Roots and Shadows: The Real Appalachia Podcast

Whisper Creek Studios

Roots and Shadows: The Real Appalachia Podcast is a narrative podcast about Appalachian history, true crime, folklore, legends, missing persons, old mountain communities, and forgotten stories from Southwest Virginia, East Tennessee, Eastern Kentucky, Southern West Virginia, Western North Carolina, and beyond. Hosted by Kevin Austin, the show explores family, faith, hardship, survival, mystery, and the hidden history of the Appalachian Mountains. Where every root tells a story, and every shadow hides one. A Whisper Creek Studios production.

  1. 3d ago

    The Man Who Vanished Twice | The Gerald Hemp Story

    In 1981, a twin-engine airplane landed at a small airport tucked into the mountains of East Tennessee. What authorities found aboard would turn into one of the biggest cocaine cases the region had ever seen. Inside the airplane were more than 600 pounds of nearly pure cocaine. Federal drug officials at the time estimated its street value at more than $200 million. But the airplane was only the beginning. The investigation would lead authorities from Gatlinburg and Sevier County, Tennessee, to South Florida, uncovering fugitives, aliases, mysterious deaths, and a man people around Gatlinburg knew as Jerry Whittier. Except Jerry Whittier wasn't his real name. He was Gerald Lyle Hemp. Before the cocaine case, Hemp had seemingly settled into life in the Smoky Mountains. He lived in an expensive chalet, reportedly gave money to local causes, was known as a pilot, and had even shown interest in taking over operation of the local airport. Then that airplane arrived. As investigators began looking deeper into Hemp's life, the story grew far stranger than a massive cocaine seizure. Authorities discovered that the man they were looking for had used other identities and had connections stretching far beyond the mountains of East Tennessee. And eventually, Gerald Hemp would make claims about what he was really doing with airplanes that sounded almost unbelievable. Claims involving guns. Anti-communist forces in Central and South America. And the CIA. Were those claims true? Prosecutors didn't believe they were, and Hemp never produced evidence proving his story. But years later, some of the very people who investigated and prosecuted Gerald Hemp would admit there were things about his case that still bothered them. And when you put the timeline of Gerald Hemp's story beside another infamous American pilot operating during the same era, there is one remarkable coincidence that is difficult not to notice. There is no evidence the two men knew one another. There is no evidence they worked together. And there is no evidence connecting Gerald Hemp to the operation that would eventually make that other pilot famous. But the dates are real. And they're only seven days apart. More than four decades later, Gerald Lyle Hemp's story still doesn't have a conventional ending. In this episode of Roots & Shadows: The Real Appalachia Podcast, we follow the Gerald Hemp case from a small mountain airport in Sevier County to South Florida, through one of Tennessee's most remarkable cocaine cases, a years-long search for answers, and questions that remain unanswered today. It is a story of cocaine smuggling, fugitives, aliases, airplanes, Gatlinburg, the Smoky Mountains, South Florida, Cold War intrigue, and one man who proved remarkably difficult to hold onto. A man who disappeared once. And then somehow... vanished again. The Man Who Vanished Twice | The Gerald Hemp Story Roots & Shadows: The Real Appalachia Podcast Podcast: Where every root tells a story, and every shadow hides one.

