Recorded in West Virginia coalfield country on #Cherokeeland, this podcast explores contemporary community and culture at ground zero of the opioid epidemic. Join host Andrea Brunais as she continues a lifelong career and passion of lifting up and amplifying marginalized voices and experiences. Diving into topics such as the Sacklers and contemporary urban harm reduction-going-rural, to regional colloquialisms like Pillbilly, this podcast prioritizes the lives and work of those on the front lines of this deadly epidemic. Brunais is a longtime writer, journalist and editor who discovered the astounding talent for poetry by the drug-dealing young author behind the book “Hillbilly Drug Baby: The Poems.” You’ll hear his words along with the voices of "opioid warriors" in Appalachia as well as those who are planting seeds of hope. In this episode: Jesse-Ray's poem “Portrait of Two Fathers,” which Andrea discusses with author Saundra Kelley. Saundra shares a children’s book about legendary Appalachian storyteller Ray Hicks. Andrea shares an episode of the public radio show Inside Appalachia. Listen at: https://www.wvpublic.org/inside-appalachia-2021/2021-04-16/matriarchal-moonshiners-legendary-lawbreakers-and-more-inside-appalachia Interview with Margo Walter, a recovering alcoholic who studied psychology and wrote a book about her life. She offers hope for those struggling to repair family relationships. You can contact her atmargoleewalter@gmail.com A final news note: No stranger to controversy, author J.D. Vance generates headlines once more.
