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 Great Kanawha County Textbook War
In the spring of 1974 the Kanawha County, West Virginia, school board had to approve new textbooks for the schools. One of the board members objected to many of the books, saying that the materials …
00:10:55 |
Sat 17 Mar 2018
Who Was Steve White?
In 1924 an elderly Middlesboro, Kentucky, housepainter was taken to the hospital when he fell deathly ill. It was here that he confessed that he was not who everyone in town thought he was. Today w…
00:09:46 |
Sat 10 Mar 2018
The Collapse of the Keystone Bank
Keystone, West Virginia is a small town in McDowell County with 282 residents, mostly African American. Like many small coal communities, Keystone has seen its population plummet over the years with…
00:16:12 |
Sat 03 Mar 2018
The Tucker County War
During the 1880's a dispute broke out over where the county seat of Tucker County, West Virginia, should be. Unlike the usual political fighting over where the courthouse and county offices should b…
00:08:00 |
Sat 24 Feb 2018
Charles Johnson
Today we tell the story of Bristol, Virginia, native Charles S. Johnson. Born the son of a Baptist minister during the time of Jim Crow, Johnson got his college education and began a lifelong study o…
00:09:18 |
Sat 17 Feb 2018
George Washington's Appalachian Land
After the American Revolution, General George Washington took a trip out west to inspect land he received for his service to the country, land that was located in Appalachian Pennsylvania. And when …
00:13:46 |
Sat 10 Feb 2018
The Great Appalachian Earthquake of 1897
Think you're safe from earthquakes in Appalachia? Think again. On May 31, 1897, the largest earthquake ever recorded in Virginia (and the second largest in the southeastern United States) struck in …
00:10:34 |
Sat 03 Feb 2018
Ira Jackson Seay
On today's episode of Stories, Steve and Rod sit back and listen as Ira Jackson Seay tells his own story of poverty, war, love, moonshining and racing. Be sure to subscribe to Stories at Apple Podc…
00:27:53 |
Sat 27 Jan 2018
Daniel Boone, Part Three
Rod and Steve wraps up the story of Appalachian icon Daniel Boone with a look at his last days in Missouri. You can subscribe to Stories at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Feedburner, or on the podcast a…
00:11:30 |
Sat 20 Jan 2018
Daniel Boone, Part Two
We continue with Part Two of the story of Appalachia's own Daniel Boone. This week we tell of his days in Kentucky, before civilization overtook him and forced him farther west. You can subscribe to …
00:11:14 |
Sat 13 Jan 2018
Daniel Boone, Part One
Explorer, long hunter, pioneer, Appalachian icon. All these words describe America’s first national hero, Daniel Boone. Today, Steve and Rod begin telling his story in a three-part podcast series. …
00:17:12 |
Sat 06 Jan 2018
The Bombing at Bluefield
The 1960's were a time of radicalism, with protests, riots, and bombings at institutions of higher learning. And the colleges in Appalachia saw their share of these things, too. There had been prote…
00:10:18 |
Sat 30 Dec 2017
Merry Christmas!
It's Christmas week, and on this episode of Stories, Rod and Steve continue a holiday tradition by going back in time to read some letters to Santa from both good and bad little boys and girls. Then…
00:14:04 |
Sat 23 Dec 2017
A Tale of Two Mountains
On today's episode, Rod and Steve tell the story of two 19th century western North Carolina explorers who got into a very public argument over the mountains that are now named after them. We are avai…
00:09:47 |
Sat 09 Dec 2017
The Great Flood of 1916
1916 saw not one but two hurricanes hit the mountains of North Carolina at once, causing flooding, devastation and death in southern Appalachia. On today's episode, Steve and Rod tell the story of t…
00:13:11 |
Sat 02 Dec 2017
The Big Bull Tunnel
A new podcast episode, and new podcast theme music! On the Norfolk and Southern railroad line between St. Paul and Coeburn, Virginia, are three railroad tunnels drilled into the mountains so that the…
00:11:24 |
Tue 28 Nov 2017
The Baby Seller
This week, Steve and Rod tell the story of a Georgia doctor who decided that an acceptable alternative to the illegal abortions he was performing in the 1940’s and 50’s was the illegal sale of Appala…
00:09:18 |
Sat 25 Nov 2017
The Fightin’ Blalocks
There have been many examples of women who dressed as men in order to fight in a war. But there was only one example of a woman who did so but also ended up serving on both sides. Today Rod and Steve…
00:10:31 |
Sat 18 Nov 2017
The Train Wreck
On September 26, 1936, a coal train and a passenger train derailed and crashed in separate incidents near Welch, West Virginia. On today’s podcast we tell you the story of those wrecks and what cause…
00:09:47 |
Sat 11 Nov 2017
The Woman In The Blue Polka Dot Dress
In 1924 a young married couple moved to Logan, West Virginia, from Kentucky. Jack Thurman got a job with the Logan police department, and Mamie Thurman started frequenting the Amour Club, a local spe…
00:10:03 |
Sat 04 Nov 2017
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