Podcasts about southern appalachia

This week on The Trailhead, Zoë and Brendan talk with Abigail West—trail runner, printmaker, and full-time creative who's showing us what it means to run with purpose. Based in the lush foothills of Southern Appalachia, Abigail blends endurance and artistry, carving out time (and linoleum) to tell stories about wild places, climate, and community. We dive into everything from FKTs in the Georgia mountains to why training for ultras is a terrible match with art fair season. Abigail shares how she captures the emotional texture of landscapes through printmaking, why she's obsessed with spiderweb-filled singletrack, and what it means to be an entrepreneurial artist-athlete in a world that doesn't quite know what to do with either. Plus: the problem with art world algorithms, the reality of life in a construction zone, and a full-throated defense of Waffle House. Grab your gravy and your gaiters, this one goes deep. The Trailhead is brought to you by Sidas! The company that supports your feet so that they can support you!  

Mastering Sales Strategies with Alison MullinsIn this episode of The Thoughtful Entrepreneur, host Josh Elledge talks with Alison Mullins, CEO of Rep Methods, seasoned sales strategist, keynote speaker, and author of The Art of Selling and Beyond Order Makers. Alison shares her innovative approach to sales—rooted in psychology, personalization, and strategic mindset—offering listeners a fresh perspective on how to break down sales goals and build authentic customer relationships.From Personal Passion to Professional Precision: Alison's Approach to SalesAlison opens the conversation by sharing glimpses into her personal life—her love of travel, cooking, and Asian cuisine, all shaped by growing up in Southern Appalachia and spending time in New York City. These cultural experiences fuel her creativity and adaptability, which shine through in her business strategies. She draws thoughtful parallels between culinary experimentation and the art of sales—both requiring curiosity, precision, and personal connection.Professionally, Alison's foundation is built on her two books. The Art of Selling outlines practical, foundational sales techniques, while Beyond Order Makers introduces the concept of manifestation selling—a method that blends mindset, goal-setting, and strategy to improve business development. Alison encourages sales professionals to visualize success and break down ambitious goals into realistic, daily tasks—a philosophy aligned with James Clear's Atomic Habits.This conversation also dives into the emotional side of sales. Alison addresses how negative feedback from leadership can psychologically impact sales professionals. Her coaching helps clients shift from overwhelm to empowerment, reinforcing the importance of incremental wins and human-centric sales actions like personalized outreach and relationship-building. Her work as an ad hoc sales manager is especially tailored for small business owners, offering hands-on guidance and customized sales strategies grounded in her deep experience—especially in the stone and surfaces industry, where she's worked since 2010.About Alison MullinsAlison Mullins is an award-winning sales expert, keynote speaker, and CEO of Rep Methods. With over two decades of experience, she has helped countless companies transform their sales strategies, improve client relationships, and increase revenue. Known for her dynamic stage presence and innovative methodologies, Alison is the author of The Art of Selling and Beyond Order Makers. She's also a frequent contributor to industry publications and a recognized thought leader in both sales performance and strategic business development.About Rep MethodsRep Methods provides expert sales training and development for small business owners and teams. Offering personalized coaching, strategy creation, and fractional sales management, Rep Methods helps businesses build effective sales pipelines and long-term client relationships.Links Mentioned in this Episode:Alison Mullins on LinkedInRep Methods WebsiteThe Art of Selling – available at Rep MethodsBeyond Order Makers – available at Rep...

What would it feel like for other people to love me if they were to truly see me and truly know me as I am right now?Today we meet Esmé and we're talking about the queer book that saved their life: The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells. And Martha joins us for the conversation!Esmé has been slinging radical books at Firestorm since 2019. They wear multiple hats including communications, event facilitation, and offsite sales. When she doesn't have her nose in a gay book, Esmé sings in a doom metal band and snuggles with the shop dog, an ancient dachshund named Julius Caesar Salad, as much as caninely possible.Martha Wells has written many novels, including the bestselling and award-winning Murderbot Diaries series, which was adapted into an Apple Original TV series debuting May 16, 2025. She also authored Witch King, City of Bones, The Wizard Hunters, Wheel of the Infinite, and the Nebula-nominated The Death of the Necromancer, as well as YA fantasy novels, short stories, and nonfiction.In All Systems Red, the first book in The Murderbot Diaries, a team of scientists are conducting surface tests on a distant planet, shadowed by their Company-supplied SecUnit that has hacked its own governor module. Scornful of humans, all it really wants is to be left alone long enough to figure out who it is. But when a neighboring mission goes dark, it's up to the scientists and their Murderbot to get to the truth.Special Limited SeriesThis episode is part of a special limited series of episodes featuring only guests who are owners or staff at LGBTQ bookstores. Airing April-June 2025, these episodes will feature six bookstores across the United States and United Kingdom.Today's guest is a bookseller at Firestorm Books, a collectively-owned radical bookstore and not-for-profit event space in Asheville, North Carolina. Since 2008 Firestorm Books has supported grassroots movements in Southern Appalachia while developing a workplace on the basis of cooperation, empowerment and equity.Connect with Esmé and Marthawebsite: firestorm.coopinstagram: @angelicadoomwebsite: marthawells.combluesky: @marthawells.cominstagram: @marthawellswriterBecome an Associate Producer!Become an Associate Producer of our podcast through a $20/month sponsorship on Patreon! A professionally recognized credit, you can gain access to Associate Producer meetings to help guide our podcast into the future! Get started today: patreon.com/thisqueerbookCreditsHost/Founder: John Parker (learn more about my name change)Executive Producer: Jim PoundsAssociate Producers: Archie Arnold, K Jason Bryan and David Rephan, Bob Bush, Natalie Cruz, Jonathan Fried, Paul Kaefer, Joe Perazzo, Bill Shay, and Sean SmithPatreon Subscribers: Stephen D., Terry D., Stephen Flamm, Ida Göteburg, Thomas Michna, and Gary Nygaard.Creative and Accounting support provided by: Gordy EricksonQuatrefoil LibraryQuatrefoil has created a curated lending library made up of the books featured on our podcast! If you can't buy tJoin us in helping Lambda Literary raise $20k for The Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices to ensure all writers can attend. Donate here: http://bit.ly/3RjW51aSupport the show

People who hunt treasure with metal detectors have a lingo all their own. Canslaw means the shreds of aluminum cans left after a lawnmower ran over them. And gold dance? That's what you do if you turn up something far more valuable than parts of an old beer can. Plus, a splendid new dictionary offers an in-depth look at the rich language of Southern Appalachia, from parts of West Virginia to Georgia. And why do television announcers greet viewers with the phrase "Welcome back" after a commercial break? Weren't they the ones who went away? Plus, coinball, bacon bats, Katzensprung, quote unquote vs. quote end quote, a quiz about synonyms, joke tags, dials and smiles, low sick, took a dump, and Get out of my bathtub! Hear hundreds of free episodes and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org. Be a part of the show: call or text 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; elsewhere in the world, call or text +1 619 800 4443. Send voice notes or messages via WhatsApp 16198004443. Email words@waywordradio.org. Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Wayne Erbsen has studied, played, taught, and written about traditional music for over 50 years. We talked to him about his new book, Southern Mountain Music: The Collected Writings of Wayne Erbsen, a collection of articles he wrote about legendary musicians from across the bluegrass and old-time music scenes. He started playing guitar and banjo in his native Southern California as a teen and arrived in Southern Appalachia in the 1970s.Go back into the Down the Road archives to Season 3, Episode 10, to learn more about Erbsen!

