Due South
“Due South” is WUNC News’ weekday current affairs radio program and podcast. Broadcast from the American Tobacco Historic District in downtown Durham, co-hosts Leoneda Inge and Jeff Tiberii put life in the Triangle region into perspective and present a unique sense of place. From interviews with state lawmakers and local luminaries to Friday news roundups with statewide journalists, “Due South” puts current events into context and offers audiences a greater sense of connection. Each hour-long show sparks deeper conversation and understanding of life in and beyond the Triangle.
Due South's America at 250: Native History in NC
0:01:00
Teaching the teachers about Native American history
Dr. Brittany Hunt grew up in Robeson County, North Carolina, where there's a large Indigenous population. But when she got to college, she was just one of a few Native students on campus. That’s when she realized how little most people know about Native history and culture – and what they think they know is often flawed and racist. So instead of pursuing her dream of becoming a pediatrician, she became another kind of doctor. Hunt is now an assistant professor at the Virginia Tech School of Education, wher...
250 years and counting: North Carolina stories shaping U.S. history
0:01:00
NC history told in three-inch letters
North Carolina highway historical markers can be seen all across the state — and these markers can make a big difference when it comes to which NC places, historical moments, and people are memorialized and commemorated. Co-host Leoneda Inge talks to Ansley Herring Wegner of the NC Office of Archives and History about how markers are approved and what it takes to get a marker erected and noticed by the public. (This encore interview originally aired August 1, 2024.)
Ansley Herring Wegner, Director of Research and Publications, North Carolina Office of...
NC News Roundup live from Greensboro: budget shortfall; aviation developments; future of downtown; plus, the mayor
The Friday News Roundup heads to Greensboro, where there's an $83 million budget shortfall, as well as a recent major aviation development.
Hosts Jeff Tiberii and Leoneda Inge speak with a panel of reporters, and local leaders including Greensboro's mayor, and the Co-Founder of the International Civil Rights Center and Museum.
Broadcasting from the Pyrle Theater in downtown Greensboro.
Rachel Crumpler, Reporter NC Health News
Danny Finnegan, Managing Editor Triad Business Journal
Joe Killian, Editor The Assembly
Marikay Abuzuaiter, Mayor of Greensboro, and longtime city councilwoman and entrepreneur
Durham's property tax challenge, and a local "Black queer daddy" goes on RuPaul's Drag Race
0:01:00
Charlotte sports fans push to host 2031 Women’s World Cup matches
Why not Charlotte? One of those fans pushing for Charlotte to get matches says Atlanta isn't the only city in the South that's got a strong sports scene.
Miller Yoho, Director of Communications and Marketing for Charlotte Sports
0:13:00
Durham overcomes budget shortfall after lower than expected property tax results
Leoneda Inge speaks with with two reporters behind the recent Indy Week article "How $4 Billion Came Off Durham’s Tax Rolls Last Year, Mostly Bene...
Breaking down 'forever chemicals' in NC rivers. Cape Fear and Haw riverkeepers explain what they're fighting for
0:01:00
‘Forever chemicals’ in NC rivers
Environment reporter Celeste Guajardo shares her latest reporting on PFAS and 1,4 Dioxane in our rivers and drinking water.
Celeste Guajardo, environment reporter, WUNC News
0:13:00
‘I want people to see how beautiful it is, so they see that it's worth fighting for’
Two North Carolina riverkeepers talk about efforts to clean up North Carolina rivers, and what drew them to those riverbanks in the first place.
Emily Sutton, Haw Riverkeeper and Executive Director of Haw River Assembly
Kemp B...
NC Promise guarantees low tuition at four state universities. Plus, addressing college student homelessness
0:01:00
Elizabeth City State University’s NC Promise
Leoneda Inge visits Elizabeth City State University to explore the impact of the NC Promise program on students and families, including a 62-year-old Gail Mullen.
Dr. S. Keith Hargrove, Sr., Chancellor
Gail Mullen, 62-year-old 2026 graduate, Elizabeth City State University
0:13:00
NC college leaders on the success of the NC Promise tuition program
Leoneda Inge speaks with chancellors of universities that participate in the NC Promise tuition program. As the state-funded initiative nears its 10-year anniversary, Due South checks in on...
