Middle of Everywhere https://www.middleofeverywherepod.org/ Wed, 02 Aug 2023 10:00:00 -0000 Wed, 02 Aug 2023 10:00:16 -0000 60 en-us help@prx.org (PRX) Middle of Everywhere shares big stories from the small places we call home. Rich with examples of tribalism and kinship, skepticism and idealism, defeat and triumph, we tell stories of life in rural and small town America. Hosts Ariel Lavery, a transient American who has settled in small town Murray, Kentucky, and Austin Carter (Featured on Seasons 1 & 2), a Murray and rural life native, take the pulse of an overlooked geographic news region. They provide a connection for those who have left, but still identify with small towns, and explore the growing appeal of rural life. A production from WKMS public radio, part of PRX’s Project Catapult with support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Middle of Everywhere is a narrative podcast with episodes released bi-weekly. It’s available for download on all podcast platforms and online at middleofeverywherepod.com. You can also connect with us on social media @middleofeverywherepod

]]> PRX Feeder v1.0.0 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Middle of Everywhere episodic no middleofeverywherepod@gmail.com Podcast Team Middle of Everywhere shares big stories from the small places we call home. Rich with examples of tribalism and kinship, skepticism and idealism, defeat and triumph, we tell stories of life in rural and small town America. Hosts Ariel Lavery, a transient Middle of Everywhere shares big stories from the small places we call home. Rich with examples of tribalism and kinship, skepticism and idealism, defeat and triumph, we tell stories of life in rural and small town America. Hosts Ariel Lavery, a transient American who has settled in small town Murray, Kentucky, and Austin Carter (Featured on Seasons 1 & 2), a Murray and rural life native, take the pulse of an overlooked geographic news region. They provide a connection for those who have left, but still identify with small towns, and explore the growing appeal of rural life. A production from WKMS public radio, part of PRX’s Project Catapult with support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Middle of Everywhere is a narrative podcast with episodes released bi-weekly. It’s available for download on all podcast platforms and online at middleofeverywherepod.com. You can also connect with us on social media @middleofeverywherepod Society & Culture prx_342_6442590b-f961-4a59-b671-9d013849a213 Who will be with Me at the End? Wed, 02 Aug 2023 10:00:00 -0000 https://beta.prx.org/stories/458850 Hospice care is a somewhat misunderstood medical practice in this country.  People often think it’s all about dying, or the opposite- keeping a dying patient alive.  Neither of these perceptions are accurate.  In this episode, we are focusing on what hospice care entails by sitting down with the people who provide it – hospice nurses.

Rural areas have a higher need for hospice care as there are simply more people over the age of 65 living here.  The benefits of having hospice care available to a community are surprisingly large, even for the nurses who work there.  Hospice nurses learn to treat for quality of life rather than quantity of life and, therein, reevaluate their own healthcare directives.  They spend a good part of their practice educating and communing with families. They even experience mental and  spiritual growth in their own lives from performing these services.  And the remarkable events that take place around the time of a death have given many of these women a deeper sense of faith.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe wherever you get your podcast.

]]> We hear how hospice nurses work to preserve the quality of our last moments of life. full 3 6 32:29 middleofeverywherepod@gmail.com (Middle of Everywhere) Middle of Everywhere @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe wherever you get your podcast.]]> Hospice care is a somewhat misunderstood medical practice in this country.  People often think it’s all about dying, or the opposite- keeping a dying patient alive.  Neither of these perceptions are accurate.  In this episode, we are focusing on what hospice care entails by sitting down with the people who provide it – hospice nurses.

Rural areas have a higher need for hospice care as there are simply more people over the age of 65 living here.  The benefits of having hospice care available to a community are surprisingly large, even for the nurses who work there.  Hospice nurses learn to treat for quality of life rather than quantity of life and, therein, reevaluate their own healthcare directives.  They spend a good part of their practice educating and communing with families. They even experience mental and  spiritual growth in their own lives from performing these services.  And the remarkable events that take place around the time of a death have given many of these women a deeper sense of faith.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe wherever you get your podcast.

]]> prx_342_9870dee4-beda-4368-b498-0dc8f73ecdd4 A Little Ask Wed, 12 Jul 2023 10:00:00 -0000 https://beta.prx.org/stories/342032 The end of the season is almost here and we have one quick request.

Find us at our website at middleofeverywherepod.org. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  

]]> Our third season is almost over, and we have one quick request. full 01:12 middleofeverywherepod@gmail.com (Middle of Everywhere) Middle of Everywhere @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  ]]> The end of the season is almost here and we have one quick request.

Find us at our website at middleofeverywherepod.org. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  

]]> adfree prx_342_dfd671dc-e9f8-403a-952e-58ce72f07e65 The Beautiful Cherry Tree from the Depths of Despair Wed, 21 Jun 2023 13:57:09 -0000 https://beta.prx.org/stories/458849 Women and girls in rural communities across the United States are being forever changed by substance misuse. Sadly, it’s a story with which many are becoming increasingly familiar. Why are women in rural places being incarcerated for substances at such high rates? What can communities do to intervene and help? What resources are available?

We explore these troublesome questions and find some equally troubling answers. We hear from a former substance misuser who shares a solution that helped change her life, and how her struggle with substances is a required background for her becoming a care provider to women currently trying to stay sober.  And we learn how her affliction has impacted other care providers in her community.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

]]> We enter a women's sober-living house and hear about the struggle it took to get there. full 3 6 43:55 middleofeverywherepod@gmail.com (Middle of Everywhere) Middle of Everywhere @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.]]> Women and girls in rural communities across the United States are being forever changed by substance misuse. Sadly, it’s a story with which many are becoming increasingly familiar. Why are women in rural places being incarcerated for substances at such high rates? What can communities do to intervene and help? What resources are available?

We explore these troublesome questions and find some equally troubling answers. We hear from a former substance misuser who shares a solution that helped change her life, and how her struggle with substances is a required background for her becoming a care provider to women currently trying to stay sober.  And we learn how her affliction has impacted other care providers in her community.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

]]> abuse, addiction, addiction cycle, cartel, domestic abuse, drug epidemic, drug use, incarceration, medicaid, mental health, meth, methamphetamines, opiods, recovery, rural, rural drug epidemic, sober living, substance misuse, substances, substances misuse, women, women's health, women's mental health prx_342_29769585-0479-4b27-abd6-984d14ff7abc Re-release: Welcome to the Hotel Metropolitan! Wed, 31 May 2023 10:00:00 -0000 https://beta.prx.org/stories/458848 This week we're sharing a previously released episode from our first season.

