Hillbilly Podcast Hillbilly Podcast

Heather Newman is one sharp cookie. After her family moved around a lot as a child, they finally settled for the long haul in Southern Ohio, but Heather found her true "home" and calling in the mountains of Appalachia. A family doctor whose pedigree includes graduating from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Heather felt drawn to working with rural, underserved people and communities and directed her attention towards a residency in Kingsport, TN, by way of ETSU's Quillen College of Medicine. Practicing medicine in remote Johnson County has its challenges, but I'm certain if anyone can make a difference, this lady can. Listen to her fascinating story and be in awe of her heart and passion for the health of the people of this region. Enjoy and share with your friends and relations.

My friend, Matt Newman, from Southwest Virginia's Coal Country talks about cooking under quarantine, getting back to his roots in the garden, and the ever-fascinating subject of foreign-style commodes and commode accessories, if that's what you want to call them??? Lol. We're talking about bidets and squatty potties, people. It's riveting! Tune in and tell all your friends!

Shane Simmons is an expert on all things Appalachia. I came into contact with him when he started a podcast called Hillbilly Talk and then kept following him and a group he co-founded called the Appalachian Project. Shane loves to promote Appalachia and all that's good about our region and I'm a fan of what he does. Shane is also an author and co-author - Legends & Lore of East Tennessee, and most recently, a children's book entitled Petey the Pink-Tailed Possum: A School Tail. Maybe the most knowledgeable guest we've had to date on the ins and outs of what makes Appalachia tick, I think you're going to love hearing from Shane. Enjoy and share with friends!

Kenneth Conkin tells us about growing up in Sullivan Gardens, in Kingsport, TN. His stories of farm life, momma's cooking, and getting electricity for the first time are priceless. You are going to loving hearing from Kenneth, who also happens to be one of the biggest Tennessee Vols fans I know. He's good people. Go Big Orange!

Octogenarian, Madeline Alley, and her daughter, Geneva Browder, talk about growing up and living life in the coal camps of Southwest Virginia, where going to the company store, existing without electricity or indoor plumbing, and entertaining yourself with mischief were just part of daily life. Madeline tells about a simple life, but insists that having plenty to eat and having their basic needs and wants met was enough to keep them from understanding that they would be considered "poor" to much of the outside world. Madline's daughter, Geneva Browder, helps tell the tales of their lives from the coal mining towns of Imboden and Exeter, Virginia, to the city of Kingsport, TN. These two ladies are wonderful guests and are full of spunk. You'll love hearing their stories!

In Part 3 of our One Year Anniversary set of episodes, Guest Host, Mandie Carter, talks with me about my travel experiences in Portugal, Ukraine, England, Ireland, and Honduras. We discuss my espresso habit I developed in Lisbon, Fan Zone football excitement in Kiev, beautiful landscape in Bootle, England, Waterford Crystal in Ireland, and adventures on medical missions in Choluteca, Honduras. I'm enjoying talking about all these wild times we've had in all these wild places we've been and I really hope that these stories have been a source of blessing and entertainment to you all! Relax and enjoy yourselves!