Wayne Erbsen has studied, played, taught, and written about traditional music for over 50 years. We talked to him about his new book, Southern Mountain Music: The Collected Writings of Wayne Erbsen, a collection of articles he wrote about legendary musicians from across the bluegrass and old-time music scenes. He started playing guitar and banjo in his native Southern California as a teen and arrived in Southern Appalachia in the 1970s.Go back into the Down the Road archives to Season 3, Episode 10, to learn more about Erbsen!

Six months ago, Southern Appalachia was devastated by Hurricane Helene.Now, after a dry spell and a windy March — the region faces wildfires that are feeding on the downed trees and vegetation that the hurricane knocked to the forest floor.The North Carolina Forest Service has declared one of them "the highest priority fire in the U.S."And due to climate change and population growth, the Carolinas must anticipate a future with more fire danger.Experts and first responders explain the current situation — and the way forward.For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.Email us at considerthis@npr.org.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Chella Courington was born and raised in Southern Appalachia in a storytelling family who taught her how to value the word. Courington's creative publications include one novella, fifteen chapbooks of poetry and fiction, innumerable poems and stories in journals and anthologies, and her debut novel, Janet Hall. With teaching as her livelihood, she moved from Montgomery, Alabama, to Santa Barbara, California, twenty years ago, giving her the space and distance to understand her past. Author Page: chellacourington.com Chella Courington was born and raised in Southern Appalachia in a storytelling family who taught her how to value the word. Courington's creative publications include one novella, fifteen chapbooks of poetry and fiction, innumerable poems and stories in journals and anthologies, and her debut novel, Janet Hall. With teaching as her livelihood, she moved from Montgomery, Alabama, to Santa Barbara, California, twenty years ago, giving her the space and distance to understand her past. Author Page: chellacourington.comVOX VOMITUS: Sometimes, it's not what goes right in the writing process, it's what goes horribly wrong. Host Jennifer Anne Gordon, award-winning gothic horror novelist and Co-Host Allison Martine, award-winning contemporary romance and speculative fiction novelist have taken on the top and emerging new authors of the day, including Josh Malerman (BIRDBOX, PEARL), Paul Tremblay (THE PALLBEARERS CLUB, SURVIVOR SONG), May Cobb (MY SUMMER DARLINGS, THE HUNTING WIVES), Amanda Jayatissa (MY SWEET GIRL), Carol Goodman (THE STRANGER BEHIND YOU), Meghan Collins (THE FAMILY PLOT), and dozens more in the last year alone. Pantsers, plotters, and those in between have talked everything from the “vomit draft” to the publishing process, dream-cast movies that are already getting made, and celebrated wins as the author-guests continue to shine all over the globe.www.jenniferannegordon.comwww.afictionalhubbard.comhttps://www.facebook.com/VoxVomituspodcast#voxvomitus #voxvomituspodcast #authorswhopodcast #authors #authorlife #authorsoninstagram #authorsinterviewingauthors #livevideopodcast #livepodcast #bookstagram #liveauthorinterview #voxvomituslivevideopodcast #Jennifergordon

America Out Loud PULSE with Dr. Peter & Ginger Breggin – As if pinpointed for destruction, Helene attacked those states' rural and mountain populations, mostly representing MAGA and conservative people. Thousands of people had their homes, businesses, schools, and churches swept away by torrential rivers and buried by massive landslides or crushed by falling trees...

America Out Loud PULSE with Dr. Peter & Ginger Breggin – As if pinpointed for destruction, Helene attacked those states' rural and mountain populations, mostly representing MAGA and conservative people. Thousands of people had their homes, businesses, schools, and churches swept away by torrential rivers and buried by massive landslides or crushed by falling trees...

For questions, comments or to get involved, e-mail us at audibleanarchist(at)gmail.com The zine can be read, printed and distributed at https://crimethinc.com/zines/the-eye-of-every-storm-anarchist-response-to-hurricane-helene At the end of September 2024, western North Carolina and the surrounding states experienced 30 inches of rainfall over two days when an unnamed storm collided with Hurricane Helene over the mountains of Southern Appalachia. The resulting catastrophe laid waste to the entire region. At a time when misinformation, rising authoritarianism, and disasters exacerbated by industrially-produced climate change are creating a feedback loop of escalating crisis, it's crucial to understand disaster response as an integral part of community defense and strategize about how this can play a part in movements for liberation. In the following reflection, a local anarchist involved in longstanding disaster response efforts in Appalachia recounts the lessons that they have learned over the past six weeks and offers advice about how to prepare for the disasters to come.

Welcome to The RUNEGADE Podcast: where we set off to explore the human connection with running, through conversation, big stories, guest interviews and our own experiences - we're your hosts Mark Prociw and Todd Marentette. You can watch ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RUNEGADE on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Like what you hear? Subscribe to RUNEGADE on Spotify | Apple | YouTube - like, subscribe, comment and share - the world needs more RUNEGADES. On episode 21, Tara Dower becomes a RUNEGADE. "You really don't know what you can do unless you try" - Tara Dower On September 21, 2024 Tara Dower became the fastest person in history to complete the 2,189-mile Appalachian Trail, a 14 state journey, she bested the Fastest Known Time by 13 hours - she's an Altra Running athlete, an ultramarathoner, a candy connoisseur and a new friend of the podcast. Tara's biography: "An Appalachian Trail thru-hike inspired me to spend as much time on trails as possible; now, I am a professional ultramarathon trail athlete racing all over the country. My favorite ultramarathon distance is the 100-miler because there are so many possibilities for adventure, but I also love the competitive aspect of setting FKTs on longer trail routes. The FKTs I've set include the Mountains-to-Sea Trail (1,175 miles), Benton MacKaye Trail (289 miles), the Colorado Trail (486 miles) and now the Appalachian Trail (2,189 miles)" We followed Tara's journey on Instagram throughout August and September, virtually cheering her on as she stacked 17 hour days, upon days. Like all great trail runners, Tara, surrounded by a great crew - her mom, her friends, trail running mentors and buds (all with great trail nicknames) accomplished an amazing feet of endurance. Come listen to Tara's journey's from her first Appalachian thru hike attempt, to 100-mile races, to Hardrock and now the FKT record holder - you'll learn all the details of her epic adventure. More Tara: Tara on YouTube: @taratreks Tara on Instagram: @tara.dower Tara on Facebook: @taratreks Tara Website Tara's Blog Runner's World Article⁠ We thank Tara for sharing her amazing journey. And if you have the means, consider support those affected from Hurricane Helen, as she wrecked havoc to many folks along the Appalachian Trail by purchasing a "Tara in Southern Appalachia" print block and 50% of the proceeds will be sent to BeLoved Asheville In a world of runners, be a RUNEGADE. Connect with Mark and Todd: ​Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@altramarathonman⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ​Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@runclemark⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ​X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@RUNEGADEpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ​Facebook Community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TheRUNEGADEPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ​YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@TheRUNEGDADEPodcastTM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ​Todd on Strava: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.strava.com/athletes/24075567⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ​Mark on Strava: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.strava.com/athletes/32395525⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Finding performance based running apparel and gear can be an exhausting endeavour of trial and error. And one that can easily overwhelming your closet and your wallet. We'd like to share with you, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PATH projects⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ PATH makes performance-based running gear, that looks and feels great, that's functional and durable. It simply outperforms expectations. For a limited time, PATH is offering The RUNEGADE Podcast listeners 10% of their order with the code RUNEGADE10⁠⁠⁠ - we thank PATH projects for being a friend of the podcast.

