Podcast - Inside Appalachia Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

This week, too often, people with mental health challenges or substance use disorder wind up in jail. But crisis response teams offer another way. Also, changes to the Endangered Species Act could benefit big business. They could also kill animals like the eastern hellbender. And, in troubled times, a West Virginia writer says to find peace in nature. The post Encore: Crisis Response Teams And Essays On Nature, Inside Appalachia appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

This week, we take a look at how the U.S. government built a secret city in East Tennessee during World War II to work on the atomic bomb. Also, almost everybody has a favorite cup or coffee mug, but how far would you go to replace it? And, we hear from a cabinetmaker on the physicality of poetry. The post A Secret City In East Tennessee, Inside Appalachia appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

This week, people continue to resist the Mountain Valley Pipeline. Some folks have complained to the company about noise from compressor stations. Also, why is Appalachia so prone to severe flooding? We spoke with a reporter whose team dug into the data to find out. And, a good blanket will keep you warm on a cold night, but a handmade temperature blanket can convey a message to a loved one. The post MVP Noise, Appalachian Flooding And Temperature Blankets, Inside Appalachia appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

This week, we’re revisiting our episode “What Is Appalachia?” from December 2021. Appalachia connects mountainous parts of the South, the Midwest, the Rust Belt and even the Northeast. That leaves so much room for geographic and cultural variation, as well as many different views on what Appalachia really is.  The post Encore: What Is Appalachia? We Asked People From Around The Region. Here’s What They Said appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

This week, too often, people with mental health challenges or substance use disorder wind up in jail. But crisis response teams offer another way. Also, changes to the Endangered Species Act could benefit big business. They could also kill animals like the eastern hellbender. And, in troubled times, a West Virginia writer says to find peace in nature. The post Crisis Response Teams And Essays On Nature, Inside Appalachia appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

This week, we look back at 2025. We met some fascinating people, like Aaron Dowdy of country rock band Fust. Also, central Appalachia continued to recover from Hurricane Helene. From the beginning, the recovery brought people together. And, we made a trip to Hillbilly Hotdog to take on "The Homewrecker." The post A Look Back At 2025, Inside Appalachia appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

This week, we go a-wassailing in Asheville, North Carolina. It’s kind of like Christmas caroling, with a kick. Also, family recipes bring generations together. But what happens when you’ve got grandma’s potato candy recipe, and it doesn’t have exact measurements? And, a new book explores the magical dark side of nature. The post Encore: Holiday Traditions, Inside Appalachia appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

This week, when you’re the only doctor in a rural mountain county, you’ve got to think ahead to keep your practice going. Also, a West Virginia baker draws on her Finnish heritage to make a different kind of cinnamon roll. And, if you bought a live-cut Christmas tree this year, there’s a good chance it came from Appalachia. The post Patrick County Urgent Care And Finnamon Buns, Inside Appalachia appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

This week, a poet and musician draws inspiration from a distant family connection to the Grand Ole Opry’s Little Jimmy Dickens. Also, for 15 years, a Virginia library has been hosting a weekly Dungeons & Dragons game for teens. And, a taxidermist in Yadkin County, North Carolina found her calling before she could drive a car. The post Lou Turner And Little Jimmy Dickens, Inside Appalachia appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

This week, one thing about Appalachians: we can get competitive. We’re proud of our local food. Love a good hunt. And enjoy competition with friends. We learn the rules and celebrate our victories. You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia. The post Encore: The Love Of Competition, Inside Appalachia appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

This week, we learn about a new podcast from WNYC called "Our Common Nature." Cellist Yo-Yo Ma and producer Ana González visited Appalachia. They went to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Mammoth Cave National Park and West Virginia’s coal country. The post Our Common Nature With Yo-Yo Ma, Inside Appalachia appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

This week, the cost of health insurance is going up in 2026. Millions of people are faced with sticker shock. Also, a mountain farmer kept an encrypted diary for years. It’s unclear whether he would have wanted that code to ever be cracked. And, a beloved West Virginia hot dog restaurant closed in 2018. An annual tribute sale gives people a chance to relive its glory days.   The post Rising Health Insurance Rates And Cipher, Inside Appalachia appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

This week, on this special episode with guest co-host, ballad singer Saro Lynch-Thomason, we explore songs about lawbreaking folk heroes, runaway trains and murder ballads. The post Encore: True Stories Behind Folk Heroes, Runaway Trains And Murder Ballads, Inside Appalachia appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

