Tying It Together with Tim Boyum
257 episodes - English - Latest episode: 15 days ago - ★★★★★ - 91 ratingsWith the speed of the local news cycle, it's easy to forget that the politicians who represent us and the influencers in our communities are more than just a soundbite. North Carolina’s veteran reporter and anchor, Tim Boyum, loosens his signature bow tie to give listeners a glimpse behind the curtain, showing us who these power players really are and why they do what they do.
Through Tim’s candid conversations on “Tying It Together,” his guests reveal their most fascinating life stories, passions, and help all of us get a better grasp on the issues affecting our communities.
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Episodes
Oakwood Cemetery: The final resting place for N.C. legends
April 10, 2024 05:00 - 37 minutes - 52.2 MBYes, it’s a little early, but this week we are talking about Memorial Day. The year 2024 marks the centennial of Raleigh’s observance of national Memorial Day. Oakwood Cemetery hosts the event every year and is the final resting place for seven former governors, five U.S. Senators, eight state Supreme Court Justices, and four Civil War generals. This week, the authors of a new book on the topic join host Tim Boyum. The group shares a fascinating talk about the cemetery’s history and th...
What's influencing voters ahead of the election?
April 03, 2024 05:00 - 38 minutes - 54.7 MBWhile there are still months until the general election, the situation in Gaza, along the Mexican border, and even statewide candidates are already causing shifts in support. In this week's podcast, host Tim Boyum speaks with North Carolina native and well-known republican Doug Heye and Public Policy Polling (PPP) pollster Tom Jensen about those impacts. What will stick and what won't? Depends on who you ask.
Lawsuits, politics and college athletics: NCAA grapples with NIL
March 27, 2024 05:00 - 38 minutes - 53.1 MBAs March Madness rages on, this week host Tim Boyum considers the chaos with college athletics from conference realignment to Name, Image and Likeness, or NIL, to lawsuits by athletes. It’s a turbulent but fascinating time and politics has a big role in it too as Congress contemplates intervening. Former N.C. Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr and UNC law professor Barbara Osborne join Tim for the discussion. Having represented multiple athletes, Orr is a frequent opponent of the NC...
North Carolina’s post primary palooza
March 20, 2024 05:00 - 42 minutes - 58.7 MBOn this week’s episode, host Tim Boyum sits down with two of the North Carolina’s top political minds to talk North Carolina’s primary election, and what it might mean for the rest of 2024. From a huge upset to surprising responses, Democrat Morgan Jackson and Republican Jonathan Felts break down everything we need to know.
Who is Carolina Forward, the new progressive group in N.C. politics?
March 13, 2024 05:00 - 39 minutes - 54 MBIn the past few years, a progressive group in North Carolina has seemed to have popped up out of nowhere. This year the nonprofit, Carolina Forward succeeded in getting two of their Democrat picks through the primaries. Their Executive Director, Blair Reeves, joins host Tim Boyum this week to understand the origins of the all-volunteer group. They also discuss the criticism of going after Democrats who vote with Republicans. The two then widen the lens to talk about Carolina Forward’s...
Andrew Yang on forming a successful third party
March 06, 2024 06:00 - 34 minutes - 47 MBFormer Democratic candidate for president Andrew Yang joins host Tim Boyum this week to talk about his efforts to create a successful third party in this country. The former presidential and NYC mayoral candidate launched Forward Party in 2021 and has candidates on the ballot in North Carolina this year. Yang discusses those efforts, why his presidential run led to leaving the Democratic party and how he thinks a third party could be influential in the years to come. He later ref...
Meet the candidates: Republicans Dale Folwell and Bill Graham on their race for governor
February 28, 2024 06:00 - 38 minutes - 53.5 MBIn our ongoing Decision 2024 coverage, host Tim Boyum will sit down with the frontrunners vying to become the next governor of North Carolina. Last week, attention was on the Democrats. This week, the microphone is being passed to the Republicans. State Treasurer Dale Folwell and attorney Bill Graham join Tim to discuss their priorities, education, immigration, abortion and more. Lt. Governor Mark Robinson has chosen not to engage with our interview, a stance he has maintained throughout...
