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A week or two ago we analyzed a dream Ben had about Donald Trump, integrating Jungian concepts of the collective unconscious and cultural archetypes. Now that he's the only Republican nominee left, we reassess the political landscape before delving in to the dream analysis - which seems even more relevant now.

We were on site this past weekend for the NCAE Education Rally at the square downtown and asked the organizers and speakers about their concerns about NC's education system. The next day we went to the opening of this season's Farmer's Market & talked about the importance of local food, using your SNAP benefits, and interviewed a handful of local farmers and vendors.

Sam and Isaac are joined by Phil Vander Ploeg and Ricky Hall of First Baptist Spartanburg and Merge podcast in South Carolina. We explore transgenderism and HB2 from our secular perspective compared with their Christian worldview, then branch off in to other small topics such as the existence of God.

Eliot Lytle, founder of the Morganton Skatepark Advisory Committee, joins us for an update on the status of the skatepark (things are looking pretty good). We then take you back to about a year ago to when all this got started with a re-broadcast of our initial interview with Eliot.

Old friend of the family Billy Glosson and his friend Josh Matejka join Isaac for a calm, respectful, and good-hearted conversation about religion, bible colleges, and aliens.

Sam, Isaac, & Ben engage in the ancient cleansing ritual known only as The Meadow Room. Jesus takes us on a ride through HB2, the state legislature, and what really matters in life. 

We spent Saturday afternoon hanging out at the HB2 protest downtown. We talked to the protesters about their grievances and motivations behind their opposition to HB2, along with getting a few quotes from local religious leaders. Isaac and Ben briefly analyze the situation regarding HB2, an update on the Trump episode, and a PSA on Dolphin sentience.

In the wake of the sweeping anti-LGBT bill HB2 passed this week, we present to you two short episodes from the wonderful podcast "How To Be A Girl", produced by the mother of a trans daughter. Born as a male, her daughter knew from age three that something was wrong with her body. It's time we listen to those we don't understand, instead of acting out of baseless fears.

Tim Barnsback is running against Hugh Blackwell for the chance to be our districts representative in the NC House. Barnsback has taught in the NC public school system for 16 years and does not agree with Blackwell's assessment that our education priorities are on the right track. We ask Tim to weigh in on the usual subjects - food/nutrition, homelessness, conservation, substance abuse, & separation of church/state. Then as usual we elicit his perspective on national politics.

We get back together for a recap of our local election coverage before getting back on to the topic of national politics. We discuss the escalation of violence at Trump's rallies and our plans for coverage of the one coming up in Hickory tomorrow. We continue to voice our support and admiration for Bernard Sanders and make a deliberate attempt to bash his opponent Hillary with the truth.

Johnnie Carswell stops by to talk to us about why he should continue to be our County Commissioner. We get an inside look at two important issues in our counties recent past - the 16 cent tax increase and the courthouse/jail situation. Other topics of discussion are the same for all commissioners and include: qualifications and aspirations for the position, homelessness, conservation, local food, small business development, substance abuse, the courthouse/jail situation, and the separation of church and state.

David Rust stops by to talk to us about why he wants to be our county commissioner. Topics of discussion are the same for all commissioners and include: qualifications and aspirations for the position, homelessness, conservation, local food, small business development, substance abuse, the courthouse/jail situation, and the separation of church and state.

Why we are voting for Senator Bernie Sanders for the 45th president of the United States and, on a related note, why we despise the mainstream media.

Ron Lewis stops by to talk to us about why he wants to be our county commissioner. Topics of discussion are the same for all commissioners and include: qualifications and aspirations for the position, homelessness, conservation, local food, small business development, substance abuse, the courthouse/jail situation, and the separation of church and state.

Cristy Gupton stops by to talk to us about why she wants to be our county commissioner. Topics of discussion are the same for all commissioners and include: qualifications and aspirations for the position, homelessness, conservation, local food, small business development, substance abuse, the courthouse/jail situation, and the separation of church and state.

Hugh Blackwell has been our district's representative in the NC House for the past 7 years. He is also the first candidate we have interviewed with an extensive record of bills that he has voted on. We bring up the same topics we've been asking county commissioners about, except we ask Hugh to put them in a state context. His voting record led us to asking him his views regarding issues such as climate change and gay marriage. This all took about an hour. Then we let loose and went on for another hour exploring the presidential race and the philosophical underpinnings of socialism and capitalism.

Stephanie Norman stops in to talk about her motivations and qualifications for the Register of Deeds position she is running for against Kyle Barrier on the Republican primary ballot. Oh, her son Jacob is there too. What does the Register of Deeds do? Why is it a partisan elected position? How does this position relate to all the other topics we've been talking about with local politics?

Jeff Morse, former town manager of Valdese, stops by to talk to us about why he wants to be our county commissioner. Topics of discussion are the same for all commissioners and include: qualifications and aspirations for the position, homelessness, conservation, local food, small business development, substance abuse, the courthouse/jail situation, and the separation of church and state.

Sam and Isaac weigh in on the possibility of a Trump vs. Clinton ticket thereby purging themselves of pent up emotion, confronting hard truths, realizing the limits of speculation, and admitting their own inadequacies and bias, when finally they feel relaxed enough to talk about something as trivial as the Oscars.

Join us as we kick off our official coverage of the 2016 election season. We talk about our attempts to remain unbiased, the details of voting (and how you can still register if you missed the deadline), why we are voting and why we think you should too.