What dismantling the Voting Rights Act means for North Carolina and the South
Editor's note: This Due South encore conversation originally aired May 20, 2026.
0:01:00
What dismantling the Voting Rights Act means for North Carolina
North Carolina Supreme Court Associate Justice Anita Earls discusses the history of the Voting Rights Act and the implications of recent measures to dismantle what remains of the landmark legislation.
Anita Earls, North Carolina Supreme Court Associate Justice
0:13:00
Two generations of state representatives discuss the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision on the Voting Rights Act
Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s...
NC News Roundup: Canes bring home the Stanley Cup; still no state budget; JetZero takes off in Triad
On this week’s North Carolina News Roundup…
Another contentious, local Board of Elections meeting ... an aviation aspiration takes off in the Triad ... and the cultural significance of The Stanley Cup.
Due South host Jeff Tiberii and a panel of local journalists provide context and analysis from those and other stories from the week.
Colin Campbell, Capitol Bureau Chief, WUNC News
Claudia Rivera Cotto, Political Reporter, Enlace Latino NC
Zachery Eanes, reporter, Axios Raleigh
Kate Rogerson, sports reporter/anchor for ABC 11
Visual history of Juneteenth celebrations in 'Black Freedom'; Pierce Freelon’s 'Black Boy Glow'
0:01:00
New book "Black Freedom: A Visual History of Juneteenth and Emancipation Days"
It’s been five years since Juneteenth was designated a federal holiday, but it’s been celebrated for much longer than that in countless communities across the country.
Today, we look at Juneteenth and other holidays honoring emancipation with historian Blair LM Kelley, author of the new book “Black Freedom: A Visual History of Juneteenth and Emancipation Days.”
Blair LM Kelley, president of the National Humanities Center, historian, author of Black Freedom: A Visual History of Juneteenth and Emancipation Days
...NC experiencing one of the worst droughts on record; comedian Roy Wood Jr. on fatherhood
0:01:00
North Carolina is experiencing one of the worst droughts on record
North Carolina is experiencing one of the worst droughts in recorded history. Parts of the Triangle region are under exceptional drought conditions, and the state is more than 10 inches of rain below the level it should be to sustain healthy water sources and crops.
Cities here in the Triangle are calling for water restrictions to help mitigate the effects of the drought. Jeff Tiberii gets the latest.
Gary Stephenson, chief meteorologist at Spectrum News Raleigh
Dr. Chip Konrad, d...
Black sailor killed at Pearl Harbor finally comes home. Plus, 'Bones' author Kathy Reichs
0:01:00
A Black WWII soldier's remains are finally laid to rest
The remains of one of the final victims of the Pearl Harbor bombing have been identified and brought to North Carolina.
Neil Frye was 20 years old, and serving as a Mess Attendant 3rd Class in the Navy on the U.S.S. West Virginia.
For eight decades, his relatives wanted final confirmation that Frye died, but until 2025 his remains had not been identified.
This Due South encore conversation originally aired in April 2025.
Jay Price, Military reporter for WU...
'Genre fluid' musical group Tank and the Bangas visit Due South. Plus, highlighting the growth of soccer at HBCUs
0:01:00
HBCU 101: Growth of soccer at HBCUs
There’s a move to grow competitive soccer at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The HBCU Football Club (FC) Classic kicked things off in Durham. This World Cup season – amplifying world class soccer at Black colleges.
Raymond Brooks - HBCU FC, Director of Digital Development
Emma Brown - Virginia State University Women's Soccer Team
Tatiana Ward - Virginia State University Women's Soccer Team
Jacky Fulu Kiazayadioko - Shaw University Men's Soccer Team
0:13:00
The Broadside: The...
NC News Roundup: surveillance by law enforcement; state budget negotiations; drought intensifies
On the NC News Roundup...
State budget negotiations plod along, surveillance by law enforcement at some retail stores may surprise you, and the Canes' quest for the Cup continues in exciting fashion.
