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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One of Charlotte’s historic buildings was moved to a new home last week in order to save it from the wrecking ball. WFAE’s Tommy Tomlinson, in his "On My Mind" commentary, says this is part of a welcome culture change in the city. -
This week on SouthBound, host Tommy Tomlinson talks to author Alice Driver. She spent years talking to injured and debilitated workers at Tyson chicken plants in Arkansas, and wrote a book about it called “Life and Death of the American Worker.” -
UNC-Chapel Hill announced last week that Black and Hispanic enrollment numbers are down following a Supreme Court decision that ended race-based affirmative action. WFAE’s Tommy Tomlinson, in his "On My Mind" commentary, says it’s part of a pattern in our education system.
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It’s Labor Day. But WFAE’s Tommy Tomlinson, in his "On My Mind" commentary, wonders whether we appreciate certain types of labor in the way we should.
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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.
