0:01:00 Chef Sheri Castle talks holiday dishes and her Blue Ridge Mountain culinary roots Sheri Castle joins Due South to discuss growing up in the Blue Ridge Mountains, developing her first recipe at four years old and how to make less predictable holiday side dishes this year. Sheri Castle, cook, recipe developer and TV personality 0:33:00 Durham Community Fridges bring a mutual aid focus to addressing food insecurity Over 78,000 people experience food insecurity in Durham County -- including more than 20,000 children. One mutual aid group working to provide greater access and to reduce food waste is Durham Community Fridges. Taylor Holenbeck and Sharmîn Aziz, co-organizers of Durham Community Fridges

0:01:00 Mo Green is on a mission to improve NC public schools In the 11 months since Maurice “Mo” Green was sworn in as the North Carolina’s 22ndSuperintendent of Public Instruction, the state’s public schools have faced unprecedented challenges. From long-term Hurricane Helene recovery to school-based care for students navigating SNAP cuts and the possibility of ICE detainments, Green has weathered several significant changes. He joins Due South to discuss his first year in office and his five-year plan for making North Carolina schools among the “best in the country.” Maurice “Mo” Green, State Superintendent of North Carolina 0:33:00 The Broadside: The rock that runs the world The tiny mountain town of Spruce Pine, North Carolina is the site of the single biggest source of ultra-high purity quartz in the world. It’s a vital component in the manufacturing process of semiconductors for computers and solar panels. In fact, the mine in Spruce Pine is quite possibly the most important mineral extraction site on the planet. Because we don’t have a backup. Featuring: Alan Schabilion, owner of Emerald Village in Spruce Pine, NC Ed Conway, author of Material World: The Six Raw Minerals That Shape Modern Civilization

0:01:00 What it’s like to be an immigration lawyer right now Leoneda Inge speaks with attorney Ricardo Valasquez about his work, career, and the changes to immigration law and enforcement under President Trump’s second term. Ricardo Valasquez, Immigration Attorney who started Valasquez and Associates more than 20 years ago. 0:13:00 NC A&T is the latest HBCU to get a generous donation from MacKenzie Scott The philanthropist, and ex-wife of Jeff Bezos, has now given more than $100 million to the university. Todd Simmons, Associate Vice Chancellor for University Relations at NC A&T State University 0:33:00 UNC-Chapel Hill students, wary of a banking ‘monopoly’ on campus, are starting their own credit union A partnership between Wells Fargo and the university is convenient for students, and faculty, with ATMs and other financial services available on or near campus. Several students are creating the Carolina Credit Union Initiative as an alternative. Mohammad Qureshi, Chair of the Outreach Committee for the Carolina Credit Union Initiative Sarah Galdi, Vice President of the Carolina Credit Union Initiative

On the North Carolina News Roundup... Federal raids in Charlotte and the Triangle have led to hundreds of arrests and instilled further fear in countless North Carolinians. An update on legal challenges to North Carolina Congressional maps. Plus, a billion-dollar project heads to Johnston County. Due South co-host Jeff Tiberii and a panel of journalists cover the week in NC news. Mary Helen Moore, reporter, Axios Raleigh Claudia Rivera Cotto, political reporter, Enlace Latino NC Bryan Anderson, statewide politics reporter for The Assembly, creator of the “Anderson Alerts” newsletter Danielle Battaglia, Capitol Hill Correspondent, The News & Observer/The Charlotte Observer/McClatchy Julian Berger, Race & Equity Reporter, WFAE

