Appalachian Imagination

Ryan Eller (Executive Director) and Jess Mullins Fullen (Programs & Learning Administrator) of AFN, join Jason on this episode to talk about Appalachian Funders Network. Throughout the conversation you will find all parties involved share a common love for Appalachia and its people. Appalachia Funders Network Launches the Appalachian Helene Response Fund to Support Communities Devastated by Hurric...

This episode is conducted by Mrs. McQueen (Sarah) FBLA advisor at the Jackson County High School, along with the FBLA student officer team Kasey Bowman (Historian), Rylee Turner (Reporter), Kyla Bagwell (Parliamentarian), Isabella DeLeon (Vice President), Brista Estridge (President), and Laikyn Robinson (Secretary). They discuss how the team is using FBLA to gain hands on work experience to prepar...

Jason talks about the Eastern Kentucky flood that took place on July 4-5, 1939, the flood of 1957 in the Big Sandy region, the flood of 2022, that wrecked Eastern Kentucky, and also speaks of the recent floods that have devastated western Tennessee and North Carolina. We ask that if you are able to do so, please send donations in anyway possible to help our friends and neighbors who are suffering...

Joe Tolbert Jr is an organizer, executive, minister, writer, and commentator whose work and passion lie at the intersection of art, culture, spirituality and social justice. Joe Tolbert Jr. was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, but had a balanced mix of urban and rural upbringing. His Father's family in Georgia were a tight nit group of people who always gather around Grandma's house. Being out in the...

Kenneth Boshers was born Febuary 6, 1938 and passed away March 17, 1989. Jason shares several memories of his papaw in this episode. Hunting squirrel and ground hog with his dog Black Jack. Catching bluegill at the May’s Place. Sleigh riding on an old refrigerator panel (The Crash). The slaying of a big Tom Turkey with a Plumb hatchet. Meatloaf (his uncle eating canned dogfood). His papaw was alwa...

James is a well established singer/recording artist who hand picked by Randy Travis and his wife to be the stand in guy for Randy after he suffered a stroke and is no longer able to preform. James discusses the power and abilities of AI (Artificial Intelligence) and how it has made it possible for Randy to release new music. The new single out now is titled 'Where That Came From'. James Dupre done...

Clayborn is everything you think of when you here the phrase Country Boy. Growing up in Harlan County, he was always on the hip of his grandpa James Clayborn who was a coal miner. Brian shares a story of his grandpa's mining days-James was putting roof jacks in to secure the ceiling of the mine one kicked out and broke his back. The incident left him paralyzed for a period of time, and the day...

Born and raised in New Jersey, Scott is a very talented singer/songwriter who left the trades to pursue his musical career. Now residing in Nashville, Tennessee he is living his dream by playing all through the southern United States. Scott shares the story of how he and his newly wed wife met- While attending a show at the magical, Ryman Auditorium they both had tickets sitting beside each other....

Alex Wilson conducts this interview with his grandmother and former Kentucky State Representative, Marie Rader. Coming from humble beginnings on Horse Lick Creek in Jackson County, Marie has always been one to defy all odds stacked against her. She shares a story of her childhood telling about how her mother would pin her dress tail under a table leg while working in their family's store, befo...

School is back in session! All the bus drivers are back on the road hauling the most precious cargo in the world. The first few days of school are always the most hectic, with getting settled to new teachers, figuring out where classes are and trying to get back in the groove. We here at Appalachian Imagination ask you to please be aware of the buses on the roads and children waiting at their pick...

Thank you for being patient while we took a little break through the month of July! We hope you enjoyed listening back to some of the older episodes. It is truly an honor and privilege to do each and every interview with our wonderful friends and neighbors. In this short ad free episode, Jason talks about logging and harvesting trees. From the very first European settlers, logging and harvesting t...

While the great. State of Kentucky is currently in the process of updating the roads, on the north end of Jackson County. We thought it would be fitting to repost this episode with Rob. He shares a bunch of stories on the history of Sand Gap during the time when it was really thriving, and it now seems to be coming back to life (somewhat). With all the gravel trucks in our area it takes a toll on...

