Our New South

Levine Museum of the New South

Levine Museum of the New South (Charlotte, NC) presents an original scripted non-fiction storytelling podcast hosted by journalist Kevin Blackistone and professor of history Robert Greene II who set out to discover the historical background on key societal issues in the South, providing a framework to understand the path forward. The show investigates how we got here, fostering conversations with changemakers seeking to make a difference in the South in order to educate, and provide an opportunity for understanding to inform our collective future.

  1. Lizz Wright: Songs of Blues and Greens

    1D AGO

    Lizz Wright: Songs of Blues and Greens

    Renowned vocalist and composer Lizz Wright joins Kevin Blackistone and Robert Greene II on this episode of Our New South to discuss how the spiritual and sonic landscapes of the region define her music. Wright reflects on the deep connection between storytelling, the church, and the resilience of Black American culture, describing the New South as a place of adaptation and survival. Wright first gained national attention with her critically acclaimed debut album, Salt, in 2003. In 2022, she launched her own independent label, Blues & Greens Records. Beyond music, she is a culinary artist and co-founder of Carver 47 Food & Wellness Market in Chicago, a space inspired by the legacy of Dr. George Washington Carver that blends art, food, and community wellness. Learn more about Lizz Wright and Blues & Greens Records: https://www.lizzwright.net/ Learn more about Carver 47 Food & Wellness Market: https://www.carver47.com/ Donate to support this podcast! https://museumofthenewsouth.kindful.com/ Learn more about Levine Museum of the New South: https://www.museumofthenewsouth.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    51 min
  2. Daniel Suárez: NASCAR, Monterrey, and Victory Lane

    FEB 10

    Daniel Suárez: NASCAR, Monterrey, and Victory Lane

    Daniel Suárez joins Kevin Blackistone and Robert Greene II to discuss his unlikely rise from a working-class family in Monterrey, México to the pinnacle of American stock car racing. Suárez details the culture shock of moving to the U.S. without speaking English, his rivalry and camaraderie with Bubba Wallace, and why he views the "New South" as a place defined by inclusion rather than the "Old South" past. Suárez is the driver of the No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet and serves as Mexico's ambassador in the NASCAR Cup Series. He made history in 2016 as the first driver born outside the United States to win a major NASCAR championship and later became the first Mexican-born driver to win a Cup Series race. Recently sworn in as a U.S. citizen, he is actively involved in community outreach, visiting schools to inspire Latino youth to define their own path to the American Dream. Learn more about Daniel Suárez: https://danielsuarezracing.com/ Donate to support this podcast! https://museumofthenewsouth.kindful.com/ Learn more about Levine Museum of the New South: https://www.museumofthenewsouth.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    55 min
  3. Brittney Cooper: Crunk Black Feminist

    FEB 3

    Brittney Cooper: Crunk Black Feminist

    Scholar, author, and co-founder of the Crunk Feminist Collective Dr. Brittney Cooper joins Kevin Blackistone and Robert Greene II on this episode of Our New South to discuss how growing up in Ruston, Lousiana shaped her bold approach to feminism and politics. Cooper challenges the idea that only big cities produce big ideas, arguing that the rural South is a place of deep intellect and resistance. She also discusses the legacy of historic "Race Women" addresses urgent modern battles, from fighting book bans to facing the reality of climate change in the region. Cooper is a Professor of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Rutgers University. She is the New York Times bestselling author of Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower and Beyond Respectability: The Intellectual History of Race Women. A frequent contributor to outlets like MSNBC and NPR, she is also currently working on a children’s book series to continue the tradition of educating Black youth. For all things Brittney Cooper go to | https://linktr.ee/BrittneyCooper?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=c7d2d194-0f53-4a9b-a90e-dcbfceb2c234 Brittney's New York Times bestseller Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower | https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33574165-eloquent-rage Brittney's first book Beyond Respectability: The Intellectual Thought of Race Women | https://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/?id=p082481 Donate to support this podcast! https://museumofthenewsouth.kindful.com/ Learn more about Levine Museum of the New South. https://www.museumofthenewsouth.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    58 min
  4. Maxwell Alejandro Frost: Representing Florida and Gen Z

    FEB 1

    Maxwell Alejandro Frost: Representing Florida and Gen Z

    Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost joins the hosts to discuss how a decade of grassroots organizing and a commitment to progressive ideals paved the way for his historic election, arguing that his victory is a reflection of a resilient legacy of youth-led resistance unique to the broader South. Frost connects his success not just to his generation, but to the region's history of civil rights activism, suggesting that the South remains a critical battleground worth fighting for. Before entering Congress, Frost served as a National Organizer with the ACLU and was a prominent leader in the March for Our Lives movement, activism sparked by his early volunteer work with the Newtown Action Alliance. His current legislative agenda focuses on combating the climate crisis and ending predatory junk fees through the introduction of the EPIIC Act. Additionally, he continues to drive civic engagement and youth voter turnout through creative cultural initiatives like his annual MadSoul Music and Arts Festival. Learn more about Representative Maxwell Frost: https://frost.house.gov/ Donate to support this podcast! https://museumofthenewsouth.kindful.com/ Learn more about Levine Museum of the New South here. https://www.museumofthenewsouth.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    59 min
  5. Roy Wood, Jr.: Comedy and Culture

