PODCAST · news
Understand SC
by The Post and Courier
Understand SC is a weekly podcast from The Post and Courier bringing you the biggest stories shaping our state. Featuring in-depth conversations with reporters and original interviews with newsmakers, our show will help you better understand South Carolina.
Episodes
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Beyond the Headlines: The Saharan Connection
Why did The Post and Courier just send two journalists 5,000 miles away to Africa? For a story about where our worst hurricanes are born. West Africa is a hurricane nursery, the place where Hugo in 1989 was born. And dust blowing off the Sahara often determines whether a hurricane lives or dies....
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Listen again: Two restaurateurs on bringing Pakistani cuisine to Charleston
In a city like Charleston, where dining is a key element of its identity, how restaurants are doing is important. We know that 2020 was a devastating year for local restaurants. 2021 — year two of the COVID-19 pandemic — brought its own challenges, even when diners returned. Restaurant owners…
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Tim Scott is running for president
Tim Scott has decided to launch a White House bid. He'll make the official announcement on May 22 at his alma mater Charleston Southern University. In this Undertsand SC pop up episode, political editor Schuyler Kropf and senior politics reporter Caitlin Byrd discuss Tim Scotts political journey...
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Introducing the Charleston's Menu podcast
Post and Courier Food Editor Parker Milner and contributing food critic Robert Moss debuted the Post and Courier's newest food and dining podcast live from the 2023 Charleston Wine and Food Festival. This episode features recently named James Beard Finalist and owner of Tuk Tuk Sri Lanken Bites…
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A look inside life on death row
The South Carolina Supreme Court is set to review the constitutionality of the two options the state currently offers as a way to execute inmates on death row. The decision could alter the fate of several inmates, including Richard Moore. Moore is likely to be the first man scheduled to die by...
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Introducing: Understand Murdaugh
Welcome to Understand Murdaugh, a podcast from The Post and Courier, South Carolina’s largest newspaper. Our award-winning reporters have spent more than a year digging into the Murdaugh saga to bring you the latest news and in-depth analysis as we cover this story of drugs, deceit and death in...
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Chapter Four: The Legacy of The Lizard Man
For those who remember the summer of 1988, the Lizard Man is more than just a campfire story. Instead, it's a connection to a moment in time and the memories and people they associate with it. Take, for instance, former Lee County Sheriff Liston Truesdale, who is largely credited with making the...
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Chapter Two: The Lizard Man Gains National Attention
The first newspaper story about the Lizard Man was written by Jan Easterling, a former reporter in The State newspaper's Camden bureau. Easterling was tasked with covering everything that happened in three mostly rural counties east of Columbia. That's how she came to hear talk of a Bigfoot-like...
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Chapter One: The Story of the Lizard Man
The Lizard Man story is 34 years old this month. Bishopville's embrace of the legend is still in its early days. In this episode Post and Courier photographer Andrew Whitaker and projects reporter Thad Moore spoke with many people from the town and Lizard Man enthusiasts. One person they talked...
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Chapter Three: The Culture of the Lizard Man
The Lizard Man mania faded away after only a few months during the summer of 1988, but the story lives on today. Many Bishopville residents and cryptid fans, including a group called the Friends of the Lizard Man, want to do more to preserve the story of the Lizard Man. In recent years, the town...
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A tale of two Trump endorsements
On Tuesday, South Carolinians went to the polls to vote in the 2022 primary election. This week, we’re talking about a few of the most closely-watched races with help from our politics team at The Post and Courier. In this primary, there was a kind of tale of two Trump endorsements: There were…
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Opera 'Omar' makes its world premiere in Charleston
For the last two weeks Charleston has been hosting the annual Spoleto USA performing arts festival. The centerpiece of this year’s festival is the world premiere of an opera called “Omar.” "Omar" is Omar ibn Said, a West African scholar who was enslaved, first in Charleston and then in...
