The Charlotte Ledger Podcast

For Ike Belk, sports have always been about more than competition. His grandfather and namesake spent decades involved in the U.S. Olympic movement, instilling in Belk a belief in sports’ power to bring people together. Now, Belk is carrying that legacy forward as co-founder of the U.S. Performance Center, which trains and supports Olympic and national-team athletes while working to establish Charlotte as a major hub for amateur sports.

In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, host Steve Dunn talks with Belk about the Performance Center’s work with hundreds of elite athletes, its research into injury prevention and rehabilitation, and why national governing bodies are increasingly looking to Charlotte as a place to train and compete.

They also look ahead to one of Belk’s biggest undertakings yet: bringing the 2027 World Military Games to Charlotte. The international competition is expected to bring athletes and military delegations from more than 100 countries to the region for Olympic-style events — and Belk hopes it will demonstrate Charlotte’s ability to host major international sporting events.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is presented by Child Care Search. Does your search for child care have you stressed out? There’s a lot to consider — like quality, price, location, schedule, and more. At Child Care Search, a service of Child Care Resources Inc., our knowledgeable navigators can help you find licensed care that fits your family’s needs! Visit www.FindChildCareNC.org or call 1-888-600-1685 for free, personalized guidance.

This episode was produced by Lindsey Banks. For more information on The Charlotte Ledger, go to TheCharlotteLedger.com.

After nearly two decades as a Charlotte television journalist, Michelle Boudin traded the newsroom for entrepreneurship. But one thing hasn't changed: her passion for storytelling.

In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, host Steve Dunn talks with Boudin, a former WCNC investigative reporter, founder of Embolden Creative and winner of The Ledger's 40 Over 40 award, about her unexpected journey from journalism to running a creative agency that helps nonprofits and businesses tell their stories.

Boudin shares what makes a compelling story, why listening is the most important interviewing skill and how artificial intelligence is changing her industry. She also reflects on memorable stories from her reporting career, the challenges of running her own business and why Charlotte remains the place she calls home.

This episode is sponsored by the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, presenting The Music of Tina Turner. Vocalists join the Orchestra to perform the anthems that crowned Tina Turner the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll – from "What's Love Got to Do with It" to "Son of a Preacher Man.” Friday, Oct. 16, and Saturday, Oct. 17, at Knight Theater. Tickets available at CharlotteSymphony.org.

This episode was produced by Lindsey Banks. For more information on The Charlotte Ledger, go to TheCharlotteLedger.com.

Navigating the healthcare system can be overwhelming, especially as we age.

In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, executive editor Tony Mecia sits down with Jennifer Szakaly, founder of Caregiving Corner, for a conversation recorded at The Sharon at SouthPark retirement community.

Szakaly shares practical advice on advocating for yourself at doctor's appointments, keeping track of medical records and medications, and involving family members in your care. They also discuss advance care planning, powers of attorney and the importance of having difficult conversations with loved ones to ensure your wishes are understood and respected.

This conversation was recorded live at The Sharon at SouthPark on Sept. 21, 2026.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is presented by Child Care Search. Does your search for child care have you stressed out? There’s a lot to consider — like quality, price, location, schedule, and more. At Child Care Search, a service of Child Care Resources Inc., our knowledgeable navigators can help you find licensed care that fits your family’s needs! Visit www.FindChildCareNC.org or call 1-888-600-1685 for free, personalized guidance.

This episode was produced by Lindsey Banks. For more information on The Charlotte Ledger, go to TheCharlotteLedger.com.

Pat McCrory helped shape modern Charlotte during his record-setting tenure as mayor. But his four years as North Carolina governor — and the political controversies that followed — left a more complicated legacy.

In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Ledger editor Tony Mecia talks with journalist and author Andrew Dunn about his new book, “The Change Agent: Pat McCrory’s Rise, Reckoning, and Legacy.”

Dunn discusses McCrory’s role in bringing the light rail to Charlotte, his relationship with the Republican-led General Assembly and how the controversial HB2 law overshadowed other parts of his governorship. The conversation also explores the political fallout from the I-77 toll lanes, behind-the-scenes stories from McCrory’s career and what his experience reveals about North Carolina politics today.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is presented by the Home Builders Association of Greater Charlotte’s 2026 Parade of Homes, on Sept. 19, 20, 26 and 27, from 1 to 5 p.m. Experience inspiration and explore possibilities by enjoying this free, self-guided tour of the latest in design and craftsmanship in the Charlotte area’s most desirable homes and communities. Visit ParadeofHomesCharlotte.com to map your tour.

This episode was produced by Lindsey Banks. For more information on The Charlotte Ledger, go to TheCharlotteLedger.com.

When Tryon Medical Partners launched in 2018, a group of physicians made a big bet: They left Atrium Health’s Mecklenburg Medical Group to build an independent practice of their own.

Eight years later, Tryon is looking to get bigger.

In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, host Tony Mecia talks with Lindsay Muns, CEO of Tryon Management Group, about the practice’s plans to become a stronger third option in a Charlotte healthcare market dominated by Atrium Health and Novant Health.

