Best Appalachian Literature Podcasts (2024)

1
The Origin of "Dog Days" and Its Folklore, and the Southern Appalachian City of Knoxville 32:01

1d 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…

1
"Voices from Gettysburg" with Allen Guelzo 57:51

1d ago57:51

57:51

Gathering a treasure trove of powerful, rare, and haunting original documents, New York Times bestselling author and award-winning historian Allen C. Guelzo presents a uniquely readable and intimate oral history of the Civil War's turning point. We hear from a Union staff officer, a Confederate amputee, artilleryman, a sympathetic Northern woman, a…

1
The Tradition of Prayer Cloths, and the Only Town in Appalachia That's Named "Appalachia" 10:17

7d 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…

1
Ep. 29 | Poetry Corner: Amy M. Alvarez 20:36

14d ago20:36

20:36

In the latest installment of our minisode series, Poetry Corner, Kendra Winchester is joined by Amy M. Alvarez. Books Mentioned Makeshift Altar by Amy M. Alvarez Blue on a Blue Palette by Lynne Thompson Becoming AppalAsian by Lisa Kwong Incendiary Art by Patricia Smith Mothman Apologia Volume 116 by Robert Wood Lynn Guest Info Amy M. Alvarez’s work…

1
The word "Holler," Lightning Bug or Firefly, and Spellcheck by Anne Shelby 19:17

15d 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 "…

1
The Myth of Isolation in Appalachia 25:14

23d 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…

1
Ep. 28 | Pride Month — Again! 1:28:21

27d ago1:28:21

1:28:21

In today’s episode of the podcast, Kendra Winchester talks to authors Natalie Naudus and Jonathan Corcoran. Books Mentioned Gay the Pray Away by Natalie Naudus No Son of Mine by Jonathan Corcoran The Prettiest Star by Carter Sickels Another Appalachia by Neema Avashia Shae by Mesha Maren Night Watch by Jayne Anne Phillips Black Tickets by Jayne Ann…

1
"Pennsylvania Government and Politics" with Thomas Baldino and Paula Duda Holoviak 57:18

28d ago57:18

57:18

This book provides a comprehensive examination of the Keystone State's formal and informal political institutions and players, past and present, and elucidates the place each holds in governing the commonwealth today. Covering a period of more than three hundred years, this volume presents a clear and succinct overview of the commonwealth's politic…

1
Ep. 27 | Poetry Corner: Dorian Hairston 21:40

1M ago21:40

21:40

In the latest installment of our minisode series, Poetry Corner, Kendra Winchester is joined by Dorian Hairston. Books Mentioned Pretend the Ball Is Named Jim Crow: The Story of Josh Gibson by Dorian Hairston Love Child's Hotbed of Occasional Poetry: Poems & Artifacts by Nikki Finney Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts by Crystal Wilkinson The Big Sm…

1
"Work, Fight, Or Play Ball" with William Ecenbarger 48:07

1M ago48:07

48:07

In 1918, Bethlehem Steel started the world's greatest industrial baseball league. Appealing to Major League Baseball players looking to avoid service in the Great War, teams employed "ringers" like Babe Ruth, Rogers Hornsby, and Shoeless Joe Jackson in what became scornfully known as "safe shelter" leagues. pcntv.com/donate pcntv.com/membership-sig…

1
'Eye Dialect' as a Contributor to Stereotype and Michael Montgomery's Research on the Written Dialect of 18th Century Documents 9:26

2M 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…

1
"Gen X Pittsburgh" with David Rullo 57:39

2M ago57:39

57:39

Beginning in the early 1990s, Pittsburgh's South Side neighborhood began to transform from the post-industrial morass it had been suffering for the last few decades. Artists began to rent empty apartments, what were once shot-and-a-beer bars became hip dive bars and entrepreneurs found inexpensive real estate to follow their visions. It was in this…

1
"Harrisburg in WWI and the 1918 Pandemic" with Rodney Ross 52:13

2M ago52:13

52:13

In 1917, at the start of World War I, among global war and a global pandemic, Harrisburgers stepped up and served. The city experienced tribulations as residents feared espionage, suspected foreigners and demanded loyalty. Hospitals struggled with the 1918 flu at their doorstep. Join author Rodney Ross as he charts the World War I era and the Harri…

