura @datingwhilegray on Twitter. We always want to hear from you! Send your stories and questions to datingwhilegray@wunc.org or leave us a message below.

Welcome to a new season of Dating While Gray! Laura is back with a fresh collection of experiences, conversations and reflections on romance and relationships after 50. We'll hear about couples whose partnership revealed a new side over the course of the pandemic (for better or worse), and we'll enjoy words of wisdom from millennial sages! All that and more coming soon to your podcast feed – stay tuned for all the upcoming episodes.

Thanks to our sponsor Silver Singles. Learn more at silversingles.com/datingwhilegray. This episode was produced by Anisa Khalifa. Eric Magnus and Sean Roux mastered the audio. Want more Dating While Gray? Sign up for Laura's e-newsletter and get access to bonus content and special messages at datingwhilegray.com!

There is a growing ecosystem of people talking about menopause and aging. The Black Girl's Guide to Surviving Menopause sees ourselves as menopausal alchemists, doulas, cartographers, and advocates and has taken up an intentional role in ushering in intergenerational Black voices and narratives into the menopausal landscape. We see our intergenerational work, healing, and storytelling as an ethos. An ethos is "an element of argument and persuasion through which a speaker establishes their credibility and knowledge, as well as their good moral character". Ethos elements include: Phronesis or the wisdom or intelligence you have Arete is the general moral virtue of your argument Eunoia is the goodwill you establish with the audience BGG2SM ethos around intergenerational healing and storytelling is grounded in the belief that there is knowledge, wisdom, and expertise from the menopausal multiverse at every age, and if we create spaces for this energetic exchange through our stories and full-throated truths, we are transformed as individuals and healing across generations is possible. During this episode of the BGG2SM, we explore our relationship with our bodies across three decades and multiple identities as Black people with uteruses with Amber J. Phillips, Sonja Renee Taylor, and our host Omisade Burney-Scott. Enjoy! Episode Notes: Amber J. Phillips, @amberabundance Amber J. Phillips is a storyteller, filmmaker, and creative director. She creates world-building narratives using warm visuals and vulnerable performances through her lens of being a fat Black queer femme auntie from the Midwest. Amber recently released her first short film, “Abundance” about the limitations and radical possibilities of identity. Amber is the producer, writer, and performer of “Abundance” which was most recently a 2021 BlackStar Film Festival @blackstarfest selection and won the audience award for Best Short Narrative. Amber's written and visual work imagines a world where Black womanhood is an abundant overwhelming experience of safety, pleasure, and joy. She is devoted to using radical Black imagination to create stories, art, culture, and community. You can experience more of Amber's work on Instagram and Twitter @AmberAbundance and at AmberAbundance.com Sonya Renee Taylor, @sonyareneetaylor New York Times Best Selling author, award-winning performance poet, activist, and educator, Sonya Renee Taylor, is the Founder and Radical Executive Officer of The Body is Not An Apology, a digital media, and education company committed to radical self-love and body empowerment as the foundational tool for social justice. Sonya has worked in numerous countries and on major media outlets around the world, reaching hundreds of thousands of people with her commitment to radical self-love and transformation. Visit her at www.sonyareneetaylor.com or www.thebodyisnotanapology.com References: Flower of Wands-Gentle Tarot, https://thegentletarot.com/ Zane, https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Zane/269527 Judy Blume, https://judyblume.com/judy-blume-books/ “Say More” menopause and midlife discussion deck (BGG2SM listeners can use the code "OMI20" to get 20% off their "Say More" purchase at https://ourkindra.com/. Check out our open source toolkit http://bit.ly/saymoretoolkit ) Learn more! www.blackgirlsguidetosurvivingmenopause.com Produced by Mariah M. Hosted by Omisade Burney-Scott Theme Music by Taj Cullen Scott Season 4 of the podcast is sponsored by our local NPR station, WUNC, North Carolina Public Radio! www.wunc.org

Thanks to our sponsor Silver Singles. Learn more at silversingles.com/datingwhilegray. This episode was produced by Lindsay Foster Thomas. Eric Magnus and Sean Roux mastered the audio. Season 4 of Dating While Gray starts soon! Laura would love to hear your questions and stories about seeking, finding and keeping love after age 50. Email datingwhilegray@wunc.org or visit datingwhilegray.com to leave a voicemail.

Unhappily married couples no doubt have heard the sentiment about staying together for the sake of their kids, or waiting for little ones to launch before splitting. But is either tactic ideal? In this episode, therapist Carol Hughes offers advice. She's the author of “Home Will Never Be The Same Again: A Guide for Adult Children of Gray Divorce.”    Thanks to our sponsor Silver Singles. Learn more at silversingles.com/datingwhilegray. This episode was produced by Anisa Khalifa. Eric Magnus and Sean Roux mastered the audio. Want more Dating While Gray? Sign up for Laura's e-newsletter and get access to bonus content and special messages at datingwhilegray.com!

