I know it's been a while, but I'm here to prove that this podcast isn't history! Even though this episode is all about history! This week we're joined by Josh Howard, public historian, Everquest enthusiast, bacon admirer, to dig down deep into what it means to love precarious places. From childhood gaming groups and the…Read more Ep. 26: Appalachians Play Everquest, II
Playing appalachia
Ep. 25: Death Mountain Lifestyle
So what exactly is a mountain lifestyle? Is it a marketing phrase? A type of view from your window? A bonified set of cultural practices? Whatever it is, it must be pretty awesome, considering how awesomely expensive the mountain lifestyle is getting these days! This week we're joined by Shaun Martin, a Nintendo loving editor working…Read more Ep. 25: Death Mountain Lifestyle
Ep. 23: The Streamers of Madison County
Creeks aren't the only types of mountain streams in Appalachia. We also have video game streamers! This week we're joined by Renee Hill, a pastry chef, gamer, and video game streamer known as "The Caked Crusader". Renee currently lives in Madison County, the same county in Western North Carolina where JD (the host) grew up. For…Read more Ep. 23: The Streamers of Madison County
Ep. 22: Modding Appalachia
What do Minecraft and Appalachia have in common? They both have people trying to modify them. So could Minecraft mods teach us something about how to go about ethically modding Appalachia? This week we're joined by Jerel Culliss (aka King Lemming), an Appalachian-raised engineer who moonlights as a reknown Minecraft modder. Jerel is founder of Team CoFH, the group responsible for Thermal…Read more Ep. 22: Modding Appalachia
Ep. 21: Rural Flight, Virtually Speaking
Meredith Wilson is participating in rural flight, virtually speaking. As young people from Appalachia increasingly move out of the region, Meredith Wilson has done something strange: moved to rural Virginia to make virtual reality video games. Meredith Wilson is a public health epidemiologist turned video game developer who was a participant in Oculus Launchpad 2017. Wilson used to…Read more Ep. 21: Rural Flight, Virtually Speaking
Ep. 19: Kentucky Route Zero and the Route to Appalachia
It's near impossible to talk about Appalachia and video games, and games that "get Appalachia right", without talking about Kentucky Route Zero. The game itself is mysterious, filled with empty space and people with featureless faces, a five-part digital theater that leaves enough room for Appalachia to rush in. What is it about this magical…Read more Ep. 19: Kentucky Route Zero and the Route to Appalachia
Ep. 18: What Games Are Getting Right About Appalachia
In 2016, the United States collectively pointed a trembling finger of accusation at the Appalachian region. The verdict was in: America was screwed, and “Trump Country” was to blame. Journalists began to flock to the region, looking to demystify and correctly identify the dysfunctional roots of Appalachia and its people. Thinkpiece after thinkpiece was published,…Read more Ep. 18: What Games Are Getting Right About Appalachia