Tommy Tomlinson
Tommy Tomlinson has hosted the podcast SouthBound for WFAE since 2017. He also does a commentary, On My Mind, which airs every Monday.
He's the author of "The Elephant in the Room," a memoir about life as an overweight man in a growing America. He spent 23 years as a reporter and local columnist for the Charlotte Observer, where he was a finalist for the 2005 Pulitzer Prize in commentary. He has also written for publications including Esquire, ESPN The Magazine, Sports Illustrated, and Garden & Gun. He’s a graduate of the University of Georgia and was a 2008-09 Nieman Fellow at Harvard University.
Tommy and his wife, Alix Felsing, live in Charlotte.
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This week on SouthBound, host Tommy Tomlinson talks to author Valerie Bauerlein, who has written the definitive account of the Alex Murdaugh murder case in South Carolina. Her book is called “The Devil at His Elbow,” and she traces the Murdaugh family’s saga of crime and power back for more than 100 years.
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Democrats are showing new strength in North Carolina now that Kamala Harris is at the top of the presidential ticket. WFAE’s Tommy Tomlinson, in his "On My Mind" commentary, says that matters to other crucial races in the state.
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This week on SouthBound, host Tommy Tomlinson talks to LB Prevette, who grew up on a chicken farm in Wilkes County, North Carolina, and is now a grassroots organizer with the Aspen Institute. We talk about how she decided to do good in the world by coming back home.
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North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper appears to be on the short list as Kamala Harris’ running mate in the presidential election. WFAE’s Tommy Tomlinson, in his "On My Mind" commentary, says Cooper’s understated style might be to his advantage.
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President Biden backed out of the 2024 race Sunday, making way for another Democratic candidate to face off against Donald Trump. WFAE’s Tommy Tomlinson, in his "On My Mind" commentary, says Biden came to a moment of clarity for himself — and the country.
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This week on SouthBound, we’re replaying our episode from last year with ESPN personality Ryan McGee. We talk about his work at ESPN and also about the book he wrote about his adventures in minor league baseball.
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The attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump on Saturday sent a shock through the nation. But WFAE’s Tommy Tomlinson, in his "On My Mind commentary," says we probably should not have been so stunned.
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Thousands of people, including some in Charlotte, became new Americans on July Fourth. WFAE’s Tommy Tomlinson, in his "On My Mind" commentary, wonders if our country is about to break its promise to all those newcomers.
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This week on SouthBound, host Tommy Tomlinson talks to Deesha Philyaw, author of “The Secret Lives of Church Ladies,” and Kiese Laymon, author of books including “Heavy” and “Long Division.” They’re teaming up for a new podcast on nonfiction writing, and they have lots of thoughts about it.
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The first half of 2024 leaves a lot of anxiety to come in the rest of the year. But WFAE’s Tommy Tomlinson, in his "On My Mind" commentary, says there’s still time to rally.