Episodes

  • Chris Ingstad is the President of Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation and an 8th generation Iowan. He joins the Forgotten America podcast to discuss life in Iowa. Chris explains why he hasn’t seriously considered leaving the state despite its harsh winters, and he talks about the food, culture, economy, and heritage of the Hawkeye state.

    Additional Resources

    Follow Chris’s work at Iowans for Taxpayer Relief Foundation: https://itrfoundation.org/staff/

    Grant Wood and American Gothic: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grant_Wood

    University of Iowa Writer’s Workshop: https://writersworkshop.uiowa.edu/

    Field of Dreams: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097351/

    “Our liberties we prize, and our rights we will maintain.” - Iowa State Motto

    https://publications.iowa.gov/135/1/profile/8-1.html#:~:text=On%20the%20white%20center%20stripe,in%20red%20below%20the%20streamers

    Okoboji, Iowa https://vacationokoboji.com/

    Garrett Ballengee, Host President & CEO - @gballeng Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy Amanda Kieffer, Executive Producer Vice President of Communications & Strategy - @akieffer13 Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy Nate Phipps, Editor & Producer - @Aviv5753 Follow: YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram Support: Donate, Newsletter
  • For this Halloween Special, Lyndsey Quinlan, Digital Marketing Associate for the Cardinal Institute, and Jessica Dobrinsky, Staff Writer for the Cardinal Institute, join Garrett Ballengee to discuss horror films set in rural locations. They share their favorites and explore themes of folklore, rural horror, and hicksploitation. They also take a deep dive into what makes a good horror film and look at literary themes, the power of music and lighting in film, human psychology analyzed through film, and some history behind scary movie genres. If you enjoy horror films, and even if you don’t, you’ll enjoy this riveting discussion of top horror films set in rural America.

    Follow Jessica & Lyndsey

    Follow Jessica Dobrinsky on Twitter https://x.com/jldobrinsky

    Follow Lyndsey Quinlan on Twitter https://x.com/its_Lynds_

    Films Discussed

    Night of the Hunter Night of the Living Dead Texas Chainsaw Massacre Children of the Corn Evil Dead 2 Sleepy Hollow The Blair Witch Project The Witch

    Additional Resources & Mentions

    Nightmare Before Christmas - film

    Hicksploitation – theme/trope

    Film Noir - genre

    Harry Powers – serial killer

    West Virginia Penitentiary a.k.a. Moundsville Penitentiary

    Horror Film - genre

    Leaning on the Everlasting Arms – Hymn

    Once Upon a Time There Was a Pretty Fly – Song

    White Zombie – film

    Slasher – genre

    Head Cheese – food

    Video nasty – type of film

    Stephen King – author

    Carrie – novel

    Comedy Horror – genre

    The Evil Dead – film

    Necronomicon Ex Mortis – fictional book from a film

    Ash vs. Evil Dead – TV show

    Sam Raimi – film director

    Bruce Campbell – actor and producer

    The Legend of Sleepy Hollow – book

    Atmospheric Horror – genre

    Found footage – film technique

    Flying Ointment

    Garrett Ballengee, Host President & CEO - @gballeng Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy Amanda Kieffer, Executive Producer Vice President of Communications & Strategy - @akieffer13 Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy Nate Phipps, Editor & Producer - @Aviv5753 Follow: YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram Support: Donate, Newsletter

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  • Emma Ayers, a native of East Tennessee and Religion & Culture Writer with the Washington Times, joins us today for the second half of our discussion of Hurricane Helene disaster recovery. She shares her perspective on the culture, economy, and people of East Tennessee and how they are responding to the unprecedented natural disaster of Hurricane Helene. She also shares a little about mule trains and other non-traditional ways that Appalachians are helping each other in their time of need.

    Additional Resources:

    East Tennessee Hurricane Helene Recovery Resources: https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/local/2024/10/10/east-tennessee-flooding-rescues-resources-hurricane-helene-relief/75608482007/

    Tennessee Disaster Recovery Map: https://www.tn.gov/tdot/projects/projects-region-1/hurricane-helene-recovery.html

    Barstool Conservatism: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barstool_conservatism

    Mule Trains: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2024/sep/30/north-carolina-residents-use-mule-trains-to-delive/

    Social Trust: https://www.socialcapitalresearch.com/trust-and-trustworthiness/

    Follow Emma’s work at the Washington Times: www.washingtontimes.com

    Ways to Donate & Support:

    Samaritan’s Purse: https://www.samaritanspurse.org/disaster/hurricane-helene/

    Look for actual individuals who live in the area who are looking for help on the ground.

    Garrett Ballengee, Host

    President & CEO - @gballeng

    Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy

    Amanda Kieffer, Executive Producer

    Vice President of Communications & Strategy - @akieffer13

    Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy

    Nate Phipps, Editor & Producer - @Aviv5753

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  • (We had some unusual technical difficulties when recording this episode. So please forgive any choppiness that may result – we did what we could to edit it as smoothly as possible.)

