SouthBound

The South … What is it? Movies, books, songs, myths and legends have tried to explain this part of the United States. SouthBound, a podcast series from WFAE, talks to people who were born and raised in the South. Hosted by journalist Tommy Tomlinson, SouthBound features conversations with notable Southerners from all walks of life – from artists and athletes to preachers and politicians.Who would you like to hear on the SouthBound podcast? Click here or use the form below to submit your favorite Southerner and the question you would love for them to answer. Who knows... you might just hear them on a future episode.

Episodes

The SouthBound finale: Host Tommy Tomlinson on talking to fascinating Southerners

July 30, 2025 • 44 mins

This week on SouthBound, we air our final episode. WFAE’s Ely Portillo interviews host Tommy Tomlinson about Tommy's favorite SouthBound moment, the future of journalism and what still gives him hope. Please join us.

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Georgann Eubanks travels the South to find out where the wild things are

June 25, 2025 • 35 mins

This week on SouthBound, host Tommy Tomlinson talks to author Georgann Eubanks, who traveled the wild South to visit everything from frogs to swans for her new book, “The Fabulous Ordinary.”

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Jeremy Markovich dives down the North Carolina Rabbit Hole in search of quirky stories

June 11, 2025 • 34 mins

This week on SouthBound, host Tommy Tomlinson talks to Jeremy Markovich, whose newsletter, the North Carolina Rabbit Hole, covers all manner of strange and wonderful little stories about the Tar Heel state.

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SouthBound Replay: Dale Earnhardt Jr. grapples with his family's legacy

May 28, 2025 • 35 mins

This week on SouthBound, we're replaying host Tommy Tomlinson's 2018 talk with Dale Earnhardt Jr. There’s a new documentary produced by Dale Jr. on his dad, NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt, and the conversation gets into their complicated family dynamic.

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Carl Hiaasen visits 'Fever Beach' and enjoys making bad guys get what they deserve

May 14, 2025 • 45 mins

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.

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SouthBound Replay: Robert Earl Keen trades life on the road for Western chill

April 30, 2025 • 43 mins

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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Beer expert Tom Acitelli has a brew in mind for every week of the year

April 16, 2025 • 38 mins

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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How the DOGE cuts hit home for a UNC Charlotte professor and her team

April 2, 2025 • 35 mins

This week on SouthBound, host Tommy Tomlinson talks to Annelise Mennicke, a UNC Charlotte professor whose federal grant was canceled as part of the Trump administration’s cost-cutting program. And also because her research involved trans people.

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Jim Barger Jr. writes about Jimmy Carter's life as a fisherman

March 19, 2025 • 35 mins

This week on SouthBound, host Tommy Tomlinson talks to Jim Barger Jr., author of a new book called “Rivers and Dreams,” on former President Jimmy Carter’s life as a fisherman — and how he often used fishing to cast the lines of diplomacy.

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With her new album, Sierra Hull keeps exploring her roots beyond bluegrass

February 26, 2025 • 40 mins

This week on SouthBound, host Tommy Tomlinson talks to Tennessee singer and mandolin player Sierra Hull. She’s got a new album, "A Tip Toe High Wire," coming out next week that continues her musical journey beyond her bluegrass roots.

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Elizabeth Bradford paints the fabric of nature — and her inner self

February 12, 2025 • 32 mins

This week on SouthBound, host Tommy Tomlinson talks to Davidson-based painter Elizabeth Bradford. She paints large nature scenes with lots of things happening at once, and talks about how hearing a slam poet changed her painting style.

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In Andy Corren's family stories, the 'Dirtbag Queen' is his mom

January 29, 2025 • 36 mins

This week on SouthBound, host Tommy Tomlinson talks to author Andy Corren. Andy wrote an obit a few years ago for his self-described “redneck Jewish” mother. That obit went viral, and he has expanded it into a hilarious and touching memoir called “Dirtbag Queen.”

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SouthBound replay: Drew Lanham's life and work in words, and birds

January 15, 2025 • 40 mins

This week on SouthBound, we're replaying host Tommy Tomlinson's 2019 conversation with author and bird expert Drew Lanham. They talk about Lanham's childhood in South Carolina and his life as a Black birder in a culture that has not always been accepting.