A journey through Southern Appalachia to explore the complex messages food communicates about the region. Depictions of Appalachian food culture and practices often romanticize people in the region as good, simple, and, often, white. These stereotypes are harmful to the actual people they are meant to describe as well as to those they exclude.  In Hungry Roots: How Food Communicates Appalachia's Search for Resilience (U South Carolina Press, 2024), Ashli Quesinberry Stokes and Wendy Atkins-Sayre tell a more complicated story. The authors embark on a cultural tour through food and drinking establishments to investigate regional resilience in and through the plurality of traditions and communities that form the foodways of Southern Appalachia. They visit cafes serving cornbread and beans, a critically acclaimed soul food restaurant, distilleries, festivals celebrating Cherokee and Scottish heritage, a community center and garden serving under-resourced neighbors, and many other food and drinking venues. Hungry Roots demonstrates why Appalachian food matters. 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

A journey through Southern Appalachia to explore the complex messages food communicates about the region. Depictions of Appalachian food culture and practices often romanticize people in the region as good, simple, and, often, white. These stereotypes are harmful to the actual people they are meant to describe as well as to those they exclude.  In Hungry Roots: How Food Communicates Appalachia's Search for Resilience (U South Carolina Press, 2024), Ashli Quesinberry Stokes and Wendy Atkins-Sayre tell a more complicated story. The authors embark on a cultural tour through food and drinking establishments to investigate regional resilience in and through the plurality of traditions and communities that form the foodways of Southern Appalachia. They visit cafes serving cornbread and beans, a critically acclaimed soul food restaurant, distilleries, festivals celebrating Cherokee and Scottish heritage, a community center and garden serving under-resourced neighbors, and many other food and drinking venues. Hungry Roots demonstrates why Appalachian food matters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/food

A journey through Southern Appalachia to explore the complex messages food communicates about the region. Depictions of Appalachian food culture and practices often romanticize people in the region as good, simple, and, often, white. These stereotypes are harmful to the actual people they are meant to describe as well as to those they exclude.  In Hungry Roots: How Food Communicates Appalachia's Search for Resilience (U South Carolina Press, 2024), Ashli Quesinberry Stokes and Wendy Atkins-Sayre tell a more complicated story. The authors embark on a cultural tour through food and drinking establishments to investigate regional resilience in and through the plurality of traditions and communities that form the foodways of Southern Appalachia. They visit cafes serving cornbread and beans, a critically acclaimed soul food restaurant, distilleries, festivals celebrating Cherokee and Scottish heritage, a community center and garden serving under-resourced neighbors, and many other food and drinking venues. Hungry Roots demonstrates why Appalachian food matters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies

A journey through Southern Appalachia to explore the complex messages food communicates about the region. Depictions of Appalachian food culture and practices often romanticize people in the region as good, simple, and, often, white. These stereotypes are harmful to the actual people they are meant to describe as well as to those they exclude.  In Hungry Roots: How Food Communicates Appalachia's Search for Resilience (U South Carolina Press, 2024), Ashli Quesinberry Stokes and Wendy Atkins-Sayre tell a more complicated story. The authors embark on a cultural tour through food and drinking establishments to investigate regional resilience in and through the plurality of traditions and communities that form the foodways of Southern Appalachia. They visit cafes serving cornbread and beans, a critically acclaimed soul food restaurant, distilleries, festivals celebrating Cherokee and Scottish heritage, a community center and garden serving under-resourced neighbors, and many other food and drinking venues. Hungry Roots demonstrates why Appalachian food matters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-south

Over the first weekend of October, 2024, there was a deluge from two storms (including level 4 Hurricane Helene) descended on southern Appalachia, mostly on the eastern side which includes Asheville and other parts of western NC, eastern TN, south eastern Ohio, and northern Georgia. At the point of this recording there are over 200 known dead and hundreds missing, portions of the region continue to be without electricity or cellular service, and where the toxic mud and water linger and separate people from medical and community care. This episode, we're speaking with three people who've lived in the region and have been helping other residents distribute storm relief. If you're listening to this on the radio, please consider checking out the podcast for an additional half an hour of experience. Groups worth following doing work on the ground include: Mutual Aid Disaster Relief Appalachian Medical Solidarity Hood Huggers Rural Organizing And Resilience . ... . .. Featured Tracks: 500 Year Flood by Adam Pope Day 3 on Pigeon River by Sarah Howell  

In this episode of The Strange South, Marleah, Patrice, and Courtney discuss their favorite frozen drinks, summer plans, and a plethora of bear encounters in Southern Appalachia, specifically around Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Highlighting the dangers of human-bear interactions, they share stories of recent bear attacks, including a harrowing account of a hiker's close call with a black bear on the Appalachian Trail. The hosts emphasize the importance of proper food storage and safety measures when hiking or camping in bear territory. Additionally, they touch on personal anecdotes, the challenges of wildlife coexisting with human activities, and the community's reaction to these frequent bear sightings.

