A new national research project into collard greens is underway and is based on work done for a book by Emory & Henry Professor Ed Davis and his co-author Professor Emeritus John Morgan.

Ed's book is called Collards: A Southern Tradition from Seed to Table.

In this episode of This Conversation, he reviews the culture of collards and recounts his pilgrimage over thousands of miles to find heirloom collard greens.

His book -- and heirloom collard seeds -- can be found through the website Southern Exposure Seed Exchange.

An area company is leading the world in saving us from plastic waste.

Eastman Chemical in nearby Kingsport, TN is now operating the world's largest chemical recycling facility.

Eastman has reduced its carbon footprint by 80% with a goal of zero carbon input into the environment. The company is partnering with other major corporations, such as Pepsi and Proctor and Gamble to reduce plastic waste. In this episode, Eastman Executive VP Brad Lich describes the planning and the process for an endless loop of reusing plastic.

Monroe Preston attended the Glade Spring Elementary School during segregation. The school was commonly referred to as the "colored school." Preston has led a campaign that resulted in the posting of a state highway marker to commemorate the school and its teachers. In this interview, Preston describes the school and its dedicated teachers, along with the many successes of those who attended there.

Yogev Von Kundra had thought of himself as half-Jewish -- until he made a trip to Israel with the Birthright Program in 2018.

The trip transformed him. He describes powerful experiences, especially visiting the wailing wall in Jerusalem and shares his views on the Israeli-Hamas war. He now operates a farm in Washington County Virginia, influenced by Jewish history, practices, and spirituality.

At the close of the interview, he talks about the Israel-Hamas war and shares the central Jewish message of peace.

The Digital Marketing and Advertising Manager of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Bristol says she loves her job. Lindsay Powers is also a graduate of Emory & Henry's Mass Communications Department and explains how all the skills from her undergraduate education plus her career experience came together for the opportunity to market the large gaming and entertainment facility in Bristol.

Retired criminal defense attorney Jay Steele reflects on his 44 years of practice in Southwest Virginia, representing those facing both federal and state charges.

The big question people always want to know: how can you defend people who may be guilty of serious crimes? And why, in Steele's case, is it more challenging to defend someone you believe to be innocent?

What cases stand out? What concerns does he have for the court system?

Join us for This Conversation with Jay Steele.

Los Angeles Pro Wrestler CEREAL MAN graduated from Emory & Henry College in 2008. Hear the story of Derek Smith's journey from College to the Pro Wrestling Circuit.

You can find his costume and prop creations on Etsy at the Sweat Monster Shop.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/SweatMonsterShop

Marika Katanuma is a Japanese journalist, working on both the English and Japanese branches of Bloomberg news in Tokyo.

She quickly rose through the ranks at Bloomberg to hold responsibility for news stories, websites, and making major news judgments. One of her investigative projects explored the gender gap in pay between women and men in Japan.

Hear how she chose Emory & Henry College for her college degree and the single requirement she had in choosing her school. Listen for the one comment that changed her path and led to her career as a journalist. Her story of finding her voice and her power is an amazing one.

This week's interview delves into the pros and cons of the proposed Virginia Constitutional Amendment that will appear on ballots for the November 2024 Election Ballot.

The Amendment intends to expand a current tax exemption on homes owned by spouses of members of the military who die "in the line of duty." Previously, the exemption was only extended to spouses of those who were "killed in action."

Julianne Miles, a resident of Abingdon and military veteran from service in the Gulf War and other locations, discusses different viewpoints on the proposed Amendment. She also answers questions about her time in the military and her view about public service.

Democratic Congressional Candidate for the 9th District in Virginia addresses her positions and answers questions about major issues in the Tuesday, November 5, 2024 election.

Incumbent Congressman Republican Morgan Griffith declined to be interviewed for This Conversation unless another host would conduct the interview, believing that I cannot conduct an impartial interview. His staff reports that the decision is not a reflection on the University or on WEHC.