Stories of Appalachia
Welcome to "Stories of Appalachia," the podcast where hosts Steve Gilly and Rod Mullins have been unraveling the captivating history and folklore of the Appalachian region since 2015. Join them as they guide you through mist-covered mountains and winding rivers, exploring the stories that define the heart and soul of Appalachia.
- Update frequency
- every 7 days
- Average duration
- 12 minutes
- Episodes
- 557
- Years Active
- 2015 - 2025
The 1919 Torrent, Kentucky Nitro Explosion
In 1919, a nitroglycerin explosion near Torrent, Kentucky, killed four men and leveled a factory. Today we tell the story of that tragedy and the explosive history of oil well “torpedoes” in Appalach…
00:19:09 |
Sat 06 Sep 2025
Christopher Gist and the Opening of Appalachia
In 1750, surveyor Christopher Gist set out to explore the wilderness of what’s now Southwest Virginia, Eastern Kentucky, and West Virginia. Hired by the Ohio Company, Gist mapped the Appalachian fron…
00:12:33 |
Sat 30 Aug 2025
Bloody Vengeance in Appalachia: The Battle of Dug Hill/The Officer House Massacre
In March 1864, Union Colonel William B. Stokes and his cavalry were ambushed at Dug Hill, in Tennessee, leaving dozens of his men dead. Enraged, Stokes led a brutal raid on William and Cynthia Office…
00:17:26 |
Sat 23 Aug 2025
The Rhea County Spartans: The South's All-Female Cavalry Unit
In the final years of the Civil War, a group of young women in Rhea County, Tennessee, made American history as the only known all-female cavalry unit: the Rhea County Spartans. Born from loyalty to …
00:15:30 |
Sat 16 Aug 2025
The Kentucky Longhunter, Henry Skaggs
In this episode, we tell the story of Henry Skaggs, one of the legendary Kentucky longhunters of the 18th century and his remarkable journey from his early days in Maryland to his time as an explorer…
00:15:54 |
Sat 09 Aug 2025
Mountains, Moonshine and Mutiny: WW1 Desertion in North Carolina
In 1918, the mountains of North Carolina erupted in quiet rebellion. Dozens of young men dodged the World War I draft, hiding in the backcountry with help from friends and family. When a deadly shoot…
00:14:41 |
Sat 02 Aug 2025
Michael Stoner, Legendary Longhunter of Appalachia
In this episode we tell the story of Michael Stoner, a German-born frontiersman, longhunter, and close companion of Daniel Boone. From his early days in Pennsylvania to brutal battles like Blue Licks…
00:26:34 |
Sat 26 Jul 2025
The Assassination of William Taulbee
On February 28, 1890, a long-simmering feud turned deadly in the halls of the U.S. Capitol.
Former Kentucky Congressman William P. Taulbee was shot on the marble stairs by journalist Charles Kincaid …
Former Kentucky Congressman William P. Taulbee was shot on the marble stairs by journalist Charles Kincaid …
00:12:50 |
Sat 19 Jul 2025
The Shinnston Tornado
On June 23, 1944, a massive F4 tornado struck Shinnston, West Virginia, the deadliest tornado in the state’s history. This week we tell the story of the terrifying twister that tore through seven cou…
00:17:14 |
Sat 12 Jul 2025
The Harrison Gang's Last Train Robbery: The West Virginia Heist of 1915
In this episode, we tell the dramatic true story of Charles Jefferson Harrison, a respected San Antonio businessman who became one of Appalachia's most elusive train robbers.
Caught when an employee…
Caught when an employee…
00:17:05 |
Sat 05 Jul 2025
The Greeno Mine Disaster: Tacoma, Virginia
On December 14, 1910, a deadly explosion rocked the Greeno Mine in Tacoma, Virginia, claiming 14 lives and leaving a lasting mark on the Appalachian coalfields. Today we tell the story of Irish immig…
00:14:57 |
Sat 28 Jun 2025
An Appalachian Preacher’s Fall: Bigamy, Abduction and Deceit
A preacher with five wives, a kidnapped teenage girl, and a cross-country manhunt. This isn’t fiction, it’s the unbelievable true story of Joseph Herman Johnson, a Primitive Baptist minister whose l…
00:14:18 |
Sat 21 Jun 2025
Beyond Bristol: The Legacy of the Johnson City Sessions
In this episode we explore the lesser-known but historically rich Johnson City Sessions of 1928 and 1929. While the Bristol Sessions are often credited as the “Birthplace of Country Music,” Johnson C…
00:12:39 |
Sat 14 Jun 2025
Appalachia’s Iron Lady: The Story of Nannie Kelly Wright
Nannie Kelly Wright ran an iron furnace at a time when most women weren’t even allowed near one. Born in Kentucky, raised on the Ohio River, and later married into the iron industry, Nannie became on…
00:15:50 |
Sat 07 Jun 2025
The Lumber King of Appalachia
William McClellan Ritter didn’t just cut down trees, he built an empire. In this week’s episode, we tell his story, from Pennsylvania farm boy to head of one of the world’s largest lumber companies. …
00:16:58 |
Sat 31 May 2025
Tragedy on the Frontier: The Corbly Family Massacre
On a quiet Sunday morning in the spring of 1782, Pastor John Corbly and his family were headed for church when he realized he’d forgotten his Bible and turned back alone to get it. That action saved …
00:13:16 |
Sat 24 May 2025
The Story of Gus McCoig, Appalachia's Little Dillinger
On this episode of the Stories podcast, we tell the dramatic tale of Gus McCoig, a Jefferson County boy who became one of East Tennessee’s most notorious Depression-era outlaws. McCoig’s story starts…
00:22:42 |
Sat 17 May 2025
Tennessee’s Gilded Getaway: The Rise and Fall of the Tate Springs Hotel
Step back in time to the golden era of Appalachian luxury as we explore the rise and fall of Tate Springs, a once-famous resort in Bean Station, Tennessee. Known for its healing mineral spring, lush …
00:12:30 |
Sat 10 May 2025
The Thousand Mile Yoyage: The Appalachian Roots of Nashville, Tennessee
In the winter of 1779, a determined group of Appalachian settlers set out on a thousand-mile journey by river, led by Virginia surveyor John Donelson.
Battling disease, starvation, ambushes, and the r…
Battling disease, starvation, ambushes, and the r…
00:19:39 |
Sat 03 May 2025
Land, Power and a Little Fish: The Tellico Dam Story
Today we tell the story of the battle over the Tellico Dam, the last major project of the Tennessee Valley Authority. TVA's ambitious plans for the Tellico project included not only a dam and lake bu…
00:14:26 |
Sat 26 Apr 2025
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