Adam Wagner, reporter/editor covering state politics for the North Carolina Newsroom
Zachery Eanes, reporter, Axios Raleigh
Reuben Jones,Washington reporter covering North Carolina
Nathan Collins, investigative reporter at The News & Observer
Campus check-in: higher education funding update; 'Getting the Most Out of Your College Experience' book
0:01:00
Amid funding uncertainty, how are NC colleges faring?
Last summer break, colleges and universities were in a precarious position, facing big federal funding cuts and threats to programs associated with diversity, equity and inclusion.
Due South's Leoneda Inge checks in WUNC News Higher Education Reporter Brianna Atkinson to find out if the biggest threats to Triangle area colleges actually became reality. And if not, what challenges, or opportunities, are on horizon.
Brianna Atkinson, Higher Education Reporter, WUNC News
0:13:00
Durham Tech dean discusses book, "Getting the Most Out...
School's out for summer: Education reporters wrap-up the year; CHCCS superintendent on elementary school closure
0:01:00
CHCCS superintendent on elementary school closure decision
After months of speculation and deliberation, the final decision about a school closure in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School system was made last week. Glenwood Elementary School will shut down in Fall 2027. Jeff Tiberii talks with CHCCS superintendent Dr. Rodney Trice about the decision and what comes next for students, families and the district.
Rodney N. Trice, Superintendent of Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools
0:13:00
School year wrap up with two NC education reporters
From teacher pay debates to...
Jesse Helms book explores senator's influence on modern conservatism. Plus, 'Scene on Radio' deep-dives on news media.
0:01:00
A new book explores legacy of U.S. Senator Jesse Helms
Historian Bill Link’s new book "Jesse Helms: Modern Conservatism and the Politics of Opposition" explores the connection between the career and legacy of former U.S. Senator Jesse Helms and the current political landscape.
William A. Link, historian, author of Jesse Helms: Modern Conservatism and the Politics of Opposition
0:33:00
‘Scene of Radio’ returns with 8th podcast season on the state of news media
The hit historical podcast, Scene on Radio, is back with it...
Decoding Southern accents, from the 'Durham accent' on HBO's White Lotus, to the Ocracoke Brogue
0:01:00
Do the Southern accents in the TV show 'White Lotus' measure up?
HBO's hit murder mystery series, The White Lotus, perked Southerners' ears with their third season. North Carolinians have found their Southern drawls prominently featured – but how authentic are the actors’ portrayals of Chapel Hill and Durham accents? We consult a local sociolinguist for answers.
Walt Wolfram, William C. Friday Distinguished University Professor of English at North Carolina State University and the director of the North Carolina Language and Life Project
This segment originally aired in 2025.
0...
NC News Roundup: Data centers debate; CHCCS vote on elementary closure; ‘Canes locked in Stanley Cup Finals
On this week’s North Carolina News Roundup…
One local school board votes to close an elementary school. Will state lawmakers mandate a new nuclear plant? And the ‘Canes, locked in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Due South host Jeff Tiberii and a panel of local journalists provide context and analysis from those and other stories from the week.
Dawn Vaughan, Capitol Bureau Chief, The News & Observer
Claudia Rivera Cotto,Political Reporter, Enlace Latino NC
Bryan Anderson, Statewide Politics Reporter for The Assembly, creator of the “Anderson Alerts” newsletter
Danielle...
Alex Murdaugh double murder conviction overturned. Update on Murdaugh saga with Wall Street Journal reporter
The name “Murdaugh” became known across the country, and even the world, in 2021 when Maggie and Paul Murdaugh were found dead on their family estate in South Carolina. Alex Murdaugh, husband to Maggie and father to Paul, was eventually convicted of killing them.
In May 2026, the South Carolina Supreme Court overturned the double murder convictions, and a new trial date has yet to be set. Leoneda Inge talks to Wall Street Journal reporter Valerie Bauerlein about the latest developments.
Later in the hour, we revisit a conversation with Bauerlein about her book "The Devil at His...
