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On this week’s encore episode of Inside Appalachia, 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 record “Wary and Strange” was released in 2021.
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
Folkways Reporter 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.
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Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Additional music in this episode is from Amythyst Kiah and John Ingram.
Bill Lynch is our 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.
You can send us an email at InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
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And you can sign-up for our Inside Appalachia Newsletter here!
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
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As one of the hardest hit states in the country's opioid crisis, communities across West Virginia have started spending their portion of the roughly $1 billion in settlements from pharmaceutical companies and distributors. Schuyler Mitchell, assistant news director at nonprofit newsroom Mother Jones, reported last month on the use of the funds to purchase automated license plate readers, or ALPRs, from companies like Flock. She spoke to Chris Schulz about her findings.
Continue Reading Take Me to More NewsThe mayor of Gallatin, Tennessee, says a Meta hyperscale data center is the city’s largest taxpayer, but residents still have concerns about its effect on utilities, the environment and property values. Travel up I-65 and data center fights are playing out in several Kentucky communities. Lisa Autry from the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom went to Gallatin to find out if Big Tech is a good neighbor.
Continue Reading Take Me to More NewsOn this West Virginia Week, a second data center is coming to Mason County, the Rural Health Transformation Program Funds are beginning to be distributed in the state, and remembering Dolly Parton.
Continue Reading Take Me to More NewsThis week, we remember the one and only Dolly Parton. Dolly used her musical success to help others. She started the Imagination Library, a free book program for children that included some of her favorites, like the "Little Engine that Could." And, Dolly’s kindness touched people from all walks of life.
Continue Reading Take Me to More News
