The Assembly, a destination for statewide long-form reporting, has partnered with WUNC’s The Broadside to bring you audio versions of some of our best work on power and place in North Carolina.
Each weekly podcast examines one story happening in the heart of the American South. Led by host Anisa Khalifa, The Broadside covers culture, arts, and politics in ways that uncover the nuances of the place we call home. You can find new episodes every Thursday wherever you listen to podcasts, or find our collaborations here.
The ‘Surreal’ World of Political Spouses
Marriage is a deep and powerful bond. But for politicians, those relationships are often far more complicated. Featuring Susan Tillis.
The Uncertain Future of Disaster Relief
The Trump administration is considering major changes to the way that disaster response works in America, including ceding more responsibility to states. But is that really a good idea?
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. What’s with all the hype?
The Belichick Effect
College football has become a money-sucking machine, with schools spending every dollar possible to keep up in an athletics arms race. UNC-Chapel Hill entered the fray in spectacular fashion, betting big on legendary NFL coach Bill Belichick.
The Innocence Experiment
For nearly 20 years, the North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission has helped incarcerated people who have evidence of their innocence walk free. But despite over a dozen headline-grabbing success stories, this bold experiment could soon come to an end.
America’s Favorite Bloodthirsty Plant
The Venus flytrap is one of the most recognizable plants on the planet. But there are worries about the health of its wild population, which only grows on a sliver of dirt in a small corner of the Carolinas.
Pokémon: More Than Just a Card Game
The Pokémon trading card game has a culture all its own, with a global competition and a business that is lucrative and secretive. And both run through North Carolina.
The Modern Graveyard of the Atlantic
Oregon Inlet, a narrow gap near Roanoke Island, is one of the deadliest waterways in the United States. But it’s also an economic lifeline for a small industrial fishing community who must traverse it.
The Fight Over Fluoride
In the midst of a heated debate over fluoride in water, new scientific studies are combating health misinformation and trying to separate fact from fiction.
Can We Save Christmas (Trees)?
From the White House to your living room, North Carolina’s iconic Fraser fir is the most popular Christmas tree in America. But this holiday season, something is threatening to wipe it out — and the $250 million dollar industry associated with it.
Why It’s So Hard to Find a Good Couch
Known as the “Furniture Capital of the World,” North Carolina is famous for its high-quality furniture. But in recent decades, that business has changed dramatically.
Bigfoot is From North Carolina
Appalachia is Bigfoot territory. We look at the mythical beast’s legend, lore, and sizable economic impact in the region, and follow one reporter’s journey through the mountains and foothills of western North Carolina in search of Sasquatch.
Charlotte the Stingray’s Tangled Web
After an aquarium in a small town in Western North Carolina claimed that a stingray named Charlotte got impregnated by a shark, she became an internet sensation. Then, things got weird.
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