On this West Virginia Morning, Elizabeth Elswick couldn't find a lot of merchandise to represent her home state of West Virginia while she was growing up. But today, she represents Appalachian culture and sayings through her sticker shop. Folkways Reporter Maddie Miller brings us this story.
Cory Doctorow Champions Digital Rights In Appalachia
Writer Cory Doctorow is one of the world’s most prominent thinkers about the internet and how it’s changing our lives. Doctorow’s science fiction novels touch on social media culture and the ubiquity of surveillance. He’s also a digital human rights activist who sees technology as a net good if people are given better control of it.
Producer Bill Lynch spoke to Doctorow about what that could mean for Appalachia.
Fish Fry Traditions In Charleston, WV
Signs for fish fries are pretty common in Charleston, West Virginia, especially in the city’s Black community, where they’ve become a tradition for generations.
Folkways Fellow Leeshia Lee grew up in Charleston and says friends and neighbors frequently hosted fish fries, often as a way to raise money for community needs. She brings us this story.
Ann Pancake As Appalachian Heritage Writer-In-Residence
West Virginia author Ann Pancake is best known for her acclaimed 2007 novel Strange as This Weather Has Been. It follows a southern West Virginia family affected by mountaintop removal. Now, Pancake is the Appalachian Heritage Writer-in-Residence at Shepherd University.
WVPB’s Liz McCormick recently sat down with her to talk about what inspires her writing. First, we’ll hear Pancake read a passage from Strange as This Weather Has Been.
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Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by The Company Stores, Sierra Ferrel, Gerry Milnes, the Carpenter Ants and Jerry Douglas.
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.
On this West Virginia Week, longtime Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin has officially changed political affiliations, registering as an independent on Friday. We’ll look into his decision, plus the sudden departure of the watchdog for West Virginia’s foster care system and a lawsuit filed against a state hospital over allegations of physical abuse.
On this West Virginia Morning, Elizabeth Elswick couldn't find a lot of merchandise to represent her home state of West Virginia while she was growing up. But today, she represents Appalachian culture and sayings through her sticker shop. Folkways Reporter Maddie Miller brings us this story.
Appalachia produces less coal than it once did, but that coal is still desired around the world for making steel. The demand is now creating problems for people who live near the terminals where coal is moved from train to ship, to then be carried overseas. Residents of Norfolk and Newport News, Virginia, say airborne coal dust from export terminals is getting on their cars, on their houses, in their lungs. Residents have started to take matters into their own hands.