Stay ConnectedWelcome 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.
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Copyright: © Copyright Steve Gilly
In 1784 a child was born on the Appalachian frontier, along the Holston River, in what was then the state of Franklin. This child would grow up to become a preacher, a leader in the Restoration Movement and would help in the founding of the Disciples of Christ. Today we tell the story of Raccoon John Smith. You can subscribe to the Stories podcast at Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, TuneIn, IHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Deezer, and many more. Thanks for listening.
Today we have another collection of what we call "short stories," bits of Appalachian history that are interesting but which by themselves won't make for a full podcast episode. On this episode we tell about a strange substance found at a home in Tom's Creek, Virginia; a criminal who managed to outwit the court system in West Virginia; a vote on Prohibition in Bristol, Virginia; a jailbreak in North Carolina worthy of an episode of the Andy Griffith show; and a murder trial in eastern Kentucky more than two decades after the crime was committed. Like what you hear? Then be sure to subscribe to the Stories podcast on your favorite podcast app. Thanks for listening!
Many world renowned athletes have come from Appalachia, from NFL players Thomas and Julius Jones to gymnast Mary Lou Retton, just to name a few. Today we tell the story of a runner born in Nickelsville, Virginia, who won the gold medal in the 4 x 400 meter relay in the 1964 Olympics. You can subscribe to the Stories podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, IHeart Radio, Spotify, Amazon Music and more. Thanks for listening...
In the 1830s the Cherokee of north Georgia had settled on a strategy of using litigation to establish and enforce rights that had been given to them by treaties with the United States. Samuel Worcester, a missionary to the tribe from Vermont, helped to come up with this approach. And they won their case at the U. S. Supreme Court, which said they were a sovereign nation within Georgia. But that didn't matter because both Georgia and the President of the United States ignored that decision, which set the stage for the Trail of Tears. Today we tell that story. You can subscribe to the Stories podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, RadioPublic, Amazon Music, IHeart Radio and more. Thanks for listening.
Today we take another trip to Keystone, West Virginia. Last time we were here, we told of a bank failure so huge it was a forerunner of the financial crash of 2008 and the Great Recession. On this podcast we turn to the seedy part of town, a place called Cinder Bottom, where the liquor ran freely and the women were a plenty (for a price). You can subscribe to the Stories podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn, IHeart Radio and more. Thanks for listening!
19 years ago today Al Qaeda terrorists seized four commercial jets with the intent to use them as suicide bombs against American targets. Three of these succeeded, resulting in the collapse of both towers of the World Trade Center in New York and massive damage to the Pentagon. The fourth attempt was foiled by the plane's passenger over the skies of Appalachia. Today we tell the story as seen from the ground in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where the plane crashed. Thanks for listening.
William Irvine Fayssoux was a psychic and illusionist in the south early in the 20th century. He traveled throughout Appalachia, performing feats that would seem incredible even today. There's little doubt that had he been born 100 years later he'd have his own TV show. Today we tell his story. You can subscribe to the Stories podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, IHeart Radio, Deezer, RadioPublic and more. We're also on YouTube. Be sure to like and subscribe. Thanks for listening!
In 1962 a World War I vet came to the VA hospital at Mountain Home, Tennessee for medical care. This man decided to stay in the area, getting a job at the weekly newspaper in nearby Jonesborough. There he worked as a linotype operator and part-time reporter. He also developed a relationship with his widowed landlord, eventually marrying her. When he died he was buried at the Mountain Home National Cemetery. It was only after his death that the dark secrets he held were discovered. Today we tell the story of D. C. Stephenson. Today we tell the story of D. C. Stephenson. You can subscribe to the Stories podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, RadioPublic, Deezer, TuneIn and on most other podcast apps. Thanks for listening and for sharing our stories of Appalachian history...
Today we tell the story of the camp meeting to end all camp meetings, the one that helped to spark the Second Great Awakening. You can subscribe to the Stories podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, TuneIn, RadioPublic and more. Thanks for listening!
In 1927 the wife of the Roane County, Tennessee, sheriff managed to persuade two escaped prisoners to return to the jail in Kingston without using a weapon of any kind. That's a story in and of itself, but it's only part of Lillie Ladd's story, which includes not one but two twists at the end! You can subscribe to the Stories podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RadioPublic, Spotify, IHeart Radio, TuneIn and more. We're also have a YouTube channel, at Stories, A History of Appalachia. Thanks for listening to our stories about Appalachian history.
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