We hear from a woman that embarked on a journey to save and rehabilitate a historic Black hotel from demolition. This journey was life-changing for her as it coincided with the rehabilitation of her own body after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Betty Dobson shares with us what it took to save the Hotel Metropolitan in Paducah, Kentucky and how the mission of saving the hotel and all its history helped with emotional healing as well as her own physical wellness. 

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

]]> A woman's personal health follows behind the health of the piece of Black history she's trying to preserve. full 3 5 39:08 middleofeverywherepod@gmail.com (Middle of Everywhere) Middle of Everywhere @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.]]> This week we're sharing a previously released episode from our first season.

We hear from a woman that embarked on a journey to save and rehabilitate a historic Black hotel from demolition. This journey was life-changing for her as it coincided with the rehabilitation of her own body after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Betty Dobson shares with us what it took to save the Hotel Metropolitan in Paducah, Kentucky and how the mission of saving the hotel and all its history helped with emotional healing as well as her own physical wellness. 

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

]]> prx_342_bafd1ce5-7a29-4c76-8f25-496dec50b250 Angels in a Desert Wed, 10 May 2023 10:00:00 -0000 https://beta.prx.org/stories/458847 OB deserts are a plague that seems to be infecting more and more of the United States, in rural areas in particular.  If you’ve never heard of an OB desert, you’re not alone.  OB deserts are counties that lack any hospital or birth center with obstetric care or any obstetric providers.   The US leads among developed countries in maternal and infant mortality and morbidity and these deserts are a likely contributor.  Some might say this is due to a healthcare system that caters to those with money and means.  So how do we protect mothers who lack the resources to access maternal care?  Mothers who, because of the way they live, may be at higher risk already?

In this episode, we’re featuring an innovative new program out of rural Indiana, that has taken steps toward decreasing the maternal and infant mortality and morbidity in their county, which has been declared an OB desert.  And it’s all headed up by the fire department.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

]]> How a rural Indiana county, which is an OB desert, invented a totally new model of care for their high risk mothers and babies. full 34:04 middleofeverywherepod@gmail.com (Middle of Everywhere) Middle of Everywhere @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.]]> OB deserts are a plague that seems to be infecting more and more of the United States, in rural areas in particular.  If you’ve never heard of an OB desert, you’re not alone.  OB deserts are counties that lack any hospital or birth center with obstetric care or any obstetric providers.   The US leads among developed countries in maternal and infant mortality and morbidity and these deserts are a likely contributor.  Some might say this is due to a healthcare system that caters to those with money and means.  So how do we protect mothers who lack the resources to access maternal care?  Mothers who, because of the way they live, may be at higher risk already?

In this episode, we’re featuring an innovative new program out of rural Indiana, that has taken steps toward decreasing the maternal and infant mortality and morbidity in their county, which has been declared an OB desert.  And it’s all headed up by the fire department.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

]]> OB desert, Obstetrics, anxiety, community health, diseases of despiar, doctors, fire deprtments, firemen, gestational diabetes, health desert, healthcare, hospitals, infant maternal mortality, maternal, maternalcare, motherhood, nurses, paramedicine, project swaddle, public health, rural healthcare, rural hospitals prx_342_c0cfdcbf-6d7d-4e9e-bedf-b142ba017f57 Becoming Me Wed, 19 Apr 2023 10:00:00 -0000 https://beta.prx.org/stories/458846 Legislation is taking effect across the country that restricts transgender kids and their parents regarding gender-affirming healthcare  How will these bills affect trans kids' long-term health?  While we can’t predict the outcomes for these kids, we can look to the people who lived most of their lives without gender-affirming care to understand the repercussions.  While access to trans-focused healthcare has increased in recent years, it is still very difficult for people to find, especially in rural areas.  The cause of those difficulties isn’t simply geographic;  stigma against gender-affirming care plagues rural areas in particular. 

In this episode, we’ll hear two personal stories. In one, we’ll journey through the long life of a woman who didn’t transition until age 65.  The high price of her gender-affirming care could never compare with the cost of living a lifetime in hiding.  Ultimately, securing gender-confirmation care became an act of survival, her choice to continue living.  We’ll also hear from a fourteen year old trans boy and his family who are being impacted by recent legislation in Kentucky and Tennessee.  How does the law shape the life of a child who never wanted to be in the public eye? 


Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

]]> What is the future for trans kids living in states passing anti-trans legislation? We look to two people, 60 years apart, to understand. full 39:39 middleofeverywherepod@gmail.com (Middle of Everywhere) Middle of Everywhere @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.]]> Legislation is taking effect across the country that restricts transgender kids and their parents regarding gender-affirming healthcare  How will these bills affect trans kids' long-term health?  While we can’t predict the outcomes for these kids, we can look to the people who lived most of their lives without gender-affirming care to understand the repercussions.  While access to trans-focused healthcare has increased in recent years, it is still very difficult for people to find, especially in rural areas.  The cause of those difficulties isn’t simply geographic;  stigma against gender-affirming care plagues rural areas in particular. 

In this episode, we’ll hear two personal stories. In one, we’ll journey through the long life of a woman who didn’t transition until age 65.  The high price of her gender-affirming care could never compare with the cost of living a lifetime in hiding.  Ultimately, securing gender-confirmation care became an act of survival, her choice to continue living.  We’ll also hear from a fourteen year old trans boy and his family who are being impacted by recent legislation in Kentucky and Tennessee.  How does the law shape the life of a child who never wanted to be in the public eye? 


Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

]]> antitrans, hormonetherapy, legistalation, pubertyblockers, ruralhealthcare, ruraltransgenderhealthcare, surgery, transboy, transgender, transgenderkids, transitioning, transwoman, trasgenderhealthcare, womenshealth prx_342_f34605ea-039e-4f89-8d80-a717490e3b9d Conjuring Nancy Wed, 29 Mar 2023 10:00:00 -0000 https://beta.prx.org/stories/458845 What do you know about the history of abortion in rural America? What about the women who relied on it?  Imagine reaching into the past and conjuring the spirit of a woman who lived this history. In this episode, we’ll hear writer, Tamara Dean, discuss her essay “Safer Than Childbirth”, in which she wrote about discovering the history of, and the many lives that relied on abortion.

