The Talking Appalachian Podcast

Amy D. Clark
  • 4.8 (31)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

Talking Appalachian is a podcast about the Appalachian Mountain region's language or "voiceplaces,"  cultures, and communities. The podcast is hosted by Dr. Amy Clark,  a Professor of Communication Studies and  Director of the Center for Appalachian Studies at the University of Virginia's College at Wise. The podcast is based on her 2013 co-edited book Talking Appalachian: Voice, Identity, and Community. Her writing on Appalachia has appeared in the New York Times, Oxford American Magazine, Salon.com, on NPR, and Harvard University Press blog. She is also founder and director of the Appalachian Writing Project, which serves teachers, students, and the communities of the central Appalachian region.

  1. DEC 4

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

    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 identity, and the experience of embracing her dialect in various settings (including New York Fashion Week.) Bailey reads her published poem 'Bless Your Heart and Other Acts of Rebellion,' which reflects the inherent literary quality of Appalachian speech. The episode concludes with listener stories about their *voiceplaces and the impact of dialect on their lives. 00:00 Introduction and Poetry 01:49 Bailey's Appalachian Heritage 03:59 Academic Journey and Inspirations 07:06 Appalachian Identity in New York 08:24 Voice Place and Code Switching 17:13 Bailey's Poem: Bless Your Heart 27:12 Listener Responses Share your own voiceplace via audio or email at talkingappalachianpodcast@gmail.com *"Voiceplace" is a word created by Kentucky author George Ella Lyon Support the show *Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and review the podcast (if you like it)! *Support the show by sharing links to episodes on social *Subscribe to support the podcast on the Facebook Talking Appalachian page, or here at our Patreon page to get bonus content: Talking Appalachian Podcast | Covering the Appalachian Region from North to South | Patreon *Paypal to support the show: @amyclarkspain *Follow and message me on IG, FB, YouTube: @talkingappalachian *To sponsor an episode or collaborate: talkingappalachianpodcast@gmail.com or message me at the link here or on social. Unless another artist is featured, acoustic music on most episodes: "Steam Train" written by Elizabeth Cotten and performed by Landon Spain

    33 min

  2. NOV 26

    In Conversation with Ron Rash: The Caretaker and Appalachian Narratives

    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 voice in his writing, and his fascination with cemeteries and family stories. The conversation delves into the emotional core of Rash's novels, the influence of his Appalachian upbringing, and the profound moments of human connection that shape his storytelling. 00:45 Ron Rash's Contributions and Background 01:28 Discussion on Ron Rash's Works and Achievements 03:12 Ron Rash's New Novel: The Caretaker 05:12 Exploring Themes and Characters in The Caretaker 12:17 The Role of Voice and Dialect in Writing 16:23 The Significance of Work in Fiction 20:58 Excitement for the New Book 21:35 Cemetery Stories and Family Memories 24:17 Gravestones and Their Meanings 26:25 The Corpse Bird and Superstitions 28:40 Writing About Family and Appalachia 29:59 Appalachian Culture and Personal Reflections 32:25 Memories of Tweety Railroad and Family 34:43 Poetry and Personal Loss 38:07 Final Thoughts Ivy Attic CoJewelry from coal, river glass, and discarded books handcrafted in the central Appalachian MountainsDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show *Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and review the podcast (if you like it)! *Support the show by sharing links to episodes on social *Subscribe to support the podcast on the Facebook Talking Appalachian page, or here at our Patreon page to get bonus content: Talking Appalachian Podcast | Covering the Appalachian Region from North to South | Patreon *Paypal to support the show: @amyclarkspain *Follow and message me on IG, FB, YouTube: @talkingappalachian *To sponsor an episode or collaborate: talkingappalachianpodcast@gmail.com or message me at the link here or on social. Unless another artist is featured, acoustic music on most episodes: "Steam Train" written by Elizabeth Cotten and performed by Landon Spain

