Podcasts about mountain association

On this week's show, we bring you final highlights from the 2025 Legislative Summit and Annual Meeting of the Kentucky Conservation Committee (KCC) that was held at Kentucky State University in Frankfort on January 26th. Tune in to learn more about energy and environmental issues facing our Commonwealth with two expert speakers. First we'll hear from Liz Natter, former General Counsel for Kentucky's Energy and Environment Cabinet. She'll be bringing us up to speed on recent discussions on nuclear energy. Then we'll hear from Josh Bills, Sr. Energy Analyst for Mountain Association (https://mtassociation.org/). He'll touch on recent developments in energy and how it impacts state advocacy. Watch a full replay and see the slides at https://vimeo.com/1051505067?share=copy Full details are at https://kyconservation.org/legislative-summit-2025 Helpful Additional Energy Resources: Nuclear: KCC Backgrounder on Nuclear in Kentucky https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dcUpB_1h7-7oG8pbECXcF6wDsoZBuklZ/view?usp=sharing KCC Nuclear Webpage https://kyconservation.org/nuclear-energy Solar: Kentucky Conservation Committee Citizen's Resource Guide on Large-Scale Solar https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Z2PrCOU2G5StQJ90HSanVPxrPuJYLR0U/view?usp=sharing Cleantech Resources: RMI Decarbonizing Data Centers https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IcntgcxkDAWhf9zdMlZ0FujymA1vjY5y/view?usp=sharing Inside the Cleantech Race https://drive.google.com/file/d/11Dt8MnOqbP2Lz0zrt7n9qkC5VKvyKHrc/view?usp=sharing KCC web pages on Artificial Intelligence https://kyconservation.org/intelligence Data Centers https://kyconservation.org/data Cryptocurrency Mining https://kyconservation.org/cryptocurrency Music used by permission in this podcast is by the Kentucky Bluebells and Ben Sollee. Truth to Power airs every Friday at 9pm, Saturday at 11am, and Sunday at 7pm on Louisville's grassroots, community radio station, Forward Radio 106.5fm WFMP and live streams at https://forwardradio.org

“There's that R-word that wants to come up that I despise – resilience,” says Tiffany Sturdivant, executive director of Appalshop, a media, arts and community economic development organization that's been operating in the Kentucky mountains for more than five decades.“People are so strong….I think that's probably a testament to mountain people, right, or people anywhere who are disenfranchised and are just working with what they have. Use what you have until you can get more.”When you think about climate issues, your mind might go first to the coasts and rising sea levels. But climate issues in the middle of the country are also urgent – and the solutions being forged offer lessons for all of us, urban and rural alike. Appalachia reminds us that no matter where we're from, our futures are linked—and we're better when we work together to solve shared challenges.That's a critical lesson we took away at this year's Vanguard conference in Kentucky, where we brought together 40 emerging leaders in urban Lexington and rural Berea to learn from the region's innovators and gain fresh perspectives. Today's episode features Kelsey Cloonan of Community Farm Alliance; Chris Woolery from the Mountain Association; Sturdivant from Appalshop; Baylen Campbell with Invest Appalachia; and Jeff Fugate, Associate Professor at the University of Kentucky, who works closely with communities on urban planning and development. Together, they unpack the ways communities here are addressing the impacts of climate change, while also honoring Appalachian values and strengths.This episode is part of the series we're bringing you from this year's Vanguard conference in Lexington, Kentucky, where our theme was exploring the dynamics of urban-rural interconnection.