0:01:00 Siembra NC continues support and training efforts amid Triangle immigration detentions Due South checks in with Siembra NC co-director Nikki Marin Baena about the organization’s ongoing efforts to inform the public about immigration enforcement, interactions, and detainments and to protect potentially vulnerable communities from unlawful arrests. Nikki Marin Baena, co-director, Siembra NC 0:13:00 An immigration law professor dissects federal actions in NC More than 250 people have been arrested in the latest immigration sweeps in North Carolina, according to the Department of Homeland Security. The Charlotte Observer has reported that the agency did not release information that would detail, “where people are being held or where they were taken.” Leoneda Inge speaks to an immigration law professor about the current operations in the state, and discusses the legal arrest process. Eisha Jain, Henry P. Brandis Distinguished Professor of Law at UNC Chapel Hill. 0:33:00 Remembering Daniel Naroditsky, American chess prodigy who moved to Charlotte to teach the next generation The 29-year-old’s death came as a shock to the world of chess. Naroditsky had played in the U.S. Open just a few months before. He was known for playing, commentating and analyzing matches on social media, was a Chess Life columnist, and The New York Times’ chess columnist starting in 2022. Due South speaks with a chess educator who first met Naroditsky when he was 21-years-old and played against him in bullet chess at the U.S. Open earlier this year. This week, the Charlotte Chess Center announced it has created the Naroditsky Memorial and Fellowship Fund, "Creating opportunities for others to experience the same beauty, curiosity, and joy that Danya brought to the chess world." You can find more information and how to donate here. Elliott Neff, founder of a chess educational group, an NM (National Master) of Chess, and the author of “A Pawn’s Journey: Transforming Lives One Move at a Time.”

0:01:00 Latest on federal immigration crackdown in North Carolina Federal Border Patrol agents are in North Carolina carrying out arrests in Charlotte and the Triangle. This federal operation is part of a months-long effort by the Trump administration to crackdown on illegal immigration. We get the latest. Jay Price, Military Reporter, WUNC reporting from the Triangle Eduardo Medina, reporter for The New York Times based in Durham, reporting from Charlotte 0:13:00 Tupac Shakur's little-known ties to North Carolina detailed in new book Tupac Shakur remains one of the most revered and influential hip hop figures of all-time – twenty-nine years after his premature death. The legendary figure was part poet, part activist, part actor – and his brief career was one of incredible success.  A new book chronicles the life of Shakur - from his childhood in New York City, to his California days as the central figure of the West Coast rap scene, to his legacy. Shakur also had some little-known ties to North Carolina. Jeff Pearlman, Author of "Only God Can Judge Me: The many lives of Tupac Shakur" 0:33:00 Renovation is complete on soul musician Nina Simone’s childhood home in Tryon The childhood home of legendary soul singer Nina Simone has been renovated in Tryon, NC. The National Trust for Historic Preservation’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund joined the effort, along with several private donors, in order to see the long-delayed project reach fruition. Tiffany Tolbert, senior director of preservation, African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund

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, where she teaches the teachers about centering Indigenous stories and changing how history is taught. (This encore interview originally aired November 13, 2023) Dr. Brittany Hunt, Assistant Professor, School of Education at Virginia Tech 0:13:00 The Broadside: The race to save the Cherokee language Indigenous languages are declining around the world at an alarming rate. Some studies estimate that one language dies out every two weeks. And the United States is no different. Of the 197 living indigenous languages spoken in this country, 193 are endangered. But one, in particular, has experienced a shocking downturn. Cherokee, once the most well-documented and commonly spoken Native American language in North America, is in serious danger of becoming extinct. Thanks to our WUNC colleagues and the podcast, The Broadside and host Anisa Khalifa. This episode The race to save the Cherokee languagewas written, produced, and co-reported by Jerad Walker. Featuring: Brooks Bennett, documentary filmmaker and director of A Sacred Thread Gil "Doyi" Jackson, Cherokee language instructor Dr. Courtney Lewis, associate professor at Duke University Tessa Dahlmann, teaching assistant at Duke University Jack "Tsegi" Cooper, Cherokee language instructor at Western Carolina University

