Brad Davis and Caitlyn Ware are responsible for the movement From Below: Rising Together for Coalfield Justice. They originally began as an immersive experience in McDowell County, WV. However, when Brad asked his congregation to help neighbors across the county line, whose water had recently been poisoned, a woman in the back laughed out loud and said, “our water has been bad for years”. This moment sent them down a path filled with water distributions and legislative sessions.

Most recently, McDowell County, was featured on an episode of 60 Minutes. The original story was about “affordability” and the “birthplace of foodstamps”, but Brad negotiated with the producers to make sure that they told the story of the people. Water IS the biggest issue, because Water IS Life. If we don’t have water, we can’t eat, work or anything else.

Our state government is not doing right by their people and Caitlyn is one of our biggest advocates, when it comes to legislative policy and crunching the ACTUAL numbers for these water projects that are making their way into a few bills this session. She is also aware of the bills with good ideas that have not gone anywhere during this 2026 Legislative session.

This is just a couple of the things that we touched on in this 2 hour conversation about our home, the place that is worth saving, West Virginia

Paige Reiring on The Life of Mother Jones

Lindsay and Elise met Paige in person, for the first time, the day we filmed this episode. She brought her, aptly described, emotional support Ax. As we have expressed before, we love Mother Jones and aspire to have the same grit and charisma that she had. Paige embodies the image that mother jones portrayed in public. As Paige goes through Mother Jones’ life with us, we tend to Fan Girl over Mother Jones and how she handled thugs like Baldwin-Felts and anyone she came into contact with, friend or foe. She was revered and coined as “The Most Dangerous Woman in the World”.

Goals.

This was such a fun episode to record, we laughed and fantasized about what kind of woman Mother Jones really was and if she would have liked us or not. Anyways, Paige is a one of a kind woman and I am so proud that she likes us here at Appalachian Livin’. You can follow her here on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@runoutofwit

On this episode of Appalachian Livin’, we talk to Maria Gunnoe via video call.

Maria is a well known as a local advocate from Boone County, West Virginia. Her family has lived in they West Virginia Mountains for generations. So, of course, she comes from a long line of coal miners. During this episode we talk about our collective experiences as local, environmental advocates in an extraction state. We talk about our love for the mountains and the choices of living here, that we all have to make. We recorded this before the holidays, so keep that in mind. Thanks os much for listening!!

Maria Gunnoe’s Honors and Appearances

• In 2005, Gunnoe received the Environmental Courage Award from the West Virginia Environmental Council.[4]
• In 2006, Gunnoe received the Callaway Award for her organizing efforts in her southern West Virginia community.[11]
• In 2007, she also received the David Vs. Goliath Award from the Rainforest Action Network.[4]
• In 2009 Gunnoe received the Goldman Environmental Prize, which is the second time an environmentalist has been awarded a Goldman Prize for fighting coal mining operations in West Virginia. In 2003, Julia Bonds won a Goldman for opposing the controversial practice of mountaintop removal in Appalachia.[1][12]
• In October 2012, Gunnoe received the University of Michigan's Wallenberg Medal, and was the first person to receive the award for environmentalist work.[3][8]

The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are theri own and do not necessarily reflect those of the hosts. This podcast should not be considered a professional news service.

The content is for entertainment and informational purposes only. Accuracy and completeness are not guaranteed. We are regular folks, having a regular conversation.

We hope that you join us.

This week on Appalachian Livin’, we took a break from the serious stuff and just had some, much needed, fun and laughter. We sat down with Derek Bolt, a fellow Pineville native, to swap stories and laughs about growing up in the coalfields of southern West Virginia in the 1990s. Derek shares what it was like coming from a family who were heavy into the local politics during our childhood—his dad served as a Magistrate—and how that shaped his upbringing in a small town where everybody knew everybody.

True to his roots, Derek even showed up bearing gifts and brought us some authentic coal scrip he picked up from a local gem, Village Antique and Things, which sparked even more memories and laughs.

We also dive into Derek’s adventures beyond the white water rapids of the Appalachian mountains, to guiding trips out in Colorado, and how those experiences shaped him. We also chatted about the similarities and the differences between the two mountain ranges.

Lindsay goes into her trip out to Indiana where she met some really cool people and vendors at the farmers market in Lafayette, Indiana.