Aaron, Doug & Chris cover important political stories from the commonwealth: shady campaign contributions, GOP constitutional amendments in the pipeline, a smurfy exchange in DC, and a GOP retirement in Frankfort. The Colonels then interview the Mountain Association's Chris Woolery about smart energy solutions for Appalachia, then close with a caffeinated call to action. #ColonelsOfTruth NEWS OF THE WEAK: https://kentuckylantern.com/2023/11/10/weddles-excess-giving-to-beshear-kentucky-democratic-party-under-investigation/ https://www.wkyufm.org/news/2023-11-15/republican-lawmakers-promise-a-school-choice-amendment-will-come-up-in-kentuckys-legislative-session https://www.wkyt.com/2023/11/13/kentucky-chamber-commerce-holds-2024-legislative-preview-lexington/ https://www.wkyt.com/2023/11/14/youth-group-looking-change-slavery-language-kentucky-constitution/ https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/2023/11/15/comer-faces-ethics-complaint-following-smurf-comment/71594409007/ https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/11/9/2204662/-Rep-James-Comer-s-family-business-is-shadier-than-anything-involving-Joe-Biden https://kentuckylantern.com/briefs/republican-john-schickel-will-not-seek-reelection-to-kentucky-senate/ INTERVIEW: Chris Woolery, the Mountain Association https://mtassociation.org/energy/ https://www.k4ed.org/ CALL TO ACTION: Support Starbucks Workers Fight for a Union https://starbucksworkersunited.controlshift.app/events/cky-kftc-red-cup-rebellion #ProgressKentucky - #ColonelsOfTruth Join us! http://progressky.org/ Support us! https://secure.actblue.com/donate/progressky Live Wednesdays at 7pm on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/progressky/live/ and on YouTube  http://bit.ly/progress_ky Listen as a podcast right here, or wherever you get your pods: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/progress-ky Facebook   - @progressky Instagram  - @progress_ky Twitter    - @progress_ky Episode 139 was produced by Nate Orshan Theme music from the amazing Nato - hear more at http://www.NatoSongs.com Logo and some graphic design provided by www.couchfiremedia.com

Renee Shaw and guests discuss Kentucky's energy needs. Guests: State Senator Danny Carroll (R-Benton); Carrie Ray, energy director of the Mountain Association; Kate Shanks, senior vice president of public affairs for the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce; and Randal Strobo, an environmental attorney with Strobo|Barkley PLLC.

On this week's Sustainability Now!, your host, Justin Mog, brings you highlights from the Kentuckians for Energy Democracy 2023 Legislative Review held back on April 17th. That evening, Kentuckians for Energy Democracy shared the results of this year's legislative session - the good, the bad, and the ugly - and what we can do NOW to move towards a democratic, equitable energy system for all Kentuckians! The panel included Lane Boldman (Executive Director of the Kentucky Conservation Committee); Julie Donna (Energy & Climate Justice Organizer with KFTC - Kentuckians For The Commonwealth); and Chris Woolery (Residential Energy Coordinator for the Mountain Association). During the conversation, they discuss what bills were passed in Kentucky's 2023 General Assembly that affect our environment and energy systems and which policies didn't get any traction? Kentuckians for Energy Democracy (K4ED) is a network of organizations working to ensure equitable and resilient utility systems that protect our health, environment and climate. Currently, that work is centered around a campaign to increase transparency, participation and equity in the Public Service Commission by educating and engaging Kentuckians to empower our commissioners to implement policy changes at the PSC to institutionalize our goals. Want to become a member or find out more? Email Kentuckians4EnergyDemocracy@gmail.com Learn more and get involved at https://www.k4ed.org/ Kentucky Conservation Committee: https://kyconservation.org/ KFTC: https://kftc.org/
Mountain Association: https://mtassociation.org/ As always, our feature is followed by your community action calendar for the week, so get your calendars out and get ready to take action for sustainability NOW! Sustainability Now! is hosted by Dr. Justin Mog and airs on Forward Radio, 106.5fm, WFMP-LP Louisville, every Monday at 6pm and repeats Tuesdays at 12am and 10am. Find us at http://forwardradio.org The music in this podcast is courtesy of the local band Appalatin and is used by permission. Explore their delightful music at http://appalatin.com

