Appalachia Matters

Thomas Susman, Producer
  • 5.0 (4)
  • NEWS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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. Quality Care, Agriculture Working the EPA, WV History, and Medical Leadership

    FEB 1

    Quality Care, Agriculture Working the EPA, WV History, and Medical Leadership

    This week At The Leadership Table, General Hoyer sits down with Dr. Larry Rhodes, a pediatric cardiologist, Associate Professor in the WVU School of Medicine, and Executive Director for Rural Programs at the WVU Institute for Community and Rural Health. Larry started life in Nitro, West Virginia, then took his studies and practice all the way to Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania, but country roads took him home. The two discuss leadership and service in and for our rural communities, providing inspiration for those at the bedside and far beyond!   The in the Rooted in the Mountain State segment Commissioner of Agriculture for West Virginia Kent Leonhardt talks about his departments work with the federal EPA.   Doug Bentz one the most progressive hospital administrators in West Virginia talks about the work of the quality committee at the West Virginia Hospital Association which he chairs.  Doug talks about how competing hospitals work together in ensure patient safety including reducing infections from the overuse of anti-biotics. This effort improves outcomes and reduces costs.   Every January there is tourism and history day at the state capitol in Charleston. Tom Susman talked with some of those participating in the day.  He talked with individuals from Fort Ashby, Charlestown and Arthurdale.

    30 min
  3. Meet Tony the Tailor, Hunting and Fishing Entrepreneurs, and Business Leadership

    JAN 25

    Meet Tony the Tailor, Hunting and Fishing Entrepreneurs, and Business Leadership

    This week At the Leadership Table, General Hoyer sits down with Brian Dayton, Vice President of Policy and Advocacy at the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce. Brian and the General Brian talk about leadership lessons, share perspectives on economic and workforce development opportunities, and Brian gives listeners a glimpse into how the Chamber of Commerce advocates for working West Virginians. Tony Paranzino is a tailor in Charleston, and he operates a men’s story called Tony the Tailor he grew up in the business. We talk with Tony about his store and get the background on tailoring and men’s clothing.   People in our region love to hunt and fish. Many people have taken that love and started a business. Tom Susman stopped by the West Virginia Hunting a Fishing Show to talk with some of the vendors who made their hobby a business, including one gentleman who tans hides and sells the furs including Mountaineer Caps.

    30 min
  4. Appalachia Matters: Mary’s Table, Mountain Juice, Selling Ideas and Hospital Concerns

    JAN 18

    Appalachia Matters: Mary’s Table, Mountain Juice, Selling Ideas and Hospital Concerns

    This week on At the Leadership Table, we’re turning the mic over to the next generation of leaders in a special student-led takeover. Mary Roush, “Retired" WVU Mountaineer Mascot, takes the host seat to interview Retired Major General Jim Hoyer with questions that she and the WVU PIC Lab student team wanted to ask to truly get to know the General beyond the title.   In the Rooted in the Mountain State Segment from the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, we will learn about Lisa Smith and the Mountain Juice Company.    There are more lobbyists at the state capitol than legislators, we talk with three lobbyists to find out what they actually do. The three are Chris Hall of Orion Strategies, Pat Cadle who represents plaintiff attorneys and Tom Huber who represents landowners.   Hospitals are the largest employers in many communities, their economic impact is significant to the state. Tom Susman talks with David Goldberg who is CEO of MonHealth and Davis Health, Executive Vice President for Vandalia Health and serves as Chair of the West Virginia Hospital Association. David discusses the Rural Health Transformation grant the state received as well as the $1 billion dollars in cuts to healthcare in West Virginia due to President Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill that was adopted by congress this past summer.

    30 min
  5. Painting the Raven, Covering Politics, Meet the Deputy Comish, and a Special Look Back

    JAN 11

    Painting the Raven, Covering Politics, Meet the Deputy Comish, and a Special Look Back

    On At the Leadership Table, General Jim Hoyer looks back at some stand out moments for the segment from 2025 and looks forward to 2026.   In the Rooted in the Mountain State from the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, we meet Amy Minor Richards the Deputy Commissioner of Agriculture.   The West Virginia Legislature convenes in January most years. The main way citizens find out what is happening under the dome is through the reporting of journalists.  Steven Allen Adams is one of the deans of the West Virginia Press Corp and he talks about how he reports on the legislature. Steven is the statewide political correspondent for Ogden Newspapers.   Ravenswood Downtown Partners has embarked on a public art project to paint a mural. Unlike other organizations this allows for residents to actually pitch in a paint the mural. We talk with Molly Washburn who is coordinating the effort.

    30 min
  6. Christmas in the Past, Scout Leadership, Getting Your Affairs in Order and an Ag Update

    12/21/2025

    Christmas in the Past, Scout Leadership, Getting Your Affairs in Order and an Ag Update

    This week At The Leadership Table, General Hoyer sits down with Sarah Fox, an Air Force veteran and current Director of Fundraising and Marketing for Scouting America’s Mountaineer Area Council. Sarah reflects on her service as an Air Force medic and discusses how that experience and her civilian career drive her commitment to serving and mentoring the next generation of leaders.   As we come to the end of the year in the Rooted in the Mountain provided by the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, Commissioner of  Agriculture Kent Leonhardt provides a year-end review of what his department has been involved in 2025   In our third segment Tom Susman sits down with lawyer Ceason Ranson of Ripley to talk about estate planning. As we end the year it makes sense to take stock in of your estate planning. It’s not difficult but there are some matters you want to address before you get sick or pass away.  It only fair that you provide a roadmap for your family.   In our final segment Tom Susman talks with David Sibray of the online magazine WV Explorer about what Christmas was like in our region in days gone by. Our conversation then went to holiday traditions and with bothTom and David  growing up in Beckley they both remember a community holiday tradition from thier childhood.

    30 min
  7. 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
  8. Christmas Trees, Lavender Products, Deer and Banking

    12/07/2025

    Christmas Trees, Lavender Products, Deer and Banking

    At The Leadership Table with Retired Major General Jim Hoyer this week, David Thomas, President & CEO of Clear Mountain Bank joins the general. He is this year’s chair for the United Way of Monongalia and Preston Counties. They discuss the importance of building a great team, the role of community banks in contributing to economic development, and how the United Way positively impacts our communities at the local level. In the Rooted in the Mountain State segment provided by the West Virginia Department of Agriculture we will learn about Appalachian Botanical Company in Boone County West Virginia. Just in time for Christmas.   We are all looking for that perfect Christmas tree and we also want to be sure it stays green until we take it down after new year’s. To find out about Christmas Trees, Tom Susman stopped by the Capitol Market in Charleston to learn more and he talked with Eric Metcalf of French Creek Tree Farm.   In our final report Tom Susman talks with Paul Johansen about the deer harvest in West Virginia.  There has been a lot of concern with the EHD Disease in the Mid-Ohio Valley Region and believe it or not too many acorns impact the deer harvest. Paul is Chief of the Wildlife Resources Section for the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources.

    30 min
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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. 

Information

  • Creator
    Thomas Susman, Producer
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    81
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Vandalia Media Partners II, LLC
  • Show Website
    Appalachia Matters