    Brooke Medina, Vice President of Communications for the John Locke Foundation, joins Garrett Ballengee to discuss the impact of Hurricane Helene on Western North Carolina and how these Appalachian communities are responding to this unprecedented disaster.

    Additional Resources:

    John Locke Foundation: https://www.johnlocke.org/about/team/brooke-medina/

    Samaritan’s Purse: https://www.samaritanspurse.org/disaster/hurricane-helene/

    Baptists on Mission: https://baptistsonmission.org/

    Cajun Navy: https://www.cajunnavyrelief.com/

    Donate to Hurricane Helene Refief: https://www.johnlocke.org/help-support-hurricane-helene-relief-efforts-in-western-nc/

    Shop to Support Relief Efforts: https://johnlockestore.com/collections/restore-western-nc

    Carolina Journal: https://www.carolinajournal.com/

    Hurricane Helene: https://www.axios.com/2024/10/04/hurricane-helene-deadliest-us-storms-death-toll

    Garrett Ballengee, Host President & CEO - @gballeng Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy Amanda Kieffer, Executive Producer Vice President of Communications & Strategy - @akieffer13 Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy Nate Phipps, Editor & Producer - @Aviv5753 Follow: YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram Support: Patreon, Donate, Newsletter
  • Shawn Peterson, President of Catholic Education Partners and long-time resident of Minnesota, joins this episode of the Forgotten America podcast to weigh in on the selection of Tim Walz as the Democratic VP nominee. He also shares about the political history of Minnesota and its cultural history and shifts. If you’re curious about the Upper Midwest and its Scandinavian roots, Garrett’s discussion with Shawn will be enlightening.

    Mentioned in this Episode:

    Red Wing boots from Minnesota

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Borlaug

    Minnesota Iron Range: beautiful old towns up there that have fallen into disrepair, very hard-working salt of the earth people

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cass_Gilbert

    Norwegian Lefse

    https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/18082/norwegian-lefse/

    Catholic Education Partners

    https://catholiced.us/

    Garrett Ballengee, Host President & CEO - @gballeng Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy Amanda Kieffer, Executive Producer Vice President of Communications & Strategy - @akieffer13 Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy Nate Phipps, Editor & Producer - @Aviv5753 Follow: YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram Support: Patreon, Donate, Newsletter
  • Dr. Barker is the President of Southern Wesleyan University in South Carolina and joins us today to talk about current challenges in higher education and the importance of an education that teaches values and not just skills. Fun Fact: his home state is West Virginia, so Garrett kicks off this discussion by asking Dr. Barker about his hometown of Clarksburg. Dr. Barker shares stories about the Italian heritage of West Virginia, his time as a military chaplain, and how he came to work in higher education. If you care about the future of post-secondary education and wonder how we got to a place with such a broken system, this is an episode you’ll enjoy.

    Learn more about Southern Wesleyan and Dr. Barker at https://www.swu.edu/about/who-we-are/our-president/

    Garrett Ballengee, Host

    President & CEO - @gballeng

    Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy

    Amanda Kieffer, Executive Producer & Editor

    Vice President of Communications & Strategy - @akieffer13

    Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy

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  • J.D. Vance’s selection as President Trump’s Vice-Presidential running mate has kicked up a renewed firestorm around Vance’s Appalachian bona fides and his book Hillbilly Elegy. Is he legitimately Appalachian? What does it even mean to be Appalachian? In this episode of Forgotten America, Garrett is joined by Anthony Hennen, journalist and fellow Appalachian, to discuss this Vice-Presidential pick and what it might mean for the region.

    Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear’s Commentary on J.D. Vance

    https://x.com/douglaswburns/status/1817976888695951677

    https://x.com/SeanPEngland/status/1815366244624740751

    J.D. Vance’s Hillbilly Elegy

    https://www.amazon.com/Hillbilly-Elegy-Memoir-Family-Culture/dp/0062300547

    Follow Anthony’s Work

    https://expatalachians.com/author/anthonyh

    https://tfas.org/news/tfas-announces-recipients-of-2023-24-robert-novak-journalism-fellowship/

    https://www.thecentersquare.com/users/profile/anthony%20hennen/

    Garrett Ballengee, Host

    President & CEO - @gballeng

    Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy

    Amanda Kieffer, Executive Producer & Editor

    Vice President of Communications & Strategy - @akieffer13

    Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy

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  • Daniel Corcoran joins Forgotten America to discuss men’s issues and why he feels our modern culture is leaving men behind. Statistics across a variety of sectors show that men are struggling with mental health, criminality, friendship, overall well-being, purposelessness, and society’s perception of men. Dan & Garrett discuss these issues, how they affect men, and ways we can improve the lives of boys and men.

