About Us

ABOUT ROOTS & SHADOWS

Roots & Shadows: The Real Appalachia is a narrative podcast exploring true stories shaped by place, memory, and consequence in Appalachia. Each episode is built from public records, historical reporting, and conversations passed down through families, neighbors, and local memory.

Where the written record goes quiet, details are carefully dramatized—not to sensationalize, but to reflect lived experience and the lasting impact these events had on real communities.

ABOUT THE HOST

Hosted by Kevin Austin, Roots & Shadows is shaped by a personal connection to Appalachia and a belief that some stories deserve to be told quietly, with care for the people and places they come from.

STORY SOURCES

These stories are drawn from public records, historical reporting, and conversations passed down through families, neighbors, and memory. Some names and identifying details have been changed, and where the written record goes quiet, details have been carefully dramatized for storytelling.

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Stories are drawn from public records, historical reporting, and conversations passed down through families, neighbors, and memory. Some details are dramatized where the written record goes quiet.