1
Talking Cherokee, Resilience and Devotion 40:19

2M 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…

1
Ep. 26 | Photography 1:11:03

2M ago1:11:03

1:11:03

In today's episode of the podcast, Kendra Winchester talks to photographers Raymond Thompson Jr and Julie Rae Powers. Books Mentioned Buy Deep Ruts Appalachian Ghost by Raymond Thompson Jr The Book of the Dead by Muriel Rukeyser The Hawk’s Nest Incident: America's Worst Industrial Disaster by Martin Cherniack The Hawk’s Nest Tunnel: An Unabridged H…

1
The Burial Ground in the Woods Part II 28:01

2M 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…

1
Ep. 25 | Live: Ron Rash and Ann Pancake 53:58

3M ago53:58

53:58

In this special live recording of Read Appalachia, host Kendra Winchester talks to Ron Rash and Ann Pancake. A special thanks to Jeremy B. Jones and Western Carolina University for hosting us at the 22nd Spring Literary Festival. Books Mentioned Above the Waterfall by Ron Rash The Risen by Ron Rash Strange As This Weather Has Been by Ann Pancake Th…

1
The Burial Ground in the Woods 31:58

3M 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…

1
"George Washington in the French & Indian War" with Scott Patchan 56:42

3M ago56:42

56:42

George Washington has frequently been criticized for his first military campaign, which sparked the French and Indian War. While his campaign failed to meet its objectives, Washington experienced his first taste of military command, dealing with situations that ultimately proved beyond his control, and learned lessons that made him into the man who…

1
Ep. 24 | Read Appalachia Live: Poetry Corner 1:17:47

3M ago1:17:47

1:17:47

In this special edition of Poetry Corner, host Kendra Winchester is joined in conversation with poets Willie Edward Taylor Carver Jr., Rahul Mehta, and Doug Van Gundy. A special thanks to the librarians at Western Carolina University for helping arrange this recording. Books Mentioned Gay Poems for Read States by Willie Edward Taylor Carver Jr. Fee…

1
Talking Appalachian in Ireland 23:38

3M 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 us! Support the show by sharing links…

1
The Woodcarver 24:58

4M 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…

1
Ep. 23 | Poetry Corner: Kari Gunter-Seymour 26:34

4M ago26:34

26:34

In the latest installment of our minisode series, Poetry Corner, Kendra Winchester is joined by Ohio Poet Laureate Kari Gunter-Seymour. Books Mentioned Dirt Songs by Kari Gunter-Seymour Alone in the House of My Heart: Poems by Kari Gunter-Seymour Women Speak Volume 9 edited by Kari Gunter-Seymour Things Mentioned Women of Appalachia Project Guest I…

1
"The Game that Saved the NHL" with Ed Gruver 57:20

4M ago57:20

57:20

In late 1975 and early 1976, at the height of the Cold War, two of the Soviet Union's long-dominant national hockey teams traveled to North America to play an eight-game series against the best teams in the National Hockey League. The culmination of the "Super Series" was reigning Soviet League champion HC CSKA Moscow's face-off against the defendi…

1
Ep. 22 | The Cost of Creativity 1:31:04

4M ago1:31:04

1:31:04

Host Kendra Winchester talks to Neema Avashia and Sarah Lemon about their experience carving out the time to write. Things Mentioned Lemon’s Substack, The Devil’s Cut Books Mentioned GUESTS Neema Avashia Website | Instagram | Twitter / X Sarah Nicole Lemon Website | Instagram --- Show Your Love for Read Appalachia! You can support Read Appalachia b…

1
"Telling of the Anthracite" with Philip Mosley 59:06

4M ago59:06

59:06

"Telling of the Anthracite" explores the various ways in which anthracite history has been represented and remembered since 1960, the chosen date for the start of the "posthistorical" era coinciding approximately with the Knox mine disaster (1959) and the beginning of the Centralia mine fire (1962-), two cataclysmic and fateful events that symboliz…

1
Ep. 21 | Poetry Corner: upfromsumdirt 24:59

4M ago24:59

24:59

In the latest installment of our minisode series, Poetry Corner, Kendra Winchester is joined by special guest upfromsumdirt. Books Mentioned The Second Stop Is Jupiter by upfromsumdirt Mumbo Jumbo by Ishmael Reed Quilting: Poems 1987-1990 by Lucille Clifton Let the Dead In by Saida Agostini upfromsumdirt, Ron Davis, is an autodidactic poet and awar…

