In this weekly series, Chris Lea (WRAL-TV) and Dennis Cox (99.9 The Fan) interview famed sports figures, entertainers and pop-culture icons about their love of and contributions to the North Carolina sports culture and the state's large, sometimes over-looked, impact on the national sports scene. Culture State instills pride in natives, residents and fans in what’s produced or influenced by our state, while also generating intriguing continuing fan conversations and water-cooler moment laughs.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @CultureStatePod

@ChrisLeaTV (Chris Lea)

@TheFanRookie (Dennis Cox)