Appalachia Meets World

It's football time in the mountains!  Neil is like a kid in a candy store, or this time of year for him is like "waking up on Christmas Morning."  Sit back and gear up for our annual football episode to kick off the season! In this episode, Neil and Will sit down with back-to-back State Champion (which makes 4 total) and legendary Head Coach of the Pikeville Panthers, Coach Chris McNamee.  A multi...

We're back (sorry for the hiatus)!!  In this episode, Neil and Will sit down with Equine Artist and "Rockstar" Jamie Corum.  Jamie discusses her passion for Art, especially Equine Art, and what got her involved in the first place.  Hear her talk about the place she grew up and how it drew her back many years later (as we like to say, "there's something magic in them mountains").  Her art has a way...

"Challenging the Appalachian narrative, one story at a time!"  In this episode, Neil and Will sit down with the Appalachian, the Filmmaker, the Writer and Storyteller - Elon Justice.  Upon working on her graduate school thesis, she came to the realization that "stories - Appalachian stories - have power."  Understanding the perceptions that were often laid upon her accent and geographical upbringi...

In this episode Neil and Will sit down with Brian Milam, Sports Director for WKYT (a CBS affiliate).  Brian flexes his Kentucky high school sports IQ while explaining how the "mountains" have transformed his career.  While local news in rural areas has struggled in the new digital age, Brian describes the importance of building trust while reporting in and about these communities.  Take a listen a...

In this episode Neil and Will sit down with Dee Davis - President of the Center for Rural Strategies, former Executive Director of Appalshop and prolific storyteller.  The majority of his career has been built on utilizing different forms of media to build more prosperous communities.  Dee describes how media has changed throughout his career and how important local news is to a rural community. ...

In this episode Neil and Will kick off a series of discussing "Media in Appalachia" with a sit down with Skylar Baker-Jordan, a journalist currently working with 100 Days in Appalachia.  100 Days is working to bring a diverse set of voices into focus throughout the region through media, focusing on news of Appalachia -- but more importantly BY APPALACHIANS.  Skylar discusses the complexities of th...

In this episode, Will (and unfortunately not Neil) sits down with Dr. Kathy Bullock, a Professor Emerita of Berea College where she focused on African American Music and Music Theory.  Dr. Bullock explains the musical connections of African American Music and traditional Appalachian Music she came to better understand while she taught in the Appalachian region.  As the Appalachian region can be co...

In this episode Neil and Will sit down with a Rural "Evangelist" and policy expert Tony Pipa of the Brookings Institution, to discuss rural policy - or the lack thereof.  Among his many hats, Tony also hosts the podcast "Reimagine Rural" - exploring how investment in rural people and places can lead to increased prosperity.  Take a listen as Tony speaks on the often congested (and confusing) feder...

In this episode Neil and Will sit down with Kim Davis, the executive director of "Friends of Southwest Virginia" - a regional organization positioned to develop and coordinate the creative economy in Southwest Virginia (SWVA).  It uniquely works to not only drive tourism in the region, but to also combine infrastructure and economic development within its mission.  While the "Birthplace of Country...

In this episode, Neil and Will sit down with the "Hillbilly Astrophysicist" - Dr. Jeff Bary - a professor at Colgate University and proud Appalachian born and raised in Welch, WV.  As an astronomer, Dr. Bary is working to reclaim our connection to the night sky and preserving its darkness for future generations.  As an Appalachian, he is working to develop a community interested in the night sky w...

In this episode Neil and Will sit down with author and thru-hiker Derick Lugo to discuss his journey along the Appalachian Trail (AT) as well as how the trail drives tourism for many small towns along the way.  Since completing the AT eleven years ago, Derick's life path has changed from a city dweller who knew little about hiking to an outdoor evangelist.  As a prolific storyteller, Derick speaks...

Laurel Cove Music Festival June 9th and 10th!!  In this episode, Neil and Will sit down with Jon Grace the Bell County Tourism Director and Organizer of the Laurel Cove Music Festival.  In its 4th year, while the festival continues to grow it still keeps the small town family identify it has formed from the start.  As festival season is off and running in Appalachia, hear how festivals serve as an...

In this episode, Neil and Will sit down with Luke Glaser.  As a Hazard, KY City Commissioner, Luke not only personally went through the recent devastating floods in Eastern Kentucky, he has been part of the process of recovery - something he and his colleagues have had to learn as they go.  Hazard, KY in Perry County was one of the hardest hit areas when the flood came in late July.  The devastati...

