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asrao.bsky.social
Anita Rao
@asrao.bsky.social
560 followers 93 following 37 posts
creator/host of @embodiedwunc.bsky.social on @wunc.org thoughts/opinions are my own

link.chtbl.com/embodiedpod
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Anita Rao
embodiedwunc.bsky.social
People have been pretending to be Native American for decades. While talking about ethnic fraud is controversial, Native scholar dinagw.bsky.social says its necessary.
Episode artwork for "Embodied" podcast titled "How Fake Claims To Native Identity Cause Real Harm" against a turquoise textured background. Text reads "What happens when Indigeneity becomes a commodity? In this episode, we speak to scholar and writer Dina Gilio-Whitaker about the history and impact of ethnic fraud." Features a collage including: a sepia-toned historical photograph of a Native American woman in traditional dress with long braids, a vintage photograph labeled "Nespelem George & Riders, Colville Reservation, Ida[ho]," a San Francisco Chronicle headline reading "Sacheen Littlefeather was a Native American icon. Her sisters say she was an ethnic fraud," the book cover for "Who Gets to Be Indian?" by Dina Gilio-Whitaker, and decorative elements including an arrow and spiral design. "New Episode!" badge appears in top right corner.
November 13, 2025 at 4:25 PM
asrao.bsky.social
We'd love to lift up your questions in an upcoming episode! If you have some you'd like answered-- DM me; e-mail the show, or leave us a voicemail: www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/254474...
embodiedwunc.bsky.social Embodied WUNC @embodiedwunc.bsky.social · 7d
In the coming weeks, we’re hosting an episode focused on intimacy & sex after sexual assault. And we'd love to have our guest respond to YOUR questions: If you’re a sexual assault survivor (or partner of one!): what questions do you have about rekindling a healthy connection to sex?
November 11, 2025 at 5:37 PM
asrao.bsky.social
A new model for aging in community-- based right here in Durham!
embodiedwunc.bsky.social Embodied WUNC @embodiedwunc.bsky.social · 12d
NEW EPISODE: Margaret Roesch & Pat McAulay got together in their 40s, and as lesbian women who’d come out in middle age, they were well aware of the challenges experienced by queer elders. After struggling to find a senior housing community that fit their needs, they decided to build their own.
Episode artwork for "Embodied" podcast titled "How LGBTQ Seniors Are Aging In Community" against a purple-blue textured background with residential homes. Text reads "As queer seniors age, they face unique challenges in accessing care and safe spaces. In this episode, we speak to the lesbian couple who built the first LGBTQ-focused 55+ co-housing community in Durham, NC." Features an illustrated collage of five diverse seniors celebrating Pride: one person in a green shirt holding a rainbow flag, three people wearing purple shirts with rainbow heart designs (two wearing sunglasses and hats), and two people in the front holding a large rainbow Pride flag together. "New Episode!" badge appears in top right corner.
November 6, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Reposted by Anita Rao
embodiedwunc.bsky.social
There's a growing number of women challenging the expectation that you need a partner to have a child. Anita meets two single moms by choice who talk about why they chose this parenting path and how they navigate everything from false assumptions to dating.
An illustration of a child's drawing of a family tree, with the words "My Family Tree" at the top and a hand hovering over the drawing holding a picture of a kid with light brown skin and short hair being put on the drawing above the word "Me." The tree has a dark brown trunk and pink flowers. It features the names and photos of family members including "Grandpa," "Grandma," "Aunt" and "Mom." There is a ruler, crayon and pair of scissors sitting on top of the project. The words "Embodied" and "(Single) Mothered" are in the lower left hand corner of the illustration.
October 31, 2025 at 2:19 PM
asrao.bsky.social
As a millennial who eye rolled every time I saw a think piece about "my generation's relationship with sex" I was hesitant to have this conversation... but the way Carter went about her reporting and her framing on this whole topic intrigued me... and I'm so glad we got to have this conversation!
embodiedwunc.bsky.social Embodied WUNC @embodiedwunc.bsky.social · 26d
You’ve likely seen some version of the headline: “Gen Z Is In a Sex Recession.” But there’s a lot more to the story. Journalist @cartersherman.bsky.social takes Anita into the many conversations she had with people under 30 about their sex lives for her book.
Artwork for "Embodied" podcast titled "The Sex Lives Of Gen Z (And Why They Matter)" against a blue background. Text reads "In the midst of grabby headlines about The Gen Z Sex Recession, journalist Carter Sherman set out to understand what's going on beyond the data. What she discovered – after more than 100 conversations – has implications for all of us." Features a playful graphic design with a downward-trending red bar chart overlaid on orange dotted columns, an eggplant emoji on a white plate in the lower left, a peach emoji in the upper right with "XOXO" text.
October 23, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Reposted by Anita Rao
embodiedwunc.bsky.social
You’ve likely seen some version of the headline: “Gen Z Is In a Sex Recession.” But there’s a lot more to the story. Journalist @cartersherman.bsky.social takes Anita into the many conversations she had with people under 30 about their sex lives for her book.
Artwork for "Embodied" podcast titled "The Sex Lives Of Gen Z (And Why They Matter)" against a blue background. Text reads "In the midst of grabby headlines about The Gen Z Sex Recession, journalist Carter Sherman set out to understand what's going on beyond the data. What she discovered – after more than 100 conversations – has implications for all of us." Features a playful graphic design with a downward-trending red bar chart overlaid on orange dotted columns, an eggplant emoji on a white plate in the lower left, a peach emoji in the upper right with "XOXO" text.
October 23, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Reposted by Anita Rao
embodiedwunc.bsky.social
For almost 29 years, journalist @jennifersenior.bsky.social was a self-described “brilliant sleeper.” Then, one night, something changed &Jennifer has struggled with chronic #insomnia ever since. She talks to Anita about insights from both her reporting and personal life: link.podtrac.com/embodied
Episode artwork for "Embodied" podcast titled "Navigating Chronic Insomnia In A Sleep-Obsessed Culture" against a dark blue starry night background with crescent moon. Text reads "A few nights of bad sleep is rough ... but what do you do when insomnia becomes your new normal? Listen to our conversation about chronic insomnia and how it can affect romance, sex, motherhood, and productivity." Features illustration of unmade bed with blue pillows and rumpled bedding, along with a peach-colored sleep mask and orange alarm clock with lightning bolt symbols indicating disrupted sleep. "New Episode!" badge appears in top right corner.
October 9, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Reposted by Anita Rao
embodiedwunc.bsky.social
When Kit Heyam was first trying to understand their gender identity as an adolescent, they looked to history. They only found stories that painted a very narrow picture of what it means to be #trans. But years later, when Kit started studying history professionally, a different picture emerged.⁠
Episode artwork for "Embodied" podcast titled "A Mission To Tell Trans History Differently" against a purple and blue gradient background with pink and blue brushstroke elements. Text reads "Trans and genderqueer people have existed for millennia — but modern interpretations of history often fail to capture their stories. Meet the historian determined to document the untold stories of trans history." Features four historical portrait photographs in ornate frames: a person in Victorian-era black dress seated in a chair (gold frame), a person in blue jacket and brown pants (ornate bronze frame), a colorful illustrated portrait of a Black person wearing a decorative headdress and green draped clothing (oval silver frame), and a sepia-toned photograph of a person in dark Victorian clothing (gold frame). "New Episode!" badge appears in top right corner.
October 2, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Reposted by Anita Rao
embodiedwunc.bsky.social
NEW EPISODE: Searching For Love And Legal Status