Aaron, Doug and Kimberly revisit the terrible tornado tragedies that hit Western Kentucky last week - looking at the best and the worst of humanity that showed up in the twister's 230 mile long track - Doug brings us a few bills that have been pre-filed in Frankfort for the upcoming general assembly & Kimberly Cecil-Jones covers news we need to know - in under 5 minutes! Then, the Colonels welcome Carrie Ray with the Mountain Association and discuss how federal infrastructure programs could help communities struggling with high energy costs. SHOW NOTES: Worst of WKY response: https://www.kentucky.com/news/local/crime/article256718872.html https://www.kentucky.com/news/local/crime/article256686797.html Best: https://www.kentucky.com/news/state/kentucky/article256722662.html https://www.kentucky.com/news/state/kentucky/article256726952.html https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article256789527.html Bad Bills on Tap in Frankfort: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/22rs/prefiled/prefiled.html https://www.wnky.com/scholars-talk-critical-race-theory-and-proposed-bill-69-in-kentucky-schools/ Rep Reginald Meeks to retire - prompting special election: https://www.wlky.com/article/special-election-date-set-to-fill-seat-of-longtime-kentucky-state-rep-reginald-meeks/38574320 WKY Tornado relief donations: https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/kentucky-tornado-relief/ https://secure.kentucky.gov/formservices/Finance/WKYRelief Guest: Carrie Ray, the Mountain Association https://mtassociation.org/ https://www.kentucky.com/opinion/op-ed/article256453901.html The Jones Report, relaunching in 2022: Sundays at 7PM Facebook - The Jones Report Radio Program Progress Kentucky music from www.NatoSongs.com Logo and some graphic design provided by www.couchfiremedia.com

In this episode of the We Rise Podcast, Christine interviews Peter Hille, President of The Mountain Association.  Peter shares what it takes to create a new economy and the empowerment of seeing progress. Learn about a “just transition” and the importance of starting at the local level to create lasting and sustainable change for a community. The Mountain Association Some organizations collaborating with The Mountain Association include: The Brushy Fork Institute, Appalshop, Kentuckians for the Commonwealth. Learn more about Gwen Christon and her store, Isom IGA. Collective Resilience: We Rise is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates, Podcasting For Creatives, with music by Drishti Beats. Follow Collective Resilience: We Rise on Facebook and Instagram. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Find our email list at the website: www.yeswerise.org. Thanks for listening.

In Episode 3 of the We Rise Podcast, Christine welcomes Ivy Brashear to share about her passion for using storytelling to cultivate change in a community. Ivy has been the Appalachian Transition Director of the Mountain Association in Berea since 2013 and is a 10th generation native to central Appalachia. Starting a career in journalism, her current position incorporates storytelling, narrative change, and policy education. Links and Resources: Mountain Association Nicole Breazeale What's Next East Kentucky To Live Here You Have To Fight by: Jessica Wilkerson The STAY Project at The Highlander Center It's Good To Be Young In The Mountains Collective Resilience: We Rise is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates, Podcasting For Creatives, with music by Drishti Beats. Follow Collective Resilience: We Rise on Facebook and Instagram. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Find our email list at the website: www.yeswerise.org. Thanks for listening.

This week, we welcomed Ivy Brashear to our show.  She works for the Mountain Association and writes essays about Appalachian identity.  She talked to us about Appalachian identity in Kentucky, and how it impacts our entire state.  It's a thoughtful conversation that you'll definitely want to hear! Jazmin and Robert also did a legislative update, discussed the impeachment committee, and discussed the current state of COVID-19 in Kentucky.

(Image: Shutterstock) What is this thing we’re experiencing? Some call it “quarantine fatigue.” We explore the symptoms and coping strategies with Psychiatry chair Seth Himelhoch | How Kentucky’s largest school district is managing under pandemic conditions with Supt. Marty Pollio | Keeneland’s new leader on planning the thoroughbred industry’s most important yearling sale under pandemic conditions |  Bobbie Ann Mason on her new novel, “Dear Ann” | Why MACED changed its name  Interviews in order of appearance:  Tom Martin with Dr. Seth Himelhoch, UK Psychiatry Chair  Tonya May with Jefferson Co. Schools Supt. Marty Pollio  Tom Martin with Keeneland President/CEO Shannon Arvin  Tom Eblen with author Bobbie Ann Mason  Tom Martin with Mountain Association  President Peter Hille

