Charlotte Talks

Tuesday July 7 | Author Terry McMillan

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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Monday July 6 | Baseball’s Doc Graham

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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Friday July 3 | Oceanic Explorer

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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Thursday July 2 | Meeting Basic Needs & Bald Eagle Release

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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Wednesday July 1 | Legalizing Marijuana

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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Tuesday June 30 | The Future of the Republican Party

The Republican Party has had a longstanding and powerful presence in North Carolina, but the past election cycle brought large scale defeats to the party, including Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory’s gubernatorial bid. There is also internal debate on who leads the party on a national level. We’ll speak with several prominent local Republicans on the future of the party in our region, the upcoming election cycle and who may emerge as the main leaders both here in North Carolina and on the national stage.
Guests
Tom Fetzer – Chairman, North Carolina Republican Party
Karen Bentley – County Commissioner, District 1
Mayor Pat McCrory – Mayor, Charlotte NC

• North Carolina Republican Party Website

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Monday June 29 | Health Care Reform

The topic of health care reform is being debated in every corner of Washington, DC as President Obama continues to announce initiatives and proposals. What would health care reform mean to Carolinians and what are the proposals most likely to gain passage? We’ll assemble our own panel of experts to find out more about health care reform and what form it may take in the near future.
Guests
Michael Thompson – Asst. Professor, Public Health Sciences, UNC Charlotte
Meredith Ledford – Private Consultant, Health Policy Analyst
Dr. C.L. Gray – Founder, Physicians for Reform

• WFAE  |  Drug companies offer hope for NC seniors on Medicare
• NPR  |  Health Care Reform coverage

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Friday June 26 | Grilling with PBS’ Steven Raichlen

He’s been called “America’s Master Griller” by Esquire Magazine and his books and TV shows have taught thousands of people how to grill. Steven Raichlen, host of the PBS show The Primal Grill and author of The Barbecue Bible and How to Grill joins us to discuss everything grilling- from the most basic, but important tips to experiments in creative grilling, and take your questions.

Guest
Steven Raichlen – Cooking teacher, Author of The Barbecue! Bible and How to Grill

• Steven Raichlen’s Barbecue Bible Blog
• PBS’ The Primal Grill airs Saturdays at 2pm on WTVI
• Information on “Share the Obsession,” a national grilling recipe contest

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Thursday June 25 | The Dad Factor

Today we’ll look at what it means to be a father. The definition has changed over the last couple of generations as modern dads play roles that may be far different from their own fathers. More research has been conducted to help us understand the impact of fathers on their children and on marriage. In advance of a WFAE Public Conversation on the topic, we’ll talk with a panel of experts to explore the role and influence of the modern day father.
Guests
Dr. George Bitar – Asst. Professor, Marriage and Family Therapy, Pfeiffer University
Reggie Singleton – Director, Males Place Program
Sandra Willoughby – Director, Center for Community Transitions

• Join WFAE’s Public Conversation on The Dad Factor, tonight at 7, at ImaginOn

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Wednesday June 24 | NC State Budget

Lawmakers in the NC House have passed an $18.6 Billion budget, but not before cuts were made in spending and services, that some members described as “brutal.” There remain critics, including lawmakers who think there is still unnecessary spending. Debate continues in the House and Senate with barely two weeks left in the fiscal year. We’ll explore what may be an unprecedented budget battle at our state Capitol.
Guests
Mark Johnson – Staff Reporter, Capitol Bureau of the Charlotte Observer
Dr. Gary Rassel – Assoc. Professor of Political Science, UNC Charlotte
Scott Pattison – Exec. Director, National Association of State Budget Officers
Dr. Michael Bitzer – Assoc. Professor, Political Science, Catawba College

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