This week, the region is known for exporting coal, but it’s losing people, too. Also, folk singer Ginny Hawker grew up singing the hymns of the Primitive Baptist Church, but she didn’t think of performing until she got a little boost from Appalachian icon Hazel Dickens. And, the chef of an award-winning Asheville restaurant was shaped by memories of growing up in West Virginia.   The post Appalachia’s Population Problem, Inside Appalachia appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

This week, just in time for Halloween, a suite of spooky tales to make your skin crawl. Also, tales of the supernatural. And, ghost stories galore. The post Encore: Halloween, Inside Appalachia appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

This week, a new novel about two girls and an astronomy textbook draws inspiration from one of the quietest places in West Virginia. Also, author Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle talks about growing up as part of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. And, a Kentucky tattoo artist practices traditional tattooing and traditional music. He says they’re not too different. The post The Secret Astronomers And Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle, Inside Appalachia appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

This week, the story of the first Mothman sightings as written by a small-town journalist in 1966. Also, every year, hundreds of people celebrate Bridge Day by parachuting from the 876-foot-tall New River Gorge bridge. But not just anyone can do it. And, the Columbus Washboard Company used to make washboards for laundry. Now, people use them to make music. The post Mothman, Bridge Day And Washboards, Inside Appalachia appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

This week, it's been a year since Hurricane Helene hit central Appalachia. From the start, the recovery has brought people together. Also, country music’s Rob McNurlin grew up with traditional music in Eastern Kentucky. His friend Marty Stuart says he’s a folk hero. And, we check up on Virginia rapper and producer Byron Mack. The post The Year After Hurricane Helene, Inside Appalachia appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

This week, COVID-19 exposed the contempt society has for marginalized people. The author of a new book says these folks are anything but passive. Also, rock climbers with disabilities have found a home in Kentucky’s Red River Gorge, which offers some pumpy crags. And, the online world of Appalachian memes and what they tell us about the folks who live here. The post ‘Disposable,’ Accessible Climbing And Memes, Inside Appalachia appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

This week, for nearly a century, the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival has staged a formal dance. Organizers rely on a manual that’s been passed down for generations. Also, abortion is illegal in most cases in Tennessee. So what happens after a birth? A photographer followed one mother for a year. And, new prisons are touted as a way to bring jobs to former coal communities. Not everybody agrees the trade-off is worth it. The post Encore: The Grand March And A Year After A Denied Abortion, Inside Appalachia appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

This week, hop aboard the Cass Scenic Railroad for a visit with the people who keep the steam trains running. Also, we head to the woods and take a master class in foraging for wild mushrooms. And, the makers of Angelo's Old World Italian Sausage still use a century-old family recipe. Customers love it. The post Scenic Railway, Wild Mushrooms And Italian Sausage, Fall Favorites Inside Appalachia appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

This week, we remember Rex Stephenson. He’s known for his stage performances of the Jack Tales, which have captivated school kids since the ‘70s. Also, keeping the family farm going after six generations can be rough. And, some parts of southern Appalachia still practice the tradition of keeping up community gravesites for Decoration Day. The post The Wakefields And Remembering Rex Stephenson, Inside Appalachia appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

This week, the federal government has taken back millions of dollars set aside for public radio stations. Allegheny Mountain Radio is among those fighting to stay on the air. Also, a book by a West Virginia artist illustrates the tiny worlds of mountain critters, like a lizard that changes color. And, geocaching gets folks outside to play detective and find hidden treasures. The post A Rural Radio Station’s Fight To Stay On Air, Inside Appalachia appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

This week, we speak with the author of a new graphic novel about the West Virginia Mine Wars. Also, professional storyteller James Froemel invents quirky characters, like a sign maker who can’t spell. And, one of the most common animals to get hit by cars are opossums. But, there’s a kind of animal rescue called pouch picking. We talk with author Laura Jackson. The post Encore: A Mine Wars Graphic Novel, Storytelling And W.Va. Life, Inside Appalachia appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

This week, a Tennessee DJ takes us on a tour of Appalachian punk and metal. Also, Appalachian culture is enriched by its immigrants. We explore the fusion of West Virginia and Japan. And, Appalachia isn’t all punk rock and Japanese food. There’s also string band music. The post Maximumrocknroll, Yama And Clifftop, Inside Appalachia appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

This week, in troubled times, the outdoors can offer peace. We talk with a West Virginia writer about her new collection of essays. Also, modern technology makes firing pottery a lot easier, but some potters in North Carolina still do it the old way. And, East Tennessee’s Amythyst Kiah’s latest album contemplates the cosmos. The post Sheila McEntee, Ancient Kilns And Amythyst Kiah, Inside Appalachia appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

