Heard Tell Of: A COPA WNC Production

COPA WNC

Heard Tell Of is a podcast from COPA WNC about community building in the western North Carolina mountains. Each episode highlights the people doing the quiet, persistent work of holding this region together: organizers, leaders, farmers, activists, storytellers, educators, artists, and small business owners. Rooted in the historical and cultural context of rural Appalachia, with reverence to our indigenous forebears, Heard Tell Of  explores the meaningful work of some good folks we’re lucky enough to call neighbors.

Episodes

  1. The one about White Moon/Dark Moon.

    12/30/2025

    The one about White Moon/Dark Moon.

    Send us a text White Moon//Dark Moon in downtown Sylva, NC is run by Jonathan and Jillyn Rutt—partners in life and in the work of community building. Inspired by the natural rhythm of the day and the power of shared spaces, they’ve created a place that invites people to gather, talk, eat, drink, and be generally merry. In this episode, the Rutts walk us through the unexpected journey that brought them to Sylva, how they’ve grown a regionally loved café, and why creating a true gathering place matters so much to them—and to Sylva. White Moon//Dark Moon website White Moon Cafe Instagram Dark Moon Bar Instagram

    1h 1m
  2. The one with Susan Pepper.

    12/30/2025

    The one with Susan Pepper.

    Send us a text Susan Pepper is a singer, banjo player, songwriter, and all-around tradition-bearer who has become one of the most heartfelt voices in western North Carolina old-time music. Susan was first drawn to the sound of the mountains listening to singers like Jean Ritchie and Hazel Dickens, and that spark eventually brought her here, to Jackson County, where she learned directly from powerful local voices such as Rosa and Perl Hicks, Zora Walker, and Hazel Rhymer. Susan doesn’t just perform this music, she helps keep it alive through collecting, teaching, and passing it forward. We thoroughly enjoyed our conversation with Pepper about her music, her teachers, and the vibrant old-time traditions that continue to shape community life here in western North Carolina. Included in this episode are references to the Jackson County Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM) Program. Visit Susan Pepper's website and YouTube page. Listen to (and purchase) her albums on Bandcamp.  This podcast was brought to you by COPAWNC.org, a grassroots community organization committed to building up the communities of Western North Carolina.

    51 min
  • 2 Episodes

About

Heard Tell Of is a podcast from COPA WNC about community building in the western North Carolina mountains. Each episode highlights the people doing the quiet, persistent work of holding this region together: organizers, leaders, farmers, activists, storytellers, educators, artists, and small business owners. Rooted in the historical and cultural context of rural Appalachia, with reverence to our indigenous forebears, Heard Tell Of  explores the meaningful work of some good folks we’re lucky enough to call neighbors.

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