Best Appalachian Literature Podcasts (2025)

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Ep. 51 | Poetry Corner: upfromsumdirt 25:02

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11d ago25:02

25:02

In the latest installment of our minisode series, Poetry Corner, Kendra Winchester is joined by upfromsumdirt. Things Mentioned Read Appalachia Newsletter Books Mentioned The Second Stop Is Jupiter: Poems by upfromsumdirt The Shoes of the Fisherman's Wife by upfromsumdirt Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James None But the Righteous by Chantal Jam…

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Bless Your Heart: The Journey to Understanding and Embracing Our Appalachian Voiceplaces 32:44

8d ago32:44

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What did you think of this episode? In this episode, I'm joined by an Appalachian artist and fourth-year UVA-Wise student Bailey Lantman who shares her journey of discovering the academic study of her regional dialect and heritage. We talk about the importance of preserving Appalachian voices, the influence of family and regional history on her ide…

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S09 E05 | Animals in 19th-Century African American Literature 49:35

16d ago49:35

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This episode features a conversation between Alex Alston, Assistant Professor of Literatures in English at Bryn Mawr College, and Maurice O. Wallace, Professor of English at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, revolving primarily around the presence of nonhuman animals in nineteenth-century Antebellum slave narratives and related literature. The dis…

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In Conversation with Ron Rash: The Caretaker and Appalachian Narratives 39:40

15d ago39:40

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What did you think of this episode? *This episode first aired in 2023* Bestselling author and Western North Carolinian Ron Rash joins the Talking Appalachian podcast to discuss his latest novel, The Caretaker. Amy explores Rash's extensive body of work, including his contributions to Talking Appalachian (the book), the significance of dialect and v…

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Ep. 50 | Poetry Corner: Denton Loving 16:56

15d ago16:56

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In the latest installment of our minisode series, Poetry Corner, Kendra Winchester is joined by Denton Loving. Things Mentioned Read Appalachia Newsletter Books Mentioned Tamp by Denton Loving Feller by Denton loving Nameless As the Minnows by Connie Jordan Green Lullaby For the Grieving by Ashley M. Jones Peasant by Annie Woodford Pineville Trace …

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Episode #79: Jake Needham on Crime & Character 0:48

17d ago0:48

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Books and Brews: the place where beer and literature meet! Jake Needham is an American lawyer who became a screen and television writer through a series of coincidences too ridiculous for anyone to believe. When he realized how little he actually liked movies and television, he started writing crime novels. Jake has lived in Asia and Australia sinc…

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Ep. 49 | The Red Branch Review ft Noah Soltau 43:29

1M ago43:29

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Kendra Winchester talks to Noah Soltau, the Managing Editor of The Red Branch Review. Order Volume 4 Here Website | Instagram Things Mentioned Read Appalachia Newsletter Books Mentioned Deaf Republic by Ilya Kaminsky Frank Sonnets by Diane Seuss Algo Speak by Adam Aleksic Of Fathers and Gods by Jim Roberts Guest Info Noah Soltau is managing editor …

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Homer Hickam: From Rocket Boy to Bestselling Writer 47:19

1M ago47:19

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What did you think of this episode? Renowned author of 19 books and former NASA engineer Homer Hickam sits down with me and a few students at UVA's College at Wise to talk about his journey from the coalfields of West Virginia to becoming a celebrated author and esteemed engineer. In this episode, Hickam shares his experiences writing Rocket Boys a…

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The Last Run: Molasses-Making in the Mountains 7:42

1M ago7:42

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What did you think of this episode? *From the Season 1 Archive* "Molassey," as that smoky, syrupy mixture is known in central Appalachia, is a dying tradition. Appalachians call the process of making molasses a 'stir-off,' and everybody in the community would come by to help or sit around the boiling pan and talk. The word 'molasses' becomes 'lasse…

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Episode #78: Technology & Truth & a Paranormal Thriller with Ashley Fontainne & Andrea Emmes 1:02:35

1M ago1:02:35

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Books and Brews: the place where beer and literature meet! Ashley Fontainne is an author and co-author of more than 30 novels, known for her intricate plots and writing in genres from dark comedy to mystery/thrillers to suspenseful paranormal. Andrea Emmes, a singer, performer and one-time magician's assistant who has narrated many of Ashley's book…