Meet the candidates: Democrats Josh Stein and Mike Morgan on their race for governor
February 21, 2024 06:00 - 36 minutes - 49.9 MBWith the primary election just around the corner, host Tim Boyum is engaging with the two leading Democratic candidates for governor in North Carolina. Attorney General Josh Stein and recently retired Supreme Court Justice Mike Morgan delve into a discussion on their respective agendas and various subjects, including education, abortion, the economy and the Democrats' top priorities. Tim will receive updates from the top Republican contenders next week.
The Fading Tobacco Road
February 14, 2024 06:00 - 42 minutes - 58.4 MBAs March Madness arrives, this week host Tim Boyum takes a slight detour from politics to talk tobacco and basketball. The North Carolina rivalries developed on “Tobacco Road” are in peril as conference realignment threatens to dramatically change college sports. Raleigh News & Observer’s Andrew Carter recently wrote a piece exploring the actual history of the real tobacco road and the sports version as well. It inspired a lot of powerful stories and reminded Tim about the sense ...
How Democrats hope to take down the GOP supermajority in N.C.
February 07, 2024 06:00 - 36 minutes - 49.6 MBAs the election season ramps up, Democratic Senate leader Dan Blue joins host Tim Boyum to talk about his plans to break up the Republican’s current supermajority in the general assembly. It will be a tall task with new maps written by Republicans, but Sen. Blue mentions he believes hard work and a focus on the right issues could give Democrats a chance. Sen. Blue goes into a lot of detail about growing up in a cramped four-room house, his math degree (because of the space race),...
Conference realignment: What's next for the ACC
January 31, 2024 06:00 - 39 minutes - 54.2 MBAs the issues surrounding college sports continue to explode, the intersection of sports, law and politics has created no shortage of controversial conversations. This week, longtime sports journalist and lawyer David Glenn joins host Tim Boyum to consider the legal battle to save the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The two also look at what happens if politicians get involved in any N.C. school leaving the ACC, and the implications on the entire state. Tim delves into Glenn's impressiv...
Sticker shock: Why you'll probably be paying more taxes on your home
January 24, 2024 06:00 - 35 minutes - 48.4 MBHomeowners recently got some major sticker shock in Wake County. Officials are underway with the home revaluation process. Revaluation determines your home value. County commissioners then change the tax rate and that affects how much you pay each year. With significant growth in the past half decade, nearly everyone’s rates will go up and some argue too much. This process, required by law, happens in every county across the state at least every eight years, but typically every four years...
His sister died in the racist AME Emanuel Church shooting. N.C. man talks mass shootings
January 17, 2024 06:00 - 35 minutes - 49 MBNine years ago, Charlotte City Councilman Malcolm Graham’s sister, Cynthia Hurd, was murdered as part of a mass shooting at AME Emanuel Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Last week, President Biden visited the church and met with families, including Councilman Graham. Graham recently met with host Tim Boyum to discuss her death now nearly a decade later, meeting with President Biden. They also talk about how Charlotte’s city council is responding after a Charlotte mass shooting on New...
N.C. political reporter Travis Fain talks about why he's leaving journalism for good
January 10, 2024 06:00 - 36 minutes - 49.9 MBLast fall, the journalism and political world was shocked when longtime journalist Travis Fain said he was not only leaving his job, but political journalism behind. In this episode, host Tim Boyum talks to Fain about his decision, the challenges for journalism in today’s age, North Carolina politics and what he hopes to in his next chapter.
Looking ahead to 2024: North Carolina's economy continues to grow
January 03, 2024 06:00 - 33 minutes - 46.5 MBAs a new year begins, host Tim Boyum continues a tradition with two of the state’s premiere economists. The group tries to answer some big questions facing the state’s economy in the upcoming year. What will North Carolina’s economy look like? How will the economy impact next year’s elections? UNC Charlotte’s Dr. John Connaughton and NC State’s Dr. Mike Walden help break it down.
2023: End of year extravaganza
December 27, 2023 06:00 - 39 minutes - 54.7 MBAn annual Tying It Together tradition, Billy Warden and Brian Lewis join Tim to break down the biggest stories of the year, what we can expect in 2024, and their own holiday traditions and resolutions. We’ll tackle political party changes, Medicaid expansion, casinos, retirements and so much more!