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SouthBound Replay: David Hale tries to explain the chaos of college football

January 1, 2025 • 41 mins

This week on SouthBound, we’re replaying host Tommy Tomlinson's conversation with ESPN college football writer David Hale. We’re in the middle of the expanded college football playoff, and David has a lot of thoughts about that and other huge changes in the sport.

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SouthBound's Best of 2024, featuring our favorite episodes of the year

December 18, 2024 • 32 mins

This week on SouthBound, it’s our best of 2024 episode. We’re playing clips from host Tommy Tomlinson's favorite guests of the year: author James Lee Burke, YouTube star Landon Bryant and many more. Come join the conversation.

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SouthBound replay: Kate Medley visits gas stations for the food (and the photos)

December 4, 2024 • 33 mins

This week on SouthBound, we are replaying host Tommy Tomlinson's 2023 conversation with photographer Kate Medley. Her book “Thank You Please Come Again,” about gas station food in the South, was just named one of NPR’s "Books We Love" for 2024.

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Michael Kruse wants to tell stories that bridge our great divide

November 20, 2024 • 44 mins

This week on SouthBound, host Tommy Tomlinson talks to Michael Kruse, staff writer for POLITICO and an expert on Donald Trump. Kruse offers a lesson in having difficult conversations about politics.

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'Shutdown Fullcast' co-host Ryan Nanni explores the weirdness of college football and many other things

November 6, 2024 • 41 mins

It's the day after the election. While Tommy Tomlinson is summing up the initial lessons the results hold for WFAE listeners, we thought we’d give you a break with this week's SouthBound — something to listen to that has nothing to do with politics. We’re replaying Tommy’s conversation with Ryan Nanni, host of Shutdown Fullcast. That’s a college football podcast, sort of.

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SouthBound Replay: Social media star Landon Bryant explains the South to the rest of the world

October 23, 2024 • 33 mins

Landon Bryant is a social media star who explains the South to the rest of the world in a way that gets Southerners nodding and laughing.

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Patrick Davis celebrates songwriting and South Carolina in his new show

October 9, 2024 • 38 mins

This week on SouthBound, host Tommy Tomlinson talks to Patrick Davis, host of the new series “Southern Songwriters With Patrick Davis” on public TV stations nationwide. Davis brings in some of Nashville’s best to share songs and stories, and mixes in history from his home state of South Carolina.

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SouthBound

Episodes

.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}The SouthBound finale: Host Tommy Tomlinson on talking to fascinating Southerners

.css-r6mb8g{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:1;overflow:hidden;}Georgann Eubanks travels the South to find out where the wild things are

Jeremy Markovich dives down the North Carolina Rabbit Hole in search of quirky stories

SouthBound Replay: Dale Earnhardt Jr. grapples with his family's legacy

Carl Hiaasen visits 'Fever Beach' and enjoys making bad guys get what they deserve

SouthBound Replay: Robert Earl Keen trades life on the road for Western chill

Beer expert Tom Acitelli has a brew in mind for every week of the year

How the DOGE cuts hit home for a UNC Charlotte professor and her team

Jim Barger Jr. writes about Jimmy Carter's life as a fisherman

With her new album, Sierra Hull keeps exploring her roots beyond bluegrass

Elizabeth Bradford paints the fabric of nature — and her inner self

In Andy Corren's family stories, the 'Dirtbag Queen' is his mom

SouthBound replay: Drew Lanham's life and work in words, and birds

SouthBound Replay: David Hale tries to explain the chaos of college football

SouthBound's Best of 2024, featuring our favorite episodes of the year

SouthBound replay: Kate Medley visits gas stations for the food (and the photos)

Michael Kruse wants to tell stories that bridge our great divide

'Shutdown Fullcast' co-host Ryan Nanni explores the weirdness of college football and many other things

SouthBound Replay: Social media star Landon Bryant explains the South to the rest of the world

Patrick Davis celebrates songwriting and South Carolina in his new show

Popular Podcasts

The SouthBound finale: Host Tommy Tomlinson on talking to fascinating Southerners

Georgann Eubanks travels the South to find out where the wild things are