Oscar Micheaux, Kathleen Driskell And Soul Food, Inside Appalachia

This week, in the 1920s, Oscar Micheaux was an entrepreneur filmmaker in western Virginia. He became a world-renowned director and producer. Also, Kentucky’s poet laureate lives down the road from what has been called the country’s most lethal cryptid. Attempts to spot it have led to deaths. And, we talk soul food with Xavier Oglesby, who’s passing on generations of kitchen wisdom to his niece.

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Criminal Justice Reform

Government Trey Kay +, Jan. 22, 2026

Us & Them Encore: Re-Entry

At least 95% of people in state prisons will one day be released — but success after incarceration is far from guaranteed. This encore episode of Us & Them examines the challenges of re-entry and why recognizing trauma may be essential to breaking cycles of incarceration.

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Government Trey Kay +, Sep. 11, 2025

Us & Them: Rebuilding Justice In A Divided America

America’s deep social divides are colliding with a crisis of trust in the justice system. Stanford legal scholar David Sklansky tells Us & Them how practical reforms — and even the humble jury trial — can retrain us in the habits a pluralistic democracy needs. How fixing justice could help fix us.

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Government Trey Kay +, Aug. 07, 2024

Us & Them: Can Former Prisoners Help Fill Our Workforce Gaps?

There’s a serious labor shortage in West Virginia. Some believe the 50,00 people released from jails and prisons each year could help. For this episode, Us & Them focuses on second-chance employment.

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Arts & Culture Trey Kay +, Jul. 25, 2024

Re-Entry

At least 95% of people behind bars will be released. Some say a formerly incarcerated person’s successful reentry into society requires more focus on rebuilding an individual and less on punishment. Criminal justice reform efforts also address a victim-centered approach, but some believe that fundamental change might require addressing past trauma of victims as well as the perpetrators of crimes. This episode was honored with a national first place documentary award from the Public Media Journalists Association. It was also part of a series of episodes that were honored with a first place award in public service through journalism from Virginia's AP Broadcasters.

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Arts & Culture Trey Kay +, Jul. 10, 2024

Us & Them Encore: Mental Health Crisis Behind Bars In W.Va.

Hundreds of thousands of people with mental illnesses are caught up in a criminal justice system that was never intended to treat them. This encore Us & Them episode was part of a series that was honored with a first place award from Virginia’s Associated Press Broadcasters for “Public Service Through Journalism.” In this report, we hear what it’s like to live with mental illness behind bars in the Mountain State.

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Arts & Culture Trey Kay +, Apr. 11, 2024

Us & Them: Locked Out Of Voting?

Millions of people in the U.S. cannot vote because they’ve been convicted of a felony. A majority of those are not currently in prison, but on probation or parole. In this episode, we look at the nation’s patchwork of voting rights laws and the confusion they can create.

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