Medicaid, school vouchers and what's next? Gov. Cooper looks back and a little ahead
December 22, 2023 06:00 - 25 minutes - 35.5 MBAs 2023 wraps up, host Tim Boyum sits down with North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper. Gov. Cooper gives us behind-the-scenes insight on finally getting Medicaid expansion past the finish line. He also talks about his push next year to get past school vouchers, his plans for 2024 without having his own campaign for the first time in decades, and his future after 2024. They also discuss the recent death of UNC legend Eric Montross, and Gov. Cooper gives a glimpse of how he finds ways to unwind f...
The positives, negatives, and drawbacks of political polling
December 20, 2023 06:00 - 34 minutes - 47.7 MBWith 2024 just days away, this week host Tim Boyum takes a look at the state of polling in this country, and how pollsters are tackling what will be a wild and consequential year in elections. The group will look at how polling works, accuracy and their biggest pet peeves. Finally, they look at the current state of affairs in the presidential race, and how North Carolina’s are shaping up, as well.
Fact or Fiction: 2024 Challenges Ahead
December 13, 2023 06:00 - 35 minutes - 49.1 MBNorth Carolinian Josh Lawson joins host Tim Boyum this week to talk about the 2024 election and how much misinformation will play compared to our last. Lawson is a former Chief Elections Counsel, and was the head of Electoral and Emerging Risk at Meta in recent years. The two go in depth on the strategies adversaries are using to drive misinformation on social media and attempt to influence our elections. He’ll also consider the rise of artificial intelligence and the impact it w...
Exclusive: Former Interim House Speaker Rep. McHenry speaks on his retirement
December 06, 2023 23:05 - 49 minutes - 68 MBA day after announcing he would not run for re-election, Rep. Patrick McHenry joins Tim to talk about why he’s retiring and what’s next. He also goes in depth on his time temporarily leading the U.S. House as Republicans battled to pick a new speaker to replace Kevin McCarthy who was ousted. We’ll learn whether he ever considered long term or short term becoming actual House Speaker, and hear the impact the stress had on his own life.
N.C.'s First Jewish Congresswoman on hostages and hate
November 29, 2023 06:00 - 32 minutes - 45.3 MBOn this week’s episode of Tying It Together, host Tim Boyum talks with congressional representative Kathy Manning. The first Jewish person from North Carolina elected to Congress shares horrifying details of the videos she and other members viewed of Hamas’s attack on Israel and her meetings with relatives of hostages. She also details her own experiences with antisemitism and her work as co-chair of the bipartisan task force to combat antisemitism. Later, the two discuss state l...
You may not be on the coast, but you could be helping cover the insurance cost
November 22, 2023 06:00 - 38 minutes - 54.2 MBThis week we dive into the precarious situation of insuring homes along the coast and the impact on every homeowner in North Carolina. As more storms and stronger storms impact our state, it’s having and will continue to have profound impacts on the future of insurance and how much you pay. What are state, insurance industry and other leaders doing to ensure we call all afford our homes and insurance? Do people across the state help subsidize the high cost of coastal insurance? Industry ...
Sen. Phil Berger talks casinos, redistricting and holiday traditions
November 15, 2023 06:00 - 38 minutes - 52.8 MBAfter a marathon legislative session ends, the most powerful North Carolina politician and Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger joins host Tim Boyum. The two hold an in-depth conversation about the current fight over casinos in North Carolina, with some behind-the-scenes discussion about his support, and why it failed at the last minute. Later, Tim asks about the fairness of redistricting, separation of powers, and working in today’s political climate. The end of the podcast features ...
Are N.C.'s cities in chaos or is it just a political talking point?
November 08, 2023 06:00 - 36 minutes - 50.3 MBA recent ad in the 2024 race for governor chastised Democrats for unsafe streets and coddling criminals in North Carolina cities. Are cities like Charlotte and Raleigh in chaos or is that a political talking point? This week, host Tim Boyum brings on Charlotte Mayor Pro Tem Braxton Winston and Charlotte City Council member Tariq Bokhari who are a Democrat and Republican, respectively. They have debated this issue on our TV program regularly, but we thought it was a great time to tal...
Behind the war: Duke professor explains the history between Israel and Hamas
November 01, 2023 05:00 - 38 minutes - 53.3 MBAs the Israel-Hamas war continues, many people are still left with questions and confusion over the region and what’s behind the war. To help explain, on this week's episode we are talking with someone who has actually tried to negotiate peace in the Middle East. Dr. Bruce Jentleson is a professor at Duke University, but he’s had two stints in the U.S. State Department under former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. During our discussion, we'll focus on the backstory, why Americans ...
