Tying It Together with Tim Boyum

As America continues to celebrate 250 years, host Tim Boyum looks into whether independence was actually declared in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, more than a year before the Declaration of Independence we know today. It's known as the "Meck Dec," and it's a great and fascinating source of discussion and controversy in the world of history. Author and Pulitzer-nominated correspondent Dave Fl...

Host Tim Boyum travels to New Hampshire to talk to documentary filmmaker Ken Burns about America turning 250 years old for this week's episode of Tying it Together. Burns talks about his latest documentary on the American Revolution, what the founding documents mean to today's America, and what he thinks it means to be an American. He tells Tim which historical figures he would most want to sit do...

Host Tim Boyum travels to Tennessee to meet up with Lee Greenwood. As America celebrates 250 years, Greenwood tells us the incredible story behind his hit, "God Bless the USA." From the inception on the tour bus to the stage with Ronald Reagan to an emotional story of singing it after 9/11, the song has defined his career. What you don't know is that the song almost never made it. A limousine trip...

On this week's episode, Martin Luther King III joins Tim for a wide-ranging and candid conversation about his dad, his death and what his dad would think about America at 250. King tells detailed stories about how his mom told the children their father was gone, the famous people who filled their home in the days after his death and how his dad worked hard to be a dad despite extensive travel.  

On this week's episode of Tying it Together, Quinn Ray and Daniel Ayers from  The Hometown Holler  join host Tim Boyum. They talk about how they went from back porch conversations to a podcast and an Instagram feed racking up millions of views talking about North Carolina and politics, and bringing on some big-name guests. 

As the Carolina Hurricanes start their first Stanley Cup Final in 20 years, Tim talks with the man who sings the national anthem at every single game.  If you've seen it, you will never forget it.  Decker takes us behind the scenes but also his career away from the Canes that included appearances on America's Got Talent and American Idol.

On this week's episode of Tying it Together, host Tim Boyum is joined by former Charlotte city council members  Tariq Bokhari  and  Larken Egleston  to talk about potentially one of the most consequential months of Charlotte politics in at least a decade. The council recently reversed course and canceled a major transportation plan. It is poised to potentially ban data centers in the coming weeks,...

Inspired by coverage of Watergate, Ned Barnett spent more than four decades in journalism. The Raleigh News & Observer editorial leader retired this month. He joins Tim to talk about his career, the role of opinion in journalism and the decline of newspapers in America.

On this week's episode, Tim talks about a group of center-left Democrats trying to make waves as partisanship continues to dominate the electorate. His guests are Debbie Cox Bultan, CEO of NewDEAL, and Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers. The national group held a conference in Raleigh and stopped by while in town. NewDEAL is a network of center-left elected leaders who are self-described pragmatists focusi...

On this week's episode of Tying it Together, host Tim Boyum talks with the man who helped ignite one of the biggest upsets in North Carolina political history in this year's primary. Sheriff Sam Page ousted North Carolina's most powerful politician, Senate leader Phil Berger, in March. But for years, Patrick Sebastian worked behind the scenes to help make it happen, risking his entire career.

On this week's episode, fellow podcasters and lobbyists Brian Lewis and Skye David join Tim to talk about big leadership changes at the legislature, the pros and cons of the lobbying profession and its vital role, plus how their podcasting adventure has changed it all.

As the North Carolina legislature returns, major questions remain as the state remains the only one without a new budget.  In addition, the state's most powerful politician, Phil Berger, lost his primary.  What will happen?  What will get done?  Political reporters Dawn Vaughan and Bryan Anderson join Tim to break it all down as lawmakers return to Raleigh this week.

On this week's episode, longtime aides to former governor and current U.S. Senate candidate Roy Cooper join Tim to talk about all things North Carolina politics. Sadie Weiner and Ford Porter shaped Cooper's messaging for a decade. Now, as they start their own firm, they join Tim to dish some behind-the-scenes stories, what it was like to message as COVID-19 hit and through multiple destructive hur...

On this week's show, Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell joins Tim to talk about all things Raleigh. From a food icon complimenting the food scene to potential problems with property taxes, they talk about the past, present and future. Cowell was elected in 2024 after serving in the state Senate, as state treasurer and leading the city's "Central Park of the South," Dix Park.

On this week's show, Rockingham Sheriff Sam Page joins Tim just hours after he being Senate leader Phil Berger in a state senate primary and arguably the biggest political upset in modern North Carolina political history.  Page answers why he thinks he won, his phone call with Berger, how he hopes to fit in in the legislature, the story behind his signature cowboy hat, and what his mother thought...

On this week's show, longtime and top North Carolina Republican consultant Paul Shumaker joins Tim to talk about why North Carolina's most powerful politician, Phil Berger, has likely lost his primary race and what it means for the future of the party.  They also talk about the impact of Iran and prices on the midterm elections, especially in the nation's most closely U.S. Senate race here in Nort...

After a decade in public office, Sen. Graig Meyer (D-Orange) is leaving the General Assembly to head up the state's leading progressive think tank, the North Carolina Justice Center.  Meyer joins Tim to talk about leaving office, the current status of progressives and Democrats in North Carolina, and the shocking news of the state's most powerful politician, Phil Berger, on the verge of losing his...

On this week's episode of tying it together, host Tim Boyum talks with N.C. Health News founder Rose Hoban.  Rose shares her story how she went from a nurse and hospice administrator to journalist to entrepreneur as she started her own journalism organization focused on health.  Rose also shares impactful stories about her time as a hospice administrator.

What happens when a Republican operative bucks his party in a very public manner?  On this week's episode of Tying it Together, Carlton Huffman joins host Tim Boyum to talk about the moment he began criticizing Donald Trump and his supporters and the consequences.  In recent months, he's also been critical of ICE arrests in places like Minnesota.

The Grammy nominated Avett Brothers are well known for their folk rock music around the world. The bassist, Bob Crawford, is also a historian, however.  This week the North Carolinian joins host Tim Boyum to talk about his love for history and his new book "John Quincy Adams, from President to Political Maverick".

On this week's episode of Tying it Together, State Senator Michael Garrett (D-Guilford) joins host Tim Boyum to talk about a whirlwind of a couple weeks where he visited Minnesota and sat in on legislative hearings about ICE operations in Minnesota.  Then, the night of the Super Bowl, a post he made about Bad Bunny went very viral! 

North Carolina Democratic Party Chair Anderson Clayton joins host Tim Boyum this week to talk about her pitch to make North Carolina the first primary state for the 2028 presidential election.  What are the state's chances and what would it mean?  Crucially, what's her strategy for persuading Republican legislative leaders to permit it?

On this week's episode, host Tim Boyum talks with Greg Barnes from Inside Carolina about perhaps the most controversial and hot topic of the future of UNC basketball.  To many, it appeared the Tar Heels were poised to announce a new arena on a future campus site. But then a legendary coach released a video pleading to renovate the current arena.  It's a fascinating and emotional debate for the cou...

Spectrum News meteorologist Lee Ringer joins Tim to talk in depth about the modeling meteorologists use to try and predict the weather. This recent winter weather showed the delicate nature when some people shared early models with significant snow, but days later the forecast completely changed and disappointed snow lovers.

  On this week's episode of Tying it Together, Dr. Bruce Jentleson joins host Tim Boyum to explain the story behind all the foreign policy battles garnering the attention of President Trump — from Iran, Venezuela, Ukraine, to Greenland.  Jentleson is a professor at the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University.  He's a former senior adviser at the State Department under the Obama and Clin...