Anita Rao

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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 "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.

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 "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.

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. ⁠⁠

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.

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.

Loved this episode and learned so much!

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).

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.

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.

YouTube video by WUNC North Carolina Public Radio When #LongCovid Rewrites Your Love Story #loncovidrecovery #longcovidawareness #DisabilityRights

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

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.

“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...

And a great read from Philip.

Loved this conversation. So many memorable moments-- and relevant for couples going through any big life change.

Come join us for an evening of storytelling and conversation about REINVENTION! Aug 22 at Motorco. Tickets are $16 and include a drink ticket!

YouTube video by WUNC North Carolina Public Radio When Long Covid Rewrites Your Love Story

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...

undefined Listen to undefined from Embodied wherever you get your podcasts!

Thanks so much for sharing! Also available here on any podcast app! pod.link/1525727534/e...

Thanks for sharing MAN!

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...

'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...

Loved having this conversation with @jessicaslice.bsky.social and her husband David!

undefined Listen to undefined from Embodied wherever you get your podcasts!

LISTEN HERE: episodes.fm/1525727534/e...

#pride2025 #countryqueer #countrylife #ruralqueer #queercreator

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.

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.

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.

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.

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...

Promotional graphic for Embodied podcast featuring illustrated portraits of two men against a purple cloudy sky background. One wears a captain's hat and sunglasses with a dark shirt featuring blue mountain design, the other has shoulder-length hair and wears a light blue tank top and beanie. Text reads 'NEW on Embodied: Two Brothers, One Uncertain Future' with headphone icon.

What would you do if you knew your brain would stop functioning normally in just a decade? For brothers Ansel Dow (31) & Cosmo Hinsman (26), this isn't hypothetical. They carry a rare genetic mutation that makes frontotemporal #dementia almost inevitable by their mid-40s.

Why We Need Trans Tech In 2025 For decades, trans people have responded to the needs in their community with technological innovation. One researcher explores the possibilities, limitations and future of trans tech.

I was recently interviewed for @embodiedwunc.bsky.social about my trans technologies work; just now getting a chance to post about this! Thanks to @asrao.bsky.social and Kaia Findlay for their work on the episode, and @hibby.bsky.social for contributing an audio clip.

www.wunc.org/show/embodie...

5) Radio is one of the few remaining spaces where LONGFORM, INDEPTH conversations are still happening with regularity. No quick hits, no soundbites... time to really really dig in. If that kind of deep conversation is important to you... please support it!

support.wunc.org/site/Donatio...

4) Local news is on the DECLINE everywhere. Public radio member stations are still one of the spaces that are sending out reporters to cover YOUR community. To hold your local leaders accountable and bring you that important coverage.

3) Federal funding for our work is under threat... which means that listener support is important now more than ever.

2) It's free and accessible to EVERYONE. No matter if now is a season where you can pay more or less, you can access quality news and information for free. If now's a season where you can give, give so that your neighbors have access to information and programming!