Appalachia Meets World Episode 136 - An Appalachian Memoir and Voice for Healing with Brandi Cox

Appalachia Meets World Episode 152 - A Country Music (Highway) Tribute in Appalachia with Kirsten Wilburn and Kristin Brown Norman of SOAR

Readin, Rightin, Route 23!! THE COUNTRY MUSIC HIGHWAY!

In this episode Neil and Will sit down with Kirsten Wilburn and Kristin Brown Norman of Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR) to talk about the Country Music Highway - or Route 23! Kentucky's Country Music Highway has produced more stars per square mile than any stretch of roadway in the world. These two individuals are in charge of putting together a tribute show(s) that not only celebrates those stars of the past, but the future stars as well. It's important for a region to recognize and celebrate its assets and in Eastern Kentucky there are no better assets than the people. Hear Kirsten and Kristin talk about the upcoming tribute shows and why SOAR decided to put them together in the first place. It's more than just the music, however, the locations and entrepreneurial activity is just as important to highlight and support - there's "magic in them mountains," something the guys are reminded of time and time again. Take a listen to hear what The Country Music Highway is all about and why Route 23 has made and continues to make a significant impact in the region. You might even hear Neil give his take on the Top 5 Appalachian Songs and why he has decided he needs "to get out more - or add to his list." Also, don't forget the #AppBiz(s) - or in this case #AppTown(s) - of the week: Russel, Louisa and Ashland - KY!

Country Music Highway Tribute Shows - www.cmhtributeshow.com

Spotify Playlist 2024 Country Music Highway Tribute Shows - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/76cHcI7cx46D2MA4EwNIc3?si=ef281937614c4d75

County Music Highway Museum - https://paintsvilletourism.com/us-23-country-music-highway-museum-2/

SOAR - www.soar-ky.org

App News:

Invest Appalachia Fund - https://investappalachia.org/ia-fund-closes-35m/

Virginia Tech Hydrogen Future in Appalachia - https://news.vt.edu/articles/2024/04/a-hydrogen-future-seeks-sustainable-energy-and-economic-growth-f.html#:~:text=Category%3A%20research-,A%20hydrogen%20future%20could%20offer%20sustainable%20energy%20and%20economic%20growth,new%20economic%20and%20job%20opportunities

Appalachia's Stalled Revival - https://thespectator.com/topic/appalachia-stalled-revival-development/

Seven Geological Wonders in Appalachia - https://appvoices.org/2024/05/09/seven-wonders/

INSIDE APPALACHIA on WVPB - https://wvpublic.org/podcasts/inside-appalachia/

5 Songs of Appalachia - https://americansongwriter.com/5-songs-that-will-remind-you-of-growing-up-in-appalachia/

#AppBiz(s):

Russell - www.russellky.net

Louisa - www.cityoflouisa.org

-Lawrence County Tourism Commission - https://visitlcky.com

Ashland - www.ashlandky.gov

-Visit AKY - https://visitaky.com

EXTRA:

Miguel's Pizza (Red River Gorge) - www.miguelspizza.com

MUSIC (in episode, in order):

1) Readin' Rightin' Route 23 - Dwight Yoakam

2) Shake the Frost - Tyler Childers

3) Fishin' in the Dark - Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

4) Roll That Rock - Bobby and Teddi Cyrus

5) Long Haired Southern Hippie - Joe Clark

6) Till the Bitter End - Johnathon Cox

7) Those Were The Days - Cory Michael Harris

8) You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive - Patty Loveless

Appalachia Meets World Episode 151 - Behind the "Festival" in Appalachia with Samantha North and Shannon Elliott

It's almost FESTIVAL SEASON in Appalachia!!!

In this episode Will and (sans) Neil sit down with Pineville Schools. Through the Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) Program Samantha North and Shannon Elliott applied for a grant through the Smithsonian Institute to allow a group of students to produce a documentary about the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival (the oldest festival on record in the Commonwealth of Kentucky). Speaking to nostalgia for the guys, here how Shannon and Samantha guided the students, not only through the process but through the significance of the festival itself. For a lot of people from Pineville the KMLF is more than just a festival, it's a sense of belonging, a sense of place. Take a listen to hear what it now means to Shannon and Samantha and how that carried over to the students. It proved to provide a sense of purpose for the students, one that they could learn to appreciate where they're from. Also, don't forget about the #AppBiz(s) of the week (for Youth Apprenticeship Week): DataSeam; and Cornett Farm Fresh!

