Inside Appalachia

This week’s episode of Inside Appalachia is about fierce women — something we have no shortage of here in Appalachia.We’ll hear about the folk music collaboration between Wu Fei and Abigail Washburn. Their new album combines the tones of Appalachia with the melodies of China. We’ll also hear a story about the first transgender person elected to political office in West Virginia, and a 90-year-old newspaper publisher who is still hard at work each week.

On this West Virginia Morning, we visit some shared musical ground between China and Appalachia. Also, in this show, we hear about a report to help Ohio Valley communities address climate change and the coronavirus pandemic, and we bring you this week’s Mountain Stage Song of the Week brought to you by Wilco.

On this West Virginia Morning, we hear a young boy interview his mom. Also, in this show, we continue our election coverage with a look at the race for West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture.

Climbers have identified around 100 racist and otherwise offensive route names and hope to have them changed before a new guidebook goes to print this fall.

On this West Virginia Morning, if you don’t know much about the pawpaw – ‘tis the season! We learn about this native fruit to Appalachia. Also, in this show, we bring you this week’s Mountain Stage Song of the Week from blues vocalist Catherine Russell.

On this West Virginia Morning, we learn about the ancestral connection the Shawnee have to the pawpaw fruit that grow and ripen this time of year throughout Appalachia. Also, in this show, we learn about the financial challenges at rural hospitals as they deal with impacts from the coronavirus pandemic.

In this episode of Inside Appalachia, we’ll take a look at a fruit that is unique to Appalachia called the pawpaw. It was nearly forgotten but is coming back as some people are working to keep it alive. We also hear an interview with author Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle. Her new novel explores the Eastern Band of Cherokee’s history, and the push and pull to leave and return home. And we learn about a group of rock climbers who are trying to rename climbing routes that bear racist and sexist names.

The Inside Appalachia team is seeking 5-10 people from West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Appalachian Ohio to be a part of the Inside Appalachia Folkways Reporting Corps.

It’s safest to avoid cramped public places, and when you’re hanging out with friends, experts say do it outside. Get some fresh air. We’ve got plenty of that here Inside Appalachia. Even as the weather changes we have an abundance of wildness to explore. And today, we’re celebrating that wildness.

On this West Virginia Morning, we kick off a series of stories designed to walk you up and down the November ballot. We start in the state auditor's office. Also, in this show, we hear about a unique attraction in Virginia featuring dinosaurs.