When María Lopez was 6, her grandmother gave her a piece of advice: marry someone with papers. María was #undocumented, and throughout her teens & 20s, she dealt with the struggle of dating to find both #love & a path to permanent legal status. ⁠⁠
Episode artwork for "Embodied" podcast titled "Searching For Love & Legal Status" with subtitle "What's it like to date when you are undocumented? We explore one woman's journey to find both love and legal status against the backdrop of changing immigration policies, threats of deportation and xenophobia." Features a blue background with silhouette of the United States, two gold wedding rings, a pink heart, and passport/visa documents. "New Episode!" badge appears in top right corner.
September 18, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Reposted by Anita Rao
embodiedwunc.bsky.social
NEW: Is art worth the sacrifice it requires? 🎨⁠
⁠
Writer @sgriest.bsky.social has been asking this question since the early days of her career. "My love for what I do made my life logistically a nightmare, or impossible!"⁠ Stephanie hustled for decades--putting aside life milestones to write.
Illustrated graphic for Embodied podcast showing a stylized drawing of a woman with long dark hair writing at a desk, resting her chin on her hand in a thoughtful pose. She's wearing a yellow jacket in what appears to be a home setting with purple cabinets. Green 'Embodied' logo at top. Blue banner at bottom reads 'NEW on Embodied: What It Takes To Make Your Art Your Life.
September 11, 2025 at 3:47 PM
asrao.bsky.social
Loved this episode and learned so much!
embodiedwunc.bsky.social Embodied WUNC @embodiedwunc.bsky.social · Sep 5
🚛✨ NEW EPISODE ALERT ✨🚛

