Raleigh is not our state’s biggest city, but as state capital Raleigh is the center of North Carolina’s political life and it is home to almost half a million people. In Due South’s latest edition of “Meet the Mayors,” Leoneda Inge talks with Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell about her wide-ranging political career: from a Raleigh city councilor to a NC state senator to NC State Treasurer and now back to city government.

Then, North Carolina is one of more than a dozen states where the government controls liquor sales. Writer Jeremy Markovich runs the newsletter and website “North Carolina Rabbit Hole,” and one of his recent posts is titled: “The first ABC store opened 90 years ago. Why does North Carolina still have them?” He talks with Leoneda Inge about the history of liquor regulation in North Carolina and what it tells us about our state.

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Now that the “one big, beautiful bill” has passed, how are the provisions likely to take shape here in North Carolina for individuals and for communities? Jeff Tiberii talks with an economist about what to expect.

Bharat Ramamurti, Senior Advisor for Economic Strategy at the American Economic Liberties Project, former Deputy Director of the National Economic Council in the Biden Administration

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As our “Meet the Mayors” series continues, we get an introduction to Fletcher, North Carolina. At 30 years old, Mayor Preston Blakely may be young, but his roots in Fletcher and the Asheville region run deep. He talks with Leoneda Inge about recovery after Helene and his grandmothers’ legacies of activism and service.

Preston Blakely, Mayor of Fletcher, NC

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Flyleaf Books’ Maggie Robe joins Leoneda Inge to recommend some of this summer’s hottest literary selections and quick beach reads. From romance and mystery to nature and poetry, there’s something for everyone in this roundup of popular picks.

Maggie Robe, marketing and events manager, Flyleaf Books

On this week’s, North Carolina News Roundup: a look at the upcoming race for U.S. Senate seats in North Carolina, as former governor Roy Cooper and RNC chair Michael Whatley prepare to run, significant job cuts at Meredith College, federal education funding that has been “released” to NC public schools and state lawmakers’ efforts to override several gubernatorial vetoes.

Guests

Dawn Vaughan, Capital Bureau Chief, News & Observer

Liz Schlemmer, K-12 education reporter, WUNC

Adam Wagner, editor/reporter, NC Newsroom

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

Workers who labor on farms and construction sites experience extreme heat frequently in the workplace, but there are also service workers who face extreme heat. With rising temperatures from global warming, these already harsh conditions are only getting worse. WUNC’s Aaron Sánchez-Guerra and Celeste Gracia spoke with several workers for their series ‘Scorched Workers’ in 2024. Since then, the series has won several regional journalism awards, and a national award for audience engagement. This conversation originally aired in October 2024. 

Celeste Gracia, WUNC Environment Reporter 

Aaron Sánchez-Guerra, WUNC Race, Class and Communities Reporter 

Juanita Constible, senior advocate for Environmental Health at Natural Resources Defense Council 

Dr. Modjulie Moore, family medicine physician and current medical director for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Farmworker Health Program 

When news hit about the devastating flooding that struck Texas Hill Country, many in western North Carolina immediately thought of their own experiences with Helene. BeLoved Asheville is one of several WNC groups that have put their collective grief into action by reaching out and delivering supplies to communities in Texas – communities that helped them in the aftermath of their own devastation last fall. (This interview originally aired July 17, 2025.)

Then, if you’re an avid public radio listener, you’ve heard composer BJ Leiderman’s name countless times in the credits of NPR shows like “Morning Edition” and “Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me.” But have you ever heard his voice? Due South hosts Leoneda Inge and Jeff Tiberii get the chance to interview the man behind those timeless tunes from his home studio in western NC, where he’s still making music. (This encore interview originally aired November 20, 2024.)

