What happens when you travel to North Carolina's most remote spots? Our State magazine's Jeremy Markovich traveled to eight destinations across the state, from mountaintops to islands, from swamps to shipwrecks to see what you find in hard-to-find places. The first episode premieres July 13.

What happens when you travel to North Carolina's most remote spots? Our State magazine's Jeremy Markovich traveled to eight destinations across the state, from mountaintops to islands, from swamps to shipwrecks to see what you find in hard-to-find places. The first episode premieres July 13.

Coming Soon: "Away Message"

Remote

Host Jeremy Markovich sets his sights on Western North Carolina in search of the state's most remote spot.

Host Jeremy Markovich sets his sights on Western North Carolina in search of the state's most remote spot.

S1 E1: The Most Remote

We travel to a remote place, only a quarter-mile off of the North Carolina coast, that kept a Civil War shipwreck hidden for a century.

We travel to a remote place, only a quarter-mile off of the North Carolina coast, that kept a Civil War shipwreck hidden for a century.

S1 E2: Wave If You Can See Me

We go way up above the ground on a television broadcast tower, the tallest structure in North Carolina, to meet the surprisingly down-to-earth man who regularly climbs to the top.

We go way up above the ground on a television broadcast tower, the tallest structure in North Carolina, to meet the surprisingly down-to-earth man who regularly climbs to the top.

S1 E3: As High As You Can Get

The weather's perfect, but a power outage has driven all of the visitors and vacationers off of the southern Outer Banks of North Carolina. This week, people on Ocracoke Island talk about what happens when their tourist destination suddenly becomes off-limits to nearly everybody.

The weather's perfect, but a power outage has driven all of the visitors and vacationers off of the southern Outer Banks of North Carolina. This week, people on Ocracoke Island talk about what happens when their tourist destination suddenly becomes off-limits to nearly everybody.

S1 E3.5: Out On The Outer Banks

A trip into the Great Dismal Swamp reveals a lot of biting bugs, black water you can drink, and secrets about the runaway slaves who once called this remote place home.

A trip into the Great Dismal Swamp reveals a lot of biting bugs, black water you can drink, and secrets about the runaway slaves who once called this remote place home.

S1 E4: Dismally Yours

A trip to a cemetery that's only reachable by boat reveals a story about progress, a national park, promises made, and promises broken. Along the way, we meet the woman who kept hope alive, and kept a sacred spot from being forgotten.

A trip to a cemetery that's only reachable by boat reveals a story about progress, a national park, promises made, and promises broken. Along the way, we meet the woman who kept hope alive, and kept a sacred spot from being forgotten.

S1 E5: What Once Was Lost

In this bonus episode, we talk about what we're left with after a brief, maybe once-in-a-lifetime event in North Carolina: A total solar eclipse. Plus, we gathered up the best reactions to the event.

In this bonus episode, we talk about what we're left with after a brief, maybe once-in-a-lifetime event in North Carolina: A total solar eclipse. Plus, we gathered up the best reactions to the event.

S1 E5.5: Total Eclipse of the Tar

Host Jeremy Markovich travels to Knotts Island, North Carolina -- a unique place with colorful characters -- where nobody can seem to agree about whether it's a remote place, or not.

Host Jeremy Markovich travels to Knotts Island, North Carolina -- a unique place with colorful characters -- where nobody can seem to agree about whether it's a remote place, or not.

S1 E6: Remote or Knott

In this episode, host Jeremy Markovich visits the small brass disc at the western edge of the state that's become a strange tourist attraction, and finds out how remote terrain caused all sorts of problems for the people who drew North Carolina's borders.

In this episode, host Jeremy Markovich visits the small brass disc at the western edge of the state that's become a strange tourist attraction, and finds out how remote terrain caused all sorts of problems for the people who drew North Carolina's borders.

S1 E7: Blurred Lines

A podcast that goes the distance to reveal hard-to-find stories across North Carolina. Join journalist Jeremy Markovich as he travels across the state to uncover remote places, lost artifacts, overlooked people, and forgotten stories.

Very well produced and fascinating stories. Keep it up!

A treat

each episode it seems Jeremy finds a more intriguing place than the last

Intriguing

Away Message

On the first day of her trip across North Carolina on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, veteran Erin Brennan is making sense of new gear, new routines, and a new beginning with the help of Warrior Expeditions, a group that treats hiking like therapy.

On the first day of her trip across North Carolina on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, veteran Erin Brennan is making sense of new gear, new routines, and a new beginning with the help of Warrior Expeditions, a group that treats hiking like therapy.

