Appalachia Matters

Thomas Susman, Producer

Appalachia Matters is a weekly radio show highlighting life in Appalachia. Each week we have a segment on leadership from retired Major General Jim Hoyer, features highlighting agriculture in our region, health care updates from Tom Susman and our host Bo Higby each week highlights a story of community interest. The show is produced by Vandalia Media Partners. 

  1. Off-Roading, Fighting Hunger, Black Dog Coffee and Ice Fising in WV

    4D AGO

    Off-Roading, Fighting Hunger, Black Dog Coffee and Ice Fising in WV

    At The Leadership Table, General Hoyer welcomes back Wally Hatfield, Vice President of Training and Experimentation at CMI2 and Vice President of the Mountaineer Food Bank Board of Directors. Together, they dive into perspectives and initiatives addressing veteran food security and highlight the Freedom from Hunger Campaign, a partnership between Mountaineer Food Bank and GoMart stores throughout West Virginia running all through February. In the Rooted in the Mountain State Segment provided by the West Virginia Department of Agriculture we will learn about Black Dog Coffee in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. We have all been facing the cold temperatures and lots of snow this winter, the other day during the cold Tom Susman noticed folks ice fishing on Turkey Run Lake in Ravenswood West Virginia. When you think of ice fishing you think on Wisconsin Michigan and Minnesota not West Virginia. In this segment we are going to talk with three hearty fishermen who braved the cold in search of trout.   Off-Roading with a Jeep, four-wheeler, side by side, or motorcycle is big business in this country and Appalachia is ground zero for some of the best trail systems in the country.   In this segment we will hear from an advocate for off roaders in the state government State Senator Mark Maynard of Wayne County he has been a constant voice for those who off road.   Then we will her from businessperson Chris Ingram who is developing a trail system in Kanawha and Fayette Counties and in the third interview will be with Gabe Roush of Point Pleasant. He is on city council and is involved with Main Street Point Pleasant. Each year the city participates in an event called 24 Hours of Appalachia and this year, off roaders will travel from Seneca Rocks in eastern West Virginia to Point Pleasant West Virginia.

    30 min
  2. Holiday Stress, Goats in Wayne, Helping Those With No Health Insurance and Federal Help for Farmers

    12/14/2025

    Holiday Stress, Goats in Wayne, Helping Those With No Health Insurance and Federal Help for Farmers

    At The Leadership Table, General Hoyer sits down with Angie Settle, CEO at West Virginia Health Right. Angie has served thousands of West Virginians as a nurse practitioner, care coordinator and leader. They discuss Angie’s perspectives on the role West Virginia Health Right plays in providing local communities with health-based services, and how listeners like you can support the health of all West Virginians.    When we think of farming we may think of crops like corn or soybeans with livestock it may be cattle or swine. Many in our region raise goats and do well with them. In The Rooted in the Mountain State segment provided by the West Virginia Department of Agriculture we will learn about a goat farm on Wayne County.   Christmas is upon us now; we have certain expectations for the holiday season. Many times, those expectations exceed reality. Life is not a Hallmark Movie. To better help us all manage our feelings, expectations and maybe depression this season I reached out to Doctor Jessica Bradley who is a professor at the Marshall University of School of Medicine and practices with Marshall Health, for advice and tools to cope with holiday stress and expectations.   In our final segment West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt talks about a one-time federal bailout for farmers impacted by President Trump’s Tariffs. The president and other recently announced the program.

    30 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Appalachia Matters is a weekly radio show highlighting life in Appalachia. Each week we have a segment on leadership from retired Major General Jim Hoyer, features highlighting agriculture in our region, health care updates from Tom Susman and our host Bo Higby each week highlights a story of community interest. The show is produced by Vandalia Media Partners.