Smithsonian Museum on Main Street - https://museumonmainstreet.org

"When the Mountain Laurel Blooms: Embracing Tradition in Pineville, KY" - https://museumonmainstreet.org/content/when-mountain-laurel-blooms-embracing-tradition-pineville-kentucky

Mountain Lion News - www.youtube.com/@Mtnlionnews/videos

Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival - www.kmlf.org

App News:

Mother's Day (in Appalachia) - www.history.com/topics/holidays/mothers-day

Foxfire Mother's of Appalachia Book: Article (Garden and Gun) - https://gardenandgun.com/articles/why-foxfire-still-resonates/

Appalachian Sustainable Finance Hub Launch Event - www.heartlandfinancehub.org/launch?emci=20b528c3-a908-ef11-96f3-7c1e521b07f9&emdi=ea000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&ceid=%7B%7BContactsEmailID%7D%7D

ARC Arise $1.7 Million - www.arc.gov/news/arc-awards-nearly-1-7-million-to-grow-workforces-in-cybersecurity-infrastructure-and-housing-capacity-across-six-appalachian-states/

Youth Apprenticeship Week - https://blog.dol.gov/2024/05/06/youth-apprenticeship-week-is-here

Festival (State) Guide - https://festivalguidesandreviews.com

#AppBiz:

DataSeam - www.kydataseam.com

Cornett Farm Fresh - www.cornettfarmfresh.com

Appalachia Meets World Episode 150 - ERC Fellow "Spin and Chat" (in Appalachia) with Mick Thornton

In this inaugural (and monthly) Economic Recovery Corps (ERC) Fellow "Spin and Chat," Neil and Will sit down with Mick Thornton - a self described builder of things and current Fellow in San Juan County, Utah. In a previous episode (episode 139) Nathan Ohle, President and CEO of the International Economic Development Council, explained the purpose of the ERC - as described on the website - "a new collaborative initiative designed to accelerate recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic in distressed communities and regions throughout the U.S. by connecting organizations with the talent and capacity needed to advance new ways of doing economic development that promote economic resilience and transformative change." It connects a Fellow to a Host community in order to build capacity and drive transformative change. Mick Thorton is one of those Fellows! Hear from Mick as he describes why he applied and all about his project in San Juan, UT - and how challenges there (and other regions) are much more similar to challenges in Appalachia than they are different. You'll also hear about Mick's background, what he hopes to accomplish and maybe a little about the "adventure" he and his family have been on the two years prior to accepting the fellowship - in the end, it's about the people! As a former Pastor and Radio Host, those learned skills for Mick have seamlessly been adapted to the ever expanding (and new) field of economic development - or as Mick describes, a field built on connections. Take a listen to get a true understanding of why Mick does what he does - and how the region he works in is better for it. You might even hear Neil and Will talk about the "greatest two minutes in sports" - or why Neil has turned his back on the unofficial drink of Kentucky. Also, don't forget about the #AppBiz of the week: Horse Soldier!

Learn about the Fellow: https://economicrecoverycorps.org/fellow-information/rev-mick-thornton-b-a-m-div/

Learn about the Host (San Juan County, UT) Project: https://economicrecoverycorps.org/projects/

Mick's Minute - www.micksminute.com

The Good Talk (App) - www.thegoodtalkapp.com

App News:

Connect Humaniy/Microsoft IDEA Fund in Appalachia - https://connecthumanity.fund/idea-fund-partnership-microsoft/

Ohio Grant for Recreational Opportunities and Quality of Life in Appalachia - https://governor.ohio.gov/media/news-and-media/transformative-154-million-investment-in-appalachian-downtowns-and-destinations#:~:text=The%20%24154%20million%20will%20be,where%20these%20opportunities%20have%20not

PBS Docuseries Episode 2 on Appalachia with Amythyst Kiah (article) - www.johnsoncitypress.com/living/arts-entertainment/amythyst-kiah-to-be-featured-in-new-pbs-docuseries/article_8010291e-023f-11ef-8c53-2731d0dc7c32.html

PBS Docuseries Episode 2 "The Express Way with Dule Hill" - www.pbs.org/video/appalachia-dbxwz4/

SOAR Country Music Highway Tribute Show(s) - www.cmhtributeshow.com

SOAR Country Music Highway Tribute Show Facebook Page - www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558753064401

#AppBiz:

Horse Soldier - https://horsesoldierbourbon.com

Extras:

