Tested artwork

Tested

294 episodes - English - Latest episode: 7 months ago - ★★★★★ - 52 ratings

Tested is a hard look at how North Carolina and its neighbors face the day's challenges. Hosted by journalists Dave DeWitt and Leoneda Inge.

Daily News News Health & Fitness Medicine covid-19 coronavirus north carolina race racism white supremacy confederate confederacy racial justice south
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed

Episodes

Introducing The Broadside: weekly news and stories from the South

September 28, 2023 14:59 - 1 minute - 2.53 MB

From news to arts and culture, The Broadside dives into issues that might not be on a front page, but deserve a closer look. Along the way, host Anisa Khalifa explores the nuances of our home—and how what happens here ripples across the country. Find The Broadside every Thursday wherever you listen to podcasts.

In a split second

August 23, 2022 10:00 - 17 minutes - 24.7 MB

During a Sunday morning in Wilson, NC, Chris Breslin was standing on a pitcher’s mound at his son’s little league game when he heard three sounds close by he’d never heard before. Then everybody on the field hit the ground.

Some NC Teachers Won't Be Back This Fall

August 18, 2022 10:00 - 17 minutes - 24.6 MB

Teachers are leaving in large numbers in some North Carolina school districts. They say they’ve been working with low pay and high expectations for years. But when the pandemic put their routines on pause, they had time to think about their priorities. Host Liz Schlemmer heard stories from three teachers this summer.

Emmett Till and the Warrant

August 04, 2022 10:00 - 15 minutes - 21.8 MB

This month marks 67 years since Emmett Till was brutally lynched for allegedly whistling at a white woman. Activists in North Carolina are joining the calls for authorities to serve a nearly 70-year-old arrest warrant against the woman who accused him.

'Only Thing I Had To Fight With Was The Truth'

August 02, 2022 10:00 - 21 minutes - 29.4 MB

In this rebroadcast from January 18, 2022, Howard Dudley and Joe Neff, former investigative reporter for the News & Observer, recount Dudley’s wrongful conviction.

After SBC sexual abuse reckoning, is there hope for real change?

July 28, 2022 10:00 - 30 minutes - 41.7 MB

In May, an explosive report on sexual abuse perpetrated by clergy in the Southern Baptist Convention made national headlines. Now, survivors of abuse and their advocates are continuing to question what this means for one of the country’s largest Christian denominations. Host Anisa Khalifa talks with Jules Woodson, a survivor of clergy sexual abuse, and Kate Shellnut, senior news editor at Christianity Today magazine.

Darryl Hunt's Burden

July 26, 2022 10:00 - 36 minutes - 49.6 MB

In this rebroadcast from March 31, 2022, host Will Michaels speaks with Phoebe Zerwick, former reporter with the Winston-Salem Journal, about her new book chronicling Darryl Hunt's story of wrongful conviction, "Beyond Innocence."

WUNC Politics Podcast: The Morale of Public School Teachers

July 21, 2022 10:00 - 27 minutes - 37.2 MB

A notable number of North Carolina public school teachers are leaving. In Durham, one in five educators is departing, and other local districts are experiencing higher than usual turnover. On this episode of Tested, we’re featuring the Politics Podcast from WUNC, which recently spoke with several teachers about their reasons for leaving the classroom, while others explain why they have stayed.

Diving with a Purpose

July 19, 2022 13:37 - 16 minutes - 22.6 MB

More than 150 years after the emancipation of slavery in America, a team of dedicated scuba divers is busy excavating and restoring wreckage from slave ships that sank across the Middle Passage.

Diving With a Purpose

July 19, 2022 10:00 - 16 minutes - 22.6 MB

In this rebroadcast from February 15, 2022, host Leoneda Inge talks with Tara Roberts, explorer with National Geographic, about Roberts work diving and documenting the wreckage of slave ships. Special thanks to National Geographic for providing some of this episode’s audio.

James Richardson and 'The Shooter in the Video'

July 14, 2022 10:00 - 22 minutes - 30.2 MB

On June 30, 2009, in Greenville, N.C., two men were shot and killed outside a nightclub. Murder charges against James Richardson relied heavily on a surveillance video. But evidence that has come to light since then casts doubt on his conviction. Host Will Michaels speaks with Pam Kelley, a freelance journalist who recently wrote about the case for The Assembly.