This week, after a disaster, can comics help set the record straight? Also, in Western North Carolina, a new generation of Cherokee potters are keeping old traditions, while shaping a modern practice all their own. And, schoolyard games come and go, but for kids in one community, marbles still rule.  The post The Appalachian Comics Project, Inside Appalachia appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

During a pandemic, where do you give birth? Also, we’ll have the story of a family that cultivated an heirloom tomato in West Virginia. It took a lot of work. And, a musical tradition brought people together — even when they couldn’t gather in person. The post Encore: Looking Back At 2020, Inside Appalachia appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

This week, the music of West Virginia songwriter Ella Hanshaw and, thanks in part to her grandchildren, the discovery of some old tapes that led to a new release. Also, a pair of potters in western North Carolina forego commercial clay to work with clay that’s wild. And, we make a trip to West Virginia’s Hillbilly Hotdogs for its infamous "Homewrecker Hotdog Challenge." The post Ella Hanshaw, Wild Clay And The Homewrecker, Inside Appalachia appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

This week, an international photographer turns his lens toward home. Also, after Hurricane Helene, whitewater rafting guides are adapting to diminished business and changed rivers. And, we remember Travis Stimeling. The author, musician and educator left a mark on mountain culture and the people who practice and document it.   The post Pictures From Alleghania And Remembering Travis Stimeling, Inside Appalachia appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

This week, Inside Appalachia, dinos fight Civil War soldiers at a theme park throwback — Dinosaur Kingdom II in Natural Bridge, Virginia. Also, one person’s roadside weed is another’s “golden” treasure. So says a North Carolina fiber artist. And, the backstory of a bus that sits at the confluence of the New and Gauley rivers — and the man who put it there. The post Dinosaur Kingdom, Roadside Weeds And The Bus On The Rock, Inside Appalachia appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

This week, people with mental health challenges or substance use disorder often end up in jail. But crisis response teams offer another way. Also, one year after the Mountain Valley Pipeline went into service, people who live directly in the pipeline’s path have received compensation. But not everyone. And, the Sacred Harp songbook gets an update for the first time since the early 1990s. The post Mental Health Crisis Response And Mountain Valley Pipeline, Inside Appalachia appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

This week, for 15 years, a Virginia library has been hosting a weekly Dungeons & Dragons game night for teens. It can get a little wacky. Also, we remember renowned Tennessee luthier, Jean Horner, whose fiddles were played at Carnegie Hall and the Grand Ole Opry. And, a Hare Krishna community in West Virginia serves vegetarian food made in three sacred kitchens. The post Dungeons & Dragons And Remembering Jean Horner, Inside Appalachia appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

This week, Inside Appalachia,, a hospital in Western North Carolina was bought out. Residents say the quality of care has gone down. Also, an immersion school in North Carolina is trying to revitalize the Cherokee language with the help of a printmaking class. And, a pair of artists follow cicada hatchings to make art from their shells.    The post Mission Hospital And Revitalizing The Cherokee Language, Inside Appalachia appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

This week, Inside Appalachia, a West Virginia man is reviving a Black coal camp through farming. Also, the legacy of Affrilachian poet Norman Jordan includes a summer camp for teens to study their heritage. And, the Reverend George Mills Dickerson of Tazewell, Virginia, was born in the years after slavery ended. He’s remembered during Juneteenth through his poetry. The post Saving A Black Coal Camp And Affrilachian Poets, Inside Appalachia appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

This week, textbooks have long left out an important piece of labor history that happened here in the mountains. Now, a new young adult book fills in some of what might have been missed about the Mine Wars. Also, when flooding devastates a community, people can find solace through faith and through song. And, we remember songwriter Billy Edd Wheeler, who passed away last month. Dozens of musicians have covered his songs including Kenny Rogers, Johnny Cash and June Carter and Elvis Presley. The post Encore: The Mine Wars For Young Adults, Faith After A Flood And Remembering Billy Edd Wheeler, Inside Appalachia appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

This week, cicadas are emerging again. They’re an important food source for wildlife — and even some people. Also, morel mushrooms are a forager’s delight, but don’t shortcut cleaning them. We follow along with mushroom hunters and talk to a chef. And, sinkholes can cause a lot of damage. But they’re also fascinating. The post Cicadas, Wild Mushrooms And Sinkholes, Inside Appalachia appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

