If you've never spent time in Appalachia, your idea of the region might be shaped by what you see in media like vice presidential nominee JD Vance’s bestselling memoir Hillbilly Elegy and its subsequent movie adaptation. But many popular depictions of Appalachia ignore its rich diversity. This hour, we talk to people who grew up in Appalachia to go beyond the stereotypes. Neema Avashia discusses her book Another Appalachia: Coming Up Queer and Indian in a Mountain Place and tells us about searching for belonging with multiple marginalized identities. And Crystal Wilkinson, former Poet Laureate of Kentucky and author of the culinary memoir Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts: Stories and Recipes from Five Generations of Black Country Cooks, reflects on her family's long and complex history in Appalachia stretching back to a marriage between a white man and an enslaved Black woman.



GUEST:


Neema Avashia: Educator and author of Another Appalachia: Coming Up Queer and Indian in a Mountain Place.


Crystal Wilkinson: Writer and former Poet Laureate of Kentucky. She teaches creative writing at the University of Kentucky and is author of Perfect Black. Her latest book is Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts: Stories and Recipes from Five Generations of Black Country Cooks.

If you've never spent time in Appalachia, your idea of the region might be shaped by what you see in media like vice presidential nominee JD Vance’s bestselling memoir Hillbilly Elegy and its subsequent movie adaptation. But many popular depictions of Appalachia ignore its rich diversity. This hour, we talk to people who grew up in Appalachia to go beyond the stereotypes. <a href="https://www.neemaavashia.com/">Neema Avashia</a> discusses her book <a href="https://www.neemaavashia.com/another-appalachia">Another Appalachia: Coming Up Queer and Indian in a Mountain Place</a> and tells us about searching for belonging with multiple marginalized identities. And <a href="https://www.crystalewilkinson.net/">Crystal Wilkinson</a>, former Poet Laureate of Kentucky and author of the culinary memoir <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/704948/praisesong-for-the-kitchen-ghosts-by-crystal-wilkinson/">Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts: Stories and Recipes from Five Generations of Black Country Cooks</a>, reflects on her family's long and complex history in Appalachia stretching back to a marriage between a white man and an enslaved Black woman.
 
GUEST:
<ul>
<li>
Neema Avashia: Educator and author of <a href="https://www.neemaavashia.com/another-appalachia">Another Appalachia: Coming Up Queer and Indian in a Mountain Place</a>.
</li>
<li>
Crystal Wilkinson: Writer and former Poet Laureate of Kentucky. She teaches creative writing at the University of Kentucky and is author of <a href="https://www.kentuckypress.com/9780813151151/perfect-black/">Perfect Black</a>. Her latest book is <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/704948/praisesong-for-the-kitchen-ghosts-by-crystal-wilkinson/">Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts: Stories and Recipes from Five Generations of Black Country Cooks</a>. 
</li>
</ul>

Disrupted is about the changes we all encounter and the forces driving those changes. Some disruptions spark joy and possibility. Others move us to take action and re-evaluate our world. But the show isn't just about those disruptions; it’s about embracing them, exploring new perspectives, and feeling more connected to ourselves and our communities. Host and political scientist Khalilah Brown-Dean creates a place where changemakers come together to help us see the world differently and challenge us to grow together.

Visit ctpublic.org/disrupted for more! 

Disrupted is about the changes we all encounter and the forces driving those changes. Some disruptions spark joy and possibility. Others move us to take action and re-evaluate our world. But the show isn't just about those disruptions; it’s about embracing them, exploring new perspectives, and feeling more connected to ourselves and our communities. Host and political scientist Khalilah Brown-Dean creates a place where changemakers come together to help us see the world differently and challenge us to grow together.
Visit <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/disrupted">ctpublic.org/disrupted</a> for more!

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