Even if diabetes runs in your family, if you find out that your own A1C, or blood sugar level, is in the diabetes range, that still doesn’t mean your future with diabetes is set in stone.

And Fannie Callahan, of Lee County, is living proof. 
Despite having a family history of diabetes, when Fannie found out her A1C had crossed over into the diabetes zone, she jumped into action, changing what she ate every day and starting to go out walking as often as she could. Before long, her A1C had fallen back down into a safer range, and, she says, she just felt better in general. This week on Mountain Talk, we visit with Fannie, as part of our ongoing storytelling series Prevent Diabetes EKY, and hear about her diabetes journey— including how, even if she’s exercising more, she still makes time to watch basketball.

Also this week: having immigrants for neighbors is nothing new in Appalachia. We close this episode with a profile of Frank Majority, a Letcher County stone mason of Italian descent, and the son of immigrants. In this piece, which was adapted from an episode of Appalshop’s Headwaters TV series (1983; dir. by Marty Newell, Anne Lewis, & Jeff Kiser), Majority describes his father’s experience as an immigrant to the mountains in the early 20th century.

This week, we head to Wayland, Kentucky, where organizers, researchers, and residents have come together to commemorate the lynching of Fred Shannon — a Black man killed by a mob over 100 years ago.

We’ll share moments from the ceremony, talk with those leading the effort, and reflect on the power of remembrance, community cleanup, and healing through history.

Queerness isn't just something that exists in the city.

Our LGBTQ+ neighbors are an essential part of the fabric of mountain communities. And in this episode of Mountain Talk, in honor of June being national Pride Month, we bring you a special rebroadcast of a set of audio postcards from Pride celebrations right here in our region. In this show, which originally aired in 2022, first, former WMMT producer Katie Myers travels to Pride gatherings in Pikeville & at Breaks Interstate Park; then, we hear a report from former WMMT producer Rae Garringer, from the very-first-ever Pikeville Pride celebration, which took place in 2018.

On this episode of Mewz for Mountain Talk; Sleeping in the Woods Festival, recorded on location in Monticello, Kentucky in the 48 hours after the May 16th tornadoes. Hear the artists, in their own words, describe the feeling of the weekend, and how music can help us process and heal after the unexpected. Featuring conversations with Nicholas Jamerson, Jonathan Smithwick, Tori Forsyth, Cody Christian, and Maya De Vitry, and your host, Crystal Jones.

Scotia Disaster Remembered by WMMT/Appalshop

Today were exploring an eye-opening first segment where well take a closer look at Black Lung Disease, a devastating condition that continues to impact coal miners across the country. We will hear from a seasoned radiologist who’s seen firsthand how the disease progresses, and from a retired coal miner courageously living with it today. Their stories a stark reminder of the human cost behind the coal industry.

But while the toll is great, so is the strength of those who’ve fought — and continue to fight — for the health and dignity of coal miners.

One organization that has stood tall in that fight is the United Mine Workers of America. From pushing for the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969 to demanding accountability through the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund, the UMWA has been a relentless advocate for miners' rights and safety. Their role in securing benefits for workers suffering from Black Lung can’t be overstated — they’ve helped turn pain into policy

"Common Ground: Humanities at Work" is a special series from Mountain Talk produced in conjunction by Appalshop and Kentucky Humanities that brings you into the heart of the work shaping communities across Appalachia and beyond. Hosted by the Executive Director of Kentucky Humanities, Bill Goodman, each episode features conversations with leaders of state humanities councils and the grantees they support. Together, they explore the powerful role of the humanities in preserving local stories, strengthening communities, and inspiring change. Discover the programs, partnerships, and personal journeys that show how the humanities connect us all.

Written by Bill Goodman and recorded, edited, and produced by Aaron Asbury.

Our music is Remembering Peers by Ben Sollee courtesy of sonaBLAST! Records.

Overcoming Diabetes by WMMT/Appalshop

Welcome to Mountain Talk on WMMT 88.7 FM. I’m your host Josh Outsey and today’s episode is something close to my heart. We're taking a deep dive into my podcast, Intersections of Faith and Freedom—a space where voices rise in song, memory, and movement to explore the powerful links between faith, liberation, and community.

We open with the stirring voice of Jacita White and her original piece, Love is the More Excellent Way. Later in the show, Miss White joins us to talk about the inspiration behind her song and how her spiritual journey and her pursuit of freedom have always been intertwined.

The Eastern Kentucky Remembrance Project has been gathering in Wayland, Ky. since 2021 to clean a mostly African-American cemetery on the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend. The project started when John & Jean Rosenburg visited The Legacy Museum & The Memorial for Peace & Justice in Montgomery, Ala. They found out about The Equal Justice Initiative’s Community Remembrance Project and started organizing. Community Remembrance Project’s seek to shine a light on the history of racial terror & lynchings in the USA. The Eastern Kentucky Remembrance Project has joined the others by gathering soil at the site of the lynching that took place in Wayland, Ky. They are expected to place the historical marker provided by EJI at this years event.