0:01:00 The latest on Border Patrol operations in Charlotte     The US Department of Homeland Security launched over the weekend what it calls, “Charlotte’s Web.” It’s part of President Trump’s “crackdown” on illegal immigration – this time in Charlotte, North Carolina. We get the latest. Nick de la Canal, reporter and host at WFAE, Charlotte’s NPR member station 0:13:00 In ‘Art Above Everything’ Chapel Hill author ponders what we sacrifice to pursue the art life A writer explores the sacrifices people make to pursue the “art life.” Through interviews with visual artists, performers, and writers around the world, Griest explores what she herself has given up in terms of stability, and what her peers have chosen to give up, too. Stephanie Elizondo Griest, author, memoirist, and Creative Writing Professor at UNC-Chapel Hill. Her newest book is called Art Above Everything: One Woman’s Global Exploration of the Joys and Torments of a Creative Life 0:33:00 Asheville celebrates 100th anniversary of folk music recording in the Appalachian Mountains Recording folk music commercially in Appalachia had never happened before. That is, until the 1925 Asheville sessions, when a producer invited musicians from across the region to record.  To mark the historic event, the city of Asheville and partners are hosting events and celebrating the release of remastered recordings, and reimagined renditions by current artists. The record is called Music from the Land of the Sky. Richard Emmett, Program Director, Blue Ridge Music Center (BRMC) Vic Isley, President and CEO of Explore Asheville

On the North Carolina News Roundup... U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents are heading to Charlotte.  The 43-day federal government shutdown ends, as a North Carolina Democrat breaks with his party.  State lawmakers reject Gov. Josh Stein's call for a special session to address a Medicaid funding shortfall.  And Toyota opens a local plant.  Due South co-host Jeff Tiberii and a panel of journalists cover the week in NC news. Reuben Jones, Washington reporter covering North Carolina, Spectrum News Colin Campbell, Capitol Bureau Chief, WUNC Nathan Collins, investigative reporter at The News & Observer Claudia Rivera Cotto, Political Reporter, Enlace Latino NC Laura Leslie, Editor, NC Newsline Nick de la Canal, reporter and host at WFAE, Charlotte’s NPR member station

0:01:00 State Treasurer Brad Briner talks pension and what to expect from the State Health Plan During his first year in office, State Treasurer Brad Briner has overseen big changes to the State Health Plan and pension investments. He joins Due South to discuss some of those changes and what North Carolinians can expect from their health and retirement benefits in the year to come. Brad Briner, State Treasurer of North Carolina 0:33:00 How a NC Supreme Court Justice’s influence has spread beyond the state Justice Paul Newby led conservatives on the court to approve partisan gerrymandering in time for the 2024 election, according to a report in ProPublica. Interviews with more than 70 people who know Newby “professionally, or personally” show how influential the justice is. Doug Bock Clark, investigative reporter at ProPublica

0:01:00 Rep. Eva Clayton reflects on her political past and the state’s congressional future The Honorable Eva Clayton reflects on her time serving North Carolina’s District 1 as the first Black woman to serve the state as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Ms. Clayton, 91, weighs in on food insecurity, her political legacy, and recently redrawn congressional maps in the state’s first and third congressional districts. Eva Clayton, member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina’s first district from 1992-2003, first Black woman to represent North Carolina in Congress 0:33:00 ‘Our Common Nature’ podcast explores journey to restore North Carolina mountain’s Cherokee name Our Common Nature podcast host Ana González goes on a musical and historical journey through the Smoky Mountains with cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Ana tells the story of Lavita Hill, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and her quest to restore the Cherokee name of a mountain in the Smokies – a mountain that had been renamed to honor a confederate brigadier general. Ana González, host, Our Common Nature

0:01:00 Federal government shutdown impact on NC National Guard troops On Veterans Day, Due South talks with WUNC military reporter Jay Price about his recent reporting on the impacts of the federal shutdown on National Guard troops and their families. Jay Price, military reporter, WUNC 0:13:00 ‘In Search of a Boy Named Chester’ As the nation honors Veterans Day, a story of a Navy officer returning home to eastern North Carolina after WWII and the unexpected detour he took during that long journey home. That detour sparked a nearly 80-year mystery the officer’s son has tried to solve. Along the way, another story emerged – about family and connections that span geography and generations. Ford S. Worthy, son of WWII veteran Ford S. Worthy, author of In Search of a Boy Named Chester 0:33:00 Theatre Raleigh plays in ‘Once on This Island’s’ giant sandbox A new production of the classic Broadway play “Once on This Island” wraps up Theatre Raleigh’s Main Stage season this year. The Tony-winning Caribbean adaptation of the classic fairy tale “The Little Mermaid” makes its way to the stage from November 12-23. Eric Woodall, Theatre Raleigh Artistic Director Christopher Betts, Once on This Island director