The Life of Trans And Queer Long-Haul Truckers

Long-haul #trucking isn't for everyone—the hours are brutal, and the burnout is real. But for many #LGBTQ+ drivers, the open road offers something invaluable: the freedom to be authentically themselves.
An illustrated podcast cover for "Embodied" showing a cartoon-style drawing of a person with blonde hair wearing a purple shirt, sitting in the driver's seat of a blue semi-truck cab. The "Embodied" logo appears at the top in large purple letters. At the bottom, there's a blue banner with headphone icons and white text reading "NEW on Embodied: The Life of Trans & Queer Long-Haul Truckers."
September 5, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Reposted by Anita Rao
prx.org
PRX is in #SaltLakeCity at the Public Media Content Collective conference (#PMCC).
Join us at 5:30pm for Happy Hour and meet @samsanders.bsky.social, Krys Boyd (@think.kera.org), David Green (Left, Right, & Center), Lee C. Camp (No Small Endeavor) and @asrao.bsky.social (@embodiedwunc.bsky.social).
August 26, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Reposted by Anita Rao
embodiedwunc.bsky.social
NEW EPISODE: One Sperm Donor, 31 Half Siblings & A Long Search For Identity

link.podtrac.com/embodied

Ryan Kramer was born through an anonymous #spermdonor in 1990. By the time he was 2 years old, he already had some big questions about his identity — and the desire to find answers.
Illustration of three smiling people standing between the vertical bars of a large DNA double helix, as if the strands are columns. The word “Embodied” is written in bold green letters at the top. The background is a gradient of peach to blue with dotted patterns. Text at the bottom reads: New on Embodied: One Sperm Donor, 31 Half Siblings & A Long Search For Identity.
August 22, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Reposted by Anita Rao
embodiedwunc.bsky.social
Philip & Lauren, our guests from our newest episode about #Longcovid share three things that have helped them navigate this illness in their relationship:

youtube.com/shorts/BhdyJ...

#mecfs #loncovidrecovery #longcovidawareness #lonccovidsymptoms #covid19 #DisabilityRights #covidlonghaulers
When #LongCovid Rewrites Your Love Story #loncovidrecovery #longcovidawareness #DisabilityRights
YouTube video by WUNC North Carolina Public Radio
youtube.com
August 11, 2025 at 2:33 PM
asrao.bsky.social
“The ironic part of the defunding of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is that the hyperlocal content is going to go away."

www.newyorker.com/news/the-led...
What Happens to Public Media Now?
Republican-backed funding cuts go way beyond NPR and PBS. Radio and TV stations from Alaska to the Allegheny Mountains may never be the same.
www.newyorker.com
August 8, 2025 at 3:43 PM
asrao.bsky.social
And a great read from Philip.
August 8, 2025 at 3:11 PM
asrao.bsky.social
Loved this conversation. So many memorable moments-- and relevant for couples going through any big life change.
embodiedwunc.bsky.social Embodied WUNC @embodiedwunc.bsky.social · Aug 8
When Philip & his wife Lauren tested positive for #COVID19 3 years ago, they thought they knew what to expect. But then Philip’s symptoms persisted, morphed and intensified. ⁠In our new episode, they talk to @asrao.bsky.social about how Phil's experience with #LongCovid upended their life.
Illustration showing four people walking on a park path surrounded by green trees under a cloudy sky. In the foreground, a couple walks arm-in-arm wearing face masks - a man in a red sweater and woman in a yellow top carrying a red bag. Behind them, two women walk together, also wearing masks. The "Embodied" podcast logo appears at the top in maroon letters. Text at the bottom reads "NEW on Embodied: When Long Covid Rewrites Your Love Story."
August 8, 2025 at 3:08 PM
asrao.bsky.social
Come join us for an evening of storytelling and conversation about REINVENTION! Aug 22 at Motorco. Tickets are $16 and include a drink ticket!
embodiedwunc.bsky.social Embodied WUNC @embodiedwunc.bsky.social · Aug 7
TWO WEEKS from tomorrow, we have a very special live event happening at @motorco.bsky.social!!

We'll be exploring the topic of REINVENTION through music, poetry and storytelling. And we have super special ZINE made just for attendees.

