Best Blue Press Projects Podcasts (2025)

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

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2d ago11:23

11:23

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

20d ago23:24

23:24

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…

1
When "Rednecks" Rose Up: Igniting the Labor Movement in Appalachia and What "Hillbilly" Means to Me 23:49

27d ago23:49

23:49

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

1M ago15:05

15:05

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

2M ago26:56

26:56

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

3M ago37:16

37:16

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

3M ago1:03:08

1:03:08

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

3M ago37:16

37:16

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

3M ago42:54

42:54

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

4M ago38:21

38:21

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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Is the Southern Accent Fading? 17:56

4M ago17:56

17:56

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

5M ago19:23

19:23

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

5M ago13:58

13:58

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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Appalachian Accents and Speech Recognition Technology 16:52

6M 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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Talkin' Truth with NYT Bestselling Author of The Glass Castle Jeannette Walls 25:49

7M 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…

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The Meanings and Mystery of "Melungeon" 16:18

7M ago16:18

16:18

What did you think of this episode? In episode 50, we will talk about the word "Melungeon," its multiple meanings, and the history of a mysterious Appalachian people known as the "lost tribe" (who claim Elvis and Abraham Lincoln among their members.) Appalachian historian Dr. Brian McKnight joins me as we dive into a dark part of Virginia's history…

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The Word "Dadgum" and author Silas House on Defeating Accent Bullies "One Word at a Time" 10:31

7M ago10:31

10:31

What did you think of this episode? Listen to find out what word people are replacing with the euphemism "dadgum." Then, author and Kentucky Poet Laureate Silas House reads from his essay "In My Own Country," about how his parents learned to defeat those who were making fun of their accents....one word at a time. Listen to holocaust survivor Yvette…

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"Them guys," Three Reasons We Will Always Talk Appalachian, and an Excerpt from Lee Smith 11:50

8M ago11:50

11:50

What did you think of this episode? You know the phrases "How do you like them apples?" and "Them's fightin' words!" We'll talk about the Scotch-Irish roots of them for these and those. Then, I'll tell you three of the top reasons why Appalachian speakers won't give up their dialects despite the risk of stigma. Then listen to an excerpt from the es…

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"Here's you a piece of pizza": a common grammar pattern in the South, and Wool as a Verb 6:35

8M ago6:35

6:35

What did you think of this episode? "Here's you a piece of pizza. Where's me some silverware? There's us a table." We'll talk about this common grammar pattern and where it's spoken. Then, we'll switch to the word "wool," a word used as a verb in vernacular southern Englishes since the 19th century, as in, "The little boy is wooling that kitten." R…

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The Best of 2024: Highlights Part 2 31:48

9M ago31:48

31:48

What did you think of this episode? Listen to more of the best clips from 2024's podcast episode, including: Jack Beck talking about the influence of Scots Gaelic; Jane Hicks reading from her book of poetry, The Safety of Small Things; The origins of the word "redneck,"; A conversation with Hillbilly documentary director Ashley York; Adriana Trigia…

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The Best of 2024: Highlight Clips from Selected Episodes 26:58

9M ago26:58

26:58

What did you think of this episode? This episode includes highlights from some of the best episodes of 2024, which include: my interview with Pulitzer-winning reporter and memoirist Rick Bragg; a study of two letters written a century apart and their dialect similarities; what I learned about an ancient Pictish language during a visit to Ireland; m…

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The Christmas Poke, a Hard Candy Christmas, Old Christmas, and Animals Praying at Midnight in Appalachia 20:19

9M ago20:19

20:19

What did you think of this episode? We're exploring some Appalachian Christmas traditions in this episode from The Christmas poke, or treat bag, to the term "Hard Candy Christmas," made popular in a Dolly Parton song. We'll also talk about Old Christmas, its origins, and why people still recognize January 6th as the one true Christmas Day. Support …

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Graveyards, Famous Houses, and an Inspirational Mailbox in the Middle of Nowhere: Sleepy Hollow to Sunset Beach 28:20

10M ago28:20

28:20

What did you think of this episode? In this places and spaces episode that starts in the northern reaches of the Appalachian plateau, we travel from quaint Sleepy Hollow, New York to the serene sands of Sunset Beach, North Carolina, uncovering stories of history, literature, and connection (in a special little mailbox) along the way. This adventure…

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What Do We Mean by 'Directly' and 'Needs Washed'? 9:07

11M ago9:07

9:07

What did you think of this episode? This episode is about a word and a phrase that are still commonly used in the Appalachian region. First, I'll offer a little refresher on what makes up a dialect and how these words fit in. We'll talk about "directly" as in "I'll be there directly" and the phrase needs + a participle (like washed.) Who uses them …

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Places and Spaces: Edgar Allen Poe's Baltimore Home and a Reading of "The Raven" 13:27

11M ago13:27

13:27

What did you think of this episode? In this "Places and Spaces" episode, we'll mark the October anniversary of Edgar Allen Poe's mysterious death with a visit to Poe's house in Baltimore and the cemetery where he is buried. Then, listen to a haunting reading of "The Raven" (with audio by Brock Davidson.) Special thanks to Brock Davidson for lending…