Kelly has worked in nonprofits for many years. She has served in some capacity as a volunteer, board member, or development staff member for over twenty-eight years after teaching middle schoolers in Southern Appalachia. In addition to a BS in education from Appalachian State University, she holds a certificate in nonprofit management from Duke University. While new to election administration, she is not new to elections. Kelly served on several local and state election campaigns as a volunteer, including state senate campaigns in 2006, 2008, and 2010 where she served as the assistant campaign manager and public relations liaison. Kelly has spent the past three years learning about RCV reform and election administration. She oversees fundraising, development, and communications for RCVRC and co-produces the RCV Clips podcast with Chris Hughes & Melissa Hall. Kelly lives with her family on the coast of North Carolina. To learn more about ranked choice voting and the Ranked Choice Voting Resource Center, visit rcvresource.org. To read the full Q&A with Kelly Sechrist, visit https://www.democracygroup.org/blog/meet-kelly-sechrist-from-rcv-clips

Bonus Episode! For this episode I sat down with co-race director and course developer, Brandon Thrower (Tanawha Adventures), to talk all things Hellbender! According the the Hellbender 100 website: The Hellbender One Hundred is one of the most scenic hundred milers on the East Coast. This course will take you through a grueling tour of the massive Black Mountains, deep into the valleys below and to the summit of Mt. Mitchell, the highest mountain East of the Mississippi. With an elevation change of ~48,000+ ft, runners will experience some of the most challenging and beautiful trails in all of Western North Carolina. You'll not want to miss this premiere, graduate level hundred through the heart of Southern Appalachia! Brandon and I talk about required gear, crew rules, aid stations, pacers, a FULL course description and more! And a big congratulations to all involved in making this race happen because the Hellbender 100 is now a Hardrock qualifier! This is HUGE news for all that are running this year and for years to come. Thank you to the Run 828 foundations, NCMTR, volunteers and sponsors for all their hard work and dedication to make this such an amazing experience for all. Thank you, Brandon, for taking the time to sit down with me! Hellbender 100 website Run 828 Foundation NCMTR Hellbender's Instagram Tanawha Adventures Instagram If you want to watch my Hellbender 100 experience on YouTube, click here! Follow Facing Vert on Instagram and message me there. Thank you for listening!

On this bonus edition of You Are What You Read, we welcome back Barbara Kingsolver with her Pulitzer Prize winning novel, Demon Copperhead. Set in the mountains of Southern Appalachia, Barbara created a world set to the music of David Copperfield by Charles Dickens to speak to a new generation of lost boys. You've written to us about this book, you've read it with your book clubs, and now Barbara shares with us her research, her process, and her inspiration for this great novel. We'd also like to thank our sponsor Book of the Month.  Head over to bookofthemonth.com and use Promo Code ADRI to get your first book for just $9.99. Thank you for listening, and thank you for reading. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Christopher Jenkins joins the show this week to discuss his consistent hunting success with Black Bear and Mountain Bucks in Southern Appalachia. Reading sign and patterning big game in big woods terrain is challenging even for the best woodsman. Chris shares many tips and tactics for his success. He spends more than 150 days every year pursuing game across the South on both public and private land. This is an awesome listen.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Christopher Jenkins joins the show this week to discuss his consistent hunting success with Black Bear and Mountain Bucks in Southern Appalachia.  Reading sign and patterning big game in big woods terrain is challenging even for the best woodsman.  Chris shares many tips and tactics for his success.  He spends more than 150 days every year pursuing game across the South on both public and private land.  This is an awesome listen. 

On this week's episode of Bear Grease, your host, Clay Newcomb, is bringing you the saga of the American Plott Hound - a story not without drama. Plotts are a breed of big game hound specializing in bear hunting. They were originally bred deep in the mountains of Southern Appalachia, specifically Haywood County, North Carolina. The breed, which carries the family name of Plott, was kept in isolation for nearly 150 years while being refined by the frontier mountaineers of Appalachia. The Plott Hound is anything but mainstream, but in his extensive travels to meet Plott Hound men and women, Clay has met some of the finest, salt-of-the-earth people in America. This is a fascinating story of true Americana and we really doubt you're going to want to miss this one… Connect with Clay and MeatEater Clay on Instagram MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube Shop Bear Grease MerchSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week our good buddy Tyler Ross with Timberninja Outdoors joins us to talk about native habitat, soil, Southern Appalachia forests, and explain what the heck a "destructive dependent ecosystem" is.  Tyler is a dedicated conservationist in the true sense of the word.  He's worked as a Soil and Water Conservation District Director in North Carolina, and has served in many capacities with several national conservation organizations throughout the years.  This is a great episode with tons of little nuggets every woodsman can store away in our toolbelts.  Definitely want to give this one a listen!

From a small kitchen in Asheville, NC, two mothers with a purpose and passion for fermentation began making kombucha as a healthy alternative for their kids. From gifting jars to friends, families, neighbors and eventually selling through farmers markets—their shelves and countertops were quickly overflowing with kombucha. So they took a big leap—a leap that sparks fear, curiosity and can alter a person's life forever. Buchi took their small-batch home production to a warehouse on a 180-acre farm in the mountains of Southern Appalachia. Unwaveringly dedicated to their mission, the whole team decided this wouldn't just be their office, but their home. Brewing together, working together, living together, and taking on every hardship together. In 2016, Buchi opened the first commercial kombucha brewery in the Southeast. Buchi's purpose is to craft delicious, high-quality, nutrient-dense living drinks; invest in the regeneration of our planet; and use business as a conduit for positive social impact. Zane Adams joins Justin to discuss this fast-growing brand.

Paper Cuts LIVE! Episode 54 HERE IN THE DARK from Shotgun Honey Books is the debut short story collection from award winning author Meagan Lucas! Join us for the exclusive cover reveal and author chat. We will also be joined by special guest, author Laurel Hightower. "HERE IN THE DARK, the first collection from award-winning author Meagan Lucas, is a gritty genre blending wallop of short stories, set mostly in Southern Appalachia, that explore the female experience of lawlessness. In the tradition of Dorothy Allison and Bonnie Jo Campbell, Lucas tackles, with unsettling honesty: poverty, addiction, motherhood, and social justice in an increasingly troubled cultural climate. These are character-driven stories about crime, but less a who-done-it mystery and more a meditation on how the vulnerable navigate a world devoid of true justice. Unflinching in its gaze, HERE IN THE DARK is an ambitious collection from a bold and empathetic storyteller. Perceptive, intimate, and brave, these sixteen stories encompass shame and forgiveness, loss and redemption, oppression and revolution, and signal a new way of thinking about power and trauma. In "Voluntary Action," a sheriff's deputy witnesses the overdose of a high school friend in her custody. In "Buttons," a little girl, bullied by the neighbor boy, gets her revenge with a needle and thread. In "Sitting Ducks," a hurricane bears down on mothers, daughters, and sisters in an un-evacuated women's prison. In "Asylum" an immigrant woman, suffering a terrible loss, sees ghosts in the hotel and houses that she cleans. In "Hell, or High Water" a young woman with Stockholm syndrome is abandoned by her kidnapper deep in the woods of Western North Carolina. And in "Here in the Dark," a newly clean addict is given the opportunity to start over with her son if only she'll snitch on her former lover and pimp, but discovers, of course, it's not that simple. Blending Lucas' musical prose with high-tension stakes, and resonant characters, HERE IN THE DARK is a collection not to be missed." Visit us at: https://www.papercutslive.com