It's Derby Week!  In this episode Neil and Will sit down with Keith Gabbard, CEO of the People's Rural Telephone Cooperative or PRTC in McKee, KY.  It doesn't matter where you live, in this day and age everyone deserves an equal opportunity at broadband access.  PRTC is delivering just that in one of the more rural and underserved areas in the country - in turn making Jackson County one of the mos...

In this episode Neil and Will sit down with Chris Worman, founder of Connect Humanity - a nonprofit working with communities to build the internet infrastructure and skills they need to participate fully in a digital society.  As part of an ARC funding grant, Connect Humanity has been tasked to bridge the digital divide in Appalachia, specifically to 50 undeserved communities throughout every sub-...

In this episode Neil and Will have a conversation with Tom Gellrich of the H2-CCS Network and Co-Organizer of the 2023 Appalachian Renewable Natural Gas Conference.  Renewable Natural Gas or RNG is different in that instead of extracting materials from the earth, it is the conversion of waste and other organic materials into energy - combating climate change along the way.  Take a listen as Tom sp...

Take a listen to a teaser of the upcoming episode on Friday.  We just wanted to get a teaser out to talk a little about the upcoming Appalachian RNG Conference on this Wednesday, April 19th.  Check it out to find out a little more...then check back on Friday for the full episode!   Appalachian RNG Conference 2023 - https://rngconferences.com/product/appalachian-rng-conference-2023/    

In Part 1 of the discussion on "Appalachian Health", Dr. Wykoff discusses his book, "Appalachian Health: Culture, Challenges and Capacity."  On this episode, Part 2, Dr. Wykoff discusses overall healthcare challenges and potential opportunities in Appalachia, and the importance of connecting healthcare with economic prosperity and job creation.  Take a listen to the follow up conversation and hear...

In this episode Neil and Will were honored to sit down with Dr. Randy Wykoff - one of, if not THE face of rural health in the entire country.  As the founding dean of East Tennessee State's College of Public Health, Dr. Wykoff is on a mission to make ETSU one of the best little College of Public Health in the world.  His recent book (as co-editor) "Appalachian Health: Culture, Challenges and Capac...

In this episode it hits close to "home" with Will and Neil.  They sit down with David Ledford the President and CEO of the Appalachian Wildlife Foundation to talk about the current project that is - Boone's Ridge!  Located in the heart of central Appalachia, partially on abandoned mine land, this project is more than just a natural habitat.  Take a listen as Mr. Ledford explains the phased approac...

In this episode Neil and Will sit down with Jose Alfaro, the CEO of CO.STARTERS - an organization equipping communities with robust programs to grow local small businesses.  Through a community based approach, this Appalachian organization has outgrown the "borders" to consist of a network of success stories throughout the world.  Take a listen to hear Jose discuss CO.STARTERS practical and compre...

"There was a million heavenly things to see and a million spectacular ways to die." - Grandma (Emma) Gatewood In this episode, Neil and Will sit down with storyteller, Bette Lou Higgins to talk about the extraordinary life of an Appalachian legend that you may have never heard of - Grandma Gatewood!  The art of storytelling has long been a cornerstone of the cultural foundation in Appalachia...not...

The AppalachiaFest: From Surviving to Thriving!  In this episode Neil and Will sit down with Dr. Michele Morrone (Conference Chair - Appalachian Studies Association) and Dr. Tiffany Arnold (Program Chair - Appalachian Studies Association), both professors at Ohio University, as well as Dr. Ricardo Nazario, current president of the Appalachian Studies Association.  The Appalachian Studies Associati...

In this episode, Neil and Will sit down with naturalist and historical interpreter with the Cleveland Metroparks - Foster Brown.  Foster and the Metroparks are having a summer camp in Northeast, OH titled - Appalachian Lifestyles Camp - for "hands on learning about the life and art of the Appalachian culture."  As a camp dedicated to the Appalachian culture, taking place outside of Appalachia, Fos...

In this episode, Neil and Will sit down with Dr. John Kvach, a historian hired as the Executive Director of the Singing River Trail - a 200+ mile greenway system being developed in Appalachia Alabama.  Why a historian?  John explains how the past plays a large role in the establishment of the trail and the overall impacts of a greenway system.  Take a listen as he describes the benefits that go we...