The Hometown Holler

Representative Rodney Pierce joins the Holler to talk about what it means to represent one of North Carolina’s most overlooked regions. A public school teacher and first-term legislator representing Halifax, Warren, and Northampton counties, Pierce discusses rural population decline, public school funding, bipartisan bills that never got hearings, and what rural voters want from their elected leaders in Raleigh.We talk school vouchers, segregation academies in eastern North Carolina, health disparities, removing a Confederate monument in Halifax County, and what it’s actually like inside the General Assembly. Pierce reflects on faith, service, and the responsibility of representing communities that too often feel left out of the political conversation.It’s a conversation about rural dignity, public education, bipartisan frustration, and who state government is really working for.👉 Join the Holler today and support independent North Carolina storytelling:https://www.thehometownholler.com/

Richard Ojeda swings by the Holler to talk about service, sacrifice, and what real representation looks like in North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District. A retired Army major and former West Virginia state senator, Ojeda discusses leading troops in combat, surviving political violence, and why he believes members of Congress should put boots on the ground back home.

We talk veterans’ health care, small-dollar fundraising vs. corporate PAC money, raising wages, and his challenge to incumbent Congressman Richard Hudson. It’s a conversation about leadership, accountability, and who government is actually supposed to work for.👉 Join the Holler today and support independent NC storytelling: https://www.thehometownholler.com/

Kate Barr returns to The Hometown Holler to explain why she’s running as a Republican in a heavily gerrymandered North Carolina congressional district. We break down gerrymandering, voter suppression, GOP primaries, party strategy, and the political machine built by Tim Moore — and whether it’s possible to win inside maps designed to keep power in the same hands.

Support independent North Carolina voices and storytelling by joining the Holler: https://www.thehometownholler.com/

Historian Heather Cox Richardson returns to The Holler to chat about American democracy, authoritarianism, and why history keeps echoing into the present.We talk Reconstruction, the Wilmington Coup, North Carolina’s unique political history, and what it means when people say, “it can’t happen here.”👉 Support independent NC storytelling: thehometownholler.com

This year, Quinn and Daniel are unwrapping a holiday special packed with all the comfort and chaos of a good ol’ fashioned Carolina Christmas. Daniel’s sister and brother-in-law — Sarah and Austin McCombie of Chatham Rabbits — are in town, which means it’s time to uncork the bourbon and share a little Christmas cheer 🎄🎶

If you’ve seen Chatham Rabbits live, you already know the deal: homegrown tunes, stories from the road, and a deep connection to home. Over the last few years, Sarah and Austin have built a devoted following across the country — releasing four records, touring relentlessly, and somehow still finding time to run their farm back in North Carolina. Their fourth album, Be Real with Me, was released independently in 2025 and has been praised as “absolutely marvelous and beguiling” by No Depression and “a masterclass in songwriting” by Americana Highways.

This Christmas, they’ve stopped by the Holler to reveal what’s actually on their tour rider and share the story of Austin’s very first Christmas with Sarah and Daniel’s family. Along the way, we conduct a highly scientific Little Debbie Christmas Tree taste test, revisit Christmas gifts gone wrong, and present a spirited defense of why the Grinch might not be the villain after all.

Pour a glass of eggnog, pull up a chair, and stay a little longer this Christmas. And if you’re really feelin’ the holiday spirit, click this link to join our Patreon community and help us holler louder than ever in 2026.

The Holler sits down with Kamal Bell — farmer, activist, and founder of Sankofa Farms, one of North Carolina’s most groundbreaking community agriculture projects.

Kamal shares how growing up in Durham opened his eyes to food deserts, why unequal access to healthy food is no accident, and what it takes to build real solutions instead of waiting on policymakers. From food justice to community power, he breaks down the systems that created the crisis — and how Sankofa is rewriting the script.

Kamal unpacks:
• Why food deserts exist
• How Sankofa Farms is building a sustainable, community-led food system
• The role of agriculture in Black self-determination
• What the Sankofa Agricultural Academy teaches young men about leadership and resilience
• Why food access is political — and why it doesn’t have to stay that way

The Holler sits down with David A. Graham — staff writer at The Atlantic and author of The Project: How Project 2025 Is Reshaping America.David breaks down why dictators love elections, why 2026 may actually be the most important election of our lifetime, and how North Carolina has quietly become the canary in the coal mine. From ICE raids to gerrymandering, media intimidation, and “competitive authoritarianism,” he lays out the full playbook of how far-right extremists could set the stage for voter suppression and election denial long before a single vote is cast.David unpacks:• The possibility of federal agents seizing voting machines• Military or law enforcement being used to intimidate voters• NC’s new election laws and Board of Elections takeover• How doubt — not fraud — has become the most powerful weapon• How media pressure, show trials, and selective prosecutions silence opposition• What NC’s ICE operation revealed about 2026• Why young people’s rapid mobilization may be the most hopeful sign• What everyday people can do right now — and why it matters💡 Don’t forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE for more deep dives into North Carolina politics — and why what happens here echoes nationwide.🎙 For less than the price of a Diet Mountain Dew, you can help us build a better North Carolina. Become a Patron today @ https://www.patreon.com/TheHometownHoller

The Holler sits down with Sydney Batch — NC Senate Democratic Leader, family law attorney, social worker, breast cancer survivor, and one of the fiercest voices in Raleigh. From the 146 days and counting without a state budget to the looming multi-billion-dollar fiscal cliff, she breaks down exactly why North Carolina is stuck — and how GOP infighting, reckless tax cuts, and legislative dysfunction brought us here. She explains what’s truly at stake for working families, public schools, foster care, teachers, and state employees who are being forced to survive 2025 on 2023 dollars.

For less than the price of a Diet Mountain Dew, you can help us build a better North Carolina. Become a Patron today @ https://www.patreon.com/TheHometownHoller

Comedian and activist Cliff Cash joins the Holler for a wide-open conversation about God, family, Trump, Southern politics, and the craft of stand-up comedy. Cliff talks about growing up in a Christian conservative home, his political awakening, building his life in North Carolina, disinformation, and why he believes everyday people—not politicians—will save our democracy. He also shares stories from the road, the evolution of his comedy, and how he went from Recycling Royalty to Comedy King.

For less than the price of a Diet Mountain Dew, you can support the Holler on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/TheHometownHoller

The Holler sits down with Dr. Connie Book, President of Elon University, for a conversation about what’s really happening on our college campuses — and why it matters to all of us.

Dr. Book talks about leading a university in a time when free speech, protest, and belonging are under the microscope. We dig into what it means to disagree without dehumanizing, how to keep classrooms open to every viewpoint, and what the next generation is teaching us about courage and curiosity.

She also shares stories from her time at The Citadel — including going through bootcamp at Fort Knox — and what those experiences taught her about leadership, chaos, and keeping your head when the world gets loud.

The Hometown Holler is made possible by the generous support of our monthly sustainers. If you find our work valuable, we invite you to consider becoming a sustainer on Patreon. Join our community and help us keep hollerin' --- https://www.patreon.com/TheHometownHoller