  2. Aug 8

    What Followed Them Home | An Appalachian Encounter in New Orleans

    A young Appalachian couple. A spur of the moment New Year's Eve road trip. A few days in one of America's most mysterious cities. And a series of strange encounters that would stay with them long after they returned home to the mountains. Christy and Jeff, not their real names, were in their early twenties and living in a small town in the Appalachian Mountains when they decided they wanted to do something different for New Year's Eve. There were plenty of ways they could have celebrated close to home, but this year they wanted an adventure. So they packed up the car and headed south. Their destination was New Orleans, Louisiana. For two young people from Appalachia who had never experienced anything quite like it, New Orleans was a different world. They came to see the French Quarter, walk the famous Bourbon Street, experience the food and music, and ring in the New Year in the Big Easy. But New Orleans is a city with more than one side. Behind the music, restaurants, celebrations and crowds is a place with centuries of history and folklore. Stories of ghosts and hauntings have been passed down for generations. Voodoo has a long and complicated history in the city. Tales of vampires and other unexplained happenings have become woven into the legends surrounding the French Quarter. Christy and Jeff were curious about that side of New Orleans too. They weren't paranormal investigators, and they weren't necessarily looking to prove that ghosts, vampires or anything supernatural actually existed. They were simply two young tourists interested in hearing some of the stories and learning a little history along the way. So when they discovered that they could take a ghost tour through the old streets of New Orleans, they decided to give it a try. That's when things started getting strange. At first, what happened was easy enough to dismiss as coincidence. After all, when you're walking through dark streets and old buildings while somebody is telling you ghost stories, your imagination can get the better of you. But then something else happened. And then it happened again. As their New Year's trip continued, those little coincidences began piling up. Things that might not have meant much on their own started becoming harder for Jeff to ignore when they were put together. Still, they had come all this way to enjoy themselves. They continued exploring New Orleans. They experienced the French Quarter after dark, learned about some of the city's stranger legends, and eventually found themselves surrounded by the massive New Year's Eve crowds that had poured into the city to welcome another year. Then it was time to go home. They packed their things, climbed back into the car and began the long journey north. Mile after mile, Louisiana disappeared behind them as they made their way back toward familiar territory. Back toward Tennessee. Back toward the Appalachian Mountains. Back toward home. Whatever strange things they had experienced during their few days in New Orleans should have ended there. But maybe they didn't. In this episode of Roots & Shadows: The Real Appalachia, we're sharing the story of an Appalachian couple who traveled to New Orleans for what was supposed to be a fun New Year's Eve getaway and came home with a story neither of them expected. It's a story that begins with a simple road trip from Appalachia to New Orleans and winds its way through the historic French Quarter, ghost stories, vampire folklore, strange encounters, crowded New Year's Eve streets and a long journey back to the mountains. What happened to Christy and Jeff? Was it all just a strange series of coincidences? Did the atmosphere of New Orleans and everything they had heard over those few days simply make ordinary events seem like something more? Or did something just may have followed them home?

  3. Aug 1

    The Stories Didn't End There | Listener Updates from Appalachia

    The stories don't always end when an episode is released. Sometimes, that's when they truly begin. This week on Roots & Shadows: The Real Appalachia Podcast, I'm on the road for a personal trip, but I couldn't let another Saturday pass without spending some time with all of you. In this special update episode, we revisit two recent stories after listeners reached out with information that adds an entirely new perspective. First, I share an important correction and additional historical context to last week's episode on Tom Dula (Tom Dooley), details that help paint a clearer picture of one of Appalachia's most enduring true crime legends. Then we return to The Thing at the End of the Holler, where a listener whose family once lived near the property contacted me with memories and experiences passed down through his family. What began as a confusing conversation about two differently named hollers eventually revealed we were talking about the very same house. The stories he shared offer a fascinating new chapter to one of our most talked-about episodes. One of the greatest parts of producing this podcast is hearing from the people who know these places firsthand. Every email, message, and family memory helps preserve the real history of Appalachia and reminds us that these stories are still alive through the people who lived them. If you've ever had a family story, local legend, historical account, or unexplained experience you'd like to share, I'd love to hear from you. Many of the best additions to this podcast have come directly from listeners. Thank you for joining me for another journey through the mountains, where every root tells a story, and every shadow hides one. Topics: Tom Dula, Tom Dooley, Wilkes County, North Carolina history, Appalachian history, Appalachian folklore, haunted houses, listener stories, Rich Valley, Virginia, true crime, local legends, Roots & Shadows podcast.

  4. Jul 25

    The Ride She Never Finished | The Story Behind Tom Dooley

    The Story Behind Tom Dooley | The Real Story of Thomas C. Dula, Laura Foster, and America's Most Famous Murder Ballad Most people know the song "Tom Dooley." Few know the true story behind it. In this episode, we travel to Wilkes County, North Carolina, where one of Appalachia's most famous true crime cases unfolded in the years following the Civil War. Long before Wilkes County became known for moonshine, the birth of NASCAR, and MerleFest, it became known for the murder of Laura Foster and the trial of Thomas C. Dula, better known to history as Tom Dooley. What began as a complicated relationship between Tom Dula, Laura Foster, Ann Melton, and Pauline Foster would end in tragedy, leaving behind unanswered questions that have fueled debate for more than 150 years. Was Tom Dooley truly guilty of murder? Did Ann Melton play a larger role than history remembers? And why has this case continued to captivate generations through music, books, and film? We'll follow the story from Tom's return home after serving in the Confederate Army through Laura Foster's disappearance, the discovery of her body, Tom's flight into Tennessee, his capture by Colonel James Grayson, the sensational murder trial, and his execution on May 1, 1868. But this episode goes beyond the courtroom. You'll also discover how this Appalachian tragedy became one of America's best-known murder ballads. We'll explore the historic 1929 recording of "Tom Dooley" by G. B. Grayson and Henry Whitter, musicians whose work helped preserve Appalachian music during the early days of commercial recording. Along the way, we uncover a remarkable connection between this story and another Appalachian tragedy, the wreck of the Old 97, revealing how the people, music, and history of Appalachia are often intertwined in unexpected ways. Whether you know the Kingston Trio's famous version or have never heard anything beyond the chorus, this episode separates fact from legend, examining the historical record behind one of the most enduring murder stories in American history. The true story of Thomas C. Dula (Tom Dooley)The murder of Laura FosterThe roles of Ann Melton and Pauline FosterWilkes County, North Carolina after the Civil WarTom Dooley's escape into TennesseeColonel James Grayson's capture of Tom DulaThe 1868 murder trial and executionThe origins of the Tom Dooley murder balladG. B. Grayson and Henry Whitter's landmark 1929 recordingThe surprising connection between Tom Dooley and the Old 97 railroad disasterHow Appalachian history became one of the greatest folk songs ever recordedProduction Note: This episode features the original public domain 1929 recording of "Tom Dooley" by G. B. Grayson and Henry Whitter as part of the historical narrative. All additional music and sound effects featured throughout the episode are from public-domain sources.

