Appalachian Shine

About Appalachian Shine

Showcasing the best of Appalachian culture, history, economic opportunity and places to visit.

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

29 Jan 2020

Latest episode

20 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

1 of 138 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   20 Oct 2026

   The Traditions That Define Us: Inside the Blue Ridge Folklife Festival

   Join Appalachian Shine for “More Than a Festival: Celebrating the Heart and Soul of Appalachia.” Today, we welcome Dr. William Wray, the Blue Ridge Folklife Festival’s longest-standing vendor, and Dr. Mirta Martin, President of Ferrum College. Together, we’ll explore the festival’s rich history, the traditions that define our region, and the importance of preserving Appalachian music, crafts, stories, and cultural heritage for future generations. Tune in for a celebration of the people and traditions that keep the spirit of Appalachia alive! #FerrumCollege #Appalachia #BlueRidge #FolkLifeFestival https://www.ferrum.edu/brim/blue-ridge-folklife-festival/crafts/ www.supportappalachia.org

2. 

   18 Sept 2026

   The Story of Russell County: Coal, Courage & the Clinch

   Long before Russell County was formed in 1786, these mountains and valleys were home to Indigenous peoples, hunters, and the first settlers who made their way into Southwest Virginia. In this episode of Appalachian Shine, we travel through more than two centuries of Russell County history—from Castle’s Woods and the county’s first courthouse to the founding of Lebanon, the arrival of railroads, the rise of coal and timber, and the small communities that became the heart of the county. We’ll explore the schools, roads, farms, rivers, businesses, and people that shaped Russell County, along with the history behind communities such as Honaker, Cleveland, Dante, Castlewood, and St. Paul. We’ll also look at the Clinch River, the county’s changing economy, and the surprising emergence of vineyards among the mountains. Most of all, this is a story about place—and the generations of Appalachian people who built their lives here, left their mark, and passed their stories down to us. #AppalachianShine #RussellCountyVA #RussellCountyVirginia #SouthwestVirginia #Appalachia #AppalachianHistory #VirginiaHistory #VirginiaMountains #AppalachianCulture #AppalachianStories #LocalHistory #MountainHistory #ClinchRiver #LebanonVA #HonakerVA #ClevelandVA #StPaulVA #DanteVA #CastlewoodVA #RosedaleVA #SwordsCreekVA #ElkGardenVA #CopperCreekVA #MoccasinVA #NewGardenVA #DickensonvilleVA #VirginiaCoal #CoalCountry #AppalachianHeritage #ExploreAppalachia #HiddenHistory #MountainStories #SmallTownHistory #ForgottenHistory #OldAppalachia Visit us online at www.supportappalachia.org. Donate $10 today to help us continue on. Thanks so much! 501(c)(3)

3. 

   29 Aug 2026

   Signs, Omens, and Mountain Lore

   What did your grandma warn you never to do after dark? In this episode of Appalachian Shine, we explore the superstitions, signs, omens, and old mountain lore passed down through generations—from whistling after dark and rocking an empty chair to woolly worms, moon planting, birds at the window, death omens, haints, dreams, and the strange signs our ancestors believed could predict what was coming. But this isn't just a history lesson—it's an invitation to remember the traditions you grew up with. How much of this old folklore is uniquely Appalachian? Which beliefs came from Scotland, Ireland, England, Africa, and other traditions? Which ones vary from Kentucky to West Virginia to Virginia and the Southern Appalachians? And perhaps most interesting of all—which ones do people still believe today? So listen along and see how many of these old mountain superstitions you remember hearing yourself. And if you have a family superstition of your own, Appalachian Shine wants to hear about it. Visit us online and donate today at www.supportappalachia.org #AppalachianShine#AppalachianFolklore#AppalachianSuperstitions#MountainLore#AppalachianHistory#SouthernFolklore#MountainTraditions#Appalachia#Folklore#OldMountainWays

Inside a recent episode

Dale Hall, Appalachian author and former CEO of Ducks Unlimited Joins Us.

Published 5 May 2024 · Transcript excerpt

[…] And that's, that's a powerful way to put that because, you know, here where I'm at, I'm in the middle of coal country. And, you know, when, when people, when you talk about conservation and respect and care for your environment, I think a lot of people kind of like, they immediately kind of run to one political side or another, like, oh, you're one of those extreme, but you're not. And I've, I've known people, my father worked in the coal mines, my grandfather, my brother-in-law. I've never met one person that worked in the coal mines that didn't want to protect the rivers around here and the air quality. […]

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 34 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

37

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

76

Contact Appalachian Shine

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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