Southern Salon: a podcast about culture & communication

Southern Salon Podcast visited the Land of Oz  during Autumn at Oz (we were there the same day as Good Morning America, in case you saw their broadcast.) Join us for a walk and talk of this beautiful park on top of Emerald Mountain, open just a few days a year. You'll ride with us on the chairlift, meet Professor Marvel, experience the tornado in Dorothy's storm cellar, meet Glenda the Good Witch, take a walk through Munchkinland, escape the bad witch and her soldiers, and hear Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Lion give their song and dance before we reach Emerald City. (And I'll reminisce because it takes me right back to my inner child!) Join us and don't forget to subscribe!Photo and videos by narrator and Land of Oz websiteMusic: The Wizard of Oz Motion Picture Soundtrack (Internet Archive)Ivy Attic Co on Etsy Unique jewelry handcrafted from vintage books, glass, and botanicals Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showFollow me for more updates on this podcast and the Talking Appalachian podcast @talkingappalachian on Instagram, Facebook, and Youtube.Want early access, bonus episodes, and stickers? Become a subscriber in the Talking Appalachian/Southern Salon podcast community.

It's October, and I'm at Tweetsie Railroad in Blowing Rock, North Carolina for the Ghost Train! Join me for a spooky walk and talk, plus a bonus interview with Tweetsie's owner, Chris Robbins, whose family has owned and managed Tweetsie since its development in 1957. You'll learn why Tweetsie remains one of the oldest Wild West theme parks in America, how the park's founder acquired the option to buy one of the locomotives from actor/singer Gene Autry, and why there's a (real) graveyard in the middle of the park. Tweetsie has been one of my favorite places to visit since I was a kid, so I'm looking forward to sharing why it's so special. Visit the links here for tickets to Ghost Train and the upcoming Christmas Train. For more footage of Ghost Train and other events at Tweetsie, visit LS Rail & Space on YouTube.Tweetsie Railroad information and tickets: Tweetsie Railroad | NC Family Friendly Wild West Theme ParkIvy Attic Co on Etsy Unique jewelry handcrafted from vintage books, glass, and botanicals Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showFollow me for more updates on this podcast and the Talking Appalachian podcast @talkingappalachian on Instagram, Facebook, and Youtube.Want early access, bonus episodes, and stickers? Become a subscriber in the Talking Appalachian/Southern Salon podcast community.

Join us on Baby's Porch, the cabin at Mountain Lake Lodge, and one of the sites on the property where the hit 1986 movie Dirty Dancing was filmed.  VP of Sales Lyndsi Hale talks about the property, its history, the movie (there are Patrick Swayze stories) and the plans for-you heard it here-Dirty Dancing II. Baby returns to Kellerman's all grown up! Ivy Attic Co on Etsy Unique jewelry handcrafted from vintage books, glass, and botanicals Curated Social Strategy Next level social media for businesses and brands.Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

Wall Street Journal columnist Elizabeth Bernstein returns to the podcast to discuss her colleague, Evan Gershkovich, who has been in a Russian prison since his arrest in April. We talk about the work Evan was doing, covering a country whose culture he loves, Bernstein's talks with his family, and a very special phone call from Air Force One.We also dive into the importance of a free press, and journalism as a cornerstone of American democracy that must be protected.  Follow the Latest Updates on Evan Gershkovich, WSJ Reporter Detained in Russia — #IStandWithEvanIvy Attic Co on Etsy Unique jewelry handcrafted from vintage books, glass, and botanicals Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREECurated Social Strategy Next level social media for businesses and brands.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

In this episode, we remember the October anniversary of Poe's mysterious death with a visit to Poe's house in Baltimore and the nearby cemetery where he is buried. Then, listen to a haunting reading of  "The Raven" (with audio by Brock Davidson.) Special thanks to Brock Davidson for lending his voice to The Raven. Contact: gbdavidson7@icloud.com.Thank you for listening and thanks so much to our supporters. If you'd like to buy us a cup of coffee to get us through these long hours of audio editing, find us at Patreon (click on Support the Show) or Paypal: aclark@virginia.edu.Find "Raven" inspired jewelry at Ivy Attic Co. on EtsyIvy Attic Co on Etsy Unique jewelry handcrafted from vintage books, glass, and botanicals Curated Social Strategy Next level social media for businesses and brands.Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