Reducing the Harm of Fentanyl

July 12, 2022 10:00 - 17 minutes - 23.7 MB

In this rebroadcast from February 10, 2022, host Jason deBruyn speaks with Louise Vincent with N.C. Survivors Union and Michelle Mathis with Olive Branch Ministries about how test strips and other harm reduction strategies could save lives.

Embodied: Accessing Abortion Care In A Southern State Where You Still Can

July 07, 2022 09:55 - 30 minutes - 42.1 MB

As Anita Rao’s home state becomes the nearest safe provider for millions of people, she's observing how abortion providers in North Carolina are preparing for the spike in demand. She reconnects with one of them, Dr. Rathika Nimalendran, who has been providing access to abortions in North Carolina for years, to talk about what action she's taking in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.

Who Bans Books - And Why?

July 05, 2022 13:05 - 22 minutes - 31.2 MB

Across the nation, we've seen a spike in book challenges and bans in both school and public libraries, mostly targeting books that center race and LGBT identity. At the end of 2021, Wake County had its own high-profile censorship controversy.

Who Bans Books and Why?

July 05, 2022 10:00 - 22 minutes - 31.2 MB

In this rebroadcast from February 1, 2022, host Anisa Khalifa takes a look into who bans books, why, and what kind of impact it has on our communities.

What the end of Roe v. Wade means for North Carolina

June 28, 2022 09:55 - 13 minutes - 18.9 MB

WUNC health and data reporter Jason deBruyn talks with Claire Donnelly, health reporter for WFAE, about abortion policy in North Carolina and what lies ahead in the wake of the Supreme Court's ruling. Part this episode contains audio from WRAL

Give Sarah Keys Her Flowers Now

June 21, 2022 10:06 - 15 minutes - 21.3 MB

In this rebroadcast from November 24, 2021, host Lindsay Foster Thomas showcases WUNC military reporter Jay Price’s recent story about the seminal court case Keys v Carolina Coach Co, and the work of middle school social studies teacher Rodney Pierce in amplifying Keys’ legacy.

A fresh start for Black farmers

June 16, 2022 09:55 - 13 minutes - 18.2 MB

Leoneda Inge hears from Black farmers in the Triangle about their perseverance to bounce back during the pandemic and help the Black agricultural community.

The Hows, Whens, and Ifs of Offshore Wind

June 07, 2022 10:00 - 18 minutes - 24.9 MB

Host Celeste Gracia talks with fishermen, wind energy advocates and state regulators about the questions that remain in North Carolina's advancements toward offshore wind farms.

Time (or climate change) will not erase the Montford Point Marines

June 02, 2022 09:55 - 17 minutes - 23.5 MB

Charlie Shelton-Ormond talks with Jay Price, WUNC military reporter, about the Marine Corps effort to protect the buildings at Montford Point and preserve the first Black Marines’ legacy.

The pomp and joy of a HBCU graduation

May 26, 2022 12:58 - 13 minutes - 18.8 MB

Leoneda Inge reflects on her son's recent college graduation and speaks with Rebecca Stallworth Inge about being celebrated as the oldest graduate at Shaw University in the Class of 2022

‘I don’t want to be here when it falls in’: How people on the Outer Banks are wrestling with a vanishing coastline

May 19, 2022 10:00 - 14 minutes - 19.4 MB

For folks who live on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, keeping up with storm patterns is a pretty common routine. But in recent years, keeping a watchful eye on the horizon has meant bracing for more severe damage to the coast.

How Consequential Are The 2022 Primaries?

May 17, 2022 10:00 - 20 minutes - 28.1 MB

This year’s primary elections in North Carolina were supposed to be in March. But a group of voters challenged the latest round of redistricting in court, arguing Republicans gave themselves an illegal partisan advantage. Now the new maps are in place, and the elections are set. They just need candidates.

Health Care Without Abortion Care

May 12, 2022 10:00 - 17 minutes - 23.9 MB

There's been a lot of talk about the political ramifications of the U.S. Supreme Court potentially overturning Roe v. Wade, but we wanted to explore what the decision would mean for women's health, particularly in North Carolina.

