Tested
294 episodes - English - Latest episode: 8 months ago - ★★★★★ - 52 ratingsTested is a hard look at how North Carolina and its neighbors face the day's challenges. Hosted by journalists Dave DeWitt and Leoneda Inge.
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Episodes
20 Years In Afghanistan
September 03, 2021 10:00 - 22 minutes - 31.4 MBIn their last two weeks in the country, U.S. troops evacuated more than 123,000 people out of Afghanistan. The process has been called “two weeks of chaos and 20 years of war.”
'I Won't Feel Safe Until We're All Safe': How An Epidemiologist Is Coping With A 'Moving Target'
August 30, 2021 10:00 - 15 minutes - 21.8 MBDr. Whitney Robinson, an associate professor in the Department of Epidemiology/UNC Gillings School of Public Health, speaks about how she is personally and professional navigating the pandemic.
Back To School (Again) In The Time Of COVID
August 27, 2021 11:08 - 14 minutes - 20.2 MBNow that classes are back in session in North Carolina schools, how do they respond to a new phase of the global pandemic in which we know a lot more about the virus, including the fact that it can still spread so quickly especially among children?
My Mic Sounds Nice: Youth Reporters Bring The Heat This Summer
August 23, 2021 11:13 - 33 minutes - 46.1 MBReporters from WUNC's Youth Reporting Institute share their experience in the program this summer.
The PPP Dilemma
August 20, 2021 10:00 - 20 minutes - 28.3 MBFor many small business owners, PPP loans from the federal government were a lifesaver. That Paycheck Protection Program money was right on time and picture perfect for a lot of people... a lot of white people. Many Black and Hispanic businesses didn’t get paid that way.
Shopping Around For A Trip To The Hospital
August 13, 2021 10:00 - 16 minutes - 23.1 MBHealth care is notoriously expensive in the United States. And it’s often the patient’s responsibility not just to pay, but to make sure they aren’t paying too much. But where do those numbers come from? And how would you know if you’re paying too much?
Maximizing Your Staycation
August 06, 2021 10:00 - 11 minutes - 15.7 MBAs the heat of summer lingers and the pandemic hits another peak, many North Carolinians are considering one more "staycation" before school begins.
Should We Be Angry At The Unvaccinated?
July 30, 2021 10:00 - 14 minutes - 19.7 MBHost Dave DeWitt speaks with Rose Hoban, editor and founder of North Carolina Health News, about how we should feel toward those who have chosen to remain unvaccinated, the efforts to increase North Carolina's vaccination rate, and why some of them might still work.
Music Got Me Through
July 23, 2021 10:20 - 17 minutes - 24.7 MBWhich beats, melodies and voices eased the pain of the pandemic for you? Host Leoneda Inge explores the power of music to help us maintain our mental health in trying times. | Love this podcast? Support it today with a donation to wunc.org/give.
Trouble Hiring: North Carolina's Post-Pandemic Worker Shortage
July 21, 2021 10:00 - 13 minutes - 18.9 MBFrustrated business owners are scrambling to find people to fill positions they lost during the COVID-19 pandemic, hoping to revive their businesses, but our favorite spots just don’t have the workforce they did before COVID. And many of those who are returning to these generally low-paying, high-traffic jobs are afraid of going back to work they now see as high-risk, and maybe not worth it.
Marcus Smith Should Be Alive
July 16, 2021 10:00 - 19 minutes - 26.4 MBHost Charlie Shelton Ormond looks at the tragic case of Marcus Smith with his family members, and examines the use of hog-tying as a restraint tactic used by some law enforcement agencies with Joe Neff, reporter for the Marshall Project.
Will NC's Next Round Of Redistricting Be Less Contentious Than, Or Just Like, The Last Decade?
July 14, 2021 13:08 - 22 minutes - 30.7 MBNorth Carolina's Republican-led legislature soon will start the decennial redistricting process. One question is, will they look back on a decade's worth of litigation to carve a path towards fairer political maps or to gain as much political advantage as possible before courts take up the inevitable lawsuits?
