Shows / Do Politics Better Podcast
Do Politics Better Podcast
A weekly look at North Carolina politics and the North Carolina General Assembly from two lobbyists’ perspectives. Hosted by lobbyists Brian Lewis and Skye David.
Episodes
- Do Politics Better Podcast
Democrats Take NC House, GOP Holds NC Senate by a Vote
Skye and Brian look back on a whirlwind 24 hours in North Carolina politics, breaking down where things stand in the battle for control of the General Assembly…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
John Locke's Andy Jackson: Watch the NC House on Tuesday Night
Dr. Andy Jackson is Director of the Civitas Center for Public Integrity at the John Locke Foundation. Andy focuses on government compliance with the law and…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
Politics, Civility, and the College Classroom
Dr. Robert Taber is a History professor at Fayetteville State University and the Chair of the UNC System Faculty Taskforce on Civil Discourse, which just…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
Ray Martin, The Differentiators’ Other Half
Before he became one half of The Differentiators, political operative Ray Martin was a journalist with a knack for covering the people and institutions that…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
NC FREE's Take on the 2026 Race for General Assembly Control
Election Day is less than four weeks away, and the balance of power in the North Carolina General Assembly is on the ballot. Skye and Brian talk with Alex…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
The Assembly's John Drescher Looks Back on a Life in Newspapers
John Drescher has spent a career telling the stories of North Carolina and American politics through journalism, with stops along the way at The Daily Tar…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
A Democratic Consultant & Homebuilder Lobbyist Walk Into an #NCPOL Podcast
Steven Webb is Director of Legislative Affairs at the NC Home Builders Association, and Kimberly Reynolds is a Partner at Maven Strategies, a Democratic…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
In the Room (Again) with Neal Inman, Speaker Hall's Chief of Staff
Neal Inman, Chief of Staff to House Speaker Destin Hall, rejoins Do Politics Better for an inside look at the session, including a look back at the major…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
Getting a Second Opinion from Rep. Tim Reeder, M.D.
Dr. Tim Reeder is finishing up his second term representing Pitt County in the NC House, and a lot has changed since his first podcast appearance right after…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
Labor Day Conversation with Labor Commish Luke Farley
NC Labor Commissioner Luke Farley looks back on a remarkable two years in statewide politics, from his victorious primary upset to his decisive win in the…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
Gov. Pat McCrory and 'The Change Agent' Author Andrew Dunn
In this special edition of the podcast, former Gov. Pat McCrory and Andrew Dunn, author of The Change Agent, sit for an expansive conversation about the…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
Is the NC Forward Party the Future — or Another Flash in the Pan?
Pat Newton is Chair of the North Carolina Forward Party and he talks about the upstart party’s strategy for the 2026 election cycle and its very different…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
House Democratic Whip Terry Brown Has a Message for Lobbyists
So much has changed for Rep. Terry Brown since our visit with him in 2021 on the podcast. The Charlotte Democrat is a father and he's a House Whip. We get an…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
Professor Chris Cooper's Short Session Review Before the November Final Exam
As the General Assembly heads into its extended break until November, one of the state's leading political scientists joins us to put the short session into a…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
Sen. Michael Lee on the '26 Session & the Senate's Future in '27
Since his last appearance on the podcast, Sen. Michael Lee has become one of the most influential lawmakers in the General Assembly, serving as both Senate…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
Rep. Sarah Crawford on How Authenticity and Grace Get Results
Rep. Sarah Crawford stops by the podcast for a second visit and discusses serving two terms in the House after a biennium in the Senate. Click here to listen…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
The Most Joyful #NCPOL Operative: NCGOP Executive Director Zach Almond
From organizing as a teenage Republican to managing campaigns out of his college dorm room, serving in elected office, and building a career in government…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
NC's New Budget! + A Conversation with Rep. Phil Shepard
North Carolina lawmakers finally reached a budget agreement, a bipartisan one at that, and Skye and Brian break down what made it into the spending plan and…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
Secretary Pam Cashwell: America 250, Breaking Barriers, and a Life of Public Service
This week on Do Politics Better, Brian Lewis and Skye David sit down with North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Secretary Pam Cashwell to…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
How Powerful Democratic Sen Ken Royall Shaped His Conservative Son, Lobbyist Jere Royall
NC Family Policy Council Lobbyist Jere Royall sits down for a fascinating conversation about politics, family, and the power of relationships in #ncpol. Jere…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
