This Conversation

Dr. Lou Fincher is the first president of Emory & Henry University, moved into the position from her Interim President status in March 2025.

https://www.emoryhenry.edu/live/news/3845-emory-henry-university-selects-career-educator

Mentioned in this episode:

WEHC 90.7 FM is the Voice of Southwest Virginia.

In this episode, we talk to international opera star Mike Austin who is coming to Emory with his opera star son Justin for a concert on April 12, 2025 at the McGlothlin Center for the Arts at 7:00 p.m.

Austin is an Emory & Henry graduate and was the first African American to perform the lead opera role of Otello in the United States and has performed the role all over the world. In This Conversation, you'll hear his story of becoming a musician that began at Emory & Henry.

His son Justin Austin has become a renowned baritone, having been named Rising Star of the Year at the 2024 International Opera Awards. He first performed at the Metropolitan Opera in 2022.

Mentioned in this episode:

WEHC 90.7 FM is the Voice of Southwest Virginia.

Wildlife biologist Ethan Chapmon of the Virginia Dept of Wildlife resources addresses problems and solutions for the overabundance of deer in our neighborhoods. From car crashes and destroyed gardens to disease from deer ticks, Chapmon offers his advice.

If you have a problem with a wounded deer or other issues, you can call the Wildlife Conflict Helpline: 855-571-9003.

Or visit the Virginia Depart of Wildlife Resources for more information. https://dwr.virginia.gov/

Mentioned in this episode:

WEHC 90.7 FM is the Voice of Southwest Virginia.

This interview concludes a four-part series on free press. 

PART IV A First Amendment lawyer details the scope of the liberties we have, including those that scare us.  

Gabe Rottman works with the First Amendment Clinic in The School of Law at the University of Virginia. He also serves as an officer in the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, which offers 24-hour support to journalists when they have questions or concerns about their rights. https://www.rcfp.org/

We are left with the question of whether we really want to keep our Constitutional freedom.

Here are links to the additional episodes from the series.

Part I -- The Arrest of David Huff: I AM a member of the press.

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/548f3efb-e9f1-44ac-ab09-a872fe034115/

Part II -- Huff's attorney and his defense of a free press

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/ebfbf4a6-f4a8-4658-9de1-cccd88e0b72f/

Part III -- Bravery in fear: Appalachian State University student journalist Mia Seligman

The courage of this young journalist is astounding. A broken windshield and threats from an anti-Semitic hate group will not stop her.

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/9789ea61-4671-45d9-91cf-c6cb4491a80a/

Mentioned in this episode:

WEHC 90.7 FM is the Voice of Southwest Virginia.

Mia Seligman found herself covering anti-Semitic speech as a first year student at Appalachian State University. Now in her junior year, she is the editor of the student paper. She continues to follow the story, despite the fear of having her picture posted on an anti-Semitic group's website and the scare of having her car windshield broken out.

She is scheduled to have an article published in this off campus news site.

https://www.theassemblync.com/

Here are links to her reporting at Appalachian State.

https://theappalachianonline.com/staff_name/mia-seligman/

https://theappalachianonline.com/antisemitism-and-hate-at-app-state/

This interview marks a third program in a four-part series on Free Press for This Conversation.

Here are links to parts I & II that are related to the arrest of David Huff for disorderly conduct for insisting that he is a member of the press and should have a seat at the Press Table at a Saltville Town Council meeting. Part II features his attorney in analyzing the free press issue and his defense of Mr. Huff.

Part I -- The Arrest of David Huff

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/548f3efb-e9f1-44ac-ab09-a872fe034115/

Part II -- Huff's attorney and his defense of a free press

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/ebfbf4a6-f4a8-4658-9de1-cccd88e0b72f/

Part III -- Bravery in fear: Appalachian State University student journalist Mia Seligman

Part IV -- coming March 19 -- A First Amendment Expert on current free press issues.

Mentioned in this episode:

WEHC 90.7 FM is the Voice of Southwest Virginia.

This interview is Part II in a four part series on Freedom of hte Press.

