PODCAST

Stories of Appalachia

Steve Gilly, Rod Mullins

Telling the history and the folklore of Appalachia, one story at a time.

history

All Episodes

The Greeno Mine Disaster: Tacoma, Virginia

Stories of Appalachia ·

2025/06/28

On December 14, 1910, a deadly explosion rocked the Greeno Mine in Tacoma, Virginia, claiming 14 lives and leaving a lasting mark on the Appalachian coalfields. Today we tell the story of Irish immigrant Patrick Hagan, who once owned the land on which the mine was located, and the dangerous conditions that led to this […]

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An Appalachian Preacher’s Fall: Bigamy, Abduction and...

Stories of Appalachia ·

2025/06/21

A preacher with five wives, a kidnapped teenage girl, and a cross-country manhunt. This isn’t fiction, it’s the unbelievable true story of Joseph Herman Johnson, a Primitive Baptist minister whose lies and crimes unraveled in an East Tennessee courtroom in 1927. From bigamy to abduction to a bizarre promise of Hollywood stardom to his victim, […]

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Beyond Bristol: The Legacy of the Johnson City Sessions

Stories of Appalachia ·

2025/06/14

In this episode we explore the lesser-known but historically rich Johnson City Sessions of 1928 and 1929. While the Bristol Sessions are often credited as the “Birthplace of Country Music,” Johnson City played a vital follow-up role in capturing the authentic sounds of Appalachia. Frank Buckley Walker, a Columbia Records talent scout, recorded local musicians […]

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Appalachia’s Iron Lady: The Story of Nannie Kelly Wright

Stories of Appalachia ·

2025/06/07

Nannie Kelly Wright ran an iron furnace at a time when most women weren’t even allowed near one. Born in Kentucky, raised on the Ohio River, and later married into the iron industry, Nannie became one of the few women in American history to manage a furnace operation herself — traveling weekly, overseeing workers, and […]

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The Lumber King of Appalachia

Stories of Appalachia ·

2025/05/31

William McClellan Ritter didn’t just cut down trees, he built an empire. In this week’s episode, we tell his story, from Pennsylvania farm boy to head of one of the world’s largest lumber companies. He built railroads, ran coal mines, advised the U.S. war effort in World War I and once gifted $3 million to […]

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Tragedy on the Frontier: The Corbly Family Massacre

Stories of Appalachia ·

2025/05/24

On a quiet Sunday morning in the spring of 1782, Pastor John Corbly and his family were headed for church when he realized he’d forgotten his Bible and turned back alone to get it. That action saved his life when his family was ambushed by Indians. In this episode of the Stories podcast, Steve and […]

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The Story of Gus McCoig, Appalachia’s Little Dillinger

Stories of Appalachia ·

2025/05/17

On this episode of the Stories podcast, we tell the dramatic tale of Gus McCoig, a Jefferson County boy who became one of East Tennessee’s most notorious Depression-era outlaws. McCoig’s story starts with his chance encounter with outlaw Clarence Bunch in a jail cell, followed by their escape and his later capture and conviction for […]

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13:28

Tennessee’s Gilded Getaway: The Rise and Fall of the...

Stories of Appalachia ·

2025/05/09

Step back in time to the golden era of Appalachian luxury as we explore the rise and fall of Tate Springs, a once-famous resort in Bean Station, Tennessee. Known for its healing mineral spring, lush golf course, and elite clientele, including the Rockefellers and Fords, Tate Springs was the South’s hidden gem. Discover how this […]

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21:39

The Thousand Mile Yoyage: The Appalachian Roots of...

