Part One: Carl Tanner
We meet a classically trained tenor who stars in the Opera Carolina production of Carmen, Carl Tanner. But his journey to the stage was not what you might call typical. Carl Tanner was a truck driver and a bounty hunter before he got his big break in the opera world. We'll hear about his unique road to his role as "Don Jose" and about Carmen itself.
Guest
Carl Tanner - Tenor, plays "Don Jose" in Opera Carolina's production of Carmen

• See Carmen March 13-20th at Opera Carolina. More information.

Part Two: Revolutionary War Hero Peter Francisco
Today is Peter Francisco day in several states. If you don't know who that is, perhaps this quote from George Washington himself will help, "without him, we would have lost two crucial battles, perhaps the war, and with it our freedom." He was truly a one-man army. Peter Francisco's story is the stuff of Hollywood movies and legend but few people know who he is or what he did to help the American Colonial cause, all while not truly being a free man. Francisco's direct descendent, Travis Bowman, lives in Charlotte and has set out to tell this American hero's story. He'll share it with us, when Charlotte Talks.
Guest
Travis Bowman - Author, Re-enactor and direct descendent of Peter Francisco

• Wikipedia  |  Peter Francisco article

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Plain Language
We'll be joined by 'plain language' experts to discuss how financial institutions that issue credit cards are now required to write card information in plain language to make disclosures by companies easier for consumers to understand. We'll talk about exactly what plain lanuguage is, and what it means for both companies and their customers, and new legislation up for vote next week.
Guests
Annetta Cheek - Chair of the Board of the Center for Plain Language
Dr. Deborah Bosley - Associate Professor of English at UNC Charlotte

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Part One: Camellias
We'll explore some of the surprisingly interesting facts about Camellias. The American Camellia Society is coming to Charlotte this weekend to judge area growers on their camellia growing efforts, so we'll take some time to learn a bit about these plants, which, we're told, can live for 800 years. Learn the history of the camellia and why its export was prevented from the Chinese for centuries.
Guests
Frank Rubbo - Camellia grower specializing in outdoor plants
Matt Hunter - VP of the American Camellia Society
Larry Mellichamp - Director of UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens

• Photos  |  See photos of fresh Camellias at our Spirit Square studio
• Event  |  The Charlotte Camellia Society Show is at BlackLion on Park Road in Pineville March 13th & 14th. More information: (704) 366-2645

Part Two: South Carolina 'Tea Party' Movement
We'll catch up on the ongoing controversy brewing between members of the Tea Party Movement and South Carolina Republicans, who, last month were allied, and then less than a week later, were not. We'll look at how the Tea Party Movement is affecting Republicans in South Carolina and across the country.
Guests
Dr. Scott Huffmon - Associate Professor, Political Science at Winthrop University
Glenn McCall - Former Chair of the York County Republican Party and Representative from the SC Republican Party on the Republican National Committee

• WFAE  |  On again, off again alliance for 'Tea Party' and SC GOP
• South Carolina GOP website
• 'Tax Day Tea Party' website

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Food Safety
We conclude a series on the politics of farming today with an examination of the food safety system in North Carolina. Our experts cover many areas of food safety including restaurant and grocery store inspections, farm produce policies and protecting consumers against food-borne illnesses. No agricultural policy is more important than the safe handling of the food that journeys from farm to fork. Join us for a look at the safety of the food we eat.
Guests
Lynn Lathan - Supervisor, Food and Facilities Sanitation Program, Mecklenburg County Health Dept.
Dan Ragan - Director, Food and Drug Protection Division, NC Dept. of Agriculture
Diane Ducharme - Extension Associate, NC MarketReady (program of NC Cooperative Extension)

• Resource  |  FoodSafety.gov
• Charlotte Talks  |  Politics of Dairy Farming in North Carolina
• Charlotte Talks  |  The Politics of Farming

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CMS Teacher Effectiveness Study
Late last month, Harvard University's Center for Educational Policy Research released a study about teacher effectiveness in Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools. We'll talk with some of the researchers who conducted the Harvard study to discuss the findings, how they may affect CMS Superintendent Peter Gorman's plans to implement a "pay for performance" program for teachers and about teacher recruitment and retention.
Guests
Sarah Glover - Exec. Director, Strategic Data Project, Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University
Sarah Cohodes - Research Manager, Strategic Data Project, Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University
Robert Avossa - Chief Accountability Officer, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools

• WFAE  |  Study findings give Gorman momentum to link teacher pay with performance
• Study  |  Teacher Employment Patterns and Student Results in Charlotte Mecklenburg School

