Best Appalachian Faith Podcasts (2025)

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S8E6: Cooking Up Hope w/ Melonie Effler 37:27

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3h ago37:27

37:27

September is #HungerActionMonth and in this week’s finale of The Mountain Spirit, we’re pulling up a chair with Melonie Effler, known affectionately as "Momma Mel". From her East Tennessee roots to her kitchen ministry, Mel’s story is a reminder that food isn’t just fuel. It’s love, faith, and family. Come sit with us and feel the heart behind ever…

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Ep. 39 | Coffin Races & Cryptids: Colorado’s Weirdest Tales | Sasquatch & Sourdough 32:26

19h ago32:26

32:26

Send us a text Rocky Mountain High Strangeness In this episode of Sasquatch and Sourdough, host Christina uncovers the eerie and unusual world of Colorado’s paranormal encounters. From bizarre coffin races of Manitou Springs, to Dogman sightings, Bigfoot reports, and UFOs stretching back over a century, Colorado proves to be a hotspot of high stran…

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We're Still at the Table 33:08

3d ago33:08

33:08

We're wrapping up Season 1 with a Facebook Live episode--full of laughter, stories, and a few surprises. In this finale, we share our personal (and slightly cringey) Taylor Swift connection, give our unfiltered thoughts on Cracker Barrel's rebrand, and look ahead to what's coming next: bonus holiday specials and Season 2 next summer. And for the bi…

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S8, E49 Patrick Ryan on ‘The Good Heart’ of Buckeye 47:19

5d ago47:19

47:19

Fiction writer and editor Patrick Ryan joins co-hosts Whitney Terrell and V.V. Ganeshananthan to discuss his debut novel, Buckeye, which traces two generations of two Midwestern families connected by a secret. Ryan recalls the coincidental conversation that informed his portrayal of one character’s experiences with disability in World War II-era Oh…

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S8E5: From Service to the Stage w/ Jordan Allen 35:23

7d ago35:23

35:23

We have a special treat for you today on The Mountain Spirit podcast. Kentucky’s own Jordan Allen, who was featured on Season 27 of The Voice, joins our show to share how his Appalachian roots shaped his music and mission. From small-town stages to national spotlight, Jordan’s story is one of grit, grace, and the power of community. Tune in to hear…

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Our Personal Demonstration of Faith 38:46

8d ago38:46

38:46

Ephesians 4:17-24 Pastor Cory in this message really leans into the application Paul supplies to us in the later half of the book of Ephesians. All of the doctrine that the apostle outlines in Ephesians 1-3 is driving towards this point: put off the old man and put on the new man. Christ Jesus has come to completely restore the broken image of God …

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What is Worship? 36:41

8d ago36:41

36:41

John 4:21-24; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Romans 12:1-2; Galatians 2:20-21 Pastor Troy takes us back to the very foundation of worship as he attempts to answer the question, "what is worship?" All of his messages have really been leading to this one point: worship is giving God the glory in every area of your life. There is no time when we are not worsh…

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Ep. 38 | Haunted New England: Ghosts, Legends & Lost Places with Joe from Trails, Tales, and Taverns 1:11:28

10d ago1:11:28

1:11:28

Send us a text Christina is joined by Joe from the Trails, Tales, and Taverns podcast for a chilling walk through New England’s haunted heart. From the cursed woods of the Bridgewater Triangle to eerie abandoned mansions and Lizzie Borden’s Fall River, their conversation stirs the shadows of history. With ghostly encounters, unsettling family ties,…

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Fresh Manna For Jehovahs Witnesses 13:25

12d ago13:25

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S8, Ep. 48 Jennifer Szalai and Alexandra Jacobs on Great American Road Trip Books 49:25

12d ago49:25

49:25

New York Times book critics Jennifer Szalai and Alexandra Jacobs join co-hosts Whitney Terrell and V.V. Ganeshananthan to discuss their recent article, “Love Jack Kerouac? Read These Great American Road Trip Books Next,” which they co-authored with their fellow critic Dwight Garner, and which includes books published after Kerouac's On the Road. Th…

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The Parable of the Seed 16:23

14d ago16:23

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By Gregory Martz

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S8E4: Stories Worth Remembering w/ Kelley St. Germain 33:09

14d ago33:09

33:09

On today's episode of The Mountain Spirit podcast, filmmaker and cultural preservationist Kelley St. Germain shares how storytelling became a mission to protect Appalachian heritage. Kelley is the founder of Germain Media, LLC and Appalachian Memory Keepers. Tune in for a powerful reminder of why these stories matter—and why they must be preserved.…

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S8 Ep. 47: Nicholas Boggs on James Baldwin’s Love Stories 51:43