Patricia and Joe are one of the most memorable couples in Dating While Gray history. We first met them in Season 2 just after they developed romantic feelings for each other through virtual communications. (You may recall Patricia initially was reluctant to get involved with Joe.) They join Laura again to share the magical coincidence that was the foundation for Patricia deciding to give Joe another chance. Thanks to our sponsor Silver Singles. More at silversingles.com/datingwhilegray. This episode was produced by Anisa Khalifa. Eric Magnus and Sean Roux mastered the audio. Catch up on more Dating While Gray episodes at datingwhilegray.com.

Due to a chain of court decisions, roughly 56,000 formerly incarcerated people on probation or parole are now eligible to vote in North Carolina's midterm elections. A 2019 lawsuit filed by several non-profits challenged a 1973 state law disenfranchising people still serving out felony sentences through probation or parole. In the lawsuit, the non-profits point out that this 1973 law disproportionately targets Black people, particularly Black men, in North Carolina. Although it is still possible that the North Carolina state Supreme Court could reverse the decision allowing people with felony convictions to vote, voting rights advocates are viewing the recent development as an important step in the fight for equity at the ballot box. The Takeaway spoke with Rusty Jacobs, Politics Reporter for WUNC, North Carolina Public Radio.

In the “Hashtag Love” episode from Season 3, we met Lewis, who used a social media platform to make a romantic connection. He joins Laura again to explain how he prepared from a religious point of view to start dating again after divorce. Thanks to our sponsor Silver Singles. Learn more at silversingles.com/datingwhilegray. This episode was produced by Anisa Khalifa. Eric Magnus and Sean Roux mastered the audio. Check out more episodes and leave a voicemail for Laura about your gray dating experiences at datingwhilegray.com.

In the “Money and Romance” episode from Season 2, we met Ginny, who discovered financial infidelity in her marriage. She joins Laura again with an update on her love life and how she's applied lessons learned from that experience. Thanks to our sponsor Silver Singles. More at silversingles.com/datingwhilegray. This episode was produced by Anisa Khalifa. Matt Horton and Sean Roux mastered the audio. Discover more episodes at datingwhilegray.com and sign up for Laura's e-newsletter to get bonus content in your inbox!

"Above all else, Our politics initially sprang from the shared belief that Black women are inherently valuable, that our liberation is a necessity not as an adjunct to somebody else's may because of our need as human persons for autonomy... We realize that the only people who care enough about us to work consistently for our liberation are us. Our politics evolve from a healthy love for ourselves, our sisters and our community which allows us to continue our struggle and work. This focusing upon our own oppression is embodied in the concept of identity politics. We believe that the most profound and potentially most radical politics come directly out of our own identity, as opposed to working to end somebody else's oppression." The Combahee River Collective Statement, 1977 Talking about our bodies and the changes that happen as people with uteruses age carried (and still carries) a different level of taboo or shame amplified by race and generation. Black women's bodies have been problematized and pathologized throughout our existence in the country. The impact of racism, patriarchy and misogyny on Black women, women-identified and gender-expansive people and our understanding/ownership of our bodies is profound. From the moment of our arrival in this country to modern times, these forces have shaped the way many of us see ourselves, understand our inherent value and have often muted our voices. This is why BGG2SM holds space for the conversation that disrupts the system and centers the most marginalized. In our latest episode of Season 4, we interviewed Social Justice doula and Black feminist Lutze Segu. We talked about: *Anti-racist feminist frameworks and who controls the narrative about menopause and aging *Why it's important to engage in narrative and culture shift work with Black people that disrupts white supremacy, patriarchy, misogyny, and heteronormativity related to menopause *How people can better advocate for themselves related to menopause and/or its onset with their health provider, employers, family members, etc. Enjoy! Episode Notes: Lutze Segu @lutzesegu Lutze Segu is a first-generation Haitian-American queer Black feminist who is a citizen of Miami, the home of the Seminole, Miccosukee, and Tequesta First Nations. She is a social justice doula, content creator, anti-racist educator, social worker, and your favorite Black feminist thinker. Lutze is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of British Columbia studying Race, Gender, Sexuality, & Social Justice. References: Black Feminism Resources: Combahee River Collective, https://combaheerivercollective.weebly.com/ Black Feminist Future, http://blackfeministfuture.org/ Alexis Pauline Gumbs, https://www.alexispauline.com/, https://www.akpress.org/undrowned.html "Say More" about Menopause! BGG2SM, in partnership with Kindra, co-designed “Say More,” a collection of conversation and journaling prompt cards filled with thought-provoking questions, personal storytelling prompts, and creative ‘wild cards' that empower people to support themselves and loved ones through menopause and aging. BGG2SM listeners can use the code "OMI20" to get 20% off their "Say More" purchase at https://ourkindra.com/. Check out our open source toolkit http://bit.ly/saymoretoolkit Learn more! www.blackgirlsguidetosurvivingmenopause.com Produced by Mariah M. Hosted by Omisade Burney-Scott Theme Music by Taj Cullen Scott Season 4 of the podcast is sponsored by our local NPR station, WUNC, North Carolina Public Radio! www.wunc.org

Sexuality educator, researcher and writer Jane Fleishman talks more about her mission to promote sexual wellness in older people. Jane says it's never too late to achieve pleasure. Thanks to our sponsor Silver Singles. More at silversingles.com/datingwhilegray. This episode was produced by Anisa Khalifa. Matt Horton and Sean Roux mastered the audio. Discover more episodes at datingwhilegray.com and sign up for Laura's e-newsletter to get bonus content in your inbox!