State of controversy: N.C.'s new 2024 congressional maps
October 25, 2023 05:00 - 39 minutes - 55.1 MBThis week, Tim talks to two of North Carolina’s sharpest political minds, as state lawmakers vote on the final congressional and state maps for 2024 and beyond. The controversial map drawing will certainly draw more lawsuits as North Carolina continues its trend in the spotlight as one of the most controversial redistricting states in the country. Joining us this week, Democratic Strategist Morgan Jackson who has clients including Gov. Roy Cooper and Attorney General Josh Stein. Jim Blaine,...
UNC's president on student loan debt, four-year education and more
October 18, 2023 05:00 - 40 minutes - 56.7 MBCollege, along with student loan debt, has been a significant subject of conversation this year. This week, Tim sits with UNC System President Peter Hans who talks candidly about affordability, criticism about the need for a four-year education, the future of tenure, students struggling with mental health, and the politics of education. Later, Tim and Hans discuss the quickly changed landscape of college athletics, and his role in it leading all North Carolina public universities.
GOP chairman talks speaker race and '24 strategy
October 11, 2023 05:00 - 34 minutes - 47.8 MBIn this week’s episode, Tim talks with North Carolina GOP chairman Michael Whatley about the U.S. House Speaker race in Washington, the political nature of courts and the 2024 election. Host Tim Boyum and Whatley also discuss his incredible background that includes ramping up Donald Trump’s first run in North Carolina, chief of staff for former Senator Elizabeth Dole, and as a George W. Bush attorney who was in the room analyzing ballots in Florida in 2000.
N.C.'s youngest police chief fueled by challenging childhood
October 04, 2023 05:00 - 41 minutes - 57.5 MBYou have probably never heard of Brookford, North Carolina, but you will never forget it after this conversation with 24-year-old police chief Willie Armstrong. Beyond his accomplishments at a young age, he has overcome so much in his life and a lot of that is because of an officer that now works for him. Chief Armstrong tells stories that will bring tears to your eyes hearing what endured through with parents that struggled with addiction and criminal activity. Later, he discu...
Bonus episode: House Speaker Tim Moore speaks on budget passing
September 29, 2023 05:00 - 35 minutes - 48.9 MBIn a special bonus episode, House Speaker Tim Moore joins the podcast just days after the state budget was passed. Host Tim Boyum and the House Speaker discuss the budget, casinos, school vouchers, public records and a bill that will completely change the makeup of election boards just months before the election. Later, they talk about Speaker Moore moving a Democrat’s office to an old closet, and if he plans to be on the ballot in 2024.
She's back: 25-year-old N.C. Democratic Chair talks newly passed state budget
September 27, 2023 05:00 - 39 minutes - 55.1 MBEarlier this year, 25-year-old Anderson Clayton took the political world by storm when her energy caught fire and launched her to victory in the North Carolina Democratic Party Chair’s race. Now seven months later, she returns to the podcast to talk about the newly passed state budget, why she finds it harder now to seek common ground with Republicans, criticism over Joe Biden’s age and even Taylor Swift (of course, right?).
Chaos in North Carolina politics
September 20, 2023 05:00 - 42 minutes - 58.7 MBThe state budget is now nearly three months late, a Supreme Court Justice quits to run for governor, proposals to expand casinos stir up controversy, a man who called for a new election in 2018 after someone on his campaign allegedly committed election fraud is running again in 2024. Phew, what a time in North Carolina politics. This week, strategists Morgan Jackson and Jonathan Felts help sort it out in the bluntest of terms. Jackson works for Gov. Cooper and Attorney General Josh Ste...
Does North Carolina still hold swing state status?
September 13, 2023 05:00 - 29 minutes - 41.6 MBThe past several election cycles, North Carolina is often mentioned among the potential swing states and receives a lot of attention. But recent analysis shows as few as three or four states will make a difference in the presidential election. Does North Carolina make the cut? Kyle Kondik, Managing Editor of Sabato’s Crystal Ball, joins host Tim Boyum with the answer, a long discussion about the 2024 presidential race in North Carolina and our congressional races and race for g...