14d ago51:43

51:43

Biographer Nicholas Boggs joins co-hosts Whitney Terrell and V.V. Ganeshananthan to discuss his groundbreaking new book, Baldwin: A Love Story, the first major biography of James Baldwin to be published in three decades. Boggs recalls how finding Baldwin’s only children’s book in a Yale library as a college student led him to track down the volume’…

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A Bible Breakup Story 42:26

19d ago42:26

42:26

What happens when people leave your church? It’s never easy—sometimes it’s silly, sometimes it’s painful, and sometimes it feels personal. In this episode, Jason and Nicole take a fresh look at the story of Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark—the original “Bible breakup.” Along the way, they share their own stories of church departures, rival churches th…

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Ep. 37 | Faith in the Weird | Fellowship Of The Fringe | Sasquatch & Sourdough 1:47:38

19d ago1:47:38

1:47:38

Send us a text This week on Fellowship of the Fringe, we journey into the strange intersections of faith, nature, and the unseen. From tithing and trust in the middle of financial warfare… to fasting, coffee, and parasites… to the living mysteries of water, trees, and frequencies that hum with God’s order—nothing is off the table. We talk supernatu…

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Drunken Donuts 16:48

21d ago16:48

16:48

By Gregory Martz

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S8E3: Literacy as a Lifeline w/ Geraldine Bard 38:33

21d ago38:33

38:33

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Dr. Geraldine Bard, co-founder of Project FLIGHT, a groundbreaking literacy initiative that has placed over 3 million books into the hands of children and families across the globe. From Buffalo to Micronesia, Dr. Bard shares how her mission to promote literacy as a tool for equity, peace, and opportunity…

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The Ability of the Church 43:40

21d ago43:40

43:40

Ephesians 4:7-16 Pastor Cory takes us back to our series on the book of Ephesians with this powerful message on all that the church is able to accomplish in and through Christ Jesus. Conversely, Christ Jesus alone has the ability to work these things in and through His people. The One who ascended to the right hand of the Father is the same One who…

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S8 Ep. 46: Will Bardenwerper on Baseball’s Betrayal of Its Minor League Roots 44:41

26d ago44:41

44:41

Journalist Will Bardenwerper joins co-hosts Whitney Terrell and V.V. Ganeshananthan to discuss his new book, Homestand: Small Town Baseball and the Fight for the Soul of America, which explores the consequences of Major League Baseball cutting 40 affiliated minor league teams, each one only as expensive as an average Major League salary. He explain…

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Deconstruction Isn't a Dirty Word 48:53

26d ago48:53

48:53

What if asking hard questions about your faith isn't rebellion, but a path toward deeper trust in Jesus? In this honest and hope-filled episode, Jason and Nicole unpack what "deconstruction" really means, why it is not a dirty word, and how it can lead to a stronger, more authentic walk with God. From small-town church politics to generational gaps…

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When You Worship and When You Don't 47:51

27d ago47:51

47:51

Daniel 1-6 No, you didn't misread that scripture reference. Pastor Troy walks us through the first six chapters of the book of Daniel, taking us through many familiar biblical accounts, all in the context of worship. While God had sent His people away captive in Babylon, He was far from done working in them and through them. Daniel and his friends,…

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The Good Samaritan 16:24

28d ago16:24

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By Gregory Martz

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Worship as it is in Heaven 30:44

28d ago30:44

30:44

By Pastor Erik Mwaka

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S8E2: Leading Change In Appalachia w/ Robin Gabbard 32:33

28d ago32:33

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In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Robin Gabbard, President of the Mountain Association, to explore her lifelong dedication to Appalachia and her vision for building a new economy in Eastern Kentucky. From her early days at LKLP Community Action to leading one of the region’s most impactful nonprofits, Robin shares stories of resilience, i…

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S8 Ep. 45: Barbara Kingsolver on Supporting Appalachian Women Recovering from Addiction 57:28

1M ago57:28

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Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Barbara Kingsolver joins co-hosts Whitney Terrell and V.V. Ganeshananthan to discuss her support of Higher Ground, a long-term residence for women recovering from addiction. Kingsolver talks about Lee County, Virginia, which is both Higher Ground’s location and the setting for her wildly successful novel Demon Copper…

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Submission Revisited: Marriage, Power & Partnership 46:41

1M ago46:41

46:41

What does biblical submission really look like—and is it anything like what we were taught? In this follow-up episode, we dig deeper into how Scripture consistently flips human power structures on their heads. From Deborah and Jael to Mary and the Samaritan woman, we explore how God calls and equips people others overlook—including women, outcasts,…

