The story of “The Lost Colony" of Roanoke is one that's been told for generations. But some say the colony was never actually lost. Scott Dawson, owner of the Lost Colony Museum on Hatteras Island, talks to co-host Leoneda Inge about the evidence he and a British archaeological team recently found, which Dawson hopes will change the narrative.

Then, the story of The Lost Colony of Roanoke has been performed in song and dance for over 80 years at an outdoor theater on the Outer Banks — a production many North Carolina students attend each year. The story told on that stage was long criticized for inaccurate portrayals of Native Americans and for not centering Native characters or perspectives. Kaya Littleturtle became a big part of changing that narrative. He was one of the first Native actors to perform in The Lost Colony and he now serves as cultural advisor for the production. His grandmother, Kat Littleturtle, is The Storyteller in the show and they both join co-host Leoneda Inge to talk about how the new Lost Colony pays tribute to old traditions. This encore interview originally aired March 12, 2024.

This time of year, a bevy of sights and sounds emerge in the South. In a recently published book, Georgann Eubanks chronicles fifteen natural phenomena from across the region that are simultaneously routine and breathtaking.

Eubanks joins Due South’s Leoneda Inge to talk about The Fabulous Ordinary: Discovering the Natural Wonders of the Wild South.

This encore interview originally aired April 9, 2025.

Then, music runs deep through the generations of the Daniels family and fortunately they don’t keep that talent to themselves. Their "sacred soul" music uplifts audiences in the pews at their church in Greenville, NC, as well as at performance venues across the country.

Co-host Leoneda Inge talks with Anthony “Amp” Daniels of the “Dedicated Men of Zion” and his daughter KeAmber Daniels of “Faith and Harmony” about the joys of singing with their children, parents, and cousins.

This encore interview originally aired October 10, 2024.

On the North Carolina News Roundup... 

Another week of significant budget news. NC Congresswoman Virginia Foxx leads a middle-of-the-night hearing, before passage of a controversial budget bill. What could the spending plan mean for North Carolinians? 

The NC House passes their spending plan, setting up a fight with the Senate over teacher pay. 

In Charlotte, a city council member has been indicted over fraudulent PPP loans. 

And an update on Congressman Chuck Edwards, who has seen significant turnover on his staff in recent weeks. 

Co-host Jeff Tiberii talks with a panel of journalists about those stories and more, on Due South.

Guests

Mary Helen Moore, reporter with the NC Newsroom

Lynn Bonner, Investigative Reporter, NC Newsline

Claudia Rivera Cotto, Political Reporter, Enlace Latino NC

Danielle Battaglia, Capitol Hill correspondent, The News & Observer/The Charlotte Observer/McClatchy

Nearly 80 percent of HBCU students borrow federal loans. Financial aid officers are tasked with preparing students for the impact of loan borrowing on their future. Leoneda Inge talks to Denise Hicks-Mial, director of scholarships and student aid at North Carolina Central University, about student loan borrowing and financial planning. The long-term impact of student loan debt continues to impact adults long after they complete their higher education. We hear from Fenaba Addo, associate professor of public policy at the University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill, about long-term impacts. And over 78,000 people experience food insecurity in Durham County -- including more than 20,000 children. One mutual aid group working to provide greater access and to reduce food waste is Durham Community Fridges. We talk to Taylor Holenbeck and Sharmîn Aziz, co-organizers of Durham Community Fridges. 

The recent announcement of a new Michelin guide dedicated to the American South has sent a ripple of excitement through several Southern states, including North Carolina. Leoneda Inge sits down with  Scott Peacock, director of tourism, marketing and communications for Visit NC, to learn more about the restaurant selection process. Due South’s Leoneda Inge and Jeff Tiberii chat with Appalachian State University professor Brett Taubman about his new book Southern Culture on the Fizz: An Effervescent Guide to Fermented Foods and Beverages from the American South. And director Ryan Coogler’s latest film, Sinners, is a Southern gothic horror film set in 1930s Mississippi. We talk to African and African American Studies professor Mark Anthony Neal and musician Lois Deloatch about the film’s approach to race, spirituality and music. 

