Podcast
The Hometown Holler
Hosted by The Hometown Holler · EN
Welcome to the Holler! Each week we chat with the people shaping North Carolina’s culture, history and public life. Pull up a chair and sit a spell!
16episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Cuss With Class: Auntie Bev's Million-Dollar Vocabulary
1w ago00:42:44Tap to summarizeNobody told Auntie Bev she was supposed to be famous. She was just in her living room, doing a favor for her grandson... and somehow that turned into 3 million people waiting on her next word. Beverly Mahone, better known as Auntie Bev, is a Durham educator who built one of the most wholesome corners of TikTok one vocabulary word at a time. This week she visits the Holler to talk words, wisdom, and how a little ebullience goes a long wayIn this episode, we get into:-How a grandson’s challenge sparked a viral movement-The first word that blew up (and why it shocked her)-Why expanding your vocabulary can change your life, not just your speech-The real reason we lose words as we get older-How to “cuss with class” (yes, seriously)-Using language to navigate politics, culture, and everyday life-The power of confidence, communication, and showing up at any ageJoin the Holler:Patreon: www.patreon.com/c/TheHometownHollerSubstack: https://substack.com/@thehometownhollerWebsite: https://www.thehometownholler.com/
Transcribe →A Veteran’s Warning w/ Scott Peoples
2w ago00:47:45Tap to summarizeRetired 82nd Airborne Captain and member of Veterans for Responsible Leadership, Scott Peoples, joins the Holler for a Memorial Day conversation about service, democracy, political division, and what it means to defend the Constitution after taking off the uniform.They chat about what Memorial Day actually means beyond beach trips and cookouts, to jumping out of planes at Fort Bragg, the growing politicization of the military, and why veterans across the country are speaking out about protecting democratic norms.Scott shares the story that inspired him to join the Army after 9/11, what life inside the 82nd Airborne was really like, and why he believes veterans still have a responsibility to serve long after active duty ends.Become a Sustainer: patreon.com/c/TheHometownHollerSubstack: https://substack.com/@thehometownhollerWebsite: https://www.thehometownholler.com/
Transcribe →Mark Kelly on War, Trump, and Why He Won't Back Down
3w ago00:38:04Tap to summarizeSenator Mark Kelly joins the Hometown Holler to talk about space, war, and what it's like to have the president call for your execution.Arguably the most interesting member of the US Senate, Kelly has been to space four times and flown combat missions over Iraq and Kuwait. Recently, President Trump called for his execution after Kelly made a video reminding service members they don't have to follow illegal orders. We discuss the war with Iran, the president's threats, his ongoing court battle over his military rank and pension, the ICE detention of a service member's spouse, and how he handles all the stress that comes with the job—at age 62, he's on track to complete 20,000 push-ups this year.Mark Kelly is the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona, first elected in 2020. He sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Intelligence Committee. He is the husband of former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords.Join the Holler and become a sustainer today!
Transcribe →Tracking Congress with Nico Agosta
4w ago00:39:15Tap to summarizeCorporate influence, stock trades, citizens united - oh my!This week the on the Hometown Holler the fellas sit down with political finance watchdog and Stocking the Capitol founder Nico Agosta for a conversation about stock trading, corporate PACs, and why so many Americans feel like Congress is working for everyone except them.From insider trading allegations to campaign cash, Nico breaks down how members of Congress get money, who funds them, and why transparency matters more than ever. The crew also puts North Carolina’s congressional delegation under the microscope with rapid-fire grades from the Political Integrity Project, for Thom Tillis, Ted Budd, Don Davis, Deborah Ross, Virginia Foxx, Tim Moore, and the rest of the NC delegation.If you’ve ever wondered why nothing in Washington seems to change, this conversation might explain a lot.Join the Holler and become a sustainer today!Patreon: / membership Substack: https://substack.com/@thehometownhollerWebsite: https://www.thehometownholler.com/
Transcribe →Yelling Into the Void with Trae Crowder | The Liberal Redneck
May 400:47:51Tap to summarizeA few years ago, Trae Crowder went out to the woods, pointed his phone at his face, and started yelling. Hundreds of millions of views later, he's still basically doing that... just with a shirt on now.Trae joins the Holler to talk about the origin of the Liberal Redneck (North Carolina played a bigger role than you'd think), what it's like to be the guy who's supposed to represent the South to people who've never been here, and why he used to text JD Vance.We also get into losing friends over politics, what's actually wrong with the Democratic Party, why Hollywood still can't quite figure out what to do with him, and whether rednecks are the one group nobody gets cancelled for mocking.Join the Holler today!Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/thehometownholler/membershipSubstack: https://substack.com/@thehometownhollerWebsite: https://www.thehometownholler.com/
Transcribe →North Carolina Politics: Budget, Taxes & Power Bills w/ Governor Josh Stein
Apr 2000:36:54Tap to summarizeThis week on The Hometown Holler, the fellas sit down with Governor Josh Stein to break down what’s happening inside the General Assembly, why billions of dollars are on the line, and how decisions being made right now could shape the future of our state. We get into it all, from teacher pay and tax cuts to data centers popping up in folks’ backyards and who’s actually footing the bill. If you’ve been wondering why things feel stuck… or who’s really benefiting… this is the conversation you need to hear.Join the Holler:Patreon: / thehometownholler Buy us a coffee: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted...Substack: https://substack.com/@thehometownhollerWebsite: https://www.thehometownholler.com/In this episode:Why NC hasn’t passed a real budget in yearsWhere billions of dollars could go (and who gets left out)The truth about tax cuts and who actually benefitsData centers, energy costs, and what’s coming nextRural NC, jobs, and what growth should actually look likeWhat it’s like being Governor in this moment
Transcribe →Trump, Chaos and The Epstein Files, w/ Congresswoman Deborah Ross.
