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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Today's SouthBound podcast is a replay of host Tommy Tomlinson's conversation from summer 2023 with Tressie McMillan Cottom, a sociologist, author, columnist for the New York Times and recipient of the MacArthur “genius grant.” Their conversation ranges from the concept of whiteness in American life to the tragedy that shaped her life.
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Changes are coming to the area around the entrance to Charlotte Douglas International Airport. WFAE’s Tommy Tomlinson, in his "On My Mind" commentary, wonders if they’re the changes the airport needs most right now.
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As all of us head into a challenging year, WFAE is starting a new initiative in hopes of lightening our collective load. WFAE’s Tommy Tomlinson, in his "On My Mind" commentary, provides the details.
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This week on SouthBound, host Tommy Tomlinson talks to Landon Bryant, the social media star known for his videos discussing the ways and words of the South. He used to be a Mississippi schoolteacher; now, he gets recognized at Disney World.
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Ronnie Long was paid a multimillion-dollar settlement last week stemming from his wrongful conviction in a rape case that led to him spending most of his life in prison. WFAE’s Tommy Tomlinson, in his "On My Mind" commentary, wonders what price could be put on that time.
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Ed Crutchfield, the former CEO of First Union Bank, died last week at the age of 82. WFAE’s Tommy Tomlinson, in his "On My Mind" commentary, remembers Crutchfield’s role in building modern Charlotte.
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This week on SouthBound, host Tommy Tomlinson talks to author Rebecca Renner, whose new book is called “Gator Country.” It’s the amazing story of a Florida wildlife agent who went undercover to bust a ring of alligator poachers.
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It’s Christmas Day. And WFAE’s Tommy Tomlinson, in his "On My Mind" commentary, has an idea for a last-minute gift that you don’t even have to wrap.
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This week on SouthBound, host Tommy Tomlinson presents the Best of 2023 episode. We’re playing clips from favorite guests: Ben and Erin Napier, Robert Earl Keen, Bomani Jones, and many more. Come celebrate with us.
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The recent violent arrest of two people smoking what might have been a legal version of cannabis illustrates the confusion over North Carolina’s marijuana laws. WFAE’s Tommy Tomlinson, in his "On My Mind" commentary, says it’s time for some clarity.