Close To Home has been on public radio in Western North Carolina since the 1980s. When it came to finding a new home for this old-time and folk music show, WNCW was the perfect fit. Close To Home host, Don Pedi talked with Paul Foster about the show, his love of the dulcimer, and his excitement for this new opportunity.

Western North Carolina resident Otto Vazquez was Paul's guest to discuss the ongoing film project about his novel, "The Rebirth of Kool." The story's character, Kool, gives up a life of bootlegging to open a Jazz nightclub in East Los Angeles. The novel takes place during the real-life Zoot Suit Riots of the 1940s, which makes this story both dangerous and thrilling.

North Carolina native and best-selling Author Wiley Cash has teamed up with Our State Magazine to host their new podcast, "Our State Book Club", where Cash spotlights writers from across the state. He sat down on the Friday Feature to talk about it. Jill McCorkle will be his guest in June.

Manna Foodbank, headquartered in Asheville, is known for fighting food insecurity across Western NC. They have now introduced a way to make locating and contributing food simpler through a food finder tool or app. Interviewed about this was Manna's Director of Network Strategy and Partnerships, Jennifer Lutz.

The Greenville Jewish Film Festival's Co-Chairs, Helanie Meyers, and Caroline Warven joined us to discuss their upcoming events. Some time ago, the festival introduced pop-up screenings for attendees to check out one main film, instead of viewing multiple films over several days. At the time of this interview, the GJFF was taking part in Greenville's Shalom Fest.

This Friday Feature familiarizes everyone with the Broad River Greenway near Boiling Springs, NC, and the South Carolina state line. Executive Kim Duren describes and shares the story of the Greenway, from yesterday to today. She also notes upcoming events.

Thanks in part to WUNC, this is an amazing story by Leoneda Inge, who was interviewed by WNCW's Paul Foster, as part of the station's salute to Black History Month. Learn about African Americans who dive in deep waters to locate sunken slave ships that carry unknown histories. This interview originally aired Feb. 23, 2024.

Christine Laucher, Strategic Regional Manager of Mountain Bizworks, Asheville, talked with WNCW about the group and its purpose. Through The Appalachia North Carolina Grant Funding Program, Mountain Bizworks helps provide funds and knowledge when it comes to projects dealing with downtown development, the food industry, tourism, health, and more. This feature originally aired Feb. 16, 2024.

In a salute to Black History Month in February, this Friday Feature was about the four African American male college students, who entered a Greensboro, NC Woolworths and asked to be served at the store's restaurant. This was not permitted in 1960 in the South, but they made history in the name of racial equality on that day. Thanks to the contributions of NPR for this interview that aired on February 2, 2024.

Susi Gott Seguret sat down with WNCW to talk about the event Truffle Experience. The event in Asheville took place in early February. The rest of this interview helps to toot the horn of underground fungus known by the name truffle. Not to be confused with the mushroom. Susi talks about truffles' unique taste, recipes, and how they're a true delicacy. This conversation originally aired on January 19, 2024