How a Senator's Fatal Car Crash Still Echoes Through a Family and #NCPOL Today
Mark Ezzell, Director of the North Carolina Governor's Highway Safety Program, was in his early 20s when his father, Sen. Jim Ezzell, died on Capital Boulevard…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
Former Lt. Governor Dan Forest Loves His New Job
Former NC Lieutenant Governor Dan Forest sits down for a candid conversation about the twists and turns that have shaped his life, career, and outlook on the…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
A Memorial Day Conversation with Rep. Allen Chesser
Rep. Allen Chesser is a combat veteran who served more than two decades ago, but he says war is still claiming lives today. With veteran suicide continuing to…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
The NC Speaker Who Never Was: Former Rep. Leo Daughtry's Story
Former Rep. Leo Daughtry joins Skye and Brian to reflect on his storied political career, including the dramatic battle for Speaker of the North Carolina House…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
Rep. Stephen Ross Shares the Family Struggle That Shaped His Life
Rep. Stephen Ross is wrapping up an incredible political career that began in Burlington, where he served on the City Council, led as Mayor, and eventually was…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
Sen. Phil Berger on Short Session, Budget, and the NC Senate as an Institution
Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger sits down for a candid conversation about the legislative short session and the question everyone in #ncpol is asking…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
Speaker Hall: Short Session, Budget Battles, & Breaking the Impasse
Speaker Destin Hall previews the short session now underway and breaks down the path forward on the state budget after last year’s budget stalemate. The…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
From Senate to Governor: How Gov Stein’s Career Prepared Him to Lead
Governor Josh Stein talks about how his time in the NC Senate (2009-2016) shaped the way he leads today. Having served under both Democratic and Republican…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
From the General Assembly to Congress: Brett Keeter Reflects & Signs Off
Brett Keeter began his political career managing a campaign for a 26-year-old up-and-comer named Patrick McHenry, who won a seat in the General Assembly in…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
Thomas Mills on the Rise and Fall of NC Democrats in Rural Districts
Politics NC's Thomas Mills, a Democrat, knows about winning in rural areas because he was the consultant for many successful political campaigns, including…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
The Concession Heard Across NC & Sam Hayes Talks State Board of Elections
NC State Board of Election Sam Hayes joins the podcast for an inside look at how elections work, including his role leading and he offers a candid assessment…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
NC’s Funky Separation of Powers — And Under Which Branch is the Sheriff?
North Carolina’s government structure can be…complicated. And sometimes, that complexity shows up in ways that raise more questions than answers. UNC Law…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
N&O's Danielle Battaglia Returns to Raleigh, Still on the Congressional Beat
Before the primary election, the News & Observer's Danielle Battaglia stopped by to talk about her move back from Washington DC to Raleigh while remaining on…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
NC Primary Election Wrap
Note: The Do Politics Better podcast was recorded and distributed on March 5, but mysteriously was not uploaded to Apple Podcasts. We are resending this…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
Primary Election Recap with Berger v Page in Overtime
Primary night delivered clarity in most contested races in North Carolina, but not for the most important #ncpol race most of us were watching: Senator Phil…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
Toss-Up, Lean, Safe: A Rundown of Primary Races with NC FREE's Alex Baltzegar
Alex Baltzegar, Executive Director of NC FreeEnterprise Foundation, talks with Skye and Brian about Tuesday's #NCPOL primary elections. From US Senate race to…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
John Hood on the Future of the GOP: Freedom v National Conservatism
In this episode of Do Politics Better, Brian sits down with John Hood for a candid conversation about the growing divide within conservatism — and what it…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
Courtship, Campaigns, & Serving Together: Todd & Amanda Johnson
Sen. Todd Johnson and his wife Amanda join the podcast for a special conversation about love, partnership, and public service. From meeting in high school band…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
Rep. Zack Hawkins on His Tragic Loss & Finding a 'Sole' Purpose
Rep. Zack Hawkins is back and a lot has changed since his last visit. The Durham Democrat joins us to catch up on what he’s been working on at the General…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
Rep. Tim Longest with the Shortest #NCPOL Commute + Sen Benton Sawrey Guest Hosts
Guest host Sen. Benton Sawrey, a Johnston Co Republican, and co-host Brian Lewis team up to break down a wintry week in #ncpol. From icy politics to the…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