1
"That Our Daughters May Be as Cornerstones" with Chad Leinaweaver 50:40

4M ago50:40

50:40

Irving College was the first college to offer degrees in the arts and sciences to women and that two of its buildings still stand to this day. Named after famed author Washington Irving, this college for women was part of a nationwide trend in the nineteenth century to finally educate women, but a trend that was always fraught with opposition. pcnt…

1
What Two Letters a Century Apart Tell Us About the Writers' Home Voices 28:19

5M 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 …

1
Ep. 20 | Julie Rae Powers 30:20

5M ago30:20

30:20

In a special episode of the podcast, Kendra interviews Julie Rae Powers about their new photography book, Deep Ruts. Julie Rae Powers received their MFA in Photography from The Ohio State University and their BFA in Photography from James Madison University. Their photographic and written work has focused on family history, coal, Appalachia, the qu…

1
Three Reasons Why You Can be Proud of Your Dialect (Plus a Discussion of 'Sworp' and 'Watch for Deer') 18:24

5M 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…

1
"On a Great Battlefield" with Jennifer Murray 57:13

5M ago57:13

57:13

Of the more than seventy sites associated with the Civil War era that the National Park Service manages, none hold more national appeal and recognition than Gettysburg National Military Park. In "On a Great Battlefield," Jennifer M. Murray chronicles the administration of the National Park Service and how it educates the public about the battle and…

1
Ep. 19 | Appalachian Foodways 1:45:21

5M ago1:45:21

1:45:21

To kick off Season 2 of Read Appalachia, host Kendra Winchester talks to special guests Erica Abrams Locklear and Crystal Wilkinson. You can find the full show notes here. Things Mentioned Chefs Mentioned John Fleer, Rhubarb William Dissen, The Marketplace Ashleigh Shanti, Good Hot Fish Sean Brock, Audrey Travis Milton, Hickory Books Mentioned GUES…

1
A Conversation with Pulitzer Winning Southern Writer Rick Bragg (Part II) 24:01

5M 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 …

1
A Conversation with Pulitzer Winning Southern Writer Rick Bragg (Part I) 40:58

6M 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 (…

1
New Year's Eve Superstitions and Foods, Old Christmas, and the Word "Untelling" 12:38

6M ago12:38

12:38

What did you think of this episode? It's "untelling" what 2024 will bring, but in this episode we'll talk about why you should eat black- eyed peas on New Year's Eve, why you shouldn't do housework on New Year's Day, and why some people refuse to take down their trees until Old Christmas on January 6th. We'll also explore the word "untelling," our …

1
Ep. 18 | Our Favorite Books of 2023 1:07:22

7M ago1:07:22

1:07:22

In Read Appalachia’s season finale, Kendra Winchester is joined by Mandi Fugate Sheffel, the owner of the bookstore Read Spotted Newt, which is located in Hazard, Kentucky. Things Mentioned Read Spotted Newt Website Support the Read Spotted Newt on Bookshop.org Storygraph Books Mentioned All affiliate links for this episode go to support the Read S…

1
"Emotional Brandywine" with Karl Kuerner & Bruce Mowday 57:06

7M ago57:06

57:06

The September 11, 1777, battle of Brandywine, a defeat for General George Washington, is too often forgotten by historians. Brandywine was one of the most important engagements of the war, also the largest land battle. Lafayette began his rise to an American hero that afternoon when he shed his blood for American freedom. Artist Karl J. Kuerner and…

1
Fixin' to, the A-Prefix and Twelve Days of Christmas, and an Excerpt from Verna Mae Slone's "How We Talked" 11:02

7M ago11:02

11:02

What did you think of this episode? In this episode, I research the history of "Fixin' to" (as in "I'm fixin' to put up the holiday decorations.) Add the very old (middle English) dialect feature "a-prefix" and you've got "I'm a-fixin' to put up the holiday decorations.) Then, I'll tell you about the link between our dialect and "The Twelve Days of…

1
Napoleon Hill Part II with Don Green on The Four Uses of Money and Millionaire Mindset 19:48

7M ago19:48

19:48

What did you think of this episode? Part II begins with a story about how Napoleon Hill's influence reached all the way to the Kennedy White House. Then, Executive Director of the Napoleon Hill Foundation and bestselling author, Don Green, continues our interview with what he knows about the four uses of money from years of experience, lots of book…

