All Episodes
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 in total
Under Pressure: A Very Reluctant Debutante - Part 1
In the 1960s, Mayor Wense Grabarek became nationally known as he led Durham, NC through a tumultuous period of desegregation. He was praised as a civil rights champion...
Under Pressure: A Very Reluctant Debutante - Part 2
Lisa Grabarek continues her story as a resistant debutante: Her reaction to her father's threat, the aftermath, and the surprising conversations with her parents that ...
Anna's story
We turn our attention to NC's statewide debutante ball and hear from a more recent debutante. Anna from eastern NC talks about her experience: the bribe her older sist...
Debutantes as Southern Royalty - Part 1
What is North Carolina's state debutante ball really like? Former debutante and PhD student Anna Shelton-Ormond walks us through the rituals of the ball—including the ...
Debutantes as Southern Royalty - Part 2
Continuing the conversation with Anna Shelton-Ormond, we dive into a more analytical view of NC’s debutante scene. Anna’s research indicates that many NC debs are ambi...
Behind the Curtain: Debutantes and Secrecy
“Secrecy gives you control over somebody who doesn't know the secret. It can also hide the truth from yourself.” This week’s guest, Dr. Cynthia Lewis, has interviewed ...
Stories, Questions, Answers & More Questions
This episode covers a lot of ground, including personal stories and bits of NC debutante history. We hear directly from four NC women who have deb-related memories—som...
Protecting Southern Womanhood (1920s and 2020s)
Short bonus: We go back to the era when North Carolina debutantes first emerged, shortly after women won the right to vote – but with no thanks to NC lawmakers. Mary d...
Are Debs Beside the Point?
In this final episode, Mary offers personal reflections and parting thoughts. She reviews key points from the podcast and reaches a surprising conclusion: Perhaps, at ...