Apr 1300:48:35Tap to summarizeWhat happens when the President wakes up and starts firing off tweets that sound more like warnings than leadership?This week on The Hometown Holler, we sit down with North Carolina Congresswoman Deborah Ross to break down Donald Trump’s latest unhinged social media posts, what’s actually happening behind the scenes in Washington, and how members of Congress respond in real time when things feel like they’re spiraling.We also talk about the Epstein files, what she is actually seeing behind closed doors, and why accountability still feels out of reach for a lot of Americans. On top of that, we dive into Hurricane Helene recovery in Western North Carolina, FEMA delays, and why communities are still waiting on help they were promised.And maybe most importantly, we ask the question a lot of folks are feeling right now: what can regular people actually do when all of this feels out of control?Subscribe to The Hometown Holler for real conversations about North Carolina politics, U.S. government, breaking news, and the stories shaping our state.Patreon: / thehometownholler Buy us a coffee: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted...Substack: https://substack.com/@thehometownhollerWebsite: https://www.thehometownholler.com/
Transcribe →Corruption, Transparency & Why He’s Done: Inside NC Politics with Graig Meyer
Apr 600:46:18Tap to summarizeAfter 12 years in the North Carolina General Assembly, former NC Senator Graig Meyer sits down with The Hometown Holler to share why he’s stepping away and what’s actually happening inside NC politics.He talks about the “internal politics and pettiness” that pushed him to leave, what it’s like working inside a superminority, and why so many good ideas never see the light of day.From the lack of transparency, to the reality of how power actually moves in Raleigh, Graig pulls back the curtain in a way you don’t usually hear.We also get into corruption, why lawmakers stay quiet, what it takes to get real legislation passed (like Medicaid expansion), and why Graig believes the next chapter of his work, outside elected office, might have an even bigger impact on people’s lives. This is what we do at The Holler - real conversations, plain language, and a porch big enough for all of North Carolina.Join the Holler:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheHometownHollerBuy us a coffee: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=69TJJY9ASUBGGSubstack: https://substack.com/@thehometownhollerWebsite: https://www.thehometownholler.com/
Transcribe →Pat McCrory: What Republicans Won't Say in Public
Mar 3001:06:08Tap to summarizeIn 2016, Pat McCrory ran for reelection as North Carolina’s governor on the same ticket as Donald Trump. Trump carried the state, but McCrory lost by just over 10,000 votes out of more than 4.5 million cast. In the decade since, McCrory has watched the Republican Party move in a direction he no longer fully recognizes.This week, he sat down with the Holler to discuss January 6th, HB2 (the so-called “Bathroom Bill”), what Republicans are saying privately that they won’t say in public, and whether honest disagreement still has a place in American politics.Join the Holler: https://www.patreon.com/TheHometownHoller
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Streaming Broke Music… Now AI? | ft. Tift Merritt
Mar 2300:51:14Tap to summarizeGrammy-nominated singer-songwriter Tift Merritt joins the Holler to discuss her career as a working musician, the process of writing songs, and how streaming and AI are reshaping the future of music.She breaks down what artists actually earn from streaming, why it can take millions of plays to break even on a record, and how the shift from CDs to digital platforms like Spotify changed the business. She also talks about AI-generated music and what it means for ownership, credit, and compensation.Tift also discusses her work in policy and advocacy, including efforts to give musicians a seat at the table, and why she sees what is happening in music as a warning for other industries.Join the Holler and help us build a better North Carolina, one conversation at a time: https://www.patreon.com/TheHometownHollerBuy us a coffee: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted...Substack: https://substack.com/@thehometownhollerWebsite: https://www.thehometownholler.com/
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