Federal job losses in the Triangle. CHCCS faces elementary school closure. NC's Black Bear Festival
0:01:00
Federal worker job losses in the Triangle, one year after government cuts
A conversation with journalist Abraham Kenmore, who recently wrote a piece for Indy Week titled “A Year After Federal Job Cuts, Workers in the Triangle Are Still Picking Up the Pieces.”
Abraham Kenmore, freelance journalist
0:13:00
Chapel Hill Carrboro School closures
A downward trend in public school enrollment coupled with conservative state spending across the last 15 years has left some districts facing difficult financial decisions. In Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools this could soon mean...
The start of hurricane season, and how to spend six hours in Raleigh
0:01:00
Atlantic hurricane season begins in NC, below-average storms predicted
As Atlantic hurricane season begins, Due South talks to CBS 17 chief meteorologist Wes Hohenstein about what North Carolina can expect from this year’s forecasted storms.
Wes Hohenstein, chief meteorologist, CBS 17
0:13:00
The forecaster behind North Carolina's Weather Authority
Atlantic hurricane season is underway, and Ethan Clark, owner and founder of North Carolina's Weather Authority, is ready for it.
The recent North Carolina State University graduate has been forecasting since middle school, and he now...
A visit to Buc-ee's; inexpensive summer eats in the Triangle; Photojournalist Kate Medley
0:01:00
Small food businesses are trending toward pop-ups, food stalls and social sales
Indy Week’s Lena Geller talks affordable summer eats in interesting locations around the Triangle and how an increasingly challenging economic outlook is causing entrepreneurs to shift their business models.
Lena Geller, staff writer, Indy Week
0:13:00
The Broadside: “The hype behind the world’s largest gas station”
Buc-ee’s, the mega-sized gas station known for its pristine bathrooms, numerous snack options and cartoon beaver mascot, is expanding across the South. And it’s bringing w...
NC News Roundup: Gov. Stein's prediction market executive order; tax, budget update; Canes on cusp
On this week’s North Carolina News Roundup…
State employees react to possible raises, major projects leave the two notable state attractions closed, the Governor wants to bar state employees from making some wagers, and the Hurricanes play for the Eastern Conference championship.
Colin Campbell, Capitol Bureau Chief, WUNC News
Mary Helen Moore, reporter for Axios Raleigh
Bryan Anderson, Statewide Politics Reporter for The Assembly, creator of the “Anderson Alerts” newsletter
Dawn Vaughan, Capitol Bureau Chief, The News & Observer
Former U.S. Senator Richard Burr on his political career, politics now, and his new focus on K-12 education strategy
Due South speaks with former U.S. Senator Richard Burr.
Burr spent 28 years in Congress – serving first in the U.S. House, before ascending to the upper chamber. Once there, he chaired the Senate Intelligence Committee, was a reliably conservative vote, and across three terms generally avoided controversy.
In one of his final acts in office, he voted to convict President Donald Trump of incitement of insurrection - one of just seven Republicans to do so.
Today, Burr is working at the Aspen Institute, with an aim toward improving education, as part of a bip...
Raleigh's resident Bald Eagle family. And the story of an Army Private from NC who became a Civil Rights activist
0:01:00
The Black Army Private who wouldn’t move to the back of the bus
Sarah Keys Evans became an unwitting Civil Rights activist when she refused to give up her seat for a white Marine. She was on a bus that had crossed state lines into North Carolina, where in 1952, she was told to move to the back of the bus.
In recent years, her story has become better known, partly thanks to a new book she co-wrote with author Amy Nathan.
You can watch and listen to Sarah Keys Evans spe...
New partnership aims to address nursing shortage; Day One Relief's natural disaster aid; a look back at HB-2
0:01:00
A new health education partnership seeks to address NC’s nursing shortage
A new partnership between UNC Wayne Health and Scholars Network provides incentives for students interested in entering the field of nursing. For years, the state has struggled with a substantial nursing shortage, with more than 17,000 nurses needed over the next decade to meet the demands of the state’s aging and growing population.