Grab your ticket now! motorcomusic.com/event/the-em...
Promotional poster for "Transformed: A Variety Show From WUNC's Embodied" featuring an illustrated scene with blue stage curtains and a large microphone in the foreground. A cartoon figure of a person with glasses and dark hair wearing a white shirt peeks out from behind the blue curtains, with an orange spotlight beam illuminating them. The title "Transformed" appears in large white script lettering at the top. Event details show "Friday, Aug. 22 at 7 p.m. at Motorco Music Hall in Durham" and the show is presented by WUNC 91.5 North Carolina Public Radio and Embodied.
August 7, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Reposted by Anita Rao
atranscendedman.bsky.social
Three years after testing positive for COVID, Philip Hoover’s symptoms never left.

As his health declined, he and his wife Lauren faced a deeper question.

What does it truly mean to care for each other in sickness and in health?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGSh...
When Long Covid Rewrites Your Love Story
YouTube video by WUNC North Carolina Public Radio
www.youtube.com
August 7, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Reposted by Anita Rao
markanthonyneal.bsky.social
'The majority of mental health professionals in the U.S. are white. Therapists of color are working to expand the diversity of their field and increase access to meet a rising demand for their services.' | @embodiedwunc.bsky.social
www.wunc.org/show/embodie...
Why We Need More Therapists Of Color
The majority of mental health professionals in the U.S. are white. Therapists of color are working to expand the diversity of their field and increase access to meet a rising demand for their services...
www.wunc.org
July 10, 2025 at 8:15 PM
asrao.bsky.social
Loved having this conversation with @jessicaslice.bsky.social and her husband David!
embodiedwunc.bsky.social Embodied WUNC @embodiedwunc.bsky.social · Jul 11
NEW EPISODE: Parenting Wisdom From An Interabled Couple -- When jessicaslice.bsky.social‬ was 28, a bout of heat exhaustion triggered an underlying neurological disorder that led to permanent physical disabilities. In the 14 years since, Jessica met her now-husband David Yourdon & started a family.
Illustrated family scene at a playground with 'Embodied' logo at top. Shows a family of four: a white woman with glasses and curly hair in a yellow sweater holding a baby, a young Black girl in a pink heart t-shirt hanging from monkey bars with arms raised joyfully, and a white man in a green shirt and cap standing nearby. The background features trees with purple and green foliage. Bottom banner reads 'NEW on Embodied: Parenting Wisdom From An Interabled Couple.'
July 11, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Reposted by Anita Rao
embodiedwunc.bsky.social
LISTEN HERE: episodes.fm/1525727534/e...

#pride2025 #countryqueer #countrylife #ruralqueer #queercreator
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Listen to undefined from Embodied wherever you get your podcasts!
episodes.fm
June 13, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Reposted by Anita Rao
embodiedwunc.bsky.social
Anita talks to Rae about making queer life work in the country – from navigating dating challenges to getting along with neighbors you disagree with. They also talk about Rae’s oral history project, podcast & book “Country Queers,” which documents queer, rural life in 21 states around the country.
June 13, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Reposted by Anita Rao
embodiedwunc.bsky.social
NEW EPISODE: Rae Garringer grew up on a sheep farm in rural WV, and once they left & came out as #queer, they weren't sure they could move back. They believed the story that to thrive as an out, #LGBTQ+ person, you have to live in a city. But when Rae did move back, they realized that was a lie.
Illustrated promotional image for "Embodied" podcast showing a peaceful rural scene. A person in a yellow sweater sits on a wooden porch with a large white dog lying beside them, overlooking rolling green hills and trees. The "Embodied" logo appears in large brown letters at the top. At the bottom, a blue banner with headphone icon announces "NEW on Embodied: Building A Queer Life In The Country" in white text.
June 13, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Reposted by Anita Rao
sahilkapur.bsky.social
NEW: House Republicans vote to claw back $9.4 billion in funding for foreign aid, NPR and PBS

The vote is 214-212.

4 Rs + 208 Ds vote NO.

4 Ds + 2 Rs miss the vote.

Reminder: 3 safe blue seats are vacant after their Dem reps died.

This now goes to the Senate.

www.nbcnews.com/politics/con...
House Republicans vote to claw back $9.4 billion in funding for foreign aid, NPR and PBS
Trump's White House wants Congress to codify some of the cuts proposed by the Department of Government Efficiency, which was helmed by billionaire Elon Musk.
www.nbcnews.com
June 12, 2025 at 8:04 PM