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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The city of Charlotte has come to a settlement with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings over statements from a City Council member. WFAE’s Tommy Tomlinson, in his "On My Mind" commentary, says it sets a troubling precedent. -
This week on SouthBound, host Tommy Tomlinson talks to novelist Carl Hiaasen, who has been spinning wild tales of heroes and villains in Florida for nearly 40 years. They talk about his new book, “Fever Beach,” and lots more — including his longtime friendship with Jimmy Buffett. -
We have finally come to a conclusion in the long-running appeal of the race for a seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court. WFAE’s Tommy Tomlinson, in his “On My Mind” commentary, says there should be a better way to deliver justice in such cases.
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We’re through the first 100 days of a new American regime. WFAE’s Tommy Tomlinson, in his "On My Mind" commentary, says making it through the days to come could depend on looking inward as well as outward.
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This week on SouthBound, we replay host Tommy Tomlinson's 2023 conversation with Texas singer-songwriter Robert Earl Keen. Keen talks about his beginnings as a musician, his decision to stop touring full time, and his Hill Country retreat where he goes to write songs.
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Will the Carolina Panthers’ 2025 draft class make the team a contender again? Nobody knows — yet. And WFAE’s Tommy Tomlinson, in his "On My Mind" commentary, says the anticipation is a beautiful thing.
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The restored Carolina Theatre holds a special place in Charlotte’s history. But WFAE’s Tommy Tomlinson, in his "On My Mind" commentary, says it’s also a symbol of our potential now and in the future.
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Host Tommy Tomlinson's guest on this week’s SouthBound is Tom Acitelli, who has a new book “The Golden Age of Beer,” that features a different beer style for every week of the year. Acitelli grew up in Charlotte and talks to Tommy about some of his favorite Southern beers.
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The Trump administration’s tariffs have shaken the global economy and disrupted many Americans’ financial futures. WFAE’s Tommy Tomlinson, in his “On My Mind” commentary, says the tariffs are a misguided search for a simpler world.
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Some North Carolina legislators introduced a bill recently to adopt a state hip-hop song. WFAE’s Tommy Tomlinson, in his "On My Mind" commentary, suggests some other good choices to update the state’s musical playlist.