  5. Jul 18

    The Wytheville UFO Incident: Full Video Interview with Danny G (Part2)

    The conversation continues in Part 2 of our special interview with Danny Gordon as we take an even deeper look into one of Appalachia's most enduring UFO mysteries, the 1987 Wytheville UFO Incident. If you haven't listened to Part 1 yet, we highly recommend starting there before joining us for the conclusion of this fascinating discussion. For nearly four decades, reports of strange lights, unexplained aerial objects, and unusual encounters have surrounded Wytheville, Virginia. What began as an extraordinary sighting by local residents quickly became one of the most talked-about UFO cases in the Appalachian Mountains. Witnesses described massive silent craft, brilliant lights hovering over the landscape, and objects that appeared to move in ways no conventional aircraft could. The reports drew attention from investigators, skeptics, believers, local law enforcement, and eventually the national media, leaving behind a mystery that still sparks debate today. In this episode, Danny Gordon shares his years of research into the case, discussing the eyewitness testimony, the evidence that has surfaced over the years, and the many theories that attempt to explain what happened over the skies of Wytheville. Together, we explore not only the reported events themselves but also the human side of the story. How did the experience affect those who claimed to witness it? Why have so many people continued talking about the incident decades later? Could there be a conventional explanation, or does the mystery remain unsolved? Throughout our conversation, we discuss the timeline of the sightings, the descriptions of the reported craft, the reactions of local residents, and the investigation that followed. We also examine the role that Project Blue Book played in shaping public perception of UFO reports, how government investigations evolved over the years, and why so many Appalachian communities have their own stories of unexplained lights and mysterious encounters in the mountains. Whether you approach these accounts with curiosity, skepticism, or an open mind, the Wytheville incident remains one of the most intriguing unexplained events ever reported in Southwest Virginia. This interview also explores the broader cultural impact of UFO stories in Appalachia. Long before social media and smartphones, stories were shared on front porches, around family dinner tables, and in small-town newspapers. Tales of mysterious lights crossing remote ridges, strange sounds echoing through isolated valleys, and encounters that defied explanation became part of local history. Some stories faded with time, while others became woven into the identity of the communities where they occurred. The Wytheville incident stands as one of the best-documented examples of those enduring Appalachian mysteries. As always, our goal at Roots & Shadows: The Real Appalachia Podcast is not to tell you what to believe, but to present the stories, historical context, eyewitness accounts, and available evidence so you can draw your own conclusions. Appalachia is filled with remarkable history, unforgettable people, unsolved mysteries, fascinating folklore, and true crime cases that deserve to be remembered and explored. This two-part interview also marks an important milestone for Roots & Shadows as our very first full-length video podcast. Whether you're watching on Spotify or YouTube or listening on your favorite podcast platform, we're grateful you've joined us as we continue expanding the show while staying true to our mission of telling authentic Appalachian stories.

