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Barbara Kingsolver is one of Appalachia’s foremost writers. She’s written a string of bestsellers, like "The Poisonwood Bible" and "Demon Copperhead," which won her the Pulitzer Prize. Inside Appalachia’s Mason Adams met Kingsolver at her home outside Abingdon, Virginia, to talk art, writing and her latest book, "Partita." We listen to an excerpt from that interview.
Filipino Hospitality In Asheville And Famed Thru-Hiker Shares Journey, Inside Appalachia
Hidden away from the main streets of Asheville, Neng Jr.'s is getting noticed nationally.Margaret McLeod Leef/West Virginia Public Broadcasting
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This week, a chef has created a hidden culinary hot spot in Asheville, North Carolina that’s attracting national attention for its eclectic menu and Filipino hospitality.
Also, every thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail begins with a first step. Famed hiker Jennifer Pharr Davis shares hers.
And the holy month of Ramadan ends with a feast. But war and famine in Gaza muted some of this year’s celebrations.
We’ll have these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
Chef Silver Iocovozzi brings elevated fare and Filipino hospitality to Neng Jr.’s in Asheville.
Photo Credit: Will Crooks
Asheville, North Carolina has an eclectic dining scene and one of its “hidden” gems is Neng Jr.’s. It serves elevated Filipino cuisine in a little restaurant that’s tucked away in an alley on Asheville’s artsy West Side.
Folkways Reporter Margaret McLeod Leef visited and brings us this story.
Tackling The Appalachian Trail With Jennifer Pharr Davis
Jennifer Pharr Davis shares the story of her first steps into the world of trail hiking.
Photo Credit: Keith Wright
Few people know the Appalachian Trail (AT) better than Jennifer Pharr Davis — a North Carolina native who’s thru-hiked the AT three times.
In 2008, on her second thru-hike, she set the record for the fastest Appalachian Trail hike by a woman. Three years later, she thru-hiked it again — and set the record for the fastest known time on the Appalachian Trail by anyone up to that point.
Last year, Mason Adams spoke to her about some of her hikes — and how they shaped her identity as an Appalachian.
Ramadan In The Mountains
Men serve themselves their iftar meal at the Islamic Center of Morgantown, March 24, 2024. One of the sponsors of the night’s iftar, Mohamed Hefeida, can be seen wearing a mask.
Photo Credit: Chris Schulz/West Virginia Public Broadcasting
This year, April 9, marked the end of the holy month of Ramadan in the Islamic faith. During Ramadan, observant Muslims fast from sunup to sundown. Their fast is traditionally broken with a feast called an iftar. In Morgantown, West Virginia, the meal was overshadowed this year by the war in Gaza.
WVPB’s Chris Schulz reports.
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Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Hotdog, Sean Watkins, John Blissard, Jeff Ellis, Brew Davis and Dinosaur Burps.
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 Nicole Musgrave.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
Barbara Kingsolver is one of Appalachia’s foremost writers. She’s written a string of bestsellers, like "The Poisonwood Bible" and "Demon Copperhead," which won her the Pulitzer Prize. Inside Appalachia’s Mason Adams met Kingsolver at her home outside Abingdon, Virginia, to talk art, writing and her latest book, "Partita." We listen to an excerpt from that interview.
West Virginia has seen the largest population decline in the nation - nearly 1.5% - and many of those leaving are young people. In an episode that aired last month, Us & Them host Trey Kay heard from some young people who think they may stay in the state to launch their futures. This month, Kay talks with those who say living their dreams may well require moving away from the Mountain State. We listen to an excerpt from the latest Us & Them.
They love West Virginia, but love alone may not be enough to keep them here. In the second of two Us & Them episodes, Trey Kay talks with young West Virginians who say they may need to leave in search of careers, community and a place where they can imagine their futures. Their decisions reveal what the Mountain State risks losing when young people cannot see a place for themselves at home.
Last week, we aired the first part of an interview with a WVSU professor about what is AI. In the second part of that interview, we explore the best way to use AI to get what you want – while avoiding fabricated or false answers that seem real.