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Grave Matters: Appalachian Death Lore, Burial, and Mourning Rituals 22:33

11M ago22:33

22:33

What did you think of this episode? In this chilling episode (just in time for spooky week), SWVA Museum Education Specialist Burke Greear joins me to talk about pre-funeral industry Appalachian customs and superstitions surrounding premonitions, death and burial. We'll explore the roots of terms like "death watch," "sitting up with the dead," "pal…

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Appalachian Reckoning, Hillbillies, and Accents with Anthony Harkins and Meredith McCarroll 41:31

11M ago41:31

41:31

What did you think of this episode? The co-editors of Appalachian Reckoning: a Region Responds to Hillbilly Elegy and the author of Hillbilly: a Cultural History of an American Icon join me to talk about the region's literary response to J.D. Vance's book, the layered meanings of "hillbilly," and why reclaiming accent matters to so many of us. We'l…

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Appalshop: 55 Years of Telling Appalachia's Stories 35:26

12M ago35:26

35:26

What did you think of this episode? Appalshop was founded in eastern Kentucky in 1969, providing "space for Appalachians to tell their own stories in their own words." Its founding followed the War on Poverty, when Appalachia was put on display for the rest of the world in a way that cemented stereotypical thinking about the region. Since then, it …

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Adriana Trigiani: a Bestselling Author on Books, Movies, Podcasting, and Place 25:56

1y ago25:56

25:56

What did you think of this episode? Adri and I sit down at the Library of Virginia to catch up and talk about writing, The Origin Project, her podcast (You Are What You Read), and ten years since the release of her hometown movie Big Stone Gap. Beloved by millions of readers around the world for her “dazzling” novels, (USA Today) Adriana Trigiani i…

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Finding Glimmers with Poet Jane Hicks and Music by Tiffany Williams 29:33

1y ago29:33

29:33

What did you think of this episode? Poet Jane Hicks is the author of three award-winning poetry collections: Blood and Bone Remember, Driving with the Dead, and recently, The Safety of Small Things (University Press of Kentucky/Fireside Imprint). She also wrote the essay "A Matter of Perception" for Talking Appalachian (the book.) In our conversati…

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"Hillbilly" and an Interview with Journalist and Documentary Filmmaker Ashley York 41:54

1y ago41:54

41:54

What did you think of this episode? In this episode, I explore the word "hillbilly" with native Kentuckian and documentary filmmaker Ashley York, who co-directed the award-winning film by the same name in 2018. I talk about the history of the word first, and then Ashley and I discuss what it was like to return to central Appalachia to interview fam…

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The Meaning of "Redneck" and Its Role in the U.S. Labor Movement 24:38

1y ago24:38

24:38

What did you think of this episode? Redneck. Hillbilly. White Trash. These are some of the class-based words used to describe people of Appalachia. But did you know that redneck, in particular, has a very special meaning associated with red bandanas worn in solidarity by striking coal miners? Included is an excerpted interview from 1974 with coal m…

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Appalachia's Scottish Roots and the Dialect Influences of Scots Gaelic 46:15

1y ago46:15

46:15

What did you think of this episode? Musician and storyteller Jack Beck, a native of Dunfermline, Scotland, joins me in this episode to talk about his homeland's cultural connection to the Appalachian region. He'll tell us about: how Scots-English came to be part of the Appalachian dialect (in our surnames, occupational names, and place names, for e…

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A Conversation with Barbara Kingsolver Part II 1:03:08

1y ago1:03:08

1:03:08

What did you think of this episode? In this continuation of the Barbara Kingsolver episodes, the eastern Kentucky native gives her last talk on her novel, Demon Copperhead on the campus of The University of Virginia's College at Wise, following our discussion in Part I. She reads from the opening scene of the novel; talks about the places that insp…

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A Conversation with Pulitzer Winning Author of Demon Copperhead Barbara Kingsolver (Part 1) 45:01

1y ago45:01

45:01

What did you think of this episode? In this first of two episodes with the author of Demon Copperhead, Barbara Kingsolver says she is "bringing Demon home" in her last talk about the novel. She discusses her love of her Appalachian language, how the novel began at the desk of Charles Dickens, and her research into foster care, football, and addicti…

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Mountain Lake Lodge in Southwest Virginia: History, Mystery, and Hollywood 23:58

1y ago23:58

23:58

What did you think of this episode? Join us as we spend a weekend at beautiful Mountain Lake Lodge in this Appalachian Places and Spaces episode. Hear about the history of the lodge, dating back to the 1700's, and why the property was once known as "Salt Pond." We'll fast forward to the 1980's to find out how directors of the classic Dirty Dancing …

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The Origin of "Dog Days" and Its Folklore, and the Southern Appalachian City of Knoxville 32:01

1y ago32:01

32:01

What did you think of this episode? Dog Days has begun, and I'm exploring the origins of this 16th century phrase. Did you know the season from July 3rd to August 11 coincides with Sirius, or Canis Major (in the shape of a dog) of the Orion Constellation? Joining me in this episode is Shallon Payne of The Appalachian Homestead, whose family-for gen…