(Image: Shutterstock) What is this thing we’re experiencing? Some call it “quarantine fatigue.” We explore the symptoms and coping strategies with Psychiatry chair Seth Himelhoch | How Kentucky’s largest school district is managing under pandemic conditions with Supt. Marty Pollio | Keeneland’s new leader on planning the thoroughbred industry’s most important yearling sale under pandemic conditions |  Bobbie Ann Mason on her new novel, “Dear Ann” | Why MACED changed its name  Interviews in order of appearance:  Tom Martin with Dr. Seth Himelhoch, UK Psychiatry Chair  Tonya May with Jefferson Co. Schools Supt. Marty Pollio  Tom Martin with Keeneland President/CEO Shannon Arvin  Tom Eblen with author Bobbie Ann Mason  Tom Martin with Mountain Association  President Peter Hille

In Episode 4, we turn to Winona LaDuke. Winona is a two-time Vice Presidential nominee, an internationally renowned environmentalist...and a hemp farmer.With Winona's help, we’re backing up a little bit to look at the context of the American hemp boom. We know hemp has the potential to change our world, but what is it exactly about our world that needs to change? Part of what Winona thinks needs to change is our dependence on fossil fuels. Peter Hille, President the Mountain Association for Community and Economic Development would agree. He explains how extractive economies have ravaged Eastern Kentucky and lays out what a just transition for Appalachia will look like.

Photo: Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet On this week's program: Segment One: A history of Maxey Flats, the sixties-era nuclear waste dump near Morehead. An interview with University of Memphis historian Caroline Peyton whose article, “Kentucky’s Atomic Graveyard: Maxey Flats and Environmental Inequity in Rural America” is published in the Register of the Kentucky Historical Society.  Part one of a two-part interview. LISTEN NOW  Segment Two: How the pandemic more starkly reveals the digital divide in Eastern Kentucky. Our guest is Peter Hille, President of the Mountain Association for Community Economic Development  | Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting: officials, advocates concerned as domestic violence rises | Behind the scenes of concerts and sporting events at Lexington’s Rupp Arena. A visit with Technical Services Manager Bob Stoops and Ticket Office Manager Jeff Bojanowski. They've been around for decades. They've seen a thing or two. LISTEN NOW  In order of appearance:  Caroline Peyton  Peter Hille  Eleanor Klibanoff  Rupp Arena's Bob Stoops and Jeff Bojanowski  

(Photo: Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet) Segment One: A history of Maxey Flats, the sixties-era nuclear waste dump near Morehead. An interview with University of Memphis historian Caroline Peyton who article, “Kentucky’s Atomic Graveyard: Maxey Flats and Environmental Inequity in Rural America” is published in the Register of the Kentucky Historical Society.  Part one of a two-part interview. LISTEN NOW  Segment Two: How the pandemic more starkly reveals the digital divide in Eastern Kentucky. Our guest is Peter Hille, President of the Mountain Association for Community Economic Development  | Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting: officials, advocates concerned as domestic violence rises | Behind the scenes of concerts and sporting events at Lexington’s Rupp Arena. A visit with Technical Services Manager Bob Stoops and Ticket Office Manager Jeff Bojanowski. They've been around for decades. They've seen a thing or two. LISTEN NOW  In order of appearance:  Caroline Peyton  Peter Hille  Eleanor Klibanoff  Rupp Arena's Bob Stoops and Jeff Bojanowski  

In this episode of Local Energy Rules, host John Farrell speaks with Liz Veazey, Network Director of We Own It, and Chris Woolery, Residential Energy Coordinator at the Mountain Association for Community Economic Development. The three discuss a new Rural Electric Co-op Toolkit and how it will help members democratize their co-ops. | Show page available: https://ilsr.org/rural-electric-coop-toolkit-ler-episode-89/ | Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/local-energy-rules-podcast-homepage | Don't forget to subscribe, share with your friends, leave a recommendation on our podcast feeds, and join the conversation online using the #LocalEnergyRules hashtag!

