Economics can sound like a subject you suffered through once and never wanted to revisit — but Michael Blanco, president of the Charlotte Economics Club, argues it’s actually the stuff people talk about every day: jobs, housing, inflation, interest rates, tariffs, AI, and where the economy is headed.

In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Tony Mecia sits down with Blanco to talk about what the club does, who shows up to its events and why Charlotte — a longtime banking town that’s becoming an even bigger financial hub — is the perfect place for a growing economics club.

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.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks. Visit TheCharlotteLedger.com to learn more.

In this live video chat recorded Friday, Feb. 15, 2026, Charlotte Ledger reporters discuss some of their coverage from the week:

* Opposition increases over plans to expand I-77 near uptown

* Early voting starts for the March 3 primary

* New job numbers show Charlotte was No. 2 in the country for creating jobs in 2025, behind only New York City

* A closer look at a mixed-use project in Charlotte’s West End — and what it might mean for similar projects elsewhere in the city

* The start of soccer season for Charlotte FC and Carolina Ascent

* Valentine’s Day flowers are costing more this year — with our panel’s tips on gift-giving if you don’t yet have a plan

… and more!

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The Charlotte Ledger is a locally owned media company that delivers smart and essential news. We strive for fairness and accuracy and will correct all known errors. The content reflects the independent editorial judgment of The Charlotte Ledger. Any advertising, paid marketing or sponsored content will be clearly labeled.

◼️ About The Ledger • Our Team • Website◼️ Newsletters • Podcast • Newcomer Guide • A Better You email series◼️ Subscribe • Sponsor • Events Board • Merch Store • Manage Your Account◼️ Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter, LinkedIn

Charlotte is booming. New towers rise, new residents arrive and the city’s economic engine hums. But beneath the growth, some longtime residents ask a deeper question: What has been lost along the way?

In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, host Steve Dunn talks with Robert FitzPatrick — a Charlotte native, longtime community organizer and nationally known expert on pyramid schemes and consumer fraud, and author of “Charlotte: Searching for Soul in a Booming Southern City.”

FitzPatrick explores what he means by “soul” — a city’s sense of place, identity and shared ownership — and argues that Charlotte’s singular focus on economic growth has come at a cost. From the destruction of Brooklyn in the 1960s to battles over Freedom Park, FitzPatrick traces how commercial priorities have shaped, and sometimes overshadowed, civic life.

We hope you enjoy the conversation with Robert FitzPatrick. To learn more about “Charlotte: Searching for Soul in a Booming Southern City," click here.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks. Visit TheCharlotteLedger.com to learn more.

Billions of dollars in public investment. New office towers breaking ground. Nearly 5,000 apartments in the pipeline. After years of pandemic disruption and slow return-to-office trends, Charlotte’s center city may be entering a pivotal new chapter.

In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Ledger editor Tony Mecia talks with Michael Smith and James LeBar of Charlotte Center City Partners about the newly released 2026 State of the Center City Report — an annual snapshot of uptown, South End and Midtown. They discuss why 2025 was a “super productive year,” what they mean by an “inflection point,” and how transportation, talent growth and large-scale development projects could reshape Charlotte’s urban core over the next decade.

The report includes detailed maps, data and projections for the next 12–24 months. You can explore the full 2026 State of the Center City Report here.

We hope you enjoy the conversation with  James LeBar and Michael Smith. For more information on Charlotte Center City Partners, visit CharlotteCenterCity.org.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks. Visit TheCharlotteLedger.com to learn more.

Recorded live Jan. 5, 2026, at The Sharon at SouthPark.

PBS and public media have been in the spotlight lately — and not in a way anyone asked for. When federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting was eliminated, NPR and PBS stations across the country faced sudden cuts and hard choices.

In this special live episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Ledger editor Tony Mecia sits down at The Sharon at SouthPark with Amy Burkett, general manager of PBS Charlotte, to talk about what that shift has meant locally — and what it’s forcing public media to do differently. Burkett, a former commercial TV reporter and anchor, shares how PBS Charlotte has rebuilt itself since nearly going dark in the early 2010s, how the station is adapting after losing $1.2 million overnight, and why she believes public media is more valuable in an era when trust is harder to come by.

They also dig into what PBS does best (history, long-form storytelling, local documentaries), what it struggles to compete on (reality-style programming), and how the station is trying to reach viewers across platforms — from broadcast to Passport streaming to YouTube.

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.

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

Aging rarely arrives all at once. For many families, the realization comes quietly: a holiday visit that feels a little different, a parent who seems less steady, less engaged, or less organized than before.

In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, we share a recording of a Jan. 14, 2026, webinar produced in partnership with Caregiving Corner, focused on how families can recognize meaningful changes in aging adults and respond thoughtfully without panic, judgment or damaging trust. Ledger executive editor Tony Mecia is joined by Jennifer Szakaly, founder and CEO of Caregiving Corner, for a wide-ranging, practical conversation that blends medical insight, real-world caregiving experience and audience questions from families navigating these decisions in real time.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is sponsored by Caregiving Corner. Caregiving Corner works with families who are taking care of aging relatives and need assistance navigating the long-term care system. Whether you are planning for aging, or needing help managing a crisis, our team is here for you. For more information, visit CaregivingCorner.com.

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

In this live video chat recorded Friday, Jan. 15, 2026, Charlotte Ledger reporters discuss some of their coverage from the week:

* Development plans for the Manor Theatre site in Eastover

* Workplace trends in 2026, such as AI and “job-hugging”

* An interview with new LendingTree CEO Scott Peyree — on plans for the company and how he found out about the death of predecessor Doug Lebda

* How historic designation plans might slow approval of the toll lanes on I-77 south of uptown

* Elon University’s plans for a law school at Queens University of Charlotte

* Drake Maye and his wife, Ann Michael Maye, receive national attention — him for football, her for baking videos on TikTok

* Why John Stamos was in Mooresville

… and more!

Need to sign up for this e-newsletter? We offer a free version, as well as paid memberships for full access to all 6 of our local newsletters:

The Charlotte Ledger is a locally owned media company that delivers smart and essential news. We strive for fairness and accuracy and will correct all known errors. The content reflects the independent editorial judgment of The Charlotte Ledger. Any advertising, paid marketing or sponsored content will be clearly labeled.

◼️ About The Ledger • Our Team • Website◼️ Newsletters • Podcast • Newcomer Guide • A Better You email series◼️ Subscribe • Sponsor • Events Board • Merch Store • Manage Your Account◼️ Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter, LinkedIn, Substack Notes

When tragedy struck one of Charlotte’s most visible tech companies last fall, it forced an unexpected leadership transition at a pivotal moment. LendingTree CEO Doug Lebda’s sudden death in October 2025 left the company — and the city — reeling. Within hours, longtime executive Scott Peyree was asked to step into the top role and steady a business serving millions of consumers nationwide.

In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Ledger editor Tony Mecia talks with Peyree about the night everything changed, how he learned of Lebda’s passing, and what it meant to lead through grief while keeping a public company on track. Peyree reflects on his path from founding QuoteWizard to running LendingTree, the company’s future in Charlotte, and how artificial intelligence could reshape how consumers shop for financial products. Along the way, he also shares a few personal details — including his love of Seattle grunge and why hybrid work is here to stay.

We hope you enjoy the conversation with Scott Peyree. For more information on LendingTree, visit LendingTree.com.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is sponsored by Crimson Park Digital. Get your brand seen, capture demand, and turn attention into revenue, now. Visit CrimsonParkDigital.com to get started.

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

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.