How social service agencies can get away with ‘dodging standards’

May 10, 2022 10:00 - 15 minutes - 21.8 MB

In North Carolina, local social service departments are able to skirt hiring standards set by the state. In some cases, an unqualified director and lack of oversight have severely affected families' wellbeing.

‘They just give me the mic and point the way:’ Shirley Caesar remains the Queen of Gospel

May 05, 2022 10:00 - 15 minutes - 21.8 MB

You may recognize some of the big names in gospel music like Kirk Franklin and Yolanda Adams, but these stars follow in the wake of the Queen of Gospel: Durham-native Pastor Shirley Caesar.

Living with long-haul COVID-19

May 03, 2022 10:00 - 26 minutes - 36.3 MB

Life is getting back to normal. But some doctors estimate that 30% of people who contracted the coronavirus will experience symptoms associated with "long-COVID." Some have had to drastically change their lives to deal with these symptoms, and doctors are still learning about how to treat these patients.

Schools Are Not Back To Normal

April 21, 2022 10:00 - 14 minutes - 19.8 MB

Teacher turnover. Burnout. Short-staffed schools. After two years in a pandemic, for many people, life is getting back to normal. But schools are not back to normal.

The birth of bluegrass

April 19, 2022 10:00 - 17 minutes - 23.9 MB

Among aficionados and fans of bluegrass, it's generally accepted that this quintessentially American genre of music was born in Nashville, Tennessee and was introduced by Earl Scruggs. But it's Kentuckian Bill Monroe who is known as the "Father of Bluegrass," not Scruggs. And just before Monroe went to the Grand Ole Opry, in 1939, he was performing regularly for a live 15-minute show called Mountain Music Time on WWNC, in Asheville, North Carolina.

Elizabeth City One Year After Andrew Brown's Death: Part 2

April 14, 2022 10:00 - 19 minutes - 26.7 MB

It was one year ago that sheriff’s deputies in Pasquotank County shot and killed Andrew Brown, Junior in Elizabeth City. Today, the small town in eastern North Carolina is at a crossroads. Elizabeth City and its surrounding community are on the brink of local elections that could determine which road they take.

Elizabeth City One Year After Andrew Brown's Death: Part 1

April 12, 2022 10:00 - 12 minutes - 16.9 MB

It was one year ago that sheriff’s deputies in Pasquotank County shot and killed Andrew Brown, Jr. The deputies were trying to serve arrest warrants on drug charges. They repeatedly fired into Brown’s car as he tried to steer it away from his home in Elizabeth City, N.C. Over the next two episodes of Tested, we'll take you down Highway 17 to where Elizabeth City stands one year later.

How Does NC Fit In To Offshore Wind Development?

April 07, 2022 18:36 - 12 minutes - 17 MB

Anyone who’s been to the Outer Banks knows that it’s windy out there. Like, really windy. That wind might be rough for beachgoers or kayakers, but it's great for producing electricity through offshore wind farms.

Rohingya Muslims welcome the U.S. declaration of genocide, but violence continues

April 05, 2022 18:15 - 29 minutes - 39.9 MB

The Rohingya, a Muslim minority group native to Myanmar, have suffered decades of ethnic cleansing by the country's government. Five years after a deadly peak in violence, the United Stated has finally declared it genocide. But what will this mean for the Rohingya, often called the most persecuted group in the world?

Dar He! The Artistic Advocacy of Mike Wiley

March 24, 2022 10:00 - 21 minutes - 30 MB

Through a one-person play, North Carolina actor and playwright Mike Wiley has taken the story of Emmett Till across the world. Now, his play carries an even deeper resonance in the wake of the recent Emmett Till Antilynching Act.

Artist who hoped for "Tarred Healing" felt censored instead

March 17, 2022 10:00 - 17 minutes - 24.4 MB

Education reporter Liz Schlemmer joins host Anisa Khalifa to discuss what happened when a Black cultural center at UNC-Chapel Hill canceled the exhibition of a Black artist. Cornell Watson, who created a photo series about Black life at UNC-CH for the Sonja Haynes Stone Center for Black Culture and History, describes the experience as censorship.

Testing the Candidacy of NC Congressman Madison Cawthorn

March 15, 2022 10:00 - 26 minutes - 36.8 MB

Republican Congressman Madison Cawthorn has garnered a lot of attention for himself, mostly as a full-throated supporter of Donald Trump and a rabble rouser at hard-right political rallies. But a group of voters recently sought to prevent him from running again.