Meet Ann, who's taking courses in MBSR, mindfulness based stress reduction. It helped her so much after her divorce that she wants to teach others how to use it to feel better in bad times. Thanks to our sponsor Silver Singles. More at silversingles.com/datingwhilegray. This episode was produced by Anisa Khalifa. Matt Horton mastered the audio. Discover more episodes at datingwhilegray.com. Support this podcast with a donation to WUNC at wunc.org/give.

There is much we can learn-- or maybe unlearn about menopause and aging if we apply a Speculative Fiction lens. Our current understanding of Speculative Fiction is tethered to science fiction and fantasy, and the way this genre broadens the story or narratives begging shared to include the potent age-old question of “what if.” This question that has been posed by poets, folklorists, writers, and philosophers invites us to reimagine our present reality, and it offers us multiple diverse opportunities to understand “who” is speaking and what is happening from their vantage point. Black Speculative Fiction is often grounded in Black feminism, radical Black liberation praxis, and gender liberation ethics. Because notions of a multiverse live inside of string theory science, science fiction, and fantasy, there may be some juicy “what if” unlearning around menopause for Black women, women-identified, and gender-expansive people that are actually based on truth…like: *Menopause doesn't always happen in your 40s and 50s *Menopause happens to people who don't identify as women *Menopause happens to people who aren't heterosexual *Individual menopause experiences are impacted by white supremacy, patriarchy, homophobia, transphobia, and misogyny In episode 4 of the Black Girl's Guide to Surviving Menopause, we explore some of these "what ifs" and truisms with Austen Smith. We explore: *Disenfranchised Grief *Austen's journey to gender-affirming surgery, barriers in existence via the medical industrial complex, sociocultural norms, etc. *The importance of intergenerational spiritual communal work and liberation as a "time-bending" somatic experience Come with us on this journey and conversation through the infinite possibilities of what menopause is and how it is a portal to the next iteration of you. Episode Notes: Austen Smith IG: @transtheory Austen (they/them) is a masculine-of-center, non-binary wordsmith, editor, community facilitator, and radical imagination doula. Their work explores healing spiritual impacts of oppression, postactivism, gender proliferation and play, black queerness, and co-imagining liberation as a somatic experience in addition to an environmental reality. References: Trans and Menopausal article by Austen Smith: https://www.taunt.me/trans-menopausal Grandmother Hypothesis: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2018/06/07/617097908/why-grandmothers-may-hold-the-key-to-human-evolution Undrowned: Black Feminist Lessons from Marine Mammals by Dr. Alexis Pauline Gumbs, https://www.akpress.org/undrowned.html Whale Whispering, Michaela Harrison, https://www.michaelaharrison.org/whale-whispering Post Activism, Bayo Akomolafe, https://www.bayoakomolafe.net/post/the-times-are-urgent-lets-slow-down "Say More" about Menopause! The Black Girl's Guide to Surviving Menopause, in partnership with Kindra, co-designed “Say More,” a collection of conversation and journaling prompt cards filled with thought-provoking questions, personal storytelling prompts, and creative ‘wild cards' that empower people to support themselves and loved ones through menopause and aging. BGG2SM listeners can use the code "OMI20" to get 20% off their "Say More" purchase at https://ourkindra.com/ Learn more! www.blackgirlsguidetosurvivingmenopause.com Produced by Mariah M. Hosted by Omisade Burney-Scott Theme Music by Taj Cullen Scott Season 4 of the podcast is sponsored by our local NPR station, WUNC, North Carolina Public Radio! www.wunc.org

After discovering that her professional skills don't translate to her search for a romantic partner, career coach Melissa barters services with a matchmaker. Thanks to our sponsor Silver Singles. Learn more at silversingles.com/datingwhilegray. This episode was produced by Lindsay Foster Thomas. Sean Roux mastered the audio. Discover more episodes at datingwhilegray.com. Support this podcast with a donation to WUNC at wunc.org/give.

Meet Man Man! He's a horse who loves to read. Man Man and his best friend Caitlin invite kids like you into The Story Stables to share a book with them, and learn a little bit about life on the farm for horses and people. About The Show The Story Stables is a podcast created for early readers by North Carolina Public Radio. The show celebrates words and stories, bringing books to life with the help of sounds, music and the voices of children who read to Man Man the miniature horse. Episodes available starting June 3, 2022. There are photos, a music video and more about the podcast at www.storystables.com.

In the first episode of our new microcast, Speed Dating While Gray, a matchmaker makes a provocative, off-topic comment about Laura's gray hair. This episode was produced by Anisa Khalifa. Transcript available at datingwhilegray.com. See Laura's hair (then and now) on Twitter @datingwhilegray. Support the podcast with a donation to WUNC at wunc.org/give.

