R&D in the NC

In Episode 10 of R&D in the NC, we break down what to watch for in North Carolina’s upcoming legislative short session, including the key issues that could shape policy and business across the state.We also dig into the new I-77 toll design center, a step in giving the public direct access to project details and a real opportunity to provide feedback. What it means, how it works, and why it matters for the region.Plus, a quick Charlotte sports roundup covering recent developments in tennis and rugby.If you want to stay ahead of where policy, infrastructure, and local momentum are headed in North Carolina, this episode connects the dots.

If you live in Charlotte—or honestly anywhere right now—you’ve seen it.

Kids as young as 12, 13, 14 years old riding e-bikes and electric scooters through neighborhoods, sidewalks, and busy streets… often going 20–30 mph.

But here’s the real issue:

These aren’t just bikes.

They’re small motor vehicles—and the rules haven’t caught up.

In this episode of R&D in the NC, we break down:

• The massive surge in e-bike and scooter usage
• Why injuries are rising across the country
• The surprising reality of what’s actually legal (and what isn’t)
• Why most of the concern isn’t about shared scooters like Bird or Lime
• The growing trend of kids under 16 riding high-powered devices
• And what Charlotte—and other cities—should do before this becomes a bigger safety problem

This is one of those moments where technology moved fast… and policy is still trying to catch up.

And the decisions cities make now will shape what this looks like for the next decade.

Natural gas bills are spiking across Charlotte and North Carolina — and people are asking: what’s actually going on?

In this episode, we break down the real drivers behind Piedmont Natural Gas bill increases — from supply costs and infrastructure investments to regulatory dynamics and long-term pricing trends.

But more importantly, we go beyond the headlines:

• Why your bill jumped so dramatically
• What Piedmont Natural Gas can (and can’t) control
• The role of regulators and policy decisions
• What consumers and communities can actually do about it

This isn’t just outrage — it’s a clear, insider-level breakdown of an issue impacting thousands of households across the Carolinas.

We also hit our usual around-the-city updates, sports, and local headlines, but this episode dives deep into one of the biggest cost-of-living issues facing residents right now.

If you live in Charlotte or anywhere in NC, this is one you need to understand.

Episode 7 dives into one of the biggest issues quietly shaping North Carolina’s future: the explosion of data center development.

These massive facilities power the modern internet, cloud computing, and the rapid rise of artificial intelligence. But across North Carolina and the country, communities are pushing back over concerns about energy consumption, water use, noise, and what local residents actually gain from these projects.

In this episode we break down both sides of the debate.

We talk about why data centers are becoming critical infrastructure in the AI economy, why states are competing to attract them, and why the backlash from local communities is growing.

Most importantly, we explore what we believe is the path forward: community benefit negotiations.

If approached the right way, these projects don’t have to be a fight. Communities can secure meaningful local investments and protections, while developers gain the certainty and support needed to build the infrastructure powering the digital economy.

Along the way we also hit our usual Around Town roundup, including sports, local news, and other stories happening across Charlotte and North Carolina.

Topics in this episode include:

• Why data centers matter for AI and the modern economy

• The growing pushback from local communities

• Energy, water, and infrastructure concerns

• Why North Carolina is becoming a major battleground for these projects

• A blueprint for turning conflict into win-win community agreements

North Carolina just had one of its most consequential election nights in years.In this episode, Tariq Bokhari and Larken Egleston break down the biggest winners, surprises, and political shifts from the NC midterm elections, including:• Senate race implications• State legislature control and policy impact• What's next in the Berger-Page showdown• What both parties got right — and wrongWhether you follow politics closely or just want to understand what the results actually mean, this conversation goes deeper than the headlines.New episodes weekly.

Charlotte is at the center of massive shifts happening right now: AI disrupting white-collar jobs, autonomous vehicles arriving sooner than expected, and infrastructure decisions like I-77 that will shape our region for decades.In Episode 5 of R&D in the NC, Tariq Bokhari and Larken Egleston break down the biggest stories Charlotte leaders and business owners should be paying attention to:• Waymo sightings in Charlotte and what autonomous transit really means• AI layoffs and why Charlotte’s workforce is especially exposed• State of the Union takeaways• Hornets momentum, Olympics highlights, and local community stories• The real story behind I-77 toll lanes and what alternatives could look likeWe started this podcast to give Charlotte the conversations we weren’t hearing anywhere else.

Episode 4 of R&D in the NC is live.This week Tariq Bokhari and Larken Egleston break down the viral AI post that shook tech Twitter and explain what it actually means for jobs, businesses, cities, and the future of North Carolina’s economy. If you lead a company, work in government, or care about workforce development, you need to understand what’s coming next.We also cover a full Charlotte news and sports roundup:• Inside look at the upcoming Charlotte city budget process – what’s happening now before June adoption and where citizens and businesses should engage early• Street vendor policy changes moving through City Council• New ownership at Camp North End and what it means for development in Charlotte• NBA All-Star Weekend & Olympics talk.If you’re trying to navigate AI, government policy, or growth in North Carolina, subscribe and reach out. We’re building this platform to connect leaders who want to shape what comes next.👉 Subscribe for weekly episodes👉 Follow clips on LinkedIn, Instagram, and X👉 Reach out to collaborate

Episode 3 of R&D in the NC is packed with the stories Charlotte and North Carolina are talking about right now.This episode's main event is the House Select Oversight Committee hearing that put the Mecklenburg County Sheriff in the national spotlight. The exchange went viral and raised serious questions about public safety, transparency, and local leadership. We break down what we saw, what mattered, and how the City of Charlotte leaders handled their portion of the hearing, which actually landed better than many expected.In our news roundup we dive into Charlotte topping the latest job growth report and what that means for the future of the region. We also highlight some good local momentum with the SouthPark Skipper micro-mobility service and why it is becoming a model for getting around town.Sports gave us plenty to talk about this week. We recap the Super Bowl and halftime show, plus the wild fight that broke out at the Charlotte Hornets game.And of course the food roundup returns. Larken shares highlights from his New York City trip with Charlotte chefs, what stood out, and how the Queen City food scene is showing up on a national level.Local politics, business, sports, and food all in one place. Thanks for watching and make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Big week for Charlotte news and we unpack it all. The FTA dropped its long-awaited report on CATS and we go line by line on what is serious, what is fixable, and what the public needs to understand. We also look ahead to the city budget, the upcoming state short session in Raleigh, and a major Siemens Energy expansion that could reshape parts of the local economy. Larken somehow turns half the episode into a food segment, which we allow for reasons still unclear. If you want real talk on how decisions actually get made in this city, this one is for you.

Episode 1 - Return of the Pod. We’re back. After more than three years away from the mic, Tariq Bokhari and Larken Egleston relaunch R&D in the NC with a wide-ranging conversation on what we’ve been building, what’s changing in North Carolina, and what listeners should be paying attention to right now.In this episode, we catch up on where we’ve both been over the last 164 weeks, share details on the recent launch of The Southern Group’s Charlotte office, and break down several key developments impacting communities across the state, including upcoming elections and endorsements, a major new data center partnership announcement, local culinary news, and the start of Charlotte’s city budget process.Our goal with R&D in the NC is simple: real conversations about business, policy, and innovation that shape everyday life in our state. No talking points, just honest discussion and insight from people who are in the middle of it.Subscribe to stay up to date on future episodes featuring leaders from business, government, and the innovation economy across North Carolina.