This week, Inside Appalachia, the Appalachian Prison Book Project has been sending books to incarcerated people for nearly 20 years. Its most popular book is the dictionary. Also, the Seeing Hand Association brings together people who are visually impaired to learn the craft of chair caning. And, crossing a river by ferry can be a special experience, and hard to come by. On the Ohio River, a retiring ferry captain passes the torch to his deck hand. The post Appalachian Prison Book Project, Inside Appalachia appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

This week on Inside Appalachia, the setting for a new novel is a communal society founded by freed people in North Carolina. It was a real place called The Kingdom of the Happy Land. Also, when a West Virginia pastor got assigned to a new church, some folks tried to warn him. And, the online world of Appalachian memes — and what they tell us about folks who live here.  The post The Kingdom Of The Happy Land, Inside Appalachia appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

This week, we’re talking about traditional ballads - how they tell stories and connect us to the past. These old tunes can mean so much. They can tap into difficult emotions and give feelings space to be heard. Some songs may even be too uncomfortable to sing. The post Encore: True Stories Behind Folk Heroes, Runaway Trains And Murder Ballads appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

This week, officials are scrutinizing a supermax prison in Wise County, Virginia, after inmate complaints and a visit by a state lawmaker. Also, laid-off federal worker warns the Trump administration’s mass firings could make a big difference for coal miners. And, every year, the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival stages a formal dance. Organizers rely on a manual that’s been passed down for generations. The post Red Onion Prison, NIOSH And The Mountain Laurel Festival, Inside Appalachia appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

This week, some politicians and coal companies call themselves friends of coal, but one journalist says they don’t seem to be friends of coal miners. Also, what not to do if you get poison ivy. And, pepperoni rolls were a staple in the coal mines. But public schools might be why they caught on. The post Coal And Coal Miners, Inside Appalachia appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

This week on Inside Appalachia, we head to the woods for a master class in foraging for wild mushrooms. And the woman behind the popular TikTok account “Appalachian Forager” makes jam from pawpaws and jewelry from coyote teeth. We also visit the Alleghany Highlands, where mountain maple syrup traditions are changing with the times. The post Springtime Arrives, Inside Appalachia appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

This week on Inside Appalachia, a new book looks into the toxic legacy of a huge industrial disaster in TN. Also, rock climbing gear wears out. But it can still live on as art. And, an eastern KY pharmacist serves vegan food for the holidays. The post ‘Valley So Low,’ Climbing Crafts And Vegan Cooking, Inside Appalachia appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

This week on Inside Appalachia, rock climbers with disabilities have found a home in Kentucky’s Red River Gorge, which offers some pumpy crags. Climbers have also been working to make West Virginia's New River Gorge more inclusive. And a master craftsman, who makes one of a kind whitewater paddles remembers some advice. The post Encore: The Climbing Climate And Paddle Making, Inside Appalachia appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

This week on Inside Appalachia, Aaron Dowdy of alt country band Fust took an outside path to becoming a songwriter Also, egg prices are up. Some folks are talking about raising backyard chickens. And, Helvetia, West Virginia’s old world Fasnacht festival continues to grow, in part because of an online video game. Organizers are OK with it. The post Fust, The Price Of Eggs And Helvetia’s Fasnacht, Inside Appalachia appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

This week on Inside Appalachia, during a pandemic, where do you give birth? Also, we’ll have the story of a family that cultivated an heirloom tomato in West Virginia. It took a lot of work. And, a musical tradition brought people together — even when they couldn’t gather in person. The post Looking Back At 2020, Inside Appalachia appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

This week on Inside Appalachia, it’s been five years since the COVID-19 lockdowns. An album made during that time is getting a re-release on vinyl. Also, a Kentucky tattoo artist practices traditional tattooing and traditional music. He says they’re not too different. And, what keeps people so fascinated with cryptids? The post ‘Don’t Get Dead,’ Tattoos And Cryptids, Inside Appalachia appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

This week on Inside Appalachia, a beloved West Virginia hotdog restaurant closed in 2018. An annual tribute sale gives people a chance to relive its glory days. Also, West Virginia town can trace its beginnings to the first place its founders lived — a giant stump. And, a few people still farm the way folks did before tractors — with horses. The post Skeenies Hotdogs And A Stump Story, Inside Appalachia appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

This week on Inside Appalachia, in the 1930s, hundreds of mostly Black workers died digging the Hawk’s Nest Tunnel. A photographer brings their stories to life. Also, when Jerry Machen began making art from old carpets in Tennessee, his wife Linda wasn’t impressed. And, a new exhibit shares the cultures of Indigenous people who call Appalachia home. The post Encore: Raymond Thompson, Jr. And Agape Rugs, Inside Appalachia appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.