Hometown Stories

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Hometown Stories Podcast

From hard-hitting to heartwarming, Hometown Stories will guide you through the Blue Ridge Mountains and into the heart of Virginia. Hometown Stories is a production of WDBJ7-TV based in Roanoke, Virginia.

  1. Hometown Stories Episode 80 - Walk Ride Paddle: Sen. Tim Kaine discusses his new book

    4 JUN

    Hometown Stories Episode 80 - Walk Ride Paddle: Sen. Tim Kaine discusses his new book

    When U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine turned 60, he decided to mark the milestone and his 25 years in public life with a Virginia Nature Triathlon: hiking the Appalachian Trail in Virginia, biking the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Skyline Drive in the Commonwealth, and paddling the length of the James River. In this episode of Hometown Stories, we sit down with Kaine to discuss the experience and the new book ‘Walk Ride Paddle: A Life Outdoors,’ which he describes as a love letter to Virginia.

    29 min
  2. Hometown Stories Episode 79: Reclaiming History in Roanoke's Old Lick Cemetery

    10 APR

    Hometown Stories Episode 79: Reclaiming History in Roanoke's Old Lick Cemetery

    Since 2019, volunteers have gathered once a month to reclaim an African American cemetery in the city of Roanoke. The Friends of Old Lick Cemetery have cleared away the brush that has overtaken the property and revealed dozens of headstones. In this episode of Hometown Stories, we hear how they ae also shining a light on an important chapter of Roanoke's hidden history.

    16 min
  3. Hometown Stories Episode 78 - Fries: The Town Frozen in Time

    16/11/2023

    Hometown Stories Episode 78 - Fries: The Town Frozen in Time

    Along a stretch of the New River in southwest Virginia, you’ll find a town nearly unchanged by time. For nearly a century, the people of Fries, Virginia worshiped, played and grew up under the watchful eye and guiding hand of its textile mill. It was an Appalachian mill town centered on community, cotton and country music. But that changed when the mill closed in the 1980s, and Fries became a shell of its former self. Today, Fries is using its past to guide its future - hoping to weave a new chapter into its unique story.

    22 min
  4. Hometown Stories Episode 77 - From Foundry to Fandom: How a steam locomotive became an icon

    08/11/2023

    Hometown Stories Episode 77 - From Foundry to Fandom: How a steam locomotive became an icon

    The Norfolk and Western Class J No. 611 locomotive has retained celebrity status in her hometown of Roanoke, Virginia and has amassed fans in the rail enthusiast community worldwide. The Queen of Steam recently rode the rails once again, harkening back to its early days in the passenger rail business. Now as the last remaining of its kind, fans flock to see the Spirit of Roanoke run. In this episode of Hometown Stories, we explore the 611’s past, how she gained celebrity status and look ahead to its future.

    48 min
  5. Hometown Stories Episode 76 - The Money Plant: Histories and mysteries rooted in Appalachia’s ginseng trade

    04/10/2023

    Hometown Stories Episode 76 - The Money Plant: Histories and mysteries rooted in Appalachia’s ginseng trade

    Since the era of Daniel Boone, sengers have been trying their luck at turning roots into riches. The wild American ginseng created outlaws and bylaws, fact and fiction, in trying to define a people almost as elusive as the plant itself. Fueled by a robust Asian market, the ginseng trade has persevered, though today with conservation top of mind. In this episode of Hometown Stories, a look at the histories and mysteries rooted in Appalachia’s ginseng trade as Virginia’s season gets underway.

    23 min
  6. Hometown Stories 75 - Acorn Aspirations: Forestry project needs your nuts

    27/09/2023

    Hometown Stories 75 - Acorn Aspirations: Forestry project needs your nuts

    Did you know you can help plant trees in Virginia just by exploring your backyard? Virginia's Department of Forestry wants your acorns! In this episode of Hometown Stories, we speak with nursery manager, Joshua McLaughlin, about how you can get involved.

    14 min
  7. Hometown Stories 74 - An Arctic adventure for space telescope researchers

    30/08/2023

    Hometown Stories 74 - An Arctic adventure for space telescope researchers

    Five members of the Green Bank Observatory team in Green Bank, West Virginia have spent the last two weeks dodging polar bears, climbing glaciers and dismantling a giant telescope in one of the world’s northernmost human settlements. They’re bringing the spare parts, floppy discs and all, back to Green Bank. In this episode of Hometown Stories, we get a look into their epic adventure.

    10 min
  8. Hometown Stories Episode 73 - Climate and Cabernet: How climate change is affecting Virginia’s wine industry

    23/08/2023

    Hometown Stories Episode 73 - Climate and Cabernet: How climate change is affecting Virginia’s wine industry

    The journey from the grapevine to the bottle is a journey filled with challenges for wine makers worldwide. Thanks to climate change, those challenges are mounting. In this episode of Hometown Stories, a look at how climate change is forcing Virginia’s billion dollar industry to adapt.

    20 min
See All (78)

About

From hard-hitting to heartwarming, Hometown Stories will guide you through the Blue Ridge Mountains and into the heart of Virginia. Hometown Stories is a production of WDBJ7-TV based in Roanoke, Virginia.

Information

  • Creator
    WDBJ7
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2024
  • Episodes
    78
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © https://www.wdbj7.com/
  • Show Website
    Hometown Stories

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