This spring, Blue Ridge Public Radio will host "Story and Place in Appalachia: A Pop-Up Listening Lounge" as part of the 47th annual Appalachian Studies Conference.
As part of the conference, attendees can explore the culture, histories, and perspectives of Western North Carolina and Appalachia through curated conversations at BPR's Listening Lounge led by Arts Advocate Marie T. Cochran and BPR Senior Regional Reporter Lilly Knoepp.
Heading to the conference? Find more details below.
Event details
The Appalachian Studies Conference takes place on Thursday, March 7-Saturday, March 9 at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee as a ticketed event.
During Listening Lounge hours, conference attendees are invited to stop by the lounge, located in the Catamount Conference Room, for casual conversation, snacks, and drinks.
Listening Lounge hours are as follows:
- Friday, March 8 from 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Saturday, March 9 from 9 a.m.-5:15 p.m.
Conversation hours
Conference attendees are also invited to take part in conversation hours with featured speakers from the Appalachian Studies Conference and the Western North Carolina Community. These conversations will not be recorded and attendees will be invited to participate and ask questions.
Friday, March 8: Silas House and "Beloved Place" | 10:45 a.m.
Host: BPR Senior Regional Reporter Lilly Knoepp and Appalachian Studies President and Western Carolina University Professor Travis Rountree
Kentucky Poet Laureate Silas House will discuss his writing including his collaboration with American neo-country and folk singer Tyler Childers on Childers' recent music video In Your Love, and how House's work ties into the conference theme of "Beloved Community."
Note: Tyler Childers will not be in attendance.
Friday, March 8: Tribal Sovereignty at the Museum of the Cherokee People | 1:30 p.m.
Host: BPR senior regional reporter Lilly Knoepp
Museum of the Cherokee People Director of Education Dakota Brown and Director of Collections and Exhibitions Evan Mathis discuss the museum's new Tribal Sovereignty exhibition.
Saturday, March 9: What is a Beloved Place: University Press of Kentucky author roundtable | 11 a.m.
Host: BPR Senior Regional Reporter Lilly Knoepp and BPR Reporter and Afternoon Host Jose Sandoval
University Press of Kentucky authors Jonathan Corcoran, Rahul Mehta, and Julie Rae Powers discuss what a "beloved place" means and how it ties into their recent work.
Saturday, March 9: Affrilachian Audio with Marie Cochran | 2:30 p.m.
Host: Arts Advocate Marie Cochran and BPR Senior Regional Reporter Lilly Knoepp
Marie Cochran discusses her work as an arts advocate and highlights Affrilacian audio projects, "Black in Appalachia" podcast from East Tennessee PBS and "BLAC Re-Membering" podcast from the Black Appalachian Coalition.
About the Appalachian Studies Conference
The Appalachian Studies Association was formed in 1977 by a group of scholars, teachers, and regional activists who believed that shared community has been and will continue to be important to those writing, researching, and teaching about Appalachia. The ASA is headquartered at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia.
