The State of Things

A federal court ruling created uncertainty in North Carolina's election process when it overturned the state's controversial voting regulations. The law would have required photo identification, reduced early voting days and eliminated same day registration. The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that measure violates the U.S. constitution, because it discriminates against African-American and Latino voters. Local Board of Elections are now making changes that advocates say do not comply with

Curly Seckler grew up a farming kid in the tiny town of China Grove, NC and liked to listen to the Monroe Brothers on the radio. Eventually, he became one of the forebearers of bluegrass music as a part of the Foggy Mountain Boys. Seckler's iconic mandolin style and tenor harmonies carved a music career that spanned more than 50 years. In her new book, "Foggy Mountain Troubadour: The Life and Music of Curly Seckler" (University of Illinois Press/2016), Penny Parsons recounts Seckler's journey

Four years ago the novel "Gone Girl" took the world by storm. The book invoked a familiar thriller novel premise—a sudden mysterious disappearance—but also explored deep psychological and emotional themes. Critics say the new novel "All The Missing Girls" (Simon & Schuster/2016) from North Carolina author Megan Miranda follows in the tradition of "Gone Girl." It tells the story of a woman named Nicolette Farrell who moves back home to take care of her father and is suddenly confronted with

This is a rebroadcast of a program that originally aired on June 27, 2016. Whitney Way Thore knows how much she has weighed at every point in her life. And for decades, deconstructing the size and shape of her body consumed much of her mental and emotional energy. She struggled with an eating disorder, compulsive exercise, and eventually was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Note: this segment originally aired April 7, 2016. Journalist and social activist Dorothy Day challenged the structure of the Catholic church when she co-founded the Catholic Worker Movement in the 1930s. The group advocated for direct aid to the poor and civil disobedience on their behalf. Today, Day's granddaughter Martha Hennessy continues Day's work. Host Frank Stasio talks with Hennessy about the teachings of the Catholic Worker Movement and Day's legacy. Hennessy speaks at Duke Divinity

Note: this segment originally aired June 1, 2016. Writer Bronwen Dickey grew up with the impression of pit bulls that dominates popular discourse: they are mean, aggressive, and dangerous dogs. But after a freelance writing piece put her in an environment with a sweet and gentle pit bull, she began to wonder whether there was more to the stereotype.

Note: this segment originally aired April 29, 2016. Shirlette Ammons's rhythms and rhymes can take on many different shapes. The Durham musician's latest album Language Barrier blends rock and hip-hop. She says the eclectic music echoes the album's interpretation of love "as an act of resistance."Host Frank Stasio talks with Ammons about creating a musical identity through this resistance. Ammons performs in the studio with Tom Rau on synthesizer and bass, Griffin Wade on drum and Alec Farrell

The 2016 Summer Olympics kick off in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil tomorrow. This year, dozens of athletes with connections to North Carolina are competing in events ranging from basketball, track, and swimming to air rifle and canoe slalom. Basketball players Harrison Barnes and Kyrie Irving are part of the star-studded men’s basketball team coached by Duke University’s Mike Krzyzewski, and women’s soccer player Tobin Heath will be playing with the hopes of winning a third gold medal. Guest host Adam

Durham native Heather Havrilesky has spent most of her professional life as a social commentator of sorts. She has written online cartoons about the absurdity of life, reviews of crappy TV reality shows, and columns about why we love crappy TV reality shows. It is perhaps no wonder that she has become a successful advice columnist. Havrilesky is the writer behind "Ask Polly," a weekly column in New York magazine in which she guides readers through existential questions. She dishes out honest

Growing up as a kid in the 1950s, Danny Johnson liked to do two things: read books and work on his grandmother's farm. He's now combined his love for Southern literature with imagery from his upbringing in his debut novel, "The Last Road Home" (Kensington Books/2016). Host Frank Stasio talks with Johnson about his Southern adolescence and creating a story outside of his lived experience. Johnson reads at The Regulator Bookshop in Durham at 7 p.m. on Thursday, August 4, Quail Ridge Books in