Charlotte Blogs

The concept of using innovation in business has gained popularity in this difficult economy. Companies are working to “gain a competitive edge” by being more creative and innovative about the products and services they provide. We’ll talk with local innovation experts about how companies of all sizes- nationally and here in the Charlotte region- are using innovation, and how embracing a more creative and inventive way of doing business may help them survive and thrive in the down economy. Can businesses be “taught” to think creatively? We’ll find out.
Guests
Monty Montague – Innovation columnist, Charlotte Business Journal
Paul Wetenhall – President, Ben Craig Center Business Incubator, UNC Charlotte
Barbara Spradling – Director, Innovation Institute, McColl Center for Visual Art

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Guest host Chris Clackum guides us through a look back to the 1967 attack on the USS Liberty by the Israeli Defense Force and the investigation that followed. We’ll hear a first hand account from a Charlotte resident who is a survivor of the attack and from his son who authored a book about the incident, The Attack on the Liberty: The Untold Story of Israel’s Deadly 1967 Assault on a US Spy Ship. We’ll talk about survivor accounts of the attack, what happened in the aftermath, and about why United States and Israeli officials worked to de-emphasize the attack.
Guests
James Scott – Author, The Attack on the Liberty
John Scott – Survivor, damage control engineer aboard the Liberty

• Amazon  |  The Attack on the Liberty by James Scott
• NPR  |  1967 Attack Still Haunts USS Liberty Survivors

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The local food movement continues to grow in our region. Concord author Aaron Newton joins us to talk about this movement and his book A Nation of Farmers. We’re also joined by Christy Shi who runs an organization aimed at bringing local farm food right to the doors of families in our region. We’ll talk about small farms, backyard farms, local food and hear from a doctor about the benefits of local fresh food.
Guests
Aaron Newton – Co-author, A Nation of Farmers
Christy Shi – Owner, Know Your Farms
Dr. Michael Smith – President, Carolinas Natural Health Center

• Slow Food Charlotte
• Amazon  |  A Nation of Farmers by Aaron Newton and Sharon Astyk
• Charlotte Talks  |  From Farm to Fork

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Guest Host Chris Clackum hosts a conversation about Charlotte’s history, including some well-known events you may know, and some you may not have heard about. Long-time Charlotte historian Mary Kratt has just released a new book about the Queen City, Charlotte North Carolina: A Brief History. She joins us for a look back.
Guest
Mary Kratt – Author of Charlotte, North Carolina: A Brief History

• Charlotte Talks  |  A New Historic Charlotte?
• Charlotte Talks  |  Finding Historic Charlotte

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Novelist and Author of Waiting to Exhale and How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Terry McMillan joins us. Millions of people all over the world have read her books, three of which have been made into movies. Her life hasn’t always been charmed, however, as she has navigated difficult relationships and failed marriages, all while raising a child and writing novels. She joins us to discuss her life and career.
Guest
Terry McMillan – Author of Waiting to Exhale and How Stella Got Her Groove Back
Since this is an encore presentation, we won’t be able to take your phone calls.

• Terry McMillan’s website
• Amazon  |  Waiting to Exhale by Terry McMillan
• Amazon  |  How Stella Got Her Groove Back by Terry McMillan

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We’ll look back to baseball’s early days and hear the story of Doc Graham – Archibald “Moonlight” Graham. He was fictionally portrayed in the movie, Field of Dreams, but he actually existed and played in the minors in Charlotte. We’ll hear his story through the eyes of Brett Friedlander, who helped chronicle his life in the book Chasing Moonlight: The True Story of Field of Dreams’ Doc Graham.

Guest
Brett Friedlander – Sports Columnist, Wilmington Star-News and Co-Author of Chasing Moonlight: The True Story of Field of Dreams’ Doc Graham
Since this is an encore presentation, we won’t be able to take your phone calls.

• Amazon  |  Chasing Moonlight by Brett Friedlander

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Humans know more about outer space than we do about the ocean depths of our own planet. But that’s changing thanks to Dana Yoerger, an Oceanographic scientist who designs robot control systems that have revolutionized deep-sea exploration. We’ll hear about some of his experiences along the ocean floor.
Guest
Dr. Dana Yoerger – Associate Scientist, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Since this is an encore presentation, we won’t be able to take your phone calls.

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Part One: Meeting Basic Human Needs
Earlier this week, a collaborative group of Charlotte Mecklenburg officials and community organizations held a community dialogue on meeting basic human needs in this economy. As a part of Charlotte Mission Possible, we’ll talk about what community members, local officials and organizations had to say about the needs of our community and what is being done to meet those needs.
Guests
Willie Ratchford – Exec. Director, Charlotte Mecklenburg Community Relations
Carol Hardison – Exec. Director, Crisis Assistance Ministry
John McGillicuddy – General Manager, Mecklenburg County government

• WFAE  |  Concerned citizens want plan to tackle need in Charlotte
• WFAE  |  Looking inside Charlotte: Mission Possible

Charlotte Mission Possible is a joint effort by local media outlets to help Charlotte residents understand the charitable needs of the community and then find ways to help meet those needs. Learn more.

Part Two: Bald Eagle Release
An injured bald eagle arrived at the Carolina Raptor Center a couple of months ago to undergo rehabilitation including surgeries and to gain back its lost strength. This weekend, the eagle will be released back into the wild. Mike will talk with the veterinarian who helped bring the bald eagle back into good health to find out how the rehabilitation and release process works and about how different birds respond to the process.
Guest
Dr. Dave Scott – Staff Veterinarian, Carolina Raptor Center

• More info on the July 4th release of the bald eagle in honor of NC veterans

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For the first time ever, legislation has been introduced in North Carolina to legalize marijuana for medical purposes. A movement to legalize the drug is gaining momentum all across the country. Our panel of experts will explore the health, political and economic implications of legalizing a drug that has been vilified for decades.
Guests
Stephen Newman – Administrator, Prevention/Wellness, Meck Co. Health Dept.
Dan Bernath – Asst. Director of Communications, Marijuana Policy Project
Dr. Jeffrey Miron – Visiting Asst. Professor of Economics, Harvard

• NPR  |  Marijuana vendors lobby to pay higher taxes
• NPR  |  Rhode Island becomes third state to allow marijuana stores
• NPR  |  Drug Czar Kerlikowske leads shift in drug policy

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