Melungeon Voices

Melinda Trueblood Stimpson is Roma, Native, Jewish, queer, and autistic, and they recently realized that they might be a Melungeon descendant, but is still in the process of researching their Melungeon ancestry. 

Melinda is a scientist, consultant with a co-operative called Ludar Animal Behavior, and is the director of an animal 501c3 non-profit called Adopt Ohio. They work in community healthcare, especially for the Two Spirit and LGBTQIA+ communities. Their current fields of study in academia are neuroethology and neurodecolonization. They are currently working on their social work license and plan to go on to medical school.

In this episode, Heather Andolina and Melinda discuss the possible connections of the Romani/Roma people to the Melungeon people, as well as highlight the diversity and inclusivity within Appalachia.

Links referenced in this episode:

Melinda Trueblood Stimpson: https://linktr.ee/RomaniScientist 

The Melungeon Voices podcast is presented by the Melungeon Heritage Association (MHA), hosted by Heather Andolina (MHA Board President), and produced by Lis Malone (Lis Malone LLC).

Aaron Collins is an amateur genealogist and researcher. He graduated from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Science in Sociology, and minor in Appalachian Studies. He served twelve years in the US Army reserves. Earlier this year, Aaron started his own business, Lefthanded Guy Upholstery and Woodworking.

Aaron is a descendant of “Old” Benjamin Collins via his maternal grandfather. He spent his formative years visiting his Mamaw and Papaw in Sneedsville, TN. Additionally, Aaron is on the Board of Directors for the Vardy Community Historical Society in Sneedsville, TN. Aaron lives with his husband and two dogs in Knoxville, TN.

In this episode, Aaron and Heather discuss Melungeon ancestry, the Melungeon settlement of Vardy Valley/Newman’s Ridge, and how one can research their own Melungeon heritage. 

For more information on the Vardy Community Historical Society visit them on the web here: https://www.vardymuseum.org/?mibextid=Zxz2cZ

Melungeon Voices is presented by the Melungeon Heritage Assocation, hosted by Heather Andolina (MHA Board President) and produced by Lis Malone (Lis Malone LLC).

Joshua Caleb Daniel Outsey, has been an actor, both on stage and on television. He is also a dedicated Community Organizer and hip-hop recording artist and performer.  Joshua is a co-founder of “ Socially Equal Energy Efficient Development” (SEEED) in Knoxville, TN. For over a decade, he has worked as an advocate for racial equality and economic and environmental justice in and around urban and rural Appalachia. He continues to promote diversity and inclusion through his artistic performance and creative writing. Currently, Joshua is a new employee on the archive team at Appalshop. He has been researching and documenting the history of Black Churches throughout Central and South Central Appalachia.  He lives in Big Stone Gap, VA with his wife, Terran Young, and their daughter, Eden.

In this episode, Josh and Heather talk about Appalshop, and the non-profit SEEED, and these organizations' importance in elevating diverse and inclusive Appalachian voices for change.

Melungeon Voices is presented by the Melungeon Heritage Association, hosted by Heather Andolina (MHA Board President), and produced by Lis Malone (Lis Malone LLC). Visit them on the web at www.melungeon.org to learn more!

* This episode is dedicated in memory of Doris "Jill" Carson.

Links to organizations referenced in this episode:

Professor Emerita, Dr. Kathy J. Lyday, has taught first-year writing, linguistics, grammar, the history of the English language, American literature, Introduction to Literature, literature of the Holocaust, and Appalachian literature at Elon University for 41 years. Her research interests include Appalachian authors, Melungeons in literature,  Holocaust literature, and language use in society. Dr. Lyday has been a member of the Melungeon Heritage Association since 1994 and is the current board Vice-President. She is the co-author of two  historical novels and is currently researching the third book in the series.

In this episode, Heather and Kathy examine the author, Will Allan Dromgoole, and why she is perceived as a controversial figure within the Melungeon community.

Melungeon Voices Podcast is presented by the Melungeon Heritage Association, hosted by current board President Heather Andolina, and produced by Lis Malone (Lis Malone LLC). For more information visit www.melungeon.org

Kiran Singh Sirah is a speaker, folklorist, storyteller, peace-builder, and past president of the International Storytelling Center (ISC) and producer of the world-renowned National Storytelling Festival. Prior to his appointment at ISC, Kiran helped establish a number of award-winning arts, cultural, and human rights programs in numerous countries.

Sirah is regularly asked to provide keynote lectures, workshops, and trainings for such entities as the Smithsonian Institution, the U.S. State Department, Department of Defense, Library of Congress, and the United Nations, and has worked in and in collaboration with projects in Colombia, Brazil, Palestine, Israel, South Sudan and Uganda. Kiran firmly believes storytelling not only enriches lives, but also holds the key to building a better world.