Why Fayetteville’s Market House is a divisive symbol for the city

March 08, 2022 11:00 - 19 minutes - 27.3 MB

The Market House in Fayetteville has been a pillar of public discussion for generations. Today, the city continues to grapple with the presence and purpose of the historical landmark.

The Ethics of Wearing a Mask

March 03, 2022 11:00 - 16 minutes - 23 MB

Depending on where you live, your community may have ended its mandate to wear a mask in public. But the pandemic isn't over and vulnerable people can still get sick or die. So what is our responsibility to the greater good?

'We didn't have to ride in the back:' The story of Winston-Salem's Black-owned Safe Bus

March 01, 2022 11:00 - 6 minutes - 9.32 MB

A century or so ago, in Winston-Salem, racial segregation was in full force. Black people in the city were not allowed to live in certain areas, eat in certain places, and the city's trolley system did not extend into Black neighborhoods. That last reality sparked a vital solution: Safe Bus – a Black-owned and operated transportation system. WFDD’s David Ford recounts the remarkable story of Safe Bus.

Black Carolinians tell their pandemic stories

February 24, 2022 11:00 - 11 minutes - 15.6 MB

Leoneda Inge reports on the new Black Carolinians Speak project from the African American Heritage Commission and the State Archives, which documents the pandemic stories of African Americans in North Carolina.

Eva Clayton is still pushing for a better North Carolina

February 22, 2022 11:00 - 24 minutes - 33.9 MB

In 1992, Eva Clayton became the first Black woman from North Carolina elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Now, at 87 years old, Clayton is keeping her finger on the pulse of North Carolina politics.

Eva Clayton is still pushing for a better North Carolina

February 22, 2022 11:00 - 24 minutes - 33.9 MB

In 1992, Eva Clayton became the first Black woman from North Carolina elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Now, at 87 years old, Clayton is keeping her finger on the pulse of North Carolina politics.

Marcus Smith’s life mattered

February 17, 2022 11:00 - 5 minutes - 8.06 MB

It’s been more than three years since Marcus Smith died at the hands of police officers in Greensboro. Now, his family is coming to the end of a long and arduous road after a settlement with the City of Greensboro.

Diving With A Purpose

February 15, 2022 11:00 - 16 minutes - 23 MB

More than 150 years after the emancipation of slavery in America, a team of dedicated scuba divers is busy excavating and restoring wreckage from slave ships that sank across the Middle Passage.

Reducing the harm of fentanyl

February 10, 2022 11:00 - 17 minutes - 24.1 MB

Extremely potent substances like fentanyl and xylazine have flooded the illegal drug market, causing a major increase in overdose ER visits and deaths. Harm reduction policies could help reverse that trend.

Who's Going To Win The Super Bowl? Want To Bet?

February 08, 2022 11:00 - 21 minutes - 30.1 MB

In the South, sports betting is largely illegal, but since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a nationwide ban, more states are joining the pool. North Carolina could be next.

Big, Bad André Leon Talley

February 03, 2022 11:00 - 14 minutes - 19.3 MB

The “Pharaoh of Fabulosity” was an unstoppable force of fashion. André Leon Talley’s influence branched across the globe during his illustrious career – one that began in his hometown of Durham, N.C.

Who bans books — and why?

February 01, 2022 11:00 - 23 minutes - 31.6 MB

Across the nation, we've seen a spike in book challenges and bans in both school and public libraries in the last six months, mostly targeting books that center race and LGBT identity. At the end of 2021, Wake County had its own high-profile censorship controversy.

Who bans books — and why?

February 01, 2022 11:00 - 22 minutes - 31.6 MB

Across the nation, we've seen a spike in book challenges and bans in both school and public libraries in the last six months, mostly targeting books that center race and LGBT identity. At the end of 2021, Wake County had its own high-profile censorship controversy.

How Health Care Workers Soldier On

January 27, 2022 11:00 - 14 minutes - 20.5 MB

At this point in the pandemic, health care workers across the country are arguably under more pressure than ever. Some are getting sick themselves or burning out and leaving. But there are signs that COVID trends could turn for the better soon.