1
Napoleon Hill: from Appalachian Roots to Riches with Executive Director Don Green Part I 23:54

7M ago23:54

23:54

What did you think of this episode? Long before Napoleon Hill, author of Think and Grow Rich, became a global bestselling author, he was a poor boy from Pound, VA in the mountains of Wise County, running through the woods with a rifle, stirring up trouble. His stepmother bought him a typewriter and the rest is history. His groundbreaking book Think…

1
"Youghiogheny: Appalachian River" with Tim Palmer 57:09

7M ago57:09

57:09

Turbulent rapids and wild shorelines of the Youghiogheny River highlight natural wonders of the Appalachian Mountains, and midway on the stream's revealing path, Ohiopyle State Park is a showcase of beauty and has become a recreational hotspot where the river thunders over its iconic falls and cascades through the wooded gorges of Pennsylvania. Now…

1
Why Some Speakers Add an Extra 'T', Killed (or Kilt) Lettuce, and Storyteller Ray Hicks 18:45

8M ago18:45

18:45

What did you think of this episode? It's a 't' where no 't' ought to be....we call it "the intrusive -t" as in once't, across't, and kil't. In this episode: I talk about the Appalachian delicacy of "killed lettuce" You'll hear some clips of storyteller Ray Hicks and his use of the intrusive -t and -n Listen to a Civil War soldier's accent and how h…

1
Ep. 17 | Short Stories 1:06:12

8M ago1:06:12

1:06:12

This month’s episode is about short stories! Host Kendra Winchester talks to special guests Halle Hill and George Singleton. Things Mentioned Short Story Advent Calendar Hub City Press Books Mentioned Guest Info Halle Hill is from East Tennessee and lives in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. A graduate of Maryville College and the M.F.A. Writing progr…

1
The Haunting of Bertha Sybert 17:27

8M ago17:27

17:27

What did you think of this episode? The Legend of Bouncing Bertha was a story I heard straight from an eyewitness several years before he passed away, but I'd heard about little Bertha my whole life as a ghost tale, told and retold at spooky season. What made this Depression-era Appalachian ghost tale so scary was that by all accounts it was true. …

1
Ep. 16 | Midwestern Literature ft Nathan Shuherk of Schizophrenic Reads 52:20

8M ago52:20

52:20

Host Kendra Winchester is joined by Nathan Shuherk (@schizophrenicreads) to chat about regional American literature and the commonalities between the Midwest and Appalachia. Things Mentioned Schizophrenic Reads: The Podcast Books Mentioned Guest Info Nathan Shuherk (@schizophrenicreads) is a book influencer that focuses on nonfiction books. He live…

1
Ron Rash, Bestselling Author, Talks about The Caretaker and the Stories, Voices, and Places that Inspire His Writing 41:32

8M ago41:32

41:32

What did you think of this episode? Bestselling author and western North Carolinian Ron Rash joins me to talk about his latest novel, The Caretaker. We also get into some of his other works, the importance of voice and dialect (he contributed to Part II of the Talking Appalachian book), cemeteries, and family stories. Welcome new Patreon subscriber…

1
Ep. 15 | Poetry Corner: Denton Loving 14:54

9M ago14:54

14:54

In the latest installment of our minisode series, Poetry Corner, Kendra Winchester is joined by special guest Denton Loving. Books Mentioned Tamp by Denton Loving Valediction: Poems and Prose by Linda Parsons Ring of Earth by William Woolfitt Outside the Frame by Catherine Pritchard Childress The Act of Contrition & Other Stories by Joseph Bathanti…

1
"The Philadelphia Campaign, 1777" with Michael Harris 53:11

9M ago53:11

53:11

The British Army in North America conducted two campaigns in 1777. John Burgoyne led one army south from Canada to seize control of the Lake Champlain-Hudson River corridor resulting in the battle of Saratoga. Rather than assist Burgoyne's campaign, William Howe led his army from New York City on the Philadelphia campaign. Although Howe captured Ph…

1
"If We Are Striking for Pennsylvania" Volume 2 with Scott Mingus & Eric Wittenberg 57:23

9M ago57:23

57:23

The first installment (June 3-22, 1863) carried the armies through the defining mounted clash at Battle of Brandy Station, after which Lee pushed his corps into the Shenandoah Valley and achieved the magnificent victory at Second Winchester on his way to the Potomac. Caught flat-footed, Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker used his cavalry to probe the mountain…

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Appalachian Literature Podcasts

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