Dr. Sam Maron, founder, Scholars Network
0:13:00
Day One Relief aims to reach those most in need, following natural disasters
A Dur...
An obituary for K&W Cafeteria. Plus, how an immigrant from Japan became the eyes of the American conservation movement
0:01:00
Food & Wine Editor Kat Kinsman remembers K&W Cafeteria
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. (This Due South encore presentation originally aired February 11, 2026.)
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."
0:13:00
‘The curious case of George Masa’
Th...
NC News Roundup: State constitutional amendments on the ballot, Tillis balks at Trump DOJ fund
On this week’s North Carolina News Roundup...
The White House wants a $1.8 billion dollar “anti-weaponization” fund — part of which would go to help January 6 rioters. Republican Senator Thom Tillis provided some harsh pushback on that proposal.
We’ll also get caught up on a busy ballot initiative week at the state legislature.
Due South host Jeff Tiberii and a panel of local journalists provide context and analysis from those and other stories from the week.
Zachery Eanes, reporter, Axios Raleigh
Claudia Rivera Cotto, Political Reporter, Enlace Latino NC
Adam Wa...
A property tax cap amendment on the November ballot. And, a career covering the NC General Assembly
0:01:00
Why a property tax cap amendment will be on the ballot this November
One of the constitutional amendments state Republican leaders have worked to get on the ballot this November is a property tax cap, limiting the taxes that localities can impose on property owners. Jeff Tiberii talks with a reporter, law professor and a citizen activist about the proposal.
Paul Specht, state government reporter, WRAL
Marcus Gadson, Associate Professor of Law, University of North Carolina Law School
Kim Mackey, social studies teacher teaching Economics and Personal Finance, author o...
A Due South Deep Dive on the Voting Rights Act
0:01:00
What dismantling the Voting Rights Act means for North Carolina
North Carolina Supreme Court Associate Justice Anita Earls discusses the history of the Voting Rights Act and the implications of recent measures to dismantle what remains of the landmark legislation.
Anita Earls, North Carolina Supreme Court Associate Justice
0:13:00
Two generations of state representatives discuss the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision on the Voting Rights Act
Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision to dismantle Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, Leoneda In...
Bennett College, Carolina Theatre and DUP celebrate centennials. Plus, Andrew Bird at the Greensboro Symphony
0:01:00
Bennett College, one of only two women’s HBCUs, celebrates its centennial
Leoneda Inge talks to Dr. Teresa Hardee, interim president of Bennett College about the current state and future intentions of the country’s only women’s HBCUs, as it celebrates its centennial anniversary.
Dr. Teresa Hardee, interim president, Bennett College
0:13:00
Duke University Press marks centennial with exhibition, commemorative reprint
Leoneda Inge sits down with Dean Smith, director of Duke University Press, to discuss its legacy as a cutting-edge, progressive academic press and its 10...
Mecklenburg County’s own Declaration of Independence? Plus, 'New Americans in North Carolina' oral history project
0:01:00
Mecklenburg County’s own Declaration of Independence?
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. This conversation originally aired on May 20, 2025.
Scott Syfert, author of ‘The First Declaration of Independence? The Disputed History of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence of May 20, 1775'
0:13:00
‘We (Th...
NC News Roundup live from Manteo: General Assembly budget breakthrough; beach erosion update; OBX tourism unpacked
Live from the Outer Banks...
A budget deal has been reached — will it actually end North Carolina’s stint as the only state without an approved budget?
Then, a turn toward the coast — from tourism and infrastructure to beach renourishment and climate change, we check in with three local reporters about the stories that dominate the headlines on the OBX.
Colin Campbell, Capitol Bureau Chief, WUNC News
Sam Walker, Editor-In-Chief, SamWalkerOBXNews.com and News Director, 99.1 The Sound
Corinne Saunders, Editor, Outer Banks Insider
Joy Crist, Editor, Island Free Pre
NC prisons' dire funding shortage. Former inmate Kerwin Pittman on buying a prison
0:01:00
North Carolina’s prisons face a crisis of staffing and funding
North Carolina’s 55 prisons are operating at minimum staffing, in a steep funding deficit. The state’s Department of Adult Correction is in need of an updated budget that accounts for the growing and aging prison population. WUNC News’ Colin Campbell updates Due South on the current state of the carceral system. This Due South encore conversation originally aired April 15, 2026.