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The Tradition of Prayer Cloths, and the Only Town in Appalachia That's Named "Appalachia" 10:17

1+ y ago10:17

10:17

What did you think of this episode? Prayer cloths are symbols of a deep and widespread faith that has been in Appalachia since its settlement. From simple squares to quilts to shawls, prayers are embedded in the fibers, along with a promise that faith has healing power. Learn about the practice of prayer cloths, the verses that may inspire them, an…

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The word "Holler," Lightning Bug or Firefly, and Spellcheck by Anne Shelby 19:17

1+ y ago19:17

19:17

What did you think of this episode? Those of us who grew up in a "holler" know that they can be deep, dark valleys or winding roads between hills. But did you know holler also refers to yodeling, calling, yelling? And if you've never heard "holler down a rainbarrel" you might be surprised to learn what it means. We'll also explore the Americanism "…

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The Myth of Isolation in Appalachia 25:14

1+ y ago25:14

25:14

What did you think of this episode? We know modern Appalachia isn't isolated, so why do people keep using that word to describe a region that includes 13 states and 25 million people? This episode is a commentary on the origins of isolation (the word and the concept), how that perception became grounded over the years, why it couldn't be more untru…

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'Eye Dialect' as a Contributor to Stereotype and Michael Montgomery's Research on the Written Dialect of 18th Century Documents 9:26

1+ y ago9:26

9:26

What did you think of this episode? Early authors used "eye dialect," or a deliberate misspelling of words that doesn't change how they sound (like "tu" for "to" or "uv" for "of.") This literary practice, based on the authors' observations of what they heard people say, was to make their Appalachian characters seem foolish or uneducated. This use o…

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Talking Cherokee, Resilience and Devotion 40:19

1+ y ago40:19

40:19

What did you think of this episode? A Cherokee language revival is underway, thanks to the efforts of the Cherokee Nation and their communities in Oklahoma and western North Carolina. The story of Cherokee language history and the work to create Cherokee language schools and immersion communities are told in the award-winning documentary, We Will S…

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The Burial Ground in the Woods Part II 28:01

1+ y ago28:01

28:01

What did you think of this episode? How do ghosts speak through their artifacts? As we continue the story of the burial ground in the woods, I'm joined by Dr. Angela Washington, my co-researcher and family. We talk about the chilling death portrait that proved to be our starting point, the coverlet supposedly woven by enslaved women linking the lan…

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The Burial Ground in the Woods 31:58

1+ y ago31:58

31:58

What did you think of this episode? What secrets does a 19th century burial ground hold, when the stones have no words or dates, and family folklore says they belonged to enslaved people? In this episode, I'm joined by William Isom II of Black in Appalachia, my co-researcher on this burial ground project for the past ten years. For almost two centu…

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Talking Appalachian in Ireland 23:38

1+ y ago23:38

23:38

What did you think of this episode? Join us in beautiful Ireland where we learn about a town with two names (Londonderry/Derry), an Irishman's take on "hillbilly," familiar words and pronunciations, and a primitive alphabet inspired by trees. Support the show *Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and review the podcast (if you like it)! *Suppor…

1
The Woodcarver 24:58

1+ y ago24:58

24:58

What did you think of this episode? The sisters remembered her "witchy" looking dolls, but they were forever haunted by that one day when the woodcarver's knife nearly took their mother's life. In this episode, I retell a chilling story told to me by my great-grandmother and her sisters...one that has given me nightmares. But it's also a story abou…

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What Two Letters a Century Apart Tell Us About the Writers' Home Voices 28:19

1+ y ago28:19

28:19

What did you think of this episode? Listen to the voice of John Gregory, a Civil War infantryman writing home from a cold, February campsite in 1862, a year before he would die at Gettysburg. Then, listen to the voice of Cordia Nichols, a woman diagnosed with tuberculosis in 1959 and recovering in the Catawba Sanitorium. John's letter allows us to …

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Three Reasons Why You Can be Proud of Your Dialect (Plus a Discussion of 'Sworp' and 'Watch for Deer') 18:24

1+ y ago18:24

18:24

What did you think of this episode? If you've ever found yourself in the position of having to defend your accent or dialect, or if you're an educator who wants to support your students' home voices but you're not sure whether you can do that while teaching standard English, this one is for you. We'll cover three (among many) justifications for App…

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A Conversation with Pulitzer Winning Southern Writer Rick Bragg (Part II) 24:01

1+ y ago24:01

24:01

What did you think of this episode? In Part II of my conversation with one of my favorite writers, Pulitzer-winning southern writer and journalist Rick Bragg, he talks about some of the news stories that haunt him. He also gives both teachers and students his best advice for becoming a journalist or novelist...what to do and definitely what not to …

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A Conversation with Pulitzer Winning Southern Writer Rick Bragg (Part I) 40:58

1+ y ago40:58

40:58

What did you think of this episode? Author Rick Bragg is a true storyteller. Though his work as a Pulitzer-winning journalist at the New York Times took him all over the world, the Alabama native came back home in his memoir writing. His books such as Ava's Man (my favorite), All Over But the Shoutin' (another favorite) The Best Cook in the World (…