In this live video chat recorded Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, Charlotte Ledger reporters discuss some of their coverage from the week:

* Fallout from the arrest of Sycamore Brewing’s co-founder on sex-crime charges

* The drop in enrollment at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools to their lowest level in 14 years

* Unraveling the mystery of why Coffey and Thompson art gallery in Eastover closed

* A look at the most checked-out books of the year from Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

* Why rage rooms are multiplying in the Charlotte region

… and more!

Most people don’t learn about money in school — yet nearly every adult is expected to juggle budgets, debt, savings, taxes and investing. For many, that gap creates stress, shame, or a sense that finance is “for other people.” But what if understanding your money wasn’t about getting rich — but about gaining freedom?

In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, host Steve Dunn explores the real meaning of financial literacy with Brian Li, longtime Providence Day School teacher and finance coach. Li argues that financial literacy isn’t an elite skill set — it’s an achievable toolkit for anyone, regardless of income, background or math ability.

Li explains how financial literacy—built on simple habits like budgeting, tackling high-interest debt and investing early in low-cost, tax-advantaged accounts—can give people of all incomes more freedom, confidence and control over their lives.

We hope you enjoy the conversation with Brian Li. To learn more about him or to browse his financial resources, visit BLiFinanceCoach.com.

This episode is sponsored by AC Creative Collective. Based in Charlotte, N.C., and founded by sisters Amoura and Avery Carter, AC Creative Collective specializes in end-to-end marketing and learning and development services. They are dedicated to helping businesses and organizations streamline their operations and achieve their goals with creativity and precision. From social media strategies to workshops and brand launches, they’ve got you covered. Visit www.accreativecollective.com to learn more.

For more information on The Charlotte Ledger, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com. This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.

Every December, the same Christmas classics return on repeat — “Elf,” “Home Alone,” “A Christmas Story,” “It’s a Wonderful Life.” But longtime Charlotte arts critic Lawrence Toppman says some of the season’s richest films are the ones most people have never heard of. From forgotten Thanksgiving dramas to animated immigrant tales, from World War I truces to bittersweet family reunions, Toppman opens up a deeper, more surprising cinematic world behind the holidays.

In this special episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, we bring you a live recording of Toppman’s December 1, 2025 talk at The Sharon at SouthPark Retirement Community, where he shares his favorite under-the-radar holiday films — and a few spicy opinions about the ones everyone already knows.

Toppman shares his curated list spanning Día de los Muertos, Armistice Day, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and Christmas. Whether you’re looking for something touching, funny, unusual, or decidedly not cheerful, this list has a film to surprise you.

We hope you enjoy the conversation with Lawrence Toppman.

Today’s episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is sponsored by Child Care Search, a service of Child Care Resources Inc. Looking for child care? Our team provides guidance every step of the way! Search online at www.FindChildCareNC.org or call 1-888-600-1685 for live assistance and free, customized referrals.

For more information on The Charlotte Ledger, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com. This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.

Higher education is in the midst of a transformation — from rising costs and enrollment declines to new questions about the value of a degree. But in the middle of uptown Charlotte, Johnson & Wales University is carving out a different path, one rooted in affordability, career readiness and a unique strength in food, wellness and hospitality.

In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, managing editor Ashley Fahey talks with Richard “Rick” Mathieu, president of Johnson & Wales’ Charlotte campus, about how the university is adapting to a shifting higher-ed landscape.

Matthews explains how JWU is boosting access with its “JWU Pledge,” expanding programs tied to workforce needs, adding new pathways in hospitality, health and nursing — and how the school’s culinary footprint continues to shape Charlotte’s growing food scene.

We hope you enjoy the conversation with Rick Mathieu. For more information on Johnson & Wales University's Charlotte campus, please visit Experience.JWU.edu.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is sponsored by Metro Blinds of Charlotte — delivering high-quality window fashions and professional installation while saving you up to 30% compared to big box stores. Transform your space with stylish, affordable blinds and shades. Schedule your appointment online at metroblinds.net or call 704-396-9153.

For more information on The Charlotte Ledger, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com. This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.

In this live video chat recorded Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, Charlotte Ledger reporters discuss some of their coverage from the week:

* Border Patrol arrests in Charlotte

* Controversy over plans to wide I-77 between uptown and South Carolina with toll lanes

* Arts funding

* Recent economic development announcements of Maersk and Scout Motors

* Will passage of the transit referendum lead to land deals?