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S09 E04 | Sally Fridley’s Bewildering Press: Investigating Accusations of Appalachian Witchcraft 38:46

2M ago38:46

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On this episode, Aíne Norris (Old Dominion University), guides us through one story of an age-old accusation levied against women throughout colonial and early American history: witchcraft.In 1891, newspapers across America printed a story about known witches in the Appalachian Mountains and their supernatural powers. “Sally Friddly” of Potts Creek…

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Ep. 48 | Mandi Fugate Sheffel 40:28

2M ago40:28

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Kendra Winchester talks to Mandi Fugate Sheffel, the author of The Nature of Pain. Things Mentioned Read Appalachia Newsletter Books Mentioned The Nature of Pain by Mandi Fugate Sheffel Peasant by Annie Woodford Dead Man’s Blues by S.D. House All These Ghosts by Silas House Cipher by Jeremy B. Jones Sleepovers by Ashleigh Bryant Phillips That Which…

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The "Re-Storification" of Appalachia with Jeff Biggers 31:55

2M ago31:55

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What did you think of this episode? Jeff Biggers is the author of The United States of Appalachia, In Sardina, Trials of a Scourge, and many more. You've heard me discuss his work on the podcast, particularly in New England, where we visited the grave of Washington Irving, who first proposed that the country's name be changed from "America" to "App…

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Ep. 47 | Davis Shoulders 44:57

2M ago44:57

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Kendra Winchester talks to Davis Shoulders, the editor of Queer Communion: Religion in Appalachia. Things Mentioned Read Appalachia Newsletter Appalachian Futures Info Fundraiser for Reclamation: Queering Appalachia’s Visual Memory Book Books Mentioned Queer Communion: Religion in Appalachia edited by Davis Shoulders The Secret Lives of Church Ladi…

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Episode #77: One Family's Story of Jack the Ripper, with Robert Gereb 1:02:53

2M ago1:02:53

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Books and Brews: the place where beer and literature meet! Róbert Geréb is a boundary-pushing author and accomplished AI developer. As co-author of Jack the Ripper's Assassins—the cornerstone of The Dighton Chronicles, built on multigenerational oral history from a Romani-Viking lineage—he melds immersive storytelling with rigorous historical resea…

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Ep. 46 | Jeremy B. Jones 49:55

3M ago49:55

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Kendra Winchester talks to Jeremy B. Jones, the author of Cipher: Decoding My Ancestor’s Scandalous Secret Diaries. Things Mentioned Read Appalachia Newsletter Remembering and Rebuilding a Family Homestead in Western North Carolina (Garden & Gun) Books Mentioned Cipher: Decoding My Ancestor’s Scandalous Secret Diaries by Jeremy B. Jones The Ministr…

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S09 E03 | Chesser & Holly: A Collision of Love, Race, and Law in Nineteenth-Century Arkansas 37:11

3M ago37:11

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In 1888, James Chesser and Georgianna Holly married in the growing city of Fort Smith, Arkansas. A few months later during James's arrest, courts argued that Georgianna was legally a man. Legal and social structures at the time struggled for language to define this mixed-race couple in a time before rampant anti-sodomy and anti-miscegenation laws. …

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The Folklore and Custom of "Telling the Bees" 11:23

2M ago11:23

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What did you think of this episode? What does it mean to “tell the bees”? In this episode, we explore a centuries-old European custom carried into Appalachia by Scots-Irish, English, Welsh, and German settlers. Families once whispered news of births, marriages, and deaths to their hives, sometimes draping them in black cloth or feeding them bits of…

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Ep. 45 | Poetry Corner: Marianne Worthington 22:44

3M ago22:44

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In the latest installment of our minisode series, Poetry Corner, Kendra Winchester is joined by Marianne Worthington. Things Mentioned Read Appalachia Newsletter Playlist for The Girl Singer Books Mentioned The Girl Singer by Marianne Worthington What Good Is Heaven by Raye Hendrix The Singing River by Benjamin Morris Have You Had Enough Darkness Y…

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Talkin' Appalachian in the Digital Space with Appalachian_Bluebird 23:24

3M ago23:24

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What did you think of this episode? If you're following Appalachian digital creators on social media, you've probably come across Appalachian_Bluebird, a vlog created by Southwest Virginia's Brittany Breeding. Inspired by her grandparents and upbringing in Meadowview, Virginia, Brittany shares what she learned from them, including features of her A…