Reckoning With Racism On The Blue Ridge Parkway
July 09, 2021 10:00 - 17 minutes - 23.5 MBAmerica’s Favorite Drive. That’s what the National Park Service calls the Blue Ridge Parkway, and they have the numbers to back it up: 14 million visitors in 2020. But like the rest of the South through which it winds, the Blue Ridge Parkway wasn’t always welcoming - or even accessible - to all of America.
The Black Scholar Who Took On UNC Before Nikole Hannah-Jones
July 07, 2021 17:42 - 28 minutes - 39.1 MBDecades before Nikole Hannah-Jones' tenure battle with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill made national headlines, another Black scholar was slighted by UNC, inspiring a brave decision to hold the university accountable. | Support this show with a donation at wunc.org/give.
Confederate Monuments Are Coming Down In NC. What Now?
July 02, 2021 10:00 - 16 minutes - 22.6 MBHost Leoneda Inge speaks with James Williams, the retired public defender for Orange and Chatham Counties, and Kimberly Probolus, a fellow at the Southern Poverty Law Center, about where Confederate Monuments in North Carolina have been taken down, where they still stand, and how these symbols of hate stand in the way of an honest reckoning with systemic white supremacy in the South.
NC GOP, Democrats See Election Integrity In Different Terms
June 30, 2021 10:57 - 24 minutes - 34.3 MBHost Rusty Jacobs talks to two North Carolina lawmakers about GOP-backed legislation that would eliminate a three-day grace period for counting mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day. Democrats and voting rights advocates say Republicans are pushing a false narrative about election fraud.
North Carolina's 'Patchwork Protection' For Children
June 28, 2021 11:14 - 18 minutes - 25.1 MBWhenever signs exist that a child is being abused or neglected, it’s a social worker’s job to determine whether it’s best to step in and remove that child from their home.But the likelihood a child is removed from their home varies depending on where they live in North Carolina.
Long And Arduous: Writing The North Carolina Budget
June 25, 2021 10:00 - 17 minutes - 23.7 MBThe North Carolina General Assembly is months away from finishing the state budget for the next two years, but the state Senate has unveiled its proposal. WUNC's Jeff Tiberii outlines the Senate's priorities and explains why there may not be a budget before the end of the year, let alone the fiscal year.
Why Some Faculty Of Color Are Leaving UNC Chapel Hill
June 23, 2021 10:00 - 19 minutes - 26.2 MBSome faculty of color at UNC Chapel Hill have resigned amid the UNC Board of Trustees' refusal to give tenure to acclaimed journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones. But they say their departures are the result of years' worth of marginalization by university administrators.
The Unvaccinated
June 21, 2021 10:00 - 15 minutes - 21.9 MBWhen broken down by county, North Carolina's vaccination rate against Covid ranges from "not bad" to pretty awful.
Seeking Justice And Commemorating Juneteenth
June 18, 2021 10:00 - 14 minutes - 19.3 MBHost Leoneda Inge marks Juneteenth with two guests: Joseph McGill, the founder of the Slave Dwelling Project and the history and culture coordinator at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens in Charleston; and Kevin Jones, a master barber in Wendell, about the importance of Black fatherhood.
Welcome Back: NC Music Venues Emerge From The Pandemic
June 16, 2021 11:06 - 15 minutes - 21.2 MBLike many businesses, independent live music venues in North Carolina and across the country are emerging from restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. But they're still waiting on much needed federal assistance.
Navigating North Carolina's Medicaid Overhaul
June 14, 2021 10:57 - 18 minutes - 24.9 MBThe major health care program that serves low-income and disabled North Carolinians is getting a major overhaul on July 1. But some Medicaid beneficiaries are frustrated and confused about what their care will look like after the transformation.
The Gateway To Hatteras
June 11, 2021 11:01 - 7 minutes - 10.8 MBThe bridge over the Oregon Inlet on North Carolina's Outer Banks is vital to the residents of Hatteras Island, so it's hard to imagine there was a time when there were serious disagreements about building the bridge in the first place.
Fewer Cells, More Solutions
June 09, 2021 10:54 - 12 minutes - 17.1 MBA multimillion dollar jail expansion proposal in Haywood County is causing a rift within the community and raising questions about the importance of rehabilitation and the effectiveness of incarceration.
