Bill Lynch, Mason Adams, Kelley Libby, Zander Aloi, Maddie Miller, Chris Schulz, Roxy Todd Published

Appalachian Memes And Trouble At Greenbank

An adult woman wearing a lightly colored dress stands along a highway while holding a bouquet of flowers. She smiles while looking up toward the sky and has long brown hair. Behind her is a road sign.
Andi Marie Tillman is a character chameleon. While not in costume in this photo, her sketch comedy features all kinds of impersonations of characters: from Papaw who’s always piddling around and telling silly jokes, to the chronically-late Aunt Pam with her blackhole of a purse.
Courtesy of Andi Marie Tillman
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This week, the online world of Appalachian memes — and what they tell us about folks who live here. 

Also, parts of West Virginia have been radio silent since the 1950s for scientists to monitor the skies. So, what does that mean for first responders in an emergency? 

And winter holidays are here. We’ve got some tips to keep the festivities from going up in smoke.

You’ll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.

In This Episode:

Appalachian Memes Mine The Laughs 

A Caucasian woman dressed like an older man in overalls holds a t-shirt.
Andi Marie Tillman as “Papaw” showing off some of Little Bubby Child’s merch; a shirt that says, “Meemaw Tried.”

Photo courtesy of Little Bubby Child

Humor runs deep here in Appalachia. Folkways Reporter Madeline Miller brought us a story about two artists who’ve taken holler humor to the digital realm.

A woman disguised as an older man in a baseball hat looks downward.
Andi Marie Tillman depicts her character Papaw on FaceTime.

Photo courtesy Andi Marie Tillman

Radio Quiet Zone Presents Trouble For Emergency Responders  

Since the 1950s, the federal government has designated parts of two West Virginia counties as a National Radio Quiet Zone. Because of research, television, radio and cell signals near the area are restricted. Ten Virginia and West Virginia counties are asking the government to change that for emergency responders.

Radio IQ’s Roxy Todd has this story.

Remembering Poet Nikki Giovanni

An older Black woman with short white hair stands against a bookshelf smiling. She wears a maroon sweater.
Poet Nikki Giovanni in 2015 at Shepherd University.

Photo Credit: Shepherd University

Distinguished poet, educator and long-time Virginia resident Nikki Giovanni died Nov. 9, 2024 at the age of 81.

She was one of the most well-known and acclaimed poets in America and a voice for African Americans and Appalachians. 

We revisit Roxy Todd’s 2022 interview with Giovanni. 

Avoiding Holiday Fire Hazards

A pair of Caucasian hands reach and grab a smoke detector on the ceiling. The walls and ceiling are also white.
Make sure smoke detectors are in working order during the holiday season.

Photo Credit: Alexander Raths/Adobe Stock

The holidays bring people together to celebrate. Which — when paired with cold winter weather — can create the potential for fires.

Mark Lambert, the director of the West Virginia University (WVU) Fire Service Extension, spoke with WVPB’s Chris Schulz about fire safety.

——

Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Erik Vincent Huey, Charlie McCoy, Javon Jackson and Nikki Giovanni, John Inghram, Dinosaur Burps, June Carter Cash and Larry Rader.

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. We had help this week from folkways editor Clara Haizlett.

You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.

You can find us on Instagram and Threads @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.

Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

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