In this episode, we're discussing how to further democratize rural electric cooperatives and what that means for the communities that these institutions serve. In this podcast, we're joined by The Democracy Collaborative's Johanna Bozuwa, Nikita Perumal from Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, and Chris Woolery from the Mountain Association for Community Economic Development. We're talking about their recent collaboration on the New Economy Coalition's latest toolkit on rural electric cooperatives. Be sure to check it out! https://www.electriccooporganizing.org/ The Next System Podcast is available on iTunes, Soundcloud, Google Play, Stitcher Radio, Tune-In, and Spotify. You can also subscribe independently to our RSS feed here. Full transcripts of all our episodes are available at www.thenextsystem.org/podcast.

Frank Morris is a former coal miner who was retrained as a residential energy specialist through the New Energy Intern program. This is the third episode in a three-part series about the program, which helps out of work coal miners train for jobs in energy efficiency. Frank now works for the Appalachia Heat Squad and the Housing Development Alliance. The New Energy Intern program is run by MACED  (the Mountain Association for Community and Economic Development) with funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Here is an excerpt DB: Would you like to see your kids work in coal mining when they get older? FM: If my son picks up a coal shovel I might smack him with it. DB: Alright, you should warn him about that in advance though. FM: Oh yeah! Please support the show If you would like to support Clean Power Planet please make a donation on Patreon. If you would like to hire Keaton Butler to engineer or produce your podcast contact her at KeatonButlerRecording@gmail.com Please give us a review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. We would love to hear from you. Just email david@cleanpowerplanet.com. Links mentioned in the show MACED has a lot of fantastic programs for people and businesses in Eastern Kentucky. You can find out more about them at MACED.org. If you’re interested in the New Energy Intern program contact Chris Woolery (cwoolery@maced.org). The episodes in this series were recorded at Appalshop in Whitesburg, Kentucky which is a fantastic organization that helps people in the region tell their stories through music, film, video, art - you name it. You can find out more about them at Appalshop.org. Music Credits Original music for this episode was provided by: Wonderhills Keaton Butler - keatonbutlerrecording@gmail.com Avery Reidy

This is the second episode in a three part series about out-of-work coal miners in Eastern Kentucky that are being retrained to do energy efficiency work through the New Energy Intern program.  It was created by the Mountain Association for Community and Economic Development or MACED. In the first episode of the series Rachel Norton from MACED told us about the program. Today we’re talking to John Craft. He’s spent a lot of his working life as a coal miner, in both underground and surface mines. He started out doing surface mining permit work at 19 and did a lot of different types of mining jobs over the years. He finally left mining in 1995, partly because he got a bad chest x-ray but also because he saw the decline coming in the coal industry. Now John’s starting his own energy efficiency company, and looking forward to helping people in Eastern Kentucky cut their electricity and gas bills and save money. That means more fossil fuels can stay in the ground. He’s got some great stories to share. Here’s an excerpt. David: So if you realized that coal didn’t have a great future in ‘92 I’d say that you were a few years ahead of people because there’s still plenty of people that are hoping it will come back. John: Coal will never be back. Ever. It’s too dirty. We can’t do it and live on this planet. David: When you talk to guys that you used to work with, what do they say about it? Do they feel the same way as you? John: Everybody I used to work with is on disability man. Our next episode will feature Frank Morris, another of MACED’s New Energy Interns. MACED has a lot of fantastic programs for people and businesses in Eastern Kentucky. You can find out more about them at maced.org. The episodes in this series were recorded at Appalshop in Whitesburg, Kentucky which is a fantastic organization that helps people in the region tell their stories through music, film, video, art - you name it. You can find out more about them at appalshop.org.