Since we launched the Black Girl's Guide to Surviving Menopause, I have learned quite a bit about how Murphy's Law plays a role in what we produce. We are all familiar with Murphy's first law; if anything can go wrong, it will. However, I don't think many of us know that there are two other laws; nothing is as easy as it looks, and everything takes longer than you think it will. If I were to offer a podcaster's version of Murphy's law, I would posit: There's no such thing as stable Wi-fi. If your computer/tablet/cellphone battery can go dead mid-interview, it will. Sometimes what you think you've recorded vanishes into thin air. As much as there is a craft to the audio storytelling podcasting, there is also a realization that you control nothing but the good intentions you enter the conversation with. A moment of honesty for our listeners... We entered into our conversation with our Season 4, Episode 3 guest, Satana Deberry, with excitement and a plan. Satana is not only one of the most progressive district attorneys in the country, but she is also a dear friend. Murphy, whomever Murphy is, decided to make a guest appearance on this episode and dematerialize the first 8 minutes of our conversation. Eight minutes of introduction and witty banter went like "puff"! Lucky for us and our fantastic listening audience, we pressed forward, editing the remaining parts that were in no way diminished by the podcast fates. Satana and I were able to discuss: Our mothering journeys. Unlearning old parenting models. Sexual expression and intimacy. Being special just because you are you. Enjoy! Episode Notes:  Satana Deberry  IG: @satanadeberry Born and raised in rural NC and educated in the Ivy League, Satana has spent her career trying to dismantle the systems of power that keep us from being free. Whether that's the threat of ongoing economic inequality or black respectability. As the parent of young women, she is also trying to be her whole self with them rather than creating a myth of motherhood for them to dismantle later. Her current day job is as the elected DA of Durham, but her long-time passion has been being in community and sisterhood. "Say More"! The Black Girl's Guide to Surviving Menopause, in partnership with Kindra, co-designed “Say More,” a collection of conversation and journaling prompt cards filled with thought-provoking questions, personal storytelling prompts, and creative ‘wild cards' that empower people to support themselves and loved ones through menopause and aging. The goal of Black Girls Guide and Kindra in creating these cards is to ignite a supportive community that can surround people going through this crucial stage in life with resources and love. “Say More” is a beautifully-curated deck of discussion cards broken down into elemental categories—earth, wind, fire, and air. Each card explores themes like pleasure, grief, rage, play, creativity, identity, sexual expression, and healing for people on a menopausal midlife journey.  BGG2SM listeners can use the code "OMI20" to get 20% off their "Say More" purchase at https://ourkindra.com/ https://www.patreon.com/blackgirlsguidetomenopause Produced by Mariah M. Hosted by Omisade Burney-Scott Theme Music by Taj Cullen Scott We are excited to have our local NPR station, WUNC, North Carolina Public Radio, as a sponsor for Season 4 of the Black Girl's Guide to Surviving Menopause https://www.wunc.org/

Laura has a very special announcement for podcast listeners about what to expect over the summer. | Learn more at www.datingwhilegray.com.

On the Season 3 finale, Laura turns the mic over to DWG listeners. They share details from their personal, yet highly relatable, gray dating journeys. And they ask Laura to tap experts to address their questions related to sex, grown kids, and money. (Guess which topic makes Laura really squirm!) | Thanks to our sponsor Silver Singles. More at: silversingles.com/datingwhilegray

Are you starting to fret that despite all of your efforts, you'll never find The One? Here's a little inspiration to relax and just let it be: three stories of not seeking love, but magically finding it. | Thanks to our sponsor Silver Singles. More at silversingles.com/datingwhilegray.

“If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.” -- Toni Morrison When I was a kid in the 1970s, School House Rock, short educational cartoon vignettes put to music, were ubiquitous on Saturday mornings. We learned about grammar, math and how the government work (kind of) all with a catchy tune. There was a particular School House Rock titled Mother Necessity" and it extolled "with Mother Necessity and where would we be without the inventions of your progeny"? Where would we be indeed! The Black Girl's Guide to Surviving Menopause was born out of both a desire and need to create a safe and sacred space for conversation around menopause, midlife and aging for Black women women-identified and gender expansive people. We knew there was a conversation, a story and some good wisdom waiting to be found, illuminated and shared. Jamyla Bennu, of Oyin Handmade, knew the same thing about the products available to Black people on their natural hair journey in a society that told us our hair is a problem that needs to be solved. She saw the need and got into her lab (also known initially as her kitchen) to create products that are all natural and made for us, by us. In this episode of the Black Girl's Guide to Surviving Menopause, we explore: Creating new realities and new medicine Entrepreneurship Offerings to our community Intergenerational stories and throughlines Our menopausal journeys and being more than one thing We also did a deep dive into her menopausal journey at the intersection of her multiple identities, roles and paths. Enjoy this walk down memory lane and future building between an Aries and an Aquarius! Episode Notes: Jamyla Bennu https://www.instagram.com/heyjamyla/ https://oyinhandmade.com/about-us/ Jamyla Bennu is the creator of Oyin Handmade, a line of natural, unisex personal care products formulated for the moisture needs of highly textured hair and dry skin. She is a maker, a mixtress, a lover of laughter & dance, a voracious reader, a gregarious introvert, and a self-described nerd. She is an advocate for independent small business, work-life balance, and making things. Her interests include nutritional density in both food and hair products, joy and delight as a facet of intergenerational justice, neurological diversity as a key to human potential, and the power of creativity as a form of self care and world shaping. She lives and builds in Baltimore with her partner, artist Pierre Bennu, and their two sons. To access a 20% discount on Oyin Handmade products, use, "BGG2SM" References: The Crown Act, https://www.thecrownact.com/ Our Bodies, Ourselves, https://www.ourbodiesourselves.org/ Daughters of the Moon Tarot Deck, https://www.abebooks.com/Daughters-Moon-Tarot-Book-Morgan-Ffiona/31060777668/bd?cm_mmc=ggl-_-US_Shopp_Trade_20to50-_-product_id=COM9781880130018USED-_-keyword=&gclid=CjwKCAjwu_mSBhAYEiwA5BBmf2G7uCyCjulU3E_B08xcG4eTe4eqpc7v3QDV3cKGUA7BWNI0bTpDUxoCBRQQAvD_BwE ---- www.blackgirlsguidetosurvivingmenopause.com https://www.patreon.com/blackgirlsguidetomenopause Produced by Mariah M. Hosted by Omisade Burney-Scott Theme Music by Taj Cullen Scott We are excited to have our local NPR station, WUNC, North Carolina Public Radio, as a sponsor for Season 4 of the Black Girl's Guide to Surviving Menopause https://www.wunc.org/