    40 min

  3. NOV 5

    Homer Hickam: From Rocket Boy to Bestselling Writer

    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 and other books, the inspiration to write both fiction and nonfiction, and his most memorable projects at NASA.  He also discusses his encounters with industry icons, the challenges and rewards of different genres, and offers practical advice to aspiring writers and engineers. Hickam recalls stories about the making of the ''October Sky'' movie and thoughts on the evolving publishing industry. Support the show *Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and review the podcast (if you like it)! *Support the show by sharing links to episodes on social *Subscribe to support the podcast on the Facebook Talking Appalachian page, or here at our Patreon page to get bonus content: Talking Appalachian Podcast | Covering the Appalachian Region from North to South | Patreon *Paypal to support the show: @amyclarkspain *Follow and message me on IG, FB, YouTube: @talkingappalachian *To sponsor an episode or collaborate: talkingappalachianpodcast@gmail.com or message me at the link here or on social. Unless another artist is featured, acoustic music on most episodes: "Steam Train" written by Elizabeth Cotten and performed by Landon Spain

    47 min

  4. OCT 30

    The Last Run: Molasses-Making in the Mountains

    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 'lasses' or 'molassey' in the local dialect, a vernacular blend resulting from English, German, and Scotch-Irish migrants who flooded the Appalachian mountains in the 18th and 19th centuries.   Molasses-making was an annual event every October in my family for years, so I'm sharing the process of a molasses 'run' from the podcast archive to talk about why we count it among our favorite memories. Dialect source: Dictionary of American Regional English Ivy Attic CoJewelry from coal, river glass, and discarded books handcrafted in the central Appalachian MountainsDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show *Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and review the podcast (if you like it)! *Support the show by sharing links to episodes on social *Subscribe to support the podcast on the Facebook Talking Appalachian page, or here at our Patreon page to get bonus content: Talking Appalachian Podcast | Covering the Appalachian Region from North to South | Patreon *Paypal to support the show: @amyclarkspain *Follow and message me on IG, FB, YouTube: @talkingappalachian *To sponsor an episode or collaborate: talkingappalachianpodcast@gmail.com or message me at the link here or on social. Unless another artist is featured, acoustic music on most episodes: "Steam Train" written by Elizabeth Cotten and performed by Landon Spain

    8 min

  5. OCT 17

    The "Re-Storification" of Appalachia with Jeff Biggers

    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 "Appalachia." Biggers' book, published 20 years ago, is a "re-storification" of Appalachia, as he puts it. He seeks to reveal the innovators in music, literature, resistance, and politics who are almost never associated with the region but were born and sometimes shaped here. In this bonus episode, Jeff met with members of a class I teach at UVA-Wise, where he recounted meeting the great Don West as a 19-year-old hitchhiker. His education about Appalachia began with this meeting, when West started asking a series of questions with "Did you know....?" Biggers didn't know any of what West told him about Appalachia, but that meeting made him question why he didn't know. Did you know that Nina Simone, from Appalachian North Carolina, sang "Black is the Color of My True Love's Hair" in New York City? It was a mountain ballad she learned growing up. Did you know the first woman to win the Nobel prize for literature was born in West Virginia? Did you know the first abolitionist newspaper was founded in east Tennessee, where Rosa Parks trained in nonviolent protest four months before she refused to give up her seat on that bus? Biggers discusses how his journey took him from Appalachia and across the world, most notably to Italy where he saw familiar themes in the way people from particular areas were perceived. The loss of his family's farm brought him back to Appalachia for a reckoning with what happens when land that is generations-old is erased. Support the show *Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and review the podcast (if you like it)! *Support the show by sharing links to episodes on social *Subscribe to support the podcast on the Facebook Talking Appalachian page, or here at our Patreon page to get bonus content: Talking Appalachian Podcast | Covering the Appalachian Region from North to South | Patreon *Paypal to support the show: @amyclarkspain *Follow and message me on IG, FB, YouTube: @talkingappalachian *To sponsor an episode or collaborate: talkingappalachianpodcast@gmail.com or message me at the link here or on social. Unless another artist is featured, acoustic music on most episodes: "Steam Train" written by Elizabeth Cotten and performed by Landon Spain

    32 min

  6. SEP 22

    The Folklore and Custom of "Telling the Bees"