Stories of Appalachia ·

2025/05/02

In the winter of 1779, a determined group of Appalachian settlers set out on a thousand-mile journey by river, led by Virginia surveyor John Donelson. Battling disease, starvation, ambushes, and the raw forces of nature, they pushed westward down the Holston River, into the Tennessee River, the Ohio and then up the Cumberland River, all […]

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Land, Power and a Little Fish: The Tellico Dam Story

Stories of Appalachia ·

2025/04/26

Today we tell the story of the battle over the Tellico Dam, the last major project of the Tennessee Valley Authority. TVA’s ambitious plans for the Tellico project included not only a dam and lake but also the development of a brand-new city to be called Timberlake. However, the project faced fierce resistance from […]

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The First Tennesseans: William and Lydia Bean

Stories of Appalachia ·

2025/04/19

Nearly twenty years before Tennessee was a state, William Bean built a cabin along the Watagua River and planted roots. In this episode, we tell the story of his journey from longhunter to settler, his friendship with Daniel Boone, and his wife Lydia’s dramatic rescue from execution by Cherokee Beloved Woman Nancy Ward. It’s the […]

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The Story of Isaac Cline, Appalachia’s Weather Man

Stories of Appalachia ·

2025/04/12

This week, Steve and Rod bring you the remarkable story of Isaac Cline, a Tennessee-born son of Appalachia who rose to become one of America’s most respected meteorologists. From his humble beginnings in a two-room log cabin near the Great Smoky Mountains to his fateful role during the Galveston Hurricane of 1900, Cline’s life was […]

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Standoff in Jefferson County: The Haunting Case of W....

Stories of Appalachia ·

2025/04/05

In this episode of Stories of Appalachia, we tell the story of a shocking event in January 1927 in Jefferson County, Tennessee. That was when a prominent county businessman named W.B. Johnson turned from respected community member to notorious outlaw. This tale unfolds with a fateful meeting involving Johnson, two women, and a tragic dispute […]

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Jellico’s Darkest Day: The Explosion That Rocked...

Stories of Appalachia ·

2025/03/29

In this episode, we tell the harrowing story of the Jellico explosion, a catastrophic event that shook the town of Jellico, Tennessee, on September 21, 1906. What began as a normal morning quickly turned into chaos when a shipment of 11 tons of dynamite detonated, leveling the downtown area and leaving the community in ruins. […]

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Kentucky’s Packhorse Librarians

Stories of Appalachia ·

2025/03/22

In this episode, we tell the inspiring story of the packhorse librarians, a group of determined women who brought literacy and hope to the remote hollers of Eastern Kentucky during the Great Depression. As families struggled to survive, these brave librarians on horses (and mules) navigated rugged terrain to deliver books and educational materials to […]

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The Strange Disappearance of Polly Feltner

Stories of Appalachia ·

2025/03/15

In this episode, we tell the strange tale of Polly Feltner, a young woman from Hyden, Kentucky, who vanished in 1897 under mysterious circumstances. What began as a search for a missing person quickly escalated into charges of murder, a frenzy of suspicion and mob justice, targeting an innocent man. As tensions rose and […]

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The Dunkards of Appalachia: A Story of Faith and...

Stories of Appalachia ·

2025/03/08

In this episode of the Stories podcast, we journey back to the mid-1700s to uncover the story of the Schwartzenau Brethren, also known as the Dunkards, who established one of the earliest settlements in the New River Valley of Virginia. Join us as we tell the story of this fascinating religious community, their unique beliefs, […]

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Whiskey, Dynamite and Faith: An Appalachian...

Stories of Appalachia ·

2025/03/01

In this episode of the podcast, we tell the story of Reverend William Riley Rickman, a steadfast preacher who took on the liquor industry in Pocahontas, Virginia. Join Steve and Rod as they tell you about Rickman’s fervent battle against alcohol in that Appalachian coal mining community. Rickman’s tireless efforts resulted in Pocahontas becoming a […]

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The Battle of Kings Mountain

Stories of Appalachia ·

2025/02/22

Today, we tell the remarkable story of the Overmountain men, Appalachian frontiersmen from the far western parts of North Carolina and Virginia. As tensions escalated in the South, these settlers took a stand against British forces at Kings Mountain, on the South Carolina/North Carolina border. Their bravery in that decisive battle was instrumental in securing […]

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Ballads from the Mountains: The Life and Legacy of...

Stories of Appalachia ·

2025/02/15

Today we tell the story of Jean Ritchie, the “Mother of Folk.” Born in the small town of Viper, Kentucky, Jean captivated audiences worldwide, influencing legends like Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash along the way. Join Steve and Rod as they tell the story of her remarkable life, from her roots in the mountains to […]

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Stories of Appalachia

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