July 5, 2026

• World Cup, Sports Business, College Sports

In the summer of 2026, America learned firsthand the joys and heartbreaks of World Cup soccer — known as football around the world. We also learned the chants, customs, and habits of international fans. They found a new appreciation for Americans and our country, too. This got us thinking about the culture of sports, the business of sports, and the history of sports. When perennial sports fans, who happen to also be history buffs, bring their passions to a microphone, listeners get the kind of conversation that even the loneliest of sports widows can enjoy. Listen in and meet our guest:

Dr. James Wood is currently Professor of Latin American and modern world history at North Carolina A&T State University. He is the author of The Society of Equality: Popular Republicanism and Democracy in Santiago de Chile, 1818-1851 and the co-editor of Problems in Modern Latin American History: Sources and Interpretations, now in its fifth edition with Rowman and Littlefield. As a Fulbright scholar for Chile in 2016 he was a visiting professor at the Universidad Diego Portales in Santiago (where he observed Chilean student activism up close).

“On The Porch” is hosted by Randolph ”Randy” Voller. He is also the publisher of Chatham County Line. Randy welcomes guests to the show who are from the communities of art, academia, business, and politics for friendly and informative conversations. “On The Porch” airs every Sunday at 6 and 11am, then 6 and 9pm on WCHL-FM 97.9. The show also streams on ChapelBoro.com. Current and previous shows of “On The Porch” are also posted as podcasts on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
To be a guest on the show or send us a comment, email: ontheporch@wchl.com