Shows / Bourbon in The Back Room
Bourbon in The Back Room
An inside look at politics with Senators Sheheen and Lourie. Get a behind-the-scenes look at the important, fun, and sometimes weird world of South Carolina Politics. Learn how the laws that impact your life every day get made and find a unique perspective on connections around the state!
Episodes
- Bourbon in The Back Room
The Morning After - National, State, and Local Elections with Guest, Maayan Schechter
Vincent and Joel sit down with guest, journalist extraordinaire, Maayan Schechter to discuss the landmark elections occurring at local, State, and national…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
Race in Politics with Guest, Professor Bobby Donaldson
Vincent and Joel sit down with our guest, Professor Bobby Donaldson, director of USC’s Center for Civil Rights History, to take a deep dive into the impact of…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
Election Updates, School Vouchers, and Potential Legislation - with Special Co-Host Mary Green
Joel sits down with Mary Green, reporter for WIS, WCSC, WHNS, WMBF, WTOC, WRDW, and WBTV. Joel and Mary break down various upcoming State and National…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
South Carolina Department of Corrections and SC's Low Recidivism Rate - Guest, Director of SCDC, Bryan Stirling
Vincent and Joel sit down with guest, SCDC Director Bryan Stirling, and discuss the status of SCDC, Bryan's interesting background as an attorney, declining…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
The Carolinas - Heated Political Races and Statewide Updates - With Guest N.C. Representative Zack Hawkins
Vincent and Joel sit down with guest, North Carolina House member, Zack Hawkins to discuss southern politics, N.C.'s changing political dynamics, and the…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
Valerie Bauerlein, Southern Dynasties and the Murdaugh Murders
Vincent and Joel sit down with guest, Valerie Bauerlein, national reporter for the WSJ, and talk about her career in journalism and her beginnings in South…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
S.C. in National Politics and Landmark Changes in the U.S. - Guest, Political Insider Antjuan Seawright
Vincent and Joel sit down with guest, Antjuan Seawright and discuss national politics, the state of Washington D.C., how S.C. is still involved on a national…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
S.C.'s Shift from Democrat to Republican and How All Politics is National - with Guest, Speaker David H. Wilkins
Vincent and Joel sit down with guest, Speaker of the House, Ambassador, and all-around statesman David H. Wilkins and discuss integrity in politics, the…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
Why to Run for Office, Improving South Carolina, and the State's Money Troubles - With Guest, Republican Senator Larry Grooms
Vincent and Joel sit down with guest, Senator Larry Grooms, and discuss his family and background in business, the most recent updates on LOFTISgate…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
Runoff Elections and Close Races - With Guest, Senate Candidate Jeffrey Graham
Vincent and Joel sit down with guest, Senate Candidate Jeffrey Graham who just won his runoff by less than 30 votes! They discuss the recent primaries, close…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
ELECTION RESULTS! - From Congress to the Statehouse - With Guest Russell Ott
Vincent and Joel recap the election results from the South Carolina Primaries. They discuss the races spanning from national offices to local House races, how…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
Political Integrity, the Freedom Caucus, and Republican Leadership - with Republican Representative Micah Caskey
Vincent and Joel sit down with guest, Representative Micah Caskey and discuss the republican party, changes in politics, the "grifters" and "fraudsters" of SC…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
LIVE! SINE DIE 2024 - With Guest Host Bakari Sellers - Legislators Come Down for a Drink
Sine Die and the end of session create a fervor of activity at the State's Capital! Vincent and Guest Host, Bakari Sellers, sit down and have a few drinks at…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
How S.C. Spends Your Money, Upcoming Legislation, and How the Capital is Changing - With Guest Mayor Bob Coble
LIVE! From the Columbia Palmetto Club with the leadership columbia class of 2024, Joel hosts legendary Mayor of Columbia Bob Coble. They discuss commitment to…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
LIVE! Increasing Women's Leadership and Running for Office - With Guest Republican Senator Sandy Senn
Joel sits down LIVE at the Women in Leadership Conference with guest, Senator Sandy Senn to talk about the latest moves in South Carolina politics and…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
Republican Leadership, Building Coalitions, and Government that Works - with Speaker of the House Murrell Smith
Vincent sits down with guest, Speaker of the House Murrell Smith to talk about leading South Carolina’s Republican Party and tell stories about Joel. They…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
Conservation, Finding Billions of Dollars, and the Future of Infrastructure in SC - With Republican Senator Stephen Goldfinch
There is ALOT happening in South Carolina government and politics! Where did the mystery 1.8 billion dollars come from? What's Constitutional Carry? How is…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
100 EPISODES - Forging a New Path and the Legislative Process - with Guest Senator Tameika Isaac Devine
Vincent and Joel reminisce about some of their favorite episodes and talk about having guests ranging from Meet the Press's Chuck Todd to Mark Sanford and the…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
Structuring Judicial Reform, Liquor Liability, and Pints & Politics Podcast - with Representative Heath Sessions
Vincent and Joel sit down with guest, recently elected, representative Heath Sessions, and discuss the state of the State, S.C.’s impact on national politics…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
LIVE! Upcoming Bills and National Politics - At the South Carolina Association of REALTORS meeting - Guest Senator Luke Rankin
