Episodes

  • Bloody Harlan: W. B. Jones and the Battle of Evarts

    Bloody Harlan: W. B. Jones and the Battle of Evarts
    Jan 4 2025
    In the late 1920s and early 30s, the coal fields of Harlan County, Kentucky, became the backdrop for one of the darkest chapters in labor history. Known as Bloody Harlan, this tumultuous time saw miners fighting for justice and fair treatment during a time of economic despair and corporate greed. At the heart of this struggle was William B. Jones, a determined union organizer who dared to stand up to the powerful coal operators, culminating in the battle of Evarts.

    Be sure to subscribe to the Stories podcast on your favorite podcast app or on our YouTube channel at Stories of Appalachia.

    You can also support our storytelling journey and access exclusive content by becoming a patron of our audio podcast here: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/stories-of-appalachia--5553692/support

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    17 mins
  • The Spruce Pine New Years Eve Blast

    The Spruce Pine New Years Eve Blast
    Dec 28 2024
    On New Year's Eve 1959, the quiet town of Spruce Pine, North Carolina, became the stage for a teenage prank that would put the town in newspapers all around the country. Join us as we tell the story of two local teenagers armed with dynamite bought at the town’s hardware store who decided to ring in the new year with a bang—literally.

    Be sure to subscribe to the Stories podcast on your favorite podcast app or on our YouTube channel.

    You can also support our storytelling journey and access exclusive content by becoming a patron at Spreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/stories-of-appalachia--5553692/support

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    11 mins
  • The Frontier Trailblazer: Elisha Wallen, Longhunter

    The Frontier Trailblazer: Elisha Wallen, Longhunter
    Dec 21 2024
    Elisha Wallen was more than just a man of the frontier—he was a trailblazer who left an mark on the region's history. Today we tell the story of this legendary long hunter, a man who traveled alongside Daniel Boone through Southwest Virginia and into Eastern Kentucky.

    From his beginnings in Prince George County, Maryland, to his adventures across the uncharted wilderness of the Appalachian frontier, Elisha Wallen's story is one of courage, exploration, and survival in the wilderness.

    Subscribe to the Stories podcast on Spreaker, Spotify, Apple Podcasts,, or on your favorite podcast app so you don't miss any of our stories.

    You can also support our storytelling journey and access exclusive content by becoming a patron of our audio podcast here: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/stories-of-appalachia--5553692/support

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    14 mins
  • The 1902 Quarter House Battle

    The 1902 Quarter House Battle
    Dec 14 2024
    Nestled in Mingo Hollow, six miles west of Middlesboro, Kentucky, the Quarter House was no ordinary saloon. Its unique position on the Tennessee state line allowed patrons to evade the law by simply stepping across a painted line on the floor. Built like a fortress with heavy railroad timbers and a log stockade, it became a notorious hotspot for gambling, fights, and moonshine-fueled chaos. Over a decade, the saloon was linked to the deaths of at least 50 people.

    In 1902, a property dispute escalated into a full-blown conflict, culminating in a battle that left several men dead and the saloon in flames.

    Join us as we tell the story of the Quarter House saloon, another one of the Stories of Appalachia Be sure to subscribe to the Stories podcast on your favorite podcast app so you don’t miss any of our stories.

    You can also support our storytelling journey and access exclusive content by becoming a patron of our audio podcast here: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/stories-of-appalachia--5553692/support

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    18 mins
  • The Night of Endless Rain: The Flash Flood of 1924

    The Night of Endless Rain: The Flash Flood of 1924
    Dec 7 2024
    On the night of June 13, 1924, what appeared to be a summer thunderstorm in Carter County, Tennessee, transformed into one of the most devastating flash floods in the state's history. Join us as we tell the harrowing story of this natural disaster.

    Be sure to subscribe to the Stories podcast. You’ll find us wherever you get your favorite podcasts or on our YouTube channel.

    You can also support our storytelling journey and access exclusive content by becoming a patron here:
    https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/stories-of-appalachia--5553692/support

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    12 mins
  • The Deadliest Show on Earth: The Appalachian Wild West Show Shootout of 1905

    The Deadliest Show on Earth: The Appalachian Wild West Show Shootout of 1905
    Nov 30 2024
    In the summer of 1905, the Wild West came alive in the heart of Appalachia, complete with a saloon, a shootout, and a dramatic train attack. Join us as we tell the wild tale of Texas Bill's Wild West Show, which turned a simple sightseeing trip by their performers into a deadly encounter on the train out of Richwood, West Virginia.

    This was the kind of Wild West show the passengers on that train didn’t expect, nor want.

    Don't miss this episode of the Stories podcast.

    Subscribe on your favorite podcast app or visit our YouTube channel for more Stories of Appalachia.

    You can also support our storytelling journey and access exclusive content by becoming a patron here:
    https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/stories-of-appalachia--5553692/support

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    12 mins
  • The Himlerville Experiment: Appalachia's Only Miner-Owned Coal Town

    The Himlerville Experiment: Appalachia's Only Miner-Owned Coal Town
    Nov 23 2024
    There was once a coal company in Appalachia that was owned not by wealthy investors but by its employees, in a cooperative enterprise. And the houses in the company’s coal camp were owned by the miners as well, most of whom were Hungarian immigrants on the Kentucky side of Tug Fork.

    Join Steve and Rod as they tell the fascinating history of Himlerville, a unique coal mining town in Appalachia founded by a visionary Hungarian immigrant coal miner named Martin Himler. Discover how Himlerville's miners were not only workers but also shareholders, creating a revolutionary model for coal mining communities in the early 1920s.

    And after the end of the cooperative caused by an economic downturn, Himler himself went on to lead a most interesting life as an American espionage agent during World War II, leading to his being awarded one of the country’s most prestigious honors.

    Don't miss this episode of the Stories podcast!

    Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker, iHeartRadio, or on your favorite podcast app to hear more tales from the heart of Appalachia.

    You can also support our storytelling journey and access exclusive content by becoming a patron here:
    https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/stories-of-appalachia--5553692/support

    Thanks for listening, and we'll see you next time!
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    12 mins
  • Appalachia's Ginseng King

    Appalachia's Ginseng King
    Nov 16 2024
    Ginseng is a plant with a rich history and high demand in Asia, which brought buyers to Appalachia, home to an American version of this much desired root.

    This week, Rod and Steve tell the story of a man who made his fortune gathering, processing and selling ginseng in the mountains of North Carolina 150 years ago.

    Don't miss this episode of Stories of Appalachia. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on your favorite podcast app or on our YouTube channel to catch all our stories.

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    17 mins