Appalachian Tarot Cards And Ron Rash, Inside Appalachia

This week, a Pittsburgh artist channels the Steel City’s mythology and struggles — into tarot cards.

Western North Carolina author Ron Rash shares his thoughts on writing about Appalachians.

And we hear about efforts in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley to return a young bald eagle to the wild. 

These stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.

In This Episode:

• Tarot Cards For The Iron City
• A Novelist Looks At 70
• Abortion Access Over The Border
• Fly Like An Eagle

Tarot Cards For The Iron City

Appalachia is full of haunting stories and folktales. Now, a Pittsburgh artist is channeling some of those stories into a tarot deck.

Genevieve Barbee-Turner makes tarot decks featuring Pittsburgh lore and acknowledging city issues such as harm reduction, homelessness and gentrification. 

Host Mason Adams spoke with Barbee-Turner about art and making cards about Appalachia and Pittsburgh. 

A Novelist Looks At 70

Ron Rash is an Appalachian poet, novelist and short story writer. A professor of Appalachian Cultural Studies at Western Carolina University, he’s written more than 20 books, including several that appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List. 

His latest is called The Caretaker. It’s set in Korean war-era Appalachia.

Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Rash about the novel, Appalachia and getting older.

Abortion Access Over The Border

Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the federal right to abortion, the procedure has been limited in much of Appalachia. It’s restricted in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

And in Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia — it’s banned outright.

That’s pushed some providers across state lines. Like to a clinic that recently opened in western Maryland. WVPB’s Emily Rice has the story.

Fly Like An Eagle

For generations, bald eagles were rare. Threatened by pollution, pesticides and people’s expansion into their habitat, they were dying out. But then the bald eagle became federally protected, and the pesticide DDT, which made their eggshells more brittle, was banned.

Now, bald eagles are thriving. In 2007, they left the list of endangered and threatened species. 

But every now and then, a bald eagle still needs help. WMRA’s Randi B. Hagi has a story about a young bald eagle being returned to the wild.

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Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Sierra Ferrel, Chris Stapleton, The Kessinger Brothers, Sturgill Simpson and Paul Loomis.

Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens.

You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.

You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Twitter @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.

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Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.