Scenic Roots

Southeast Tennessee's rising overdose deaths in this pandemic. Photographer Andrew Feiler on his book on Rosenwald Schools. “Who Took Care of the Horses?” for the armies of the Civil War. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”

Richard Winham speaks with Joshua Bennett - poet, performer and professor - about his latest collection "Ode" on this week's "Talking Writing."  (First aired Weds 9/23/20)       

(riseupcooperative.org) Rise Up Cooperative helps teens and at-risk youth in the Chattanooga area in a few ways - by teaching life and leadership skills, while filling service gaps in the community. Sandy Pricer is the founder and CEO.

(Chattanooga Theatre Centre) Chris Williamson is a teacher, an actor - and a comic. He’s teaching sketch and stand-up comedy at Chattanooga Theatre Centre through its Summer Academy program.

(Sheba_Also / Creative Commons) Sometimes, a space that is lost is a space regained. Last year, the Center for Mindful Living had to close its location in downtown Chattanooga due to the pandemic. But recently, it found a new space in the St. Elmo neighborhood. Stephanie Wilkins is the Center’s executive director.

Stephanie Wilkins of Chattanooga’s Center for Mindful Living. CTC’s Chris Williamson; Sandy Pricer of Rise Up Cooperative. Talking Writing:  Poet, performer & professor Joshua Bennett. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”          

(Mararie / Creative Commons) Richard Winham shares an encore sampling of a performance at Barking Legs Theater here in Chattanooga:  Marquis Dotson and Vital Organ.   

( Chad McClure / The Chattanooga Times Free Press) The Brood-X cicada is the longest-lived insect in North America. And now, in fifteen states - including Tennessee - it is rising from the ground, seventeen years after the last time. You can learn about these periodical cicadas - and more - in the latest “Get Out Chattanooga,” the magazine from The Chattanooga Times Free Press. Sunny Montgomery is...

(Mark Making) “It’s Our Turn” is a mural designed and created by four teens in Chattanooga from start to finish through workshops by the arts nonprofit Mark Making and in collaboration with local artists. The mural - unveiled a few weeks ago at Stove Works - depicts the problems of bullying, gang violence and drug abuse while also inspiring other teens to say “It’s Our Turn” to avoid these behavio...

Ricardo Nache and Frances McDonald on “It’s Our Turn.” Sunny Montgomery of The Chattanooga Times Free Press. Barking Legs Theater:  Marquis Dotson and Vital Organ. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”   

For this Memorial Day, we bring you the voices of a few Chattanooga area veterans:  Bill Norton, John Edwards III, Monkee Rawlston and Chuck Alsobrook. Listen to the individual interviews:

(eltpics / Creative Commons) Richard Winham shares a writers-in-the-round sessions with finalists from Chattown Stages’ Songwriters Stage, recorded live downtown at The Chattanooga Public Library.   In this session, we hear from Brayden Guerette, Nancy Dwight Seiters and Drew Richelle.    

Claire Stockman’s job in the Hamilton County Schools is Content Lead for the Arts. I spoke with her about what she does for teachers and students across nearly 80 schools - and her work with our colleagues on our campus, at the Arts-Based Collaborative at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga:  abc@utc.

(Chattanooga Black Arts & Ideas Festival) This year’s Chattanooga Festival of Black Arts and Ideas will begin in the downtown - starting on Monday, Memorial Day. Ricardo Morris is the Festival’s founder and CEO.  

(archdaily.com) As we head into the Memorial Day weekend, the message in downtown Chattanooga for this summer after more than a year of the pandemic is loud and clear:  “Open for Business.” Marcus Ellsworth is program manager at River City Company.

Marcus Ellsworth, program manager at River City Company. Ricardo Morris of Chattanooga’s Black Arts & Ideas Festival. Claire Stockman of Hamilton County Schools on abc@utc. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”        

(Baxter Miller) Richard Winham shares a conversation with Cate Doty - a former wedding announcements writer for “The New York Times” who now lives in Raleigh, NC - on her book “Mergers and Acquisitions.”      

(gerios / Creative Commons) The Chattanooga Writers Guild is now accepting submissions for its Annual Spring Writing Contest. The deadline is June 15th - and winners will be announced on July 15th. Ray Zimmerman is the Guild’s president - and Kate Landers is a board member.  

Jill McCorkle’s new novel - “Hieroglyphics” - delves into history and memory, set in her native North Carolina. On Tuesday, Jill will participate in a virtual interview as part of FocusLit, the fundraiser for Southern Lit Alliance here in Chattanooga.   Steve Yarbrough - a friend of Jill’s and a member of the Fellowship of Southern Writers - will interview her. I spoke with Jill - who is in Hillsb...

Author Jill McCorkle & Southern Lit Alliance’s Lynda LeVan. The Chattanooga Writers Guild’s Spring Writing Contest. Talking Writing:  Cate Doty on “Mergers and Acquisitions.” These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”          

(alanshikoh.com) Richard Winham presents the second half of a performance by guitarist Alan Shikoh, performed at Barking Legs Theater in Chattanooga.         

(bioworld.com) A Chattanooga firm is working with NASA on a device that could be connected to your smartphone to detect COVID-19 in your breath. It is called the “E-Nose.”   George Yu is the CEO and founder of Variable, a sensor technology business.

(visitchattanooga.com) After more than a year of the pandemic, we are hearing more about the return of live music festivals this summer - and into the fall - here in Chattanooga and the Tennessee Valley.   Barry Courter covers this scene as a reporter for The Chattanooga Times Free Press.  

The return of live music festivals in Chattanooga and beyond. A prototype device that could sniff out COVID-19 in your breath. Barking Legs Theater:  Guitarist Alan Shikoh, Part II. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”          

(isisasheville.com) Richard Winham shares the second half of a virtual set by Gaslight Street - a Southern soul band from Charleston, SC - for the Mountain Spirit Acoustic Series at the Isis Music Hall in Asheville, NC.