The Hometown Holler

The Hometown Holler
  • 4.9 (65)
  • POLITICS
  • UPDATED DAILY

Tar Heel politics in a shot glass. Whether you're a tenth-generation North Carolinian or a New-In-Town Tar Heel, there’s something for everyone at this political potluck. Join hosts Daniel Ayers and Quinn Ray as they dish up the facts, stir in some healthy debate, and maybe even throw in a few tall tales for good measure!

  1. Richard Ojeda Puts Boots on the Ground

    1D AGO

    Richard Ojeda Puts Boots on the Ground

    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/

    47 min
  2. Why a Progressive Is Running as a Republican in North Carolina

    FEB 9

    Why a Progressive Is Running as a Republican in North Carolina

    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/

    38 min
  3. Heather Cox Richardson Returns!

    FEB 2

    Heather Cox Richardson Returns!

    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

    54 min
  4. Happy Holler Days w/ Chatham Rabbits! 🎄🐰🥃

    12/15/2025

    Happy Holler Days w/ Chatham Rabbits! 🎄🐰🥃

    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.

    1h 23m
  5. Growing Power: Kamal Bell, Sankofa Farms, & the Fight for Food Justice

    12/08/2025

    Growing Power: Kamal Bell, Sankofa Farms, & the Fight for Food Justice

    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

    43 min
  6. The 2026 Election Is in Danger — David A. Graham Explains

    12/01/2025

    The 2026 Election Is in Danger — David A. Graham Explains

    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

    55 min
  7. Sen. Sydney Batch Exposes the Chaos Behind NC’s Budget Meltdown

    11/24/2025

    Sen. Sydney Batch Exposes the Chaos Behind NC’s Budget Meltdown

    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

    54 min
  8. Trump, God, & Family with Comedian Cliff Cash

    11/17/2025

    Trump, God, & Family with Comedian Cliff Cash

    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

    1h 11m
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4.9
out of 5
65 Ratings

About

Tar Heel politics in a shot glass. Whether you're a tenth-generation North Carolinian or a New-In-Town Tar Heel, there’s something for everyone at this political potluck. Join hosts Daniel Ayers and Quinn Ray as they dish up the facts, stir in some healthy debate, and maybe even throw in a few tall tales for good measure!

Information

  • Creator
    The Hometown Holler
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    84
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © The Hometown Holler
  • Show Website
    The Hometown Holler

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