In our new Talking Appalachian series, we discuss what makes historic Appalachian dialects so unique and flavorful. Our first episode in this series features acclaimed author and Kentucky native Silas House, who was a contributor to the edited collection Talking Appalachian, which inspired this series. He is the award-winning author of six novels and numerous plays and essays. His forthcoming novel, Lark Ascending, will be published in the fall of 2022.Support our show (or you can buy us a cup of coffee during long hours of editing) on Patreon or PaypalThank you for supporting this important work!Editing: Haley Quillen and Amy Clark-SpainMusical performance of Elizabeth Cotten's Freight Train: Landon SpainIvy Attic Co on Etsy Unique jewelry handcrafted from vintage books, glass, and botanicals Support the show

We asked some of our "Zoomers" (those born 2000 and after) at the University of Virginia's College at Wise to reflect on the past two years. How did it change the way you started college or your last two years of college? What do you wish Boomers and Millennials would understand about you? What are you excited about? Trust us when we say these students did not disappoint. Listen as they give us insight on struggle and loss, opportunity, and some of the best advice you'll hear for anyone starting college in the fall. Parents, teachers, high school seniors, and anyone who thinks they understand this generation will be inspired by what they have to tell you.Link to start your own Buzzsprout podcastVoice work: Brock Davidson (gbdavidson7@icloud.com)Host pages on IG:@page_maven@heymamachicIvy Attic Co on Etsy Unique jewelry handcrafted from vintage books, glass, and botanicals Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/southernsalonpodcast)

If you love Chip and Joanna Gaines, you'll want to follow Brittany as she talks about her recent trip to Waco, Texas and the Magnolia Silos. Listen as she talks about what surprised her and her celebrity sighting. Later, we discover that we are both veterans of the good old tobacco patch (called "baccer" in central Appalachia), and though we hated the work, we recall what we learned about ourselves and our families there. Finally, Brittany reveals her flip house project as she explores what it means to be a "fixer upper."Follow us on social:@southernsalonpodcast@page_maven@heymamachic@ivyatticcompany@curatedsocialstrategyWant to start your own podcast? Join Buzzsprout and get a $20 Amazon gift card.Curated Social Strategy Next level social media for businesses and brands.Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEIvy Attic Co on Etsy Unique jewelry handcrafted from vintage books, glass, and botanicals Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/southernsalonpodcast)

"I don't think she'd take to email or messenger. I believe she would hold fast to writing. She was a woman who worked with her hands, pulling milk from her cows each day, hoeing her garden, cooking for farm hands…every single day. She'd want to feel that pen and paper because it's familiar, like the dirt, the bread dough, material and thread, paint and old photos, and the way she could make beautiful things from all of it, like magic." Letter writing is a dying art, particularly among those born in the 21st century. Amy talks about her great-grandmother's lessons on letter writing (before email) and how she wants to continue that tradition with her daughter. Brittany offers a tip for getting kids off screens, particularly as the weather warms. And if you're looking for a terrific app with free features that can help pull you through the most stressful of days, we've got a suggestion for you.Want to start your own podcast? Use our link to sign up with Buzzsprout and get an Amazon gift card!Find us on social:@ivyatticcompany@curatedsocialstrategy@page_maven@heymamachicSupport the show

Would you like to have early access to episodes, access to bonus episodes, an opportunity to chat live with Amy and Brittany, and more? Listen here for a new opportunity in 2022 . We'd love to have you as a member of the SoSa family. Just choose the level of membership you'd like, and start unlocking your exclusive content today.Ivy Attic Co Unique jewelry handcrafted from vintage books, glass, and botanicals Curated Social Strategy Next level social media for businesses and brands.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/southernsalonpodcast)

Without using the (overused) "R" word, we reflect on last year as we look toward this one. We're talking about our plans to do what intimidates us, with no apologies. From silversmithing to flipping houses, listen to what the next 12 months may have in store for us, and what you can do to get outside your comfort zone.Ivy Attic Co Unique jewelry handcrafted from vintage books, glass, and botanicals Curated Social Strategy Next level social media for businesses and brands.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/southernsalonpodcast)

Sleep is something we all need, but 50 to 70 million of us each year report not getting enough. Maybe one of the reasons we can't sleep is because we don't understand the science of sleep and its rhythms. Dr. Alexandria Reynolds, a psychologist and sleep specialist at UVa.'s College at Wise, joins us for a conversation about how sleep works, and the tools of tricking our brains and timing our sleep cycles to get our Zs.Podcast sponsors:Ivy Attic Co. on EtsyCurated Social StrategyIvy Attic CoUnique jewelry handcrafted from vintage books, glass, and botanicalsCurated Social StrategyNext level social media for businesses and brands.Support the show (https://paypal.me/southernsalonpodcast)Ivy Attic Co Unique jewelry handcrafted from vintage books, glass, and botanicals Curated Social Strategy Next level social media for businesses and brands.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/southernsalonpodcast)

In this culture episode, Amy retells the legend of 9 year old Bouncing Bertha Sybert, a chilling ghost tale from the mountains of southwest Virginia that was documented in 1938 news accounts all over the world. Witnesses watched as her bed violently rattled and bounced, ghostly hands pulled her hair, food mysteriously jumped from plates on her family's table. Her haunting was so well documented, she received letters from all across the U.S. asking for her help in contacting dead relatives.Amy has been collecting stories for years, and took this account from an oral history with a surviving witness, along with documented news accounts. If you're looking for a scary tale this Halloween season, listen along!Thanks to Jason Davis and the Just Off the Wilderness Road CD for use of the song "Bouncing Bertha," written by Jason Davis and performed by Neil Huff.Podcast sponsors: Ivy Attic Co. on Etsy Curated Social StrategyIvy Attic Co Unique jewelry handcrafted from vintage books, glass, and botanicals Curated Social Strategy Next level social media for businesses and brands.Support the show (https://paypal.me/southernsalonpodcast)

Brooke Jones and her husband Henry share a love of home-building and DIY renovation that they have turned into their dream business, Plank and Pillow, in Kingsport, Tennessee. Online, they have over ten million Pinterest views daily and over a quarter of a million followers on Instagram. In this episode, Brooke tells Plank and Pillow's story, and how they have optimized their social media strategies and blog to create a kind of growth you dream about. Ivy Attic Co on Etsy Unique jewelry handcrafted from vintage books, glass, and botanicals Curated Social Strategy Next level social media for businesses and brands.Support the show

In 1929 a cyclone ground its way through the tiny rural community of Rye Cove, Virginia, leaving 15 children and a schoolteacher dead after their school was demolished by wind and fire.  The Carter Family later recorded a song about the event titled "The Cyclone of Rye Cove. " In this episode, we discuss what happened on that fateful day, guided by the oral histories of survivors that were collected in 1970 and newspaper accounts. We also imagine A.P. Carter--after witnessing the devastation left by the storm-- writing a song that would become a ballad, a way of retelling the story from generation to generation.You can find an entire account of the event and the song in Amy's article in Oxford American Magazine (summer, 2021.)You can hear the Carter Family singing this song at this link.Sponsors:Ivy Attic Co Unique jewelry handcrafted from vintage books, glass, and botanicals Curated Social Strategy Next level social media for businesses and brands.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/southernsalonpodcast)

We love to brag about our gorgeous region, and because some of you have asked about places to visit as you're traveling through, we're covering some of our favorite cultural hotspots in Southwest Virginia and East Tennessee. From museums to farmer's markets, storytelling to fossils, we can easily fill a week for the family that wants a scenic getaway in the small, historic towns of our mountains, away from the touristy hustle. We also have ideas for those of you planning the "stay-cation."In this podcast, we'll tell you about:Southwest Virginia Museum and Historical State ParkGray Fossil Site/Natural History MuseumNatural Tunnel State ParkJonesborough, TNBays Mountain Park and PlanetariumThe Homestead ShopAbingdon, VASand CaveSt. Paul, VA and the Clinch RiverBurke's GardenBig Stone Gap, VABreaks Interstate ParkDevil's BathtubBirthplace of Country MusicMusic performance by: Landon SpainPodcast co-hosts: Amy Clark-Spain and Brittany RobertsonPodcast SponsorsCurated Social Strategy:  We craft strategy that's centered on authenticity, engaging content, and your brand voice. www.thecuratedsocial.comIvy Attic Co: Jewelry handcrafted from vintage books, glass, and botanicals from the central Appalachian mountains by mother/daughter artisans. www.etsy.com/shop/IvyAtticCoIvy Attic Co Unique jewelry handcrafted from vintage books, glass, and botanicals Curated Social Strategy Next level social media for businesses and brands.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/southernsalonpodcast)

How do you replace a fear of getting started on your great idea with the kinds of habits that will lead to success? In this episode, Amy and Brittany talk about the day job/side hustle/family balance, integrating lessons learned from James Clear's Atomic Habits, Master Life Coach Brook Castillo, and Napoleon Hill (Think and Grow Rich.)Support the show

We welcome guest Dee Thacker Ayers, owner of  Lynnette Boutique. Dee shares her journey from dissatisfaction in a lucrative corporate world to the leap of faith she took to realize her entrepreneurial dream. If you've ever aspired to be your own boss , listen in as we navigate the pitfalls that could block your path, whether it's fear or failing to plan ahead. As she narrates her story,  Dee details the steps she recommends to realizing this goal. What we understand here is that success isn't always about making money, but following your creative spirit and finding the freedom to design each day.Dee brings a special gift for our listeners: tune in for a discount code to her shop!IG: @shoplynetteboutiquehttps://www.lynetteboutique.com/Podcast sponsors:@ivyatticcompany@brittanyprobertsonSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/southernsalonpodcast)

If you can walk away from 2020 saying that you've experienced any kind of growth, that's a win! In this episode, Brittany and Amy sit down to reflect on what growth looked like for us last year, from starting a podcast and a new business, to expanding a brand. We talk about the "R" word for 2021, and how most people abandon those by mid-February.  What does it take not only to grow (whatever that looks like for you) but to stay motivated as you set new goals? We'll tell you what it means for us as we turn the page to 2021.Support the show

Holiday season is officially underway. Are you ready? Are you kidding?We're talking about how we can make the holidays work in a time of social distancing and quarantining. How can we serve others this season, even as we make the holidays special for our families?This will be the first of several episodes on our ideas for budget-friendly, nontraditional and crafty ways to jump-start a season that's going to look a bit different this year. Join us as we talk about alternatives to traditional gifts. We also want to hear your ideas!Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/southernsalonpodcast)

In this episode we talk with fiction and nonfiction author Karen Salyer McElmurray, a native of eastern Kentucky and author of four books and a co-edited collection. Our conversation opens with our discussion of her memoir, Surrendered Child, which chronicles her teenage pregnancy in early 1970's Kentucky, giving up her son for adoption, and reuniting with him as an adult. This heart-wrenching exploration of motherhood  also finds its way into her most recent book, Wanting Radiance, a haunting novel that winds its way through time and a family that broken by murder and lost love. Written in prose that reads like poetry, Wanting Radiance is a book you will want to read if you haven't already.Karen's memoir Surrendered Child, won the AWP Award Series for Creative Nonfiction and was listed as a “notable book” by the National Book Critics Circle. She is also the author of Motel of the Stars, Editor's Pick from Oxford American, and a Lit Life Book of the Year.  Strange Birds in the Tree of Heaven (University of Georgia Press), won the Lillie Chaffin Award for Appalachian Writing. Walk Till the Dogs Get Mean is co-edited with Adrian Blevins, from Ohio University Press.  Her essays have won the Annie Dillard Prize, the New Southerner Prize, the Orison Magazine Anthology Award and have several times been Notable in Best American Essays.  A collection of her essays is forthcoming from Iris Books.  Her newest book, a novel called Wanting Radiance, from University Press of Kentucky is now available.  https://www.karensalyermcelmurray.com/booksSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/southernsalonpodcast)

How will schools adapt to Covid-19 this fall? How concerned do caregivers need to be about their children's safety? What about teachers? In this episode, we interview pediatrician Dr. Susan Jeansonne, M.D. and high school/college instructor Hope Cloud, M.A. as we tackle questions from some of our listeners about the new collaborative culture between health care and public schools, the effects of Covid on children, and what we can probably expect from public schools in the fall during this ever-changing pandemic. To read more Dr. Jeansonne's background and business, Healthy Sprouts + House Calls, go to: www.healthysproutsandhousecalls.com*Please note that because the Covid-19 situation changes daily, some of the information recorded here regarding research and school policies could have changed.Photo credit: UnicefSupport the show

Have you ever dreamed of turning your passion into a living? In this episode, we interview Candace Meade, a mom of five whose passion for sewing led to her successful business "Duke and Fox." The popularity of her handmade embroidered dog and cat collars (and accessories like snacks and bandanas) catapulted her to the top 1% of Etsy sellers (out of 2.5 million shops.) Listen in as Candace talks about how she balances a thriving business with parenthood, her strategies for communication and marketing, and what advice she has for so many of you listening who are growing your own businesses. You'll hear about how she navigates creating in her studio and managing employees with five kids at home, and what life (and business) has been like since the pandemic You'll be inspired by this momtrepreneur and her story!You can finde Duke and Fox at the website linked here and on Etsy and Facebook.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/southernsalonpodcast)

Wall Street Journal  columnist Elizabeth Bernstein joins us to talk about her recent article on the science of prayer. Research shows that prayer-in any form-has health benefits, particularly when we find what we feel is a safe space to pray, and we see it as a collaborative practice. Bernstein talks about the research to support the advantages of praying, and shares her own powerful story about what inspired the topic for this column.For more about Elizabeth and her column called "Bonds" about relationships and social psychology, please go to: https://www.wsj.com/news/author/elizabeth-anne-bernstein.Photo by Samuel Scrimshaw on UnsplashSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/southernsalonpodcast)

In this episode, we are talking about good, homegrown country food and how it begins with recipes as old and precious as family heirlooms. You'll hear how the kitchen (like the front porch) is a place where storytelling seasons the foods. We will talk about what it means to plant and harvest "by the signs" and where the custom comes from. We will also have tips for novice gardeners who want this to be their year to grow.Follow us on on our Instagram page @southernsalonpodcast for behind the scenes details, recipes, recommended reading and more.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/southernsalonpodcast)

If you're looking for something to read or a Netflix series to binge, we're talking about our recommendations for books, shows, and podcasts in this episode. What better way to spend some time as you're social distancing or quarantining, than to curl up with books by Lee Smith, Ron Rash, Silas House, Wiley Cash, Amy Greene, Rick Bragg, Anne Lamott, Katherine Howe, Francene Rivers and more? (We also talk about that bestselling "hillbilly" book and what you need to know if you're considering reading it.) Hear why Peaky Blinders is Amy's favorite Netflix series, and what Brittany thought after watching Tiger King.Bonus: we begin with a little bit of mountain lore as we discuss Lee Smith. Have you heard the one about a bird in the house?Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/southernsalonpodcast)

Social distancing. Home school. Working from home. Toilet paper? We continue our look into this pandemic moment as working moms in rural communities. We talk about how we are giving ourselves grace as we try to navigate a new normal while making the best of birthdays and the Easter holiday. But this is also our love letter to the small town life we took for granted growing up, because in spite of its struggles, we see the best of rural America our own generation's "hard times."Support the show (https://paypal.me/southernsalonpodcast)

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In this introduction to the podcast, we tell you a little about who we are, why  we call it "Southern Salon," and what you can expect from this first season.Production note: *This episode was recorded prior to the Covid-19 outbreak, and we have rerecorded the episode titled "Unfiltered" since then.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/southernsalonpodcast)

Since we're both from the Appalachian Mountain region, we speak with distinctive voices shaped by our people and place. In this episode we explore what George Ella Lyon calls the "voiceplace," as we talk about learning to love our native accents even as we navigate the standardized world of academia.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/southernsalonpodcast)

What happens when faith is tested by the unimaginable? In this timely episode, we talk about faith and its importance in our culture as well as our everyday lives. In our most honest episode yet, we discuss our own crisis of faith, how we were changed by trauma, and what that has meant for our lives since.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/southernsalonpodcast)

As we try to podcast while practicing social distancing (with Brittany speaking by phone) we discuss the transition to homeschooling, the quarantine life, and moving our teaching online...all at the same time. While the struggle is real, we see the silver lining in the blessings of more time that a break in the routine of everyday life can offer (particularly here in the mountains), the unexpected ways that we can learn in everyday life, and a return to the "old ways" that our rural grandparents always told us would come back around. Support the show