Mine Wars Forum is brought to you by the West Virginia Mine Wars Museum. It is a grassroots institution that educates and preserves a people's history of the Mine Wars, a bloody effort to unionize the southern coalfields of West Virginia at the turn of the 20th century.
The podcast keeps that history and legacy alive with a range of guests who relate to Mine Wars history itself as well as the landscape of modern Appalachia.
Solidarity Forever!
This month on Mine Wars Forum we speak with with historian, author, and Museum founder Catherine Venable Moore! In this episode we talk about the origins of the song Solidarity Forever and its ties to the West Virginia Mine Wars, the strike that inspired Ralph Chaplin to coin the term, the suppression of socialist media in West Virginia at the turn of the 20th century, and so much more! If that sounds like a lot.. It is! In the best way possible. Dig in!
Learn more about Catherine: https://www.cvmoore.com/recent-work
Preorder SOLIDARITY SONG: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/579923/solidarity-song-by-catherine-venable-moore/
Support our work by becoming a Museum Member: https://wvminewars.org/join
Learn more about the Museum: https://wvminewars.org/
2 Sept 2026
Blair Mountain Archaeology Ft. Kenny King
This month on Mine Wars Forum we speak with People's Archaeologist Kenny King who has been a champion of discovery and preservation on the Blair Mountain battle site and the history of the Mine Wars in general. Kenny's artifacts have informed Mine Wars scholarship and serve as the foundation for our Museum. We discuss the objects Kenny has unearthed, the fight to save sacred ground, and the importance of protecting history. He has a wealth of knowledge and we hope you enjoy!
Learn more about Kenny's work: https://wvminewars.org/landwilltell
Support our work by becoming a Museum Member: https://wvminewars.org/join
Learn more about the Museum: https://wvminewars.org/
21 Jul 2026
*BONUS* Frustration and Delay: Conversations with Black Lung Activists
Weren't able to make it out to the Museum's Black Lung Still Kills: Entirely Preventable Gallery Opening?
Fret not! This month on the pod, we have the full audio from the event with speakers apart of the third wave of the Black Lung Movement. Hear from lawyers, activists, artists, and miners who have black lung as they share their work and encourage collective action on this epidemic. Solidarity Forever!
Support our work by becoming a Museum Member: https://wvminewars.org/join
Learn more about the Museum: https://wvminewars.org/
17 Jun 2026
Black Lung Still Kills Ft. Sam Petsonk
This month on Mine Wars Forum we speak with organizer and Beckley-based lawyer Sam Petsonk on the topic of black lung. We cover how the disease is contracted, why it's affecting younger miners today and the legal provisions that are supposed to uphold the health and safety of these miners. We also discuss the power of organizing and how anyone can get involved with advocacy efforts surrounding the cause.
Get even more informed at the Museum’s upcoming event, Black Lung Still Kills: Entirely Preventable Gallery Opening with Speakers: https://wvminewars.org/events
Learn more about Sam and how you can get involved with his work: https://petsonk.com/
Support our work by becoming a Museum Member: https://wvminewars.org/join
Learn more about the Museum: https://wvminewars.org/
20 May 2026
My Aunt Hazel Ft. Buddy Dickens
This month on Mine Wars Forum we’re talking activist and musician Hazel Dickens with her nephew Buddy. From the southern West Virginia mining community of Montcalm, to the strike against Pittston and beyond we learn more about this larger than life woman who was also a beloved and inspiring family member. Hazel fought for the rights of women, miners and working people through her music and on picket lines. Plus, her legacy is being uplifted next weekend in Mercer County at a music festival in her honor!
Flyaway Home Fest: https://flyawayhomefest.com/
Buddy Dickens Jam at the Museum: https://wvminewars.org/events#calendar-97b7b579-e4e0-41e3-9537-a212e66237ed-event-84816ac7-395c-4638-81ce-c24e504092ae
Support our work by becoming a Museum Member: https://wvminewars.org/join
Learn more about the Museum: https://wvminewars.org/
20 Apr 2026
A Redneck Reclamation Ft. Sassa Wilkes
This month on Mine Wars Forum we’re joined by Huntington-based artist Sassa Wilkes for a conversation on Appalachian identity, narrative, and the creative process. Sassa is currently in the midst of a collaborative mural project, “SOLIDARITY,” which will feature key figures from the Mine Wars. We tell you how you can join in on the effort!
More about Sassa: https://iamsassa.com/ (https://iamsassa.com/)
Join us for a May Day Redneck Reclamation: https://www.facebook.com/events/1586456905922285 (https://www.facebook.com/events/1586456905922285)
Support our work by becoming a Museum Member: https://wvminewars.org/join (https://wvminewars.org/join)
Learn more about the Museum: https://wvminewars.org/ (https://wvminewars.org/)
30 Mar 2026
We're Unionized! Ft. UMWA Local 1440
On our maiden voyage of Mine Wars Forum in the podcast sphere, we bring on members of UMWA Local 1440 to talk about the Museum staff’s recent unionization, the past and present state of the coal mining industry, the power of solidarity in unions and how the Museum’s origins date back to a protest to save Blair Mountain. We also discuss the importance of preserving the history of the West Virginia Mine Wars and how the Local has been instrumental in that legacy.
Contribute to that legacy yourself by supporting our work and becoming a Museum Member: https://wvminewars.org/join (https://wvminewars.org/join)
Learn more about the Museum: https://wvminewars.org/ (https://wvminewars.org/)
11 Mar 2026
Welcome to Mine Wars Forum
Mine Wars Forum is brought to you by the West Virginia Mine Wars Museum. It is a grassroots institution that educates and preserves a people's history of the Mine Wars, a bloody effort to unionize the southern coalfields of West Virginia at the turn of the 20th century.
The podcast keeps that history and legacy alive with a range of guests who relate to Mine Wars history itself as well as the landscape of modern Appalachia.
Subscribe so that you know when our first episode drops later this month!
Learn more about the Museum: https://wvminewars.org/
Support our work: https://wvminewars.org/join
Previous seasons: https://www.youtube.com/@wvminewars
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