May 20, 1775, is a date you may recognize from the North Carolina state flag. It represents what was supposedly the first declaration of independence made by any of the 13 colonies involved in the American Revolution. That date was added more than a century ago, but its authenticity was first contested by Thomas Jefferson and John Adams.

A budget proposal passed by the state senate would end the state-funded commission, which has helped exonerate 16 people since 2007. The commission is the only state-backed innocence commission in the U.S., though representatives in the state of Texas are considering creating one.

Tonya Council, granddaughter of the late culinary legend Mildred “Mama Dip” Council, has opened her very own Southern-style eatery, Tonya’s Cafe. Located next to Tonya’s Cookies & Bake Shop in Chapel Hill, the cafe is the latest in Council’s string of culinary ventures. Due South’s Leoneda Inge speaks with Council about Tonya’s Cafe, Southern food and her grandmother’s influence.  

Guests

Scott Syfert, author of The First American Declaration of Independence? The Disputed History of the Mecklenburg Declaration of May 20, 1775.

Laura Pierro, Executive Director of the NC Innocence Inquiry Commission

Catherine Matoian, Assistant Director of the NC Innocence Inquiry Commission

Michael Hewlett, reporter with The Assembly. He’s covered the justice system for years.

Tonya Council, chef, baker, Owner of Tonya’s Cookies & Bakeshop, Tonya’s Cafe, NC Made, and Sweet Tea & Cornbread 

Mayor Harold Weinbrecht joins Leoneda Inge to talk about leading the town he grew up in, managing Cary’s growth, and his proclamation to change the name of Cary to “Carey” for one day — plus, property taxes and pickleball.

Then, North Carolina Health News reporter Rachel Crumpler investigated deaths by suicide in North Carolina’s prison system and found an increase in these deaths among incarcerated people in 2024. She talks with co-host Jeff Tiberii about how prison officials are responding, and about one family's grief.

On the North Carolina News Roundup... 

After more than six months of legal battles, Allison Riggs has officially been sworn into the North Carolina Supreme Court.

The NC House has begun rolling out its budget proposal. Due to a decrease in funds, legislators are tasked with determining spending cuts.

No charges will be filed after Chuck Edwards, a U.S. Representative for Western North Carolina, was accused of hitting a man with a clipboard during a Rotary conference.

And — the politicization of libraries.

Co-host Jeff Tiberii talks with a panel of journalists about those stories and more, on Due South.

Guests

Colin Campbell, Capitol Bureau Chief, WUNC

Dawn Vaughan, Capitol Bureau Chief, The News & Observer

Gary Robertson, statehouse reporter, Associated Press

Lilly Knoepp, Senior Regional Reporter, Blue Ridge Public Radio (BPR)

As the EPA faces even more cuts, we revisit a conversation earlier this summer with two former EPA Office of Research and Development employees on what they accomplished in the office. Guests: Chris Frey, Associate Dean for Research and Infrastructure, College of Engineering at NC State University and Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta, retired EPA science advisor. And Durham-based jazz vocalist and storyteller Nnenna Freelon's new album, Beneath the Skin, is the first project in her 40-year career that is comprised of completely original songs. She joins Due South in studio to talk about her experience writing and touring her new work. She also performs select songs from the album, accompanied by guitarist Keith Ganz.

In January 2025, President Joe Biden signed a bill into law, renaming a Raleigh post office on Brentwood Road as Millie Dunn Veasey Post Office. Born in Raleigh in 1918, Veasey was a member of the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) and the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC) from 1942-1945. Last week, family, friends, politicians and veterans gathered for a ceremony to honor Veasey. (This interview excerpt originally aired February 3, 2025)

Then, Grant Hill has earned many titles over the years, including NBA All-Star, Olympic champion, sports broadcaster, art collector, and two-time national champion with the Duke Blue Devils men’s basketball team. Now, add Duke University 2025 commencement speaker to the list. Due South’s Jeff Tiberii got a chance to talk with Hill as he prepared to deliver the commencement address at Duke, 100 years after the first class graduated.