This Conversation

The United Methodist Church is splitting over how to deal with homosexuality. Guest is Pastor Dale Gilbert of Pleasant View Methodist Church who describes the issue and explains why his church has disaffiliated from the United Methodist Church. Mentioned in this episode: WEHC 90.7 FM is the Voice of Southwest Virginia. Stay tuned, connected, informed and entertained. This is listener supported rad...

Pop quiz: Are members of the Castro family still running things in CUBA? Why does the U.S. refuse to trade with CUBA and how does that affect the Cuban people? Can U.S. citizens visit CUBA as tourists? Sylvia Rozwadowska of Colibri Travel led a group from Emory & Henry College on a spring 2023 trip to Cuba answers these questions and discusses the origins of the powerful Cuban lobby in the U.S...

Pete Vance and Jim Ray, of VFW Post 9640 honor families who lost a family member in military service and other veterans for Memorial Day 2023. These men share the challenges veterans often face in dealing with a reality they experienced but have a hard time talking about. The don't ask recognition for themselves, but ask that the sacrifices of soldiers and their families be remembered. Mentioned i...

Dr. Susan Patrick, Director of Childhood Success with the United Way of Southwest Virginia, talks about the childcare crisis and how it can be a drag on a local economy, even limiting the number of available jobs. If a parent brings home $22,000 a year from a $15 an hour salary, how can the family afford to have a second parent work with minimum child care costs of $11,000 a year? Dr. Patrick addr...

Linda Modica is president of the Citizens Awareness Network in Erwin, Tennessee and her group is trying to stop a new procedure for enriching uranium, scheduled for Nucelar Fuel Services. She says the water, air, and people are being effected by nuclear contamination in the area. She talks about where their appeal stands in stopping the new processing in Erwin and explains why she became an activi...

In the continuation of my conversation with James Gibbs, International Vice President of the United Mine Workers, Gibbs talks about his career in the mines, UMWA representation of workers who are not miners, and the union's relationship with government representatives. Mentioned in this episode: WEHC 90.7 FM is the Voice of Southwest Virginia. Stay tuned, connected, informed and entertained. This...

Olivia Bailey, former news anchor at WCYB-TV talks about moving on from television into marketing for Friends of Southwest Virginia. She also talks about her recent appearance at the 2023 Rotary Frolics. Mentioned in this episode: WEHC 90.7 FM is the Voice of Southwest Virginia. Stay tuned, connected, informed and entertained. This is listener supported radio. www.wehcfm.com

James Gibbs has worked in mining for 40 years and knows a thing or two about mine worker issues. IN fact, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine invited Gibbs to be his guest at President Biden's 2023 State of the Union address. Gibbs used the opportunity to plead his case for continued support in protections for miners -- and for assistance in good paying jobs with benefits for replacing lost mining jobs. Gibbs...

MAJOR KRISTIN BEO WOLFE Major Wolfe has ties to Southwest Virginia and is a history-making fighter jet pilot in the U.S. Air Force. She was the first woman to command an Air Force demo team and currently commands the 13-person F-35A Team that tours the country and the world letting people see on the world's most sophisticated stealth jet. In this interview, she shares details about her career, abo...

Rail Solution director David Foster reviews efforts to move trucks onto trains to move through the I-81 corridor. Mentioned in this episode: WEHC 90.7 FM is the Voice of Southwest Virginia. Stay tuned, connected, informed and entertained. This is listener supported radio. www.wehcfm.com

In this episode, we talk with Vernon Miles who is headed to Korea to direct joint military exercises. We trace his career and hear about the challenges and threats on and around the Korean peninsula. Mentioned in this episode: WEHC 90.7 FM is the Voice of Southwest Virginia. Stay tuned, connected, informed and entertained. This is listener supported radio. www.wehcfm.com

Marketing specialist in Coast Guard Recruiting Command Zach Hupp believes that young people should examine career options in the Coast Guard. His experience has taken him on international adventures and into special public affairs training where he traveled as the official photographer for the Secretary of Homeland Security. He says there is a serious need for military recruits and points to the C...

Retired educator Jerry Hill grew up in Washington County, Va. and was inspired by Martin Luther King's commitment to nonviolence and to peace. Hear why he says people should attend special programs on Jan. 12 and join in the annual march and program in Abingdon on Jan. 14, 2022. in order to celebrate the life and accomplishments of Dr. Martin Luther King. Mentioned in this episode: WEHC 90.7 FM is...