In the process of researching for the essay, Tamara learned that legal abortion in America was more of a practice than a procedure.  Local flora offered women access to abortifacients–wisdom passed down by early indigenous peoples.  Less than two centuries ago, there had never been laws proposed in this country attempting to limit abortion. But, with the medicalization of childbirth, came proposals to ban abortion, state by state, eventually redefining abortion rights in America.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

]]> What is the history of abortion care in America? Today, we reach into the past to find out. full 28:34 middleofeverywherepod@gmail.com (Middle of Everywhere) Middle of Everywhere @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. ]]> What do you know about the history of abortion in rural America? What about the women who relied on it?  Imagine reaching into the past and conjuring the spirit of a woman who lived this history. In this episode, we’ll hear writer, Tamara Dean, discuss her essay “Safer Than Childbirth”, in which she wrote about discovering the history of, and the many lives that relied on abortion.

In the process of researching for the essay, Tamara learned that legal abortion in America was more of a practice than a procedure.  Local flora offered women access to abortifacients–wisdom passed down by early indigenous peoples.  Less than two centuries ago, there had never been laws proposed in this country attempting to limit abortion. But, with the medicalization of childbirth, came proposals to ban abortion, state by state, eventually redefining abortion rights in America.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

]]> American Medical Association, Childbirth, Indigenous remedies, Male Obstetricians, abortifacient, abortion, bloodroot, essay, going home, herbal remedies, midwives, mother, natural remedies, rural, rural stories, rural women, women, women's health prx_342_17010272-8151-40b9-aaff-404d9cd1bf6e A Season of Health and Women Wed, 15 Mar 2023 10:00:00 -0000 https://beta.prx.org/stories/458844 We’re about to release the rest of our third season! We’re hearing from women near and far about how living in rural America affects their health. In this trailer, you’ll hear just a few of the voices of people who are invested in living and thriving in our rural areas. Look for our next episode to come out on March 22.  

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

]]> Season three trailer. full 02:34 middleofeverywherepod@gmail.com (Middle of Everywhere) Middle of Everywhere @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.]]> We’re about to release the rest of our third season! We’re hearing from women near and far about how living in rural America affects their health. In this trailer, you’ll hear just a few of the voices of people who are invested in living and thriving in our rural areas. Look for our next episode to come out on March 22.  

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

]]> prx_342_45daf193-c677-4b83-af69-94e4cc67340a Delivering Our Story: Surrogacy, Health Insurance, and Our Personal Politics Wed, 01 Feb 2023 11:00:00 -0000 https://beta.prx.org/stories/458843 Host Ariel Lavery’s mail carrier is a cheerful, everyday woman who has walked roads less traveled when it comes to her reproductive journey.  From her son’s disabilities, to becoming a surrogate, to choosing to sterilize herself, her experience with the U.S. healthcare system has been diverse and frustrating.  Yet, her outlook on solutions to issues she has faced may surprise you.  

In this episode, we hear from Sam and her conservative husband Brian on their perceptions of the U.S. healthcare system and how well the system serves its rural patients.  As a couple they represent two states with opposite political sway.  But their belief in women’s rights to access care doesn’t fit neatly within a color coded border. 

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

]]> Sam is Ariel's cheerful mail career with a unique reproductive journey. full 37:48 middleofeverywherepod@gmail.com (Middle of Everywhere) Middle of Everywhere @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. ]]> Host Ariel Lavery’s mail carrier is a cheerful, everyday woman who has walked roads less traveled when it comes to her reproductive journey.  From her son’s disabilities, to becoming a surrogate, to choosing to sterilize herself, her experience with the U.S. healthcare system has been diverse and frustrating.  Yet, her outlook on solutions to issues she has faced may surprise you.  

In this episode, we hear from Sam and her conservative husband Brian on their perceptions of the U.S. healthcare system and how well the system serves its rural patients.  As a couple they represent two states with opposite political sway.  But their belief in women’s rights to access care doesn’t fit neatly within a color coded border. 

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

]]> childbirth, health insurance, mothers, pregnancy, rural health, surrogacy, women prx_342_a178ea5e-34a6-432e-82c1-5db8d7c1180b Season 3 Sneak Peek! Wed, 18 Jan 2023 11:00:00 -0000 https://beta.prx.org/stories/457182 Here’s a sneak peek of the first episode of Season 3, dropping Wednesday Feb 1st! Focusing on women’s healthcare in rural communities this season, we open with the story of an everyday woman who’s had a noteworthy reproductive journey.  

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

]]> A quick trailer for Episode 1 of Season 3. full 01:16 middleofeverywherepod@gmail.com (Middle of Everywhere) Middle of Everywhere @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. ]]> Here’s a sneak peek of the first episode of Season 3, dropping Wednesday Feb 1st! Focusing on women’s healthcare in rural communities this season, we open with the story of an everyday woman who’s had a noteworthy reproductive journey.  

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

]]> abortion, adfree, health, healthcare, rural, trailer, women prx_342_2118b16c-5a1b-4460-8ed6-c3d78807a753 Update: The Snail Darter and Cohost Carter Fri, 04 Nov 2022 09:00:00 -0000 https://beta.prx.org/stories/446719 We are here to give you a quick update on some news about the snail darter and our team. Also, we’re looking for voices! Listen in to find out why.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

]]> I quick update we thought you'd like to know about. full 09:11 middleofeverywherepod@gmail.com (Middle of Everywhere) Middle of Everywhere @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.]]> We are here to give you a quick update on some news about the snail darter and our team. Also, we’re looking for voices! Listen in to find out why.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

]]> prx_342_a678401f-c905-4e83-9b6e-7942da4ffff6 Presenting: The Modern West Wed, 13 Jul 2022 09:30:00 -0000 https://beta.prx.org/stories/429393 Do you love getting lost in shows like Yellowstone or 1883 and dream about that ruff and tumble lifestyle out on the range? Well, you probably know, there’s more to the cowboy lifestyle than meets the eye!

Today on the podcast, I’m sharing a fascinating story about real cowboys and the truth about ranching with the help of my friend and acclaimed journalist Melodie Edwards, who hosts the Peabody-nominated podcast The Modern West.  This is the first episode of The Modern West’s newest season, where Melodie explores different kinds of cowboys—from those who chase the dream of becoming “the next rodeo star” to the hardworking (and sometimes intimidating!) ranchers on the homestead. Along the way, Melodie busts all sorts of myths about what it means to measure up to American ideals.