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The GOP primary showdown in SC-01
On Monday, May 23, three Republicans vying to represent South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District took the stage at Burke High School. Within moments of the start of the debate, the primary field was narrowed from three candidates to two: In response to the first question, candidate Lynz...
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What SC lawmakers did and didn’t do in 2022
South Carolina lawmakers wrapped up the regular 2022 session last week in Columbia. This week, we’re recapping what state lawmakers did and didn’t do during this regular legislative session, from the bills that died to ones that have made it to or are en route to the governor’s desk to be signed...
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What will happen in SC if Roe v. Wade is overturned
On May 2, the D.C. news outlet Politico published a draft opinion of a Supreme Court decision that would overturn Roe v. Wade. An actual decision has not been issued. What was leaked was a draft, written by Justice Samuel Alito, but, in the days since it was published, people have sprung into...
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Gunfire that stopped youth baseball games sparks debate over how to respond
On April 25, children's baseball games were being held at Pepperhill Park, a city-run recreation center in a residential area of North Charleston. It was a normal night. Nine and 10-year-olds were playing on the field as parents, siblings and coaches watched. Then, just before 8:45 p.m., dozens…
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The return of Charleston restaurant reviews
The restaurant review has long been part of The Post and Courier’s food section, but the coronavirus pandemic led us — along with newspapers nationwide — to temporarily suspend that section of the paper. Recently, in March, The Post and Courier brought back its restaurant reviews. Moving forward,...
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Listen again: How Greenland contributes to Charleston's flooding problem
Some 3,000 miles north of Charleston, melting ice in Greenland is having a profound effect on Charleston's coastline. This week, we're revisiting an episode that took us behind the scenes of a special report that showed us how Greenland and Charleston are connected. We’ll hear from reporter Tony...
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The state of the COVID pandemic in SC
This week on the podcast, Dr. Michael Sweat, director of the Medical University of South Carolina’s Center for Global Health, is back to answer our questions about the COVID-19 pandemic in South Carolina. The last time Sweat joined us on the podcast, the omicron variant of the coronavirus was…
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New to Charleston? We have some advice.
It's no secret that the Charleston area is a popular place to live. About 33 people are moving to the region a day. Maybe you’re one of those people. Maybe you moved here in the last few years — or, you’re thinking about moving here soon. This week, we're sharing some advice from our newsroom for...
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Gamecocks shooting for a national title
The University of South Carolina’s women’s basketball team started this season ranked No. 1. So, it wasn’t a surprise when the team beat Creighton on Sunday, securing their place in the Final Four. But, as the team would say, they still have work to do. They came into this season with a goal of...
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Affordable housing in Charleston
If you live in or around Charleston, you know how expensive it’s become to live here. It’s not hard to understand why there’s a need for more affordable housing in the city. So, it caught a lot of people’s attention when the Charleston Housing Authority announced that year what will be the…
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Former SC factory left behind a toxic legacy
In 2020, one of the world’s largest car battery makers filed for bankruptcy and gave up its former plant in Greer, S.C. While there’s little left of the old plant, there’s an invisible legacy it left behind. To make its batteries, the company used lead, an element that can wreak havoc on the…
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SC agency hooked on money from 'Monkey Island'
Morgan Island, a remote spot out in South Carolina's ACE Basin, has some unusual inhabitants: 3,500 rhesus monkeys. That's where one of the latest installments of The Post and Courier's Uncovered series about corruption and questionable conduct begins. Reporters Tony Bartelme and Shamira McCray...
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South Carolinians stand with Ukraine
As Russia's unprovoked attack on Ukraine continues, people around the world have shown solidarity for the Ukrainian people. That's been true in South Carolina, too. In the last week, Ukrainians and their supporters gathered in Falls Park in Greenville and held a prayer service was at a Ukrainian...