Give up your guns, it's for public safety, say Democrats. Meanwhile, mentally ill men who believe they are women facing a holocaust chanted the f-word and then attacked a protester who simply wore a sign that read “Children Cannot Consent to Puberty Blockers.” A female cop, apparently the lead cop, smiled and watched. Later, she told an interviewer the man, called Billboard Chris, had instigated it. While that happened in Canada, the same attitude and behaviors persist in America. After the latest murder by someone--this time a woman--suffering a psychotic break occurred, she was given a virtual pass by the Mockingbirds because Tennessee, where she murdered 6 people, has passed a law to prevent children from being chemically and surgically mutilated. Twitter is STILL banning accounts that question gender-ideologyand its clear coziness to Satanic ritual. Democrat office holders post pro-murder memes promoting Antifa terrorists with guns shooting people who will not pretend boys are girls. Well known Evangelical Christains have fallen into the belief that your guns in your safe are the problem, not the Satanic acceptance, promotion and enforcement of mental illness as virtue, with a stong dose of pharma, of course. Amanda Held Opelt, Songwriter, author of A Hole in the World (July 2022). Writes about faith, the creative life, grief, and ritual. Rooted in Southern Appalachia. - Amanda says Evangelical Christians should refuse to vote for Republicans who do not endorse “reasonable limits” on gun ownership. What does God say? The Enemy is a liar and murderer and he is taking his lies right to the time God created mankind, attempting to pressure us into speaking his lies. No one has ever “been born ‘in the wrong body'”We are in a hot, spiritual battle. It is vital that we arm ourselves with the only measures that have already defeated the Enemy.Genesis 1:2727 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.Ephesians 6:10-18The Armor of God10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people.4Patriotshttps://4patriots.comStock up on 4Patriots Survival Food Kits. Use code TODD to save 10% on your first order.BioOptimizershttps://magbreakthrough.com/toddUse promo code TODD for 10% off your order. Bonefroghttps://bonefrog.usEnter promo code TODD at checkout to receive 10% off your subscription. Bulwark Capital https://bulwarkcapitalmgmt.comAct now and get Bulwark Capital's “Common Cents Investing guide FREE. GreenHaven Interactivehttps://greenhaveninteractive.comGet seen on Google more with your worldclass website! Healthycellhttps://healthycell.com/toddJourney to better health and save 20% off your first order with promo code TODD. My Pillowhttps://mypillow.comUse code TODD for Closeout pricing on all All Season Slippers. RuffGreenshttps://ruffgreens.com/toddGet your FREE Jumpstart Trial Bag of Ruff Greens, simply cover shipping. SOTA Weight Losshttps://sotaweightloss.comSOTA Weight Loss is, say it with me now, STATE OF THE ART! Texas SuperFoodhttps://texassuperfood.comTexas SuperFood is whole food nutrition at its best.

In this episode, Joshua and Caleb interview Ian and Charity Rutter of R&R Fly Fishing. Ian has been an avid fly fisherman since the early 1990s and has been guiding since 1995. He is one of the most sought-after guides in the Southeast and is an expert on fly fishing in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Ian has also written several books on fly fishing, including the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Angler's Companion, Tennessee Trout Waters: Blue Ribbon Guide, and Rise Rings and Rhododendron: Fly Fishing the Mountain Streams and Tailwaters of Southern Appalachia. Charity moved to Tennessee in 1998, where she met Ian and took up fly fishing shortly after. She has been guiding since 2002. In 2014, Field & Stream magazine recognized Charity as one of the top female fly-fishing guides in the nation. In this conversation, we discuss: -Ian and Charity's story of meeting each other and falling in love with fly fishing -Starting their fly fishing guide service together -Raising a family while spending time on the water -Stories from the outdoors with kids -Fly fishing in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and much more. Find Ian and Charity online: https://randrflyfishing.com/ Instagram: @randrflyfishing Ian and Charity's Books: https://randrflyfishing.com/store/product-category/books-maps/ Ian's Art: https://www.ianrutterart.com/ Find Dads On The Fly online and sign up for our newsletter at https://www.dadsonthefly.com/ Support Dads On the Fly on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=84380068 Check out our sponsors: https://www.maggievalleyflyshop.com/ https://troutinsights.com/ https://catchcamnets.com/ https://turtleboxaudio.com/ https://www.aflyco.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/dadsonthefly/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dadsonthefly/support

This week on Sinica, we welcome back Deborah Seligsohn, assistant professor of political science at Villanova University. Debbi spent October 2022 through early January 2023 in Shanghai and Beijing, experiencing quarantine, testing, and lockdown at firsthand — and witnessing the protests and the sudden reopening. As a close observer of public health issues, she lends valuable perspective to what happened in these critical months.8:13 – Overview of how zero-COVID impacted different demographics in China17:54 – Which level of government was held accountable during the zero-COVID protests?23:03 – Factors that contributed to the breakout of protests29:05 – Rationale behind the sudden lifting of COVID regulations38:17 – Assessing Beijing's failure to effectively expand its medical capacity45:45 – Efficacy of Chinese vaccines49:45 – Understanding poor vaccination rate amongst the elderly population55:45 – Breakdown of China's COVID situation after the relaxation of zero-COVID measures1:03:32 – Unpacking the new negative test requirements imposed on Chinese travelers1:09:56 – Is China under-reporting its death rate?A transcript of this podcast is available at TheChinaProject.com.Recommendations:Debbi: two-part interview with Jesse Jenkins from the Volts Podcast, detailing the Inflation Reduction Act, the CHIPS act, and the Infrastructure BillKaiser: Demon Copperhead, the latest novel by Barbara Kingsolver. A coming of age story set in Southern Appalachia.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Joy is...The Fuel.Canyon and Forest Woodward are brothers who grew up in the mountains of Southern Appalachia and the North Cascades of Washington State. After childhoods spent roaming the woods and trails, Canyon would go on to forge a path as a championship level trail runner; political strategist; author, and climate activist, managing the campaign that would see his friend, Chloe Maxim, become the youngest female state senator in Maine's history, alongside setting astonishing course records and Fastest Known Times on the trails. Forest trod a different path to become an internationally published and awarded photographer and filmmaker, with his work, which engages viewers in contemporary issues through a humanistic lens, featuring in The New York Times, National Geographic, Esquire and The Atlantic, and his films, Food Chains and The Important Places, receiving critical acclaim and screening in dozens of countries and festivals including Tribeca and Berlinale.Canyon and Forest's footprints crossed this year, however, with the launch of the film Rural Runners, a meditative and intimate look at the incredible journey that rewrote progressive success in rural America and won two campaigns in red districts where they were expected to lose. The film epitomises what it means to show up in an incredibly relatable and raw manner that shines a light beyond the dark state of party politics.It was so rewarding to bring the siblings together; their relationship really does encapsulate the love that infuses all of their interactions with the world and those around them. In this incredibly creative exchange, we reflected on: growing up in the outdoors and the connective power of Nature; being open to different pathways; creativity as a philosophy of being; re-connecting to body and spirit through running; the cross-overs between the different states experienced in training and racing and other areas of life; finding a voice for change; the road to engaging in electoral politics to address a divided nation; the power of process predicating outcome; friendship as a manifesto; the importance of the formative places and people in our lives; why we need more ‘public listeners'; mindfully amplifying the energy for social and political change within the trail running society, and finding joy within ourselves and each other.Post-Script: Canyon did make it to the start line of Bandera 100km and came 3rd overall in a hugely competitive field.Follow: @canyonwoodward @forestwoodwardwww.forestwoodward.comwww.canyonwoodward.comDirt Road OrganisingWatch: Rural Runners; The Important PlacesRead: Dirt Road Revival Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Neil and Will talk "new economy" with the non-profit advocacy group Appalachian Voices.  Take a listen as they sit down with Robert Kell (New Economy Program Manager) and Autumn Long (Appalachian Solar Finance Fund Director) to discuss building a generative and equitable economy in the region.  They'll define the idea behind the New Economy Program and how solar is fast becoming a priority for their organization and for the region.  Started in 1997, they remained focused on bringing people together to protect the land, air and water of Central and Southern Appalachia.  In addition, you might even hear Neil's thoughts on the new to be state food of West Virginia, and how long is too long for  a "hot turning wheel."  Also, don't forget the #AppBiz of the week: Appalachian Voices...and shout outs to "New Roots Community Farm", "Kinship Goods" and the "Swamp Rabbit Cafe!"   Appalachian Voices: www.appvoices.org   Appalachian Solar Finance Fund: www.solarfinancefund.org  Appalachian Voices Front Porch Blog: www.appvoices.org/frontporchblog/  Appalachian Collegiate Research Initiative (formerly Appalachian Teaching Project): www.arc.gov/acri/  Appalachian Voices Listening Sessions Article: www.appvoices.org/2022/12/02/va-task-force-listening-sessions/  Pepperoni Roll: www.pastemagazine.com/food/fast-food/history-pepperoni-roll-appalachia/  New Roots Community Farm: www.newrootscommunityfarm.com/  Kinship Goods: www.kinshipgoods.com  Swamp Rabbit Cafe: www.swamprabbitcafe.com   

