CarolinaCast

CarolinaCast: 126 years later, the Town of Carrboro has erected a historical marker to mark the site of a lynching

April 10, 2024 Jessica Simmons and Lorelai Sykes

In 1898, an 18-year-old Black man was killed by a mob of white men near the present day intersection of Old Greensboro Road and Hatch Road. Now, 126 years later, the Town of Carrboro has unveiled a historical marker in honor of his life.

In this edition of the Carolina Connection podcast, Jessica Simmons talks with Lorelai Sykes about the lynching of Manly McCauley, the reaction from the community, and the importance of memorializing negative parts of our past.

CarolinaCast: The ‘cultural currency’ of Taylor Swift

December 14, 2023 Samantha Hoffman

Time magazine has named Taylor Swift its “Person of the Year” for 2023, and the Washington Post and Research company QuestionPro found that she was responsible for nearly $4.6 billion in consumer spending in the U.S. But there’s more to Swift than her music. For some fans, she represents a new concept of modern femininity, in which women can talk about their emotions, wear glitter, be hurt by a breakup, and still be strong, financially literate, politically influential, and unapologetic about their accomplishments.

On this edition of CarolinaCast, Samatha Hoffman talks with Sierra Pfeifer about the Swift phenomenon.

CarolinaCast: PNC Arena hosts LCS, a popular Esports tournament

May 22, 2023 William Christensen

Esports, or competitive gaming, is an increasingly popular pastime across the world. Every year, new games enter the competitive scene and live events continue to grow in attendance. Recently, PNC arena was the host of one such event, the League of Legends Championship series.

CarolinaCast: The changing of the guard at the Stone Center, UNC’s hub for Black cultural expression

May 19, 2023 Denise Stroud

The Sonja Hayes Stone Center for Black Culture and History is UNC’s hub for Black issues and cultural expression on campus. The former director, Joseph Jordan, has now handed the role to Laronda Manigold Bryant.

Carolina Connection’s Denise Stroud talked with both Jordan and Bryant to discuss what the role means and what the future of the Stone Center looks like.

CarolinaCast: ‘We’re human beings’: Homeless Chapel Hill residents ask for kindness, respect

May 17, 2023 William Christensen

Since the early 1960s, the Inter-Faith Council has worked to provide food and supplies to struggling citizens in Chapel Hill and Orange County. Today that work continues, and it’s more necessary than ever as citizens grapple with economic issues stemming from the pandemic.

Carolina Connection’s Will Christensen went to the IFC SECU Community House Shelter to speak to some of these people and hear their stories.

CarolinaCast: Anthony James is passionate about DEI – a concept that is increasingly controversial

April 28, 2023 Denise Stroud

Anthony James joins the UNC-Chapel Hill community as the first Director of DEI (or Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) for two schools – the School of Education and the School of Information and Library Science.

CarolinaCast: When the world of politics meets the world of education

April 13, 2023 Hannah Noel, Sophie Mallinson and William Christensen

We discuss two politically-charged education topics: a bill in the N.C. legislature that would regulate how sexual identity is discussed in the public schools, and the plan to create UNC’s new School of Civic Life and Leadership.

CarolinaCast: North Carolina BBQ restaurants are changing some of their longest held traditions

March 29, 2023 William Christensen and Christian Phillips

Barbecue is one of the best-known and well liked foods in North Carolina, and many agree that the best way to cook it is over wood. However, wood-cooking BBQ restaurants have been closing rapidly in the past decade.

CarolinaCast: Cornell Watson talks about ‘Tarred Healing’

March 13, 2023 Lorelai Sykes

Nearly a year since UNC canceled the showing of the controversial photography exhibition “Tarred Healing,” the photos are on display at the National Civil Rights Museum.
On this edition of “Carolina Cast,” photographer Cornell Watson joins Carolina Connection’s Lorelai Skyes to discuss Tarred Healing and the controversy.

CarolinaCast: Recent initiatives aim to reduce inequality in Chapel Hill’s housing market

February 24, 2023 William Christensen and Lorelai Sykes

One of Chapel Hill’s most consistent problems is a lack of affordable housing for students and residents alike. But it’s not a new issue. In this edition of CarolinaCast, Will Christensen and Lorelai Sykes discuss the history of racial discrimination in the housing market and recent initiatives to make housing more inclusive in the area