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In SC, a case of labor trafficking hidden in plain sight
Chris Smith started working at J&J Cafeteria in Conway at a young age, washing dishes. He eventually started working at the restaurant full-time. It was a good job, until Bobby Edwards took over as manager. That’s when the abuse began. Edwards stopped paying Chris and forced him to work 100 hours...
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Listen again: Who was Omar ibn Said?
This month, Spoleto Festival USA, a major performing arts event that’s held annually here in Charleston, announced its 2022 programming lineup. That’s always exciting, but it especially is this year, after two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. For the first time since 2019, the festival will host...
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The SC judge being considered for the Supreme Court
A seat is opening up on the United States Supreme Court. President Joe Biden has said that, for the first time, a Black woman will serve on the country’s highest court. The question, of course, is who it will be. South Carolina judge Michelle Childs is one potential pick. Childs has the support…
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Charleston faces 'what's next' for downed Calhoun statue
In Charleston and in communities across the country where Confederate and related monuments have been removed, there’s still a big question left to be answered: What should be done with them now? For the last several years, Los Angeles-based curator Hamza Walker has been working on an exhibit…
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How oysters' 'superpowers' can help the Lowcountry
Oysters are pretty incredible. They can be incredibly delicious, and they’re one of the things people come to Charleston to eat, but they also have some natural superpowers — superpowers that are particularly relevant for a place like Charleston that’s constantly contending with sea level rise…
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Two restaurateurs on bringing Pakistani cuisine to Charleston
In a city like Charleston, where dining is a key element of its identity, how restaurants are doing is important. We know that 2020 was a devastating year for local restaurants. 2021 — year two of the COVID-19 pandemic — brought its own challenges, even when diners returned. Restaurant owners…
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What to expect from SC's Statehouse in 2022
This past Tuesday, Jan. 11, legislators returned to the Statehouse in Columbia. So, what's on the agenda for 2022? This week, we're breaking down what lawmakers need to do this session, from drawing new lines for voting districts to discussing the legalization of medical marijuana and deciding…
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South Carolina's role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot
It’s been one year since supporters of former President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The events of that day led to an impeachment, sparked debate about what it meant for the future of democracy in the United States and launched investigations by the FBI and Congress.…
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Listen back to these moments from 2021
This year on Understand SC, we've covered a little bit of everything: flooding in Charleston, the coronavirus pandemic, South Carolina politics and even the design of the state’s flag. Emily Williams and Gavin McIntyre revisit moments from some of the year's conversations. All past episodes of...
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SC's health insurance coverage gap
There are about 105,000 other South Carolinians who fall into a health insurance coverage gap created by factors that were set into motion about a decade ago. In 2012, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act for the first time. But, there was a caveat. The court...
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SC's biggest university searches for a president
The largest university in the state of South Carolina is searching for its next leader. Back in May, the University of South Carolina opened a search after its last president, Bob Caslen, stepped down amid controversy. (To get caught up, listen to this Understand SC episode from June.) About a…
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MUSC expert on the omicron variant, future of the pandemic
There’s a new variant dominating pandemic-related headlines right now. You've probably heard of it — and you probably have some questions. We’re getting into some of those today. The omicron variant was discovered in South Africa and reported to the World Health Organization Nov. 24. Two days...
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Brewing more unity in Charleston's craft beer community
After repeatedly finding themselves being the only Black people on their visits to Charleston's breweries, brewer April Dove and David White Jr. of "The Dropping Pin" teamed up to create a beer that they hoped could brew some change for the region's craft beer community. Dove and White's goal,...
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The small SC town 2 war heroes called home
In South Carolina, there's a small town unofficially known as the hometown of living war heroes. The town is Batesburg-Leesville, and the war heroes are Sgt. Maj. Thomas Patrick Payne and Cpl. Kyle Carpenter, both recipients of the nation's highest military award for valor, the Medal of Honor.…
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Charleston's big decision: Should it build a sea wall?