What federal funding cuts mean for WUNC and public media 
Public radio stations were dealt a major blow last week. Congress finalized a rescission package from the White House that claws back $1.1 billion in federally appropriated funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Stations like WUNC have relied on CPB funding for decades. To understand what this all means, WUNC’s president and general manager Paul Hunton joins Due South to explain and forecast where we go from here.
Paul Hunton, President and General Manager of North Carolina Public Radio – WUNC

In his new book, influencer Landon Bryant talks Southern manners, practices and sayings
Landon Bryant is a stand-up comic, a podcaster and the author of the new book, Bless Your Heart: A Field Guide to All Things Southern. He rose to fame telling local stories and performing observational humor inspired by his upbringing in the small town of Laurel, Mississippi. Due South chats with him ahead of his stand-up performance at the Raleigh Improv this week.
Landon Bryant, creator of @landontalks on Instagram and YouTube and the Landontalks with Kate podcast, author of Bless Your Heart: A Field Guide to All Things Southern

A generation gap in the Triangle housing market
The News and Observer’s Chantal Allam is back to talk about trends and notable highlights in Triangle housing. She chats with co-host Leoneda Inge about Baby Boomers “boxing out” Millennials from Triangle housing, and a contest for the best Modernist home in North Carolina.
Chantal Allam, Real Estate Reporter, The Raleigh News & Observer/The Herald-Sun

A NCGA legislative session wrap up
From hemp regulation to bans on inshore shrimp trawling and raw milk sales, the vast majority of the almost 1800 bills filed in the North Carolina General Assembly's recent long legislative session did not pass. Co-host Jeff Tiberii talks with a panel of state politics reporters about some of the notable bills that didn’t make it to the governor’s desk and what it all means for the state and the next legislative session.

A new pilot program addresses homelessness in Raleigh
The City of Raleigh has launched a first-of-its kind experiment to address homelessness. Over the next two years, through its Bringing Neighbors Home pilot program, the city will pay 45 families and individuals experiencing homelessness at least $1,450 every month to spend however they like. This conversation first aired in March 2025.

On the North Carolina News Roundup... What recovery from flooding in central NC looks like. Why NC Attorney General Jeff Jackson is suing the US Department of Education. NIH layoffs in the Triangle are now officially official. And Congress rolls back funding for public media. Guest host Will Michaels talks with a panel of journalists about those stories and more, on Due South.

Paul Hunton, President and General Manager of North Carolina Public Radio – WUNC
Celeste Gracia, Environment Reporter, WUNC
Brian Gordon, Business and Technology Reporter, The News & Observer
Liz Schlemmer, Education Reporter, WUNC
Adam Wagner, Reporter and Editor, NC Newsroom

From Asheville with love. WNC organization sends support to Texas in aftermath of flooding.
When news hit about the devastating flooding that struck Texas Hill Country, many in western North Carolina immediately thought of their own experiences with Helene. BeLoved Asheville is one of several WNC groups that have put their collective grief into action by reaching out and delivering supplies to communities in Texas – communities that helped them in the aftermath of their own devastation last fall.

Shibumi sun shades continue to make waves on Carolina beaches
Up and down the shores of North Carolina, a sea of blue dominates the landscape – and it’s not just the water, it’s the Shibumis. These sun shades have increased in popularity so much in the almost decade since they were first introduced that some beaches are almost completely covered in Shibumi's hallmark teal and blue material. Due South’s Jeff Tiberii talks with the founders of the company about getting their business off the ground and how the company is navigating shifting economic winds.

NC Tripping unpacks summer travel
While every season is for travel, there are more North Carolinians on the go in summer: chasing beach sand, mountain air, and endless experiences in between. Christina Riley is the co-creator of NC Tripping, which has a popular social media presence. She talks with co-host Jeff Tiberii about traveling with kids, easy day and overnight trips, and traveling on a budget in uncertain times.

Tropical Storm Chantal has caused extensive damage to businesses in Chapel Hill, after as much as 10 inches of floodwater hit buildings and shopping centers on July 6. In the days since, the damage has been assessed at more than $56 million. Aaron Keck, reporter for Chapelboro.com, talks with co-host Jeff Tiberii. 

Then, from its creation by Native Americans almost one thousand years ago to more recent conflicts around race and class, sportswriter S. L. Price says so many complexities of American life are represented in the sport of lacrosse that it could be called "The American Game." The former Sports Illustrated senior writer talks with Jeff Tiberii about how one North Carolina coach was instrumental in spreading the sport from the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic to the South and beyond.

Durham native Fran Wescott is a contestant on the new season of PBS’s "The Great American Recipe." She talks with Leoneda Inge about her culinary roots and inspirations.