Capital City Podcast | Chris Lea: From Hip-Hop Radio to WRAL, Wrestling & Ghosts in the Stadium

Before he was WRAL’s Chris Lea, Greensboro knew him as Show Smoove. The Emmy and Edward R. Murrow Award-winning broadcaster joins Capital J and DL Glass to share his journey from UNCG college radio and 102 JAMZ to professional wrestling, television, and documentary filmmaking. Chris gets candid about getting laid off, being recognized without making “famous money,” rebuilding his career, and the networking advice that helped open doors. He also reflects on Capital J’s influence during his early days with the Wild Out Wake-Up Show. We explore his work on “Ghosts in the Stadium,” the Black communities and racial histories connected to major sports venues, and how documentary filmmaking became another way to tell North Carolina’s stories. Plus: Black representation in wrestling, Princeville and environmental racism, Little Brother, J. Cole, Petey Pablo, and Greensboro radio’s role in breaking hip-hop records. CHAPTERS 00:00 Opening 00:36 Introducing Chris Lea 03:30 Greensboro Roots, UNCG & College Radio 05:23 Carolina Crunk: Creating Space for NC Music 08:51 Getting Started at 102 JAMZ 10:49 Layoffs, MTV Dreams & Starting Over 15:38 Being Famous Without “Famous Money” 22:24 Inside Professional Wrestling 25:22 Black Representation in Wrestling 28:04 Balancing Radio, TV & the Ring 31:22 Breaking Into Television 35:56 Networking That Opens Doors 42:05 The Road to WRAL 46:44 Documentary Filmmaking & an Emmy Win 51:09 Ghosts in the Stadium 57:08 Princeville, Displacement & Raleigh’s Black Communities 1:00:29 Future Documentary Projects 1:02:52 Hip-Hop Influences & Little Brother 1:10:06 North Carolina’s Role in Breaking Records 1:15:15 UNCG Stories, 95 South & J. Cole 1:18:42 Mentorship & Giving Capital J His Flowers 1:20:29 WRAL, Representation & Stuart Scott’s Influence 1:24:07 What the Awards Mean to Chris 1:25:12 Closing What surprised you most: Chris’s wrestling career, his radio roots, or the history behind the stadiums? Let us know in the comments. Subscribe for more conversations preserving North Carolina’s history, culture, and hip-hop legacy. 🎧 Listen at https://www.capitalcitypodcast.com and on all podcast platforms. 📲 Follow DL Glass: @mrdlglass Hosted by Capital J and DL Glass Guest: Chris Lea, WRAL #CapitalCityPodcast #ChrisLea #NorthCarolina