Appalachia Matters

Thomas Susman, Producer
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  • 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. Improving Education with Rural Health, Vahala Ranch, Women Leaders, & Matewan Museum

    2D AGO

    Improving Education with Rural Health, Vahala Ranch, Women Leaders, & Matewan Museum

    This week on At the Leadership Table, is Part 2 of the two-part series honoring International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month. General Hoyer revisits and reflects on the insights and perspectives from women leaders across the Mountain State who were featured in past segments. Today you’ll hear Part 2 of this series, and if you haven’t already, give Part One a listen, too! You can find it online by searching for Appalachia Matters anywhere you listen to podcasts. In the Rooted in the Mountain State segment provided by the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, we will learn about Vahala Ranch in Sistersville, West Virginia. They recently were awarded a grant for the farm. School-based health clinics provide primary health care behavioral health and other services such as vision and dental care. They provide access to students, in some instances such as rural settings; they can also serve the community.  Recently one such clinic opened in southern Gallia County as part of Ohio Governor’s Mike DeWine’s Office for of Appalachia. It is a joint project of the school system, Holzer Health and Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus.  We will learn more about the clinic and the services offered. Matewan West Virginia is now a living memorial to the coal wars of the early 1900s, but in the day it was a flash point for coal company and union organizing disputes, this week Dave Miller of WMOV was in Matewan and he talked with MacKenize New Walker  of the  West Virginia Mine Wars Museum and she will provide an overview of the museum history and some of the projects they are in involved in at this time.

    30 min
  2. Walking Over Water, Good Greens, Vetoes, Citizen Legislators, Women Leaders

    MAR 29

    Walking Over Water, Good Greens, Vetoes, Citizen Legislators, Women Leaders

    This week on At the Leadership Table, General Hoyer revisits insights and perspectives from women leaders featured in past segments. This lookback is in honor of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month in March. In this two-part series, the General explores the great contributions of women leaders who have made an impact in our local communities, state, and nation.   In the Rooted in the Mountain State Segment provided by the West Virginia Department of Agriculture we will meet a veteran, Corey Clendenin who is a farmer and he was granted funds for his farm through a Veterans and Hero’s pitch contest sponsored by the West Virginia Department of Agriculture. Clendenin grows micro greens, and his farm is in Sissonville near Charleston. When any state legislature finishes, the Governor must take time to review the adopted bills to see if he will sign or veto the bill.   I talked with attorney Alex Macia about the process used in West Virginia. Macia was chief counsel for former West Virginia Governor Bob Wise. Alex provides a front row explanation of what happens. Our congress is full time, those who are elected have little time to hold down a job other than being a representative or senator.  In West Virginia the legislature meets for two months in the wintertime, and its members are regular people who hold a job during the time they are not in session. On the 2026 last day of legislative session Senator Eric Tarr of Putnam discusses the benefits of a part-time legislature. The Ohio River Town of Middleport held a bridge walk in March, where walkers would come across the bridge into West Virginia then return to Ohio. Over 250 people showed up. We talked with some participants. We talk with Maureen Kloss one of the organizers, Mayor Ben Neese and Meigs Sheriff Scott Fitch.

    30 min
  3. Appalachia Matters: Best WV Hot Dog, Alpacas, Business Ethics, Groundbreaking Rotarian

    MAR 22

    Appalachia Matters: Best WV Hot Dog, Alpacas, Business Ethics, Groundbreaking Rotarian

    On At The Leadership Table, General Hoyer sits down with Dr. Cate Johnson from the Chambers College of Business and Economics at West Virginia University. Dr. Johnson shares insights into her work with the Kendrick Educators and Fellows Programs, initiatives designed to expand opportunities for people of all ages to study economics and ethics and then stay and support our communities right here, across the Mountain State.   In our Rooted in the Mountain State segment produced by the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, we will learn about Moon Raker Alpaca farm in Jackson County. The farm is operated by Karen Arbaugh.   Americans consume approximately 20 billion hot dogs annually, which averages about 70 hot dogs per person, per year. Consumption spikes significantly during the summer, with roughly 7 billion consumed between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Hot dogs are served in 95% of US homes according to the Hotdog and Sausage Council.   In West Virginia, just like the pepperoni roll there is the West Virginia dog style hotdog which for me includes chili (not sauce), cole slaw, mustard, ketchup, and onions, some may add relish.  To find the best hot dog in West Virginia, Jay Silverman of Kanawha County has visited every county and stopped at 300 hot dog joints. He has chronicled his journey in what most people call a documentary and what he calls a dogumentary.  This week we have a discussion with Jay about his travels and dogumentary.   In our final segment we will talk with Marci Wyer, she was one of the first women in West Virginia to join Rotary when she joined Ripley Rotary and one of the first to be a club president in the state. The Ripley rotary is 100 years old this year and Marci will share her rotary experience with us.

