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 First Tennesseans: William and Lydia Bean
Nearly twenty years before Tennessee was a state, William Bean built a cabin along the Watagua River and planted roots. In this episode, we tell the story of his journey from longhunter to settler, h…
00:13:44 |
Sat 19 Apr 2025
The Story of Isaac Cline, Appalachia's Weather Man
This week, Steve and Rod bring you the remarkable story of Isaac Cline, a Tennessee-born son of Appalachia who rose to become one of America’s most respected meteorologists. From his humble beginning…
00:14:08 |
Sat 12 Apr 2025
Standoff in Jefferson County: The Haunting Case of W. B. Johnson
In this episode of Stories of Appalachia, we tell the story of a shocking event in January 1927 in Jefferson County, Tennessee.
That was when a prominent county businessman named W.B. Johnson turned f…
That was when a prominent county businessman named W.B. Johnson turned f…
00:16:20 |
Sat 05 Apr 2025
Jellico's Darkest Day: The Explosion That Rocked Appalachia
In this episode, we tell the harrowing story of the Jellico explosion, a catastrophic event that shook the town of Jellico, Tennessee, on September 21, 1906. What began as a normal morning quickly tu…
00:17:53 |
Sat 29 Mar 2025
Kentucky's Packhorse Librarians
In this episode, we tell the inspiring story of the packhorse librarians, a group of determined women who brought literacy and hope to the remote hollers of Eastern Kentucky during the Great Depressi…
00:23:06 |
Sat 22 Mar 2025
The Strange Disappearance of Polly Feltner
In this episode, we tell the strange tale of Polly Feltner, a young woman from Hyden, Kentucky, who vanished in 1897 under mysterious circumstances.
What began as a search for a missing person quick…
What began as a search for a missing person quick…
00:10:35 |
Sat 15 Mar 2025
The Dunkards of Appalachia: A Story of Faith and Survival
In this episode, we journey back to the mid-1700s to uncover the story of the Schwartzenau Brethren, also known as the Dunkards, who established one of the earliest settlements in the New River Valle…
00:16:11 |
Sat 08 Mar 2025
Whiskey, Dynamite and Faith: An Appalachian Preacher's Fiery Battle
In this episode of the podcast, we tell the story of Reverend William Riley Rickman, a steadfast preacher who took on the liquor industry in Pocahontas, Virginia. Join Steve and Rod as they tell you …
00:13:36 |
Sat 01 Mar 2025
The Battle of Kings Mountain
Today, we tell the remarkable story of the Overmountain men, Appalachian frontiersmen from the far western parts of North Carolina and Virginia. As tensions escalated in the South, these settlers to…
00:18:30 |
Sat 22 Feb 2025
Ballads from the Mountains: The Life and Legacy of Jean Ritchie
Today we tell the story of Jean Ritchie, the "Mother of Folk."
Born in the small town of Viper, Kentucky, Jean captivated audiences worldwide, influencing legends like Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash alon…
Born in the small town of Viper, Kentucky, Jean captivated audiences worldwide, influencing legends like Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash alon…
00:19:24 |
Sat 15 Feb 2025
Revenge on the Frontier: The Tragic Tale of Old Tassel and the Kirk Family Massacre
Old Tassel, a prominent figure among the Overhill Cherokee, was a staunch advocate for peace during a period of conflict between them and the settlers moving into East Tennessee. Despite his efforts …
00:18:18 |
Sat 08 Feb 2025
Ale 8 One, Appalachia's Homegrown Soda Legacy
Discover the fascinating story of Kentucky's unique soft drink, "Ale 8 One," in this episode of Stories of Appalachia. Join Steve and Rod as they tell the history of this Appalachian soda, which ha…
00:15:16 |
Sat 01 Feb 2025
Feud and Fury: The Dark Legacy of Bad Tom Smith
By request of one of our listeners, this week we tell the story of Bad Tom Smith, a notorious figure at the very heart of the French-Eversole feud in Kentucky. As he grew up an orphan, he was regular…
00:27:30 |
Sat 25 Jan 2025
Chief Nimrod Jarrett Smith: How One Cherokee Leader Changed History
Nimrod Jarrett Smith, born in 1832 near Murphy, North Carolina, was a member of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee who played a crucial role in shaping the tribe’s future. His life was marked by his de…
00:13:37 |
Sat 18 Jan 2025
Philippi, West Virginia- The First Land Battle of the Civil War
At the beginning of the Civil War, the small Appalachian town of Philippi, Virginia, now West Virginia, became the site of the first organized land action of the conflict as the Union made a move int…
00:13:54 |
Sat 11 Jan 2025
Bloody Harlan: W. B. Jones and the Battle of Evarts
In the late 1920s and early 30s, the coal fields of Harlan County, Kentucky, became the backdrop for one of the darkest chapters in labor history. Known as Bloody Harlan, this tumultuous time saw min…
00:16:59 |
Sat 04 Jan 2025
The Spruce Pine New Years Eve Blast
On New Year's Eve 1959, the quiet town of Spruce Pine, North Carolina, became the stage for a teenage prank that would put the town in newspapers all around the country. Join us as we tell the stor…
00:11:23 |
Sat 28 Dec 2024
The Frontier Trailblazer: Elisha Wallen, Longhunter
Elisha Wallen was more than just a man of the frontier—he was a trailblazer who left an mark on the region's history. Today we tell the story of this legendary long hunter, a man who traveled alongs…
00:14:25 |
Sat 21 Dec 2024
The 1902 Quarter House Battle
Nestled in Mingo Hollow, six miles west of Middlesboro, Kentucky, the Quarter House was no ordinary saloon. Its unique position on the Tennessee state line allowed patrons to evade the law by simply …
00:18:25 |
Sat 14 Dec 2024
The Night of Endless Rain: The Flash Flood of 1924
On the night of June 13, 1924, what appeared to be a summer thunderstorm in Carter County, Tennessee, transformed into one of the most devastating flash floods in the state's history. Join us as we t…
00:11:39 |
Sat 07 Dec 2024
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