
Scene on Radio
Scene on Radio is a two-time Peabody-nominated podcast that dares to ask big, hard questions about who we are—really—and how we got this way. Our latest is Season 7, Scene on Radio: Capitalism. Previous series include Seeing White (Season 2), looking at the roots and meaning of white supremacy; MEN (Season 3), on patriarchy and its history; The Land That Never Has Been Yet (Season 4), exploring democracy in the U.S. and why we don’t have more of it; The Repair (Season 5), on the cultural roots of the climate crisis; and Season 6, Echoes of a Coup, the story of the only successful coup d'etat in U.S. history, in Wilmington, North Carolina, in 1898. Produced and hosted by John Biewen, with collaborators, Scene on Radio comes from the Kenan Institute for Ethics at Duke University. The show is distributed by PRX.
Latest episodes

61 snips
Jul 3, 2024 • 52min
S7 E3: Ships, Swords, and Fences
Economic experts and historians discuss the origins of capitalism, from colonial conquest to the privatization of land in Europe. Topics include the Atlantic Slave Trade, racial capitalism, and peasant uprisings against forced land separation.

44 snips
Jun 26, 2024 • 47min
S7 E2: BC: Before Capitalism
Guests Karen Dempsey, Ben Jervis, and Eleanor Janega discuss the transition from feudalism to capitalism in the British Isles of the Middle Ages. They explore topics like the origins of capitalism, life in medieval cities, London's prosperity in the 14th century, the Peasants' Revolt, and spending habits of the wealthy.

32 snips
Jun 26, 2024 • 37min
S7 E1: Market Failure
Guests John Fullerton, Cassandra Brooks, and Charlene Brooks discuss the flaws of capitalism, emphasizing the need for economic transformation to align with values and address inequality. Topics include challenges in the childcare industry, market failures in essential services, and the impact of capitalism on race, gender, and the environment.

Jun 12, 2024 • 4min
Season 7 Trailer: Capitalism
This podcast delves into the history and impact of capitalism, exploring its key elements, criticisms, and the urgent need for wealth equality. It delves into the origins of capitalism through colonial loot and the development of global economy networks that affected working-class individuals.

4 snips
May 22, 2024 • 42min
Bonus: Long Shadow, In Guns We Trust
Guest Garrett Graff, host of Long Shadow podcast, explores the impact of mass shootings in the US, focusing on the Columbine High School shooting in 1999. The episode delves into the unique intersection of religion and gun culture in America, highlighting the tragic events and aftermath of school shootings, and the ongoing debate surrounding gun legislation and gun violence in the country.

Feb 8, 2024 • 58min
S6 E5: A Way Forward
Community members and experts on restorative justice and reparations discuss healing from the Wilmington massacre and centuries of white supremacist violence. Topics include the impact of segregation, the need for reparations, and the power of love to move forward. They also explore the importance of acknowledging history, addressing systemic inequalities, and finding healing in US history.

Jan 31, 2024 • 49min
S6 E4: The Forgetting
Exploring the whitewashing of history after the 1898 massacre in North Carolina, the erasure of Black voices, and the struggle for truth. Unveiling distorted narratives, the literary realist Charles W. Chesnutt's defiance, and the evolution of the southern strategy from segregation to coded racism. Delving into the tragic events of Wilmington in the 1890s and the historical origins of white supremacy, highlighting its impact on society.

Jan 24, 2024 • 38min
S6 E3: A Day of Blood
This podcast explores the events of the 1898 Wilmington massacre, where armed white supremacists targeted a mixed-race neighborhood. It delves into the aftermath of the violence, including the forced resignation of officials and the challenges faced by the black community. It also highlights the efforts of a 94-year-old woman to raise awareness about the massacre and the role of investigative journalist Harry Hayden.

Jan 17, 2024 • 29min
S6 E2: Crying "Negro Rule"
Exploring the untold story of the 1898 Wilmington massacre and coup, the rise of white supremacy in North Carolina, voter suppression tactics used by white supremacists, and the history and denial of white supremacy in America.

Jan 10, 2024 • 40min
S6 E1: What Was Lost
LeRae Umfleet, Cedric Harrison, David Cecelski, and William Sturkey discuss the successful coup d’etat in Wilmington, North Carolina in 1898. Topics include the surprising world of Wilmington in the 19th century, the violence and lack of justice in the coup, and the challenges faced by black people during Reconstruction.