    JAN 20

    Roy Wood, Jr.: Comedy and Culture

    Acclaimed comedian and television personality Roy Wood, Jr. joins Kevin Blackistone and Robert Greene II on the Season 3 premiere of Our New South to discuss the influence of his southern roots on his life and career. He shares his experiences as a cultural commentator over many years as a correspondent on The Daily Show and through his documentary and podcast work. He recently published a memoir called The Man of Many Fathers, he hosts the TV show Have I Got News For You on CNN, and his stand-up special Lonely Flowers is streaming on Hulu. He earned an Emmy Award nomination for executive producing the documentary Neutral Ground about taking down confederate monuments.  Read Roy’s memoir The Man of Many Fathers https://roywoodjrbook.com/#the-man-of-many-fathers Watch Roy’s TV show Have I Got News For You on CNN https://www.cnn.com/shows/have-i-got-news-for-you https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6XRrncXkMaURqWA1SoS7CW40rXayMdC5 Watch Roy’s most recent stand-up special Lonely Flowers on Hulu: https://www.hulu.com/movie/0bdefff9-def5-4e22-96d9-94fd899f0f83https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdHTTxd--Z4 Watch Roy’s Emmy-nominated documentary Neutral Ground https://www.neutralgroundfilm.com/ For all things Roy Wood, Jr. go to his website. https://www.roywoodjr.com/  Donate⁠ to support this podcast! https://museumofthenewsouth.kindful.com/ Learn more about Levine Museum of the New South ⁠here⁠. https://www.museumofthenewsouth.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    57 min

  6. SEASON 3 TRAILER

    Introducing...Our New South Season 3!

    Our New South is an award-winning podcast, presented by Levine Museum of the New South and cohosted by Kevin Blackistone and Robert Greene II, exploring the complexities of the many Souths that make up today’s New South. In Season 3, 10 influential guests will share insights from their lives and careers as well as their thoughts on the New South and its future. Donate⁠ to support this podcast! Learn more about Levine Museum of the New South ⁠here⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    2 min

  7. 03/25/2025

    South's Got Something to Say

    On this week’s episode of Our New South, hosts Kevin Blackistone and Dr. Robert Greene II discuss the origins of Southern hip hop, its impact on Southern culture, and why hip hop music from the South has become a major force in the global music industry today. Our guests on today’s episode are Speech, a Grammy Award-winning music artist and founder of the legendary hip hop group, Arrested Development, who will speak about the origins of the Southern hip hop movement of the 1990s and the factors behind its global success today; and Dr. Regina Bradley, a college professor and hip hop scholar who talks about the rise of Southern hip hop in the 1990s, the impact of the group Outkast on the global expansion of Southern hip hop, and why hip hop music from the South today remains a global force. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    56 min

  8. 03/18/2025

    Women’s Healthcare: Critical

    On this week’s episode of Our New South, hosts Kevin Blackistone and Dr. Robert Greene II discuss the disparities in women’s healthcare across the South, the impact of these disparities on women living in the region, and why the South leads the nation in passing legislation that threatens the lives and reproductive health of millions of women. Our guests on today’s episode are Dr. Nina Ragunanthan, a Gynecologist and Obstetrician based in Mound Bayou, Mississippi, who shares her experiences about working as a doctor in the Mississippi Delta, and the challenges she faces providing quality healthcare to women living one of the poorest regions of the country; and Khenia Haro-Perez, an advocate for Latino women’s healthcare rights in the State of Virginia, who speaks about the role that the state of Virginia plays in providing reproductive healthcare for women across the South, and the challenges that women of color face getting adequate healthcare in the South. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    56 min
See All (28)

Trailers

Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
25 Ratings

About

Levine Museum of the New South (Charlotte, NC) presents an original scripted non-fiction storytelling podcast hosted by journalist Kevin Blackistone and professor of history Robert Greene II who set out to discover the historical background on key societal issues in the South, providing a framework to understand the path forward. The show investigates how we got here, fostering conversations with changemakers seeking to make a difference in the South in order to educate, and provide an opportunity for understanding to inform our collective future.

Information

  • Creator
    Levine Museum of the New South
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    28
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Levine Museum of the New South
  • Show Website
    Our New South

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