Due South

0:01:00

The Assembly’s Bryan Anderson discusses an ongoing provisional ballot problem for North Carolina voters whose voter registrations are missing information. He also shares several state primary races to watch.

Bryan Anderson, politics reporter, The Assembly

• Check the NC State Board of Elections (NCSBE) “Registration Repair” database. 

0:13:00

As the story goes, hip-hop music was born a little over 50 years ago at a house party in the Bronx. But that version of history doesn't account for an entertainer from Durham, North Carolina with the incredible name Pigmeat Markham.

In 1968, Markham released a hit song called “Here Comes the Judge.” The tune fused comedy, funk, and what can only be described as an early form of rapping—years before hip-hop officially burst onto the scene. So, was this largely forgotten figure actually the first rapper?

WUNC's podcast The Broadside brings us the story. 

Hosted and produced by Charlie Shelton-Ormond, Anisa Khalifa, and Jerad Walker.

0:33:00

In a throwback edition of ‘Southern Mixtape,’ Leoneda Inge and Jeff Tiberii talk with local DJ Travis Gales about how hip-hop made its way South - through cassette tapes. This encore edition of Due South originally aired in January 2024. 

Travis Gales, local DJ at WNCU

0:01:00

The growing popularity of remote work is one challenge. Cuts to federal research funding is another. 

But those are only two threats to the future of Research Triangle Park, the flagship business park that helped inspire the region’s “Research Triangle” name over the last half century. 

Leoneda Inge speaks with a reporter who’s keeping track of RTP’s planned changes, and whether they will come to pass.

Kayli Thompson, Senior Reporter at the Triangle Business Journal and author of the recent article, “RTP at a Crossroads.”

0:13:00

A new exhibit at the Museum of Durham History tells the story of Research Triangle Park, in some ways the heart of the Research Triangle. Leoneda Inge speaks with two men who helped plan the project.

John Atkins III, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of O’Brien/Atkins Associates, a multidisciplinary design services firm he co-founded in 1975

Robert Teer Jr., real estate planner and developer, and a lifelong resident of Durham. He’s served on the NC Turnpike Authority Board since 2003.

0:33:00

How leaders at RTP are trying to be more than just a business park. Leoneda Inge speaks with two leaders involved in planning, and programming to make that happen. Including Boxyard RTP, a plaza with restaurants and small businesses on the campus.

Travis Crayton, Vice President of Planning and Public Policy Research Triangle Park

Kelly Propst, Vice President of Marketing and Communications Research Triangle Park

0:01:00

Soul City is home to a Black History Parade 

The first-ever Black History Parade to be held in Soul City is on Saturday, February 21. We talk to the organizer about the work it’s taken to bring this even to this historic community.

Herman Alston Jr., owner of Heritage Cultural Farm

0:13:00

In ‘Kin,’ Tayari Jones takes readers on an odyssey through the Jim Crow South

Tayari Jones’ fifth novel, Kin, explores a lifelong friendship between two women on drastically different paths in life. Jones tells Due South about her inspiration and her Southern roots.

Tayari Jones, professor of English and creative writing at Emory University and author of the new novel, ‘Kin’

0:33:00

HBCU 101: Enrollment by the Numbers (encore edition)

In a post-affirmative action landscape, some HBCUs are seeing record high enrollment. North Carolina Central University is one of them. Due South sits down with Dr. Ontario S. Wooden, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, to discuss what keeps the university’s enrollment numbers high. *encore edition*

Ontario S. Wooden, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, North Carolina Central University

On this week's North Carolina News Roundup...

Early voting for primary elections has begun. An update on the aftermath of “Operation Charlotte’s Web.” And, a check-in from Italy with UNC-Chapel Hill journalism students covering the Winter Olympics.

Due South co-host Jeff Tiberii and a roundtable of reporters tackle those and other stories from the week.

Colin Campbell, Capitol Bureau Chief, WUNC

Laura Leslie, Editor, NC Newsline

Julian Berger, Race & Equity Reporter, WFAE

Corey Davis, journalism student at UNC-Chapel Hill's Hussman School of Journalism & Media

Merrily Tew, journalism student at UNC-Chapel Hill's Hussman School of Journalism & Media

0:01:00

How the transfer of power away from NC’s governor is affecting, “everything from utilities to environmental regulation.” Republicans in the state have sought to take power away from the governor’s office, according to a report by ProPublica. 

Jeff Tiberii speaks with the reporter behind the story and discusses how election oversight is now more firmly in the hands of the legislature.

Doug Bock Clark, ProPublica reporter covering threats to democracy, elections and voting rights.

0:23:36

Public scholar, author and UNC-Chapel Hill associate professor Tressie McMillan Cottom joins Due South to share her thoughts about potential societal shifts and sociopolitical expectations for 2026. 

Tressie McMillan Cottom, public scholar, columnist for The New York Times, professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Information and Library Science

A version of this segment originally aired in January 2026. 

0:01:00

North Carolina’s population is growing, but our infrastructure is not keeping up. That’s according to a new report by the American Society of Civil Engineers. 

