West Virginia Talk

  Did you know that the "jolly happy soul" we celebrate every winter had deep roots in the state of West Virginia?  In this episode, we sit down with Dinah Courrier at the Mineral County Museum to uncover the local legacy of Jack Rollins , the Keyser native who penned the lyrics to the holiday classic "Frosty the Snowman." While the world knows the song, few realize the man behind the magic - and...

In this special episode of West Virginia Talk, James and Jerry journey to the heart of Charleston to explore one of the state's most solemn landmarks. Through rich storytelling this episode brings to life the monuments that stand tall and carry the names of the men and women of our state that served in the armed forces. Discover the monument made with black granite walls, the symbolism behind it's...

Send us a text Get ready to explore one of the East Coast's premier climbing destinations! In this episode, James and Jerry dive into the world of Seneca Rocks, a stunning rock formation that draws climbers, hikers, and outdoor adventurers from far and wide. We will take a brief look into the history of this magnificent location, talk about rock climbing, hiking to the look-out platform, and so mu...

Send us a text Join James and Jerry on our latest episode of West Virginia Talk as we speak to Jamie Summerlin.  Jamie is a Gulf War veteran who served in the Marine Corp for 6 years.  He is the author of the book " Freedom Run " and is currently the CEO of Guidon Creative who is the driving force behind this new festival in Morgantown, WV.  In this episode we will talk about all the amazing vendo...

Send us a text Ever wish you could experience world - class art, captivating science exhibits, and a stunning symphony hall all in one place?  Then take a trip with us to the Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences of West Virginia!  In this episode, we delve into this unique cultural hub in Charleston, West Virginia.  We will talk about the Avampato Discovery Museum, the Juliet Art Museum, and the...

Send us a text Join us as we uncover the intriguing history and luxurious offerings of West Virginia's premier destination, the Greenbrier Resort, with special guest Cam Huffman, the Director of Public Relations. Prepare to be amazed by the resort's rich history, dating back to 1778, when the healing properties of the White Sulphur Springs first attracted visitors, leading to the development of th...

Send us a text Located in the Ohio River is one of the most unique state parks that West Virginia has to offer.  While some of the standard state park attractions such as hiking and fishing will draw some visitors in, it is the history of this fascinating island that will draw most of the visitors.  Home to Harman and Margaret Blennerhassett in the late 1800's, a replica of their home stands today...

Send us a text This episode takes us to Heritage Farm.  Founded in 1973 by Mike and Heriella Perry this former farm has become one of the most intriguing places to visit in our great state.  From touring any of the seven museums to having an adventure with one of their many outdoor activities, this place has it all.  This is definitely a great place for the entire family since it has something for...

Send us a text Located in the hills of West Virginia stands the world's largest radio telescope.  The Green Bank Observatory has been one of the most sought-after locations for radio research in the world.  Since the 1980's many new space discoveries have been made at this facility, and it is definitely a location that needs to be on your bucket list of places to travel to.  Join James and Jerry a...

Send us a text In this first episode of Season 3, James and Jerry journey to Mineral County, West Virginia.  Why Mineral County?  This is where the city of Fort Ashby is located and home to the Ashby's Fort Museum.  After taking in this historical location built during the French and Indian War, we had the fantastic opportunity to interview Randy Crane who is a volunteer curator for the museum.  ...

Send us a text One of the greatest opportunities we have on this podcast, is bringing light to areas that many may not know about.  This is definitely one of those moments.  Located in Belle, West Virginia is what we think could be one of the best places to see a theatrical performance that is well played and easy on the wallet.  Join us as we talk to the director Cathy Deobler about the great thi...

Send us a text On this episode, we focus on a small village with a whole lot of history that is still on display to this day.  Built by immigrants from Switzerland and Germany in 1869.  This village and its citizens pressed through many uphill battles to exist.  Thanks to those strong people, the traditions and village are proudly on display to this day by their ancestors.  From celebrations to fo...

Send us a text For this episode, we wanted to have a little fun as we are now in October and Halloween is quickly approaching.  Our main focus of this episode is some of the creatures (monsters) that have become part of our state's folklore.  We will not only talk about these creatures but also share where they were spotted in case you would like to visit the area yourself.  Also included is the n...

Send us a text In our final podcast of season 2, we end with one of the most famous soldiers from West Virginia.  C. Carwood Lipton was a member of "Easy Company" that was portrayed in the HBO hit series "Band of Brothers".  We were very excited for his son to join us on this episode to help give more detail to not just the soldier but the man. Support the show

Send us a text After 14 long years, the Charleston Sternwheel Regatta is coming back with a bang.  This event  started out with an idea from a 13-year-old boy who wanted to watch sternwheel boats race. This year's Regatta is expected to bring 250,000 over five days.  It is often referred to as "The East Coast Mardi Gras", it'll feature ten big- name music acts , including Everclear, The Four Tops,...

Send us a text On this episode James and Jerry look at a gem of a state park. They also interview Award winning Korean-American author Frances Park to find her connection to our state and more specifically " Babcock State Park ".  For more information on her current work and upcoming events visit Park Sisters .   Support the show

Send us a text In this episode, James and Jerry travel to Keyser, WV to visit with people during their Strawberry Festival.  Keyser is located in Mineral County along the North Branch of the Potomac River.  The festival had been on hold since the pandemic, and we wanted to take this opportunity to ask questions about our state and see what responses we would get from those in attendance. Today's e...

Send us a text In part two of the Harpers Ferry Podcast James and Jerry get valuable insight from Public Affairs Specialist Leah Taber who works at the National Park.  She provides information and answers questions that we hope will be relevant to our audience in helping gain knowledge of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park .  This is one place you definitely want to mark on your bucket list fo...

Send us a text In this episode James and Jerry talk about a very special place in West Virginia.  It is almost like a history lovers' version of Walt Disney World.  Harpers Ferry has it all.  You can enjoy the outdoors by fishing, hiking, wildlife watching, mountain biking, and even rock climbing.  Or, if history is more your thing, then they offer shops that replicate the 19th century, John Brown...

Send us a text On this episode, James and Jerry have the honor of talking to Tonya Webb who is the Executive Director at Tug Valley Area CVB.  She provides a vast wealth of knowledge on the trail system that runs through Mingo County.  While we had her on our show, we took the opportunity to ask about other sites and attractions in and around Williamson, WV.  This episode covers Hatfield McCoy Tra...

Send us a text Join James and Jerry as they talk about one of the most famous family feuds of all times.  The Hatfield and McCoy feud has been talked about for generations and will more than likely be talked about for many years to come.   Support the show

Send us a text In this episode, we wanted to have a little fun and focus on the state in a lighthearted way.  We enjoy some of the strange and funny things about our state.  From people that have resided in the state to misguided opinions about how we talk, we are going to cover it today. Support the show

Send us a text Let's check out one of the most iconic spots in West Virginia.  If you consider yourself an outdoor thrill seeker, then this National Park is definitely the destination for you.  Even if you don't have the stomach for living on the edge, there is plenty for you as well.  Covering multiple counties, you can explore the ghost towns and old mines.  Oh, I almost forgot, don't forget you...

Send us a text In our final episode of this series, we look at Skip Gates and some of his accomplishments.  We recognize that many more Black Americans in our state have played important roles in our society.  We want to say thank you too each and every one of you.  We look forward to talking about the important roles that have been filled by all Americans in our state as we move forward.   Suppor...

Send us a text We start this episode with the legend of John Henry "Steel Driving Man".  Then we look at Katherine Johnson who played an important role in the space program at NASA.  Last but not least on this episode is Clifton Brooks who was the last Tuskegee Airman alive in our state. Support the show