    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 funeral cake. Through oral histories and folklore, we trace how "telling the bees" became part of Appalachian death lore and what it reveals about a worldview where nature and humanity were kin. Finally, I'll share a poem by Jane Hicks inspired by this tradition. Sources: John Greenleaf Whittier, “Telling the Bees” (1858); Leonard Roberts, South from Hell-fer-Sartin (1955); Richard Chase, The Jack Tales (1943); Loyal Jones, Appalachian Values (1995)  Ivy Attic CoJewelry from coal, river glass, and discarded books handcrafted in the central Appalachian MountainsDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show *Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and review the podcast (if you like it)! *Support the show by sharing links to episodes on social *Subscribe to support the podcast on the Facebook Talking Appalachian page, or here at our Patreon page to get bonus content: Talking Appalachian Podcast | Covering the Appalachian Region from North to South | Patreon *Paypal to support the show: @amyclarkspain *Follow and message me on IG, FB, YouTube: @talkingappalachian *To sponsor an episode or collaborate: talkingappalachianpodcast@gmail.com or message me at the link here or on social. Unless another artist is featured, acoustic music on most episodes: "Steam Train" written by Elizabeth Cotten and performed by Landon Spain

    11 min

  7. SEP 4

    Talkin' Appalachian in the Digital Space with Appalachian_Bluebird

    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 Appalachian dialect, folklore, the histories of old homes in the region, food culture, and funeral rituals. Her videos paired with research and a soothing voice have grown a following of close to 100k viewers who want to hear more about the place she calls home. We'll talk about Appalachia in the digital space, the book (and newspaper column) she's writing, and what we want our kids to remember about their homeplace. You'll also hear interludes of Brittany's content from @appalachian_bluebird. Ivy Attic CoJewelry from coal, river glass, and discarded books handcrafted in the central Appalachian MountainsDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show *Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and review the podcast (if you like it)! *Support the show by sharing links to episodes on social *Subscribe to support the podcast on the Facebook Talking Appalachian page, or here at our Patreon page to get bonus content: Talking Appalachian Podcast | Covering the Appalachian Region from North to South | Patreon *Paypal to support the show: @amyclarkspain *Follow and message me on IG, FB, YouTube: @talkingappalachian *To sponsor an episode or collaborate: talkingappalachianpodcast@gmail.com or message me at the link here or on social. Unless another artist is featured, acoustic music on most episodes: "Steam Train" written by Elizabeth Cotten and performed by Landon Spain

    23 min

  8. AUG 28

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

    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 its lasting mark on the American labor movement. We journey to 1921 and the Battle of Blair Mountain, the largest armed labor uprising in U.S. history, when thousands of miners tied red bandanas around their necks and marched for fair wages, safe working conditions, and dignity on the job. Their fight became a defining chapter in the struggle between working people and corporate power. Along the way, we hear rare 1974 interviews (courtesy of Appalshop Archive) with two coal miners-Hobart Grills and John Tiller- who remember the stories passed down to them about the danger, the bravery, and the price of standing up against the coal companies. Included in this episode: a discussion of the word "hillbilly" and what that means to me.  If you think you know what a redneck or hillbilly is, this episode may change your mind.  Music: "Roots" by Andy Bracken Ivy Attic CoJewelry from coal, river glass, and discarded books handcrafted in the central Appalachian MountainsDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show *Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and review the podcast (if you like it)! *Support the show by sharing links to episodes on social *Subscribe to support the podcast on the Facebook Talking Appalachian page, or here at our Patreon page to get bonus content: Talking Appalachian Podcast | Covering the Appalachian Region from North to South | Patreon *Paypal to support the show: @amyclarkspain *Follow and message me on IG, FB, YouTube: @talkingappalachian *To sponsor an episode or collaborate: talkingappalachianpodcast@gmail.com or message me at the link here or on social. Unless another artist is featured, acoustic music on most episodes: "Steam Train" written by Elizabeth Cotten and performed by Landon Spain

    24 min
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4.8
out of 5
31 Ratings

About

Talking Appalachian is a podcast about the Appalachian Mountain region's language or "voiceplaces,"  cultures, and communities. The podcast is hosted by Dr. Amy Clark,  a Professor of Communication Studies and  Director of the Center for Appalachian Studies at the University of Virginia's College at Wise. The podcast is based on her 2013 co-edited book Talking Appalachian: Voice, Identity, and Community. Her writing on Appalachia has appeared in the New York Times, Oxford American Magazine, Salon.com, on NPR, and Harvard University Press blog. She is also founder and director of the Appalachian Writing Project, which serves teachers, students, and the communities of the central Appalachian region.

Information

  • Creator
    Amy D. Clark
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    69
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 The Talking Appalachian Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Talking Appalachian Podcast

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