Vincent and Joel sit down with guest, Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Luke Rankin, and discuss the new bills before the House and Senate, gun…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
Election Reform, Judicial Reform, and Primary Season - With Representative Brandon Newton
Vincent and Joel sit down with guest Representative Brandon Newton, elected in 2017 at age 22 as the youngest State Representative in the country. They discuss…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
NEW YEAR NEW LEGISLATIVE SESSION - With Guest Representative Spencer Wetmore
Vincent and Joel sit down with guest Representative Spencer Wetmore, elected in special election in 2020, and rising star in the South Carolina Public Service…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
WILL FOLKS - FITSNews - Election Season and 2023 YEAR END RECAP
Vincent and Joel sit down with FITS News founder Will Folks to talk through the hottest political topics, judicial reform, updates on the Murdaugh trial, the…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
The Freedom Caucus, Divisions within the Republican Party, and Breaking Political Ranks - With Representative Adam Morgan
Vincent and Joel sit down with leader of the SC Freedom Caucus and Congressional Candidate, Adam Morgan. They discuss his background, composing Christian…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
Governor David Beasley - Political Stories and The State of World Hunger
Vincent and Joel sit down with esteemed Governer of South Carolina, David Beasley. They discuss his start in the House of Representatives as a fresh faced…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
Confidence in Government and Changes in Lobbying Practices - With Dwight Drake
Vincent and Joel sit down with lawyer, political advocate, and lobbying extraordinaire, Dwight Drake. They discuss how to make government work, peoples' trust…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
Is Government Too Big?- With Guest, Senator Wes Climer.
Vincent and Joel sit down with Senator Wes Climer to discuss whether the SC government does too much, the future of judicial reform, consequential changes to…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
LIVE! From the USC Honors College - With Guest Mayor Daniel Rickenmann
Vincent and Joel sit down live in front of some of South Carolina's best and brightest students at University of South Carolina's Honors College. They talk…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
How to Run in a Competitive Election and Properly Funding Higher Education - With Senator Deon Tedder
Vincent and Joel sit down with Deon Tedder, a newly elected Senator who won his most recent election by ELEVEN votes. They dig into the background, his path…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
Passing Sextortion Legislation and Working to Combat the Mental Health Crisis - With Rep. Brandon Guffey
Vincent and Joel sit down for a powerful interview with representative Brandon Guffey. They dig into his hardworking history, his business success, and his…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
The Future of South Carolina Democrats - with Christale Spain
Vincent and Joel sit down with the Chair of the SC Democratic Party and discuss her background in Politics and the future of South Carolina Democrats. Hear…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
Upstate Politics, School Choice Expansion, and What Matters in Politics - With Representative Jason Elliot
Vincent and Joel sit down with upstate Representative Jason Elliott and discuss rise into political prominence, how his personal life got dragged into…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
Political Reporting, Journalism, and Changing Political Landscapes - With Cindi Scoppe
Vincent and Joel sit down with Cindi Scoppe, one of South Carolina’s highest caliber journalists, to discuss reporting in the palmetto state and how politics…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
Republican leaders facing primaries, abolition of school districts??, and why tuition is sky high - with Representative Neal Collins
Vincent and Joel sit down with upstate Representative Neal Collins and discuss the abolition of school districts, primary opponents, school tuition, zoos in…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
Education, Repercussions of Covid-19, and How to Get Children Reading - With S.C. Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver
Vincent and Joel sit down with newly elected Superintendent of Education for the State of South Carolina, Ellen Weaver. They discuss the constitutionally…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
Career Politicians, Public Servants, and South Carolina's Republican Presidential Candidates - With Senator Marlon E. Kimpson
Vincent and Joel sit down with Senator and Attorney, Marlon Kimpson. They discuss the new abortion case in front of the Supreme Court of S.C., Senator…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
The Budget Deadlock, Education Funding, and Scout Motors - With Rep. Leon Stavrinakis
Vincent and Joel sit down with one of SC’s most experienced legislators, Charleston’s own Rep. Leon Stavrinakis. They dive deep into SC’s new abortion law, the…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
Sine Die 2023! - Legislators Come Down for a Drink
Sine Die and the end of session create a fervor of activity at the State's Capital! Vincent and Guest Host, Senator Katrina Shealy, sit down and have a few…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
SPECIAL GUEST - Chuck Todd, Moderator of NBC's Meet the Press
Vincent and Joel sit down with Chuck Todd - Moderator for NBC's Meet the Press, NBC News Political Director, and Adjunct Professor at John Hopkins University -…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
LIVE! At The League of Women Voters Biennial Convention - With Guest Representative Rita Allison
Joel and Special Guest Host Representative Beth Bernstein, take the show on the road and onto the STAGE with this special live episode at the The League of…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
Grass Roots Campaigns, Coherent Messaging, and The Rational Abortion Debate - With Representative Heather Bauer
