The Rant

State Rep. Robert Reives II (D-Chatham) joins The Rant to talk about becoming the new leader of North Carolina's Democratic caucus and about his work in Raleigh over the past year. 

Lee County Elections Director Jeni Harris joins The Rant to talk about her role overseeing the 2020 election locally, the process of ensuring a fair election and her thoughts on allegations of fraud in the national election. 

Wendy Bryan, executive director of the City of Sanford's Tourism Development Authority, joins The Rant to talk about how golf, breweries, parks, restaurants and a surprisingly big local wedding industry have sparked Sanford tourism in recent years. 

Chris Kelley, director of the Salvation Army of Lee County, talks about the organization's annual kettle drive and how COVID-19 has affected not only donations, but the number of volunteers out there.  The boys also rank the best coins (hint: quarters are the best). 

John Ramperger from Sanford Real Estate joins us this week to talk about Sanford's real estate market and what subdivisions like Galvin's Ridge and Laurel Oaks will mean to the city in the coming years. 

The Rant returns after a two-week hiatus to talk about the election in Lee County and North Carolina (we even talk a little national vote, too). Jonathan reporting live from Four Seasons Total Landscaping. 

This week's episode of The Friends of The Rant podcast talks heavy metal horror movies, all while reminding you very politely to get out and vote on Nov. 3 (or before). Enjoy.

Aslan Freeman — a songwriter, musician, producer and engineer in Nashville and guitarist for country star Lainey Wilson — joins the podcast this week to talk about his career, the state of the music industry during the pandemic and his love for North Carolina-based rock bands. 

Britton Buchanan talks about his career since leaving the Voice and shares big news about his upcoming debut album. 

Jaslyn Walker, Bob Bridwell and Meg Moss — representing Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Carolina — join Friends of The Rant to talk about fundraising for their nonprofit (including an upcoming golf tournament) and the impact the organization has on the community, especially during the pandemic.  Hosts Gordon Anderson and Billy Liggett also share drive-in movie memories and talk local headlines. 

Tina Gross, co-owner of Gross Farms in Sanford, joins the podcast to talk about Gross Farms' fall offerings — the annual corn maze and pumpkin-picking — and the importance of agritourism for the state's economy. 

Bob Joyce, economic development executive director for the Sanford Area Growth Alliance, talks about the state of the economy in Sanford and much more. Hosts Gordon Anderson, Billy Liggett and Jonathan Owens also share their 9/11 memories. 

No guest and an abbreviated episode this week — still a fun time had by all (and a look back at a classic Rant radio skit involving Jon and a Vince Gill concert from nine years ago). Enjoy!

Susan Weber, co-chair of the Lee Grow Play Succeed campaign to pass a bond in November to fund a multi-million dollar sports complex in Sanford, joins The Rant to talk about plans for the complex, the upcoming bond referendum and what a complex could mean for Sanford's future. Hosted by Gordon Anderson, Jonathan Owens and Billy Liggett.

Lisa Mathis from the North Carolina Board of Transportation and engineer Brandon Jones from NCDOT Division 8 join The Rant to talk about road projects in and around Lee County and to share a little highway trivia.  

Ricky Secor, the principal at Broadway Elementary School for the past four years, talks about the preparations he and his faculty have taken to start the 2020-2021 school year — which begins Monday with online classes. Hosted by Gordon Anderson, Billy Liggett and Jonathan Owens. 

Beth List, the director of library services for the Lee County Library, talks about how they've adapted to the pandemic to continue to offer books, internet and other services to the community. She also answers questions we all want to know about the library (Dewey Decimal system, anyone?) and shares updates on upcoming events.  The Rant also discusses the most recent edition of The Rant Monthly,...

Scott Mason, known throughout North Carolina as the Tar Heel Traveler on WRAL, joins The Rant to talk about his career, what goes into making a Tar Heel Traveler segment and why The Rant was on his radar. 

Sanford native, UNC senior and Rant contributor Laura Brummett joins The Rant's Friends of The Rant podcast to talk about her passion for journalism and college life during the pandemic. Hosted by Gordon Anderson, Billy Liggett and Jonathan Owens. 

In the July 2020 edition of The Rant Monthly , Morehouse College student and Southern Lee grad Ari Wright Thompson wrote about his experience growing up in Sanford and racism he faced. Ari talks goes into more detail for the podcast and talks about how studying political science and law will make him a better advocate. 

The Rant was joined this week by Chad Blackwelder, longtime chef and current food service marketing specialist for the N.C. Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Blackwelder talks about the industry, how restaurants have adapted to COVID-19 regulations and why Thousand Island dressing is frowned upon. We also play a little game of “guess that tune” in the beginning.

Cardinal & Pine  managing editor Billy Ball (formerly a writer for The Sanford Herald), talks to The Rant about starting a news site from scratch, the state of journalism today and how his site has covered COVID-19 and Black Lives Matter protests in North Carolina. Hosted by Gordon Anderson, Billy Liggett and Jonathan Owens.

The Friends of The Rant podcast had a little bit of everything this week. Hosts Gordon Anderson, Billy Liggett and Jonathan Owens relive their newspaper days, discuss local news regarding COVID-19 and controversial commissioners and share a ukulele cover of an Oort Patrol tune performed by a 10-year-old girl. Fun times were had by all. Thanks for listening.

Margaret Murchison, longtime news director at WWGP in Sanford, joined The Friends of The Rant podcast this week to talk about losing her sister, Renda McRae, to COVID-19 last week. She also gives her thoughts on the nationwide protests of the death of George Floyd and her own experiences facing segregation in Sanford during the 1960s.

Sanford Area Growth Alliance Existing Industry Development Manager Jimmy Randolph joins the Friends of The Rant podcast to talk about the recent announcement of clothing manufacturer Through6 coming to Sanford and other recent big job announcements made in the past six months. Hosts Gordon Anderson, Billy Liggett and Jonathan Owens also talk ukuleles and post-WWII Germany.