The Broadside

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Omar, the enslaved man who wrote letters to America

September 17, 2026

Like millions of Africans, Omar ibn Said was brought to the New World against his will where he spent the rest of his life enslaved in the Carolinas. But there was something remarkable about this man from present day Senegal; he was an incredibly well-educated Muslim scholar who could write Arabic. Now, 200 years later, we're finally getting to properly read Omar's letters to America.Featuring:Rhiannon Giddens, musician, actor and co-writer of the Pulitzer-winning opera OmarMbaye Lo, professo...

Trucks, drugs and rock and roll: Maximum Overdrive turns 40

September 10, 2026

A little over 40 years ago, filming began in North Carolina for an ambitious movie called Maximum Overdrive. The project was led by a legendary producer who’d made some of the greatest films of all-time. And it was written and directed by the most famous author in the world—Stephen King. It seemed like a can’t miss production. But then… everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. The result was a 'cocaine-fueled' disaster that helped put the Southern film industry on the map.Featuring:Bob G...

Competitive whistling and the trill of the chase

September 03, 2026

For most people, whistling is just a casual way to pass the time. But there’s a small worldwide community of whistling enthusiasts who've taken the artform to a whole new level. This week, we tell the strange story of competitive whistling in America and follow one man’s journey from North Carolina all the way to Japan in a quest to become one of the greats.Featuring:Leslie Boney, competitive whistler and contributor at The AssemblyLinks:The Assembly: The Trill of the ChaseCover image: Masash...