The Round Robin Bar ("Mint Julep Bar") in DC - https://washington.intercontinental.com/food-drink/round-robin-bar/

The Mint Julep (Official Kentucky Derby Recipe) - www.kentuckyderby.com/recipes/drinks/woodford-reserve-mint-julep/

Music:

"Achy Breaky Heart" - Billy Ray Cyrus

"Up" (Mick's Choice) - Forrest Frank

"Black Myself" - Amythyst Kiah

Appalachia Meets World Episode 149 - Backwoods Moonshine Museum (in Appalachia) with Donnie Benton and Teresa Mays

In this episode Will and (minus) Neil sit down with the "Beattyville Hillbillies!" Donnie Benton and Teresa Mays are the founders of the Backwoods Moonshine Museum in Appalachia Kentucky - a stop on the "Moonshine Trail." While the Bourbon Trail is often thought of when thinking Kentucky, the Moonshine Trail is more on the Appalachian side of the state and speaks to the rich heritage and history moonshine has in Appalachia. Take a listen as Donnie and Teresa talk about starting the museum and their history with the spirit...not to mention their stint on "Moonshiners." AMW has spoken before about the importance of festivals in small town Appalachia; hear from the "Beattyville Hillbillies" as they talk about a fairly new (in its fourth year) festival that the history of moonshine has brought to their small town. You might even hear Donnie speak of "knowing a guy that knows a guy." If nothing else, check 'em out - as they admit, it's truly in the backwoods! Also, don't forget about the #AppBiz(s) of the week: Barrel House Distilling Company; Regeneration Distilling Company; Kentucky Mist Distillery; Kentucky Mountain Moonshine; and Pauley Hollow Distillery!

Backwoods Moonshine Museum - www.backwoodsmoonshinemuseum.com

Moonshine Trail - www.moonshinetrail.com

The Beattyville Hillbillies - www.facebook.com/p/Donnie-Teresa-The-Beattyville-Hillbillies-Backwoods-Moonshine-Museum-100039862821268/

Beattyville Bourbon and Moonshine Festival - www.beattyvillebourbonandmoonshinefest.com

App News:

Solar for All Program (KY) - https://kentuckylantern.com/briefs/kentucky-to-receive-62-million-to-expand-solar-energy-access-to-low-income-households/

ARC READY Local Governments Initiative - www.arc.gov/news/arc-selects-90-local-governments-to-receive-no-cost-training-access-to-funding-through-ready-local-governments-initiative/

#AppBiz(s):

Barrel House Distilling Company - www.barrelhousedistillery.com

Regeneration Distilling Company - www.regenerationdistilling.com

Kentucky Mist Distillery - www.kentuckymist.com

Kentucky Mountain Moonshine - www.kentuckymountainmoonshine.com

Pauley Hollow Distillery - www.pauleyhollowdistillery.com

Extra:

The Bobcat Dairy Bar - www.facebook.com/thebobcatdairybar/

Brenda's BBQ Smoke Shack - www.facebook.com/BrendasSmokeShack/

Appalachia Meets World Episode 148 - An Appalachian Appetizer Champion (and another Throwback Appalachian Foodways)!

Sorry for missing last week...we had a few technical (and timing) difficulties...but, like BBN (and poltergeist) - WE'RE BACK!!

In this episode, Neil and Will throw it back to their favorite Appalachian Food episode of all time, with the "King of Country Ham" - Allan Benton! We also discuss the Appalachian Appetizer Final Four and who was crowned the 2024 Champion - definitely "one shining moment!" No sleepers here, there were definitely some blue bloods in the mix! Take a listen to find out which appetizer was crowned the fan favorite! We also talked about a few upcoming App News items, check 'em out in the notes below!

Till next time remember to be - "Always Appalachian!"

Grandma Gatewood One Act Play:

https://lorainpalace.com/emma-gatewood-are-you-out-of-your-bloomin-mind-sunday-may-19th-at-200-pm-15/

https://www.morningjournal.com/2024/04/08/nathan-perry-chapter-fundraiser-to-feature-one-act-play-on-emma-gatewood/

ARC Appalachian Leadership Institute (deadline for applications is June 1st!!) - www.arc.gov/academies-and-institutes/leadership/

ARC Appalachian Entrepreneurship Academy - https://www.arc.gov/academies-and-institutes/aea/

ARC Appalachian STEM Academy - https://www.arc.gov/academies-and-institutes/stem/