NPR’s Peter Sagal on “Cesspool of sin”

Peter Sagal, the host of NPR quiz show Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me, recently recorded a promo message for WCQS‘s fund drive. While Public Radio personalities often do this for NPR member stations during their fund raising campaigns, Sagal used his 45 second to congratulate Asheville on being named “Cesspool of Sin.”

Learn more about the fund drive and donate to WCQS here.

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About Alli Marshall
Alli Marshall has lived in Asheville for more than 20 years and loves live music, visual art, fiction and friendly dogs. She is the winner of the 2016 Thomas Wolfe Fiction Prize and the author of the novel "How to Talk to Rockstars," published by Logosophia Books. Follow me @alli_marshall

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11 thoughts on “NPR’s Peter Sagal on “Cesspool of sin”

  1. Barry Summers

    And just think, no more than 20 years ago, we were merely an armpit of sin.

  2. Jake

    I heard this on the drive this morning. While I think it’s pretty damn funny, I do worry that it might be a little polarizing for some WCQS listeners who aren’t as susceptible to irony.

    The “keep it demonic, Asheville” line could be strong medecine for some.

    That said, it’s nice to see some national attention to the slurs against our community.

    • Barry Summers

      Yeah I agree – ‘keep it demonic’ is a little bit odd. We’re sinful, NPR, not demonic!!

      Except Chad. He’s demonic, yet oddly enough, not sinful.

    • LydiaHChrist

      Pretty sure he said “Keep it MNEMONIC, people,” i.e. “cesspool of sin” has a memorable rhythm to it and is thus terrific advertising.

      Great piece, by the way.

  3. Betty Cloer Wallace

    What a hoot! I loved Sagal’s crisp enumeration of our populace–“pagans, crypto-sexuals, heretics, alchemists, and textile artists.” And in context, even “demonic” wasn’t all that bad since, admittedly, we do have some citizenry who display those characteristics.

    This calls for a new wave of tee shirts with check-boxes for the aforementioned list, perhaps with the additions of “other” and “street preacher” and “uber-conservative” and such, all who have contributed splendidly to our “cesspool of sin.”

    Don’t know how many good jobs this national attention will garner, but the 45 seconds of NPR fame was fun.

  4. dpewen

    Thanks Peter and we here in the ceespool are digging our new tag!!!
    The “demonic” thing is also very cool … I represent that!!

  5. Hannah

    WIN!!! Asheville–best city in the south. Lived here for 10+ years.
    I also love how he pronounced “ashevillian” like Ashe villain. Since we’re all so evil.

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