Shawn Wen

Associate Producer, "The State of Things"

Shawn Wen joined the staff of The State of Things in March 2012. She is a writer and multimedia artist. Her radio work has aired on This American Life, Studio 360, Marketplace, Freakonomics, and Rhode Island Public Radio.

Her video work has screened at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, the Carpenter Center for Visual Art at Harvard University, and the Camden International Film Festival.

Shawn is the recipient of the Royce Fellowship and the Third Coast Scholarship. She graduated from Brown University with a degree in Literary Arts.

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The State of Things
11:17 am
Mon May 20, 2013

Why Do Political Activists Burn Out?

Credit www.stonecircles.org
Claudia Horwitz of Stone Circles teaches activists to engage in a spiritual practice.

  • Founder of Stone Circles, Claudia Horwitz, talks about her work teaching organizers how to lead more sustainable lives

Claudia Horwitz was a young political activist who worked to raise awareness around hunger and homelessness.  She found a high burn-out rate among activists she worked with it. Through her career, Claudia saw people drop out of political organizing for a variety of reasons, such as exhaustion, lack of progress, illness and addiction.  


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The State of Things
12:45 pm
Thu May 16, 2013

The Kids Are Alright. In Fact, They're Knitting and Baking Bread!

Credit Emily matchar / http://emilymatchar.com
Homeward Bound: The New Domesticity by Emily Matchar

  • Author Emily Matchar joins host Frank Stasio to discuss her new book, "Homeward Bound: Why Women are Embracing the New Domesticity"

You may have noticed a DIY trend among young people these days. Some are getting into knitting sweaters; others are keeping backyard chicken coups. Otherwise, they are making cheese, canning, beekeeping and growing their own vegetables. These labor-intensive homemaking projects may not be just a trend towards rustic pleasures.


Emily Matchar calls this movement the New Domesticity.  And she documents this phenomenon in her new book, "Homeward Bound: Why Women are Embracing the New Domesticity." Generally, she is writing not about people who embrace DIY culture out of necessity, but rather as a voluntary lifestyle. 


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The State of Things
11:27 am
Wed May 15, 2013

Is The Southern Accent Fading In Raleigh?

Credit http://www.flickr.com/photos/tsolson / flickr
Downtown Raleigh Skyline


  • NC State professor of linguistics Robin Dodsworth discusses the demise of the southern accent

It’s no secret that Raleigh and other parts of the Triangle have changed drastically in the past decades. But new linguistic research shows that along with social and industrial change, the Triangle is seeing its Southern accent fade.


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The State of Things
11:21 am
Fri May 10, 2013

Acclaimed Band Releases New Album

Credit birdsandarrows.com / Birds and Arrows
The new album Coyotes by Birds and Arrows

When Birds and Arrows first started making music, they were writing a lot of love songs. But after 10 years of living in Chapel Hill, their music has evolved and become grounded in the North Carolina landscape. They've recently released their new album, Coyotes, which features a great deal of collaboration with other friends and musicians.

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The State of Things
11:42 am
Thu May 9, 2013

The Centennial Anniversary Of Winston And Salem Becoming "Winston-Salem"

Credit City of Winston-Salem
Seal of Winston-Salem

  • WUNC’s Greensboro Bureau Chief, Jeff Tiberii joins Host Frank Stasio to discuss recent news in the Triad

  The Rhino Times has been the signature conservative newspaper in the Triad since January of 1992. But it’s recently announced its closing, after 21 years of service. In other news, today marks the centennial anniversary of the joining of Winston and Salem, to become Winston-Salem.

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The State of Things
11:37 am
Thu May 9, 2013

Scientists And Musicians Collaborate To Explore The Underwater World Of Biomusic

Credit UNCG BioMusic
A whale

Music production is often considered a very “human” creation. But scientists have recently discovered the songs of mice, elephants, and other animals that human ears are unable to capture.  Scientists and musicians in Greensboro have been exploring the world of biomusic, music produced by nature, beneath the ocean surface.

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The State of Things
11:31 am
Thu May 9, 2013

Researcher Creates A Database Of Global Terrorist Groups

Credit TracTerrorism.org / TracTerrorism.org
TracTerrorism.org

  • Veryan Khan is the editorial director of tracterrorism.org and joins us to talk about her research

Veryan Khan has devoted the last decade to researching terrorist groups across the globe. Trackingterrorism.org is a database created by Khan, to curate information about different terrorist groups.

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The State of Things
12:22 pm
Fri May 3, 2013

How Does Money Affect An Election?

Credit RambergMediaImages via flickr
Host Frank Stasio and guests on the State of Things follow the trail of money.

  • The effects of money on elections and science

The previous State Elections Board's term expired just as they were beginning to investigate $235,000 of allegedly illegal political donations.  The donations implicate Gov. Pat McCrory and legislators from both parties.  Governor McCrory made the unusual decision of replacing all of the board members. 


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The State of Things
11:45 am
Thu May 2, 2013

The Life Of An Acclaimed Southern Writer Gets Made Into A Documentary

Credit http://elizabethspencerdocumentary.org / Landscapes of The Heart
Movie poster for Landscapes of the Heart

  • Landscapes of the Heart

Elizabeth Spencer’s most famous book is called “The Light in the Piazza.”  It’s the story of an American girl who falls in love with a man in Italy.  And it’s been adapted to a movie and a stage musical.  But Elizabeth has created a large body of work, though none is quite so famous. There’s a new documentary based on Elizabeth Spencer’s life called “Landscapes of the Heart: The Elizabeth Spencer Story.”

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The State of Things
11:26 am
Mon April 29, 2013

Top Raleigh Chef Takes The National Stage As A James Beard Award Finalist

Credit ac-restaurants.com
Chef Ashley Christensen is a finalist for the James Beard Award for Best Chef in the Southeast.
  • Ashley Christensen, a Raleigh chef and finalist for the James Beard Award for Best Chef in the Southeast, talks about her life and career with host Frank Stasio

To Ashley Christensen, a restaurant is not just a place where you sit down to eat.  It’s an entire concept.  She carefully plots an immersive experience for her diners. 

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