In this season's debut episode, Heather and Kiran discuss the significance of storytelling in Appalachia and Melungeon communities, as well as the importance of storytelling and the importance of sharing our own experiences and stories.

Visit Kiran Sirah on the web at www.kiransinghsirah.net

Special thanks to The Lair House in Mt. Vernon, KY for hosting the MHA's 2023 Annual Union Conference, and the Limestone Grill & Bar for catering the Author Event!

Melungeon Voices Podcast is presented by the Melungeon Heritage Association (MHA), hosted by Heather Andolina, MHA Board President, and produced by Lis Malone (Lis Malone LLC).

Dr. Melissa Carver is the author of the book, "Who the Hell Told You That?" She's also the founder of the Annual Rejuvenation Retreat, President of the nonprofit organization, Mindset Junkies, contributing writer for Chopra and Elephant Journal, as well as a Chopra certified instructor. She is a mindset practitioner who feels authentic perspectives, generate happiness and fulfillment in all aspects of life.

In this season's final episode, host Heather Andolina and Dr. Carver discuss historical and generational trauma, hidden heritage and transcending racism. And they make an exciting announcement about next year's MHA Annual Union Conference!

Melungeon Voices is produced by Lis Malone (www.lismalone.com) and presented by The Melungeon Heritage Association (www.melungeon.org).

Gabriel Greaves, who earned a master's in American Studies from Kennesaw State University in Georgia, and is now a professor of African and African Diaspora Studies at Kennesaw State University, with a background in Afro-Latino studies, the civil rights era, Christianity in the Americas, and the social impact of religious worldviews. He is also a human services professional, historian, educator, and interdisciplinary researcher who has worked within community and grassroots outreach for over 14 years.

In this episode, Gabriel and host Heather Andolina, examine the possible connections of the Melungeon people to Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as discuss maroon communities in Latin America, the Caribbean, and the United States, and their ties to the Melungeon people.

Link to article referenced in this episode: https://the-melungeons.blogspot.com/2012/07/two-groups-of-melungeons-problem.html?m=1

Melungeon Voices is produced by Lis Malone (www.lismalone.com) and presented by The Melungeon Heritage Association. Visit www.melumgeon.prg to learn more.

Janeen Stevens is a native of Michigan and graduate of Wayne State University and has been researching her family genealogy and history for over 10 years. Growing up, she was exposed to the oral history given by her grandparents who were born in the early 1900s. And she experienced a deep longing to understand more about the history of her family.

For this week's episode, host Heather Andolina explains GED Matching, The One Drop Rule, and who was Walter Plecker, and has Janeen explore how one may discover their mixed ancestry, possible ties to the Melungeon and other origins through DNA.

Melungeon Voices is produced by Lis Malone (www.lismalone.com) and presented by the Melungeon Heritage Association. Visit them at www.melungeon.org to learn more.

Ron Carson is the founder of the Appalachian African American Cultural Center. He has dedicated his life and work to the collection and preservation of the narratives, experiences, and artifacts of historical import to the black people of Appalachia. Along with his wife, Jill, he prevented the demolition of an old one room schoolhouse he'd attended as a child, and in 1987, created the Appalachian African American Cultural Center within its walls.

In this week's episode, Heather Andolina welcomes back Ron Carson. He was a guest speaker at this year's Melungeon Heritage Association Union Conference. Ron further discusses the African American experience in Appalachia and how the Melungeon people are a part of black Appalachian history and his important work advocating for the diagnosis, treatment and benefits for coal miners with black lung.

Melungeon Voices is produced by Lis Malone (www.lismalone.com) and presented by the Melungeon Heritage Association. For more information please visit them on the web at www.melungeon.org. 

In this bonus episode, we recorded live from Martinsville, VA at the 2022 Melungeon Heritage Association Union Conference at the Author Event held at the historic Parish House. MHA Board President, Heather Andolina, welcomes listeners to the podcast, then hands the baton to podcast producer, Lis Malone, for interviews with featured authors:

LaTonya Beatty

Dr. Melissa Carver

Paul Johnson

Dr. Terry Mullins

Darlene Nixon

DruAnna Williams Overbay

Beverly Scarlett

Don’t miss this stellar collection of short discussions with an impressive lineup of authors who write about all aspects of Melungeon heritage, genealogy, mixed ancestry, and historical findings!

Melungeon Voices Podcast, produced by Lis Malone (www.lismalone.com) and presented by the Melungeon Heritage Association (www.melungeon.org), can be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more! Subscribe today on your favorite platform so you don’t miss a single episode!