Appalachian Livin'

Sarah Brown ran for a Board of Education seat in Putnam County in this most recent election, the 2026 Primaries. Sarah breaks down what it was like to run a county campaign in a very volatile time in our society. School Board campaigns have been known to cause an uproar within the communities that they serve. Many counties in our region have seen county school board election races turn very ugly....

Brad Davis and Caitlyn Ware are responsible for the movement From Below: Rising Together for Coalfield Justice . They originally began as an immersive experience in McDowell County, WV. However, when Brad asked his congregation to help neighbors across the county line, whose water had recently been poisoned, a woman in the back laughed out loud and said, “our water has been bad for years”. This mo...

Paige Reiring on The Life of Mother Jones Lindsay and Elise met Paige in person, for the first time, the day we filmed this episode. She brought her, aptly described, emotional support Ax. As we have expressed before, we love Mother Jones and aspire to have the same grit and charisma that she had. Paige embodies the image that mother jones portrayed in public. As Paige goes through Mother Jones’ l...

On this episode of Appalachian Livin’, we talk to Maria Gunnoe via video call. Maria is a well known as a local advocate from Boone County, West Virginia. Her family has lived in they West Virginia Mountains for generations. So, of course, she comes from a long line of coal miners. During this episode we talk about our collective experiences as local, environmental advocates in an extraction state...

The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are theri own and do not necessarily reflect those of the hosts. This podcast should not be considered a professional news service. The content is for entertainment and informational purposes only. Accuracy and completeness are not guaranteed. We are regular folks, having a regular conversation. We hope that you join us. This week on A...

Steven P New Vs. Data Center Trial attorney and legal advocate, Stephen P New , learned that a massive data center complex and an ammonia plant were approved to begin construction right by his childhood home—where his aging father still lives. Without hesitation, Steve has been preparing for the battle of a lifetime. But this battle isn’t just about political parties and permits, it's about our ho...

This week on Appalachian Livin’ , we’re joined by musician Curtis Lovejoy from Wyoming County, West Virginia. Curtis has been writing songs that speak to what’s really going on in the world right now — some might call it political or protest music, but really, he’s just telling the truth. We kept calling his songs cheeky — they’ve got personality and humor — but behind every line is something real...

In this episode of Appalachian Livin’, Lindsay, Elise, and Tom sit down with the Appalachian Oracle—a kindred spirit we first met on TikTok and clicked with instantly. What started as an online friendship has turned into a real-life bond built on shared values and curiosity. The Oracle is working on her dissertation about Appalachian culture, and together we chat about everything from society and...

McDowell County’s only been using its new water buffalo for a few months, but it’s already delivering safe drinking water where tap water isn’t. Now Wyoming County is getting its own—thanks to the United Methodist Church Disaster Fund. Pastor Brad Davis explains, step-by-step, how McDowell’s system works, how the water stays safe, and what residents can expect when Wyoming’s buffalo rolls in.

In this episode of Appalachian Livin’, we sit down with Dr. Than Hitt and Mariah Clay from West Virginia Rivers. Dr. Hitt helps put the region’s ongoing water crisis into context from a scientific perspective, breaking down the causes, challenges, and urgency behind the issue. Mariah Clay shares how pollution is affecting Appalachian communities on a daily basis, and what steps are being taken rig...

Lindsay, Elise, and Tom go through a debrief, of sorts, of recent events and there was a lot to talk about! From the recent WV DEP Informal Conference in Pineville, WV, to the impending arrival of a Water Buffalo to bring clean water to our friends and neighbors in need, this is one you're not going to want to miss.

We spoke to Derek and Laura Schell from online personal training and nutrition coaching company, Minimalist Gym, about health and wellness in Appalachia and beyond! Join us!

Join us as we talk to a close ally of ours, Pastor Caitlyn Ware. Caitlyn has been an important part in our quest to get clean water to the residents of the Coalfields of West Virginia. Caitlyn is the Co-Creator of the grass roots movement, seeking justice for the land, it's people and their stories. Here is an overview of this organization so you can follow and help in whatever capacity you are ab...

Matt Deal with "The Deal Break" Podcast asked us to sit down with him and talk about the poisoned water situation in Wyoming County, West Virginia and we were happy to fill him in on the "deal." It's our first podcast collaboration, so go follow "The Deal Break" and Matt Deal on every platform!

Lindsay and Elise sit down with another Mountain Momma, Crystal Good. Crystal is the creator of the black newspaper Black By God The West Virginian. https://blackbygod.org/ Listen as we discuss the treasures in these hills, especially the gold in all of us. Along with the barriers we Appalachian Women face in 2025 and how we need to look to our ancestors for answers. We anticipate that Crystal wil...

Lindsay, Elise and Tom have a frank and honest conversation about the polluted water situation in Wyoming County, West Virginia, right where we should. Right next to Indian Creek. The Cicadas, and Tom, had plenty to say! We recently attended a meeting of folks in the area led by Zachary Shrewsbury and the Blue Feather Initiative, held in Pineville, WV, to spread knowledge and awareness of what is...

Are we divinely protected, or was it just not our time to go? Lindsay and Elise dive into past experiences that could have ended very differently. We express our realizations for the need for protective equipment in whatever sport or activity you are doing. Also, don't do drugs!

Lindsay's cousin came in from North Carolina for the night and we decided to play around with the podcast equipment. We do a little ASMR and chatting. Her daughter, Remy, makes an appearance. Then we need to end abruptly because we have to meet her mom at Sterling Drive inn, in Welch. If you know you know!!

We discuss Day 2 of our Toxic Tour of Southern WV where we went to Holly Grove Cemetery, the place where Mother Jones spoke to striking Miners before the Battle of Blair Mountain. Then we were off to Pax, WV, where there is an active Mountain Top Removal Mine, Surface Mine, or Strip Mine. This Coal has been traced as being the same Coal sitting in Curtis Bay, MD, that effects some of our tour crew...

We discuss Part 2 of our Toxic Tour where we went to Holly Grove Cemetery, the place where Mother Jones spoke to striking Miners before the Battle of Blair Mountain. Then off to Pax, WV, where there is an active Mountain Top Removal Mine, Strip Mine, or Surface Mine. This coal has been traced as being the same coal sitting in Curtis Bay, MD, where a part of our tour crew originated. We then tell o...

We took a group of organizers, college students and effected residents from various industrial complexes. We attempt to narrate the events of the weekend in order and express our perspectives and feelings of everything. It was a very powerful weekend so we need to do this one in 2 parts. This episode is the first half of the trip and where we went on the first day, Friday, April 5, 2025.

Elise, Lindsay and Tom sit down with Rusty Williams to discuss how he became the badass Appalachian Advocate that he is. Our initial intentions for this episode took a slight turn when we discovered that Tom and Rusty seem to have more in common than we had bargained for. We can't wait to have Rusty back so we can discuss so much more.

Lindsay and Elise discuss the importance of unions. Lindsay relives her experience as a coal miner's daughter, whose dad was a union miner that rallied and fought for his right to work.

This episode discusses drug use and addiction in a detailed manner. Listener discretion is advised. Everyone in Appalachia has been impacted by addiction. Every single person has been addicted, knows an addict or is related to someone who has struggled with, or succumbed to addiction. On this episode Lindsay shares her addiction story as an opening to this important topic.

Elise shares her stories with Lindsay and Tom about Larry Gibson, and how he managed to save 50 acres of Kayford Mountain, WV from being blown apart from Mountain Top Removal! Lindsay and Tom express their feelings on their trip to Kayford nearly a decade ago and how we need to go back to see how the landscape has changed.