An entire generation grew up with songs on the radio that basically were cautionary tales about being single. 1968 brought us “One is the Loneliest Number.” 1972 gave us “Alone Again (Naturally).” And "All By Myself” charted in 1975. No wonder some of us are fearful of being on our own! So is it still popular opinion that being uncoupled is to be avoided at all costs? | Thanks to our sponsor Silver Singles. More at: silversingles.com/datingwhilegray.

Sugar daddies. Cougars. Cradle robbers. When it comes to couples with age differences, there are so many silly labels. It's true that May-December romances make some people uncomfortable, but after we reach a certain age, how much should an age gap even matter? | Thanks to our sponsor Silver Singles. More at www.silversingles.com/datingwhilegray.

Laura doesn't have trouble asking anyone about anything....for the podcast. But when it comes to her personal life, she needs help making conversation with new people without feeling awkward. How do you go from small talk to a real connection? | Thanks to our sponsor Silver Singles. More at www.silversingles.com/datingwhilegray.

Laura introduces listeners to Great Grief, a podcast about love and loss hosted by Grammy-nominated singer Nnenna Freelon who experienced a shift in every aspect of her life following the death of her husband Phil. | Learn more at www.greatgrief.com.

No matter which path we take to find love, the journey can be more difficult if we're bringing too much baggage along with us. How do we leave the unnecessary heavy stuff behind for a fresh start at romance? | Thanks to our sponsor Silver Singles. More at: www.silversingles.com/datingwhilegray.

With millions of people spending a chunk of time on social media sites daily, it seemed inevitable one of these platforms would elbow its way into the love business. How about using social media —officially and unofficially — to make love connections? | Thanks to our sponsor Silver Singles. More at www.silversingles.com/datingwhilegray.

When dating seems too complicated of a project to D-I-Y, love pros are eager to help. For a price. But are dating coaches and matchmakers worth the financial investment? | Thanks to our sponsor Silver Singles. More at: www.silversingles.com/datingwhilegray.

Since the first modern dating website was created in the mid-1990s, millions of people have spent a lot of time, energy and dollars dating online. So why is the jury still out on if technology actually leads to lasting love connections? | Thanks to our sponsor Silver Singles. More at: silversingles.com/datingwhilegray.

We're still contending with COVID-19 two years after the contagious virus entered our lives. In a world where vaccines and mask wearing are about the only tools we have to help make us safer, is getting out to find love worth taking some risks?

Laura reflects on a favorite memory since last season: a post-vaccine, pre-variant moment in time when she picked up a new skill and a long-awaited opportunity to socialize. Welcome to Season 3 of Dating While Gray!

