The State of Things

For a century, advertising campaigns have marketed products to white women by pairing phrases with images to construct a standard for white femininity. The contemporary art exhibit "Unbranded: A Century of White Women, 1915-2015" ​includes a visual chronology of advertisements without the original ad's accompanying text. The collection aims to explore the intersecting dynamics of beauty, race and gender through decades of marketing. Host Frank Stasio talks with Emily Stamey, curator of

The pedal steel guitar sits on a stand with foot pedals used to adjust the tension of the strings. The instrument is part of the Sacred Steel musical tradition, which was invented in 1930s-era Pentecostal churches. North Carolina’s only touring Sacred Steel band is The Allen Boys. Host Frank Stasio talks with band founder DaShawn Hickman about Sacred Steel’s roots and resurgence, and the band performs live music. The Allen Boys will also perform as part of the Greensboro Fabric of Freedom

As an activist pastor at Raleigh’s progressive Pullen Baptist Church, Nancy Petty is often making news. She is openly gay and has championed marriage equality and LGBT rights. She has led Moral Monday protests and chairs the Reverend William Barber’s Repairers of the Breach board. Most recently her work has focused on facilitating interfaith dialogue with Raleigh’s Muslim community and fighting Islamaphobia and racism. Her transformative journey from her small town upbringing in Shelby, North

The North Carolina State Board of Elections makes final decisions on early voting schedules where the local boards couldn't come to an agreement. Leaders on both sides of the aisle weighed in. Will the election rules finally be set or will more legal action follow? Host Frank Stasio talks with WUNC Capitol bureau chief Jeff Tiberii about the latest.

This Sunday marks the 15th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. The event caused major shifts in the political, social and economic climates around the world, and has given birth to a wide array of new academic scholarship. Host Frank Stasio talks with three scholars from Duke University about how their fields of study have been shaped by 9/11. Mark Anthony Neal, professor of black popular culture, talks about the impact the attacks had on popular music; psychologist Robin Gurwitch discusses how

Diali Cissokho comes from a long line of musicians and griots in his home country of Senegal. So when he came to the United States, continuing to play music was a natural progression. He teamed up with musicians from North Carolina to form a group called Kaira Ba.

The movie “Spotlight” won high praise and an Academy Award for best picture in 2016. But now that the Oscar parties are over, the real people at the heart of the story are fighting to stay in the public eye. Phil Saviano is the whistleblower featured in the film. He, along with local survivor and author Charles L. Bailey, Jr., join host Frank Stasio to talk about the fallout from the film and their efforts to change laws and perceptions surrounding child sexual abuse. Both men are participating

In her podcast "Invisibilia," Lulu Miller explores the invisible forces that guide human behavior. Topics have included explorations of emotions like fear and loneliness or social categories like gender. Miller also examines the dynamics behind personal creativity and how our commitment to "dream" projects might be constraining our creative minds. Host Frank Stasio talks with Miller about how she got her start in radio, and why she is interested in how people act and feel. Miller speaks at 1:20

Singer-songwriter Joan Shelley believes in the power of place. She strives to immerse herself in a location's history and folklore, whether that be her hometown of Louisville, Ky. or the islands of Greece. Host Frank Stasio talks with Shelley about how she overcame stage fright and now travels the world writing songs. Shelley also performs live on acoustic guitar. Shelley plays at The Mothlight in Asheville on Friday, Sept. 9 at 9 p.m. and at Fletcher Opera Theater in Raleigh on Saturday, Sept.

Last week, the Raleigh-based company PrecisionHawk became the first company to acquire a waiver from the Federal Aviation Administration that allows pilots to fly commercial drones beyond the line-of-sight. PrecisionHawk uses drones for aerial data analysis in industries like agriculture. The F.A.A. waiver is an extension of new federal regulations that will allow more companies to use drones for commercial use. Host Frank Stasio talks with Lauren Ohnesorge, reporter for the Triangle Business