Welcome to Appalachian Ramblin'
There's a difference between reading about the mountains and hearing about them from someone who's actually lived there. That's the gap we are trying to set out to close with Appalachian Ramblin', a new podcast bringing raw, first-person storytelling straight from the hollers, the porches, and the backroads of Appalachia.
While Appalachia is a popular topic on social media and in pop-culture, much of it is misunderstood. It's not a scene for a horror movie or land to be taken advantage of by big business, this is our home. Our mountains have a long history of perseverance, hardworking mountaineers and more than its fair share of drama. Our mountains have also become a home for those misplaced by the rest of the world that are seeking a way to build a life for themselves in one of the most unique places on the planet. Join us in exploring some of these topics.
No scripts, no outside narrators, maybe a few internet-fueled horror stories, just a family from the mountains talking about the culture, history, and everyday life that outsiders so often get wrong.
We're not professionals by any means, but we want to get conversations going and build a mountain community in the new digital landscape. We would love for Y’uns (or Y’all?) to join us in reflecting the true voice of the hills and hollers we call home.
Episode One: What People Get Wrong About Appalachian Life
Every region carries its share of myths, and Appalachia carries more than most. In the debut episode, we sat down to talk about six of the biggest misconceptions about mountain life, the ones built from old stereotypes and the ones cooked up by internet legend.
Here's a taste of what we talk about:
Stereotypes vs. reality; pushing back on the "poor and uneducated" narrative while still honoring the region's real economic history
It's not all the same; why towns like Cashiers, Waynesville, and Asheville, and the deep hollers of West Virginia, are worlds apart from one another but still Appalachia.
Cryptids and nightmare fuel; why the internet suddenly can't stop being scared of these woods, and what's actually true from a locals perspective.
Preserving home vs. rejecting outsiders; the real difference between protecting a way of life and being unwelcoming.
Bored in the backwoods; debunking the idea that rural mountain life means nothing to do.
The power of storytelling; why oral storytelling is the lifeblood of Appalachian culture, and why it matters that locals tell their own stories.
4th of July Special: What America Got From Appalachia
To celebrate America's 250th birthday, We put together a special bonus episode digging into just how much the country owes to these mountains; from the soldiers of the Overmountain Men at the Battle of Kings Mountain, to the coal and timber that fueled the Industrial Revolution, to the music, food, and craft traditions that gave American culture so much of its soul.
Expect some laughs about backwoods traditions and, yes, roadkill along the way.
Come Ramblin' With Us
If raw, unfiltered storytelling and real mountain perspective sound like your kind of thing, tune in to the Appalachian Ramblin' podcast. Listen on all major podcast platforms, or watch the full episodes on YouTube!
Until next time... don't whistle in the woods at night, and go touch some grass.