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Ep. 36 | Army of God – Spiritual Warfare w/ Bo Kennedy | Sasquatch & Sourdough 1:26:18

1M ago1:26:18

1:26:18

Send us a text In this powerful episode, Christina is joined by Bo Kennedy of The BUMP Podcast to explore spiritual warfare, bold belief, and the supernatural edge of faith. Bo shares his personal journey and insights from his book, "Army of God: Pocket Guide to Spiritual Warfare," offering practical tools and raw testimony for those navigating bat…

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A Profound Relationship 34:48

1M ago34:48

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Matthew 17:1-8 Pastor Cory is taking a break this week from our series on Ephesians to bring us a powerful message on the account of Jesus Christ's transfiguration. More than just a story depicting the true nature of our Lord's divinity, the transfiguration teaches us a lesson on the nature of what our relationship with Him ought to be. He is more …

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S8E1: From Nurse to Nation-Builder w/ Tiffany Sturdivant 35:17

1M ago35:17

35:17

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Tiffany Sturdivant, a former nurse turned powerhouse cultural leader and Executive Director of Appalshop. From her roots in Mississippi community activism to her current work preserving Appalachian voices, Tiffany shares her journey of transformation, resilience, and radical care. She leads with heart and…

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The Night Before Sunday: Ministry Anxiety and Family Chaos 48:19

1M ago48:19

48:19

What really happens in a pastor's house the night before church? Spoiler alert: it's not always peaceful prayer and glowing halos. In this episode, Jason and Nicole pull back the curtain on what Saturday nights and Sunday mornings look like when you're raising kids, leading a church, and still trying to find your sermon notes. From spiritual warfar…

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S8 Ep. 44: Vanity Fair’s Dan Adler on Jeffrey Epstein and What Ghislaine Maxwell Knows 46:37

1M ago46:37

46:37

Vanity Fair journalist Dan Adler joins co-hosts Whitney Terrell and V.V. Ganeshananthan to discuss his coverage of Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted in 2021 of facilitating Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual abuse of minors. Adler explains how Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year sentence and was just interviewed by the Department of Justice, has r…

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The God of the Harvest 34:59

1M ago34:59

34:59

By Pastor Isaac Bahati

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The Unity of Christ 33:38

1M ago33:38

33:38

Ephesians 4:1-6 Pastor Cory is back in our series on Ephesians with this message starting the second-half of the book. The first half of Ephesians was all doctrine. Beginning here in chapter 4, Paul is moving to practical application of this doctrine in our lives as believers. And what does he start with? Unity. The apostle knows that nothing in ou…

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Our Purpose is to Worship 38:03

1M ago38:03

38:03

John 4:19-26; Isaiah 43:1-7, 14-21; 1 Peter 2:9-10 Pastor Troy ended his last message on worship in John 4, speaking on worshipping the Holy Spirit. He picks up this message in the same passage, but tackles it from a very different angle. There is a small phrase in John 4 which Troy wishes to bring our attention to, "...the Father is seeking such t…

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Worshipping the Holy Spirit 35:08

1M ago35:08

35:08

John 14:26; 15:26; 16:7-8; Acts 5:1-4; John 4:19-26 Pastor Troy refers to this message in his sermon as Truly Complete Worship Part 3. While many people have begun to leave Jesus out of the equation when it comes to worship, many people also have a fractured view of worship as it pertains to the Godhead as a whole. This means that either 1, or 2, o…

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The Provision of Christ 29:46

1M ago29:46

29:46

John 14:25-28; John 8:1-12 Cory takes a break from our series on Ephesians to bring us a message from which all Christians can receive comfort. Jesus Christ our Lord has provided us with the ultimate promise of eternal life with Him. He stook His very word on it, for if it were not so He says that He would have told us. Even for someone such as the…

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Our Praise is a Proclamation 40:59

1M ago40:59

40:59

1 Peter 2:9-10; Isaiah 49:3-7; Isaiah 61:1-4, 10-11; Luke 24:50-53 Pastor Troy picks up right where he left off in the last message with an even further dive into our purpose as God's people to worship Him. While there ought not to be any more reason to worship the Lord other than the simple fact that He is worthy of it, we find in this message a c…

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The Fear of the Lord 33:51

1M ago33:51

33:51

Leviticus 19:1-3; Hebrews 12:5-11 Last message Pastor Troy challenged us with the reality that Christ is to be glorified above every name, and that every knee shall bow to Him. However, truly complete worship is not of Christ alone, but of the entire Godhead. This Father's Day, Troy gives a heartfelt message that pulls from his own experiences grow…

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I Shall Yet Praise Him 32:44