Crystal Wilkinson - Acclaimed author and recent fellowship recipient of the Academy of American Poets, is Kentucky's Poet Laureate. She joins Tavis to unpack her poetry book “Perfect Black.” A book where she “combines a deep love for her rural roots with a passion for language and storytelling in this compelling collection of poetry and prose about girlhood, racism, and political awakening, imbued with vivid imagery of growing up in Southern Appalachia.”

Chow Chow is a unique culinary event series in Asheville, NC, providing a platform to amplify voices working to sustain and strengthen its community and promote the culture and culinary scene.Rebeca Lynch is the Executive Director of Chow Chow and has served alongside the passionate and committed volunteer board of directors. She supports the region's community of creative makers, helping build community by bringing everyone together around the Southern Appalachian table. Jael Skeffington is co-founder & CEO of French Broad Chocolates and is a founding Board Member and Vice President of Chow Chow. She believes in using business as a force for good and is guided by a mission to source with integrity, craft with intention and build meaningful relationships with sustainable farmers. Chef Steven Goff's cuisine has been recognized by Food and Wine Magazine, Bon Appétit, Garden and Gun, The Local Palate, and other local publications. In 2019 he was named Chef of the Year by the North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association and is currently the owner and chef at Tastee Diner and is on the Chow Chow Board.They share how Chow Chow's focuses on involving community (and building community) within the event series and encourages connections to amplify a broad spectrum of voices working within Southern Appalachian foodways. Discover how equity and inclusivity in programming is building a model of a community- centered, equitable culinary event series that is also a joyous and fun celebration.  *photo by Stephan Pruitt

Live from the Lyric Theatre in Lexington, Kentucky. woodsongs.com Production Date: 06/06/2022 HEIDI HOLTON reins from deep in Southern Appalachia which has allowed her to master the music of the deep south and make a name for herself in the international blues community. Heidi casts a spell on her audience with the sweet strings of her acoustic slide guitar. WHY MAMA CRIES, released in 2018, forged a friendship with producer Rory Block, which led to the production of her upcoming album BLACK STRAP MOLASSES. ABBIE GARDNER is a fiery dobro player with an infectious smile. Whether performing solo or with Americana harmony trio Red Molly, her acclaimed tales of love and loss, both gritty and sweet, are propelled by her impeccable lap style slide guitar playing. Solo performances feature the dobro as a solo instrument, bouncing between a solid rhythmic backbone and ripping lead lines, all in support of her voice and songs. Her latest recording DobroSinger comes out May 13, 2022. Amelia Brown is a 14 year old clogger, pianist, and dobro player from Springfield TN.

In this episode Lori shares how even though you may leave a place like Appalachia it exists within your DNA. Hear words from her Father and Lori also shares words from special contributor Patricia Price. Connect with Lori:Instagram: @thehikepodcastTwitter: @thehikepodcastBlog: thehikepodcast.wordpress.comFacebook: @thehikepodcastEmail: hikepodcast@gmail.com Support the show

This month, we are taking the podcast on the trail as we explore the history and impact of William Bartram's travels through Southern Appalachia with Brent Martin, Executive Director of the Blue Ridge Bartram Trail Conservancy.

People who hunt treasure with metal detectors have a lingo all their own. Canslaw means the shreds of aluminum cans left after a lawnmower ran over them. And gold dance? That's what you do if you turn up something far more valuable than parts of an old beer can. Plus, a splendid new dictionary offers an in-depth look at the rich language of Southern Appalachia, from parts of West Virginia to Georgia. And why do television announcers greet viewers with the phrase "Welcome back" after a commercial break? Weren't they the ones who went away? Plus, coinball, bacon bats, Katzensprung, quote unquote vs. quote end quote, a quiz about synonyms, joke tags, dials and smiles, low sick, took a dump, and Get out of my bathtub! Read full show notes, hear hundreds of free episodes, send your thoughts and questions, and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org/contact. Be a part of the show: call 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; worldwide, call or text/SMS +1 (619) 800-4443. Email words@waywordradio.org. Twitter @wayword. Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What a cool episode this is. We cover a lot of topics and get into some real life saving details that you can take to your own boat and utilize.Deb's goal is to prevent problems at sea. Brian's job is to bail you out when there are no other options. Each guest brings a different perspective on emergencies, how to prevent them, and how to respond.Some of what we talk about:Station BillsEffective DrillsDehydration & Seasickness Helicoptor Rescue in the Skiing MountainsRescuing Diabetic FishermanAssessing PatientsPersonal Locator Beacons AIS vs GPSInReach What to put in the Ditch BagTall Ship ConcordiaLife Raft Life FailuresTall ship Bounty and Yacht Rebel HeartWearing PFD'sReading USCG & NTSB ReportsPan Pan VHF CallsRescuing a Fishing Vessel and Dewatering PumpsMedical MysteriesCold Water AcclimationRescuing a Sailor in the BahamasParadoxical UndressingThis episode of The Morning Muster Podcast is sponsored by:Our friends Katie & Lyall at Sun Powered Yachts  who helped us expand our solar array. They're a SunPower authorized dealer and offer both flexible  panels and fixed frame panels ranging from 50w to 410W. They're super high efficiency solar panels, which means more power in less space. Katie & Lyall are both sailors & have lived off grid for over 8 years. They provide free consultation to help you size and build a DIY system. Check out their website for more info www.sunpoweredyachts.com and use the promocode MORSEALPHA to get 10% off their flexible panels.Music By:Tim Eriksen is acclaimed for transforming American tradition with his startling interpretations of old ballads, love songs, shape-note gospel and dance tunes from New England and Southern Appalachia. He combines hair-raising vocals with inventive accompaniment on banjo, fiddle, guitar and bajo sexto - a twelve string Mexican acoustic bass - creating a distinctive hardcore Americana sound that ranges from the bare bones of solo unaccompanied singing on  Soul of the January Hills through the stripped-down voice and bajo sexto Christmas album Star in the East to the lush, multi-layered arrangements on Josh Billings Voyage, an album of northern roots American music from the imaginary village of Pumpkintown. 