Shout Out to these awesome local businesses.

https://www.artwithahappyheart.com/?srsltid=AfmBOooRowtF29S_xdIFsW8L0Pk0x45u-3dzbEEh2Zl4nlbj_HRRRnCg

oldgraycatherbs.com

studiogreen557.com

cronebydesign.com

This episode is packed with nostalgia, humor, and a lot of good-natured storytelling—easily one of the funniest episodes we’ve had so far. We hope you join us and enjoy!! Please like, follow or leave a review, we greatly appreciate the listeners!!

Steven P New Vs. Data Center

Trial attorney and legal advocate, Stephen P New, learned that a massive data center complex and an ammonia plant were approved to begin construction right by his childhood home—where his aging father still lives. Without hesitation, Steve has been preparing for the battle of a lifetime. But this battle isn’t just about political parties and permits, it's about our home and how we decide to leave it for future generations. In perfect Stephen P. New fashion, we get to hear how he plans on saving southern West Virginia from these massive pollution centers. He has discovered that the waters surrounding it is one of the last known habitats of an endangered species, giving him a powerful and unexpected legal angle.

As he prepares to sue a web of corporate developers, federal agencies, and political power players, Steve confronts the emotional weight of defending the place that shaped him… and the high-stakes strategy of using environmental law to protect both his family, friends, the fragile ecosystem that we, as appalachians, have come to love and learn to respect and appreciate its power.

This podcast is the first of a series where we will be following Steve's quest to hold the powerful accountable—before the land, the communities, and his father’s home are lost forever.

This week on Appalachian Livin’, we’re joined by musician Curtis Lovejoy from Wyoming County, West Virginia. Curtis has been writing songs that speak to what’s really going on in the world right now — some might call it political or protest music, but really, he’s just telling the truth.

We kept calling his songs cheeky — they’ve got personality and humor — but behind every line is something real. Curtis performs a few tunes for us, including his newest release “The Scorpion and the Frog” ( you can download it here: https://www.boomplay.com/songs/218582641 ) and a powerful song called “Words,” where we talk about how language carries weight and shapes the world we live in.

A little music, a little conversation, and a whole lot of Appalachian truth-telling.

#ProtestMusic #TruthInSong #FolkRevival #MusicWithAMessage #SingerSongwriter #AppalachianSound #CurtisLovejoyMusic #TheScorpionOrTheToad #WordsSong #MusicForChange #AppalachianFolk #WVMusicScene #RootsMusic #AppalachianLivin #CurtisLovejoy #WestVirginiaMusic #Appalachia #Storytelling #PodcastInterview #FolkMusic #MountainVoices #AppalachianCulture #WVArtists #IndependentMusic #AppalachianStories #ListenLocal

In this episode of Appalachian Livin’, we sit down with a local investigative journalist, Christina Baisden. Christina shares how she uncovers the truth, protects her sources, and documents injustices happening within Beckley’s city limits. From recording City Council meetings to demanding leaders follow Robert’s Rules, she refuses to let elected officials put themselves above their constituents. This is a conversation about accountability, transparency, and the power of grassroots journalism.

In this episode of Appalachian Livin’, Lindsay, Elise, and Tom sit down with the Appalachian Oracle—a kindred spirit we first met on TikTok and clicked with instantly. What started as an online friendship has turned into a real-life bond built on shared values and curiosity. The Oracle is working on her dissertation about Appalachian culture, and together we chat about everything from society and people to what makes the Appalachian experience so unique. From traditions and identity to how our region ties into the bigger picture, it’s all on the table in this conversation.

McDowell County’s only been using its new water buffalo for a few months, but it’s already delivering safe drinking water where tap water isn’t. Now Wyoming County is getting its own—thanks to the United Methodist Church Disaster Fund. Pastor Brad Davis explains, step-by-step, how McDowell’s system works, how the water stays safe, and what residents can expect when Wyoming’s buffalo rolls in.

In this episode of Appalachian Livin’, we sit down with Dr. Than Hitt and Mariah Clay from West Virginia Rivers. Dr. Hitt helps put the region’s ongoing water crisis into context from a scientific perspective, breaking down the causes, challenges, and urgency behind the issue. Mariah Clay shares how pollution is affecting Appalachian communities on a daily basis, and what steps are being taken right now. This is a conversation about resilience, action, and protecting the lifeblood of our mountains—our water.