S4 E2: The Warriors on the Trail

The new season of our award-winning podcast begins with some fairly basic questions. What is the Mountains-to-Sea Trail? How was it created? Who were the first people to hike the whole thing? And who would hike all 1,175 miles of it today? In this premiere episode, host Jeremy Markovich talks to the man who (accidentally) created it, as well as a llama wrangler who ended up doing something no one else had done before. We also meet several hikers, who are about to set out on their own journeys across the entire state of North Carolina: by foot, by bike, and by kayak.

The new season of our award-winning podcast begins with some fairly basic questions. What is the Mountains-to-Sea Trail? How was it created? Who were the first people to hike the whole thing? And who would hike all 1,175 miles of it today? In this premiere episode, host Jeremy Markovich talks to the man who (accidentally) created it, as well as a llama wrangler who ended up doing something no one else had done before. We also meet several hikers, who are about to set out on their own journeys across the entire state of North Carolina: by foot, by bike, and by kayak.

S4 E1: 1,175 Miles

In the finale of Season 2, host Jeremy Markovich takes a trip to a remote place he's been trying to visit for years: Frying Pan Tower, a decommissioned Coast Guard light station that sits far out in the Atlantic Ocean.

In the finale of Season 2, host Jeremy Markovich takes a trip to a remote place he's been trying to visit for years: Frying Pan Tower, a decommissioned Coast Guard light station that sits far out in the Atlantic Ocean.

S2 E8: 32 Miles Off The Coast

Jeff Postell was a 21-year-old police officer when he made an arrest in the middle of the night in a small North Carolina town. That arrest ended a five year manhunt for the Olympic Park Bomber, Eric Rudolph, and changed Postell's life in an instant. In this season finale, we track him down to find out what happened to the soft-spoken North Carolinian who brought in a notorious fugitive.  Jeremy Markovich: producer, mixer, host   James Mieczkowski: producer   Elizabeth Hudson: editor-in-chief   Music in this episode:    “Bright Direction (You're A Dark Star Now)" by Hiss Golden Messenger    Special Thanks to Matthew Yates, Katie Killen, Bill Evans and the Boston College Police Department, and Charles Winokoor of the Taunton Daily Gazette.   Some archival audio courtesy of WLOS-TV.   Sign up for our newsletter at ourstate.com/podcast.

Jeff Postell was a 21-year-old police officer when he made an arrest in the middle of the night in a small North Carolina town. That arrest ended a five year manhunt for the Olympic Park Bomber, Eric Rudolph, and changed Postell's life in an instant. In this season finale, we track him down to find out what happened to the soft-spoken North Carolinian who brought in a notorious fugitive. <a href="mailto:jmarkovich@ourstate.com">Jeremy Markovich</a>: producer, mixer, host <a href="mailto:jmieczkowski@ourstate.com">James Mieczkowski</a>: producer <a href="mailto:ehudson@ourstate.com">Elizabeth Hudson</a>: editor-in-chief Music in this episode: <ul> <li>“<a href="https://hissgoldenmessenger.bandcamp.com/track/bright-direction-you-re-a-dark-star-now" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bright Direction (You're A Dark Star Now)</a>" by Hiss Golden Messenger</li> </ul> Special Thanks to Matthew Yates, Katie Killen, Bill Evans and the Boston College Police Department, and Charles Winokoor of the Taunton Daily Gazette. Some archival audio courtesy of WLOS-TV. Sign up for our newsletter at <a href="https://ourstate.com/podcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ourstate.com/podcast</a>.

S3 E8: The Rookie

In 1961, a U.S. Air Force bomber crashed near Goldsboro, North Carolina, and the two thermonuclear bombs on board fell to the ground. Host Jeremy Markovich talks with the man who was sent to make sure those bombs didn't explode, and finds out why the Air Force left a crucial part of the weapon behind, somewhere below the surface.  Read more in Joel Dobson's book, "The Goldsboro Broken Arrow." 

In 1961, a U.S. Air Force bomber crashed near Goldsboro, North Carolina, and the two thermonuclear bombs on board fell to the ground. Host Jeremy Markovich talks with the man who was sent to make sure those bombs didn't explode, and finds out why the Air Force left a crucial part of the weapon behind, somewhere below the surface. <ul> <li>Read more in Joel Dobson's book, "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Goldsboro-Broken-Arrow-Joel-Dobson/dp/1257769146" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Goldsboro Broken Arrow</a>."</li> </ul>

S2 E5: The Nuke They Left Behind

Davis Island wasn’t always an island. In the early 1900s, a hurricane cut a path through a peninsula that stuck out into Core Sound, separating a stately home from the mainland.   Years later, a man achieved his childhood dream of living in that home. What he found was peace and beauty, and a love story that came to him, in an isolated place, with an unexpected knock on his door.   We traveled to the North Carolina coast to tell the story of a remote island, a chance meeting, and a man who’s trying to save a special place from an uncertain future.    Watch a 7-minute documentary on Davis Island from Our State Short Films. Sign up for our upcoming Away Message newsletter.    James Mieczkowski: reporter, producer   Jeremy Markovich: producer, mixer, host   Elizabeth Hudson: editor-in-chief   Music in this episode:    "Breathe Till I'm Full" by The Collection    Special thanks to the Humber family.

