Episodes

  • The Thousand Mile Yoyage: The Appalachian Roots of Nashville, Tennessee

    The Thousand Mile Yoyage: The Appalachian Roots of Nashville, Tennessee
    May 3 2025
    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 through hostile and unknown lands.

    Their goal? A place called French Lick—later known as Nashville.

    In this episode, Steve and Rod trace the expedition that carried Appalachian grit to Middle Tennessee, laying the foundations for the city many call “The Athens of the South.”

    Be sure to subcribe to the Stories podcast if you haven’t done so already. You’ll find us on your favorite podcast app and our YouTube channel.

    Thanks for listening!
    Show more Show less
    20 mins
  • Land, Power and a Little Fish: The Tellico Dam Story

    Land, Power and a Little Fish: The Tellico Dam Story
    Apr 26 2025
    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 landowners who were being forced to sell their land, the Cherokee, whose most important Overhill towns were going to be flooded by the dam, and environmentalists trying to save the habitat of the endangered snail darter fish.

    A lawsuit over the fish won a victory in the Supreme Court for those wanting to stop the Tellico Dam, but that wasn’t the end of the story, as you’ll find out in this episode.

    If you like our stories, be sure to subscribe to the Stories of Appalachia podcast on your favorite podcast app or on our YouTube channel.

    Thanks for listening!
    Show more Show less
    14 mins
  • The First Tennesseans: William and Lydia Bean

    The First Tennesseans: William and Lydia Bean
    Apr 19 2025
    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 story of Tennessee’s first settlement, the founding of Bean Station, and a life that helped shape the Appalachian frontier.

    Like what you hear? Subscribe to the Stories podcast on your favorite podcast app and on our YouTube channel so you never miss an episode.

    Thanks for listening!
    Show more Show less
    14 mins
  • The Story of Isaac Cline, Appalachia's Weather Man

    The Story of Isaac Cline, Appalachia's Weather Man
    Apr 12 2025
    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 marked by groundbreaking contributions, profound loss, and an enduring legacy.

    He defied standard protocol of the time to warn the people of Galveston and turned that tragedy into a mission to redefine storm forecasting.

    Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast app so you don’t miss any of our podcasts!

    Thanks for listening.
    Show more Show less
    14 mins
  • Standoff in Jefferson County: The Haunting Case of W. B. Johnson

    Standoff in Jefferson County: The Haunting Case of W. B. Johnson
    Apr 5 2025
    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 that escalated into a deadly confrontation.

    This is a story of tragedy, madness, and the dark side of the Appalachia.

    If you've not done so already, be sure to subscribe to the Stories podcast on your favorite podcast app so you don't miss any of our stories.

    Thanks for listening!
    Show more Show less
    16 mins
  • Jellico's Darkest Day: The Explosion That Rocked Appalachia

    Jellico's Darkest Day: The Explosion That Rocked Appalachia
    Mar 29 2025
    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.

    Join Steve Gilly and Rod Mullins as they tell the story of Jellico’s darkest day.
    Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast app to catch all our stories.

    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!
    Show more Show less
    18 mins
  • Kentucky's Packhorse Librarians

    Kentucky's Packhorse Librarians
    Mar 22 2025
    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 isolated communities where access to the written word was scarce.

    Joining us for this story is our special guest Nicki Jacobsmeyer, author of "Kentucky's Packhorse Librarians," who shares her insights and research on this remarkable chapter of Appalachian history.

    Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast app to catch all our stories.

    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!
    Show more Show less
    23 mins
  • The Strange Disappearance of Polly Feltner

    The Strange Disappearance of Polly Feltner
    Mar 15 2025
    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 a near-lynching unfolded, the story took a dramatic twist that no one could have anticipated.

    Join us as we tell Polly's unique Appalachian story.

    Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast app to catch all our stories.

    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!
    Show more Show less
    11 mins
adbl_web_global_use_to_activate_webcro805_stickypopup