In Part I, David Huff described his arrest for insisting that he's a member of the press -- and that he should have a seat at the Press table at a Saltville Town Hall meeting.

In this episode, we hear from his lawyer Christopher Johnson who agrees with Mr. Huff and describes the resolution of the legal case. Is this a case of disorderly conduct or a First Amendment issue? Who is a member of the press?  How do you define a journalist? What are the qualifications for sitting at the press table? 

In the next episode we talk to a student reporter who experienced backlash and a cracked windshield for her coverage of hate speech on her university campus. She persists in reporting on the issue

This Conversation. Wednesdays at 6 :00and Sundays at 2:00 on WEHC, 90.7, Emory and WISE 90.5.

Mentioned in this episode:

WEHC 90.7 FM is the Voice of Southwest Virginia.

This interview begins a four-part series on free speech and a free press. Our first conversation is with Saltville resident David Huff who claimed to be a member of the press and refused to leave a press table at a Town Council meeting. He was arrested for disorderly conduct. Is he really a member of the press and how can we know? Hear the result of his disorderly conduct charges and decide for yourself whether he qualifies as a member of the press. Here is the link to the video file of the arrest, found on David Huff's YouTube site: Hilltop News. *

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/cede55c3-36f8-4add-a51a-9bebbc573c75/

• Note: In this interview with David Huff, show host Teresa Keller suggested that David's Huff's walking, unannounced, into the work area of a business instead of the reception area -- with his camera rolling and asking questions-- was trespassing. Part II of this series features Christopher Johnson, Huff's court-appointed attorney in his case. Johnson clarifies that Huff's entering the work area of the business would not be considered trespassing. Johnson also addresses the broader first amendment issues and principles involved in defending Mr. Huff.

Part II airs Wednesday, March 5 at 6:00 p.m. and replays on Sunday, March 9 at 2:00 p.m. on both WEHC 90.7, Emory and WISE 90.5 Wise.

In Part 3, scheduled for March 12, we will hear from a student journalist who persists in covering controversial issues, even in the face of violent responses.

We conclude with the views of an expert in free speech-free press issues as Part 4 of the series, beginning on Wednesday, March 19.

This Conversation is regularly scheduled for broadcast on Wednesdays at 6 and Sundays at 2 on WEHC 90.7 -- and 90.5 WISE. Archives of the show are available in podcast form. Search for "WEHC - This Conversation."

Mentioned in this episode:

WEHC 90.7 FM is the Voice of Southwest Virginia.

It's Black History Month and Marva Wheeler shares her history in Washington County Virginia as a child of segregation, but also a person with outstanding musical talent. That didn't mean she avoided racial discrimination. She shares her story in hopes that the lessons of inequality can prevent future racism.

Mentioned in this episode:

WEHC 90.7 FM is the Voice of Southwest Virginia.

Valentyn Boychuck is a foreign exchange student who left Ukraine to be a student at Abingdon High School. The program that brought him here is the FLEX program through the U.S. Department of State.

This 15-year-old share stories about the struggles of life in war-torn Ukraine including friends and family members who have served in the military and also how he loves his country and wants to share that story.

The interview ends with a conversation with Karen Reid, the area coordinator with the World Heritage program, who wants listeners to consider hosting a foreign exchange student. She says the benefits of learning, growing family connections, and contributing to making the world better are waiting.

More information is available at

https://www.world-heritage.org/

Ben Davis, an Emory & Henry graduate, who lives in Santa Monica, California, shares his experience living through the wildfires that burned tens of thousands of acres in January 2025. With evacuation notices for his neighbors four blocks away, Ben and others in his apartment building evacuated as well. When they looked outside, the view was a wall of inferno nearby in the Palisades area.

We hear about families who lost homes, the smoky air, efforts to find a hotel room, and the challenges that make some question whether they should stay in southern California or move away. For Ben Davis, it's not a question. He loves his life on the west coast and doesn't intend to go anywhere.  He also revisits his time and study at Emory & Henry, calling the decision to go there the best one of his life. Always good to hear. Thanks, Ben.

Mentioned in this episode:

WEHC 90.7 FM is the Voice of Southwest Virginia.