Davis Island wasn’t always an island. In the early 1900s, a hurricane cut a path through a peninsula that stuck out into Core Sound, separating a stately home from the mainland. Years later, a man achieved his childhood dream of living in that home. What he found was peace and beauty, and a love story that came to him, in an isolated place, with an unexpected knock on his door. We traveled to the North Carolina coast to tell the story of a remote island, a chance meeting, and a man who’s trying to save a special place from an uncertain future. <ul> <li><a href="https://youtu.be/yhgN2SyHYFQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Watch a 7-minute documentary</a> on Davis Island from Our State Short Films.</li> <li><a href="https://mailchi.mp/ourstate.com/newsletters" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sign up</a> for our upcoming Away Message newsletter.</li> </ul> <a href="mailto:jmieczkowski@ourstate.com">James Mieczkowski</a>: reporter, producer <a href="mailto:jmarkovich@ourstate.com">Jeremy Markovich</a>: producer, mixer, host <a href="mailto:ehudson@ourstate.com">Elizabeth Hudson</a>: editor-in-chief Music in this episode: <ul> <li>"<a href="https://thecollection.bandcamp.com/track/breathe-till-im-full" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Breathe Till I'm Full</a>" by The Collection</li> </ul> Special thanks to the Humber family.

S3 E7: An Island Of Your Own

In this supersized episode, host Jeremy Markovich goes looking for Charlotte's original gold mines, and then gets inside a vault that's full of billions of dollars to understand how North Carolina's biggest city ended up being the place where the state stores its money.  Read more about Hugh McColl in this Our State magazine profile. For pictures inside the vault and other goodies from this episode, visit the Away Message Facebook page.  Music in this episode:  "Gold Standard" by Supastition (Charlotte) "Got To Go" by Boulevards (Raleigh) 

In this supersized episode, host Jeremy Markovich goes looking for Charlotte's original gold mines, and then gets inside a vault that's full of billions of dollars to understand how North Carolina's biggest city ended up being the place where the state stores its money. <ul> <li>Read more about Hugh McColl in <a href="https://www.ourstate.com/hugh-mccoll-charlotte-banking/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this Our State magazine profile</a>.</li> <li>For pictures inside the vault and other goodies from this episode, visit the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/awaymessagepodcast/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Away Message Facebook page</a>.</li> </ul> Music in this episode: <ul> <li>"<a href="https://supastition.bandcamp.com/album/gold-standard" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gold Standard</a>" by Supastition (Charlotte)</li> <li>"<a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/1OO2uAMcUCXUkFzDdsr7x7?si=rdfZ3G8sTmSKlsdViuZbYg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Got To Go</a>" by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/imboulevards/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Boulevards</a> (Raleigh)</li> </ul>

S2 E3: The Riches Underneath Charlotte

On Fontana Lake, in far western North Carolina, sit hundreds of floating cabins, meant for fishing and weekend getaways. But when the homes were threatened with removal, the owners banded together and took their fight to Washington, DC, where they found themselves in the middle of a debate over what private citizens can do on public property.

On Fontana Lake, in far western North Carolina, sit hundreds of floating cabins, meant for fishing and weekend getaways. But when the homes were threatened with removal, the owners banded together and took their fight to Washington, DC, where they found themselves in the middle of a debate over what private citizens can do on public property.

S2 E2: The Unsinkable Floating Houses of Fontana

A woman from Mooresville, North Carolina became Mecklenburg County’s first black nurse. Then she became a prolific and well-respected artist. Along the way, she got President Franklin D. Roosevelt to sit for her, and the relief sculpture she created looks very similar to the likeness that’s on the dime. Is it hers? Or is it a coincidence? Host Jeremy Markovich goes in search of the truth, and learns about the facts that matter, and the facts that don’t.

A woman from Mooresville, North Carolina became Mecklenburg County’s first black nurse. Then she became a prolific and well-respected artist. Along the way, she got President Franklin D. Roosevelt to sit for her, and the relief sculpture she created looks very similar to the likeness that’s on the dime. Is it hers? Or is it a coincidence? Host Jeremy Markovich goes in search of the truth, and learns about the facts that matter, and the facts that don’t.