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When "Rednecks" Rose Up: Igniting the Labor Movement in Appalachia and What "Hillbilly" Means to Me 23:49

3M ago23:49

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What did you think of this episode? *This is an edited repost of an August 29, 2024 episode* The word “redneck” might have different connotations today, but its roots tell a very different story. In this episode, we trace the surprising history of the word, from its early association with solidarity among coal miners in the hills of Appalachia to i…

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S09 E02 | How Do We Teach Literature When Students Won’t Read What We Assign? 37:01

4M ago37:01

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This episode addresses the elephant slouching on its phone in the corner of many literature classrooms. Mary Isbell (University of New Haven) describes her search for a solution to the student reading crisis, incorporating conversations recorded as she was writing Searching for Wonder: Teaching Literature with Student-Selected Texts. These conversa…

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Ep. 44 | Poetry Corner: Glenis Redmond 20:43

4M ago20:43

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In the latest installment of our minisode series, Poetry Corner, Kendra Winchester is joined by Greenville Poet Laureate Glenis Redmond. Things Mentioned Read Appalachia Newsletter Books Mentioned The Song of Everything by Glenis Redmond Over Yonder by Glenis Redmond A Dangerous Heaven by Jo Angela Edwins Letters to Karen Carpenter: And Other Poems…

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Haint Blue, Ghost Walking in the Low Country, and The Disappearing -R in Appalachian Accents 15:05

4M ago15:05

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What did you think of this episode? From mountain mists to coastal marshes, the American South is rich with stories that blur the line between weather, superstition, and the supernatural. In this episode, we explore the colorful world of Appalachian weather lore: old sayings and signs used to predict snow long before the weatherman came on the radi…

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Episode #76: Family Secrets Come to Light with Hiram Johnson 1:03:01

4M ago1:03:01

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Books and Brews: the place where beer and literature meet! Hiram Johnson is retired law enforcement officer, currently teaching criminal justice as an adjunct, a father, author and creator. His book Reason to Fight: a search or truth is a surprising tale of a family mystery. We talked about the event that landed his grandmother in prison for murder…

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Ep. 43 | Leigh Ann Henion 37:40

5M ago37:40

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Kendra Winchester talks to Leigh Ann Henion, the author of Night Magic: Adventures Among Glowworms, Moon Gardens, and Other Marvels of the Dark. Things Mentioned Read Appalachia Newsletter Books Mentioned Night Magic: Adventures Among Glowworms, Moon Gardens, and Other Marvels of the Dark by Leigh Ann Henion River of Earth by James Still Dive Right…

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Books and Brews #75: UFOs with Dona Masi 1:02:56

5M ago1:02:56

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Dona Masi is a writer and editor whose short fiction and articles are used in reading and writing assessments throughout the United States. Her articles on several subjects have appeared in several newspapers. She is also a playwright, and two of her plays were performed at the Provincetown Theater Company. In her writing she loves bringing relatab…

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Dog Days, the Signs, and More Summer Lore 26:56

5M ago26:56

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What did you think of this episode? *This updated episode first aired on July 3, 2024* Dog Days are upon us in Appalachia, stretching from July 3rd to August 11, but what does this 16th century phrase mean? Many of us in Appalachia have heard that dog days means avoiding swimming, touching bare feet to the morning dew, and taking care to avoid snak…

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S09 E01 | Just Add Nutmeg: YouTube, Nostalgia, and the Fantasy of Early America 59:17

5M ago59:17

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In this episode, Christopher Douglas (Jacksonville State University) leads Ashley Rattner (Jacksonville State University) through some of the most popular late 18th and early 19th-century content available on YouTube: period cooking recreation. If one were to search "18th century America" or "early America" on YouTube, the top results are short vid…

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Ep. 42 | Denali Sai Nalamalapu 40:38

5M ago40:38

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Kendra Winchester talks to Denali Sai Nalamalapu, the author and illustrator of Holler: A Graphic Memoir of Rural Resistance. Things Mentioned Read Appalachia Newsletter Books Mentioned Holler: A Memoir of Rural Resistance by Denali Sai Nalamalapu Ash’s Cabin by Jen Wang Heavyweight by Solomon J. Brager Guest Info Denali Sai Nalamalapu is a climate…

