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, "Running in Place," which Andrea discusses with author Saundra Kelley. Courtney Holland recommends the book “Dry,” and Andrea highlights an article in The Nation about treatment stereotypes depicted in films and TV. In an interview, music journalist Steve Wildsmith talks about the struggles of musicians in recovery, which he recounts in the blog TheTiesThatBindUs. His email is wildsmithsteve@gmail.com. A final news note: A Yale University study team gets on the phone with 600 for-profit rehab centers and uncovers hard-sell tactics.
