The Talking Appalachian Podcast
Talking Appalachian is a podcast about the Appalachian Mountain region's language or "voiceplaces," cultures, and communities. The podcast is hosted by Dr. Amy Clark, a Professor of Communication Studies and Director of the Center for Appalachian Studies at the University of Virginia's College at Wise. The podcast is based on her 2013 co-edited book Talking Appalachian: Voice, Identity, and Community. Her writing on Appalachia has appeared in the New York Times, Oxford American Magazine, Salon.com, on NPR, and Harvard University Press blog. She is also founder and director of the Appalachian Writing Project, which serves teachers, students, and the communities of the central Appalachian region.
- Update frequency
- every 12 days
- Average duration
- 25 minutes
- Episodes
- 63
- Years Active
- 2023 - 2025
Talkin' Appalachian in the Digital Space with Appalachian_Bluebird
What did you think of this episode?
If you're following Appalachian digital creators on social media, you've probably come across Appalachian_Bluebird, a vlog created by Southwest Virginia's Brittany …
When "Rednecks" Rose Up: Igniting the Labor Movement in Appalachia and What "Hillbilly" Means to Me
What did you think of this episode?
*This is an edited repost of an August 29, 2024 episode*
The word “redneck” might have different connotations today, but its roots tell a very different story. In th…
Haint Blue, Ghost Walking in the Low Country, and The Disappearing -R in Appalachian Accents
What did you think of this episode?
From mountain mists to coastal marshes, the American South is rich with stories that blur the line between weather, superstition, and the supernatural. In this epi…
Dog Days, the Signs, and More Summer Lore
What did you think of this episode?
*This updated episode first aired on July 3, 2024*
Dog Days are upon us in Appalachia, stretching from July 3rd to August 11, but what does this 16th century phrase …
Tiffany Williams: Singer, Songwriter, and Appalachian Dialect Coach
What did you think of this episode?
A coal miner's daughter, granddaughter, and great-granddaughter from Eastern Kentucky, Tiffany Williams followed her dreams of singing and songwriting to Nashville.…
Barbara Kingsolver on Writing and the Recovery Center Built by Demon Copperhead
What did you think of this episode?
*This episode originally aired August 1, 2024*
Barbara Kingsolver's novel just keeps on giving: this month she opened the Higher Ground Women's Recovery Residence in…
The Ballad of Falling Rock and Author Jordan Dotson
What did you think of this episode?
The Ballad of Falling Rock is one of the best novels I've read this year, so I was fortunate to be able to interview its author, Jordan Dotson. Listen in as we talk…
Kendra Winchester of the Read Appalachia Podcast and the Books that Made Us
What did you think of this episode?
This week, I'm collaborating with another podcaster, Kendra Winchester, from Appalachian Ohio. She hosts and produces the award-winning Read Appalachia podcast. Nat…
Season 3: "Let's Discuss" Southern and Appalachian Culture with Landon Bryant
What did you think of this episode?
Landon Bryant, author of Bless Your Heart: A Field Guide to All Things Southern and social media sensation @landontalks, launches Season 3 of the podcast. We'll tal…
Is the Southern Accent Fading?
What did you think of this episode?
Southern accents are in the news again (but they've really never left our hearts and minds). Maybe it was Parker Posey's White Lotus character from North Carolina, …
The 1929 Cyclone of Rye Cove, Virginia: Storm, Song, and Suit
What did you think of this episode?
In this episode, we head back to May 2, 1929, when a deadly tornado tore through the small mountain community of Rye Cove, Virginia, claiming the lives of 12 school…
From the Highlands to the Hollers: Outlander, Scots English and Appalachian Englishes
What did you think of this episode?
Outlander fans will enjoy this episode, where we trace the winding trail of language from the misty Highlands of Scotland to the shaded hollers of Appalachia. Along…
Appalachian Accents and Speech Recognition Technology
What did you think of this episode?
Have you ever tried text to speech with your accent, only to find your message garbled? In this episode of The Talking Appalachian Podcast, we'll explore speech tec…
Talkin' Truth with NYT Bestselling Author of The Glass Castle Jeannette Walls
What did you think of this episode?
Jeannette Walls is hailed as one of the world's most gifted storytellers, and she's been sharing her remarkable story of resilience and redemption with audience sin…
The Meanings and Mystery of "Melungeon"
What did you think of this episode?
In episode 50, we will talk about the word "Melungeon," its multiple meanings, and the history of a mysterious Appalachian people known as the "lost tribe" (who cla…
The Word "Dadgum" and author Silas House on Defeating Accent Bullies "One Word at a Time"
What did you think of this episode?
Listen to find out what word people are replacing with the euphemism "dadgum." Then, author and Kentucky Poet Laureate Silas House reads from his essay "In My Own C…
"Them guys," Three Reasons We Will Always Talk Appalachian, and an Excerpt from Lee Smith
What did you think of this episode?
You know the phrases "How do you like them apples?" and "Them's fightin' words!" We'll talk about the Scotch-Irish roots of them for these and those. Then, I'll tel…
"Here's you a piece of pizza": a common grammar pattern in the South, and Wool as a Verb
What did you think of this episode?
"Here's you a piece of pizza. Where's me some silverware? There's us a table." We'll talk about this common grammar pattern and where it's spoken. Then, we'll switc…
The Best of 2024: Highlights Part 2
What did you think of this episode?
Listen to more of the best clips from 2024's podcast episode, including:
- Jack Beck talking about the influence of Scots Gaelic;
- Jane Hicks reading from her book of po…
The Best of 2024: Highlight Clips from Selected Episodes
What did you think of this episode?
This episode includes highlights from some of the best episodes of 2024, which include:
- my interview with Pulitzer-winning reporter and memoirist Rick Bragg;
- a study …