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On this week’s episode, we’re journeying far and wide through Appalachia and beyond.
Author Mesha Maren takes us from the hills of West Virginia to the border between Texas and Mexico — the land of the Luchador. We’ll also hear about what West Virginians are doing to help Ukrainian refugees flee the war with Russia. And, we’ll learn about what doctors are saying about medical cannabis in the Mountain State — where it is now available to more than 8,000 patients.
We’ll round out our tour of Appalachia with a chat between our host Mason Adams and East Tennessee native Amythyst Kiah, whose 2021 record “Wary and Strange” was released last year.
In This Episode:
West Virginia Interfaith Ministry Providing Aid To Ukrainian Refugees
Displaced Ukrainian citizens are being aided by the West Virginia Interfaith Refugee Ministry as they seek temporary refuge from the war between Ukraine and Russia. Charleston, West Virginia’s Rabbi Victor Urkecki spoke with West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s Randy Yohe about the efforts of WVIRM and the benefits of bringing refugees into the state.
Mesha Maren’s “Perpetual West” Melds Appalachia, Mexico
West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s Zack Harold interviewed Alderson, West Virginia native Mesha Maren about her new novel, “Perpetual West” at a live event at Taylor Books in Charleston, West Virginia.
“Perpetual West” melds stories about Appalachia and Mexico, academia and wrestling set in a fictional version of Maren’s hometown of Alderson.
Maren is a professor at Duke University and a writing fellow at the federal prison camp in Alderson.
Medical Cannabis In The Mountain State
Marijuana laws have been changing around America, including in Appalachia. After a long time coming, medical marijuana dispensaries are opening in West Virginia, where more than 8,000 patients are already benefiting from using medicinal cannabis. As June Leffler reports, doctors say there is a lot more potential in the plant, including the relative safety of using cannabis to treat pain instead of opioid medication.
Witty Lines, Wry Observations And The Music Of Amythyst Kiah
East Tennessee native Amythyst Kiah is a singer-songwriter whose work about identity and Blackness is catching attention from listeners all over the United States. Kiah self-released four albums before Rounder Records put out “Wary and Strange” in 2021. The record is personal, soulful and, at times, searing and anthemic. Our host Mason Adams spoke with Amythyst about her music and about what post-pandemic life has in store for her work.
Tweet to us! You can find us on Twitter at @InAppalachia.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Additional music in this episode is from Amythyst Kiah and John Ingram.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Alex Runyon is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. Zander Aloi also helped produce this episode.
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In rural communities across America, there are people traveling many miles from home to deliver babies. In the past five years, nearly 125 rural hospitals have stopped delivering babies or announced that they will. That’s about two closings a month. On the next Us & Them, host Trey Kay hears from families facing that change, and how it’s affecting prospects for their rural cities and towns.
Continue Reading Take Me to More NewsOnline gambling commercials in the state seem to dominate the television and radio airwaves. Those messages are not lost on our college students. Marshall University Broadcast Journalism senior Abigail Ayes just completed an impactful story about student online gambling for the campus news program, MU Report. Randy Yohe, who is also Ayes’ instructor, spoke with the student reporter about her findings.
Continue Reading Take Me to More NewsThe annual Mothman Festival has a competition for the title of ‘most unusual Appalachian celebration.’ Bath County, Kentucky, celebrated a historic occurrence this week. The meat shower of 1876. That’s when pieces of meat mysteriously fell from the sky onto a farm.
Continue Reading Take Me to More NewsWith a final budget now approved by both the House and Senate and headed to Gov. Patrick Morrisey for a signature, West Virginia budget watchers say there are looming expenses that haven’t been taken into consideration. Also, more Americans than ever have access to a kind of savings account that lets them set aside pre-tax money for medical expenses. But this option takes a little effort to set up and navigate.
Continue Reading Take Me to More News
