Folkways

In the U.S., rap and hip-hop are usually associated with big cities like New York, L.A., and Atlanta. But hip-hop artists exist all over, including in rural areas. Our Inside Appalachia Folkways reporter Nicole Musgrave spoke with a group of hip-hop artists in the coalfields of Wise County, Virginia who are bringing more public attention to the music they’re making, while supporting other up and coming artists.

The process of making Kentucky pull candy is long and difficult, but the payoff is worth it. The candy is buttery and melt-in-your-mouth. Folkways reporter Zack Harold caught up with a man who's a confectionary master to see how it's made.

This week's episode of Inside Appalachia is a mix of rich storytelling and cross-cultural collaborations. What happens when a musician from Belarus gets together with Appalachian folk musicians? And we’ll talk with Affrilachian writer Crystal Wilkinson, who has just been named Kentucky’s Poet Laureate.

We have a packed episode of Inside Appalachia this week, stuffed with stories of family strife and struggle, revolutionary artists fighting against stereotypes, legendary lawbreakers, matriarchal moonshiners and the badmen of one of Appalachia’s biggest battles — the Baldwin-Felts detectives.

As part of our Inside Appalachia Folkways series, reporter Rachel Moore spoke to two instrument makers in Western North Carolina who are carrying on the DIY instrument legacy.

On this West Virginia Morning, we bring you a few updates on the news around the state. Then, our main story involved teens from Wales and Appalachia, two places with a lot in common. For the past year, they have been sending each other audio letters, sharing their experiences with the quarantine. They are using this opportunity to learn about each other’s lives.

This week on Inside Appalachia, we talk with folks who are planting seeds of change — literally and figuratively. While many are finding joy through their gardens and food work, there are some people in Appalachia who are going through some of the most challenging times of their lives.

Appalachia has had hundreds of years of connection to Wales -- people have been immigrating back-and-forth between the two regions since the late 1600s.Our Inside Appalachia team has continued this through its Folkways program, by connecting teenage students in both Wales and West Virginia.

The pandemic has reshaped our world in many ways. Can you remember what life was like before you wore a mask to the grocery store? This has been a historic year for so many people, and we wanted to mark the moment. Let’s be clear, the pandemic isn’t over yet. But it’s good to think back on how far we’ve come. In this week’s episode of Inside Appalachia, we check back in with some of the people we've had on our show over the past year, and hear how they're doing now.

Four new journalists, folklorists and a chief editor are teaming up with several returning Inside Appalachia Folkways Reporting Corps members to share even more fascinating stories that explore the region's rich cultural heritage and help break Appalachian stereotypes.