0:01:00 And the South’s first Michelin Stars go to… One North Carolina restaurant in Charlotte has earned one of food’s highest honors. But the Triangle didn’t get completely left off the map. Plus, what the news and various Michelin lists and guides say you should check out in the state and region. Drew Jackson, food and restaurant reporter at The News & Observer 0:13:00 Celebrity chef and native Southerner Carla Hall launches ‘The Me Menu’ Emmy Award-winning chef and cooking show host Carla Hall has teamed up with entrepreneur and executive coach Deb Riegel to launch a new website and program – “The Me Menu” – to help other women find organization, direction and inspiration in middle age. Carla Hall, chef, author and television personality Deb Riegel, entrepreneur, executive coach and motivational speaker, co-founders of The Me Menu 0:33:00 Durham's oldest Black-owned restaurant just got a grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation How the restaurant leaders will use the $50,000, and how The Chicken Hut fits into Durham history as host to famous and influential Civil Rights leaders. Tre Tapp, second-generation owner of the Chicken Hut

On the North Carolina News Roundup... Gov. Josh Stein called for a special legislative session later this month to address the Medicaid budget shortfall. Municipal elections across the state offer some predictable and some surprising results. Sen. Thom Tillis offers support for Lumbee recognition. Due South co-host Jeff Tiberii and a panel of journalists cover the week in NC news. Guests Dawn Vaughan, Capital Bureau Chief, News & Observer Mary Helen Moore, reporter, Axios Raleigh Adam Wagner, editor/reporter, NC Newsroom Danielle Battaglia, Capitol Hill correspondent, The News & Observer/The Charlotte Observer/McClatchy Steve Harrison, political reporter, WFAE

0:01:00 ‘From Politics to Paychecks’ series explores financial strains faced by NC educators The financial situation for many teachers in North Carolina is bleak. WUNC education reporter Liz Schlemmer interviewed several educators as part of a reporting series called "From Politics to Paychecks."  The series explores how political decisions are affecting NC educators' finances and families.  Liz joins Jeff Tiberii to talk about the educators she met in putting together this series, and about the politics and policies shaping their lives in very significant ways. Liz Schlemmer, education reporter, WUNC 0:13:00 The film adaptation of NC native author’s novel ‘I Wish You All the Best’ opens North Carolina native Mason Deaver’s debut novel, I Wish You All the Best, about a teen coming out as non-binary to their parents, is making its way to theatres, after a successful film festival run in 2024. Mason Deaver, designer and novelist 0:33:00 Take a tour of historic Durham, with The Broadside The team behind the WUNC podcast has put together an audio walking tour of downtown Durham… with stops at a bridge known for taking the tops off semitrucks, the Durham Armory, Black Wall Street, and more. Charlie Shelton-Ormond is a producer for WUNC’s podcast The Broadside Take a walk on the Broadside: A Durham Walking Tour

0:01:00 Municipal elections wrap up Reporter Justin Laidlaw of Indy Week breaks down the election results of the races for Durham mayor and city council. Justin Laidlaw, reporter, Indy Week 0:13:00 'Fearless, Sleepless, Deathless' Writer Maria Pinto takes co-host Jeff Tiberii on a mushroom journey. Her debut book is a collection of essays that are equal parts ecological adventure and memoir. Maria Pinto, author, Fearless, Sleepless, Deathless: What Fungi Taught Me about Nourishment, Poison, Ecology, Hidden Histories, Zombies, and Black Survival 0:33:00 New NC farmers’ years-long effort to harvest truffles As we continue to dig deep into fungi today, two of the co-founders of Truffletopia talk with Jeff and Leoneda about their years-long effort to harvest truffles from their farm in Pittsboro. Tony Huey and Josh Esnard, co-owners Truffletopia