Colin Campbell, Capital Bureau Chief, WUNC News
0:13:00
Former inmate and recidivism reduction activist Kerwin Pittman’s journey t...
Gerrymandering is nothing new, but may get worse. The latest on the Dean Dome saga. And NC farming in crisis.
0:01:00
Drought, tariffs, and other factors contribute to farming crisis in NC
North Carolina farmers are dealing with an array of challenges from an ongoing drought to federal policy decisions impacting the agriculture industry. Jeff Tiberii talks with reporter Phoebe Zerwick about her piece Farming is in crisis for the newsletter ‘Down from DC.’
Phoebe Zerwick, co-author, Down from DC
0:13:00
The latest on the Dean Dome saga
An update on the future of the Dean Dome, which has faced considerable pushback from the Carolina basketball family. Jeff Tiberii talk...
The state of the NC film industry
0:01:00
What film leaders think about the state's incentives
After incentives for the film industry dried up in NC, many productions took their work to Atlanta. But the director of the North Carolina Film Office says there’s still an industry here, and a storied history of filmmaking.
Guy Gaster, Director of the North Carolina Film Office, which promotes the state to possible productions and studios
0:13:00
New documentary follows the path of a NC jazz legend
Yusuf Salim trio. (1420x1110, AR: 1.2792792792792793)
Moonchild: The Lif...
Why are there no public pools in Columbus County, NC? ‘White Care' and infrastructure disinvestment in the South.
0:01:00
A conversation about new book ‘White Care: The Impact of Race on American Infrastructure’
“Infrastructure” is one of those public policy words that gets thrown around a lot — and for many of us, it doesn’t mean much beyond “roads and bridges.” But, as Cotten Seiler explains, infrastructure is about much more than concrete. It’s about the goods and services that support our communities.
Seiler’s new book “White Care: The Impact of Race on American Infrastructure” explores how infrastructure was deliberately diminished over decades in the 20th century to keep certain groups from accessing it...
NC News Roundup: State legislative happenings; Charlotte mayor to step down; potential healthcare merger
On this week’s North Carolina News Roundup...
The state legislature has reached a bustling pitch – considering a moratorium on some tax changes, making confidential NIL agreements, and a social media ban for some teens.
A potential major healthcare merger is on the table in the Triangle. One North Carolina congressman is under investigation. And Charlotte’s mayor will soon step down.
Due South host Jeff Tiberii and a panel of local journalists provide context and analysis from those and other stories from the week.
Laura Leslie, editor, NC Newsline
Clau...
Solar power hour: grappling with the grid, plus new energy in home rooftop panel industry
0:01:00
Solar power's ever-changing role in North Carolina's energy grid
North Carolina was once an emerging national leader on the solar power front. But disincentives, policy changes and a hold on new projects have changed the solar power landscape. A conversation about energy costs and possible solutions for the future.
Liz McLaughlin, climate change reporter, WRAL
Matt Abele, Executive Director, NC Sustainable Energy Association
0:33:00
Reflecting on residential solar panels
Residential solar panels are becoming more common on rooftops in North Carolina. But they are still a...
Laugh and cry this Mother's Day with comedian Moms Mabley and therapist Kristen Wynns
0:01:00
How to navigate complicated emotions during Mother’s Day weekend
Due South's Leoneda Inge chats with a family therapist, who offers advice and recommendations for navigating grief and loss around the holiday. (This Due South encore conversation originally aired May 9, 2024.)
Dr. Kristen Wynns, founder and owner of Wynns Family Psychology and author of The No Wimpy Parenting Handbook
0:13:00
‘Mothering at the End of the World’ explores 'surreal' experience of caregiving in aftermath of Hurricane Helene
Even under the best circumstances, parenting can be stressful. So, wh...