    30 min
  4. Appalachia Matters: Arthritis Relief, Possible School Consolidation, Jobs and Hope and Ag. Development

    MAR 9

    Appalachia Matters: Arthritis Relief, Possible School Consolidation, Jobs and Hope and Ag. Development

    This week on At the Leadership Table, General Hoyer sits down with Deb Harris from Jobs & Hope West Virginia. Deb shares her powerful personal journey to where she is today and explains how Jobs & Hope connects West Virginians in recovery with family-sustaining careers right here at home.   In the Rooted in the Mountain State segment from the Department of Agriculture we will meet Leslie Boggess director of Business Development for the Ag. Department.   In many parts West Virginia there has been a reduction in the number of students attending school due to population decline as a result there have consolidations and closures of local public schools.    A few years ago, the legislature enacted a program called Hope Scholarship which provides an amount of money equal to what the state would have given to a public school for a child to go to a private school or be home schooled. Next year the program will be available to all students in the state, and it is clear this program will lead to further consolidations and closures of public schools unless the current public school funding formula is changed.   Tom Susman talks with Senator Amy Grady of Mason County who is chair of the Senate Education Committee about the formula and consolidation concerns.   Approximately 32.5 to 33 million American adults suffer from osteoarthritis (OA), the most common form of arthritis. This degenerative joint disease affects about 1 in 7 U.S. adults, with prevalence rising to 50% or more among adults aged 65 and older.  In our final segment we will learn about a new treatment for osteoarthritis using low dose radiation therapy. Doctor Maxwell Tran of Holzer Health is breaking new ground for those of us who have osteoarthritis.

    30 min
  5. Appalachia Matters-Pitching In, Keeping the Lights On, Maple Day, and Preserving Wheeling

    MAR 1

    Appalachia Matters-Pitching In, Keeping the Lights On, Maple Day, and Preserving Wheeling

    At the Leadership Table, General Hoyer sits down with Scott Schenerlein, Executive Director of Wheeling Heritage. Scott and the General discuss revitalizing Wheeling, a town known for its history as an economic engine for the nation, a cultural hub, and its legacy as a community that thrives in small business, the arts, and lifting each other up. In the Rooted in the Mountain State segment from the Department of Agriculture, we are going to learn about Maple Days at Starry Night Farms.   Former West Virginia Senate President Craig Blair will join us to discuss his new project working to ensure the electric grid can meet the demands of the future.   Then we will learn how Grafton, Toothman Ford, and Appalachia Matters Affiliate WGIE came to the aid of a student athlete who is battling cancer.

    30 min
  6. Where's Jim, Warhol Exhibit at Clay Center, Justin Talks with The General and Winter Farmer's Market

    FEB 22

    Where's Jim, Warhol Exhibit at Clay Center, Justin Talks with The General and Winter Farmer's Market

    This week on At the Leadership Table, General Hoyer sits down with Justin Williams, Director of the West Virginia Affiliated Construction Trades. They discuss local jobs for local workers and the high-quality career paths available in the state's construction industry. Williams shares that leadership is defined by action rather than titles and emphasizes the importance of providing family-sustaining wages, health insurance, and retirement security for West Virginia’s workforce.  In the Rooted in the Mountain State segment, we learn about the annual Winter Blues Farmer’s Market.   Andy Warhol was a leading Pop Artist, and he was from Pittsburgh and was the center of the art world in New York in the 60s, 70s and 80’s. There is a traveling display of his work at the Clay Center in Charleston and we talk with Lindsay Miranda Curator for the Clay Center. The exhibit closes at the end of March.   In our final report Tom Susman talks with Jim Strawn of Charleston about his experience as a volunteer for the LIV Golf Tour. He has traveled to Saudi Arabia and Australia for the tour and will soon be on his way to Singapore.

    30 min
  7. Build It Up, WV Maple Syrup, Blue Envelopes, and The Dean of Skiing

    FEB 15

    Build It Up, WV Maple Syrup, Blue Envelopes, and The Dean of Skiing

    This week on At the Leadership Table, General Hoyer sits down with Jason Pizatella, CEO of the Contractors Association of West Virginia. Pizatella emphasizes that construction is essential to life and discusses various ways the association is working to "Build It Up" by fortifying the state's workforce and improving critical infrastructure.   In the Rooted in the Mountain State Segment provided by the West Virginia department of agriculture we will learn about maple syrup. West Virginia is a major player in the syrup game.   We talked with Delegate Walter Hall of St Albans for many years he has worked to help those with Alzheimer’s to have a safe haven in St. Albans and he is now working on a new cause in the legislature to help those with autism, intellectual disabilities and dementia.   In our final segment we talked with the dean of the ski industry in West Virginia, Joe Stevens. He is long time Executive Drector of the West Virginia Ski Areas Association. In the interview Joe talks about major changes in the ski industry over the last 30 years plus.

    30 min
  8. Off-Roading, Fighting Hunger, Black Dog Coffee and Ice Fising in WV

    FEB 8

    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
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Ratings & Reviews

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out of 5
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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
    88
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Vandalia Media Partners II, LLC
  • Show Website
    Appalachia Matters