Understanding opposition research in the digital era
September 06, 2023 05:00 - 37 minutes - 51.7 MBThis week, host Tim Boyum takes us inside the world of political opposition research. We’ve all seen the ads, heard about salacious accusations or ready stories about political candidates. And most of that comes from what’s known as opposition research. He talks with two North Carolinians involved in some of the more famous opposition research cases in recent times. Republican Charles Hellwig helped dig up information on 2020 U.S. Senate candidate Cal Cunningham, and David Wheeler discove...
Should the state bet on casinos?
August 30, 2023 05:00 - 29 minutes - 40.5 MBAs we await a final state budget plan, last-minute negotiations are intensely focused on the potential of allowing multiple casinos across North Carolina beyond the tribal casinos already in place. It’s an intense debate that crosses party lines, and could happen in the next two weeks. Now a group of sports betting companies want in on the action with the ability to gamble on your phone, too. This week, Sports Betting Alliance Vice President Scott Ward joins host Tim Boyum to exp...
Former UNC chancellor on athlete scandal, ACC and his hot take on name, image likeness
August 23, 2023 05:00 - 40 minutes - 56.1 MBHe helped lead the effort to expand the ACC conference a dozen years ago, but also resigned from UNC Chapel Hill after the fraudulent class scandal involving athletes and “no-show” classes. Now, Holden Thorp, a Fayetteville native, joins host Tim Boyum to talk about those times, and put into perspective the chaos of collegiate athletics. Thorp candidly discusses conference realignment, Name Image and Likeness, the transfer portal and whether UNC could ever leave the conference without ...
Meet N.C.’s top health official, Kody Kinsley
August 16, 2023 05:00 - 38 minutes - 52.9 MBA North Carolina native, Kody Kinsley has a fascinating story from a first in the family college graduate, to working for presidents, to now North Carolina’s top health official. This week, host Tim Boyum discusses Kinsley’s role in changing policy to allow gay men to donate blood as a gay man himself. The two also discuss his push to get Medicaid expansion into place ASAP, and the future of health care.
Could Taylor Swift's tour topple a ticket giant?
August 09, 2023 05:00 - 29 minutes - 40.6 MBThe latest Taylor Swift tour created such a frenzy and fiasco on Ticketmaster that Congress held a hearing, and now, the Department of Justice may sue Ticketmaster/Live Nation for antitrust issues. Should the companies break up because of a lack of competition, or is it being overblown because of the popularity of Swift? This week we are joined by Barak Richman, who is a Duke professor that also helped consult Ticketmaster on the 2010 merger with Live Nation. It’s a fascinating listen abo...
Rep. Destin Hall's House speaker aspirations
August 02, 2023 05:00 - 39 minutes - 55.1 MBWhen news of Speaker Moore not running for the position next year spread, a few names popped up immediately. Republican Destin Hall from Caldwell County has already thrown his name in the hat. He’s risen quickly in the political world, so we thought it was a good time to bring him in to get to know him better. Rep. Hall tells incredible personal stories of being raised by his grandparents, moving back to his small hometown, and his aspirations of getting the House speaker role.
Sen. Bobby Hanig: Beyond the tattoos and fashion trends
July 26, 2023 05:00 - 36 minutes - 50.3 MBFrom his newly and highly talked about tattoos to his wildly unique fashion, state senator Bobby Hanig is a unique politician. Sen. Hanig joins host Tim Boyum to talk about how growing up in poverty motivated him to start a successful business and eventually public office. They also talk about the hot-button issues of casinos and education and the Outer Banks, which is the area he represents.
Sen. Jesse Helms stood against homosexuality. His gay granddaughter talks about his legacy
July 19, 2023 05:00 - 36 minutes - 50.8 MBPeople widely loved — and hated — legendary U.S. Senator Jesse Helms, not only here in North Carolina, but around the world. Much of that hate centered on his stances on the issues of race and the gay community. However, Senator Helms never knew that he had a gay granddaughter. Fifteen years after his death, his granddaughter, Jennifer Knox, has chosen to speak about it publicly for the first time. It was first reported in The Assembly by John Drescher. Both Drescher and Knox join host Tim B...