Being a parent is really freakin' hard. Of course, it can also be incredibly rewarding and delightful. Either way, it consumes us. Childproof is a show about us, the parents, and how we can raise kids without losing track of ourselves in the process. Each week host Yasmeen Khan, a journalist and mom, brings us conversations and stories with fellow parents and experts on how to navigate this whole parenting thing — especially the shifts that happen within ourselves. Because parents are growing too.In episode one, we're diving into one enormous question: how have you changed since becoming a parent? Maybe you've changed in ways you're not comfortable with, or maybe you'd actually like things to be different. Perhaps you've never even considered the question. Today we're digging into all the ways we transform as parents and, more importantly, how to deal with change when it feels really hard.About Yasmeen Khan:Yasmeen Khan is the host and managing editor of Childproof, Ten Percent Happier's podcast focused on parenting. She was a public radio journalist for nearly 15 years, at WNYC Radio in New York and before that at North Carolina Public Radio.While at WNYC, her award-winning work included coverage of the New York City schools; youth and family life; and policing. She produced in-depth stories on the city's segregated school system, and dove into the municipal archives to tell the story of a massive 1964 school boycott. Yasmeen's 2019 investigation into New York City's child welfare system showed how the city increasingly used its authority to remove children from their parents without a court order.Yasmeen has also held jobs as a bartender, toll collector, and dishwasher. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two daughters.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Being a parent is really freakin' hard. Of course, it can also be incredibly rewarding and delightful. Either way, it consumes us. Childproof is a show about us, the parents, and how we can raise kids without losing track of ourselves in the process. Each week host Yasmeen Khan, a journalist and mom, brings us conversations and stories with fellow parents and experts on how to navigate this whole parenting thing — especially the shifts that happen within ourselves. Because parents are growing too.About Yasmeen Khan:Yasmeen Khan is the host and managing editor of Childproof, Ten Percent Happier's podcast focused on parenting. She was a public radio journalist for nearly 15 years, at WNYC Radio in New York and before that at North Carolina Public Radio.While at WNYC, her award-winning work included coverage of the New York City schools; youth and family life; and policing. She produced in-depth stories on the city's segregated school system, and dove into the municipal archives to tell the story of a massive 1964 school boycott. Yasmeen's 2019 investigation into New York City's child welfare system showed how the city increasingly used its authority to remove children from their parents without a court order.Yasmeen has also held jobs as a bartender, toll collector, and dishwasher. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two daughters.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Remember the PSA that aired on TV for years, with the egg and the frying pan: This is your brain, this is drugs, this is your brain on drugs? It seems like love can be a lot like that, too, even when we're older. But why? For answers, we turn to perhaps the premier expert on the brain and love: Helen Fisher. | Share your stories and questions at datingwhilegray@wunc.org.

Sex. As we get older, it seems like there's a lot more to think about, and talk about, before actually...doin' it. And it can be nerve-wracking, especially if we haven't had a new partner – or any partner – in a very long time. For advice on sexual intimacy and aging, we turn to two experts. | Share your gray dating stories and questions with Laura at datingwhilegray@wunc.org.

Laura's a Scorpio, and she reads her horoscope every morning for fun. But is there more to astrology than sun signs, and can it help us make romantic connections? | Support this show with a donation to wunc.org/give. Share your gray dating stories and questions with Laura at datingwhilegray@wunc.org.

Who hasn't done a little digging to find a flame from our younger years? But Laura discovers that it's taking the next step to reach out when things can get a little complicated. | Support this show with a donation at wunc.org/give. Share your gray dating stories and questions with Laura at datingwhilegray@wunc.org.

After meeting a widower who seems anxious to jump from first date to happily ever after, Laura wonders how losing a partner to death impacts the search for new love. | Support this show at wunc.org/give. Share your stories and questions at datingwhilegray@wunc.org.

Laura has a special treat for listeners: an introduction to a podcast she thinks you'll really enjoy. It's called Embodied. In this episode, host Anita Rao examines her own anxiety about how intimacy changes as the body ages. | Support these shows at wunc.org/give.

Parenting and dating are two words we may not be comfortable hearing in the same sentence, even if “little ones” are all grown up. Laura explores how gray daters are juggling personal needs and desires with parental obligations.

Research shows daters 50 and older are more likely than younger ones to say it's very important that online dating profiles include race and political affiliation. Laura wonders if being too specific about race, religion or politics leads to overlooking some solid romantic options.

Laura's the first to admit: She'd rather talk with potential romantic partners about any topic other than money. But is she just delaying the inevitable by pushing off conversations about personal finances?

Since her divorce, Laura's happily lived alone with Jade, her Australian Shepherd mix. But she wonders what it might have been like to go through the pandemic sharing space with a housemate.

Laura is admittedly freaked out by dating apps. But she's also curious how other gray daters are connecting during the COVID pandemic. Does being high risk for the virus have to put a limit on love?

Laura Stassi is back for a second season of conversations about romance and relationships after age 50! This time around, the podcast takes on how dating is affected by personal finances, adult kids and of course, finding companionship during the COVID crisis.