What a fun episode about R2AK and all the ins and outs of racing, sailing, living, pooping, etc...Stage 1 Race start: June 13, 2022, Port Townsend, WashingtonStage 2 Race start: June 16, 2022, Victoria, BCApplication deadline: Tax Day baby! April 15thThe inside passage to Alaska has been paddled by native canoes since time immemorial, sailing craft for centuries, and after someone found gold in the Klondike the route was jammed with steamboats full of prospectors elbowing each other out of the way for the promise of fortune.It's in the spirit of tradition, exploration, and the lawless self-reliance of the gold rush that Race to Alaska was born. R2AK is the first of its kind and North America's longest human and wind powered race, and currently the largest cash prize for a race of its kind.This isn't for everyoneIt's like the Iditarod, on a boat, with a chance of drowning, being run down by a freighter, or eaten by a grizzly bear. There are squalls, killer whales, tidal currents that run upwards of 20 miles an hour, and some of the most beautiful scenery on earth.Our Guests:Katy Stewart has completed the race 4 times. This time she's competing solo.Jeff Oakleaf is a newbie to the race, sailing on Rough Duck with a crew of 4.Jake Beattie is the co-founder of the R2AK.Sponsored By:For over 160 years, Edson Marine has been helping sailors with their sailboat steering systems and making sure they are safe for their adventures on the water. From maintenance and replacement parts for your sailboats steering system and pedestal to premium boating accessories, find what you need to get your sailboat in shipshape. Not every day is full of sun and a light breeze; Edson has your back when the weather turns. Their passion for quality will bring you home safely. For more information on Edson Marine and their products, visit www.edsonmarine.com.Music By: Tim Eriksen is acclaimed for transforming American tradition with his startling interpretations of old ballads, love songs, shape-note gospel and dance tunes from New England and Southern Appalachia. He combines hair-raising vocals with inventive accompaniment on banjo, fiddle, guitar and bajo sexto - a twelve string Mexican acoustic bass - creating a distinctive hardcore Americana sound that ranges from the bare bones of solo unaccompanied singing on  Soul of the January Hills through the stripped-down voice and bajo sexto Christmas album Star in the East to the lush, multi-layered arrangements on Josh Billings Voyage, an album of northern roots American music from the imaginary village of Pumpkintown. 

These are hard times to keep your spirits up. Thinking you might need a bit of a boost, I'd like to introduce you to two young people who give me hope about the future of American politics. The first is Chloe Maxmin. I met her a few years ago when, still in her early-twenties and an unapologetic progressive, she had been elected to the Maine House of Representatives. She was the first Democrat ever to represent her district — Maine's Lincoln County, the state's most rural. The county also among the poorest, where 1 in 5 children grow up in poverty. And it's staunchly conservative, having voted Republican by an average of 16 percentage points in the preceding three elections.When I met her, Maxmin was preparing to run for the state Senate. Several old Maine pols (I lived in Maine back in the last century and know its politics quite well) told me she didn't stand a chance. But in 2020 she won — and in the process, knocked off the state Senate's Republican leader, the most powerful Republican politician in Maine.How did she pull off these upsets? I'll get to that in a moment. Maxmin exudes optimism, energy, and tenacity. She is also very smart. She says she'd always imagined running when she was in her thirties. She thought she needed a couple of graduate degrees, a settled life, and maybe a family to welcome her home. But in 2018, as the climate crisis worsened, she realized there was no need and no time to wait.The second person I'd like to introduce you to managed both her campaigns. Canyon Woodward was brought up in a rural part of Southern Appalachia. Maxmin and Woodward met each other in college and decided that the only way to begin solving the climate crisis and the injustices it was spawning was to get involved in politics from the ground up. Both had watched for years as rural America was abandoned by Democrats. They decided to buck that tide.So, how did Maxmin and Woodward do it? They developed the most grass-roots of all grass-roots strategies. Maxmin herself knocked on tens of thousands of doors. She connected with persuadable Trump voters who had never before spoken with a Democratic candidate. But she didn't just talk to them. She had conversations with them, then followed up with more conversation. Those conversations were about “kitchen-table” issues — problems that were on the voters' minds, as well as their thoughts and values. As she describes it, during her campaign for the Maine House she walked down a dirt road leading to a nondescript trailer. After knocking on the door, it cracked open to reveal a man who was reluctant to hear from her. She introduced herself nonetheless and asked him about the issues he cared about most in the coming election. After they talked for a time, he told her: “You're the first person to listen to me. Everyone judges what my house looks like. They don't bother to knock. I'm grateful that you came. I'm going to vote for you.”When I asked about her approach to politics, Maxmin told me rural communities are moral communities that respond more to personal stories and values than to specific policies. Building trusting relationships is the key. This takes time and effort and demands humility and a willingness to learn. As Maxmin and Woodward explain in their book, Dirt Road Revival: How to Rebuild Rural Politics and Why Our Future Depends On It (to be published in March):“Things move at the speed of relationship in rural America. You don't jump straight into business and take care of things as quickly as possible. An essential part of the culture of living and organizing in rural America is slowing down and building relationships. It is the touchstone on which our future—and all hope of transforming how we relate to politics and one another—depends. And a good relationship starts with a handshake. This small gesture is about establishing a modicum of trust and human connection. To show up, look someone in the eye, and shake their hand is to plant the seeds of possibility and connection. It's also what is lacking in today's politics. A voter told us one day, “I don't identify with either party. I vote for the person.  I vote for whoever has the firmest handshake.” Maxmin has already got a “green new deal” bill through the legislature. She's well on her way to being one of the nation's most effective state legislators on climate justice.What's the larger political picture here? The Democratic Party's abandonment of rural America has proved a strategic mistake. In 2016, Hillary Clinton won almost every urban center, but Trump swept the vast stretches of less populated country in between. Exit polling revealed that Trump won nearly two-thirds of the rural vote, while losing by a similar margin in cities and evenly splitting the suburban vote. When the American electoral system was created, over 95 percent of Americans lived in rural communities. Now, fewer than 20 percent do. But the nation's electoral system remains locked in the founders' two eighteenth century inventions — both of them premised on America's widely-dispersed rural population: the Electoral College, and a Senate in which each state gets two senators. As Americans have clustered in megalopolises along the East, West, and Gulf coasts, the Electoral College has become increasingly unrepresentative. Democratic presidential candidates have won the popular vote in seven out of the past eight elections dating back to 1988, but the Electoral College has elected Republican candidates in three of them. The same power imbalance is now reflected in the Supreme Court, where Republican presidents who failed to win the popular vote have appointed five of the nine sitting justices.The Senate is also becoming less and less representative of America. Today, the ten most populous states in the union are home to half the US population, but their twenty senators make up only a fifth of the US Senate. The other half of the population, spread out over forty smaller states, elects four-fifths of the Senate. This means half of the country gets four times the number of US senators per person as the other half. A state like California, with 40 million people, has the same number of senators as Wyoming, with 579,000.It will be many years (if ever) before these anachronisms are remedied. Entrenched power doesn't easily yield to reform. So as a practical matter — at least in the foreseeable future — the only way Democrats can retain and enlarge their political power is by winning over more of rural America. Maxmin and Woodward are charting the way.Thanks for subscribing to my letter. If you'd like to support this effort and receive the full package, please consider a paid or gift subscription. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich.substack.com/subscribe