Leoneda Inge speaks with Bradley George about his work covering the report's release.

Bradley George, AM reporter for WUNC News

0:09:06

In October 1961, the Battleship North Carolina was nudged up the Cape Fear River by tugboats into Wilmington— and was welcomed by many of the people who helped bring her home.  (3225x2350, AR: 1.372340425531915)

Sixty-five years ago, a state-wide effort was undertaken to save a more than 70 million-pound, 700-foot-long behemoth of a WWII warship from being scrapped. 

The USS North Carolina is now a museum in Wilmington, and it would not have made it there without the contributions of thousands of North Carolina children. 

The museum has an effort underway to collect the stories of the “kid heroes” who helped save the ship back in 1961.

This Due South encore conversation originally aired January 13, 2026. Listen to the full-length interview here.

Dr. Jay Martin, Executive Director, Battleship North Carolina

Camille Williams, fundraised as an elementary school student for the 1961 effort

0:25:24

Kat Kinsman’s favorite chain restaurant, and one of Leoneda Inge’s favorites, was a unique spot with a rotating menu of southern staples, including fried okra, congealed salads, and a dizzying number of pies. 

Kat Kinsman, Executive Features Editor at Food & Wine and host of its Tinfoil Swans podcast.

Read Kat's full story "The Last Tray at K&W Cafeteria."

0:01:00

Two longtime political adversaries join co-host Jeff Tiberii to talk about how they became friends and why they are still talking politics with each other.

Carter Wrenn is a longtime Republican consultant who worked on, among other campaigns, those of Jesse Helms and Ronald Reagan. Gary Pearce has worked for decades in NC Democratic politics. He served as press secretary for the recently passed former four-term North Carolina Governor Jim Hunt. While they rarely share the same opinion, Carter Wrenn and Gary Pearce do share a blog -- Talking about Politics.

Carter Wrenn and Gary Pearce, political strategists and writers, Talking About Politics

0:23:27

PlayMakers Repertory Company’s production of “Primary Trust” features a vulnerable, comedic, and heartfelt performance from its star, Nate John Mark. Leoneda Inge chats with him about what it took to bring the story of a shy, grieving and solitary man to life.

Nate John Mark, actor and star of PlayMakers Repertory Company’s production of Eboni Booth’s “Primary Trust”

0:01:00

Conductor and 6th music director of the North Carolina Symphony Carlos Miguel Prieto joins Due South to discuss his life, career, commitment to music education and the 2025-2026 symphony season. 

This Due South encore edition originally aired October 20, 2025. Listen to the full-length interview here.

Carlos Miguel Prieto, conductor and music director, North Carolina Symphony

0:08:10

Durham-based jazz vocalist and storyteller Nnenna Freelon has released a 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.  

This Due South encore edition originally aired May 15, 2025. Listen to the full-length interview here.

Nnenna Freelon, Grammy-nominated musician, storyteller and author, accompanied by guitarist Keith Ganz

0:23:25

‘Give the Drummer Some’ celebrates its 13th anniversary at NCCU 

North Carolina Central University recently hosted its 13th annual ‘Give the Drummer Some’ jazz concert. We speak with organizer Thomas Taylor about the annual event, his new book and the work of preserving the genre of jazz at NCCU and beyond.

This Due South encore edition originally aired August 21, 2025. Listen to the full-length interview here.

Thomas Taylor, percussion and jazz studies professor at North Carolina Central University

On the North Carolina News Roundup...

The Governor issues an executive order on mental health, a Charlotte native heads to the Super Bowl, developments in the race for a North Carolina U.S. Senate seat, and more with our panel of reporters. 

Plus, WRAL’s Brian Murphy on what’s next for UNC-Chapel Hill’s basketball stadium, the Dean Dome.

Danielle Battaglia, reports on Congress for The News & Observer

Mary Helen Moore, reporter Axios Raleigh

Dawn Vaughan, Capitol Bureau Chief for The News & Observer

Adam Wagner, Editor/Reporter with the NC Newsroom

Brian Murphy, Investigative Sports Reporter for WRAL

0:01:00

College students are pushing back on the State Board of Elections’ decision not to allow early voting polling places on the campuses of North Carolina A&T State University, Western Carolina University, and Elon University.

Lynn Bonner, senior political reporter, NC Newsline

0:13:00

The Winter Olympics kick off this week in Italy. One of the sports on display – snowboarding – has exploded in popularity since it debuted at the 1998 Games in Nagano. WUNC’s podcast The Broadside explores how North Carolina has become a training ground for snowboarding and other snow sports athletes.

Hosted by Anisa Khalifa, and produced by Charlie Shelton-Ormond. More from The Broadside. 

0:33:00

Durham-born-and-raised musician and producer Erick Walls shares stories behind his 2024 Super Bowl performance with Usher ahead of this year’s big game. And Walls talks about what he looks for in a massive, live performance.

Erick Walls, Grammy award winning guitarist, musician, producer and songwriter who performed at the Super Bowl in 2024. Durham-born-and-raised, he’s played with, produced, or recorded with Michael Jackson, Beyonce, and The Dixie Chicks, among many others.