With just under two weeks remaining before voting in the 2020 presidential election ends, we turn to the view from three battleground states. North Carolina Public Radio's Jeff Tiberii, Ohio Public Radio and Television's Karen Kasler and Mary Lahammer of Twin Cities PBS in Minnesota join Judy Woodruff to discuss the voter behavior they are seeing in their states -- and what's motivating it. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Introducing EMBODIED Podcast. As we gear up for our Season 7 premiere on September 15th we wanted to share with you another podcast that we love and know you'll love too. Enjoy! Embodied is a new podcast hosted by Anita Rao . Every episode is an invitation to have conversations that most people consider impolite. Anita believes that pushing past our discomfort with talking about taboo topics will ultimately help us build more empathy and understanding for others…and decrease shame about sex, relationships, and personal health.  She even practices what she preaches with her own family. Her very adorable parents appear in the podcast, asked to reflect on their own experiences with everything from poop to porn. The show is produced by North Carolina Public Radio, W-U-N-C where it started as a radio series. This episode, the very first, examines how our path to discovering sexual pleasure is affected by what’s left out of how we talk about sex. Embodied can be found on all major audio apps and there’s more to discover at w-u-n-c-dot-org-slash-embodied. If you like what you hear, Anita and her team would love it if you’d subscribe, rate it, and leave a review. That’s what us podcast types like. Be sure not to miss our weekly full episodes on Tuesdays and Scott Talks now released on Wednesdays by subscribing to the show wherever you listen to podcasts.  Join our Only One In The Room Facebook Group if you'd like to ask a question of any of our upcoming guests for this series.  Also visit the website www.theonlyonepod.com for the latest from our host Laura Cathcart Robbins like featured articles and more. We love hearing from you in the comments on iTunes and while you're there don't forget to rate us, subscribe and share the show! All of us at The Only One In The Room wish you safety and wellness during this challenging time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Laura talks with writer Sophy Burnham, who offers romance insights based on her decades of personal experience. Then Laura gets relationship advice from Leora Hoffman, an attorney-turned- matchmaker who built her business while finding a partner for herself. Listeners phone in with their own advice about love before Laura speaks with marriage and family therapist Katherine Woodward Thomas. Her books "Calling In The One" and "Conscious Uncoupling" help people make romantic connections, or lovingly end them.

Laura talks with Rev. Joani Peacock, who made a personal discovery around the time her marriage ended. She's confident in herself — but that doesn't mean it's easier to date. Then Laura sits down with Giselle, who found acceptance only after letting go of a long-held secret. Finally, while we're all social distancing, Laura checks in with Ann, who's found a creative way to be her true self and keep the spark alive in a long-distance romance.

Laura talks with Maxine, who lived most of her life as a self-described "alpha male" until the day things just clicked. Then Laura sits down with The Naked Truth author Leslie Morgan Steiner. Leslie describes how she reclaimed her sexuality after her gray divorce, and teaches Laura how to open her eyes to the possibilities of making romantic connections. Laura also learns about making connections despite physical distancing from listeners like Robert, who gave virtual speed dating a go.

Laura talks with legendary women's college basketball coach Elaine Elliott, whose commitment to her partner endured long after the romance was over. Then, Norm and Jeanne share the story of how they built a solid partnership without mentioning the "C" word. Finally, Laura sits down with public radio icon Diane Rehm, who put her own modern spin on a traditional choice.

Laura talks with Ken, who's reluctant to date after feeling financially burned in his marriage; accountant and financial planner Colette Kolanko, who says we can find creative and loving ways to talk about money with a future partner; and Bob and Marge, who merged their lives without blending bank accounts.

Laura talks with Evamarie about the discovery that leads her to try online dating; Mark, whose search for love after devastating loss feels more urgent and also, elusive; and Girard, who gains romantic clarity after a health crisis.

Laura talks with Sandy, who shares how communication set the stage for her second 'first time,' and Dr. Jen Gunter, author of The Vagina Bible, and a leading advocate for communicating about women's sexual health. Then she debunks myths about male sexual health with Dr. Arthur Burnett, a surgeon and scientist whose research led to the development of Viagra. Finally, Laura learns about communication, intimacy and adult toys with Kathryn Ellis, an occupational therapist and sexuality counselor.

Laura talks with Steven, who tries bonding with his partner's vicious dog even as their marriage hits the rocks; Jamie, who offers to share her home with an unlikely housemate; and Jenevieve, who throws practicality aside to summon the online dating spirits.

Host Laura Stassi talks with New Yorker Dennis, who doesn't want to give up the single life. Maybe he's waiting for the perfect woman to finally become available? Then there's Michele in Washington, D.C. Despite successfully connecting people in her large professional and social circles, she hasn't made a romantic connection for herself. Finally, life coach Amy Schoen says people who want to couple up need to be intentional in thought and actions.

Host Laura Stassi 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 as well as the “three-date” rule. Finally, she gleans inspiration from a couple who met at the apartment building where they both live.

SociologistRay appeared on North Carolina Public Radio to discuss his research article on how the racial composition of neighborhoods influence physical activity among middle class Blacks and Whites.