What #NCPOL Professors Chris Cooper & Michael Bitzer are Watching in '26
Political science professors Chris Cooper (Western Carolina University) and Michael Bitzer (Catawba College) break down the emerging landscape of 2026, from…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
Sens Danny Britt & Mike Woodard's Take on '26 Elections, Session, & More
Sen. Danny Britt, a Robeson County Republican, and former Sen. Mike Woodard, a Durham Democrat, look ahead to 2026, breaking down what’s coming with insight…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
Sen Ted Budd: A Life-Changing USSR Trip, Unlikely Friendships, & Listening
U.S. Senator Ted Budd talks about life before Washington, including his family roots in New Jersey and with the New York Knicks. How a trip to the U.S.S.R…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
That’s a Wrap, 2025 — Featuring Lucille Sherman & Bryan Anderson
As 2025 comes to a close, the podcast takes a wide-angle look back at the year in North Carolina politics. Skye and Brian are joined by Lucille Sherman…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
Army-Navy Game Meets #NCPOL with Sens Daniel & Brinson & Rep. Ager
The storied Army–Navy Football Game is Saturday afternoon and Sens. Warren Daniel and Bob Brinson, both West Point graduates, and Rep. Eric Ager, a proud Naval…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
Candidate Filing Season Arrives, Sen. Chris Measmer Joins the Pod
In this latest installment of the pod's #MeetTheFreshman series, Skye and Brian sit down with Sen. Chris Measmer, who was appointed to the Senate following…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
Influence NC's Hannah Preston: Giving #NCPOL the Gen Z Glow-Up
Hannah Preston is using her voice and platform at Influence NC to inspire young voters to get involved in the political process. Hannah talks about what…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
John Locke’s Andy Jackson Maps Assembly Districts & Forecasts a Bumpy 2026
With candidate filing for the 2026 elections just weeks away, Andy Jackson of the John Locke Foundation joins us to unpack the newly updated Civitas Partisan…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
Inside the '08 Expulsion: Former Reps Rick Glazier & Skip Stam on Process & Duty
With Rep. Cecil Brockman’s recent resignation amid questions of possible expulsion, attention has turned to what that process actually looks like in the NC…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
Mayor Janet Cowell's Journey to Senate Floors to Treasurer Corridors to City Doors
Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell's political career has taken her from Raleigh City Council, to the North Carolina Senate, to serving as State Treasurer, and now…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
Leader Batch's Chief of Staff Lisa Stifler on Friendship & Facing Challenges
Lisa Stifler is the Chief of Staff to Senate Democratic Leader Sydney Batch — who also happens to be her friend since they were 15. Lisa shares how their…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
Ag Commissioner Steve Troxler Talks Fried Food, Ferris Wheels, & Farming
We’re on location at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds for a special Do Politics Better episode with NC Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. From the…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
Rep. Donnie Loftis: Army Veteran, Athlete, and His J6 Controversy
Rep. Donnie Loftis shares his story — from his years as a career Army serviceman and elite athlete to managing CVS drug stores and serving on the Gaston County…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
Rep. Dean Arp: A Life Shaped — Not Defined — by Tragedy
Rep. Dean Arp, one of the chief budget writers in the NC House, reflects on his life and political career. The Union County Republican talks about his…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
Carolina Journal's Donna King: Free Speech, Free Markets, & Free Press
Donna King, editor of the Carolina Journal and one of North Carolina’s most influential conservative journalists, has covered the political battles shaping…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
NC's Young Republicans & Young Democrats Unite Against Political Violence
In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, NC Young Republicans President Emily Stack and NC Young Democrats President Zach Finley issued a rare joint…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
Commissioner Mike Causey: Insurance, Politics & Wearing an FBI Wire
NC Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey shares his life story, from his early days as an insurance man to his political career that took several attempts before…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
Hanging with Dr. Cooper: A Poli-Sci Prof & a Lobbyist Chat NC Politics
Political Science professor Chris Cooper (Western Carolina University) joins Brian for a wide-ranging conversation on the state of North Carolina politics in…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
Teen DJ Turned Politics Journalist: Colin Campbell’s Life in Radio & Politics
WUNC’s Capital Bureau Chief Colin Campbell has been covering North Carolina politics for over a decade across newspapers, digital outlets, and now public…
- Do Politics Better Podcast
Ardis Watkins’ Boots Were Made for Lobbying for State Employees
This week on the podcast, we sit down with Ardis Watkins, Executive Director of the State Employees Association of NC, whose big hair, cowboy boots, and Texas…