Cops In The Classroom: Why Students Are Protesting School Resource Officers
June 07, 2021 10:00 - 23 minutes - 32.6 MBHost Kamaya Truitt examines the ongoing push to rethink the role of school resource officers in North Carolina’s public schools.
Thanks, Dr. Kizzy
June 04, 2021 10:58 - 18 minutes - 25.3 MBTrevon Logan, distinguished Professor of Economics and Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at The Ohio State University, talks about some of the origins of contemporary Black names in the United States.
A Refugee Family Reacts To Biden's Plan: Will It Help Reunite Their Family?
June 02, 2021 10:00 - 16 minutes - 23.3 MBHost Naomi Prioleau checks in with Prince and Laurette Mushunju about their experience emigrating from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and how they are trying to bring family members to the U.S. We also hear from Megan Shepard, the director of Church World Service in Greensboro, about the organization's efforts to help refugees land on their feet when they come to the Triad.
An In-Depth Look At Why Nikole Hannah-Jones Didn't Get Tenure, And The Outrage That Followed
May 28, 2021 10:00 - 15 minutes - 21.4 MBHost Dave DeWitt speaks with WUNC education reporter Liz Schlemmer about the ongoing tenure controversy involving Nikole Hannah-Jones and UNC-Chapel Hill.
Discovering And Excavating Racist Housing Covenants
May 26, 2021 10:00 - 20 minutes - 27.6 MBHost Rebecca Martinez explores the history and impact of racist housing covenants, and spotlights a new effort to uncover them.
Mask Confusion
May 24, 2021 10:00 - 14 minutes - 20.2 MBThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says fully vaccinated people can ditch their facemasks, for the most part. But some are still uneasy about taking it off in public and others are confused about exceptions to the rules.
Anti-Riot Law in NC
May 21, 2021 10:00 - 14 minutes - 20.1 MBHost Rusty Jacobs discusses proposed changes to North Carolina's anti-riot statute with activists, lawmakers, business owners and a civil liberties advocate.
DA: Deputies Who Shot Andrew Brown Jr. Will Not Be Prosecuted
May 19, 2021 10:00 - 9 minutes - 12.7 MBHost Dave DeWitt speaks with WUNC's Will Michaels, who is in Elizabeth City, about District Attorney Andrew Womble's rationale for not prosecuting the deputies who shot and killed Andrew Brown Jr.
A Durham Biotech Is Growing Replacement Human Arteries
May 17, 2021 10:00 - 11 minutes - 15.7 MBA company with roots in a Duke University lab is developing implantable human tissue right here in Research Triangle Park. Humacyte is led by co-founder and chief executive Dr. Laura Niklason, who says this is a first-of-its kind breakthrough that could save thousands of limbs from amputation, improve care for patients on hemodialysis, and more. Host Jason deBruyn explains the potential health breakthrough and talks with Niklason about the company's history and future.
Beginning To Right The Financial Wrongs Of Funding HBCUs
May 14, 2021 10:00 - 14 minutes - 20.5 MBFor decades, states and the federal government have funded Historically Black Colleges and Universities at rates much lower than historically white schools. Those funders – public and private – are just beginning to see the systemic racism built into how we pay for colleges, and small steps are being taken to right past wrongs. Host Dave DeWitt speaks with Liz Schlemmer, WUNC's education reporter, about that history, and how one school – North Carolina A&T State University – is sett...
Remembering Chapel Hill's Worst Fire
May 12, 2021 12:03 - 19 minutes - 26.4 MBMay 12, 1996, was Graduation Day and Mothers' Day at UNC-Chapel Hill. It was tragically disrupted by an early morning fire that killed five students at the Phi Gamma Delta house on Cameron Avenue.Host Will Michaels talks with Dan Jones, the former Chapel Hill Fire Chief who had been pushing for safety upgrades in Greek housing; Ben Eubanks, a Phi Gamma Delta brother who escaped the fire; and Bonnie Woodruff, who lost her son Ben Woodruff in the fire.
