Podcast – Us & Them

Arts & Culture Trey Kay +, About 23 hours ago

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

Daniel Johnston’s unpolished cassette recordings—raw vocals and all—captivated indie music fans in the ’80s and caught the attention of Kurt Cobain, Sonic Youth, Beck and Wilco. Now, the late “outsider artist” is headed into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame. On the next Us & Them, host Trey Kay explores Johnston’s life, art, and enduring legacy.

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Health & Science Trey Kay +, Mar. 27, 2025

Us & Them: Substance Use Disorder — Can You Recover Without A Place To Call Home?

For many grappling with substance use disorder, homelessness, and the justice system, the struggle has never been more intense. New tough-on-crime laws—like Kentucky’s “Safer Kentucky Act”—are ramping up penalties on many crime categories that include a banon public camping, deepening the crisis. On this episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay returns to Kentucky to explore the real-world consequences: urban areas face severe housing shortages and persistent substance use challenges, while small-town Appalachia remains even more isolated from essential support networks.

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Government Trey Kay +, Mar. 12, 2025

Us & Them: We The People [But Not So Much] Women

Many assume the U.S. Constitution guarantees equal rights for all, but its authors didn’t seem to envision women as part of "We the people." On the next episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay speaks with law professor Jill Hasday, whose new book We the Men argues that women are systematically forgotten in America’s founding stories—and that exclusion has powerful symbolic and emotional consequences.

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Health & Science Trey Kay +, Feb. 27, 2025

Us & Them: Black West Virginians With Substance Use Disorder Face Unique Challenges

The Trump administration’s proposed spending cuts could jeopardize Medicaid funding—a lifeline for many West Virginians who face the nation’s highest overdose rate. On this episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay explores how Medicaid dollars support recovery organizations and the unique challenges confronting Black West Virginians with substance use disorder.

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Economy Trey Kay +, Feb. 12, 2025

Us & Them: Housing Options Are Few & Far Between In Appalachia

In West Virginia, homeownership is a paradox. While the state boasts the nation’s highest homeownership rate, low incomes mean many homes are aging and in disrepair. In one county, 67% of houses are over 80 years old. Across Appalachia by one measure, there are 500,000 people living in substandard conditions. This is the hidden crisis at the heart of Appalachia's housing landscape.

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Health & Science Trey Kay +, Jan. 22, 2025

Us & Them: What’s Next For Abortion?

New legislative agendas at the state level aim to chip away at reproductive rights, even in states that recently passed constitutional protections for abortion. On this episode of Us & Them, Host Trey Kay examines how conservative state supreme courts might limit voter-approved amendments — and how abortion-friendly states are pushing back. Meanwhile, President Trump’s new administration could override all state laws through certain executive actions, including one involving a 19th century anti-vice law. Now that the election’s over, what’s next for abortion?

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