The media has told us a very straightforward, and depressing, story about Appalachia: it is a region that is being left behind as the rest of the U.S. economy chugs on; it’s a destitute, hopeless place without good jobs, and filled with communities in decline.

In his recent report on the region, Aaron M. Renn, a senior fellow at American Reformer, a Protestant nonprofit, complicates this picture. Appalachia, Renn shows, is no monolith (it consists of a diversity of areas with their challenges and identities); it has a rich cultural heritage, especially in music and the arts and natural beauty; and, while it faces its share of problems, it has tremendous opportunities for growth and several trends working in its favor. Today, Brent speaks with Renn about this much-maligned region, offering an insightful perspective on a region that has a crucial role to play in boosting social mobility for millions of Americans.

Mentioned in this Episode

The Future of Appalachia by Aaron Renn

Joel Kotkin

Joelkotkin.com

Open and Closed Networks

Appalachia on Our Mind by Henry Shapiro

Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance

Systemic Disadvantage

Our Kids by Robert Putnam