Appalachia Meets World

"Because I wanted to...."

In this follow up episode, Neil and Will sit down with artist, sculpture, writer, author, mentor and coach - Bridgette Mongeon.  Hear her discuss a current project she's working on that has a great deal of historical significance to Appalachia, and more specifically the Appalachian Trail.  Take a listen as she describes her process of transitioning from the traditional art form of sculpting with clay to a ...

Energy Cooperatives are not only an important energy provider in smaller, more rural communities, they are a fixture in place making and community development within the communities they service.  In this episode, Neil and Will sit down with Brent Jackson, the Member Relations Manager for Jackson Energy Cooperative.  As an energy cooperative, it's not beholden to its shareholders but is owned by the community - more specifically, "...

A SMALL TOWN NEVER FORGETS!!

In this episode, Neil and Will sit down with Deb Brown and Becky McCray, co-founders of Save Your Town!  With a focus on smaller communities, they believe small towns can be saved by their own people using their own resources.  As small town experts, their organization combats community challenges and specializes in low or no cost solutions, ones that will work in even the tiniest of towns.  Hear them t...

It's football time in the mountains!  Neil is like a kid in a candy store, or this time of year for him is like "waking up on Christmas Morning."  Sit back and gear up for our annual football episode to kick off the season!

In this episode, Neil and Will sit down with back-to-back State Champion (which makes 4 total) and legendary Head Coach of the Pikeville Panthers, Coach Chris McNamee.  A multiple time Coach of the Year Awardee,...

We're back (sorry for the hiatus)!!  In this episode, Neil and Will sit down with Equine Artist and "Rockstar" Jamie Corum.  Jamie discusses her passion for Art, especially Equine Art, and what got her involved in the first place.  Hear her talk about the place she grew up and how it drew her back many years later (as we like to say, "there's something magic in them mountains").  Her art has a way of showing the "soul" of the horse...

"Challenging the Appalachian narrative, one story at a time!"  In this episode, Neil and Will sit down with the Appalachian, the Filmmaker, the Writer and Storyteller - Elon Justice.  Upon working on her graduate school thesis, she came to the realization that "stories - Appalachian stories - have power."  Understanding the perceptions that were often laid upon her accent and geographical upbringing, through her studies and work sh...

In this episode Neil and Will sit down with Brian Milam, Sports Director for WKYT (a CBS affiliate).  Brian flexes his Kentucky high school sports IQ while explaining how the "mountains" have transformed his career.  While local news in rural areas has struggled in the new digital age, Brian describes the importance of building trust while reporting in and about these communities.  Take a listen as he touches on media outlets in Ap...

In this episode Neil and Will sit down with Dee Davis - President of the Center for Rural Strategies, former Executive Director of Appalshop and prolific storyteller.  The majority of his career has been built on utilizing different forms of media to build more prosperous communities.  Dee describes how media has changed throughout his career and how important local news is to a rural community.  Take a listen as he speaks to the h...

In this episode Neil and Will kick off a series of discussing "Media in Appalachia" with a sit down with Skylar Baker-Jordan, a journalist currently working with 100 Days in Appalachia.  100 Days is working to bring a diverse set of voices into focus throughout the region through media, focusing on news of Appalachia -- but more importantly BY APPALACHIANS.  Skylar discusses the complexities of the region and how important it is fo...

In this episode, Will (and unfortunately not Neil) sits down with Dr. Kathy Bullock, a Professor Emerita of Berea College where she focused on African American Music and Music Theory.  Dr. Bullock explains the musical connections of African American Music and traditional Appalachian Music she came to better understand while she taught in the Appalachian region.  As the Appalachian region can be complex, Dr. Bullock shares her exper...

In this episode Neil and Will sit down with a Rural "Evangelist" and policy expert Tony Pipa of the Brookings Institution, to discuss rural policy - or the lack thereof.  Among his many hats, Tony also hosts the podcast "Reimagine Rural" - exploring how investment in rural people and places can lead to increased prosperity.  Take a listen as Tony speaks on the often congested (and confusing) federal programs and why we need federal...

In this episode Neil and Will sit down with Kim Davis, the executive director of "Friends of Southwest Virginia" - a regional organization positioned to develop and coordinate the creative economy in Southwest Virginia (SWVA).  It uniquely works to not only drive tourism in the region, but to also combine infrastructure and economic development within its mission.  While the "Birthplace of Country Music" can seemingly sell itself, ...

In this episode, Neil and Will sit down with the "Hillbilly Astrophysicist" - Dr. Jeff Bary - a professor at Colgate University and proud Appalachian born and raised in Welch, WV.  As an astronomer, Dr. Bary is working to reclaim our connection to the night sky and preserving its darkness for future generations.  As an Appalachian, he is working to develop a community interested in the night sky with a specific focus on Appalachia....

In this episode Neil and Will sit down with author and thru-hiker Derick Lugo to discuss his journey along the Appalachian Trail (AT) as well as how the trail drives tourism for many small towns along the way.  Since completing the AT eleven years ago, Derick's life path has changed from a city dweller who knew little about hiking to an outdoor evangelist.  As a prolific storyteller, Derick speaks about some of his trail stories an...

Laurel Cove Music Festival June 9th and 10th!!  In this episode, Neil and Will sit down with Jon Grace the Bell County Tourism Director and Organizer of the Laurel Cove Music Festival.  In its 4th year, while the festival continues to grow it still keeps the small town family identify it has formed from the start.  As festival season is off and running in Appalachia, hear how festivals serve as an opportunity to attract visitors an...

In this episode, Neil and Will sit down with Luke Glaser.  As a Hazard, KY City Commissioner, Luke not only personally went through the recent devastating floods in Eastern Kentucky, he has been part of the process of recovery - something he and his colleagues have had to learn as they go.  Hazard, KY in Perry County was one of the hardest hit areas when the flood came in late July.  The devastation and initial recovery was a natio...

It's Derby Week!  In this episode Neil and Will sit down with Keith Gabbard, CEO of the People's Rural Telephone Cooperative or PRTC in McKee, KY.  It doesn't matter where you live, in this day and age everyone deserves an equal opportunity at broadband access.  PRTC is delivering just that in one of the more rural and underserved areas in the country - in turn making Jackson County one of the most connected small communities in th...

In this episode Neil and Will sit down with Chris Worman, founder of Connect Humanity - a nonprofit working with communities to build the internet infrastructure and skills they need to participate fully in a digital society.  As part of an ARC funding grant, Connect Humanity has been tasked to bridge the digital divide in Appalachia, specifically to 50 undeserved communities throughout every sub-region of Appalachia.  Take a liste...

In this episode Neil and Will have a conversation with Tom Gellrich of the H2-CCS Network and Co-Organizer of the 2023 Appalachian Renewable Natural Gas Conference.  Renewable Natural Gas or RNG is different in that instead of extracting materials from the earth, it is the conversion of waste and other organic materials into energy - combating climate change along the way.  Take a listen as Tom speaks to the RNG Conference and the ...