Muns discusses Tryon’s push to add more specialties, physicians and locations across the Charlotte region, as well as the challenges of competing for talent and navigating an increasingly complicated healthcare industry. Tryon added 15 physicians last year and plans to add another 15 net new physicians this year as it expands its capacity for new patients.

This episode was produced by Lindsey Banks. For more information on The Charlotte Ledger, go to TheCharlotteLedger.com.

For most of his life, Tommy Tomlinson has thought about food and weight. He wrote an entire book about it — "The Elephant in the Room: A Journey of Weight Loss" — after years of trying diets, medications and nearly every other strategy short of weight-loss surgery.

Then, two years ago, he started taking GLP-1 weight-loss drugs.

Tomlinson, a former columnist and also the author of "Dogland" about the Westminster Dog Show, joins podcast host Steve Dunn to talk about losing 132 pounds, the disappearance of constant “food noise” and what GLP-1s have taught him about willpower, cravings and weight.

Steve shares his own experience taking GLP-1s as they discuss side effects, cost, stigma and the complicated psychology of changing habits that have shaped your life for decades.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is hosted by Steve Dunn of Miles Mediation & Arbitration. This episode was produced by Lindsey Banks. For more information on The Charlotte Ledger, go to TheCharlotteLedger.com.

What if a law firm looked less like a traditional office and more like a creative studio?

That question helped shape Gardner Skelton PLLC, where colorful murals, collaborative workspaces, office dogs and a renovated former chocolate factory reflect founder and CEO Nicole Gardner's belief that better environments create better lawyers. Gardner says fostering creativity, supporting mental health and building a strong workplace culture ultimately leads to better outcomes for clients. 

But the conversation goes well beyond office design. In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Gardner discusses the evolution of her legal career, mentoring young attorneys, balancing leadership with client work, giving back to the Charlotte community and why she believes the city's entrepreneurial spirit continues to make it an exciting place to build a business.

Nicole Gardner was recognized as one of The Charlotte Ledger's 40 Over 40 honorees. 

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is hosted by Steve Dunn of Miles Mediation & Arbitration. This episode was produced by Lindsey Banks. For more information on The Charlotte Ledger, go to TheCharlotteLedger.com. 

Charlotte is often criticized for not having much history. Old buildings have given way to new development, neighborhoods have transformed and many longtime landmarks have disappeared from the skyline.

But according to local history writer John Short, Charlotte hasn't lost its history — it's simply hidden in plain sight. From Eastover's origins as the city's first automobile suburb to the remarkable story of Grier Heights, one of Charlotte's oldest Black communities, the city's neighborhoods reveal how transportation, housing, race and economic growth have shaped the Charlotte we know today.

In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Managing Editor Ashley Fahey talks with Short, the author of The Ledger's new "Love Thy Neighborhood" series, about why neighborhood history matters, the surprising stories hiding around Charlotte and how understanding where the city has been can help residents make better decisions about where it's headed.

This episode was recorded live at The Sharon at SouthPark on July 13, 2026. 

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

For years, the rising cost of college has led many families to question whether a four-year degree is worth the investment — and whether elite private colleges are financially out of reach altogether.

Davidson College hopes to change that perception. The school recently announced one of the most generous financial aid programs in its history, promising that students from families earning less than $85,000 annually can attend at essentially no cost, while many middle-income families will qualify for free tuition. College President Doug Hicks says the goal is simple: make Davidson more accessible to talented students who may never have considered applying because of the price tag. 

But affordability is only one challenge facing higher education. Colleges are also navigating demographic shifts, skepticism about the value of a degree, the rapid rise of artificial intelligence and questions about how to prepare students for careers that may not yet exist.

In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, summer reporting intern Cooper Hall talks with Davidson College President Doug Hicks about the college's new financial aid model, why he believes liberal arts education remains relevant and how Davidson is positioning itself for the future. 

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, go to TheCharlotteLedger.com. 

Charlotte has a new mayor at a pivotal moment. The city is closing in on 1 million residents, wrestling with questions about growth, affordability and transportation, and navigating political divisions over how to shape its future. 

Just days after taking the oath of office, Mayor Rob Harrington sat down with The Charlotte Ledger's Ashley Fahey to talk about how he plans to lead through those challenges — and what kind of city he hopes Charlotte will become.

In a wide-ranging conversation, Harrington discusses his first days in office, why he believes business and community interests shouldn't be viewed as opposing forces, and how Charlotte can continue to grow while creating opportunity for longtime residents. He also shares his views on building trust within City Council, the importance of Charlotte Douglas International Airport, investing in affordable housing through the city's Housing Trust Fund, and why partnerships among government, businesses and nonprofits have long been one of Charlotte's greatest strengths.

The interview wraps up with a lighter round of rapid-fire questions: Harrington reveals the Charlotte institutions he'd show a first-time visitor, the cities he admires, what he thinks leaders don't talk about enough and why he wants Charlotte to become a national model for how fast-growing cities can thrive without losing what makes them special.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Tony Mecia. For more information on The Charlotte Ledger, go to TheCharlotteLedger.com.