Charlotte's Rep. Alma Adams: Meet the longtime congresswoman under the hat
July 12, 2023 05:00 - 41 minutes - 57 MBCharlotte area Democrat and U.S. Representative Alma Adams joins us this week with some incredible stories. The 77-year-old publicly tells the story of meeting her dad for the first time at 15 years old. She talks to host Tim Boyum about the 1400 hats show owns. She also shares how one of them was stolen while she was sworn into Congress. Tim learns what it was like for her to get arrested as a state lawmaker, and why she’s still “mad as hell” about the affirmative action decision.
Journalist Steve Crump recounts celebrity interviews, cancer fight
July 05, 2023 05:00 - 32 minutes - 45.2 MBLegendary North Carolina journalist Steve Crump joins the show. He talks about not only his incredible fight against colon cancer but also his incredible career. Crump recounts funny stories of interviewing Mother Teresa, Paul McCartney and a visit to South Africa to cover former Gov. Jim Hunt. He also talks about covering one of North Carolina’s most famous Senate races between Jesse Helms and Harvey Gantt when race played a big role.
Facebook posts, AI and the upcoming election. How prepared are we?
June 28, 2023 05:00 - 36 minutes - 51.1 MBRecent Head of Electoral and Emerging Risk at Facebook, now called Meta, and former N.C. Board of Elections Chief Legal Counsel Josh Lawson joins us on the podcast this week. He takes us behind the scenes on how Facebook polices posts, talks about social media challenges with next year’s election and the future of AI on social media. Plus, we look back at his role in investigating the largest election fraud in modern history — and it happened right here in North Carolina.
The state of journalism
June 21, 2023 05:00 - 36 minutes - 50.8 MBA recent headline from a study caught Tim’s eye when it questioned whether local news was doing enough to hold public officials accountable. As it so happens, some of the top research on news is happening right here in North Carolina. This week, Phil Napoli, Director of the DeWitt Wallace Center for Media and Democracy and professor at the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University, joins Tim to talk about the state of the news business, challenges from a business perspective, and...
The Endorser - Part 3: The Aftermath
June 09, 2023 05:00 - 34 minutes - 47.1 MBSpectrum News 1 and Tying It Together with Tim Boyum present: The Endorser. After months of work, Tim tries to put together the “story behind the story” of Donald Trump’s surprise endorsement in North Carolina's 2022 Senate race. On June 5, 2021, three leading candidates woke up and made the trip to Greenville, hoping to get the edge they thought they needed to win — President Trump’s endorsement. No one knew what was about to happen next. Part 3 looks at the 2022 Senate race after the T...
The Endorser - Part 2: The Endorsement
June 08, 2023 05:00 - 41 minutes - 57.7 MBSpectrum News 1 and Tying It Together with Tim Boyum present: The Endorser. After months of work, Tim tries to put together the “story behind the story” of Donald Trump’s surprise endorsement in North Carolina's 2022 Senate race. On June 5, 2021, three leading candidates woke up and made the trip to Greenville, hoping to get the edge they thought they needed to win — President Trump’s endorsement. No one knew what was about to happen next. Part 2 takes you behind the scenes for the first...
The Endorser - Part 1: The Leadup
June 07, 2023 05:00 - 33 minutes - 47.5 MBSpectrum News 1 and Tying It Together with Tim Boyum present: The Endorser. After months of work, Tim tries to put together the “story behind the story” of Donald Trump’s surprise endorsement in North Carolina's 2022 Senate race. On June 5, 2021, three leading candidates woke up and made the trip to Greenville, hoping to get the edge they thought they needed to win — President Trump’s endorsement. No one knew what was about to happen next. Part 1 delves into each candidate’s campaign a...
Tying It Together presents: The Endorser - Trailer
June 05, 2023 05:00 - 2 minutes - 3.76 MBIt was one of the wildest nights in North Carolina's political history. Listen to part one of three in this Spectrum News 1 exclusive series, "The Endorser," wherever you listen to podcasts starting Wednesday, June 7.
Mitchell’s Mayors: Visiting 551 North Carolina towns
May 31, 2023 05:00 - 37 minutes - 52.3 MBAbout a year ago, we met a young man named Mitchell Whitley, who was on a mission to meet the mayor of every single North Carolina community. His story inspired us and many of you. So, a year later, we invited him back to get an update, and he delivered with some incredible stories about meeting some of North Carolina’s most unique characters. That includes a mayor who owns a bigfoot museum and another mayor who helped end the Cold War.