#BlackVanLife
May 10, 2021 10:00 - 13 minutes - 18.3 MBHost Rebecca Martinez speaks with Durham artist Marcella Zibguo Camara about her decision to get in on the #BlackVanlife movement.
Degrees Of Justice
May 07, 2021 11:43 - 18 minutes - 25.8 MBHost Leoneda Inge talks with Professor Elan Hope of NC State University about her research of youth activism, and how racism has prompted young people to act.
The Rise of Unaffiliated Voters
May 05, 2021 10:00 - 7 minutes - 9.66 MBHost Rusty Jacobs looks at what voters changing their Republican and Democratic party affiliations means for future elections in North Carolina and the South.
Are U.S. Marshals Getting Away With Murder?
May 03, 2021 10:00 - 15 minutes - 20.8 MBHost Charlie Shelton-Ormond examines the protocols of U.S. Marshals and how the federal agency is able to sidestep transparency.
Singing The Pandemic Blues
April 30, 2021 21:41 - 19 minutes - 26.7 MBAfter a year when it was hard not to get the blues, something to sing about: Host Leoneda Inge checks in on some older musicians whose health and income struggled with venues closed and gatherings prohibited. She talks with Tim Duffy and Brittany Anderson of The Music Maker Relief Foundation about finding ways to support artists during an unprecedented time. Plus, an exclusive performance by Pat “Mother Blues” Cohen. | Check out the Freight Train Blues Virtual Music Series at wunc.o...
For Those Of Us Who Are Still Here
April 27, 2021 22:02 - 17 minutes - 24 MBThe global pandemic gave us so many reasons to feel like giving up. So, when Charlotte-based journalist Sarah Delia went to work telling the story of COVID-19 in her community, she decided to focus on tales of resilience. Guest host Rebecca Martinez talks to Delia about her podcast Still Here from WFAE. | Keep up with WUNC's podcasts and the latest news on Twitter @wunc.
COVID Vaccination Hesitation
April 23, 2021 21:24 - 23 minutes - 54.5 MBHost Leoneda Inge discusses the Johnson & Johnson vaccine pause and its influence on vaccine messaging within communities of color in North Carolina. | Support this show with a donation to wunc.org/give.
Racial Injustice And Law Enforcement
April 20, 2021 19:55 - 19 minutes - 44.7 MBHost Dave DeWitt talks to WUNC reporter Jason deBruyn about the recommendations from the governor's Task Force on Racial Equity in Criminal Justice — and the criticisms of them.
The Persisting Legacy Of Pauli Murray
April 16, 2021 20:30 - 25 minutes - 35.1 MBAn episode from WUNC's special audio series, Pauli, which explores chapters in the fascinating life of social justice activist Pauli Murray. | Learn more at wunc.org/pauli.
Social Studies Meets Social Justice
April 13, 2021 23:49 - 27 minutes - 37.5 MBHost Dave DeWitt shares an episode of the WUNC Politics Podcast that explores the controversy over K-12 social studies curriculum in North Carolina. | Follow the show on Twitter @wunc.
The ARC Of Justice
April 09, 2021 21:03 - 27 minutes - 37.9 MBHost Leoneda Inge introduces listeners to The ARC of Justice, a special audio series from WUNC and the podcast Ways & Means, which examines the role of the U.S. government in creating the racial wealth gap between white and Black Americans. | Follow Leoneda on Twitter @leonedainge.
Leaving It All On The Court
April 06, 2021 20:06 - 12 minutes - 17.2 MBHost Dave DeWitt talks to Touro College’s Dean of Health Sciences Louis Primavera about the identity issues that come with retirement.
Changing The Game
April 02, 2021 14:35 - 20 minutes - 27.7 MBLunch counters were some of the most well-known settings for desegregation efforts during the Civil Rights era. But in Asheville, that battle also played out on a municipal golf course. Host Leoneda Inge talks with golfer Billy Gardenhight, and Paul Bonesteel, director of a new documentary about the course called "Muni."
The Lives Lost
March 30, 2021 19:27 - 21 minutes - 29.9 MBHost Dave DeWitt talks to three reporters about the people they profiled as part of the pandemic obituary series The Lives Lost.