This edition of Making Connections News features three interviews that David Butler, host of the Clean Power Planet podcast, did with folks from the New Energy internship program for eastern Kentuckians. MACED, the Mountain Association for Community Economic Development, has developed the program with support from the Appalachian Regional Commission. These are paid positions that help participants move into energy efficiency jobs or start their own businesses. First we learn about the program from Rachel Norton, a residential energy specialist at MACED. Then we will hear from Frank Morris who interned in Hazard and now has a job as an energy auditor at the Housing Development Alliance, and John Craft who is finishing up an internship that is focusing on commercial energy efficiency. Find out more from MACED about internships that are currently available -- https://maced.org/jobs/new-energy-internships/

This is a very exciting episode. It's the first in a three part series about a cool internship program that retrains out-of-work coal miners for energy efficiency jobs. All three episodes were recorded at the historic Appalshop media center in Whitesburg, Kentucky, right in the middle of the Appalachian coalfields. Our guest for this first episode in the series is Rachel Norton. She's not an out-of-work coal miner. She's an energy efficiency expert that works for the Mountain Association for Community Economic Development (MACED) the organization that created the New Energy Intern program. The coal industry in Appalachia has been in decline for many years and it’s left behind a struggling economy with very few job opportunities. Retraining miners to do energy efficiency upgrades has several positive outcomes. Obviously it helps the miners find work or start businesses but it also helps homeowners and businesses lower their energy bills, which allows them to invest the savings in something more important. When energy costs are reduced it helps the entire local economy and the efficiency upgrades pay for themselves through the savings they generate. Rachel studied Biosystems Engineering at the University of Kentucky. She wanted to find a job that would allow her to work toward a progressive energy future. She knew that there weren’t many opportunities to do that in her home state of Kentucky, but she decided to stick it out because she felt she could do the most good here. MACED has given her an opportunity to make a big difference. She also has her own energy efficiency consulting business called GreenStep. Our next two episodes will feature Frank Morris and John Craft, two of MACED’s New Energy Interns. Here is a little more detail about Appalshop. It’s a unique organization that's been around for 50 years. It houses an art gallery, a theater, a community radio station, and recording studios. It's really an amazing place that helps people from around the region share their stories. You should check it out at appalshop.org.

Renee Shaw and guests discuss issues related to energy and the environment. Guests: State Rep. Jim Gooch, R-Providence, Natural Resources and Energy Committee Chair; State Rep. McKenzie Cantrell, D-Louisville, Natural Resources and Energy Committee Member; Tyler White, Kentucky Coal Association President; and Chris Woolery, Mountain Association for Community Economic Development energy specialist.

Renee Shaw and guests discuss issues related to energy and the environment. Guests: State Rep. Jim Gooch, R-Providence, Natural Resources and Energy Committee Chair; State Rep. McKenzie Cantrell, D-Louisville, Natural Resources and Energy Committee Member; Tyler White, Kentucky Coal Association President; and Chris Woolery, Mountain Association for Community Economic Development energy specialist.

The East Kentucky Leadership Conference celebrated its 30th anniversary with a keynote speech from Earl Gohl, federal co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission(ARC)for the past 7 years. Since 2015 ARC has awarded $92 million through the POWER Initiative to help coal-impacted communities in 250 Appalachian counties diversify and grow their economies. Gohl said that because people have overcome differences and come together to revitalize the region, Appalachia is the next great investment opportunity. Peter Hille, Executive Director of the Mountain Association of Community Economic Development (MACED), introduced Gohl and praised the ARC as partners sharing the vision of a bright future for Appalachia.

This episode features highlights from the East Kentucky Leadership Conference with keynote speaker Earl Gohl who is the federal co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). You will also hear from Peter Hille the Executive Director of Mountain Association of Community Economic Development (MACED). More than $100 million in new federal funding has been committed to projects serving eastern Kentucky over the past year. These highlights explain how some of it was put to use. Also, from the Ohio Valley ReSource hear some analysis on three ideas that could help mend things in coal country. And, from Homefront Chronicles, hear how one Seattle mother created a safe place for mom's to cut loose and be free. *Music featured in this episode was "Hightop Shoes" by George Gibson from his Last Possum Up the Tree album on the JuneAppal label.