Storytellers Podcast

Our Ramblin' Man's outdoor shower has no frills, no mercy, and no need for improvement.

In this episode of North Carolina, Naturally, Dr. Eleanor Spicer Rice meets Peaches, a rescued possum at the Piedmont Wildlife Center. While these native marsupials often get a bad rap, they are actually unassuming superheroes that prowl our neighborhoods for insects, venomous snakes, and roadkill, cleaning up our yards and streets under the cover of darkness.   

In Winston-Salem, North Carolina, an Art Deco tower symbolized the success of the nation's largest tobacco empire and served as the model for the Empire State Building.

Our editor in chief marvels at the way everyday objects offer a reflection of place and craftsmanship, and how North Carolinians draw pride from the pieces that feel like home.   

Armed with a canoe, a pack of provisions, and complete confidence, a dad leads his son into the woods for a lesson neither of them will forget.

Whether we serve it in crystal glasses or a rustic Mason jar, homemade iced tea has the power to cross cultural, religious, and economic lines.

When writer's block chases the words away, our editor in chief finds inspiration in the kitchen, where familiar recipes and motions stir her creativity.

Western North Carolina sits at the heart of the Southern Appalachia bioregion, one of the most biodiverse places on earth. Here, up to 10,000 varieties of fungi flourish, and Dr. Eleanor Spice Rice meets with Asheville-based foraging educator Alan Muskat to learn more about identifying the food that's found on the forest floor.

In the early 20th century, farm life schools flourished in rural North Carolina, instilling students not only with an education, but also a sense of community.

Whether it's a childhood fort, a cozy cabin, or a tucked-away tent, our editor in chief appreciates the sanctuary we find in our little hideaways — no matter how old we get.

In the mountains of North Carolina, a summer camp's jolliest tradition sparked a global phenomenon.

For 50 years, Country Fruit Stand No. 2 near Goldsboro has welcomed travelers with fresh produce, good people, and a reason to linger.

In this episode, Dr. Eleanor Spicer Rice learns about the birds that seemingly swim through the skies and the way they depend on humans to survive.

Whether at farmers markets, home gardens, or kitchen tables, Southerners keep these gorgeous green vegetables close by for frying, stewing, and pickling.

Southerners possess a particular passion and proclivity for using mayo … in pretty much everything. While food writer Sheri Castle won't reveal her preferred brand (too dicey), she does celebrate this do-all ingredient and its ability to hold foods (and people) together.

Despite their name, spoil islands are hardly a wasteland. These man-made islands offer remote and protected nesting habitats for birds and wildlife — and for our Ramblin' Man, a reminder that the beach is meant to be shared.

On the easternmost edge of North Carolina's Outer Banks, the waves off Hatteras hold their power longer than anywhere else on the East Coast. In this episode, Dr. Eleanor Spicer Rice meets surfer and waterman Pat O'Neal, who helps her understand this natural phenomenon and the fun and fury the tides bring.

In the shallow waters of Currituck, Albemarle, and Pamlico sounds, a waterman's best insurance is a long, wooden shove pole used to propel boats and small skiffs from duck decoys to their destinations.

A blue crab sandwich reminds our editor in chief that North Carolina's delicate coastline fuels the journey from water to hand — creating a seasonal flavor that brings us back time and again.

From sunset to dawn, avian travelers cross North Carolina's skies at night, leaving behind a trail of fleeting chirps and trills that mesmerize Our State contributor T. Edward Nickens. 

Poured from pharmacy taps and chilled in icy chests, North Carolina soft drinks have long sweetened memories and sparked a legacy of local pride.

On a recent spring morning in Asheville, our editor in chief reflected on the mountains' beauty during the season of awakening.

North Carolina is home to more than half of the nation's meat-hungry plants. In the Sandhills Gameland, Dr. Eleanor Spicer Rice learns more about how these green assassins survive — and thrive — across our state's landscapes.

In 1917, the town of Hot Springs, North Carolina, transformed into a shared landscape of craftsmanship and culture after 2,000 German officers, sailors, and civilians carved out a community along the banks of the French Broad River.