S3 E3: Stop Making Cents

On May 7, 2016, a man fell hundreds of feet down a mountainside, and ended up in a treacherous spot in North Carolina’s most rugged place. This is the story of a rescue that took hours and a recovery that took months, one that shows how unforgiving the wilderness can be, even for experienced hikers. Music in this episode:  Closing Song: Baby’s Got The Blues, by H.C. McEntire, courtesy of Merge Records (Durham, North Carolina)  Special Thanks: Burke County Emergency Communications Center Watch Shug’s video.

On May 7, 2016, a man fell hundreds of feet down a mountainside, and ended up in a treacherous spot in North Carolina’s most rugged place. This is the story of a rescue that took hours and a recovery that took months, one that shows how unforgiving the wilderness can be, even for experienced hikers. Music in this episode: <ul> <li>Closing Song: Baby’s Got The Blues, by H.C. McEntire, courtesy of Merge Records (Durham, North Carolina)</li> </ul> Special Thanks: Burke County Emergency Communications Center Watch <a href="https://youtu.be/gnsKv_mFkTg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Shug’s video</a>.

S3 E2: A Rescue In The Linville Gorge

What would happen if you stood in one state, then shot and killed someone in another? That scenario actually took place along the Tennessee-North Carolina border more than 100 years ago, and the murderer got away with it. But what's the real story? Host Jeremy Markovich spent months criss-crossing North Carolina to find answers that even the killer's family didn't know.  Read more stories from North Carolina's borders in Our State magazine's May 2018 issue. 

What would happen if you stood in one state, then shot and killed someone in another? That scenario actually took place along the Tennessee-North Carolina border more than 100 years ago, and the murderer got away with it. But what's the real story? Host Jeremy Markovich spent months criss-crossing North Carolina to find answers that even the killer's family didn't know. <ul> <li><a href="https://www.ourstate.com/the-lines-that-shape-us/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Read more stories</a> from North Carolina's borders in Our State magazine's May 2018 issue.</li> </ul>

S2 E4: How To Get Away With Murder (In 1892)

In 2001, some state lawmakers were engaged in a less-than-sweet debate: Which berry should be named the official berry of North Carolina? We tracked down the teacher and fourth-graders who started it all with a class project and got a lot more than they bargained for. Plus, meet the former state senator who voted against EVERY new state symbol. His reasoning says a lot about the things we pick to represent us. Hosted and mixed by: Jeremy Markovich Produced by: James Mieczkowski and Jeremy Markovich Editor-in-chief: Elizabeth Hudson Music by: Blue Dot Sessions Closing Song: Carolina's The Place I Gotta Be, by Charlie Albertson Special Thanks: Gerry Cohen, Lauren Horsch

In 2001, some state lawmakers were engaged in a less-than-sweet debate: Which berry should be named the official berry of North Carolina? We tracked down the teacher and fourth-graders who started it all with a class project and got a lot more than they bargained for. Plus, meet the former state senator who voted against EVERY new state symbol. His reasoning says a lot about the things we pick to represent us. Hosted and mixed by: Jeremy Markovich Produced by: James Mieczkowski and Jeremy Markovich Editor-in-chief: Elizabeth Hudson Music by: Blue Dot Sessions Closing Song: Carolina's The Place I Gotta Be, by Charlie Albertson Special Thanks: Gerry Cohen, Lauren Horsch

S3 E1: Symbolism

Dr. Martin Luther King once gave a speech in Rocky Mount, North Carolina that energized the city and changed the lives of the people in attendance. Now, after more than 50 years, a forgotten recording of that speech has resurfaced, and the discovery is providing new insight into how one of the most important men in American history came up with his most iconic phrase. In this episode, we listen to the speech with some of the people who were there on that day it was first delivered in 1962, and find out how such an important artifact was lost… and found. Listen to more excerpts of the speech and read a transcript at kingsfirstdream.com/transcript/

Dr. Martin Luther King once gave a speech in Rocky Mount, North Carolina that energized the city and changed the lives of the people in attendance. Now, after more than 50 years, a forgotten recording of that speech has resurfaced, and the discovery is providing new insight into how one of the most important men in American history came up with his most iconic phrase. In this episode, we listen to the speech with some of the people who were there on that day it was first delivered in 1962, and find out how such an important artifact was lost… and found. Listen to more excerpts of the speech and read a transcript at <a href="kingsfirstdream.com/transcript/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">kingsfirstdream.com/transcript/</a>

S2 E1: The Dream Returns

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