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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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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

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.  

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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?

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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.  

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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.

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