Underground Railroad And Fly Around Festival, Inside Appalachia

This week, before emancipation, Appalachia provided pathways to freedom for enslaved people trying to escape bondage. A new project identifies more than two dozen previously unknown underground railroad sites. Also, the Fly Around Music & Arts Festival in North Carolina was inspired by the hard work that followed Hurricane Helene. And, a ballad about floods recorded a generation ago still provides solace for people today.

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Arts & Culture Bill Lynch +, Jun. 19, 2026

Ohio's Ancient Earthworks And Ballad Singing After Hurricane Helene, Inside Appalachia

This week, ballads tell stories about all kinds of real-life events, but after Hurricane Helene, one group of ballad singers felt some topics were still too raw. Also, the author of a new book on ancient Ohio credits a former grad student with introducing him to the region’s mysterious earthworks. And, the legacy of Affrilachian poet Norman Jordan includes a summer camp for teens to study their heritage.

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Arts & Culture Mason Adams, Mar. 18, 2026

Meet The Chef Bringing Affrilachian Food To Asheville

Tucked away at the edge of downtown Asheville is one of the city’s culinary gems. It’s called Good Hot Fish, and its run by Ashleigh Shanti. Recently, host Mason Adams stopped in at her restaurant for a catfish sandwich with a side of hot slaw and a conversation.

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Arts & Culture Bill Lynch +, Mar. 06, 2026

Good Hot Fish, Inside Appalachia

This week, when an award-winning Asheville chef decided to launch a restaurant, she returned to a rich community tradition. Also, the popularity of weaving waxes and wanes. At the moment, it’s having a renaissance. And, during Lent, Yugoslavian fish stew is a local favorite in Charleston, West Virginia.

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Government Jack Walker, Feb. 08, 2025

Hostage Release, Homelessness Data And Affrilachian Heritage, This West Virginia Week

On this West Virginia Week, we hear about a hostage release in Venezuela, data collection on homelessness and Black arts in Appalachia.

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Arts & Culture Bill Lynch +, Oct. 14, 2024

Frank X Walker And Flood Stories Past And Present, Inside Appalachia

This week, Affrilachian poet Frank X Walker has a new collection of poetry that looks at Black life in Kentucky before, during, and after the Civil War. We also check in with the people affected by floo...

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Arts & Culture Eric Douglas, Nov. 15, 2022

New Children’s Book Looks At 'Affrilachia'

When Frank X. Walker looked up the word Appalachia in a dictionary 30 years ago, he saw it was defined with the phrase “the white residents of the Appalachian mountains.” As a man of color, he said that shook him. His latest work is a children’s book, using the alphabet to identify and focus on people of color who grew up in Appalachia. It is called “A is for Affrilachia.”

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