You may have ignored those offers from the power company to sign up for a free energy audit. And.. you may be missing some free supplies and free service that could help. This conversation with Melvin Ross of Bee Green Solutions, an energy efficiency consulting business (info@beegreensolutions.com), that works with Appalachian Power Co tells you how to get free energy help through the power compan...

As 2022 comes to a close, Virginia Tech basketball Coach Mike Young is in the midst of another successful season. On Dec. 17, 2022 about 150 Emory & Henry alums watched the Hokies defeat Grambling State and then visited with the Coach who shares their Emory & Henry roots. Young played for legendary Emory & Henry Coach Bob Johnson and began his career as an assistant to Coach Johnson af...

You probably already have the idea. People from Appalachia are  illiterate, prejudiced, isolated, lazy, backward, non-creative, and talk funny. A display at the Jonesborough/Washington County, TN History Museum in the Jonesboro Visitors Center tackles -- and refutes-- common misconceptions about Appalachians. Dr. Megan Tewell, who researched the exhibit, talks about how some of these ideas de...

Recorded in the holiday season, this conversation highlights the story of a few people who have spent decades serving others -- for free. Crossroads Medical Mission began twenty years ago and continues to grow in providing free medical care for people in SW Virginia and East Tennessee who can't afford it. In fact, the organization has expanded from its traveling mobile clinic to a stationary build...

The intricacies of medical care for the elderly are overwhelming. There are experts who can help. In This Conversation, Carolyn Smith, President and Founder of Marketplace Agency & Eldercare of Harrisonburg, Virginia, walks listeners through the basics. The timeliness of this interview is the connection to end-of-year open enrollment and choosing appropriate plans. Mentioned in this episode: W...

32-year military veteran Lt. Col. Eric Stanton talks about his career, the commitment veterans have to each other, their post-service struggles, and who we all need to say, think, and do to honor the sacrifice of our veterans and their families. Mentioned in this episode: WEHC 90.7 FM is the Voice of Southwest Virginia. Stay tuned, connected, informed and entertained. This is listener supported ra...

Wise County resident Taysah DeVaughan is challenging incumbent Morgan Griffith for the Congressional seat in the 9th District of Virginia in the Nov. 8, 2022 General Election. DeVaughan graduated from University of Virginia's College at Wise in 2018. She also attended Cameron University and Comanche Nation College. Her career experience includes working as an organizer for the Appalachian Communit...

This episode of This Conversation with Congressman Griffith is guest hosted by David St. Clair. The reason is explained in the opening of the show. Previous interviews with Teresa Keller are linked below. Highlights of this October 2022 interview include his explanation of his Jan. 6, 2021 vote not to certify the results of the Pennsylvania election in the presidential election of 2020, which woul...

Sgt. Kannan Rasiah was born in Singapore with royal ancestry from Sri Lanka. His phenomenal journey brought him to Emory & Henry College where he graduated and joined the military. Unfortunately his positive experiences have been laced with racism and a painful focus on the color of his skin. He shares what it has been like in this open and raw conversation. Mentioned in this episode: WEHC 90....

The U.S. General election on Nov. 8, 2022 is going to be very close and control of Congress is up for grabs. Washington County, Virginia Director of Elections and Voter Registrar Derek Lyall talks about the election process and election safety. Mentioned in this episode: WEHC 90.7 FM is the Voice of Southwest Virginia. Stay tuned, connected, informed and entertained. This is listener supported rad...

When Wise County native and attorney Frank Kilgore read J.D.Vance's book and saw the film Hillbilly Elegy , he was blowing steam from his ears! His frustration and irritation became the motivation for his own book, J.D. Vance is a Fake Hillbilly and Think Twice Before Calling (All) Coalfield Appalachians Racists, Sexists, and Ignoramuses. Frank Kilgore is the guest in this episode of This Conversa...

Josh Mancuso is an actor, filmmaker, and comedian. He'll tell you just how famous he is in this episode of This Conversation. Part of the conversation refers to Mancuso's new documentary on African American contributions in the SW Virginia/East Tennessee region called "Appalachian Soul" that is nearing completion. In this podcast, you'll hear reference to Harlan, Kentucky and a book called "The Ha...