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Foster Parenting
Politicians often debate the definition of family values and what makes up the traditional American family, but foster parents all over the region create family units with great diversity. Foster parents take in troubled kids, disabled kids and kids with tragic pasts in ages ranging from toddlers to teenagers. Our panel of experts works at the heart of the foster parenting system and they will share the challenges and the joys of foster parenting.
Guests
Nettie Lynch - Spokeswoman, Alexander Youth Network
Charles Bradley - Senior Social Services Director, Meck. Co. Dept. of Social Services
Susan Taylor-Richards - Foster Parent and President, MCFPA

• Contact DSS about Foster Parenting at (704) 336-5437
• WFAE  |  NC threshold high for removing children from homes

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Part One: CSI Insects
We'll meet a scientist who uses his expertise in forensic entomology to help solve crimes. Dr. Lee Goff is an early pioneer in the field of forensic entomology, where he uses the details of a bug's life to solve murders and other crimes. He's a consultant to the FBI, other law enforcement agencies and also to the CSI television shows where work like his is portrayed. We'll talk about how insects can solve mysteries and crimes.
Guest
Dr. Lee Goff - Forensic Entomologist

• CSI: Crime Scene Insects is at Discovery Place through April 30th. More info.

Part Two: Rain Gardening in the South
Pollution comes in many forms, and one of those can be gardens. Water-wise gardeners who want to be conscious of both excess use of water and water run-off (which causes pollution) will be happy to know that there's a way to be good to the environment and have a pretty garden - rain gardening. We'll meet NCSU horticulturalist and author Anne Spafford who will explain how rain gardens work in dry spells and rainy seasons, which makes them perfect for our climate here in the Charlotte Region.
Guest
Anne Spafford - Co-Author, Rain Gardening in the South

• Event  |  Authors Anne Spafford and Helen Kraus will speak at the Southern Spring Home and Garden Show on March 5th at 2pm. More info.
• Amazon  |  Rain Gardening in the South by Anne Spafford and Helen Kraus

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Jon Meacham
We'll meet Jon Meacham, Editor of Newsweek magazine. We'll talk about the media, politics, bias, and about how the magazine publishing business is changing, all in advance of Mr. Meacham's lecture on the campus of Queens University of Charlotte, "The Media's Secret Bias: Liberals, Conservatives and the Truth About News." Meacham has also authored several biographies, his latest, American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House won the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for biography.
Guest
Jon Meacham - Editor of Newsweek magazine and Author of several biographies

• Newsweek  |  Charlotte and Mike get a shout out in Meacham's column
• Newsweek website

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Part One: Call Mr. Robeson
We'll take a look at the life of a controversial black activist seen through the eyes of Tayo Aluko. At the age of 33, Aluko discovered the history of Paul Robeson, famous singer and actor whose activism for civil rights had him branded as a traitor in his own country. Aluko was so moved by Robeson's life that he made the story into a one man show. He's been taking the show around the world, and it's here in Charlotte this weekend.
Guest
Tayo Aluko - Writer and sole performer of Call Mr. Robeson: A Life with Songs

• Ticket info  |  Call Mr. Robeson is at the Booth Playhouse Saturday March 6th
• Tayo Aluko and Friends website

Part Two: Story Slam & Aphasia
We'll learn about a new arts group that is supporting homegrown work across a spectrum of artistic mediums. Story Slam presents original poetry, prose, plays, screenplays and more and it's the brainchild of longtime theatre veteran, Mark Woods. Mr. Woods is a founding member of the former Charlotte Repertory Theatre. He's joined by Jim Gloster, a local writer and director who has written a screenplay called Aphasia, which is based on a real life Charlottean. Aphasia is the first Story Slam piece that will be fully produced into a motion picture. Woods and Gloster join us to talk about Story Slam and Aphasia.
Guests
Mark Woods - Team Member, Story Slam
Jim Gloster - Writer/Director, Aphasia

• Story Slam website

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Oscars
The Oscar Awards are right around the corner so we've invited Charlotte's film critics back to talk about the year in movies. An unprecedented 10 films have been nominated for Best Picture. We'll take a look at the best films of the year as well as standout performances, surprise contenders and other Oscar buzz. The lights come up on our annual Academy Awards Show, when Charlotte Talks.
Guests
Matt Brunson - Film Critic, Entertainment Editor, Creative Loafing
Sean O'Connell - Film Critic, East Coast Bureau Chief, FilmCritic.com

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