Since the original air date of this episode Paul has retired from driving a school bus, however he is still working as a volunteer reading to the kids at Sand Gap Elementary through the Save The Children Project. He and his wonderful wife Debbie have also opened an Air B&B called The Mayapple Cabin, it is located right on the Sheltowee Trace, near McKee, Ky. If you happen to be in the area and...

Elsie is a true inspiration! Sharing stories of her grandparents, of food preservation, some that are funny, and some that will really pull at your heart strings. This episode will keep you captivated from beginning to end. Being a wealth of knowledge, she has worked hard in life and has kept a positive attitude. At the end she gives a testimony that all should hear. We thank God for our Appalachi...

Mr. McQueen grew up in a time when families worked hard for what they had, with no complaints of doing their fair share. Church has been a big part of life for Glenwood from his youth and remains so today. Being a wealth of historical knowledge, he gives us a pretty good run down on the Bond Foley Lumber Company that once flourished in Jackson County before closing just before the Great Depression...

Our good friend, and returning guest, Evan Lakes joins, Jason and his son Carter for this episode. They talk a little about fishing and how it is a good clean and fairly cheap hobby that can actually put food on the table. Then as it often does the conversation turns to movies and TV shows that all of the guys enjoy. Written by a fellow Kentuckian, Robert Kirkman, The Walking Dead held a big segme...

Hunting, Fishing and Healthy Habits. Justin tells us about Mouth taping/Hostage Tape . His health routines may seem a little weird to some folks, but Justin really puts his heart into being a healthier person. He says the tape took a couple of days to adjust to but he has really slept well since. Good sleep is when our bodies recover and is really important to our overall health. Jason gives an up...

Justin and Jason, start this episode off by paying tribute to Stringbean Akemon. They touch a little on who he was and discuss the Annual Stringbean Bluegrass Festival that is held at the Stringbean Memorial Park, in Gray Hawk Kentucky. Talking about music there is no way Randy Hayes could be left out of the conversation. Randy was not only Keith Whitley 's guitar player he was also his friend...

Born and raised in a little place called Tuff it Out, near Gray Hawk, Kentucky. Donald (Duck) Moore was one of 6 surviving children born to his parents. Working as sharecroppers the Moore family lived in a 2 bedroom house, grew what they ate, and lived off of the farm that belonged to a Mr. Tommy Hays. Duck found a love for sports in high school and was fortunate enough to get a scholarship to go...

This is an older episode that a lot of our new listeners may not have heard yet. With the warm weather now with us, work and life in general didn't allow time for a new episode this week but, this is one that we are sure you will enjoy. I talk about all the work I had to do involving water growing up. We also had some music sent in from Lowdown Revival!! They perform a cover of Steeldrivers, G...

NOT ALL HEROES WEAR CAPES! This is a very special episode in honor of Memorial Day. Papaw Paul joins us once again to host this great episode with two, local members of the D.A.V. Danny Robinson served in the USAF from 1976-1980. With his family being very supportive of him joining, Danny spent his time working as a mechanic on F4 Fighter Jets. The only thing that he didn't enjoy was washing p...

This is a very special episode for Mental Health Awareness Month . Justin having suffered with anxiety throughout his life conducts this episode with three guest who have dealt with a lot of the same issues. One third of all adults have reported either anxiety or depression. 301,000,000 people in the world have anxiety disorders. Bethany Isaacs who is a registered nurse, tells that her first bough...

This episode takes several twists and turns! Jason tells a few stories of his brother Jesse sleepwalking. One when he peed in the trashcan at grandma's house, another when he drank a bottle of rubbing alcohol, and some other wild sleepwalking events. Justin, himself suffered one incident that involved sleepwalking. Waking up naked at a friends house with no clothes in sight. From there it all...

Jesy returns to sit down with Justin and Jason for another conversation! Jesy and Justin have a long history together, from childhood till now they have always been friends and running buddies. The terrible 2 like most other young folks in the area would quite often get into things they shouldn't. In this episode there are a lot of things you shouldn't do, but the way the stories are told...

My take on snakes plus some true stories of encounters that I've had with animals,wild and domestic. Some may seem a little far fetched but I promise they are true. You will hear of my short term pet possum, a snapping turtle I had for a pet, the great skunk incident and lots more. Email us at appalachianimagination@gmail.com contribute at PayPalme/Appalachianimagine find us on Facebook,Instagram,...