This week on StoryWeb: Lee Smith’s memoir, Dimestore: A Writer’s Life. I first fell in love with Lee Smith’s fiction nearly thirty years ago when I was a cook at Le Conte Lodge in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. On my afternoons off, I’d sit on my cabin porch, reading first Lee’s novel Oral History, later her novel Fair and Tender Ladies. She created characters with such powerful voices – women and men of Appalachia who spin yarns through story and song. Granny Younger’s voice and Ivy Rowe’s letters have stayed with me all these years. The more I followed Lee’s career, the more I was drawn in. So it was an honor years later to edit a collection of previously published interviews with her. Gathering these interviews in Conversations with Lee Smith was like sitting on the porch drinking sweet tea and hanging out with a long-lost but beloved cousin. Last year when Lee published her newest book, Dimestore: A Writer’s Life, I was more than delighted. In the interviews I had collected, Lee had told bits and pieces of her story – but now came Dimestore, a collection of personal essays, roughly arranged in chronological order. Taken together, they read like a memoir. The reader who picks up Dimestore will learn about growing up as an only child in Grundy, Virginia, her parents, Gig and Ernest, her time spent in her father’s Ben Franklin dimestore, her parents’ struggles with mental illness, and Lee’s resilient coping strategies. As the book goes on, the reader learns also about her son Josh and his diagnosis of schizophrenia at age eighteen. Along the way, the reader sees how Lee’s love of storytelling and passion for writing literally saved her life.     One essay in the book stands out for me above all the others. “A Life in Books” began as the keynote address at the 2007 meeting of the Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP). I was fortunate enough to meet my best friends, Amy Young and Jennifer Soule, in Atlanta for the conference. And of course, they were right there with me in the front row for Lee’s speech. By this time, Lee and I had long since met and become friends, and we had talked about the mental illness that ran through both of our families over many generations. And I knew that her son Josh had recently died of complications of his schizophrenia. I had sent a card and made a donation to the group home where he lived. But little did I expect that Lee would talk openly that night about the heartbreaking loss of Josh and about the role her writing played in helping her to recover her own life. I wasn’t the only one who was deeply moved by Lee’s honest account that evening. Indeed, there were no dry eyes in the auditorium as the audience leapt to its feet in a long-standing ovation. I’m so glad to see Dimestore published. In addition to “A Life in Books,” which appears near the end of the book, I highly recommend the entire volume. The author of thirteen novels and four short story collections, Lee Smith leaves her fictional worlds behind and lets us see behind the curtains into her own life. To learn more about Dimestore, read the Huffington Post’s interview with Lee Smith and Publisher’s Weekly interview with her, then listen to Diane Rehm’s interview with her as well as Frank Stasio’s North Carolina Public Radio conversation with her about the book. You’ll also delight in visiting Lee’s website. You can read excerpts from the book: “Raised to Leave: Some Thoughts on ‘Culture’” and “Finding My Way Home.” When you’re hooked (and I know you will be!), get your hands on a hard copy of Dimestore. Visit thestoryweb.com/dimestore for links to all these resources and to listen to Lee Smith give her 2007 speech titled “A Life in Books,” published as an essay near the end of Dimestore.

North Carolina is one of only two states in the US where 16 and 17 years old kids are routinely charged as adults for even the most minor offenses. This policy has serious consequences for the youth involved. In this bonus podcast episode, poet Kane Smego shares a gripping poem called, “Oh Carolina” about justice and conflict in North Carolina. Download the Bonus Episode Now Season 1 of the Stories with a Heartbeat podcast is over, but you can still download all the episodes today! Stories with a Heartbeat is a new podcast produced by North Carolina Public Radio and hosted by poet Will McInerney that uses poetry and storytelling to help us understand conflict. You can subscribe to this podcast on iTunes , Google Play , or your podcast platform of choice. Check out Kane's website to learn more about his poetry. Thanks to Torian Ugworji, Robalu Gibsun, and the VCU Ram Slam for the audio from Kane’s poem. Subscribe To This Podcast

Amin Drew Law is a Palestinian-American poet and educator based in Washington D.C. In his poem, "The Secret Weapon of Chubby Boys," Amin taps into a classic schoolyard conflict and provides a hilarious and heartwarming solution. On this bonus episode of Stories with a Heartbeat, we reflect on some of the classroom conflicts we covered in season 1 of the podcast. From the first days of elementary to college graduation, we explored the spectrum of friction at school. This week we hear from poet Amin Drew Law with a new, potent, and poetic reminder of school conflict. Download the Bonus Episode Now Season 1 of the Stories with a Heartbeat podcast is over, but you can still download all the episodes today! Stories with a Heartbeat is a new podcast produced by North Carolina Public Radio and hosted by poet Will McInerney that uses poetry and storytelling to help us understand conflict. You can subscribe to this podcast on iTunes , Google Play , or your podcast platform of choice. Follow

Rafeef Ziadah is a Palestinian poet and human rights activist living in London. Her poem, “We Teach Life, Sir,” is powerful and poignant reminder of the human condition in conflict. On this bonus episode of Stories with a Heartbeat, host Will McInerney reflects on some of the stories from our past episodes covering the Chapel Hill Shooting in season 1. Rafeef's beautiful and moving poetry is emblematic of the legacy and the lasting message of life that Deah Barakat , Yusor Abu Salha , and Razan Abu Salha left behind. Listen to Rafeef's poem with the link below. Download the Bonus Episode Now Season 1 of the Stories with a Heartbeat podcast is over, but you can still download all the episodes today! Stories with a Heartbeat is a new podcast produced by North Carolina Public Radio and hosted by poet Will McInerney that uses poetry and storytelling to help us understand conflict. You can subscribe to this podcast on iTunes , Google Play , or your podcast platform of choice. Check out

This is the thousandth episode of The People’s Pharmacy, and we are celebrating. We invited local listeners who support our host station, North Carolina Public Radio, WUNC, to join us for a live performance of the show. BJ Leiderman Played our Theme: Adding to the celebratory mood, we were joined by noted NPR composer BJ […]