  6. Jul 11

    The Wytheville UFO Incident | Interview with Danny G (Part 1)

    For the first time, Roots & Shadows: The Real Appalachia Podcast brings you a full-length video interview. This special two-part conversation features Danny G, one of the leading researchers of the 1987 Wytheville UFO Incident, one of the most compelling and well-documented UFO cases ever reported in Appalachia. In the fall of 1987, something extraordinary happened over the skies of Wytheville, Virginia. Over several weeks, dozens of people from every walk of life reported seeing a massive unidentified object unlike anything they had ever witnessed. Police officers, business owners, truck drivers, families, and longtime residents all described a silent craft displaying unusual lights and movements that defied explanation. As reports spread across Southwest Virginia, the story quickly gained national attention, eventually becoming one of the best-known UFO cases in Appalachian history. Unlike many unexplained sightings that rely on a single eyewitness or a brief encounter, the Wytheville case involved numerous independent witnesses, multiple sightings over an extended period of time, photographs, investigations, and years of continued research. Nearly four decades later, it remains one of the most discussed unexplained mysteries ever to emerge from the Appalachian Mountains. In Part One, Danny G shares how he first became involved in researching the case and explains what drew him to one of Virginia's greatest unsolved mysteries. We discuss the timeline of events, some of the earliest eyewitness accounts, the locations where sightings occurred, and why the reports captured the attention of both the public and investigators. Danny also discusses interviewing witnesses firsthand, separating fact from rumor, and preserving one of Appalachia's most fascinating modern mysteries. Throughout our conversation, we examine how eyewitness testimony can both help and complicate an investigation, why so many credible people came forward to share what they experienced, and how the case has continued to generate interest among UFO researchers, historians, and curious listeners alike. Whether you believe the sightings involved extraterrestrial visitors, secret military technology, atmospheric phenomena, or something else entirely, the testimony surrounding the Wytheville incident continues to raise questions that have never been fully answered. As always, Roots & Shadows: The Real Appalachia Podcast approaches every story with respect for the people involved and a commitment to exploring Appalachia's rich history, true crime, folklore, legends, and unexplained mysteries. Rather than telling you what to believe, we present the stories, the people, and the evidence, allowing you to draw your own conclusions. This episode also marks an important milestone as the first-ever video interview released by Roots & Shadows. You can watch this conversation on Spotify and YouTube, or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, and other major podcast platforms. This interview has been divided into two parts so we can take our time exploring the case without leaving out the details that make this story so compelling. Part Two premieres next Saturday, where Danny G continues sharing additional witness accounts, behind-the-scenes stories from his years of research, and the unanswered questions that continue to surround the 1987 Wytheville UFO Incident. If you enjoy this episode, please follow Roots & Shadows: The Real Appalachia Podcast, leave a rating or review, and share this episode with someone who enjoys Appalachian history, true crime, folklore, paranormal encounters, UFOs, UAP investigations, unsolved mysteries, and the stories that continue to shape the mountains we call home. Because in Appalachia, every root tells a story... and every shadow hides one.

  7. Jul 4

    When the Mountains Chose a Side | The Revolutionary War in Southwest Virginia

    As America celebrates 250 years of independence, Roots & Shadows: The Real Appalachia Podcast takes you back to the Appalachian frontier to explore one of the most overlooked chapters of the American Revolution. When most people think about the Revolutionary War, they picture Philadelphia, Boston, Lexington, Concord, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and the Founding Fathers. But while those famous events were unfolding along the Atlantic coast, another story was being written in the mountains of Southwest Virginia. Along the New River and Holston Valley, ordinary people were forced to make extraordinary decisions that would help shape the future of a nation. Long before the Declaration of Independence was signed, the people of Fincastle County found themselves choosing between loyalty to the British Crown and the promise of liberty. Neighbors stood on opposite sides of the conflict. Families were divided. Communities that depended on one another for survival suddenly faced questions that had no easy answers. On a cold winter day in 1775, fifteen frontier leaders signed the Fincastle Resolutions, declaring they were prepared to "live and die" defending the liberties they believed were worth preserving. It was one of the earliest and boldest declarations of support for colonial rights on Virginia's western frontier. Journey into the history of Southwest Virginia as we meet William Campbell, William Preston, William Christian, Charles Cummings, Aberdeen, Rees Bowen, and Margaret Levisa Bowen. Discover how the Austinville lead mines, also known as Chiswell's Lead Mines, became one of the Patriot cause's most valuable resources, producing the lead that armed the fight for independence. Learn how Aberdeen, an enslaved man who labored at the mines during the Revolution, eventually secured his freedom through an act of the Virginia General Assembly. Follow the gathering of volunteers in Abingdon as the legendary Overmountain Men answered William Campbell's call and marched south to confront British Major Patrick Ferguson at the Battle of King's Mountain. Many historians consider King's Mountain to be one of the most important turning points of the Revolutionary War in the South, helping shift the momentum that would eventually lead to American victory. As our nation marks its 250th birthday, this episode asks an important question: Could one of the earliest chapters of the American Revolution have begun here in Southwest Virginia? It's a story of courage, sacrifice, loyalty, and the ordinary Appalachian men and women whose choices helped shape the birth of the United States. A special thank you to April Martin, historian at the Wilderness Road Regional Museum, for sharing her knowledge and helping preserve the remarkable Revolutionary history of Southwest Virginia. We also encourage you to watch the outstanding PBS documentary, Resolved to Live and Die: The Revolutionary Roots of Southwest Virginia, which explores many of the people and places featured in this episode. Roots & Shadows: The Real Appalachia Podcast is dedicated to uncovering the authentic history of Appalachia through immersive storytelling and careful research. From forgotten Revolutionary War heroes and frontier legends to true crime, folklore, mysteries, and the people who shaped these mountains, every episode explores the real stories behind the places we call home. If you love Appalachian history, Virginia history, American history, the Revolutionary War, frontier life, and discovering the hidden stories of the mountains, you're in the right place.

