The Ridge Podcast
Interviews from the Blue Ridge/Appalachian area.
- Update frequency
- every 9 days
- Average duration
- 68 minutes
- Episodes
- 99
- Years Active
- 2023 - 2025
#39 – Treasurer Bonita M. Williams: Early life, Taxes, Campaigning, Elections, Misconceptions
In this episode, Ethan and Luke interview Mrs. Bonita M. Williams, the Treasurer of Carroll County, Virginia. They discuss her early life, the collection of taxes, her experiences campaigning and the…
#38 – Election Recap: Clerk’s Race, Campaigns, Polls, Results, Dinners, Experiences
This episode is unique. Instead of their usual book talk or interview, Ethan and Luke discuss a recent, local event that they both had the opportunity to participate in: Election Day.
To be fully…
#37 – Book talk: The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli
In this episode, Ethan and Luke discuss The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli. This book is interesting and very controversial. The book's thesis is how a monarch should rule a country. It presents a fra…
#36 – Clerk Gerald R. Goad: Campaign, Responsibilities, Achievements, Goals, Digitization, Archives, Licenses
In this episode, Ethan and Luke interview Clerk Gerald R. Goad. This is the second time that he has been on the podcast. Last time, they discussed his personal life and journey to the Clerk's office.…
#35 – Book talk: Bobok by Fyodor Dostoevsky
In this episode, Ethan and Luke discuss Bobok by Fyodor Dostoevsky. They go through its plot, some moral lessons contained within the book, and briefly discuss Mr. Dostoevsky's personal life and how …
#34 – Walter Rugaber: Journalism, New York Times, Roanoke Times, Richard Nixon, Northwestern, Georgia, Watergate, Civil Rights, Humanities
In this episode, Ethan and Luke interview Mr. Walter Rugaber. Mr. Rugaber is a former journalist, president and publisher of the Roanoke Times, New York Times correspondent, Interim President of Holl…
#33 – Book talk: Animal Farm by George Orwell
In this episode, Ethan and Luke discuss Animal Farm by George Orwell. They compare it to other Orwellian literature, muse on the political impacts the book has had, and recount the story. Later on in…
#32 – Curt Sumner: Engineering, Drafting, Hard Work, History, Schooling, Professionalism, CTE
In this episode, Ethan and Luke interview Mr. Curt Sumner. Mr. Sumner is the Engineering teacher at Carroll County High School. He has years of experience in the Drafting, Engineering, and Designs fi…
#31 – B.P. “Phil” Hawks: Clerk of Circuit Court Candidate, Education, Ministry, History, America, Public Speaking, Republic Party, Family
In this episode Ethan and Luke interview B.P. Phil Hawks. Mr. Hawks is a candidate for the Clerk of Circuit Court in Carroll County, VA. He recounts his early life, his education, role models, career…
#30 William (Bill) Barr: Traveling, Kylene Barker, Italy, Germany, SAP, Nazi Germany, England, Switzerland, Denmark, India, South America
In this episode Ethan and Luke interview William (Bill) Barr. Mr. Barr is a Carroll County native who currently resides in Florida. They discuss the countries mentioned in the title, Bill's education…
#29 – Tech Sergeant Nicholas McGaughey: Air Force Reserve, Boot Camp, Tech School, Electrician, Bonuses, GI Bill, College, Recruiting
In this Episode Ethan and Luke interview Technical Sergeant Nicholas McGaughey. Sergeant McGaughey is an Air Force Reserves recruiter currently stationed in Richmond, Virginia. They discuss the enlis…
#28 – Aunt Jill: England, WW2, Germany, PoWs, America, Military, Appalachia, Farming, Holocaust, 9/11
In this episode Ethan and Luke interview Aunt Jill. Normally, Ethan lists out the full name of our guests in the title of the episode but Mrs. Jill has asked to remain anonymous. Mrs. Jill is Luke's …
#27 – US Congressman Morgan Griffith: Law School, Politics, Family, Coal Energy, Insurance, Advice
In this episode, Ethan and Luke interview Congressman Morgan Griffith.
Congressman Morgan Griffith has represented the Ninth District of Virginia in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2010.
…
#26 – Book talk: Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
In this episode Ethan and Luke discuss Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. It is a classic that many have heard of but have not actually read. It is a small and digestible book, but it is nevertheless…
#25 – Event: Fiddler’s Convention, Kazim Shriners, Moose Lodge, Gideons International, Music, History, Appalachia
In this episode, Ethan and Luke travel to the Fiddler's Convention in Galax, Virginia. This episode features interviews with folk from the Kazim Shriners, Moose Lodge, and Gideons International discu…
#24 – Mike Scott: US Navy, Submarines, Nuclear Service, Director of Veteran Services, Veteran Affairs, Recruiters, Reserves
In this episode, Ethan and Luke interview Mr. Mike Scott. Mr. Scott is a twenty year Navy veteran who served on submarines, was a recruiter, and was in the reserves for a one year stint. After retiri…
#23 – Deborah Renie Gates: Democratic State Senate Candidate, Broadband, Education, Agriculture, Speech Therapy, Healthcare, Platform
In this episode, Ethan and Luke interview Deborah "Renie" Gates. Renie is the Democratic State Senate candidate for District 7. They also interviewed her mom a few weeks ago. She and her mom are runn…
#22 – Race Recap: Froggy Mountain 100 Miler, Ultramarathon, Running, Interviews, Paul Tilley, Rosie Gagnon, Zach Coggins, Andrew Harvey, Adam Small
This episode is a bit different than normal. Instead of their normal long interviews with a single person, Ethan interviewed several different people a few minutes and we Ethan and Luke also did sepa…
#21 – Mark Harmon: Sidna Allen House, Historical Society, Teaching, History, England, Museums, Carroll County
In this episode, Ethan and Luke interview Mr. Mark Harmon. Mr. Harmon is a World History teacher at Carroll County High School. He is an active volunteer for the Carroll County Historical Society and…
#20 – Paul Tilley: Trucking, Business, New River Trail Outfitters, Running, Hiking, Camping, Born to Run, Ultramarathons, Training
In this episode, Ethan and Luke interview Paul Tilley. Paul is an ultramarathoner and is an owner of New River Trail Outfitters in Galax, Virginia. They discuss his time as a trucker, his business an…