Visit The Modern West at https://themodernwest.org/ or listen wherever you get podcasts.

]]> Stories of real cowboys from our friends at The Modern West podcast. full 28:50 middleofeverywherepod@gmail.com (Middle of Everywhere) Middle of Everywhere https://themodernwest.org/ or listen wherever you get podcasts.]]> Do you love getting lost in shows like Yellowstone or 1883 and dream about that ruff and tumble lifestyle out on the range? Well, you probably know, there’s more to the cowboy lifestyle than meets the eye!

Today on the podcast, I’m sharing a fascinating story about real cowboys and the truth about ranching with the help of my friend and acclaimed journalist Melodie Edwards, who hosts the Peabody-nominated podcast The Modern West.  This is the first episode of The Modern West’s newest season, where Melodie explores different kinds of cowboys—from those who chase the dream of becoming “the next rodeo star” to the hardworking (and sometimes intimidating!) ranchers on the homestead. Along the way, Melodie busts all sorts of myths about what it means to measure up to American ideals.

Visit The Modern West at https://themodernwest.org/ or listen wherever you get podcasts.

]]> prx_342_111758d6-cf56-470a-8934-fefab562abe0 Part 5: What Remains? A Rock, A Fence And A Silver Lining Wed, 15 Jun 2022 09:00:00 -0000 https://beta.prx.org/stories/426212 In our final  episode of The Story of Tanasi, and our last episode of the season, we’re back at the lake to find out what this story means for people today.  People who went through the battle to save the LittleT still gather, hailing from all around the country.  And what about that “stupid little fish,” the snail darter (Percina Imostoma Tanasi) around which the whole story revolved?  Today, the case of the snail darter is taught in law classrooms as an introduction to the Endangered Species Act, because “It set the terms.” The snail darter is now surviving in other tributaries maintained by the TVA, but that is not without consequences.  And the Cherokee, who were the first people to rule this valley, are slowly finding their way back, ironically thanks to the taking of their ancient land for the Tellico project.


Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe in Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

]]> The epic battle to save the Little T is over, and the river is gone. But this battle has changed history and the minds of those who lived through it forever. full 35:36 middleofeverywherepod@gmail.com (Middle of Everywhere) Middle of Everywhere @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe in Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.]]> In our final  episode of The Story of Tanasi, and our last episode of the season, we’re back at the lake to find out what this story means for people today.  People who went through the battle to save the LittleT still gather, hailing from all around the country.  And what about that “stupid little fish,” the snail darter (Percina Imostoma Tanasi) around which the whole story revolved?  Today, the case of the snail darter is taught in law classrooms as an introduction to the Endangered Species Act, because “It set the terms.” The snail darter is now surviving in other tributaries maintained by the TVA, but that is not without consequences.  And the Cherokee, who were the first people to rule this valley, are slowly finding their way back, ironically thanks to the taking of their ancient land for the Tellico project.


Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe in Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

]]> prx_342_6f11a28c-ea7c-4470-b38e-2180dacd35cc Part 4: Together In Protest, Together In Death Wed, 01 Jun 2022 09:00:00 -0000 https://beta.prx.org/stories/410096 None of the new laws coming out of congress in the 60s and 70s could stop the Tellico Dam Project.  But, a different legal approach that sought to protect the religious freedom and sacred sites of the Cherokee could provide a new lifeline.  In this episode, we hear from Eastern Band of Cherokee leaders about uniting with the Tellico farmers and environmental lawyers to honor the river and make one last attempt to stop the dam.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe in Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

]]> The farmers looked to the Cherokees to do what they themselves couldn’t. But along the way, some of the Cherokees reconnect with their sacred history. full 42:32 middleofeverywherepod@gmail.com (Middle of Everywhere) Middle of Everywhere @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe in Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.]]> None of the new laws coming out of congress in the 60s and 70s could stop the Tellico Dam Project.  But, a different legal approach that sought to protect the religious freedom and sacred sites of the Cherokee could provide a new lifeline.  In this episode, we hear from Eastern Band of Cherokee leaders about uniting with the Tellico farmers and environmental lawyers to honor the river and make one last attempt to stop the dam.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe in Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

]]> prx_342_9a91b8fe-8e31-42e0-9797-1347e521297a Part 3: The Small Fish In The Highest Court Wed, 18 May 2022 09:00:00 -0000 https://beta.prx.org/stories/410095 What happens when a radical new environmental law, a tiny endangered fish, and a tenacious young lawyer walk into the highest court in the land? Not what you might expect.  We’ll follow our hero in earth shoes as he journeys through the courts all the way to Washington. He fights alongside the band of farmers who have vowed to fight until there’s nothing left to fight for.  In the process we’ll unveil the system that ensures that government works primarily for the special interests of a few over the many. 


Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe in Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

]]> Today we follow this story from the fight the farmers started to save their little valley of heaven all the way to the Supreme Court and beyond. full 40:07 middleofeverywherepod@gmail.com (Middle of Everywhere) Middle of Everywhere @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe in Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.]]> What happens when a radical new environmental law, a tiny endangered fish, and a tenacious young lawyer walk into the highest court in the land? Not what you might expect.  We’ll follow our hero in earth shoes as he journeys through the courts all the way to Washington. He fights alongside the band of farmers who have vowed to fight until there’s nothing left to fight for.  In the process we’ll unveil the system that ensures that government works primarily for the special interests of a few over the many. 


Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe in Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

]]> prx_342_4ca7c9b2-ecce-457f-a4da-b1ea6b764eed Part 2: The River's People Wed, 04 May 2022 09:00:00 -0000 https://beta.prx.org/stories/410094 In Part 2 of our series we meet some of the people who once called the Little Tennessee River Valley home, and we hear surprising stories about how they were slighted by the Tennessee Valley Authority and bullied out of their homes.  We retrace how the agency came to have unparalleled power over the Tennessee Valley and how some farmers developed so much loathing for and fear of this agency.  After almost fifteen years of fighting they neared the point of giving up. Then, a young lawyer joined the fight with the help of a tiny fish.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

]]> Today we meet some of the last people to live and play in this river valley before it was flooded, people who have been defined by the beauty of the remote landscape and their harrowing struggle to save it. full 41:16 middleofeverywherepod@gmail.com (Middle of Everywhere) Middle of Everywhere @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.]]> In Part 2 of our series we meet some of the people who once called the Little Tennessee River Valley home, and we hear surprising stories about how they were slighted by the Tennessee Valley Authority and bullied out of their homes.  We retrace how the agency came to have unparalleled power over the Tennessee Valley and how some farmers developed so much loathing for and fear of this agency.  After almost fifteen years of fighting they neared the point of giving up. Then, a young lawyer joined the fight with the help of a tiny fish.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