Hosts Nicole Franklin and Bryant Monteilh introduce audiences to author Mary Othella Burnette. Ms. Burnette self-published her book Lige of the Black Walnut Tree: Growing Up Black in Southern Appalachia. This adventure story covers the history of her community--a number of which are her extended family members. This poignant visit back in time beautifully describes the life of Black Mountaineers from a daughter descended from quite a colorful history. Mary Othella Burnette recalls her grandmother's memory of having the Emancipation Proclamation read to her family when she was five years old. Two years later--and years before Juneteenth became a popular reference--Black Mountaineers referred to their freedom as The Great Surrender. As one would suspect, Ms. Burnette's oral interview with host Nicole Franklin is just as captivating as the words on the pages of her memoir.  Her life story is a rare peek into this slice of Americana.Music by David Monteilh

Our hosts love talking about the cultural uniqueness of Southern Appalachia, and in this episode they examine the town that may have been the center of the region's African American community - Huntington, West Virginia. Their guest is Dr. Cicero Fain III

The Book XChange goes on safari for this, the 30th episode of the show... and discuss favorite or notable books that feature, or are about, animals. Once we got going on this topic, we realized how deep a rabbit hole (shout out to Richard Adams!) it is. Which makes sense, because if there's one thing that unites peoples of all times, places and cultures, it's a love for/fascination with our animal friends. There's a reason they are featured so heavily in our myths, cosmologies, religions and artistic efforts. How much do they really understand about us? Do animals have consciousness? culture? souls? values? How much do we really understand about them? From famous epics that pit man against beast to road novels with non-human companions - as well as non-fiction classics that aim to deepen our knowledge and appreciation for other species - this episode takes all of these fascinating topics on and more. Even fantastical creatures get their due... we're looking forward to having our listeners join us for this epic sojourn into the Animal Kingdom. Enjoy! BOOKS DISCUSSED/MENTIONED/RECOMMENDED IN THIS EPISODE What John is currently reading/plans to read next: 'The Tree of Man,' Patrick White - TBD - What Jude is currently reading/plans to read next: 'Sandy Koufax: A Lefty's Legacy,' Jane Leavy - 'Solar Bones,' Mike McCormack - Books/Writers discussed in this episode: 'Moby ,' Herman Melville - 'Last Chance to See,' Douglas Adams - 'Travels with Charley,' John Steinbeck - 'Beyond Words: How Animals Think and Feel,' Carl Safina - 'The Whale Rider,' Witi Imihaera - The 'Game of Thrones' series, George R. R. Martin - 'The Peregrin,' J. A. Baker - 'The Soul of An Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness,' Sy Montgomery - 'Grief is the Thing With Feathers,' Max Porter - The 'Chronicles of Narnia' series, C. S. Lewis - 'Watership Down,' Richard Adams - The 'Dun Cow' books, Walter Wangerin - 'H is for Hawk,' Helen Macdonald - 'Salvation on Sand Mountain: Snake Handling and Redemption in Southern Appalachia,' Dennis Covington - 'Platero y Yo,' Juan Ramon Jimenez - 'Animal Farm,' George Orwell - 'The Dialogue of the Dogs,' - Miguel de Cervantes - Planned next episode of the Book XChange podcast: "Books We're Intimidated By" - the brothers discuss which books they've long thought about reading, but for whatever reason have lacked the courage or motivation to take on... an entire episode on books we HAVEN'T read? Yep, that's right... should be different, anyway!

Episode #60 of the Ground Shots Podcast is a solo episode with Kelly, glimpsing into a window of Spring in southern Appalachia.     In this episode of the podcast,   I chat about paying attention to details of place and how those moments of attention become stories of reverence. Some observations late May on the current land where I'm spending time Info on and experiences with Nettle, Wood Nettles and Nettle relatives The everyday journey of land-tending in different environments and playing with cultivated/wild tending dynamics How land-tending looks so different in different places Plants are old friends! Some thoughts on invasive plants and biological invasions in the South     Support the podcast on Patreon to contribute monthly to our grassroots self-funding of this project    For one time donations to support this work:   Paypal : paypal.me/petitfawn   VENMO: @kelly-moody-6   Cashapp: cash.app/$groundshotsproject    Our website with an archive of podcast episodes, educational resources, past travelogues and more: http://www.ofsedgeandsalt.com    Our Instagram pages: @goldenberries / @groundshotspodcast   Join the Ground Shots Podcast Facebook Group to discuss the episodes   Subscribe to our newsletter for updates on the Ground Shots Project   Theme music: 'Sweat and Splinters' by Mother Marrow   This episode hosted by: Kelly Moody   Produced by: Kelly Moody

The Eastern Red Cedar has been used for many things in Southern Appalachia including pencil making, wildlife habitat enhancement, fence posts, and cough medicine, but what's really interesting is its spiritual meaning. From Cherokee ancestor to nightmare banishment, cedars are both family and friends.

Freedom Isn't Free - Darin Waters and Marcus Harvey remember John Lewis who believed that an ongoing struggle is needed to assure the success of the civil rights movement. They also return to issues raised in a recent conversation with Dr. William Turner whose career was dedicated to an understanding and appreciation of Southern Appalachia's deep African American history. One of those is the shared experience of generational poverty in both Black and white communities in the region.

Civil Rights Roots - Today's guest is Dr. William Turner who has made a huge contribution to our understanding of the rich African American history of Southern Appalachia. He discusses the region's largely unheralded contribution to the civil rights movement and connects these roots to the rising tide for racial justice in America.

Music of the Highlands of Southern Appalachia - The music tradition of a people or a region tells us a great deal about a people and their culture. On this program we'll find out about the African American component to the music of Southern Appalachia with Doug Orr, co-author of "Wayfaring Strangers."