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Kaia Findlay

Lead Producer, "Embodied"

Kaia Findlay is the lead producer for Embodied, WUNC's radio show and podcast on sex, relationships and health.

Her first exploration of radio came in elementary school, when she usually fell asleep listening to recordings of 1950s radio comedy programs. After a semester of writing for her high school newspaper, she decided she hated journalism. While pursuing her bachelor’s in environmental studies at UNC-Chapel Hill, she got talked back into it. Kaia received a master’s degree from the UNC Hussman School of Journalism, where she focused on reporting and science communication. She has published stories with Our State Magazine, Indy Week, and HuffPost. She previously worked as the manager for a podcast on environmental sustainability and higher education.

When not working at WUNC, Kaia goes rock climbing, takes long bike rides, and reads lots of books.

 

  • An illustration of a woman standing on a sandy beach, facing the ocean with her hands resting on her head. She wears a pink and orange swimsuit with a sheer pink cover-up. She has brown skin and brown, curly hair that is shoulder-length. Beside her, an orange suitcase with an American flag sticker that’s partially torn off stands near a metal bench. The background showcases a tropical island with lush greenery, a bright blue sky with wispy clouds, and turquoise waves. The bold red title "Embodied" is prominently displayed at the top.
    One Woman's Guide To Divorcing America
    Kaia Findlay
    In the hours and days following now-President Donald Trump’s re-election, online searches about leaving the U.S. surged. Host Anita Rao talks with a woman who turned a desire to leave the U.S. into reality.
  • 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.
  • A cartoon-style illustration featuring a wooden stand with the words 'ADVICE' written on a sign at the top. Below, a smaller sign reads 'ADVICE - $0.50, GOOD ADVICE - $2.00.' The scene is set in a grassy field with a bright blue sky and a small butterfly flying nearby. The word 'Embodied' is prominently displayed in large letters at the top of the illustration.
    The Art of Giving Good Advice
    Kaia Findlay
    If 2025 is the year you’re hoping to become known for giving great advice, Embodied is here to give you the tools to start the year off strong.
  • An illustration featuring a four-by-four grid of different male heads. The perspective on the illustration is from above, looking down on various degrees of baldness, from different-sized bald spots to receding hairlines to complete baldness. The races of the men vary, along with their facial expressions. Some men seem indifferent, while others seem distressed. The word "Embodied" is at the top of the illustration.
    Why Are We Afraid Of Baldness?
    Kaia Findlay
    The majority of American men over 35 will experience thinning hair and balding. Why is something so normal so culturally feared?
  • An illustration featuring a bird's eye view of a table with many different dishes on it. The dishes include meatballs, pizza, several different Indian dishes and naan. There are three hands coming together to clink wine glasses over the table. The hand in the upper left has dark skin and is holding a glass of white wine. The hand in the lower part of the illustration has light skin and is holding a glass of red wine. The hand in the upper right part of the illustration has medium-tone skin and is holding a glass of white wine. The word "Embodied" is at the top of the illustration in blue lettering.
    Is Food The Key To Cultural Belonging?
    Kaia Findlay
    As a mixed-race adult, Anita's been reckoning with what it means to stay connected to cultural identity. And she’s prioritizing one thing in particular: food.
  • An illustration featuring four panels with a faceless person standing in each one. The person in the panel all the way on the left is a masc-presenting person who is wearing a white lab coat, a white button-down shirt, a green tie, a brown belt and blue pants. His skin is a light brown, he has short brown hair and he's wearing a stethoscope. The person the in middle-left panel is an older, femme-presenting person with light skin and gray hair that goes to her ears. She's wearing a light blue shirt and gray pants. The person in the middle-right panel is femme-presenting with dark brown skin and dark brown hair that is up in a bun with a piece out in the front. She's wearing blue scrubs. The person in the panel all the way on the right is femme-presenting with light skin and blonde hair down her back, swept away from her face. She's wearing a pink, knee-length dress and her hands are in her pockets. The word "Embodied" is at the top of the illustration, going along all of the panels.
    Assisted Death And Dying in America
    Kaia Findlay
    The option to end one's own life through prescribed, lethal medication is legal in 10 states and in Washington D.C. Guest host Anisa Khalifa talks to two researchers about what the assisted death debate illuminates about dying in the United States.
  • An illustration with rainbow colors in the background. In the foreground, there are two people holding the intersex flag behind them. The person on the left has medium-tone skin with dark brown hair in two top-knots on either side of their head. They're wearing a white T-shirt tucked into blue jeans and a choker. The person on the right has lighter skin and chin-length brown, straight hair. They're wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans, with a necklace with a gold pendant on it. The flag behind both people is yellow with a large purple circle outline in the center. The word "Embodied" is at the top of the illustration.
    Intersex Reframes On Sex & Gender
    Kaia Findlay
    We first learn about sex as a binary, but the existence of intersex folks tells a different story. Anita hears from an intersex physician, the parent of an intersex tween, and two young intersex adults about advocacy, the state of medical care and pushing back on binaries.
  • An illustration featuring the word "Embodied" in purple at the top, with silhouettes of the side profiles of several faces underneath, in the lower third of the illustration. You can see six faces or pieces of faces, with a mix of hair styles and lengths. Each silhouette is a different shade of pink or purple, and the silhouettes are facing different directions.
    Bisexuality Beyond The Binary
    Kaia Findlay
    Bisexual folks make up the highest portion of people who identify as LGBTQ+. What are the challenges of having a sexuality that falls between distinct, prescribed categories?
  • An illustration featuring two femme-presenting individuals holding each other and smiling. The person on the left has light brown skin and long dark brown hair that is up. She is wearing a red sari with gold accents and a golden sash across her body, gold bangle bracelets, gold dangly earrings and a golden piece of jewelry at the top of her forehead. Her nails are painted red. The person on the right is wearing a white dress with small pink accents and a red and gold sash tied around her waist that matches her partner's outfit. Her brown hair is short, and she's wearing a golden Grecian headband, a gold bracelet, a gold necklace and a gold wedding ring. The border of the illustration is full of red and golden flowers, and the word "Embodied" is at the top in yellow block letters.
    Why We're Reimagining The Wedding Ceremony
    Kaia Findlay
    Specific marriage traditions and ceremonies have been around for millennia. But for some couples, reimagining the exchanging of the vows is a significant step of the process — from blending faiths and cultures to acknowledging queerness and relationships beyond the couple.
  • An illustration featuring a brain in the middle with scrabble letter tiles along the brain spelling out "dyslexia" with a backwards E. There are other random scrabble letter tiles placed around the rest of the illustration, and the word "Embodied" is at the top in pink bubble letters.
    Dyslexia And The Reading Brain
    Kaia Findlay
    Up to 20% of the population experiences symptoms of dyslexia, a lifelong neurological disorder that makes it difficult to read fluently. Examining why dyslexia happens — and how we intervene — has ripple effects for all literacy learners.