]]> prx_342_b69a38a4-aefb-4117-8ab5-90763e3db4a4 The Story Of Tanasi, Part 1: Birth Of A River Wed, 20 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0000 https://beta.prx.org/stories/410093 What is the story behind silos that stick up out of the middle of a lake in the foothills of the Smokies?  As we tour around this lake, we see more sites, like an old bridge descending into the water, a few markers of a deep history of Cherokee habitation, then large, extravagant houses that overlook the water’s edge. It all helps paint a picture of the complex history that lives under the water’s surface, in what used to be a river valley.  This is the first episode in a series we’re calling The Story of Tanasi.  In this series we’ll follow a decades-long battle that took the river’s people all the way to the Supreme Court as they tried to save their way of life in the river valley. 

   

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

]]> What is the story behind silos that stick up out of the middle of a lake in the foothills of the Smokies? This is the first in a series in which we’ll follow a decades-long battle that took the river’s people all the way to the Supreme Court as they tried to save their way of life in the river valley. full 22:05 middleofeverywherepod@gmail.com (Middle of Everywhere) Middle of Everywhere @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.]]> What is the story behind silos that stick up out of the middle of a lake in the foothills of the Smokies?  As we tour around this lake, we see more sites, like an old bridge descending into the water, a few markers of a deep history of Cherokee habitation, then large, extravagant houses that overlook the water’s edge. It all helps paint a picture of the complex history that lives under the water’s surface, in what used to be a river valley.  This is the first episode in a series we’re calling The Story of Tanasi.  In this series we’ll follow a decades-long battle that took the river’s people all the way to the Supreme Court as they tried to save their way of life in the river valley. 

   

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

]]> prx_342_52d0bae9-4698-4862-a82b-ce1a79cd2af3 Trailer - The Story Of Tanasi Wed, 06 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0000 https://beta.prx.org/stories/410092 While researching for our season all about rivers, we uncovered a story that, when first reported, seemed straightforward.  But the more we dug in the more we understood that this story required more than one episode. Listen as we give a glimpse of the next several episodes.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

]]> Coming soon, the story of an epic battle fought by farmers, environmentalists and the Cherokee to save a river valley from destruction. full 01:31 middleofeverywherepod@gmail.com (Middle of Everywhere) Middle of Everywhere @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.]]> While researching for our season all about rivers, we uncovered a story that, when first reported, seemed straightforward.  But the more we dug in the more we understood that this story required more than one episode. Listen as we give a glimpse of the next several episodes.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

]]> adfree prx_342_014ad02f-5dd0-44f6-a387-97aaa445bf95 The River and the Rousters Wed, 23 Mar 2022 09:00:00 -0000 https://beta.prx.org/stories/410091 What things does a paddlewheel steamboat bring to your mind? Is a “roustabout” one of them? They may not be so familiar but there is a treasury of music surrounding the Black men and women who worked on steamboats in the last two centuries. These roustabouts and chambermaids had tough jobs, and music was one of the things that helped them get through it. We’ll hear and talk about the music of the roustabouts and keeping their history alive.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

]]> What things does a paddlewheel steamboat bring to your mind? Is a “roustabout” one of them? They may not be so familiar but there is a treasury of music surrounding the Black men and women who worked on steamboats in the last two centuries. full 21:53 middleofeverywherepod@gmail.com (Middle of Everywhere) Middle of Everywhere @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.]]> What things does a paddlewheel steamboat bring to your mind? Is a “roustabout” one of them? They may not be so familiar but there is a treasury of music surrounding the Black men and women who worked on steamboats in the last two centuries. These roustabouts and chambermaids had tough jobs, and music was one of the things that helped them get through it. We’ll hear and talk about the music of the roustabouts and keeping their history alive.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

]]> prx_342_2ce16a8a-d21d-41fe-a1c6-247a6639e5c8 Swimming for the River Wed, 09 Mar 2022 10:00:00 -0000 https://beta.prx.org/stories/410090 We all know we live in a world full of plastic.  But how much plastic gets into our waterways and what happens to it once it’s there? Would you swim an entire river to find out?  We talk to two scientists who put together an epic swim of the Tennessee River to do just that.  We hear all about what it took to pull it off, from using a drone to feed a swimmer to dealing with river monsters, and what they learned in the process.  


Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

]]> Would you swim an entire river to find out how much plastic is in our waterways? Two scientists did just that. full 23:32 middleofeverywherepod@gmail.com (Middle of Everywhere) Middle of Everywhere @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.]]> We all know we live in a world full of plastic.  But how much plastic gets into our waterways and what happens to it once it’s there? Would you swim an entire river to find out?  We talk to two scientists who put together an epic swim of the Tennessee River to do just that.  We hear all about what it took to pull it off, from using a drone to feed a swimmer to dealing with river monsters, and what they learned in the process.  


Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

]]> prx_342_bb11be3c-96d5-4bea-8f47-064f2c2a350d Standing For Rivers Wed, 23 Feb 2022 10:00:00 -0000 https://beta.prx.org/stories/408957 Having “standing” under the law is a very important legal concept. For many years, only people had standing and could bring a complaint before the court. But, could something like the Colorado River have standing? We start Season 2 by exploring approaches and stories related to the “rights of nature,” especially rivers. We discuss the essay, “Should Trees Have Standing?” and the 150-year legal battle of a Maori tribe to protect their ancestral river.

]]> Can a river be a person? Under the law in some countries it can, and it has been proposed in the U.S. But why? And what does it mean? full 2 1 25:57 middleofeverywherepod@gmail.com (Middle of Everywhere) Middle of Everywhere Having “standing” under the law is a very important legal concept. For many years, only people had standing and could bring a complaint before the court. But, could something like the Colorado River have standing? We start Season 2 by exploring approaches and stories related to the “rights of nature,” especially rivers. We discuss the essay, “Should Trees Have Standing?” and the 150-year legal battle of a Maori tribe to protect their ancestral river.

]]> prx_342_510227e6-0b09-4b6b-a0bc-0d034f719fea Season 2 Trailer Wed, 09 Feb 2022 13:49:42 -0000 https://beta.prx.org/stories/407133 Welcome to Season 2 of Middle of Everywhere!  This season we explore America’s rivers and the stories that lie beneath their surface. We learn how we’ve shaped our rivers and how they have shaped us. We hear stories of discovery, strength, and heartbreak all surrounding these waterways. 


Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

]]> Welcome back to Season 2 of Middle of Everywhere! full 2 03:39 middleofeverywherepod@gmail.com (Middle of Everywhere) Middle of Everywhere @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.]]> Welcome to Season 2 of Middle of Everywhere!  This season we explore America’s rivers and the stories that lie beneath their surface. We learn how we’ve shaped our rivers and how they have shaped us. We hear stories of discovery, strength, and heartbreak all surrounding these waterways. 


Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories.  Learn more about us at middleofeverywherepod.org. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

]]> prx_342_18c8dbe7-3a79-44b7-abaa-da840435c9ab Headed for Everywhere Wed, 15 Sep 2021 09:00:00 -0000 https://beta.prx.org/stories/385622 We’re back in the studio for this quick end of summer update. We’ve missed our listeners and want to let you know what we’ve been working on and where we’re heading for season 2…among other things.

]]> A quick end of summer update for our listeners. full 03:24 middleofeverywherepod@gmail.com (Middle of Everywhere) Middle of Everywhere We’re back in the studio for this quick end of summer update. We’ve missed our listeners and want to let you know what we’ve been working on and where we’re heading for season 2…among other things.

]]> next season, summer, tease, update prx_342_d102ba0d-2d4a-4307-bc47-521b23295c83 Black Overseer of a Confederate Monument Mon, 15 Mar 2021 08:00:00 -0000 https://beta.prx.org/stories/338960 How do you feel about confederate monuments and what they represent?   Does your race influence the emotions you have toward these things?  Can you separate your feelings from historical facts? In this last episode of our season, we’re going to talk with the only Black person ever to have managed the Jefferson Davis Historic Site in Fairview Kentucky.  Ron Sydnor managed the park until 2017 and had programming at the site that taught the diversity and nuances of the people behind the civil war.  But teaching confederate history forced him to separate his feelings from what he was teaching.

]]> Can you separate your feelings about confederate monuments from historical facts? Find out how this Black historian does. full 26:28 middleofeverywherepod@gmail.com (Middle of Everywhere) Middle of Everywhere How do you feel about confederate monuments and what they represent?   Does your race influence the emotions you have toward these things?  Can you separate your feelings from historical facts? In this last episode of our season, we’re going to talk with the only Black person ever to have managed the Jefferson Davis Historic Site in Fairview Kentucky.  Ron Sydnor managed the park until 2017 and had programming at the site that taught the diversity and nuances of the people behind the civil war.  But teaching confederate history forced him to separate his feelings from what he was teaching.

]]> prx_342_25f62827-7a4a-469d-8589-a7b74db8f109 One Seed At A Time Mon, 01 Mar 2021 09:00:00 -0000 https://beta.prx.org/stories/338959 Do you ever wonder where your food comes from? What’s the story behind that tomato in the produce department? How did it get to the store? Who grew it? Is it genetically modified?  

In this episode, we hear from Bill and Michael Best, father and son heirloom seed savers. Active in the small farming revolution, Bill also helped start the Lexington and Berea’s Farmers’ Markets.  Now in his 80s, he still grows and sells heirloom beans and tomatoes. Worried about the impact of big agriculture, we also learn how Bill and Michael have dedicated their lives to preserving biodiversity.

Listen and subscribe where you get your podcasts.

]]> This week, we hear the story of a father and son who are well known for their work with heirloom tomatoes and beans, maintaining a collection of over 1500 varieties. full 31:08 middleofeverywherepod@gmail.com (Middle of Everywhere) Middle of Everywhere Do you ever wonder where your food comes from? What’s the story behind that tomato in the produce department? How did it get to the store? Who grew it? Is it genetically modified?  

In this episode, we hear from Bill and Michael Best, father and son heirloom seed savers. Active in the small farming revolution, Bill also helped start the Lexington and Berea’s Farmers’ Markets.  Now in his 80s, he still grows and sells heirloom beans and tomatoes. Worried about the impact of big agriculture, we also learn how Bill and Michael have dedicated their lives to preserving biodiversity.

Listen and subscribe where you get your podcasts.

]]> prx_342_3faf7465-b95e-42cc-8ac1-254a8269fe63 Presenting Black In Appalachia: Sundown Towns Mon, 15 Feb 2021 09:00:00 -0000 https://beta.prx.org/stories/338958 Have you ever heard of a sundown town?  Can you imagine fearing for your life if you were caught downtown after dark? At one point in history, there were thousands of these places all over the country, including the small Appalachian town of Corbin, Kentucky.  This week we are featuring an episode from our friends at Black in Appalachia. We’ll hear hosts Enkeshi El-Amin and Angela Dennis share what sundown towns were and hear stories from people who know what it’s like to live in these places. 

“Sundown Towns" explores the existence of these no-go places for Black folks and the navigation of the checkerboard that is Appalachia.” - Black in Appalachia Podcast

]]> Have you ever heard of a sundown town? Can you imagine fearing for your life if you were caught downtown after dark? At one point in history, there were thousands of these places all over the country, including the small Appalachian town of Corbin, Kentucky. full 32:21 middleofeverywherepod@gmail.com (Middle of Everywhere) Middle of Everywhere Have you ever heard of a sundown town?  Can you imagine fearing for your life if you were caught downtown after dark? At one point in history, there were thousands of these places all over the country, including the small Appalachian town of Corbin, Kentucky.  This week we are featuring an episode from our friends at Black in Appalachia. We’ll hear hosts Enkeshi El-Amin and Angela Dennis share what sundown towns were and hear stories from people who know what it’s like to live in these places. 

“Sundown Towns" explores the existence of these no-go places for Black folks and the navigation of the checkerboard that is Appalachia.” - Black in Appalachia Podcast

]]> Corbin, Kentucky, Black In Applachia, Black Voices, Coming Home, Rural Stories, Sundown Towns prx_342_4439e0f9-367d-47eb-be42-11caab73321a Welcome to the Hotel Metropolitan! Mon, 01 Feb 2021 09:00:00 -0000 https://beta.prx.org/stories/338957 How does Black history get preserved in small towns?  Who decides what sticks around from our segregated past for future generations to learn from?  In this episode we learn about how Betty Dobson saved a little known gem from being destroyed forever.  Betty embarked on a journey to save and rehabilitate the Hotel Metropolitan in Paducah, Kentucky, founded by a Black woman in 1908, to serve Black travelers.  This journey was life-changing for her as it coincided with her rehabilitation of her own body after being diagnosed with MS.  