Vincent and Joel sit down with freshman representative Heather Bauer to talk about what it’s like to be a new legislator. They discuss tenacious politics and…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
The Inner Workings of the S.C. Budget, the Freedom Caucus, and Political Extremism - With Representative Bruce W. Bannister
Vincent and Joel sit down with Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, Representative Bruce W. Bannister. They discuss the budget, how it really works behind…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
Changing Political Landscapes and Rural Representation - With Guest Senator J. Thomas McElveen III
Vincent and Joel sit down with Sumter's own Senator J. Thomas McElveen III and discuss S.C.'s crazy death penalty abortion bill, hate crime legislation, the…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
Criminal Justice Reform, The Charter School Experiment, and The Teacher Shortage in SC - With Guest Chairman of the Senate Education Commitee, Greg Hembree
Vincent and Joel sit down with Chairman of the Senate Education Commitee, Greg Hembree and discuss the need for criminal justice reform, the SC Charter School…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
Guns, Gambling, and Legalizing Weed - With House Minority Leader Todd Rutherford
Vincent and Joel sit down with House Minority Leader, Lawyer, and advocate for freedom - Representative J. Todd Rutherford. Hear from pro-gun Democrats and…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
LIVE! At the South Carolina Realtor's Conference - With Representative Roger Kirby
Vincent and Joel take the show on the road and onto the STAGE with this special live episode in front of hundreds of premier South Carolina Realtors. They dig…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
A One-Party Legislature, The Changing Focus of Politics, and How to Herd Cats - With Republican Majority Leader Shane Massey
Vincent and Joel sit down with Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey and discuss what to expect in South Carolina Politics and government in 2023, economic…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
Teacher Pay, Economic Development, and Abortion Rights in 2023 - With Speaker of the House Murrell Smith
Vincent and Joel sit down with Speaker of the House, Murrell Smith. They discuss what to expect in South Carolina Politics and government in 2023, the powerful…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
2022 Year End Recap, What to Expect in 2023, and Two Years of Bourbon in The Back Room - With Antjuan Seawright
Vincent and Joel sit down with political extraordinaire Antjuan Seawright to take a look back on the wild politics of 2022. They discuss what to expect in…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
Asking the Right Questions, Political Polling Success, and Grass Roots Mobilization - With Robert Cahaly
Vincent and Joel sit down with SC native and national political pollster Robert Cahaly to discuss the Midterm Elections, how their polls have such a high rate…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
Midterm Elections RECAP, S.C.'s Legislative Future, and a look at 2024 Elections - With Will Folks of FITS News
Vincent and Joel sit down with FITS News founder and one of South Carolina's premier journalists Will Folks to talk through the recent Midterm Elections, Why…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
Saving Education, Changing Political Landscapes, and How to Rally People Together - with Governor Dick Riley and Terry Peterson
Vincent and Joel sit down with Governor Dick Riley to discuss his career in politics, how he became Governor of South Carolina, His appointment to United…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
Sky High Tuition, Board Troubles, and How to Run a Public University - with Dr. Harris Pastides, USC President Emeritus
Vincent and Joel sit down with University of South Carolina's President Emeritus, Dr. Harris Pastides to break down how he led the University out of crises in…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
Children's Advocacy, Gun Violence, Healthcare, and a Path into Politics - With Dr. Annie Andrews (D)
Vincent and Joel sit down with South Carolina 1st Congressional District Candidate, Pediatrician, and political newcomer Doctor Annie Andrews. They discuss her…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
The Real Abortion Debate - With Senator Margie Bright Matthews (D) and Senator Tom Davis (R)
Vincent and Joel sit down with Republican Senator Tom Davis and Democratic Senator Margie Bright Matthews for an in-depth discussion of the hazardous political…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
I.S. LEEVY JOHNSON - How to Fix Voting, The Branding of Divisiveness, and South Carolina's Progressive Generation
Vincent and Joel sit down with the legendary I.S. Leevy Johnson to break down what it was like growing up in segregated South Carolina, how he and his family…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
The Upcoming Special Session, Reforming Foster Care, and UofSC's Board Controversy - With Senator Katrina Shealy (R)
Vincent and Joel sit down with Senator Katrina Shealy (R) for a discussion on SC politics, the upcoming Special Session and what will happen there, the future…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
How Democrats Can Win, What it Will Take to Turn SC Purple, and Behind the Scenes of Political Campaigns - With the Chair of the SC Democratic Party - Trav Robertson
Vincent and Joel sit down with powerhouse political manager and the chairman of the South Carolina Democratic party to discuss what he does behind the scenes…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
The Truth about "Cancel Culture", An Inside Look at Political Rhetoric, and Wes's New Best Selling Book - With Political Consultant Wesley Donehue
Vincent and Joel sit down with Esteemed political consultant Wes Donehue to discuss how ad hominem rhetoric has become increasingly popular and effective, how…
- Bourbon in The Back Room
Local Government Compared to State, An S.C. Democrat on Abortion Bills, and The Lebanese Caucus - With Representative Seth Rose
Vincent and Joel sit down with Representative Seth Rose for a discussion on SC politics, What being an elected democrat in Columbia S.C. is like, how to engage…