1M ago32:44

32:44

Psalm 43:1-5 Pastor Troy delivers a powerful message on praising the Lord even in the very midst of our darkest valley's and fiercest storms of life. Many can relate to the pain the psalmist is expressing in the opening of Psalm 43. However, there is a bold shift in perspective where the writer declares that he shall yet praise God even in the mids…

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Truly Complete Worship 44:29

1M ago44:29

44:29

Acts 8:26-40 Pastor Troy looks at a very famous Bible story from Acts chapter 8 and pulls a principle from it that may not be so familiar when we think of the story. As Philip meets with an Ethiopian eunuch in a divine appointment on a desert road, there is something missing in the Ethiopian's religious observance that may just apply to us today ev…

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Considering Well - Part III 40:11

1M ago40:11

40:11

Proverbs 14:12-18 Pastor Troy ends his impromptu series on the heart and his look into Considering Well with this message. Proverbs 14:12 is arguably one of the most well-know proverbs in the Bible: "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." The Lord calls us to consider something very well- that His…

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The Love of Christ 28:11

1M ago28:11

28:11

Ephesians 3:18-21 Pastor Cory is back in our series on Ephesians with this message. This message is almost like the second part of his last message, The Purpose of Prayer. Paul's desire and earnest prayer for the Ephesians is that they would be filled with the fullness of Christ Jesus, experiencing His love that surpasses all knowledge and comprehe…

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The Purpose of Prayer 26:08

1M ago26:08

26:08

Ephesians 3:14-17 Pastor Cory continues in his series on Ephesians in this message, talking about the purpose for which Paul prayed for the church at Ephesus in these verses. It is only fitting that Pastor Cory now gets to have his say on prayer as Pastor Troy has finally ended his series on prayer! Paul does not hit his knees on behalf of the Ephe…

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The God We Worship 44:03

1M ago44:03

44:03

Isaiah 40:1-31; Psalm 62:1-12 Pastor Troy begins our new series on Worship with this message. Worship can mean so many different things, but there is one thing about worship that never changes, or rather, some One that never changes. Isaiah 40 is rich with the majesty of God. He looks at God's character and His attributes, as well as His works and …

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The Virtuous Woman 30:27

1M ago30:27

30:27

Proverbs 31:10-31 Pastor Cory delivers a heartfelt Mother's Day message on a very well known text in the book of Proverbs. Proverbs 31 paints a beautiful picture of what a woman of God is supposed to look like. I know that even if we did not have an earthly mother, we all know a woman in our lives in particular that the Lord has used to bless us be…

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Considering Well - Part I 40:18

1M ago40:18

40:18

Proverbs 24:30-34; Proverbs 27:23-27; Proverbs 6:6-11 Proverbs 15:31-32; Proverbs 29:7; Proverbs 27:23-24 Using the very same text he left off in his last message, The Field of the Slothful, Pastor Troy begins to look into a common phrase that is both often repeated as well as often over looked in the book of Proverbs (elsewhere in the Bible). When…

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Considering Well - Part II 29:21

1M ago29:21

29:21

Proverbs 23:1-8 Pastor Troy continues in his series on the heart as well as continuing the thought from the previous message, Considering Well. In Proverbs 23, the Lord (through Solomon) is warning His people of snare of the world's delicacies. In America, and most of the Western world, the ruler's table is ever before us. Now today more than ever,…

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S8 Ep. 43: Gary Shteyngart on Vera, or Faith and American Authoritarians 40:24

2M ago40:24

40:24

Acclaimed novelist Gary Shteyngart joins co-hosts Whitney Terrell and V.V. Ganeshananthan to discuss his new novel, Vera, or Faith, which explores American identity, politics, and immigrant experiences in the near future through the eyes of the eponymous 10-year-old protagonist. Shteyngart talks about the novel’s speculative “Five-Three” amendment,…

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Questions We've Been Asked (and Some We Wish People Would Ask) 48:33

2M ago48:33

48:33

Ever felt like you're the only one asking hard spiritual questions? You're not alone—and you’re not wrong for wondering. In this honest and grace-filled episode, Jason and Nicole pull up a chair to tackle some of the most vulnerable questions they’ve been asked (and wish people felt safe enough to ask): Why do bad things happen if God is good? Is i…

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Ep. 35 | The Imitation of Mystery: Witchcraft, Wonder, and the Journey to Jesus 1:52:10

2M ago1:52:10

1:52:10

Send us a text In this soul-stirring episode of Sasquatch and Sourdough, Christina is joined by Jesse the Handyman Preacher—former occultist turned bold voice for Jesus on TikTok. They explore why the seeking heart is so often drawn to witchcraft, mysticism, and the supernatural—only to find that the mystery it craves was always pointing to Jesus. …