Storytellers Podcast

Wherever he travels, T. Edward Nickens finds comfort in a cup of joe.

In 1942 at UNC Chapel Hill, young musicians marched into history as the Navy's first all-Black unit band.   

When food writer Sheri Castle discovers her grandfather's old mill, she and her family set out to revive a Southern tradition fueled by grits and grist.

A paleontologist uncovers the ancient lives still hidden in North Carolina's rocks and coastline.

 In a state shaped by kindness and hospitality, our editor in chief reflects on how simple gestures, from pound cake to a warm welcome at the door, imbue North Carolina with a sense of home.   

 Food writer Sheri Castle gives thanks for the Atlantic's seasonal bounty of oysters and how it gives those in the snow-capped Appalachian mountains a taste of Christmas on the coast.

At the end of another year of travels, writer and adventurer T. Edward Nickens reflects on what roots him to North Carolina.

Dr. Eleanor Spicer Rice explores how North Carolina's "tree thief" nourishes a surprising community of wildlife, from cedar waxwings to great purple hairstreaks, during the winter months. 

For nearly 90 years, Winston-Salem's Industries for the Blind Solutions has been a beacon of opportunity for individuals with vision impairments.

As Christmas draws near, our editor in chief takes a moment to reflect on the spirit of giving and sense of gratitude it nurtures.

Everywhere in North Carolina, deer walk among us, mostly unnoticed. A glimpse of these quiet creatures reveals how closely the natural world mirrors our own. Listen as the pages of the magazine come to life in the Storytellers podcast, a new series featuring the voices of six Our State writers, including Editor in Chief Elizabeth Hudson. Each podcast episode features a writer reading their column...

A painter, a poet, a novelist, a middle school student, and many others have played a role in revealing the story — and the lessons — of the all-Black Pea Island Life-Saving Station. Listen as the pages of the magazine come to life in the Storytellers podcast, a new series featuring the voices of six Our State writers, including Editor in Chief Elizabeth Hudson. Each podcast episode features a wri...

The sizzle in a skillet, the scent of toasting flour, the taste of I savory victory: Gravy-making engages the senses to honor of the humble glory that Southern cooks find in grease. Listen as the pages of the magazine come to life in the Storytellers podcast, a new series featuring the voices of six Our State writers, including Editor in Chief Elizabeth Hudson. Each podcast episode features a writ...

From pocosins to hollows, black bears shape North Carolina's wild places — with persistence, silence, and strength. Listen as the pages of the magazine come to life in the Storytellers podcast, a new series featuring the voices of six Our State writers, including Editor in Chief Elizabeth Hudson. Each podcast episode features a writer reading their column aloud, allowing each distinct voice to shi...

Listen as the pages of the magazine come to life in the Storytellers podcast, a new series featuring the voices of six Our State writers, including Editor in Chief Elizabeth Hudson. Each podcast episode features a writer reading their column aloud, allowing each distinct voice to shine. You can experience Our State wherever you go — in the car, on your walk, or while cooking dinner.

More than 20 years ago, writer T. Edward Nickens found a hairstylist and a kindred spirit — and discovered the transportive power of a well-told story.

In this episode of Hidden History, Brad Campbell shares the story of a Presbyterian minister and the lasting impact he made in Banner Elk, NC, and the surrounding communities.

Writer Sheri Castle muses on in-season apples fill more than our pastries and pies. They're forever baked into our family trees and tales.

Entomologist Dr. Eleanor Spicer Rice travels to Asheville to learn about the endangered gray bats species as the local population recovers after Hurricane Helene.

One year after Hurricane Helene, Our State's editor in chief finds awe in the resilient spirit of North Carolinians that arose amidst the devastation.