This week, we’re revisiting a topic that we discussed about a year ago on this podcast: the plan to potentially build a sea wall around Charleston’s peninsula. The idea is to protect the flood-prone area from storm surge if the city were to be directly hit by a hurricane. It would also be the...
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The alleged crimes of Alex Murdaugh, explained
Nearly five months later, no one has been arrested for the fatal shootings of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh, a mother and son and members of a prominent and powerful South Carolina legal family. But, in that time, attorney Alex Murdaugh, Maggie’s husband and Paul’s father, has had a dramatic fall from...
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What happens when local newspapers stop printing
Across South Carolina, 10 local newspapers stopped printing last year — a record loss, at least in recent memory. What does a community lose when it loses its newspaper? This week, reporters Jennifer Berry Hawes and Stephen Hobbs explain what they found in trying to answer that question. They…
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The chaotic first 7 weeks of school in SC
The start to this school year in South Carolina was a pretty chaotic one. The delta variant of COVID-19 was quickly spreading, infecting students, teachers and staff and sending people into quarantine. Meanwhile, schools couldn't enforce mask mandates. The result: Seven weeks into the year, at...
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A conversation with The Post and Courier's new executive editor
This week is the 81st annual National Newspaper Week. As our way of celebrating, we’re bringing you a conversation about our newspaper. Recently, The Post and Courier named a new executive editor. Autumn Phillips, who became the paper’s managing editor in early 2018, stepped into the role in late...
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How one SC doctor is addressing vaccine hesitancy
The number of new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations is beginning to decline across the country, signaling the beginning of the end of this latest surge, but, in South Carolina, like many states in the Southeast, coronavirus activity is still high. Health experts have been saying it for months:...
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How Greenland contributes to Charleston's flooding problem
Some 3,000 miles north of Charleston, melting ice in Greenland is having a profound effect on Charleston's coastline. This week, we go behind the scenes of a special report that showed us how Greenland and Charleston are connected. We’ll hear from reporter Tony Bartelme and photographer Lauren...
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What to know about COVID's 3rd surge in SC
It’s been over a year and a half since the first cases of COVID-19 were reported in South Carolina. And, as much as people would like it to be, this pandemic is far from over. Earlier this year, there was hope that this fall we would be edging closer to normalcy — that we would have overcome...
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Creators of 'Gullah Gullah Island' on telling, preserving SC stories
Natalie and Ron Daise are storytellers. Or, as they'd describe it, Natalie is a storyteller and Ron is a kind of keeper of stories, collecting and documenting. Together, they have been gathering, interpreting and sharing stories in South Carolina for decades. The couple is best known for "Gullah...
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SC Supreme Court strikes down school mask mandate
The fight over requiring face masks in South Carolina schools reached the state's highest court this week. On Tuesday, the S.C. Supreme Court heard two cases related to masking rules that challenged a state budget provision that prohibits schools from using state-appropriated funds to require...
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The Olympic journey of Charleston native Raven Saunders
Olympic shot putter and Charleston native Raven Saunders captured the world’s attention from the medal podium this year in Tokyo. The Burke High School graduate had just won the silver medal in her second Olympics at age 25. From the podium, Saunders made a gesture of support that resonated for...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Understand SC is a weekly podcast from The Post and Courier bringing you the biggest stories shaping our state. Featuring in-depth conversations with reporters and original interviews with newsmakers, our show will help you better understand South Carolina.
HOSTED BY
The Post and Courier
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Understand SC have?
Understand SC currently has 150 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Understand SC about?
Understand SC is a weekly podcast from The Post and Courier bringing you the biggest stories shaping our state. Featuring in-depth conversations with reporters and original interviews with newsmakers, our show will help you better understand South Carolina.
How often does Understand SC release new episodes?
Understand SC publishes regularly with 150 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Understand SC?
You can listen to Understand SC on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Understand SC?
Understand SC is created and hosted by The Post and Courier.
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