0:01:00 Local Elections 101 Local governing bodies across the state are holding elections for mayors, city and county councils, and school boards. What it all means for residents, amid a federal government shutdown, in a state that still hasn’t passed a budget. And whether political protests will lead to higher turnout than normal. Kimberly Nelson, professor of public administration and government at the UNC School of Government 0:13:00 Raleigh’s history with Baseball goes deeper than you think Amid a push to expand Major League Baseball, advocates in Raleigh say the city is an obvious choice for the next team. Reporter Eric Frederick found that the City of Oaks has an extensive history with professional baseball, even though he had to dig back in time to find it. Eric Frederick, Raleigh-based freelance reporter and author of the article “Raleigh Tries to Break Its 54-Year Baseball Losing Streak,” forThe Assembly. 0:33:00 A Black Southern writers conference returns to Durham Khalisa Rae and other organizers have revived the Griot & Grey Owl conference, after they conducted a survey of more than 1,000 Black Southern writers, which “… found that nearly 90% felt creatively isolated.” Khalisa Rae, award-winning author, activist, and storyteller, and an organizer of the Griot & Grey Owl Black Southern Writers Conference Maria Tavarez, expressionist abstract artist, and a member of the conference’s outreach team and advisory board

0:01:00 Bishop Barber on redistricting, voting rights and free speech Due South’s Leoneda Inge talks with “Moral Mondays” leader Bishop William J. Barber II about voting rights, the origins of the Moral Mondays movement, and Barber’s belief that the battle over North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District is “our Selma.” Bishop William J. Barber II, DMin, President of Repairers of the Breach, co-chair of The Poor People's campaign, Founding Director of Yale's Center for Public Theology & Public Policy 0:33:00 Thomas Dambo's giant trolls have landed in Raleigh Danish artist and activist Thomas Dambo’s new public exhibition of giant trolls has been installed at Dorothea Dix Park in Raleigh. The five trolls are strategically hidden in the woods and meant to be stumbled upon by wanderers and nature-lovers. It is the largest Dambo installation of its kind in North America. Ruffin Hall, CEO and president, Dix Park Conservancy

On the North Carolina News Roundup... It’s the end of the month, which means it’s day 31 of a federal government shutdown - barring an eleventh-hour development, this shutdown means the 1.4 million North Carolina recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are going to lose benefits. Also, the latest redistricting legal challenge, health insurance premiums are set to rise for many across our state, and a horrific crime in Johnston County. Due South co-host Jeff Tiberii and a panel of journalists cover the week in NC news. Mary Helen Moore, reporter for Axios Raleigh Gary Robertson, statehouse reporter, Associated Press Sarah Michels, staff writer specializing in coverage of North Carolina politics and elections, Carolina Public Press Bryan Anderson, freelance reporter, creator of the “Anderson Alerts” newsletter Reuben Jones, Washington reporter covering North Carolina, Spectrum News

0:01:00 Party affiliation in North Carolina continues to shift away from Democrats Across the past few decades there has been a major reduction in the number of registered Democrats in our state. Political scientist Chris Cooper of Western Carolina University talks to Jeff Tiberii about his recent article in The Assembly “Democrats Are Losing Members in N.C. But Are the Republicans Gaining?” Christopher A. Cooper, Robert Lee Madison Distinguished Professor and Director of the Haire Institute for Public Policy, Western Carolina University 0:13:00 Can a theory about Southern politics help explain American politics? North Carolina State University professor Irwin Morris talks about his new book, Partisan Places: Movers and Stayers Across America. Irwin Morris, William T. Kretzer Distinguished Professor of Humanities and Executive Director of the School of Public and International Affairs, North Carolina State University 0:33:00 Why Mecklenburg County leaders now love the sales tax Municipal officials have an array of options for raising money to fund city and county projects. Property tax increases. Bond referendums. And, the sales tax. Longtime Charlotte Observer reporter Jim Morrill digs into why Mecklenburg County officials have been favoring the sales tax in recent decades. Jim Morrill, was a reporter at The Charlotte Observer for almost 40 years, and wrote the new story “Why Politicians Learned to Love the Sales Tax” for The Assembly