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Tiffany Williams: Singer, Songwriter, and Appalachian Dialect Coach 37:16

5M ago37:16

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What did you think of this episode? A coal miner's daughter, granddaughter, and great-granddaughter from Eastern Kentucky, Tiffany Williams followed her dreams of singing and songwriting to Nashville. I knew her first as a writer and linguist, specializing in Appalachian dialects, a background that she continues to use in her work as a dialect coac…

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Ep. 41 | Frank X Walker 49:14

6M ago49:14

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Kendra Winchester talks to Frank X Walker, the author of Load in Nine Times. Things Mentioned Read Appalachia Newsletter Books Mentioned A is for Affrilachia by Frank X Walker, Illustrated by upfromsumdirt Load in Nine Times by Frank X Walker The Big Smoke by Adian Matejka Guest Info The first African American writer to be named Kentucky Poet Laure…

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Barbara Kingsolver on Writing and the Recovery Center Built by Demon Copperhead 1:03:08

6M ago1:03:08

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What did you think of this episode? *This episode originally aired August 1, 2024* Barbara Kingsolver's novel just keeps on giving: this month she opened the Higher Ground Women's Recovery Residence in my home county of Lee (VA) because, as she says in this episode, what Demon needed most was his mother. In this episode, the eastern Kentucky native…

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Books and Brews #74: Sci-fi and More with Bill McSciFi McCormick 1:02:27

6M ago1:02:27

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Books and Brews: the place where beer and literature meet! Bill McCormick is an award-winning and critically acclaimed author of several novels, graphic novels, and comic book series, and has appeared in numerous anthologies. He began writing professionally in 1986 for the Chicago Rocker Magazine in conjunction with his radio show on Z-95 (ABC-FM) …

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The Ballad of Falling Rock and Author Jordan Dotson 37:16

6M ago37:16

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What did you think of this episode? The Ballad of Falling Rock is one of the best novels I've read this year, so I was fortunate to be able to interview its author, Jordan Dotson. Listen in as we talk about his inspiration for the novel (which began with a snow day and no electricity) and the family stories that helped form the historical context f…

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Kendra Winchester of the Read Appalachia Podcast and the Books that Made Us 42:54

6M ago42:54

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What did you think of this episode? This week, I'm collaborating with another podcaster, Kendra Winchester, from Appalachian Ohio. She hosts and produces the award-winning Read Appalachia podcast. Naturally, we're talking about books and authors, but also the way language shaped us, and how we grew into an understanding of what it means to be Appal…

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Ep. 40 | The Talking Appalachian Podcast 46:41

6M ago46:41

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Kendra Winchester talks with Dr. Amy Clark, the creator of The Talking Appalachian Podcast. Things Mentioned The Talking Appalachian Podcast Talking Appalachian is a podcast about the Appalachian Mountain region's voiceplace (its words and accents) and other aspects of its culture, such as literature, lore, and locale. Hosted by Dr. Amy Clark, an a…

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Season 3: "Let's Discuss" Southern and Appalachian Culture with Landon Bryant 38:21

6M ago38:21

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What did you think of this episode? Landon Bryant, author of Bless Your Heart: A Field Guide to All Things Southern and social media sensation @landontalks, launches Season 3 of the podcast. We'll talk about everything from hollers to waspers, Dolly and Loretta, cornbread and poke cakes, the overlap between deep South and Appalachian culture, liter…

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Books and Brews #73: Monsters & Appalachian Lore Come to Life with Clay Gilbert 1:01:57

7M ago1:01:57

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Books and Brews: the place where beer and literature meet! Clay Gilbert has always believed in the power of the imagination to dissolve differences and forge connections between people. Since 2013, he has published thirteen novels, from science-fiction and horror to YA dystopia and urban fantasy. His works include the science-fiction series Childre…

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Ep. 39 | Wes Browne 1:03:03

7M ago1:03:03

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Kendra Winchester talks to Wes Browne, the author of They All Fall the Same and Hillbilly Hustle. Things Mentioned After Helene by Blue Ridge Public Radio KY Flood Resources Read Appalachia Newsletter Chicago Sun-Times Points Fingers for AI Article Debacle Books Mentioned Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez A is for Affrilachia by Frank X Walker, Il…

