Paul Foster

Find out about The Weave Project and The Weaver Awards, which recognize and celebrate the weavers — those who weave their communities together — in Wilkes County. Local Weave Staffer, Greg Brady, gives the history and meaning of Weave, while award winner, Teacher Heather Williams, shares why she was recognized. This conversation originally aired in March 2025.

WUNC K-12 Education Reporter, Liz Schlemmer joined WNCW to discuss the main reasons parents choose to place their children in private schools or select homeschooling over traditional public schooling. Liz also breaks down the effects of COVID and Charter Schools. This conversation originally aired in March 2025.

Asheville Theatre Alliance (ATA) Co-Founder, Jeff Cantanese was Paul's guest on this feature interview to share what ATA is all about. The non-profit group came together as a way to strengthen the Asheville theatre community as a whole. Jeff also shared details about an ATA podcast that just got off the ground. This conversation originally aired in March 2025.

Madeline Dierauf, a professional fiddler, can be described as a talented musician, an outstanding college student, and someone with a genuine soul. She's also a new and rare recipient of the Oxford University Rhodes Scholarship, that will enable her to continue her studies in England later this year. Madeline, a member of the all- female bluegrass band, The Wilder Flower, is also the daughter of WNCW Music Host, Roland Dierauf. This conversation originally aired in late February 2025.

Host of the political podcast, Frogmore Stew, Grace Cowan sat down with WNCW to share new House Bill regulations and how one item might discourage voting. She joined More to the Story in late February, 2025.

Carolina Public Press Reporter, Jane Sartwell, shares her story specifically on what Mitchell County, NC is going through since the impact of Helene. It wasn't just the loss of structures but the loss of jobs and businesses that are still hurting locations like Spruce Pine.

The Center for Cultural Preservation (Hendersonville) presents an important forum called "Historic Floods and Landslides - What Have We Learned?", on February 15th. The Center's Executive Director, David Weintraub, sat down with WNCW to discuss what's planned for the forum. David talks about Western North Carolina's great flood of 1916 and what occurred with Helene on Sept. 27, 2024.

Cory Vaillancourt of Smoky Mountain News recently wrote a story about musicians in Savannah, Georgia, who are contributing their music to a project called Marshes To Mountains. Funds raised are going towards recovery efforts in the N.C. High Country after damages by Helene. WNCW's Paul Foster spoke with Cory, and project advisor and musician, Jim Reed.

The Bitter Southerner, based in Athens, Georgia is a publication and website that provides podcasts. Their stories are rich, raw, and real. Kyle Tibbs Jones, Bitter Southerner's Editorial and Communications Director, spoke about recent stories and projects, including President Jimmy Carter, who passed away in December. This interview aired in January 2025.

Steve Harrison, Politics and Government Reporter for WFAE in Charlotte, returned to WNCW to discuss several hot topics in the Queen City in early January 2025. That included transit options, cost, and plans, for several light rail systems. Steve also shared new flight plans at Douglas International Airport, one of the busiest airports in the nation.