* The tragic death by suicide of a Myers Park High student

* Sycamore Brewing’s holiday beer can labels

… and more!

Between billable hours and family life, few professionals find time to chase the stories in their heads — but one Charlotte attorney did. As a trial attorney, Mathew Flato has spent decades in litigation. Now, he’s turned his eye for detail and structure into a new kind of brief: a debut novel.

In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Steve Dunn talks with Flato about “Ocean Child,” his first book — a sweeping story of three half-sisters raised oceans apart who must confront the imprint of a broken father and define belonging on their own terms. Flato shares how he carved out writing time, the lessons he brought from law into fiction, and the balancing act between storytelling, editing and vulnerability.

We hope you enjoy the conversation with Mathew Flatow. To learn more about Flatow and his debut novel, visit MEFlatow.com.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks. For more ifnormation on The Charlotte Ledger, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com.

Today’s episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is sponsored by Child Care Search, a service of Child Care Resources Inc. Looking for child care? Our team provides guidance every step of the way! Search online at www.FindChildCareNC.org or call 1-888-600-1685 for live assistance and free, customized referrals.

Uptown Charlotte’s cultural block is home to three museums that opened within months of each other, helping define the city’s modern arts identity. Among them is the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, a compact, instantly recognizable building anchored by the mirrored “Firebird” sculpture — one of the most photographed artworks in North Carolina. Inside, the museum holds a world-class collection of European and American modernism, much of it acquired by the Swiss Bechtler family through personal relationships with artists.

In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, host Steve Dunn talks with Todd D. Smith, executive director of the Bechtler, about how the museum fits into Charlotte’s artistic ecosystem, its partnership with neighbors like the Mint and the Gantt, and why modern art still matters in a world overflowing with images. Smith also discusses the museum’s recent work to make art more accessible — from therapeutic “art on prescription” programs to collaborations with visually impaired artists that reimagine how we experience texture, sound and space.

For more information on the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, visit Bechtler.org.

This episode is sponsored by Coca-Cola Consolidated, Charlotte’s local bottler and the largest Coca-Cola bottler in the US. Coca-Cola Consolidated demonstrates a strong commitment to supporting veterans and military families through initiatives like the Veterans Resource Group, Hiring Our Heroes partnerships, and community engagement events, recognizing the value of their service and skills. Learn more at www.cokeconsolidated.com/BehindtheBottle.

For more information on The Charlotte Ledger, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com. This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.

In this live video chat recorded Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, Charlotte Ledger reporters discuss some of their coverage from the week:

* Tuesday’s election

* Michelin ratings of Charlotte restaurants

* The effect of the government shutdown on food-assistance benefits and flights at Charlotte’s airport

* The prospect for new office construction

* The upcoming shutdown of Charlotte magazine

* Trends in home decor from the High Point furniture market

* A new padel complex near uptown

* “Hunting Wives” casting call at Coyote Joe’s

… and more!

After nearly a decade covering Charlotte’s skyline and business growth — first at the Charlotte Business Journal and then on a national real estate beat — journalist Ashley Fahey is returning to her local roots. Now, as managing editor of The Charlotte Ledger, she’s helping steer the newsroom’s next chapter of growth and community reporting. Fahey officially joined the team in September 2025.

In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, host Steve Dunn talks with Fahey about her path back to Charlotte media, her vision for the Ledger and what she sees as opportunities to reach new readers and tell deeper stories about the city’s evolution.

We hope you enjoy the conversation with Ashley Fahey. For more information on The Charlotte Ledger, please visit TheCharlotteLedger.com.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.

In this special episode, we quickly break down what’s on the ballot in Mecklenburg County for the 2025 election — from the Charlotte City Council races to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education contests and the closely watched transit tax referendum.

Tony Mecia of The Charlotte Ledger and Sucharita Kodali of The Election Hub explain what each race means for the future of the community, how the proposed transit sales tax referendum could reshape the region’s transportation network and what’s at stake in local leadership and education policy.

For reliable, nonpartisan information on candidates and issues, visit TheElectionHub.org. It has biographies on every candidate on the Mecklenburg ballot (including races in Mecklenburg’s towns), plus information on candidates in the Gaston County cities of Gastonia, Belmont and Mount Holly. It’s a project designed to make it easier for local residents to make informed choices.

Tune into this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast for a clear, concise overview of what’s on the ballot and why it matters for Charlotte’s future.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4. Early voting runs at 21 sites through Nov. 1.

We hope you enjoy the conversation.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks.