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The second Trump administration has made tearing down parts of the federal government a priority. And some of those efforts have been literal. In October, President Donald Trump ordered the demolition of the White House's East Wing to make way for the construction of a massive 90,000-square-foot ballroom. He's also given the White House a gilded makeover, bulldozed the famed Rose Garden, and even has plans for a so-called “Arc de Trump” that mirrors France's Arc de Triomphe. So what's behind all of this? Art historian Erin Thompson—author of Smashing Statues: The Rise and Fall of America's Public Monuments—says that whether it's Romans repurposing idols of leaders who had fallen out of favor or the glorification of Civil War officers in the American South, monuments and public aesthetics aren't just about the past. They're about symbolizing power today. On this week's More To The Story, Thompson sits down with host Al Letson to discuss why Trump has decked out the White House in gold (so much gold), the rise and recent fall of Confederate monuments, and whether she thinks the Arc de Trump will ever get built.Producers: Josh Sanburn and Artis Curiskis | Editor: Kara McGuirk-Allison | Theme music: Fernando Arruda and Jim Briggs | Copy editor: Nikki Frick | Digital producer: Artis Curiskis | Deputy executive producer: Taki Telonidis | Executive producer: Brett Myers | Executive editor: James West | Host: Al Letson Donate today at Revealnews.org/more Subscribe to our weekly newsletter at Revealnews.org/weekly Follow us on Instagram and Bluesky Listen: Fancy Galleries, Fake Art (Reveal)Listen: Will the National Parks Survive Trump? (Reveal)Read: Smashing Statues: The Rise and Fall of America's Public Monuments (W. W. Norton & Company)Read: America's Tech Right Is Obsessed With Building Giant Statues (Bloomberg)Read: Nearly 100 Confederate Monuments Were Toppled in 2020. What Happened to Them? (Mother Jones)Note: If you buy a book using our Bookshop link, a small share of the proceeds supports our journalism. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Regular listeners of this series will know that there is a certain festival that is near and dear to my heart, the Albino Skunk Music Festival. It is an event that insiders love passionately, and outsiders often puzzle over. What an unusual name! What an unlikely and often under-the-radar roster of artists! As I have said many times before in introducing the festival to a newcomer, I had long been a skeptic before setting foot on the property, at which point it took only minutes to realize that not only would I return to that festival; I would always return to it. As we enter the winter season, we are about as far away from festival season as one can get. But festivals are a year round endeavor -- practically all the spring and early summer festivals next year are already booked, and are rolling out their artist lineups in stages as they promote their events. Usually that means a headliner or a first volley of artists and bands announced in fall and winter, followed by one or two more updates which fill in the rest of the blanks. There is a ton of work going on right now for festivals happening next fall, and onwards to the following year. The teams that plan and staff these events never really have down periods. Even immediately after a festival ends, they go over what went right, what went wrong, what could be improved for next time, and then fill their calendar with meeting dates, dates when ticket prices go from early bird to full price, dates when they make marketing pushes, dates when they have to have new logos and merchandise, you name it. We will focus a lot on festivals here on Southern Songs and Stories over the coming months, beginning with this episode on the California band Wolf Jett. Soon, we will bring you a conversation from Time Sawyer front man and Milltown Get Down festival's Sam Tayloe. Also in our cue is a band that I got to sit with at Milltown Get Down in Elkin, NC, which was one that I got to enjoy at both Albino Skunk Music Festival and the Earl Scruggs Music Festival beforehand -- western NC's Holler Choir. Chris Jones of Wolf Jett performs at the Albino Skunk Music Festival 10/03/25 Songs heard in this episode:“Straight Back To You” by Wolf Jett, from Letting Go“Nothin' But Trouble” by Wolf Jett, live at Albino Skunk Music Festival 10/03/25, excerpt“Feel the Way I Feel” by Wolf Jett, live at Albino Skunk Music Festival 10/03/25, excerpt“Letting Go” by Wolf Jett, live at Albino Skunk Music Festival 10/03/25Please take a moment and give us a top rating on your podcast platform of choice, and where you can, a review. It makes a big impact on the ranking and therefore the visibility of this series to all the other music fans who also follow podcasts. This is Southern Songs and Stories, where our quest is to explore and celebrate the unfolding history and culture of music rooted in the American South, and going beyond to the styles and artists that it inspired and informed. - Joe Kendrick
The Arduous Southern Tour and Charleston's Splendor — Nathaniel Philbrick — In 1791, Washington undertook a grueling three-month, 2,000-mile tour of the American South over "impassable" roads designed to unite the fragmented southern states with the federal government. This journey into "terra incognita" required construction of a custom carriage and immense logistical coordination involving supplies, security, and official ceremonies. In Charleston, Washingtonwas welcomed with extraordinary luxury built entirely upon the institution of slavery and enslaved labor. Philbrickinterweaves his personal research methodology, describing the role of librarians in historical investigation, and recounts climbing the spire of St. Michael's Church. Standing 186 feet in the air where Washington historically stood created a "historical vortex," dramatically bridging the temporal gap between the eighteenth century and contemporary historical consciousness. 1755
They worked Virginia's tobacco fields, South Carolina's rice marshes, and the Black Belt's cotton plantations. Wherever they lived, enslaved people found their lives indelibly shaped by the Southern environment. By day, they plucked worms and insects from the crops, trod barefoot in the mud as they hoed rice fields, and endured the sun and humidity as they planted and harvested the fields. By night, they clandestinely took to the woods and swamps to trap opossums and turtles, to visit relatives living on adjacent plantations, and at times to escape slave patrols and escape to freedom. Scars on the Land: An Environmental History of Slavery in the American South (Oxford UP, 2022) is the first comprehensive history of American slavery to examine how the environment fundamentally formed enslaved people's lives and how slavery remade the Southern landscape. Over two centuries, from the establishment of slavery in the Chesapeake to the Civil War, one simple calculation had profound consequences: rather than measuring productivity based on outputs per acre, Southern planters sought to maximize how much labor they could extract from their enslaved workforce. They saw the landscape as disposable, relocating to more fertile prospects once they had leached the soils and cut down the forests. On the leading edge of the frontier, slavery laid waste to fragile ecosystems, draining swamps, clearing forests to plant crops and fuel steamships, and introducing devastating invasive species. On its trailing edge, slavery left eroded hillsides, rivers clogged with sterile soil, and the extinction of native species. While environmental destruction fueled slavery's expansion, no environment could long survive intensive slave labor. The scars manifested themselves in different ways, but the land too fell victim to the slave owner's lash. Although typically treated separately, slavery and the environment naturally intersect in complex and powerful ways, leaving lasting effects from the period of emancipation through modern-day reckonings with racial justice. Brandon T. Jett, professor of history at Florida SouthWestern State College, creator of the Lynching in LaBelle Digital History Project, and author of Race, Crime, and Policing in the Jim Crow South (LSU Press, 2021) and co-editor of Steeped in a Culture of Violence: Murder, Racial Injustice, and Other Violent Crimes in Texas, 1965–2020 (Texas A&M University Press, scheduled Spring 2023). Twitter: @DrBrandonJett1. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/african-american-studies
They worked Virginia's tobacco fields, South Carolina's rice marshes, and the Black Belt's cotton plantations. Wherever they lived, enslaved people found their lives indelibly shaped by the Southern environment. By day, they plucked worms and insects from the crops, trod barefoot in the mud as they hoed rice fields, and endured the sun and humidity as they planted and harvested the fields. By night, they clandestinely took to the woods and swamps to trap opossums and turtles, to visit relatives living on adjacent plantations, and at times to escape slave patrols and escape to freedom. Scars on the Land: An Environmental History of Slavery in the American South (Oxford UP, 2022) is the first comprehensive history of American slavery to examine how the environment fundamentally formed enslaved people's lives and how slavery remade the Southern landscape. Over two centuries, from the establishment of slavery in the Chesapeake to the Civil War, one simple calculation had profound consequences: rather than measuring productivity based on outputs per acre, Southern planters sought to maximize how much labor they could extract from their enslaved workforce. They saw the landscape as disposable, relocating to more fertile prospects once they had leached the soils and cut down the forests. On the leading edge of the frontier, slavery laid waste to fragile ecosystems, draining swamps, clearing forests to plant crops and fuel steamships, and introducing devastating invasive species. On its trailing edge, slavery left eroded hillsides, rivers clogged with sterile soil, and the extinction of native species. While environmental destruction fueled slavery's expansion, no environment could long survive intensive slave labor. The scars manifested themselves in different ways, but the land too fell victim to the slave owner's lash. Although typically treated separately, slavery and the environment naturally intersect in complex and powerful ways, leaving lasting effects from the period of emancipation through modern-day reckonings with racial justice. Brandon T. Jett, professor of history at Florida SouthWestern State College, creator of the Lynching in LaBelle Digital History Project, and author of Race, Crime, and Policing in the Jim Crow South (LSU Press, 2021) and co-editor of Steeped in a Culture of Violence: Murder, Racial Injustice, and Other Violent Crimes in Texas, 1965–2020 (Texas A&M University Press, scheduled Spring 2023). Twitter: @DrBrandonJett1. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
They worked Virginia's tobacco fields, South Carolina's rice marshes, and the Black Belt's cotton plantations. Wherever they lived, enslaved people found their lives indelibly shaped by the Southern environment. By day, they plucked worms and insects from the crops, trod barefoot in the mud as they hoed rice fields, and endured the sun and humidity as they planted and harvested the fields. By night, they clandestinely took to the woods and swamps to trap opossums and turtles, to visit relatives living on adjacent plantations, and at times to escape slave patrols and escape to freedom. Scars on the Land: An Environmental History of Slavery in the American South (Oxford UP, 2022) is the first comprehensive history of American slavery to examine how the environment fundamentally formed enslaved people's lives and how slavery remade the Southern landscape. Over two centuries, from the establishment of slavery in the Chesapeake to the Civil War, one simple calculation had profound consequences: rather than measuring productivity based on outputs per acre, Southern planters sought to maximize how much labor they could extract from their enslaved workforce. They saw the landscape as disposable, relocating to more fertile prospects once they had leached the soils and cut down the forests. On the leading edge of the frontier, slavery laid waste to fragile ecosystems, draining swamps, clearing forests to plant crops and fuel steamships, and introducing devastating invasive species. On its trailing edge, slavery left eroded hillsides, rivers clogged with sterile soil, and the extinction of native species. While environmental destruction fueled slavery's expansion, no environment could long survive intensive slave labor. The scars manifested themselves in different ways, but the land too fell victim to the slave owner's lash. Although typically treated separately, slavery and the environment naturally intersect in complex and powerful ways, leaving lasting effects from the period of emancipation through modern-day reckonings with racial justice. Brandon T. Jett, professor of history at Florida SouthWestern State College, creator of the Lynching in LaBelle Digital History Project, and author of Race, Crime, and Policing in the Jim Crow South (LSU Press, 2021) and co-editor of Steeped in a Culture of Violence: Murder, Racial Injustice, and Other Violent Crimes in Texas, 1965–2020 (Texas A&M University Press, scheduled Spring 2023). Twitter: @DrBrandonJett1. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies
Sally Mann is a photographer and a New York Times bestselling writer. She is best known for making large-format black and white photographs of the people and places in her immediate surroundings: her children, her husband, and the rural landscape of her home state and the American South. Sally was born in Lexington, Virginia, the youngest of three children to Robert and Elizabeth Munger. Her father was a doctor and gave Sally his old Leica camera to play with. After university, she wanted to be a poet but she spent more than a decade as a commercial photographer while starting a family of her own and exhibiting her work on a small scale. She published her first book of photographs in 1984. That same year, she began taking pictures of her three children for a series called Immediate Family, which brought her both renown as well as infamy for touching on ordinary moments in their daily lives – playing, sleeping, and eating, sometimes while naked – but also speaking to larger themes such as death and cultural perceptions of childhood, rendering familiar subjects “both sublime and disquieting”. In the mid-1990s, she began to move away from the family pictures in favour of photographing the landscape around her. Much of Sally's body of work comes from observing what is closest at hand because, she says, “The things that are close to you are the things that you can photograph the best.” She has explored the identity of the American South, and her relationship with her place of origin, as well as mortality and decay, and the effects of muscular dystrophy on her husband. In her latest book, Art Work, she considers the challenges and pleasures of the creative process. Sally continues to live on the 800-acre family farm near Lexington with her husband Larry and a number of dogs. DISC ONE: Köln, January 24, 1975, Part I - Keith Jarrett DISC TWO: Take This Hammer - Odetta DISC THREE: Trustful Hands - The Dø DISC FOUR: Oh Holy Night. Composed by Adolphe Adam and performed by Concert Choir of St Andrew's School, Delaware and Virginia Mann (Soprano) DISC FIVE: Moby Dick (an extract of Chapter 3) Written by Herman Melville and narrated by Frank Muller DISC SIX: County Seat - Emmett Mann DISC SEVEN: Vivaldi: Oboe Concerto in C major, RV 452: 2. Adagio. Performed by Heinz Holliger (Oboe), I Musici (Ensemble) DISC EIGHT: You Are My Friend (Live) - Sylvester BOOK CHOICE: In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust LUXURY ITEM: Paper and a pencil CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: You Are My Friend (Live) - Sylvester Presenter Lauren Laverne Producer Sarah TaylorDesert Island Discs has cast many photographers away over the years including Eve Arnold, Val Wilmer and Vanley Burke. You can hear their programmes if you search through BBC Sounds or our own Desert Island Discs website.
This week, we're taking a trip through the South and its food – how it tells the story of a region shaped by migration, memory, and culture. First, we talk with scholar and writer Michael W. Twitty about his new book, Recipes from the American South, a sweeping look at the many communities – Black, white, Indigenous, immigrant – whose traditions built Southern cooking as we know it. Michael reflects on the histories that define the region and leaves us with his recipe for Maque Choux, the Louisiana classic made of corn and peppers. Then, we turn to writer and filmmaker Deb Freeman for a deeper look at one of the South's most influential voices: Edna Lewis. Her new PBS documentary, Finding Edna Lewis, traces how Miss Lewis's rural Virginia roots shaped her cooking and her revolutionary impact on American food. Deb shares why Lewis remains essential today and what we can still learn from her.Our annual cookbook giveaway is live! To enter for free, visit splendidtable.org/cookbookBroadcast dates for this episode: December 5, 2025 (originally aired)Subscribe to @TheSplendidTable on YouTube for full podcast episodes and full-length video interviews!Donate to The Splendid Table today and we will show our appreciation with a special thank-you gift.
American chef Sean Brock's work is a love letter to Southern food. Raised in a small coal town on the Virginia-Kentucky border, Sean has dedicated his craft to studying Appalachian food and hospitality. A great friend to fellow culinary adventurer Anthony Bourdain, the two shared an unforgettable and comical meal at the iconic Waffle House, which you can check out in the Charleston episode of Parts Unknown. Today, Sean runs five restaurants in Nashville and all are dedicated to ingredients indigenous to the American South. I interviewed Sean in 2019. We chatted about his friend Tony, what sets Southern cuisine apart, sobriety and the fine art of making fried chicken. You tune conversation with Sean Brock here: https://www.marionkane.com/podcast/sean-brock-friend-tony-fatherhood/
You're listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for December 3, 2025. 0:30 President Trump just killed Biden’s CAFE standards— and the auto world is cheering. Today we break down how one move out of Washington could mean cheaper cars, more choices, and a little relief for America’s working families. Why were automakers smiling in the Oval Office? And why were Biden’s rules quietly driving car prices into the stratosphere? 9:30 Plus, we cover the Top 3 Things You Need to Know. Republican Matt Van Epps is heading to Congress. President Trump pardoned Democrat Congressman Henry Cuellar this week. Former special council Jack Smith has been subpoenaed in relation to his election-related investigation of Donald Trump. 12:30 Get TrimROX from Victory Nutrition International for 20% off. Go to vni.life/agr and use the promo code AGR20. 13:00 When the left runs out of arguments, they grab the same old playbook—cry “Hitler!” and hope nobody notices the logic falling apart. Today we break down the latest example out of Minneapolis, where a city council member compared ICE officers checking immigration documents to Nazi Germany. We dig into why this argument collapses on contact with reality, why every civilized nation on earth enforces immigration law, and why the left refuses to call illegal immigration what it is. 15:30 A preacher steps into the pulpit in upstate New York… and announces he’s transitioning. The congregation is stunned, the sermon turns into a therapy session, and suddenly the focus is everything but the Bible. So what do the American Mamas think when a pastor uses Sunday morning to talk sexual identity and politics instead of scripture? Terry and Kimberly jump in with their own church experiences, the fallout from Methodist splits, and why so many people are tired of pastors turning sermons into social-issue spotlights. 23:00 When a member of Congress claims that “Black and brown voters belong to her,” we dive into why that kind of rhetoric isn’t just politically toxic—it’s morally backwards. Is America really heading toward a future run on racial math instead of individual merit? And what happens to the dream of a colorblind society when politicians double down on identity politics just to win an election? 26:00 Thomas Jefferson warned us back in 1781 — and today, it looks like his prediction has come true. We unpack Jefferson’s concerns about importing large groups from nations with corrupt or authoritarian governments and how those political habits can follow them into America. Fast-forward to modern Minneapolis, where the mass resettlement of Somali immigrants has led to fraud investigations, missing government funds, and even money funneled to Al-Shabaab. From ghost employees in Somalia to billions in questionable payments in Minnesota, we're seeing the reality that Jefferson warned us about so long ago — immigration only works when newcomers join American society, not when they bring dysfunctional systems with them. 32:00 Get Prodovite Plus from Victory Nutrition International for 20% off. Go to vni.life/agr and use the promo code AGR20. 32:30 California’s at it again — and this time Gavin Newsom is floating a “retroactive” billionaire tax that would hit anyone worth over a billion dollars based on their wealth from the year before the tax even exists. We break down how California is trying to chase down its shrinking tax base, whether a state can legally tax people who no longer live there, and why high-rollers keep packing their U-Hauls for places like Texas. 35:30 With more Americans questioning whether college is worth the price tag, one major tech company is stepping in with a very different solution. Palantir’s new “Meritocracy Fellowship” tells high-school graduates to skip the debt, skip the indoctrination, and jump straight into real-world work. We dig deep into how Palantir is offering intense training in Western civilization, hands-on engineering assignments for U.S. government clients, and real pay — all without a four-year degree. 40:00 Are good manners suddenly “sexist”? We dive into the simple act of holding the door — and why something as basic as courtesy has somehow become controversial. We break down what chivalry actually means, why respect has nothing to do with weakness, and how common kindness still surprises visitors to the American South. 41:30 We finish off with a kind stranger who returned a lost wallet and really showed that the Christmas spirit is alive and well. Follow us: americangroundradio.com Facebook: facebook.com / AmericanGroundRadio Instagram: instagram.com/americangroundradioSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week, The Boys unwrap their favorite book picks for the holiday season — from globe-trotting history to wild presidential tales to the secret life of gas stations in the American South. They also dig into new national park surcharges for foreign visitors. The Books: "Lafayette in the Somewhat United States" by Sarah Vowell — https://www.amazon.com/Lafayette-Somewhat-United-States-Vowell/dp/0399573100 Amazon+1 "Bolívar: American Liberator" by Marie Arana — https://www.amazon.com/Bol%C3%ADvar-American-Liberator-Marie-Arana/dp/006073509X "The Magician" by Colm Tóibín — https://www.amazon.com/Magician-Novel-Colm-T%C3%B3ib%C3%ADn/dp/0307952879 "Wilderness Warrior: TR and the Crusade for America" by Douglas Brinkley — https://www.amazon.com/Wilderness-Warrior-Crusade-American-Brinkley/dp/0066210372 "Rightful Heritage: FDR and the Land for America" by Douglas Brinkley — https://www.amazon.com/Rightful-Heritage-America-Douglas-Brinkley/dp/0812980040 "Dead Presidents: An American Adventure into the Strange Deaths and Surprising Afterlives of Our Nation's Leaders" by Brady Carlson — https://www.amazon.com/Dead-Presidents-American-Surprising-Leaders/dp/1631493952
Born Mary Flannery O’Connor, she’s best known as Flannery O’Connor, one of the American South’s most celebrated writers. Her stories brim with suffering and grace. When her beloved father died of lupus when she was fifteen, a devastated O’Connor threw herself into writing her first novel. Soon she herself was diagnosed with lupus, an incurable disease that took her life at thirty-nine. O’Connor’s writing reflects her physical and mental anguish. Novelist Alice McDermott said, “It was the illness I think that made her the writer that she is.” We don’t know what the apostle Paul’s “thorn” was (2 Corinthians 12:7), though many have offered conjecture. We do know that Paul said, “Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me” (v. 8). We also know God didn’t do so (v. 9). This humbled Paul. He notes how it kept him “from becoming conceited” (v. 7). Paul’s thorn formed him and made him the apostle that he was. But the thorn wasn’t all, for with the thorn came God’s sufficient grace and perfecting power, so the tormented apostle could declare, “When I am weak, then I am strong” (v. 10). The thorns in our lives, whatever they may be, form us. They make us who we are. But the thorns aren’t all there is. As Paul and Flannery O’Connor and countless others have witnessed over the long arc of human history: God’s grace is sufficient for us.
Buy the Book Wakara’s America: A Historical Perspective Max discussed his new book, “Wakara’s America,” which explores the life and significance of Wakara, a prominent Ute leader in the 1840s. He explained that Wakara was known by different names in various regions, reflecting his extensive travels and interactions with diverse communities. Max, a historian of American religion at the University of Nebraska, shared his fascination with Latter-day Saint history and culture, which led him to research Wakara’s role in the American West and his interactions with early Mormons. He highlighted the need to tell Wakara’s story from his perspective, offering a more nuanced understanding of their complex relationship. Wakara: The Forgotten West’s Thief Max discussed Wakara, a Native American figure from the 1840s who was known as the greatest horse thief of the American West. He enslaved thousands of Paiutes and used his knowledge of the West to create maps that were later used by John C. Fremont and the Latter-day Saints. Max highlighted the importance of Wakara’s contributions to the American West, despite his being largely unknown due to his Native American heritage. Richie expressed surprise at learning about Wakara’s actions and the historical context, emphasizing the need to acknowledge and understand such figures’ roles in shaping history. Understanding Historical Narratives Complexity Max and Richie discussed the complexity of historical narratives, emphasizing the importance of a more nuanced understanding of historical figures and events. Max highlighted the need to recognize the implications of one’s own family history and suggested that acknowledging past actions can lead to better future decisions. They agreed to continue their discussion about the interactions between the Latter-day Saints and Native Americans in the Great Basin and Salt Lake Valley in the next segment. Richie also reminded listeners to contact the Cultural Hall with feedback or suggestions for future guests and discussions. Brigham Young’s Utah Journey Myths Max and Richie discussed the complexities of human beings and the challenges of categorizing individuals as purely good or bad. They explored the origins of the Latter-day Saints’ journey to Utah, focusing on Brigham Young’s Vanguard Company and the mythology surrounding their entry into the Salt Lake Valley. Max explained that while the story of Brigham Young declaring the area to be the “right place” is part of the origin myth, there is no concrete evidence to support this claim. They also discussed Brigham Young’s meeting with Jim Bridger, where Bridger warned about the Utes’ presence in the area, leading to a change in the Mormons’ planned route. Wakara and Brigham Young’s Complex Relationship Max discussed the complex relationship between Wakara, a Native American leader, and Brigham Young, the leader of the Mormons. Wakara helped Brigham settle in the Salt Lake Valley and was invited to the first Pioneer Day celebration in 1849. However, Wakara also used the Mormons to displace his rivals, leading to the extermination of the Timpanogos people in 1850. Max explained that Wakara’s slavery practices were different from the chattel slavery in the American South, as they were more about re-establishing bonds of peoplehood and connection to the land. Despite this, Wakara was baptized a Latter-day Saint in 1850 and led his followers into baptism. Wakara’s Mormon Conversion and Alliances Max discussed Wakara, a Native American leader who was baptized and later ordained as a Mormon priest, which the Mormons viewed as a conversion. Richie questioned whether Wakara’s involvement with the Mormons was a strategic move for power or a genuine conversion. Max explained that Wakara’s adoption of Mormonism was more about forming kinship networks and alliances rather than a complete conversion, and he placed his daughters in Mormon households to strengthen these bonds. Max also highlighted that Wakara’s descendants, including some who may not be aware of their Native American heritage, have been identified through DNA and genealogical research. Brigham Young’s Native American Policies Max discussed the historical relationship between Brigham Young and Wakara, a Native American leader who was among the first Native American priesthood holders in Utah in 1851. He explained how Wacara, despite being illiterate, was given a traveling paper by George A. Smith to trade with Mormon settlers, though this was part of a broader context of Native American slavery and indentured servitude in early Utah. Max argued that Brigham Young’s policies led to conflicts with Native Americans, which he referred to as “Brigham’s War,” rather than the traditionally named “Walker War,” and traced Brigham’s ancestry back to participants in the King Philip’s War, highlighting a pattern of settlers taking Native American land and controlling the narrative of their conflicts. Understanding the Walker War Narrative Max discussed the historical narrative surrounding the Walker War, emphasizing how conflicts are often named after Native Americans despite being initiated by settlers. He highlighted Brigham Young’s role in naming the war and the subsequent peace parlay with Walker, which ended with Walker’s death under mysterious circumstances. Max also touched on the broader themes of American expansionism, the mistreatment of Native American remains, and the potential for a more sustainable and balanced relationship with the land. He expressed hope for a return to indigenous ways of understanding and interacting with the environment, citing recent developments around the Great Salt Lake. The post Wakara’s America: The Life and Legacy of a Native Founder of the American West – 990 appeared first on The Cultural Hall Podcast.
Welcome to this special collection episode of Sasquatch Odyssey, featuring six of the most compelling Bigfoot encounters I've documented across the Southeastern United States over the past five years. These stories span sixty years of fear, awe, and unanswered questions, carrying us from Alabama's river bottoms to South Carolina's swamps, and showing why the South may be one of the last true sanctuaries for something we still don't understand.We open in the suffocating heat of Alabama in 1967, where a power company lineman working near the Cahaba River noticed something impossible: massive handprints sunk deep into a utility pole. Moments later, he found himself face to face with a towering presence that moved with purpose and intelligence. That encounter sets the tone for everything that follows—brief, terrifying interactions where the creature controls the moment, revealing itself only on its own terms.From there, we climb into the mountains of North Georgia in 1973, where four seasoned hunters discovered the woods had a hierarchy they didn't sit atop.Near Blue Ridge, their camp became the target of relentless intimidation—rocks crashing through darkness, trees shaking violently, and a chilling discovery at dawn: dozens of stick figures arranged in a perfect warning circle around them. The night didn't just scare them; it shattered friendships and ended their lives in the forest forever.The third account takes us into Tennessee's Great Smoky Mountains in 1985, where a park ranger and wildlife biologist experienced something that demolished her scientific certainty. While stationed in a fire tower, she watched a massive creature climb the structure and examine her equipment with unsettling curiosity, as if it understood what it was seeing. Even more disturbing was what she learned afterward—that similar encounters had been quietly documented for decades, tucked away and never meant for public eyes.The most heartbreaking story comes from the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas in 1991.A family camping trip turned into a nightmare when towering beings approached their site and demonstrated strength beyond anything human—crushing rocks in their hands while the family huddled in terror. A young girl watched it unfold, and the trauma that followed tore the family apart, leaving permanent scars long after the woods fell silent again. In 2002, deep in North Carolina's Pisgah National Forest, an experienced hiker found himself living through an encounter unlike any other in my files. He described three days in captivity with what appeared to be a family group of these beings, observing tool use, complex social behavior, and a kind of focused curiosity toward human objects. His story challenges the idea of Sasquatch as a solitary wilderness phantom and suggests something closer to culture—structured intelligence living beyond our reach.Our final encounter lands in South Carolina in 2014, when college biology students captured forty-three minutes of high-definition footage of a creature inspecting their research equipment with clear understanding of its purpose.What happened next was just as chilling as what they filmed: a rapid government response, confiscated evidence, and enforced silence that raises the question of how long this phenomenon has truly been known—and how actively it's been buried.Across six stories and six decades, the same threads surface again and again: the heavy, musky odor that announces their presence, the massive handprints left behind like signatures, and the unnerving sense of being watched by something that doesn't panic or flee—but evaluates. Most unsettling of all is the repeated realization that these creatures could harm us effortlessly, yet choose restraint instead. Witnesses don't describe a mere animal. They describe something hovering in a blurred space between human and beast, perfectly adapted to remain hidden while living alongside us. What emerges from these accounts is a portrait of the American South as a vast refuge for an undiscovered species—or perhaps a parallel branch of human evolution that chose isolation over contact. From Alabama's rivers to Tennessee's peaks and the deep wild of the Ozarks and Carolinas, these beings have claimed territories in the spaces we've ignored or forgotten. They watch from cover, occasionally stepping into view when a boundary is crossed, always vanishing before the mystery can be pinned down. They want you to know the woods are not empty, that something ancient and intelligent still moves through them, and that the old instinct to tread carefully in the dark may be rooted in more than superstition.As you listen, notice how the behavior of these creatures shifts over time, especially around human technology. Consider what it means that responses to evidence sometimes seem immediate and organized. And ask yourself what else might be sitting in classified files, protected by silence and dismissal. These aren't campfire tales or urban legends. They are documented encounters from credible witnesses whose lives were never the same afterward. The South keeps its secrets well, but every now and then—between darkness and dawn, between wilderness and civilization—those secrets step out just long enough to remind us how much we still don't know.Get Our FREE NewsletterGet Brian's Books Leave Us A VoicemailVisit Our WebsiteSupport Our SponsorsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sasquatch-odyssey--4839697/support.
A dash of mystery, a sparkle of magic, and all things cozy! Elle interviews fellow cozy authors in this bookish podcast from Authors on the Air. Today on the podcast, meet Jenna Levine, author of the “My Vampires” series culminating in Roadtrip with a Vampire! Elle and Jenna talk about embracing the author dream, “cozy romance,” and of course, wacky roadtrip encounters. Happy listening! Jenna's Bio: By day, Jenna Levine works to increase access to affordable housing in the American South. By night, she writes humorous contemporary and paranormal romances where the endings are always happy and the characters always find love, no matter who (or what) they are. When Jenna isn't writing she can usually be found starting knitting projects she won't finish, imagining she is someone capable of hiking long distances, or spending time with her family and small army of cats. You can find Jenna on Instagram at @jennalevinewrites. Find Jenna's Website and Books Here: https://jennalevine.com/ ~~~ Elle Hartford's Bio: Elle Hartford writes cozy mystery with a fairy tale twist. The award-winning first book in her Alchemical Tales series, Beauty and the Alchemist, finds amateur sleuth Red mixed up with murderous beasts and moody beauties, and a set of missing books besides! Elle has also written two spin-off series, the cozy fantasy-goes-to-the-beach Marine Magic series as well as Pomegranate Cafe Romance. For other writers and authors looking into “wide” indie publishing, Elle offers coaching as well as the Beyond Writing blog (ellehartford.substack.com) with how-tos and resources. Find Elle Online: https://ellehartford.com/
This week, Liberty and Patricia discuss Good Things, Art Heist, Recipes from the American South, and more great books! Subscribe to All the Books! using RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify and never miss a book. Sign up for the weekly New Books! newsletter for even more new book news. Keep track of new releases with Book Riot's New Release Index, now included with an All Access membership. Click here to get started today! Books Discussed On the Show: A Literary Letter for Every Day of the Year by Liz Ison Bibliophile Advent Calendar for Booklovers by Jane Mount Expensive Basketball by Shea Serrano Good Things: Recipes and Rituals to Share with People You Love: A Cookbook by Samin Nosrat Puzzle Mania!: Wordle, Connections, Spelling Bee, Minis and More! by The New York Times Games The Portable Feminist Reader by Roxane Gay Art Heist: 50 Artworks You Will Never See by Susie Hodge Six Seasons of Pasta: A New Way with Everyone's Favorite Food by Joshua McFadden with Martha Holmberg Around the World in 80 Birds by Mike Unwin, Ryuto Miyake Recipes from the American South by Michael W Twitty How Comics Are Made: A Visual History from the Drawing Board to the Printed Page by Glenn Fleishman Syme's Letter Writer: A Guide to Modern Correspondence About (Almost) Every Imaginable Subject of Daily Life, with Odes to Desktop Ephemera and Selected Letters of Famous Writers by Rachel Syme The Mind Electric: A Neurologist on the Strangeness and Wonder of Our Brains by Pria Anand The Year's Best Sports Writing 2025 by Hanif Abdurraqib The New Book: Poems, Letters, Blurbs, and Things by Nikki Giovanni Black-Owned: The Revolutionary Life of the Black Bookstore by Char Adams Prose to the People: A Celebration of Black Bookstores by Katie Mitchell For a complete list of books discussed in this episode, visit our website. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today on Murderhobos: Jean Lafitte. A pirate, smuggler, and American hero of the War of 1812. Together with his brother Pierre, he became one of the most popular folk heroes of the American South in the 19th century, a popularity which waned over the course of the century to his relative obscurity today. What can his ambitious diverse criminal career show us about crime, piracy, slavery, and revolution in the age of American expansion? Submit questions to murderhobospodcast@gmail.com or on our Patreon discord by December 2nd 2025. We'll be hosting a year-end Q&A for all of our pirate episodes too - please submit questions for that by December 16th. Subscribe to the show on Patreon: bit.ly/murderhobospatreon. Donate to the show at bit.ly/donatetomurderhobos.
Two unlikely travel mates and a tour of the American South that turns into a masterclass on what college sport really demands. We bring together Jesse Williams, national champion at Alabama and Super Bowl winner, and Chris Bates, a former Oklahoma State tennis player and founder of Study & Play USA, to map the modern pathway for Australian student athletes.Across locker rooms and alumni halls, we test the myths. Is JUCO a step down or a launch pad? Does NIL change everything or just turn up the noise? Jesse cuts through with lived experience: be undeniable. Best players play, but the best people last. He shares how JUCO forged resilience, why Alabama's culture still shapes his life, and how alumni support in the U.S. feels like coming home. We talk about the transfer portal, social media pressure, and the simple truth that winning cultures value character as much as speed and strength.If you're an Aussie eyeing the U.S., this is your blueprint. We break down why data-driven combines matter, how to build a credible athletic and academic profile, and why the right mindset beats hype every time. You'll hear the line that stopped a future first-rounder in his tracks: bridge the gap between who you think you are and who you really are. It's tough-love mentorship delivered with clarity, purpose, and a clear call to action—give yourself twelve months to build the missing 10 percent.Subscribe for more stories, practical steps, and honest insight on U.S. college sport. If this helped sharpen your plan, share it with a mate who needs a push and leave a review to help others find the pathway.
Welcome to this special collection episode of Backwoods Bigfoot Stories, a journey across sixty years of encounters from the deep woods of the Southeastern United States. In this episode, I share six of the most compelling accounts I've documented over the past five years—stories that take us from the riverbanks of Alabama to the swamps of South Carolina and reveal just how many secrets the South still keeps hidden.Our journey begins in Alabama in 1967, where a power company lineman discovered enormous handprints embedded in a utility pole along the Cahaba River. His face-to-face encounter with a towering creature challenged everything he believed about the world and set the tone for the stories that followed: intelligent beings that choose their moments carefully and always remain in control. From there, we move into the mountains of North Georgia in 1973, where four seasoned hunters found themselves under siege near Blue Ridge. A night of rock throwing, violent tree shaking, and dozens of stick figures arranged in a perfect warning circle around their camp left them shattered and unwilling to ever return to the woods.In Tennessee's Great Smoky Mountains in 1985, a park ranger and wildlife biologist had her scientific worldview upended when a massive creature climbed her fire tower and examined her equipment with deliberate intelligence. Her experience led her to discover that the Park Service had quietly documented similar incidents for decades.The most tragic encounter comes from the Ozark Mountains in 1991, where a family camping trip spiraled into terror. A young girl watched as towering beings demonstrated their strength by crushing rocks with their bare hands. The emotional and psychological fallout broke her family apart, leaving scars that never healed. In 2002, the forests of North Carolina's Pisgah National Forest became the setting for an encounter unlike any before it. An experienced hiker spent three days in what he described as captivity with a family group of these beings, observing their social dynamics, tool use, and an unmistakable curiosity about human objects—suggesting a species far more complex than previously imagined.Our final story takes us to South Carolina in 2014, where two college biology students captured over forty minutes of high-definition footage showing a creature examining their research equipment with clear understanding of its purpose. The immediate government intervention and enforced silence that followed hinted at a much larger effort to conceal the truth. Across all six encounters, the patterns are unmistakable: the heavy musky odor that announces their presence, the massive handprints, the intelligent eyes studying and evaluating, and the sense that these beings could harm us—but choose not to. Together, these stories paint the American South as a hidden refuge for an undiscovered species, or perhaps a separate branch of human evolution that has mastered the art of staying unseen. This episode serves as both a warning and an invitation. The woods are not empty. Something ancient and intelligent is out there, watching from the edges of our world. As you listen, consider how these beings' behavior has evolved over the decades, how closely they seem to be studying us, and what it means that evidence is so quickly suppressed. These are not campfire tales—they are the testimonies of people whose lives were forever changed by what they saw. And sometimes, in the quiet space between dusk and dawn, the South's best-kept secrets step out of the darkness and make themselves known.
The Good Forest: The Salzburgers, Success, and the Plan for Georgia (U Georgia Press, 2024) explores some of Georgia's earliest settlers, the Salzburgers. Georgia, the last of Britain's American mainland colonies, began with high aspirations to create a morally sound society based on small family farms with no enslaved workers. But those goals were not realized, and Georgia became a slave plantation society, following the Carolina model. This trajectory of failure is well known. But looking at the Salzburgers, who emigrated from Europe as part of the original plan, provides a very different story. The Good Forest reveals the experiences of the Salzburger migrants who came to Georgia with the support of British and German philanthropy, where they achieved self-sufficiency in the Ebenezer settlement while following the Trustees' plans. Because their settlement comprised a significant portion of Georgia's early population, their experiences provide a corrective to our understanding of early Georgia and help reveal the possibilities in Atlantic colonization as they built a cohesive community. The relative success of the Ebenezer settlement, furthermore, challenges the inherent environmental, cultural, and economic determinism that has dominated Georgia history. That well-worn narrative often implies (or even explicitly states) that only a slave-based plantation economy—as implemented after the Trustee era—could succeed. With this history, Auman illuminates the interwoven themes of Atlantic migrations, colonization, charity, and transatlantic religious networks. Guest: Dr. Karen Auman is an assistant professor of history at Brigham Young University and a certified genealogist. She studies Germans during the colonial period in the Atlantic World, religion on the frontiers of America, migrations, and families. Host: Lucy Smith Biemiller is an intended M.A. History student at the University of Georgia. She studies 18th and 19th material culture in the American South primarily as it relates to classical culture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
The Good Forest: The Salzburgers, Success, and the Plan for Georgia (U Georgia Press, 2024) explores some of Georgia's earliest settlers, the Salzburgers. Georgia, the last of Britain's American mainland colonies, began with high aspirations to create a morally sound society based on small family farms with no enslaved workers. But those goals were not realized, and Georgia became a slave plantation society, following the Carolina model. This trajectory of failure is well known. But looking at the Salzburgers, who emigrated from Europe as part of the original plan, provides a very different story. The Good Forest reveals the experiences of the Salzburger migrants who came to Georgia with the support of British and German philanthropy, where they achieved self-sufficiency in the Ebenezer settlement while following the Trustees' plans. Because their settlement comprised a significant portion of Georgia's early population, their experiences provide a corrective to our understanding of early Georgia and help reveal the possibilities in Atlantic colonization as they built a cohesive community. The relative success of the Ebenezer settlement, furthermore, challenges the inherent environmental, cultural, and economic determinism that has dominated Georgia history. That well-worn narrative often implies (or even explicitly states) that only a slave-based plantation economy—as implemented after the Trustee era—could succeed. With this history, Auman illuminates the interwoven themes of Atlantic migrations, colonization, charity, and transatlantic religious networks. Guest: Dr. Karen Auman is an assistant professor of history at Brigham Young University and a certified genealogist. She studies Germans during the colonial period in the Atlantic World, religion on the frontiers of America, migrations, and families. Host: Lucy Smith Biemiller is an intended M.A. History student at the University of Georgia. She studies 18th and 19th material culture in the American South primarily as it relates to classical culture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history
The Good Forest: The Salzburgers, Success, and the Plan for Georgia (U Georgia Press, 2024) explores some of Georgia's earliest settlers, the Salzburgers. Georgia, the last of Britain's American mainland colonies, began with high aspirations to create a morally sound society based on small family farms with no enslaved workers. But those goals were not realized, and Georgia became a slave plantation society, following the Carolina model. This trajectory of failure is well known. But looking at the Salzburgers, who emigrated from Europe as part of the original plan, provides a very different story. The Good Forest reveals the experiences of the Salzburger migrants who came to Georgia with the support of British and German philanthropy, where they achieved self-sufficiency in the Ebenezer settlement while following the Trustees' plans. Because their settlement comprised a significant portion of Georgia's early population, their experiences provide a corrective to our understanding of early Georgia and help reveal the possibilities in Atlantic colonization as they built a cohesive community. The relative success of the Ebenezer settlement, furthermore, challenges the inherent environmental, cultural, and economic determinism that has dominated Georgia history. That well-worn narrative often implies (or even explicitly states) that only a slave-based plantation economy—as implemented after the Trustee era—could succeed. With this history, Auman illuminates the interwoven themes of Atlantic migrations, colonization, charity, and transatlantic religious networks. Guest: Dr. Karen Auman is an assistant professor of history at Brigham Young University and a certified genealogist. She studies Germans during the colonial period in the Atlantic World, religion on the frontiers of America, migrations, and families. Host: Lucy Smith Biemiller is an intended M.A. History student at the University of Georgia. She studies 18th and 19th material culture in the American South primarily as it relates to classical culture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/german-studies
The Good Forest: The Salzburgers, Success, and the Plan for Georgia (U Georgia Press, 2024) explores some of Georgia's earliest settlers, the Salzburgers. Georgia, the last of Britain's American mainland colonies, began with high aspirations to create a morally sound society based on small family farms with no enslaved workers. But those goals were not realized, and Georgia became a slave plantation society, following the Carolina model. This trajectory of failure is well known. But looking at the Salzburgers, who emigrated from Europe as part of the original plan, provides a very different story. The Good Forest reveals the experiences of the Salzburger migrants who came to Georgia with the support of British and German philanthropy, where they achieved self-sufficiency in the Ebenezer settlement while following the Trustees' plans. Because their settlement comprised a significant portion of Georgia's early population, their experiences provide a corrective to our understanding of early Georgia and help reveal the possibilities in Atlantic colonization as they built a cohesive community. The relative success of the Ebenezer settlement, furthermore, challenges the inherent environmental, cultural, and economic determinism that has dominated Georgia history. That well-worn narrative often implies (or even explicitly states) that only a slave-based plantation economy—as implemented after the Trustee era—could succeed. With this history, Auman illuminates the interwoven themes of Atlantic migrations, colonization, charity, and transatlantic religious networks. Guest: Dr. Karen Auman is an assistant professor of history at Brigham Young University and a certified genealogist. She studies Germans during the colonial period in the Atlantic World, religion on the frontiers of America, migrations, and families. Host: Lucy Smith Biemiller is an intended M.A. History student at the University of Georgia. She studies 18th and 19th material culture in the American South primarily as it relates to classical culture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies
The Good Forest: The Salzburgers, Success, and the Plan for Georgia (U Georgia Press, 2024) explores some of Georgia's earliest settlers, the Salzburgers. Georgia, the last of Britain's American mainland colonies, began with high aspirations to create a morally sound society based on small family farms with no enslaved workers. But those goals were not realized, and Georgia became a slave plantation society, following the Carolina model. This trajectory of failure is well known. But looking at the Salzburgers, who emigrated from Europe as part of the original plan, provides a very different story. The Good Forest reveals the experiences of the Salzburger migrants who came to Georgia with the support of British and German philanthropy, where they achieved self-sufficiency in the Ebenezer settlement while following the Trustees' plans. Because their settlement comprised a significant portion of Georgia's early population, their experiences provide a corrective to our understanding of early Georgia and help reveal the possibilities in Atlantic colonization as they built a cohesive community. The relative success of the Ebenezer settlement, furthermore, challenges the inherent environmental, cultural, and economic determinism that has dominated Georgia history. That well-worn narrative often implies (or even explicitly states) that only a slave-based plantation economy—as implemented after the Trustee era—could succeed. With this history, Auman illuminates the interwoven themes of Atlantic migrations, colonization, charity, and transatlantic religious networks. Guest: Dr. Karen Auman is an assistant professor of history at Brigham Young University and a certified genealogist. She studies Germans during the colonial period in the Atlantic World, religion on the frontiers of America, migrations, and families. Host: Lucy Smith Biemiller is an intended M.A. History student at the University of Georgia. She studies 18th and 19th material culture in the American South primarily as it relates to classical culture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-south
The Good Forest: The Salzburgers, Success, and the Plan for Georgia (U Georgia Press, 2024) explores some of Georgia's earliest settlers, the Salzburgers. Georgia, the last of Britain's American mainland colonies, began with high aspirations to create a morally sound society based on small family farms with no enslaved workers. But those goals were not realized, and Georgia became a slave plantation society, following the Carolina model. This trajectory of failure is well known. But looking at the Salzburgers, who emigrated from Europe as part of the original plan, provides a very different story. The Good Forest reveals the experiences of the Salzburger migrants who came to Georgia with the support of British and German philanthropy, where they achieved self-sufficiency in the Ebenezer settlement while following the Trustees' plans. Because their settlement comprised a significant portion of Georgia's early population, their experiences provide a corrective to our understanding of early Georgia and help reveal the possibilities in Atlantic colonization as they built a cohesive community. The relative success of the Ebenezer settlement, furthermore, challenges the inherent environmental, cultural, and economic determinism that has dominated Georgia history. That well-worn narrative often implies (or even explicitly states) that only a slave-based plantation economy—as implemented after the Trustee era—could succeed. With this history, Auman illuminates the interwoven themes of Atlantic migrations, colonization, charity, and transatlantic religious networks. Guest: Dr. Karen Auman is an assistant professor of history at Brigham Young University and a certified genealogist. She studies Germans during the colonial period in the Atlantic World, religion on the frontiers of America, migrations, and families. Host: Lucy Smith Biemiller is an intended M.A. History student at the University of Georgia. She studies 18th and 19th material culture in the American South primarily as it relates to classical culture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/british-studies
Loc Pham, the Philly Cookie Company, and the First-Annual Philly Cookie FestLoc Pham, a Vietnamese immigrant who arrived in America in 1991, shared his journey from initially studying to be an Engineer to learning Food Science, and eventually becoming a Pastry Chef and Founder of the Philly Cookie Company. He described how his career evolved through French bakeries, food processing, and corporate R&D roles before returning to his passion for baking, where he developed a unique shortbread cookie recipe inspired by Scottish shortbreads but with his own twist using molasses and brown sugar. The cookies, which are sold wholesale to over 20 retailers in Philadelphia and across 11 states, are noted for their buttery taste and subtle sweetness.Philly Cookie Festival PlanningThe discussion then switched focus to the upcoming Philly Cookie Festival happening on December 7th at Bok. The indulgently-sweet festival will feature 32 vendors, including 27 cookie vendors and 2 savory vendors, all required to offer a Philadelphia-themed item. The event will include activities such as a cookie decorating contest with Moon Flour Bakery, a cookie eating contest, and a Santa photo booth, with tickets available through Eventbrite and the event's Instagram page.Loc also mentioned there will be a children's activity corner sponsored by the Mendoza group, along with The Juvenile Law Center, another sponsor of the event, will be celebrating its 75th anniversary by hosting a cookie exchange during the festival. PLEASE NOTE: Anyone participating in the event and the cookie exchange who have dietary restrictions and/or allergies need to be cautious; some gluten-free and vegan options available, however there is no guarantee of the ingredients and food-processing procedures are.https://www.phillycookie.comEleni Chrisidis and The Brew Room:Eleni Chrysidis, co-founder of The Brew Room, discussed her and her husband Danny's journey into the food industry. Danny's background began with his family's restaurants, and had always desired to open a unique concept incorporating Greek elements. Years later, he and Eleni found the opportunity to open one in Ardmore, PA called The Brew Room. Eleni, who works in corporate consulting, supported Danny by managing the business setup and operations, highlighting the importance of organization and project management in launching a startup in the food industry. Both Danny and Eleni immigrated here from Greece, and are happy to introduce Ardmore residents to the relaxed, European-style coffee culture. When you visit, feel free to spend time enjoying one of their signature Greek pastries, sandwiches and coffee experiences. https://www.thebrewroompa.comREPLAY Chef Angie Brown and Rex At The Royal:Angie Brown is a well-known chef and restaurateur, gaining accolades and awarded top zagat ratings. In addition to being one of Philadelphia's sought-after chef's, Angie has been seen on television and is a member of the world renowned Philanthropic organization of Les Dames d'Escoffier - Philadelphia Chapter. And more recently she became the Culinary Director and Chef for Rex At The Royal, located in South Philadelphia. Rex at The Royal is known for being, "An innovative and multi-faceted hospitality establishment, creating exceptional experiences through a Food & Beverage program inspired by the culinary traditions of the American South, influenced especially by its coastal regions, and locally flavored by our home—the Royal Theatre on South Street in Philadelphia—expressed in elevated dining services, immersive special events, personalized private dining, and a thoughtfully appointed bottle shop" according to their website at https://www.rexphl.com.
In this episode, I sit down with Zahava Feldstein, creator of Rabbi's Daughter Rebellion, who describes herself as a “reformed anti-Zionist Jew.” We trace her journey from growing up as a rabbi's kid in the American South and thriving in feminist Jewish day school, to becoming a staunch anti-Zionist at Scripps College through SJP/JVP organizing, critical race theory and ethnic studies — and then the moment it all began to crack when she sat down with her dad and the Encyclopedia Judaica and re-encountered Jewish history on its own terms.Along the way, we dig into why so many Jewish students are pulled into anti-Zionist spaces, why Hillel and Chabad feel so different on campus, how critical race theory gets mis-applied to Jews and Israel, and what it might look like to create psychologically safe spaces for Jewish students who are questioning Zionism without losing their Judaism.In this conversation, we discuss:Zahava's story: rabbi's daughter, feminist day school kid, then SJP/JVP organizerHow Palestinian ethnography, ethnic studies, and critical race theory shaped her anti-ZionismThe moment she realized her professors' frameworks didn't know or care about JewsWhy she now calls herself a “reformed anti-Zionist” rather than a simple Zionist or anti-ZionistThe California ethnic studies mandate, CRT, and where Jews fit (or don't)How anti-Zionist spaces use “anti-normalization” to shun Hillel and campus rabbisWhy Chabad often feels “apolitical” and safe for radical left anti-Zionist JewsThe difference between criticizing Israel and erasing Jewish history and peoplehood“Right to exist” vs “need to exist” — reframing the core question about IsraelHow Jewish education often fails students on Israel, power, race, and empireWhy so many Jewish studies departments are unequipped to answer ethnic-studies-style attacks on JewsAdvice for rabbis, parents, and educators trying to support Jewish students on campus todayIf you're a Jewish high school or college student, a parent, rabbi, educator, Hillel/Chabad professional, or just someone trying to understand anti-Zionism, Zionism, and critical race theory in the post–October 7 campus world, this episode is for you.➡️ See More From Zahava FeldsteinIf you want to dive deeper into Zahava's work, writing, and research, check out the links below:
Dr. Tressie McMillan Cottom – MacArthur Genius award winner and brilliant chronicler of our times – unmasks the American stories that got us to this place—and explains, with amazing precision and clarity, how we can imagine our way out. We discuss: - How the MAGA story broke through and became the winning story; - How money hijacked democracy; - The little-known history of the Black Panther party of the American South; - Why Responsibility is Freedom; - How to frame and reclaim the American story through radical humanity: art, truth, creativity, and community. Join us for this riveting, smart, funny conversation about power, hope, and writing a freer future. About Tressie: Dr. Tressie McMillan Cottom is a professor and principal investigator with the Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, NY Times columnist, and 2020 MacArthur Fellow. Her work has earned national and international recognition for the urgency and depth of its incisive critical analysis of technology, higher education, culture, media, class, race, and gender. Recent accolades include being named the 2023 winner of the Joseph B. and Toby Gittler Prize by Brandeis University for her “critical perspective and analysis to some of the greatest social challenges we face today,” the recipient of the 2025 Thomas Wolfe Prize, and a 2025-26 National Humanities Center Fellow. Her most recent book, THICK: And Other Essays was listed as one the 30 best nonfiction books of the last 30 years by the L.A. Times Festival of Books. Two books are forthcoming with Random House Books. Follow Tressie: @tressiemcphd on Instagram @tressiemcphd.bsky.social on Bluesky Follow We Can Do Hard Things on: Youtube — @wecandohardthingsshow Instagram — @wecandohardthingsTikTok — @wecandohardthingshow
Steve Woods is a Columbia, Missouri–based filmmaker and musician currently developing a documentary on bourbon distillery owner Corky Taylor, exploring the intersection of legacy, craftsmanship, and Southern storytelling. Alongside this project, Woods is revisiting his roots in music with a reunion of his 1990s band The Vegas Cocks, reconnecting with the energy and grit that defined his early creative years, and exploring the intersection of gothic americana and cosmic blues in his current project, The 31st Floor, .A graduate of Belmont University with a bachelor's degree in music and a Master of Fine Arts from Queens University, Charlotte, Woods built a diverse artistic career spanning film, theater, and music. He wrote The Return of the Grievous Angel, a one-act play produced by the Greenhouse Theater Project, From 1987 to 1999, he was deeply immersed in the Nashville music scene, performing in a succession of bands that reflected the city's evolving sound—from the industrial edge of Kickback, through the rock-driven China Black, and finally the visceral swagger of The Vegas Cocks and The Bomb Pops.Woods' musical lineage runs deep. He began performing in local venues with The Gene Woods Band, led by his father, and with his aunt Moetta, who opened for (and played piano with) Jerry Lee Lewis in venues from Memphis to Las Vegas. After stepping back from touring, Woods carried his creative curiosity into literature, opening a bookstore in Memphis, Tennessee, where he continued cultivating a life shaped by art, storytelling, and the American South's raw cultural pulse. https://www.the31stfloor.com/https://thevegascocks.bandcamp.com/https://artists.landr.com/057829844841https://scientifiction.institute/"Still on the Run" - https://www.fbrmusic.com/@treymitchellphotography @feeding_the_senses_unsensoredfacebook.com/profile.php?id=100074368084848www.threads.net/@treymitchellphotographyftsunashville@gmail.com
This episode of Food Talk features two conversations from Food Tank's recent Summit in Washington D.C. First the chef and humanitarian Jose Andres, Founder of the Global Food Institute at GW and World Central Kitchen, joins Dani to talk about changing outdated policies to meet the current moment, food as a universal human right, and finding opportunities in today's challenges. Then James Beard Award-winning author and culinary historian Michael Twitty sits down with Tim Carman of the Washington Post to discuss his new book Recipes from the American South, the pain and pleasure in our food and farming systems, and the meanings and languages of plants. This event was held in partnership with the Global Food Institute at GW, the Culinary Institute of America, and Jose Andres, in collaboration with Driscoll's, Meatable, and Oatly. While you're listening, subscribe, rate, and review the show; it would mean the world to us to have your feedback. You can listen to "Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg" wherever you consume your podcasts.
The North Carolina Food and Beverage Podcast, host Max Trujillo welcomes back co-creator and longtime co-host Matthew Weiss as they delve into the recent Michelin Guide announcements for the American South that have stirred quite a buzz in the North Carolina culinary scene. We kick off with a lighthearted debate about Michelin's surprising decisions, revealing a mix of excitement and skepticism. Max shares his rich experience working with notable chefs while Matt provides insights from the wine industry. They touch upon deserving winners like Counter in Charlotte and explore other notable mentions in Raleigh, Asheville, and beyond. The duo also reminisces about past joint projects and updates on their separate ventures. Max gives a shoutout to the upcoming Raleigh Oyster Fest he's promoting and throws in some humorous, candid thoughts about his dating life post-divorce. If you stick around until the end, you'll get a raw, unedited taste of their off-the-cuff banter, giving you a glimpse into the real minds behind the mics. The NC F&B Podcast is produced, engineered and edited by Max Trujillo of @Trujillo.Media For inquiries about being a guest, or to sponsor the show, email max@ncfbpodcast.com
For the James Beard Award–winning writer and culinary historian Michael W. Twitty, kitchens provide a multitude of significant purposes that stretch far into the past and carry through to the present. Beyond being places where people cook, share, and eat food, they also serve as vital spaces in which to gather in community, to grieve and process trauma, to teach and learn, to dance, to heal, and to experience Black love and joy. Twitty's multilayered cooking draws on his family roots, his personal history, and his deep culinary knowledge of the American South. His latest title, the cookbook Recipes From the American South (Phaidon), brings his skill as a home cook and historically informed recipe-maker to the fore, allowing ingredients and dishes to transform into cultural and temporal touchpoints. On this episode of Time Sensitive, Twitty reflects on what researching and uncovering his ancestry has taught him about Southern cooking and himself, and shares why, for him, food functions as a tangible form of cultural reclamation and emotional healing.Special thanks to our Season 12 presenting sponsor, Van Cleef & Arpels.Show notes:Michael W. Twitty[7:43] Saidiya Hartman[8:43] Their Eyes Were Watching God (1937) and Mules and Men (1935) by Zora Neale Hurston[9:42] Gonze Lee Twitty[16:50] Brer Rabbit [14:33] National Museum of African American History and Culture[19:42] “Amazing Grace”[29:22] Gullah Geechee[54:04] Recipes From the American South (2025)[54:56] Southern Discomfort Tour[1:03:44] Koshersoul: The Faith and Food Journey of an African American Jew (2023)[1:03:44] Rice: A Savor the South Cookbook (2021)[1:03:44] The Cooking Gene: A Journey Through African-American Culinary History in the Old South (2018)[1:07:52] Ryan Coogler[1:19:17] James Hemings[1:19:17] Edith Fossett and Fanny Hern[1:19:17] Ursula Granger[1:19:31] Gage & Tollner[1:19:31] John Birdsall[1:19:31] Tennessee Williams[1:19:31] Truman Capote
The North Carolina Food and Beverage Podcast, host Max Trujillo welcomes back co-creator and longtime co-host Matthew Weiss as they delve into the recent Michelin Guide announcements for the American South that have stirred quite a buzz in the North Carolina culinary scene. We kick off with a lighthearted debate about Michelin's surprising decisions, revealing a mix of excitement and skepticism. Max shares his rich experience working with notable chefs while Matt provides insights from the wine industry. They touch upon deserving winners like Counter in Charlotte and explore other notable mentions in Raleigh, Asheville, and beyond. The duo also reminisces about past joint projects and updates on their separate ventures. Max gives a shoutout to the upcoming Raleigh Oyster Fest he's promoting and throws in some humorous, candid thoughts about his dating life post-divorce. If you stick around until the end, you'll get a raw, unedited taste of their off-the-cuff banter, giving you a glimpse into the real minds behind the mics. The NC F&B Podcast is produced, engineered and edited by Max Trujillo of @Trujillo.Media For inquiries about being a guest, or to sponsor the show, email max@ncfbpodcast.com
The fountain of youth could very well be located in a mandolin, or a fiddle. At least for Sam Bush, playing the mandolin, along with the occasional fiddle, seems to give him an energy level that many people several decades his junior would envy. There is a lot to be said for playing music, whatever the instrument, and its benefits for well being. Cognitively and psychologically, there is a lot of data that affirms we can benefit greatly from playing music, even from simply actively listening to music. A lot of this boils down to a fundamental truth that learning is the catalyst for positive change and growth, and we can all continue learning and picking up new skills throughout our lives. Sam Bush, like so many career music artists, embodies that spirit, and serves as a great example of the heights we can achieve when we devote our lives to reaching towards our full capabilities. Musically, Sam Bush draws from a wide spectrum of styles, ranging from bluegrass to newgrass (which he helped establish and define as a sub-genre with his former group New Grass Revival), to rock and blues with his former project Duck Butter, to having been in both Leon Russell and Emmylou Harris' bands, among many other projects. His stories are just as lively. From recounting his times with Earl Scruggs and Bill Monroe to his observations about young stars like Sierra Hull and Billy Strings, to his many performances at Green Acres Music Hall, Sam Bush has many a tale to tell. We get to all of that, and get a glimpse at what he has in store in the near future as well, in a spirited conversation from backstage at the 2025 Earl Scruggs Music Festival. Of course, there is much music to highlight in this episode too, including excerpts from Sam's solo catalog, as well as the festival's namesake. Sam Bush performs at the Earl Scruggs Music Festival, August 29, 2025 (photo: Eli Johnson) Songs heard in this episode:“Stingray” by Sam Bush, from Glamour & Grits“Brown's Ferry Blues” by Tony Trischka, from Earl Jam, excerpt“Big Mon” by Sam Bush, from Late As Usual, excerpt“Foggy Mountain Special” by Flatt & Scruggs, excerpt“Circles Around Me” by Sam Bush, from Circles Around MeWe are glad you are here! Could you can help spread awareness of what we are doing? It is as easy as telling a friend and following this podcast on your platform of choice. You can find us on Apple here, Spotify here and YouTube here — hundreds more episodes await, filled with artists you may know by name, or musicians and bands that are ready to become your next favorites.You can follow us on social media: @southstories on Instagram, at Southern Songs and Stories on Facebook, and now on Substack here, where you can read the scripts of these podcasts, and get updates on what we are doing and planning in our quest to explore and celebrate the unfolding history and culture of music rooted in the American South, and going beyond to the styles and artists that it inspired and informed. - Joe Kendrick
On this special episode, we present the 8th annual Fully Booked Holiday Gift Guide. Guest cohost Tom Beer joins host Megan Labrise in welcoming authors Ben Schott (Schott's Significa; Workman) and Michael W. Twitty (Recipes From the American South; Phaidon). And Kirkus' editors present their top holiday gift book picks.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Singer-songwriter S.G. Goodman has been hailed as one of the most distinctive voices to emerge from the American South in recent years. Raised in the small river town of Hickman, Kentucky, Goodman blends country, rock and folk into songs that wrestle with faith, identity and the meaning of home. Geoff Bennett spoke with her for our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
Before the murders, before the boat crash, before the empire collapsed — there was Gloria Satterfield. For more than two decades, Gloria worked for the Murdaugh family in South Carolina. She wasn't just a housekeeper — she was family. She helped raise their children, managed their home, and held together the daily chaos that fueled one of the South's most powerful legal dynasties. And then, in February 2018, she was found bleeding on the brick steps outside the Murdaugh home. The official story? She tripped over the family dogs. No autopsy. No investigation. Just another quiet tragedy in the shadow of privilege. But years later, that “accident” would become the first thread that unraveled everything. Investigators discovered Alex Murdaugh — the same man Gloria worked for — had orchestrated an insurance scam, convincing her sons to sue him so he could “help” them, then stealing every penny of the $4 million settlement. Her death, and his deception, became the moral fault line that exposed his entire empire of fraud, lies, and murder. This episode dives deep into Gloria's life, the mysterious circumstances of her death, and how her name ultimately brought down the Murdaugh dynasty. From the 911 call that didn't add up, to the exhumation of her body, to Alex's ultimate confession — this is the story of the woman who became the ghost haunting every courtroom photo of Alex Murdaugh in shackles. It's not just true crime. It's a moral autopsy of power, trust, and betrayal in the American South.
Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary
Before the murders, before the boat crash, before the empire collapsed — there was Gloria Satterfield. For more than two decades, Gloria worked for the Murdaugh family in South Carolina. She wasn't just a housekeeper — she was family. She helped raise their children, managed their home, and held together the daily chaos that fueled one of the South's most powerful legal dynasties. And then, in February 2018, she was found bleeding on the brick steps outside the Murdaugh home. The official story? She tripped over the family dogs. No autopsy. No investigation. Just another quiet tragedy in the shadow of privilege. But years later, that “accident” would become the first thread that unraveled everything. Investigators discovered Alex Murdaugh — the same man Gloria worked for — had orchestrated an insurance scam, convincing her sons to sue him so he could “help” them, then stealing every penny of the $4 million settlement. Her death, and his deception, became the moral fault line that exposed his entire empire of fraud, lies, and murder. This episode dives deep into Gloria's life, the mysterious circumstances of her death, and how her name ultimately brought down the Murdaugh dynasty. From the 911 call that didn't add up, to the exhumation of her body, to Alex's ultimate confession — this is the story of the woman who became the ghost haunting every courtroom photo of Alex Murdaugh in shackles. It's not just true crime. It's a moral autopsy of power, trust, and betrayal in the American South.
Before the murders, before the boat crash, before the empire collapsed — there was Gloria Satterfield. For more than two decades, Gloria worked for the Murdaugh family in South Carolina. She wasn't just a housekeeper — she was family. She helped raise their children, managed their home, and held together the daily chaos that fueled one of the South's most powerful legal dynasties. And then, in February 2018, she was found bleeding on the brick steps outside the Murdaugh home. The official story? She tripped over the family dogs. No autopsy. No investigation. Just another quiet tragedy in the shadow of privilege. But years later, that “accident” would become the first thread that unraveled everything. Investigators discovered Alex Murdaugh — the same man Gloria worked for — had orchestrated an insurance scam, convincing her sons to sue him so he could “help” them, then stealing every penny of the $4 million settlement. Her death, and his deception, became the moral fault line that exposed his entire empire of fraud, lies, and murder. This episode dives deep into Gloria's life, the mysterious circumstances of her death, and how her name ultimately brought down the Murdaugh dynasty. From the 911 call that didn't add up, to the exhumation of her body, to Alex's ultimate confession — this is the story of the woman who became the ghost haunting every courtroom photo of Alex Murdaugh in shackles. It's not just true crime. It's a moral autopsy of power, trust, and betrayal in the American South.
I imagine right about now, the group chats between Hillary Clinton, Neera Tanden, and Huma Abedin are lit. Democratic Socialism is at the gates. Once upon a time, that was their worst nightmare. Now, it's their inevitable reality. If Andrew Cuomo does somehow pull off a miraculous last-minute one-in-a-million win in New York, he will do so without any help from the establishment Democrats. But even a weak endorsement from Hakeem Jeffries for Zohran Mamdani is enough. They know their goose is cooked. Even if they're not happy about it, they have no choice but to go along with it.We wanted to smash the Patriarchy. They wanted to smash the oligarchy.I am old enough to remember how those of us in the I'm With Her army fought viciously with “Bernie bros” throughout the 2016 primary, calling them racists and misogynists, saying they were “useful idiots” for Trump. We wanted to smash the Patriarchy. They wanted to smash the oligarchy.Most of us Hillarycrats were terrified that Democratic Socialism would pull the party too far to the Left and we'd never win an election again. It was the word “socialism,” and no matter how many times they put “Democratic” in front of it, the song remained the same.Maybe we were the last generation forced to read Animal Farm in high school, but we seemed to remember what so many in the Bernie movement had suddenly forgotten. Not only doesn't Communism sell, but it doesn't work. That message never got through, and socialism, Democratic or otherwise, would be like those dinosaur eggs that magically appeared in Jurassic Park. Socialism, like life, finds a way.Look at the Democrats now. They're all in. Even if they weren't, they know better than to say so out loud. They also know they're out of moves. They've had their shot, and all it meant was Trump beating them again. But I still wonder what's going on in those group chats. Does Hillary know that this potentially means the Republicans will rule for much longer? Or does she, like all of the fanatics on the Left, still believe they are just one election away from taking back the country We'd better hope they aren't. Socialist SocialitesYou've heard of Vivek Ramaswamy's Woke Capitalism. Now, meet Woke Socialism —the hybrid of AOC and Bernie, and their Green New Deal manifesto, merging the two ideologies into one complete organism. Zohran Mamdani is their love child, so perfect for today's Left that he almost seems like he was created in a lab.You see them everywhere, these socialist socialites. Somehow, it's become the ultimate pretty girl cred, like “Free Palestine” and “This baby is not yet human.” They like socialism for the same reason they like fat acceptance. As long as homely and otherwise rejected women are allowed in, that gives the pretty girls the freedom to display their beauty without being hated for it. Here are hot girls for Mamdani:We saw this on display at a recent Vogue Hollywood fashion show, populist enough for Gavin Newsom to attend. An array of all designated marginalized and their allies, the virtue signalers, all in one place. It was one big mix of the new Gilded Age and the high-society Woketopians in their finest. Here were two famous transgender models greeted with euphoric cheers.How to reflect social justice while luxuriating in extreme wealth? Just chant Tax the rich! Tax the rich! Tax the rich! That was all AOC needed to abandon her working-class cred to join the high-status Woketopians at the Met Gala.It's its own kind of evangelical grift. But it is the workaround necessary in the totalitarian America promised if the Democrats return to power. We've seen what it looks like. We already know. Obey the rules, or you're banished forever. AOC's gleaming face in that photo has been replaced by an angry one. Her speech at the Mamdani rally was very much an “us vs. them” anthem, and by them, she means you, the majority in America that voted for Trump. There is no escaping the fact that the party about to embrace socialism is the party of wealth and the ruling class. It's an inconvenient detail they all mostly gloss over. Here is Walter Kirn and Matt Taibbi on America This Week:It is no longer Bernie's dream of smashing the oligarchy — they are the oligarchy. The workaround is to make it no longer about class but about race and gender. Then, there are no limits on wealth. The lawn sign people desperately crave the status that comes with being deemed an oppressed group, the highest status attained inside Woketopia. You can borrow oppression by, say, making illegal immigration your most important cause. You can be out there chattering about racists. Accuse, lest ye be accused. And best of all, wealthy and powerful high-status figures like Michelle Obama or Oprah Winfrey can still be oppressed and maintain their status while helping to fund the revolution. Meanwhile, some working-class white man in Wisconsin, unemployed and strung out on fentanyl, is forever the oppressor because they need a constant supply of them — white men, Christians, Jews, and billionaires. Here is Barstool Sports Dave Portnoy:Mamdani must rely on his identity to make wealthy elites feel the same sense of inner purpose we all felt the first time we heard Barack Obama speak. He made us feel worthy because our support of him, just because of his identity, made the country better. We mattered. We were important. We were changing the world. What else does Mamdani have to sell? Sure, he's charming and charismatic. He has a great social media game. He is offering a vision for the future rather than only Trump hate. But I also wonder, could his pitch have worked if he were a normie white dude selling it? It only barely worked for Bernie.How many will heed this warning?Or this:What Mamdani has, like every other designated marginalized group, is protective status inside Woketopia. No one can ever criticize you once you are deemed oppressed because then you get to call them racists, homophobes, transphobes, more phobes, more ists, and even ignite a mob to chase, condemn, and purge the offender. When I hear Mamdani speak, or any Democrat besides John Fetterman, I hear them always choosing to see the worst, to see all the complaints against policies the majority of Americans care about, like crime and the border, the answer is always that they are bad people for caring about their own lives. They are a racist, an Islamaphobe, or a transphobe. Here is the Great White Hope, Gavin Newsom, doing just that on a podcast: Their inability to see beyond that, or for voters to snap out of it and return to the real world, has put them in their most precarious position since the Civil War.Gone with the Wind If you are wondering how the Left was lost or why they are in a hell of their own making, or why they can't snap out of it, or why they seem like every day is the end of the world, look no further than the South during the last Civil War. They did not want to give up their way of life, or their utopia, either. They were happy, and they did not realize the rest of the country wanted to move on. When the North decided slavery would not expand to the states, the South was willing to fight and die to hold onto what once was instead of evolving into what must now be. The Left is so desperate to hold onto their way of life, they are willing to fight to preserve crime in the cities, to open the border and allow all of the migrants to flow freely into America, and for Medicare for all and universal education to pay for them too.It was a fixed hierarchy in the American South, just as there is a fixed hierarchy among today's Left. Just as the South was a contradiction to America's foundational principles, that all men are created equal, so too are today's Democrats a contradiction to America's promise, that class no longer decides success, certainly not gender or skin color, but hard work, merit, and talent do. Obviously, that hasn't always been true for everyone. But it is the whole point of an America at all. Mamdani insists he wants all New Yorkers to live a dignified life. It sounds great, doesn't it? Once you start digging into exactly what he means by that, you realize he's not just talking about economics. He's also talking about thought and speech.Woke socialism is, for the Left, the best of all possible worlds. As long as the marginalized living in poverty are lifted up and elevated, the wealthy ruling class, the Socialist Socialites, can justify their absurdly comfortable lives in a country that has afforded them more wealth and privilege than most will see in their lifetimes. They're hoping that if they keep the government shut down, if they make Americans suffer, then we will have no choice but to abandon the American experiment and lean in to the same failed policies that have so many fleeing from all over the world just for the chance to live here and be free. As Orwell warned in Animal Farm, it is human nature that ultimately upends utopia. Sooner or later, the powerful take control anyway because all animals might be equal, but some animals are more equal than others. Music:Tip Jar This is a public episode. 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In this latest podcast episode, Keltie Maguire speaks with Helen Taylor — feminist, retired university professor, and writer — about her choice to live a childfree life and her new memoir, Childless by Choice: The Meaning and Legacy of a Childfree Life. Keltie and Helen discuss: Helen's personal journey of childfree living, including the influences that shaped her decision. The challenges of choosing the childfree path — and the freedoms it has afforded her. Helen's abortion experience in early adulthood, and whether she ever thinks about the child she could have had. How life without children can lead to deeper adult relationships and friendships. The societal stigmas surrounding childlessness, and the difficulties and blessings of being childfree at age 77 The role that regret, meaning, and legacy play for Helen, as a woman without children. As mentioned in the show Find Helen online at www.helen-taylor.co.uk She's on Bluesky at bsky.app/profile/helentaylor67.bsky.social Find Helen at the following upcoming events: helen-taylor.co.uk/events About Helen Helen Taylor has published books on women's writing, American southern culture, and women fiction readers. Her latest much-acclaimed work is Why Women Read Fiction: The Stories of Our Lives. Her best-known works focus on popular writing and culture: Scarlett's Women: Gone With the Wind and its Female Fans, The Daphne du Maurier Companion, and Circling Dixie: Contemporary Southern Culture through a Transatlantic Lens. Her new book is Childless by Choice: The Meaning and Legacy of a Child-free Life. She taught English and American literature at three universities – West of England, Warwick and Exeter, where she was Head of English and is now Emeritus Professor. She has published widely on the literature and culture of the American South, as well as British and American women's writing. For many years, she has been a Chair, Curator and participant in many literary festivals, including Bath, Cheltenham, Oxford, Fowey, Budleigh Salterton and Clifton, and she was the first Director of the Liverpool Literature Festival. She is currently writing a book on Daphne du Maurier for the series 'Writers and Their Works'. She lives in Bristol. __ Join an upcoming Kids or Childfree workshop here: kidsorchildfree.com/workshop Check out our free resources here, or at kidsorchildfree.com/free-resources And don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review The Kids or Childfree Podcast if you love what you're hearing! You can leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, or a rating on Spotify. Find us online at www.kidsorchildfree.com. Instagram: www.instagram.com/kidsorchildfree TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@kidsorchildfree
HAPPY HALLOWEEN, Y'ALL! In this episode, Rivers is hangin' out with comedian and comic book man extraordinaire Kyle Clark! Tonight we're taking a haunted tour through the deep woods, desolate fields, and dark alleys of the intersection of the American South and the Midwest. First, we go to the haunted prairies of the Sunflower State! Kansas has LOTS of haunted pizzerias, a minotaur named "Bullsquatch", multiple headless horsemen, and no shortage of real-life maniacs. Then, we take a trip across the river to Missouri! The Show Me State features an unpopular cryptid named "Momo", several ghosts of actors who died in their costumes, and penguins from outer space! AC/DC's "Highway to Hell" is our JAM OF THE WEEK! Tune in now! Follow Kyle Clark on all forms of social media @KyleClarkIsRad and check out his new comic "Huzzah!" on his Substack. Follow the show on Twitter @TheGoodsPod. Rivers is @RiversLangley Sam is @SlamHarter Carter is @Carter_Glascock Subscribe on Patreon for the UNCUT video version of this episode as well as TONS of bonus content! http://patreon.com/TheGoodsPod Pick up a Goods from the Woods t-shirt here: http://prowrestlingtees.com/TheGoodsPod Most of tonight's stories were sourced from this AMAZING website: https://www.theshadowlands.net
Kristin and Kate welcome the food director of Real Simple, Jenna Helwig, to discuss her newsletter, The Cookbookery Collective, and her thoughts on the current cookbook landscape. Jenna shares her career path, why she fell in love with food and how she paired writing cookbooks with working as a private chef. She talks about covering food at Real Simple, the role magazines play in our current food media climate and her thoughts on building a social media presence and how that led to starting her newsletter. After talking about assembling the massive list of Fall 2025 titles she shares some thoughts on marketing copy, subtitles, influencer cookbooks and the upcoming trends she's excited (or not so excited) to see. Finally she extends some advice and reveals her level of interest in writing another book.Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea NguyenEditor: Abby Cerquitella MentionsJenna HelwigWebsiteCookbookery Collective SubstackFall 2025 Cookbook list Real Simple MagazineJoin The Local Palate Cookbook Club Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the showBare Minimum Dinners by Jenna HelwigBaby-Led Feeding by Jenna HelwigBaking and the Meaning of Life by Helen GohDorie's Anytime Cakes by Dorie GreenspanSix Seasons of Pasta by Josh McFaddenRecipes from the American South by Michael TwittyGood Things by Samin NosratHot Date by Rawaan Alkhatib Chesnok by Polina Chesnakova
The American South is known for a lot of things, some good and some bad. “The Bible Belt” encompasses a bit of both. Many folks grew up in and around churches, if they grew up in this region, which is great, if you consider that they had exposure to the Bible! However, exposure is not indicative of a saving faith. Growing up in the United States, I understand the “cultural Christianity” that is so prevalent in this nation. In today's message, pastor Mark addresses this phenomenon and warns that we ought not to settle for this simple or weak idea of Christianity, but we ought to press deeper and look for genuine faith.
Just off the old Natchez Trace, in the quiet woods of Tennessee, stands a broken marble column marking the grave of Meriwether Lewis. The monument was meant to honor one of America's greatest explorers, but its shattered form also reflects a life cut short under circumstances that remain unsolved more than two centuries later. In 1804, Lewis and Clark led the Corps of Discovery across thousands of miles of uncharted wilderness. They mapped rivers, documented new species, and forged fragile relationships with Native Nations, returning home as national heroes. Yet only a few years later, while traveling east on government business, Lewis stopped at a frontier inn called Grinder's Stand. Before dawn, gunfire rang out. By morning, the celebrated explorer was dead. From the start, the explanation was contested. Some, including Thomas Jefferson and William Clark, believed Lewis had taken his own life after years of depression, financial trouble, and lingering illness. Others pointed to inconsistencies in the testimonies, the absence of eyewitnesses, and the violence of the scene to argue that he was murdered. Over the years, theories have ranged from robbery on a lawless road to political assassination, while modern scholars have even suggested his death may have been linked to malaria or another untreated disease. In this episode, we retrace Lewis's final journey along the Natchez Trace and examine the testimonies left behind. We look at the evidence for suicide, the motives for murder, and the generations of speculation that have kept this mystery alive. We also consider the more recent efforts by Lewis's descendants to exhume his body, hoping that modern science might finally answer the question that has haunted his legacy: how did Meriwether Lewis really die? Southern Gothic: The Podcast Step into the world of the unknown and unravel the dark history, and infamous legends of the American South. Join us as we journey into the heart of this rich and fascinating region, uncovering its ghostly stories, haunted places, and eeriest tales through captivating storytelling, in-depth historical research, and an immersive audio soundscape. From the Bell Witch of Tennessee to the haunted Waverly Hills Sanatorium, the ghostly tales of the Myrtles Plantation, the Curse of Lake Lanier and beyond, get ready for an unforgettable experience that brings history to life and uncovers the truth behind classic tales of the paranormal. Follow Southern Gothic on your favorite podcasting app today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Michael W. Twitty is an acclaimed culinary historian and the author of the two-time James Beard Award–winning book The Cooking Gene as well as Rice and Koshersoul. His encyclopedic new book, Recipes from the American South, is a deeply researched, home cook's guide to the vast genre of Southern cuisine, offering historical insight alongside a diverse array of recipes. It's a delight having him on the show to talk about bringing this book to life. And, at the top of the show, it's the return of Three Things, where Aliza and Matt talk about what is exciting them in the world of restaurants, cookbooks, and the food world as a whole. On this episode: A visit to Ceres in New York. Is the pie worth the hype? Also, Long Island Bar is serving elite fried cheese curds, Michigan's Madcap Coffee is one of America's finest roasters, and sampling some great teas from Brooklyn's Raazi Tea. Plus, Spicewalla is now selling Umbrian olive oil, and Big Night has a new uptown location. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On this week's episode, I'm joined by Katey Rich and Christopher Rosen of The Ankler to preview the awards season and give you tips on what to check out (spoiler: Hamnet's gonna be a big one this year) and discuss the exquisite art of Oscar prognostication. (If you enjoy this episode, make sure to check out The Ankler's Prestige Junkie newsletter and show.) For the record, you can see my nomination guesses here at the Ankler Pundits site. One of the things we delve into is the weird position Oscar pundits find themselves in, as they are torn between portraying the world as it is and trying to subtly change things to reshape the world in their image, as the predictions themselves have been known to shape the outcome of races. And that's why I am staking a claim here: Delroy Lindo deserves a god-dang Oscar nomination for his work in Sinners. Look, don't get me wrong: Lindo has deserved Oscar gold for some time. He absolutely deserved it for his work in Da Five Bloods, for instance. But I celebrate the man's entire body of work. I would give him a lifetime achievement award simply for his pronunciation of “sesame cake” in Congo. The man's a damn legend and it's about time the Academy gave him his due. But he especially deserves it for the work he does in Sinners, a movie that seems lined up to snag a whole boatload of Oscar nominations, including best picture. Yes, yes: Michael B. Jordan's dual performance as Smoke and Stack is the showcase of the film. But Lindo's turn as Delta Slim embodies the soul of the movie; he is the embodiment of the life of a musician, of a black musician, in the American South at a time when simply being black could mark you for death. And he's just funny as hell in the role, delivering these slightly off-kilter line reads that no one else could have pulled off. Give the man his Oscar gold already! At the very least, give him the nomination. The people demand it! Leave your favorite Lindo performance in the comments, if you would. I'd like to prove that this man deserves his plaudits.
Boom Town is the taut and transporting adult debut from bestselling author Nic Stone. Nic joins us to talk about the American South, Black womanhood, Atlanta, writing in a new form and more with host Miwa Messer. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app. Featured Books (Episode): Boom Town by Nic Stone Middlemarch by George Eliot Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective by Donald J. Sobol Divergent by Veronica Roth Little Spark by Nic Stone The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan The Candy House by Jennifer Egan Deacon King Kong by James McBride The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
In 1872, the quiet Georgia town of Surrency became the center of one of America's strangest mysteries. Inside the home of Allen Powell Surrency, glass shattered, clocks ran backward, and furniture moved without a hand touching it. The events drew scientists, skeptics, and spiritualists, including one from Salem, Massachusetts. Was it a hoax, hysteria, or something that defied explanation? In this episode of Southern Mysteries, uncover the story of the Surrency family and the haunting that shook a town, blurred the line between faith and fear, and became one of the most documented poltergeist cases in U.S. history. Join the Community on Patreon: Want more Southern Mysteries? You can hear the Southern Mysteries show archive of 60+ episodes along with Patron exclusive podcast, Audacious: Tales of American Crime and more when you become a patron of the show. You can immediately access exclusive content now at patreon.com/southernmysteries
The writer and food historian talks to Kate and Mark about the "secret" language that belongs to Southern people, the problem with fantasizing about your Bubby's recipes, the two-sidedness of Southern cooking, and where to find the best food in the South. Read an excerpt from Michael Twitty's Recipes from the American South on The Bittman Project: https://bittmanproject.com/bread-so-good-you-have-to-guard-it/...and get Michael's recipes for Yeast Rolls: https://bittmanproject.com/recipe/yeast-rolls/...and Chicken and Dumplings: https://bittmanproject.com/recipe/chicken-and-dumplings/Subscribe to Food with Mark Bittman on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen, and please help us grow by leaving us a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts.Follow Mark on Twitter at @bittman, and on Facebook and Instagram at @markbittman. Want more food content? Subscribe to The Bittman Project at www.bittmanproject.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.