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

]]> One woman saves a historic Black hotel, against all odds, from destruction... and saves herself in the process. full 38:20 middleofeverywherepod@gmail.com (Middle of Everywhere) Middle of Everywhere @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.]]> How does Black history get preserved in small towns?  Who decides what sticks around from our segregated past for future generations to learn from?  In this episode we learn about how Betty Dobson saved a little known gem from being destroyed forever.  Betty embarked on a journey to save and rehabilitate the Hotel Metropolitan in Paducah, Kentucky, founded by a Black woman in 1908, to serve Black travelers.  This journey was life-changing for her as it coincided with her rehabilitation of her own body after being diagnosed with MS.  

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

]]> BLM, Jim Crow, MS, black lives, black voices, coming home, rural stories prx_342_7e553ee2-4649-4aed-abcc-e809ca32ebe5 My Old Kentucky Stereotype Mon, 18 Jan 2021 09:00:00 -0000 https://beta.prx.org/stories/338956 Did you hear the one about the gay ex-Zumba instructor from Kentucky who pursued a standup career in LA? Adario Mercadante grew up in Murray, KY and he says it’s a wonderful place to raise a family, connect with nature, and enjoy the slower pace of small town life. But it wasn’t meant for him. Even though he left his small hometown, he found many stereotypes followed him.

How do Adario and other Kentucky or small town natives transcend stereotypes of being uneducated, uncultured, and impoverished?

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook at middleofeverywherepod

Follow on Twitter @ruralstories

Subscribe where you get your podcasts.

]]> We meet Adario Mercadante, a gay comedian who hails from Kentucky and redefines the image of who Kentuckians really are. full 20:15 middleofeverywherepod@gmail.com (Middle of Everywhere) Middle of Everywhere Did you hear the one about the gay ex-Zumba instructor from Kentucky who pursued a standup career in LA? Adario Mercadante grew up in Murray, KY and he says it’s a wonderful place to raise a family, connect with nature, and enjoy the slower pace of small town life. But it wasn’t meant for him. Even though he left his small hometown, he found many stereotypes followed him.

How do Adario and other Kentucky or small town natives transcend stereotypes of being uneducated, uncultured, and impoverished?

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook at middleofeverywherepod

Follow on Twitter @ruralstories

Subscribe where you get your podcasts.

]]> Comedy, Coming Home, LGBTQ, Middle Of Everywhere, Rural Stories, Stereotypes, WKMS prx_342_7192f20d-fb06-4ef1-b7ad-7cb3f3bce90b Middle of Everywhere Man Mon, 04 Jan 2021 10:00:00 -0000 https://beta.prx.org/stories/338955 Where did our podcast title, “Middle of Everywhere,” come from anyway? And what does it mean?  In this episode we talk to University of Minnesota Professor Ben Winchester about what the data really says about small town America’s prosperity. A strong advocate for rural communities, we hear Ben dispute the “rural despair” narrative and share information about how people are actually living their lives in these places. Plus, Ben gives some very helpful tips about howsmall towns can attract and keep young professionals in their communities.  

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories

Subscribe where you get your podcasts.

]]> We meet rural sociologist Ben Winchester, a cheerleader for rural communities and our source for the phrase, "Middle of Everywhere." full 27:04 middleofeverywherepod@gmail.com (Middle of Everywhere) Middle of Everywhere @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories Subscribe where you get your podcasts.]]> Where did our podcast title, “Middle of Everywhere,” come from anyway? And what does it mean?  In this episode we talk to University of Minnesota Professor Ben Winchester about what the data really says about small town America’s prosperity. A strong advocate for rural communities, we hear Ben dispute the “rural despair” narrative and share information about how people are actually living their lives in these places. Plus, Ben gives some very helpful tips about howsmall towns can attract and keep young professionals in their communities.  

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories

Subscribe where you get your podcasts.

]]> Ben Winchester, Coming Home, Middle of Everywhere, Rural By Choice, Rural Life, Rural Sociology, Rural Stories, University of Minnesota prx_342_0e4a5816-3e97-4901-ab42-7eeab400f7af The Case of the Christmas Cop Car Mon, 21 Dec 2020 10:00:00 -0000 https://beta.prx.org/stories/338954 What happens when a silly prank turns into a year-long crusade to obtain police records? In this episode, a twice-stolen Christmas display, and the records surrounding it, lead Ariel and Austin to question why the local police have withheld the full records even in the face of a ruling from Kentucky’s Attorney General. And they enlist the help of advocates for open government as they try to “solve” The Case of the Christmas Cop Car.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories

Subscribe where you get your podcasts.

]]> Who stole the police car Christmas display? And why did the local cops try to hide it? full 22:11 middleofeverywherepod@gmail.com (Middle of Everywhere) Middle of Everywhere What happens when a silly prank turns into a year-long crusade to obtain police records? In this episode, a twice-stolen Christmas display, and the records surrounding it, lead Ariel and Austin to question why the local police have withheld the full records even in the face of a ruling from Kentucky’s Attorney General. And they enlist the help of advocates for open government as they try to “solve” The Case of the Christmas Cop Car.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories

Subscribe where you get your podcasts.

]]> Christmas, Coming Home, Kentucky, Local Police, Middle of Everywhere, Open Government, Open Records, Rural Stories, Small Town Prank, Small Towns prx_342_ec1efa20-f7ee-4ea9-942f-70674c1aff1f Hoppy's Heartache Mon, 07 Dec 2020 09:00:00 -0000 https://beta.prx.org/stories/338953 Hoppy Henton is a Kentucky farmer working the land that’s been in his family for 9 generations.  His talents and passion connect him in a lifelong relationship with the Kentucky Farm Bureau.  In this episode, we learn about his 40-years-long struggle to eliminate the conservative policies in the Farm Bureau’s “secret policy book”.  We also hear from key friends, family, and acquaintances of Hoppy’s— from the Fairness Campaign’s Chris Hartman, to former leaders in the Farm Bureau’s ranks — about this epic battle.

