Us & Them Encore: Daniel Johnston — The Troubled Life And Artistic Genius Of West Virginia Music Hall Of Fame Inductee

Daniel Johnston recorded songs in his parents' basement in rural West Virginia that would eventually inspire artists such as Kurt Cobain, Beck, Wilco, and Sonic Youth. In this award-winning episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay explores the life, art, and enduring legacy of the late singer-songwriter and visual artist whose creative genius and struggles with bipolar disorder made him one of America's most influential outsider artists.

Take Me to More News

Katie Myers

Arts & Culture Bill Lynch +, May. 22, 2026

Recovery After Hurricane Helene, Inside Appalachia

This week, Hurricane Helene devastated central Appalachia and disrupted the lives of people in recovery. Also, in West Virginia, fur trapping continues, even in the 21st century. And, baseball is America’s past-time. One league is making the game more inclusive.

Continue Reading Take Me to More News

Arts & Culture Bill Lynch +, May. 15, 2026

Dungeon Fest And Kentucky's Grand March, Inside Appalachia

This week, Appalachian Dungeon Fest spotlights the fantastical music of dungeon synth. Also, every year, the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival stages a formal dance. Organizers rely on a manual that’s been passed down for generations. And, small dairy farms are closing across the country. Central Appalachia has been hit hard

Continue Reading Take Me to More News

Arts & Culture Bill Lynch +, Jul. 18, 2025

Pictures From Alleghania And Remembering Travis Stimeling, Inside Appalachia

This week, an international photographer turns his lens toward home. Also, after Hurricane Helene, whitewater rafting guides are adapting to diminished business and changed rivers. And, we remember Travis Stimeling. The author, musician and educator left a mark on mountain culture and the people who practice and document it.

Continue Reading Take Me to More News

Arts & Culture Katie Myers, May. 03, 2022

Hector Saldivar Brings Mexican Folk Arts to East Tennessee

Inside Appalachia Folkways reporter Katie Myers travels to Lenoir City, Tennessee to speak with award-winning artist Hector Saldivar, and his apprentice Ariel, about bringing Mexican folk art to the hills of east Tennessee.

Continue Reading Take Me to More News

Recent Stories

Arts & Culture Katie Myers, Apr. 19, 2021

The True(Ish) Story Of Tennessee Moonshiner Mahalia Mullins

Some say moonshiner Mahalia Collins Mullins once beat 30 men in a wrestling match and sold them all whisky afterward. Others say she was so large that when police tried to arrest her, they couldn’t get her through the door. By the time Mullins passed away, her story was know...

Continue Reading Take Me to More News

Economy Katie Myers, Apr. 16, 2021

New Research: Thousands of Jobs Possible in Reclamation of Abandoned Wells, Mines

Unplugged oil and gas wells and abandoned mine lands pose serious health risks to residents. But according to reports from the regional think tank Ohio River Valley Institute, those sites could be providing thousands of jobs for the region, if the federal government invests in mitigating the issues.

Continue Reading Take Me to More News

Load More Articles