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Is the Southern Accent Fading? 17:56

7M ago17:56

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What did you think of this episode? Southern accents are in the news again (but they've really never left our hearts and minds). Maybe it was Parker Posey's White Lotus character from North Carolina, who stole hearts with her syrupy vowels that created the latest buzz. But the conversation always leads to: are Southern accents fading? The short ans…

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Ep. 38 | Poetry Corner: Raye Hendrix 21:50

7M ago21:50

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In the latest installment of our minisode series, Poetry Corner, Kendra Winchester is joined by poet Raye Hendrix. Things Mentioned After Helene by Blue Ridge Public Radio KY Flood Resources Read Appalachia's Newsletter Books Mentioned What Good Is Heaven by Raye Hendrix Judas Goat by Gabrielle Bates Blue Yodel by Ansel Elkins The Coal Life by Adam…

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The 1929 Cyclone of Rye Cove, Virginia: Storm, Song, and Suit 19:23

7M ago19:23

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What did you think of this episode? In this episode, we head back to May 2, 1929, when a deadly tornado tore through the small mountain community of Rye Cove, Virginia, claiming the lives of 12 schoolchildren and one teacher and leaving lasting scars on the region. We explore: What happened that spring afternoon in Rye Cove and the impact on the co…

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Episode # 72: Wild Alaska with Mr. November 1:01:48

8M ago1:01:48

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Books and Brews: the place where beer and literature meet! Michael Modzelewski (Mojo-less-key) grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of a famous NFL football player with the Cleveland Browns, Ed "Big Mo" Modzelewski. Michael graduated from Indiana University with a degree in English Literature. He is the author of five books, including INSIDE PASSAGE…

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Ep. 37 | Poetry Corner: Jim Minick 21:34

8M ago21:34

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In the latest installment of our minisode series, Poetry Corner, Kendra Winchester is joined by Jim Minick. Things Mentioned After Helene by Blue Ridge Public Radio KY Flood Resources Read Appalachia Newsletter Owning It Audiobook Southern Appalachian Writers Cooperative Books Mentioned The Intimacy of Spoons by Jim Minick Blueberry Years by Jim Mi…

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From the Highlands to the Hollers: Outlander, Scots English and Appalachian Englishes 13:58

8M ago13:58

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What did you think of this episode? Outlander fans will enjoy this episode, where we trace the winding trail of language from the misty Highlands of Scotland to the shaded hollers of Appalachia. Along the way, we unpack double modals like “might could,” trace the evolution of the word highlander and outlander, and reflect on how language becomes a …

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Ep. 36 | Poetry Corner: Amy Le Ann Richardson 31:13

8M ago31:13

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In the latest installment of our minisode series, Poetry Corner, Kendra Winchester is joined by Amy Le Ann Richardson. Things Mentioned After Helene by Blue Ridge Public Radio Executive Order Targeting the IMLS Support Libraries with Libro.fm Books Mentioned Out of Places by Amy Le Ann Richardson Who You Grow Into by Amy Le Ann Richardson Render / …

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Appalachian Accents and Speech Recognition Technology 16:52

8M ago16:52

16:52

What did you think of this episode? Have you ever tried text to speech with your accent, only to find your message garbled? In this episode of The Talking Appalachian Podcast, we'll explore speech technology and how AI interacts (and doesn't) with the unique accents found across America, including those in Appalachia. We discuss the 30 most misunde…

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Books and Brews #71: Time Travel, Sci-fi and Woodstock with Beth Duke 1:02:46

9M ago1:02:46

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Bestselling author Beth Duke's Anywhen is the ultimate outsider story—a young woman yearning to belong across time itself. With universal themes of love, jealousy, sacrifice, friendship, joy, loss, and forgiveness, this genre-defying novel is a story like no other...one that will stay with you long after the final page. Beth read from her latest bo…

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Talkin' Truth with NYT Bestselling Author of The Glass Castle Jeannette Walls 25:49

9M ago25:49

25:49

What did you think of this episode? Jeannette Walls is hailed as one of the world's most gifted storytellers, and she's been sharing her remarkable story of resilience and redemption with audience since her memoir, The Glass Castle, was published in 2005. The book chronicles her dysfunctional and nomadic upbringing, part of which took place in Welc…