]]> An 8th generation farmer wages a battle against an insurance company over its discriminatory policies. full 35:07 middleofeverywherepod@gmail.com (Middle of Everywhere) Middle of Everywhere Hoppy Henton is a Kentucky farmer working the land that’s been in his family for 9 generations.  His talents and passion connect him in a lifelong relationship with the Kentucky Farm Bureau.  In this episode, we learn about his 40-years-long struggle to eliminate the conservative policies in the Farm Bureau’s “secret policy book”.  We also hear from key friends, family, and acquaintances of Hoppy’s— from the Fairness Campaign’s Chris Hartman, to former leaders in the Farm Bureau’s ranks — about this epic battle.

]]> Coming Home, Kentucky Farm Bureau, Kentucky Farmer, Rural Farmer, Rural Life, Rural Stories prx_342_2a6fe39a-cba0-4088-9999-441caaf2b11f Eat This, Kentucky! Mon, 23 Nov 2020 09:00:00 -0000 https://beta.prx.org/stories/338952 What can a recipe be, besides just a list of ingredients? And what can it mean to the people who cook and eat it? In this episode we explore a Kentucky culinary tradition called “burgoo” and trace the history of the dish. We’ll also meet two talented cooks who weave their Kentucky traditions into their food. What story does a meaty frontier stew have to tell about the Bluegrass state and its people?

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories

Subscribe where you get your podcasts.

]]> Austin and Ariel explore the many facets of Kentucky food and the magic of a recipe. full 36:43 middleofeverywherepod@gmail.com (Middle of Everywhere) Middle of Everywhere What can a recipe be, besides just a list of ingredients? And what can it mean to the people who cook and eat it? In this episode we explore a Kentucky culinary tradition called “burgoo” and trace the history of the dish. We’ll also meet two talented cooks who weave their Kentucky traditions into their food. What story does a meaty frontier stew have to tell about the Bluegrass state and its people?

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @middleofeverywherepod and on Twitter @rural_stories

Subscribe where you get your podcasts.

]]> Burgoo, Cooking, Cuisine, Culture, Food, Freight House Restaurant, History, Hopkinsville, Kentucky, Kentucky Food, Middle of Everywhere, Murray, Kentucky, Native Kentuckians, Old Hickory Barbecue, Owensboro, Kentucky, Paducah, Kentucky, Rural Stories, Sarah Bradley, WKMS prx_342_1b56630c-9fab-430e-a730-8be302ae2223 IM GOD Mon, 09 Nov 2020 09:00:00 -0000 https://beta.prx.org/stories/338951 What happens when an atheist stands up for free speech when the government favors Christianity?  Many people in this country think that patriotism and Christianity go hand in hand,  but can a person be a patriot and non-religious? In this episode, Ariel and Austin hear from one feisty and independent man who has devoted his life to crusading for freedom of expression. His journey became world renowned with his lawsuit against the state of Kentucky for denying him the vanity plate IM GOD.  

Subscribe to this podcast in whatever listening app you use and sign up for our newsletter at middleofeverywherepod.com.

]]> We hear about an athiest's 4 year battle for a vanity license plate that opened the door for greater expression. full 36:19 middleofeverywherepod@gmail.com (Middle of Everywhere) Middle of Everywhere What happens when an atheist stands up for free speech when the government favors Christianity?  Many people in this country think that patriotism and Christianity go hand in hand,  but can a person be a patriot and non-religious? In this episode, Ariel and Austin hear from one feisty and independent man who has devoted his life to crusading for freedom of expression. His journey became world renowned with his lawsuit against the state of Kentucky for denying him the vanity plate IM GOD.  

Subscribe to this podcast in whatever listening app you use and sign up for our newsletter at middleofeverywherepod.com.

]]> 1A, ACLU, Athiesm, First Amendment, Free Speech, Freedom From Religion, God, IM GOD, Jesus, Kentucky, License Plate, Middle of Everywhere, Patriot, Patriotism, Vanity Plate, WKMS prx_342_02fbaee4-d4b8-4e70-8e97-3e152ba0fce1 The Mystical Ellis Mad Stone Mon, 26 Oct 2020 08:00:00 -0000 https://beta.prx.org/stories/338950 Early Kentucky settler, Joseph Perkins Ellis, carried a mystical stone which had been passed down in his family for generations. The faith of the Ellis’ in this “Mad Stone,” along with their Baptist convictions, propelled them to make a good life for themselves and their community in the face of a devastating disease like rabies which the stone was believed to heal. This stone continued to be used up into the 20th century and impacted the lives of many. But did it work? And why did people think it did? And what does this family heirloom mean to those who carried it?

]]> We hear a tale of a minister's faith, the scourge of rabies, and a mysterious stone that has affected countless lives. full 32:52 middleofeverywherepod@gmail.com (Middle of Everywhere) Middle of Everywhere Early Kentucky settler, Joseph Perkins Ellis, carried a mystical stone which had been passed down in his family for generations. The faith of the Ellis’ in this “Mad Stone,” along with their Baptist convictions, propelled them to make a good life for themselves and their community in the face of a devastating disease like rabies which the stone was believed to heal. This stone continued to be used up into the 20th century and impacted the lives of many. But did it work? And why did people think it did? And what does this family heirloom mean to those who carried it?

]]> Daviess County Kentucky, Folk Healing, Joseph Perkins Ellis, Kentucky, Kentucky History, Mad Stone, Natural Remedies, Rabies, Whitesville, KY prx_342_b12c77d5-c73f-46e4-a89b-4d44ff40f29c Presenting Middle of Everywhere! Mon, 12 Oct 2020 08:00:00 -0000 https://beta.prx.org/stories/338949 We’re excited to announce our new podcast Middle of Everywhere! Join us to hear big stories from small town America that feature vibrant characters who help us discover these places. Hosted by Ariel Lavery and Austin Carter.

Subscribe now wherever you get your podcasts! Visit us online at middleofeverywherepod.org and follow us on social media @middleofeverywherepod.

]]> Big stories from the small places we call home. trailer 03:23 middleofeverywherepod@gmail.com (Middle of Everywhere) Middle of Everywhere We’re excited to announce our new podcast Middle of Everywhere! Join us to hear big stories from small town America that feature vibrant characters who help us discover these places. Hosted by Ariel Lavery and Austin Carter.

Subscribe now wherever you get your podcasts! Visit us online at middleofeverywherepod.org and follow us on social media @middleofeverywherepod.

]]> Middle of Everywhere, MoE, PRX, Rural America, Small Town America, WKMS, adfree, big stories, characters, new podcast, ruralstories, small places