  8. Jun 27

    The Verdict They Never Walked Away From | The Hillsville Courthouse Shootout of 1912

    On March 14, 1912, a quiet morning in the mountain town of Hillsville, Virginia, turned into one of the deadliest courtroom shootings in American history. It started with a guilty verdict. Less than two minutes later, Judge Thornton Lemmon Massie, Sheriff Lewis Webb, Commonwealth's Attorney William Foster, juror Augustus Fowler, and 19-year-old Bettie Ayers had all been fatally shot. The violence inside the Carroll County Courthouse shocked the nation, launched one of the largest manhunts in Virginia history, and left behind a mystery that has never been answered. Who fired the first shot? This week on Roots & Shadows: The Real Appalachia Podcast, we travel to Carroll County, Virginia, to uncover the true story behind the Hillsville Courthouse Shootout of 1912. But this isn't simply the story of a courtroom battle. It's the story of a mountain community, powerful family loyalties, political divisions, and a way of life where reputation could carry as much weight as the law itself. You'll meet Floyd Allen, a prosperous farmer, merchant, former deputy sheriff, county supervisor, and one of the most influential men in Carroll County. You'll also meet his son Claude Allen, his brother J. Sidna Allen, Judge Thornton Lemmon Massie, Commonwealth's Attorney William Foster, Sheriff Lewis Webb, and the families whose lives were forever changed by one tragic morning. We'll take you back to the church gathering and corn shucking that set these events in motion, the confrontation between Floyd Allen and the deputies transporting his nephews, and the trial that brought everyone together inside the Carroll County Courthouse in Hillsville. Then, we'll walk through the events of March 14, 1912, almost minute by minute, as a guilty verdict, Floyd Allen's famous words—"Gentlemen, I ain't a-goin'"—and a burst of gunfire transformed a courtroom into a battlefield. The story doesn't end there. After the shooting, members of the Allen family disappeared into the Blue Ridge Mountains, prompting one of Virginia's largest fugitive hunts. You'll learn how the Baldwin-Felts Detective Agency, a private detective firm headquartered in Roanoke that would later become infamous during the Appalachian coal wars, helped track down the fugitives from Virginia to Des Moines, Iowa. We'll also follow the trials that were moved to neighboring Wythe County, the executions of Floyd and Claude Allen, the later pardons of several family members, and the rediscovery of long-lost trial records more than a century later. Even today, historians continue to debate what really happened inside that courtroom. Witnesses disagreed. Families told different stories. The evidence often conflicted. And despite generations of research, one question still lingers over Hillsville. Who fired first? If you enjoy podcasts about Appalachian history, Virginia history, American true crime, the Blue Ridge Mountains, forgotten history, courthouse mysteries, family feuds, the Baldwin-Felts Detective Agency, or the people and places that shaped Appalachia, this episode is for you. Roots & Shadows: The Real Appalachia Podcast takes you beyond the headlines and into the mountains where these stories happened. Every episode is researched on location whenever possible and explores the history, true crime, folklore, legends, and forgotten people that make Appalachia unlike anywhere else in America.

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4.8
out of 5
25 Ratings

About

Roots and Shadows: The Real Appalachia Podcast is a narrative podcast about Appalachian history, true crime, folklore, legends, missing persons, old mountain communities, and forgotten stories from Southwest Virginia, East Tennessee, Eastern Kentucky, Southern West Virginia, Western North Carolina, and beyond. Hosted by Kevin Austin, the show explores family, faith, hardship, survival, mystery, and the hidden history of the Appalachian Mountains. Where every root tells a story, and every shadow hides one. A Whisper Creek Studios production.

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