What It Is features Bob Hinkle, Carol Rifkin and host Joe Kendrick in a conversation about the significance of music to the works of Dr. King and the impact of music from the civil rights era to this day.
Episode 43: Box Sets
Join host Joe Kendrick and panelists Jeff Eason and Fred Mills in this show focusing on the current evolution of a beloved medium, as well as its history and some of our favorite boxes. We explore the wonders of the Rhino catalog to small label sets, LPs, museum pieces and much more in this lively conversation.
Episode 42: The Decline Of Popular Music
Do you feel that hit songs aren't as relevant or good as they used to be? Join Jeff Eason, Fred Mills and host Joe Kendrick in this conversation that takes aim at the constantly moving target of mainstream tastes in music.
Episode 41: Women Who Rock
What It Is' ladies panel shines the spotlight on women in rock and roll with conversation about everyone from Janis to The Dead Weather and answers why there aren't more lady rockers in the world. Join host Joe Kendrick and panelists Wendy Gillespie, Carol Rifkin and Laura Blackley in this conversation which is an extended version of the show that was broadcast on WNCW.
Episode 40: Bah Humbug! Christmas Songs
What It Is takes a collective groan over some Christmas tunes we might like to leave on the shelf. No "sacred cows" here, but we do throw out the red meat of a "Santa Lost A Ho" put-down.
Episode 39: A What It Is Christmas Hit Parade
Join host Joe Kendrick and panelists Fred Mills and Jeff Eason when they give an ear to favorite Christmas songs, especially those heard often on WNCW. You'll never guess who gets all weepy upon hearing "Do They Know It's Christmas"
Episode 38: The Scene For Southern Women
The ladies take another turn on What It Is with Laura Blackley, Carol Rifkin and Wendy Gillespie taking the lead in a look at the strengths of western NC, east TN and upstate SC artists, and why it's a good thing to have a Southern accent.
Episode 37: Kind of Blue, Time Out, Mingus Ah Um 50th Anniversaries
What It Is gives a listen to three landmark albums released in 1959: Miles Davis' Kind Of Blue, Dave Brubeck's Time Out and Charles Mingus' Mingus Ah Um. Jeff Eason, Fred Mills and host Joe Kendrick touch on the musical advances and cultural impacts each of these watersheds made.
Episode 36: Radio's New Horizons
Jeff Eason, Fred Mills and host Joe Kendrick use a recent survey of radio listenership as springboard into a conversation about radio's past, present and potential future. From internet radio to hyper-caffeinated AM DJs of old, this is a topic near and dear to our hearts.
Episode 35: Heritage Artists - The Women
Join What It Is as our first ever ladies panel convenes and bring to light some favorite women in music whose careers have been long and memorable. Carol Rifkin, Laura Blackley and Wendy Gillespie join host Joe Kendrick in this conversation that is an extended version of what was broadcast on the air.
Episode 34: Blaxploitation Soundtracks
Coinciding with the new film, Black Dynamite, What It Is looks back over the many contributions of blaxploitation film soundtracks. Fred Mills (with 100+ soundtracks in his collection), Justin Farrar and Bob Hinkle join host Joe Kendrick in this conversation which is an extended version of what was broadcast on-air.
Episode 33: Colorful Personalities In Music
Bob Hinkle, Justin Farrar and Fred Mills join What It Is host Joe Kendrick in a conversation about some of the larger-than-life types that they've come across in their lives. Join us for a look at everyone from artists to DJs like The Black Pope in this episode. This podcast is longer than what was broadcast on-air.
Check out the podcast of a radio broadcast from The Black Pope available on the Download section here to go along with this conversation!
Episode 32: Merchandising In Music
What It Is takes a long look at merch tables past and present in this conversation about how intrinsically tied merchandising is to musical artists. From the branding juggernauts like the Rolling Stones' "lips" logo to the dancing bears and beyond, Fred Mills, Bob Hinkle, Justin Farrar and Joe Kendrick examine the good, the bad and the ugly in the merch world.
Episode 31: What's Irrelevant In Music?
Carol Rifkin, Jeff Eason and Bob Hinkle join host Joe Kendrick in a conversation about what is off our radars musically -- both from cultural and recording standpoints -- and dig in to how some parts of the music business have evolved over the past decades.
Episode 30: The Paranormal in Music
Halloween visits What It Is - the gang gives an ear to many haunted tales when Jeff Eason, Fred Mills and host Joe Kendrick recall stories of spooky recording studios and even some radio stations near and dear to our hearts! Originally broadcast May 2008
Episode 29: Rock n Roll Hall Of Fame
Episode 28: What Does "Americana" Mean?
The Americana Music Awards recently celebrated its tenth anniversary and WNCW just turned 20, giving What It Is the idea to explore what defines "Americana" music and what WNCW plays. Join Justin Farrar, Fred Mills, Bob Hinkle and host Joe Kendrick in a conversation that attempts to answer this very large question.
Episode 27: The Avett Brothers Break Out
Favorite sons The Avett Brothers' major label debut is catapulting the band to a new and larger audience. Join What It Is panelists Fred Mills, Bob Hinkle and Justin Farrar along with host Joe Kendrick in a conversation about the band and their music.
Episode 26: Music By The Pound
Why buy music by the pound? We think it sounds silly, too. What It Is panelist Bob Hinkle leads the way in a conversation with Carol Rifkin and Joe Kendrick about the music industry's errors and how it is evolving.
Episode 25: Most Prolific Artists
What makes some artists release so many records while others wait years in between? Carol Rifkin, Jeff Eason, Bob Hinkle and host Joe Kendrick examine how some musicians are constantly recording and how that can benefit or detract from their careers. This podcast is an extended version of what was broadcast on WNCW airwaves.