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Anita Rao

Host and Executive Editor, "Embodied"
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Anita Rao is an award-winning journalist, host, creator, and executive editor of "Embodied," a weekly radio show and podcast about sex, relationships & health.

She has traveled the country recording interviews for the Peabody Award-winning StoryCorps production department, founded and launched a podcast about millennial feminism in the South, and served as the managing editor and regular host of "The State of Things," North Carolina Public Radio's flagship daily, live talk show. Anita was born in a small coal-mining town in Northeast England but spent most of her life growing up in Iowa and has a fond affection for the Midwest.

You can send Anita an e-mail at arao@wunc.org.

  • The logo for Embodied, which features a person with brown skin wearing yellow pants, a white shirt and white glasses pulling back a starry curtain of the silhouette of a person that is roughly twice as large as the person in yellow pants. The word "Embodied" is at the top with the WUNC logo directly underneath it and the PRX logo in the bottom righthand corner of the illustration. All of the text is in white, and the background of the illustration is light blue.
    How LGBTQ Seniors Are Aging In Community
    Kaia Findlay
    LQBTQ seniors face distinct challenges in older age — from isolation to struggles in accessing care and services because of their sexuality. Anita talks with three folks building solutions: a lesbian couple who built the first 55+ senior cohousing community in the country and a young activist connecting LGBTQ elders with resources.
  • 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.
    (Single) Mothered: Choosing to Parent Solo
    Paige Miranda
    More and more women are breaking up with the expectation that you need a partner to parent. What’s it like raising kids as a single mother by choice?
  • The logo for Embodied, which features a person with brown skin wearing yellow pants, a white shirt and white glasses pulling back a starry curtain of the silhouette of a person that is roughly twice as large as the person in yellow pants. The word "Embodied" is at the top with the WUNC logo directly underneath it and the PRX logo in the bottom righthand corner of the illustration. All of the text is in white, and the background of the illustration is light blue.
    The Sex Lives Of Gen Z (And Why They Matter)
    Kaia Findlay
    Gen Z is reportedly having less sex than previous generations. One journalist set out to understand what’s going on beyond the data.
  • Three people with disabilities stand in a row modeling brightly colored, boldly patterned outfits. The person on the left is Black with a blond afro. They are wearing a two-piece swimsuit and high-heeled ankle boots. They have a cane. The person in the middle is light-skinned with purple hair, and wears a bodysuit with high top sneakers. The person on the right is also light-skinned, and wears winged eye makeup. They sit in a wheelchair with a respirator wearing long pants and a hoodie.
    Desiring Disability in Fashion
    Audrey Smith
    Mainstream adaptive fashion lines are relatively new, but creating clothes to fit and flatter a range of bodies has long been part of disability culture. Anita meets three disabled fashionistas who design with disabled bodies as a starting point, not an afterthought.
  • The Embodied logo, which features the silhouette of a person that is dark blue with small white dots all over it, like stars. There is a cartoon person standing in front of the silhouette with brown skin, brown hair and glasses wearing a white long-sleeved shirt, yellow pants and white shoes. She is pulling back the dark blue fabric to reveal a yellow-orange interior to the silhouette. The background of the logo is light blue and has the word "Embodied" at the top, with the NPR Network logo underneath it on the left-hand side and WUNC underneath it on the right-hand side.
    Navigating Chronic Insomnia In A Sleep-Obsessed Culture
    Kaia Findlay
    Chronic insomnia affects 12% of adults in the U.S. A journalist and a couple share what they’ve learned about living with persistent sleeplessness.
  • The logo for Embodied, which features a person with brown skin wearing yellow pants, a white shirt and white glasses pulling back a starry curtain of the silhouette of a person that is roughly twice as large as the person in yellow pants. The word "Embodied" is at the top with the WUNC logo directly underneath it and the PRX logo in the bottom righthand corner of the illustration. All of the text is in white, and the background of the illustration is light blue.
    A Mission To Tell Trans History Differently
    Kaia Findlay
    A writer and historian talks about finding stories of trans history from 1600s southwestern African to World War One Britain.
  • An illustration of a person relaxing on a reclining chair outdoors. The individual appears to be an older adult with light-colored hair, wearing a purple skirt and a light gray top, with a yellow cushion beneath them. The background features vibrant, psychedelic swirls in purple, pink and red hues, blending with trees and abstract foliage. The word "Embodied" is at the top in green letters.
    Boomers On Psychedelics
    Kaia Findlay
    It's been half a century since the psychedelic era. Now, some baby boomers are returning to the drugs of their youth — not for rock and roll, but to confront aging.
  • The logo for Embodied, which features a person with brown skin wearing yellow pants, a white shirt and white glasses pulling back a starry curtain of the silhouette of a person that is roughly twice as large as the person in yellow pants. The word "Embodied" is at the top with the WUNC logo directly underneath it and the PRX logo in the bottom righthand corner of the illustration. All of the text is in white, and the background of the illustration is light blue.
    Searching For Love And Legal Status
    Kaia Findlay
    Dating as an undocumented immigrant can be tricky, with some folks trying to balance finding romance with finding a path to citizenship. The creator of a popular Instagram account talks about her experience and the community she’s created around dating while undocumented.
  • An illustration of a smiling person with long dark hair, sitting at a desk and writing in a notebook with a pen. They rest their chin on one hand and wear a loose yellow sweater. The background shows wooden furniture and a window. At the top, large green text reads “Embodied.”
    What It Takes To Make Art Your Life
    Kaia Findlay
    One artist shares her decade-long journey across the globe to figure out if a life dedicated to art is worth the struggle.
  • An illustration of a femme-presenting person sitting in the driver’s seat of a large truck cab, holding the steering wheel. She's wearing a pink shirt, gray shorts and purple sneakers, with a pink hair tie holding up her ponytail of dark blonde, shoulder-length hair. The truck door is open, giving a clear side view of the cab interior. Above, the word “Embodied” appears in bold purple letters.
    The Life of Trans And Queer Long-Haul Truckers
    Kaia Findlay
    The face of the long-haul trucking industry has long been white and male ... but that’s slowly shifting. Among the changing demographics, there’s one cohort that’s gaining visibility: LGBTQ truckers.