    Keep up with Dan’s work:

    Overcoming the Divide – YouTube Podcast https://www.youtube.com/@overcomingthedivide

    Men of Tomorrow – podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/men-of-tomorrow/id1752861808

    @dancorcoran28 on Instagram

    Some Relevant Statistics Mentioned in this Episode:

    15% of men don’t have a close friend (5 fold increase since 1990)

    4 times more likely to die by suicide but 10 percentage points less likely to seek help

    10 Million working-age men are not working or looking for work

    71% of opioid overdoses are men

    80-93% of men comprise prison populations

    Additional Resources Mentioned:

    Richard Reeves: https://richardvreeves.com/

    True Detective Quote: https://www.shmoop.com/quotes/world-needs-bad-men.html

    @TheTinMen https://www.instagram.com/thetinmen/

    Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins https://a.co/d/5iFYOas

    Stoic Philosophy https://www.britannica.com/topic/Stoicism

    Camille Paglia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camille_Paglia

    The Art of Manliness https://www.artofmanliness.com/

    Jordan Peterson https://www.youtube.com/user/JordanPetersonVideos

    Jocko Willink https://jocko.com/

    Garrett Ballengee, Host

    President & CEO - @gballeng

    Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy

    Amanda Kieffer, Executive Producer & Editor

    Vice President of Communications & Strategy - @akieffer13

    Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy

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    Support:

    Patreon, Donate, Newsletter

  • Two Hoosiers join the Forgotten America podcast to discuss the differences between two very different regions of Indiana. Sarah Milligan, Assistant Director of Community Engagement for the Institute for Quality Education, and Cesar Roman, Director of Community Engagement, share about life in Hardinsburg, IN and East Chicago, IN — one a rural, southern community and the other a bustling metropolitan satellite of Illinois. It’s clear that despite very different experiences they both love their state. Join us as we learn about the history of Indiana, the variety of cultures represented, and the work Sarah & Cesar are doing to improve access to high-quality K-12 education in the Hoosier State.

    Hardinsburg, IN https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardinsburg,_Indiana

    East Chicago, IN https://eastchicago.com/

    Zelle’s in East Chicago https://www.zelsroastbeef.com/

    Rooster’s Hen House https://www.facebook.com/RoostersHenHouseRestaurant/

    One of the wealthiest cities in the US https://www.carmel.in.gov/

    Time Zones in Indianapolis https://faqs.in.gov/hc/en-us/articles/115005225448-Indiana-Time-Zone-Information

    Institute for Quality Education https://www.i4qed.org/

    https://www.i4qed.org/calculator

    State bird: Cardinal

    State flower: Peonie

    Highest Point in Indiana: Right on the border of OH. Hoosier Hill

    Garrett Ballengee, Host Executive Director - @gballeng Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy Amanda Kieffer, Executive Producer & Editor Communications Director - @akieffer13 Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy Follow: YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram Support: Patreon, Donate, Newsletter
  • Jacob McCoy (Jake) is from Man, West Virginia in Logan County and a Contributor to the Cardinal’s Nest Blog. He currently resides in Columbus, Ohio with his wife, son, and daughter. Jacob recently took a month-long trip to Ireland with his family. He and Garrett compare notes about their respective European travels and reflect on their homes in two different parts of West Virginia, changing accents, family history, societal trust, the migrant crisis in Ireland, and more.

    Man WV https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man,_West_Virginia

    Athlone, Ireland https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athlone

    Read Jake’s latest contribution to the Cardinal’s Nest Blog. https://cardinalinstitute.com/externalities/

    Pigouvian tax: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pigouvian_tax

    Hatfield-McCoy Feud: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatfield%E2%80%93McCoy_feud

    Aer Lingus: https://www.aerlingus.com/html/en-IE/home.html

    R756 Road: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R756_road_(Ireland)

    Rock of Cashel: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_of_Cashel

    Glendalough: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glendalough

    Rick Steves Guide to Ireland: https://a.co/d/0cZ2DCSF

    The Burren: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Burren

    High Trust v. Low Trust: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-trust_and_low-trust_societies

    Roscrea https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roscrea

    Taoiseach https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taoiseach

    Limerick https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limerick

    King John’s Castle https://kingjohnscastle.ie/

    Galway https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galway

    Donegal https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donegal_(town)

    Dingle Peninsula https://www.dingle-peninsula.ie/

    Michelin Bib Gourmand https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/article/features/bib-gourmand-explained

    Thyme Restaurant https://athlone.ie/eat_and_drink/thyme/

    Garrett Ballengee, Host Executive Director - @gballeng Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy Amanda Kieffer, Executive Producer & Editor Communications Director - @akieffer13 Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy Follow: YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram Support: Patreon, Donate, Newsletter
  • Originally from Ripley, Ohio and currently residing in Lexington, Kentucky, Caleb Franz is the Program Manager for Young Voices and the author of The Conductor: The Story of Rev. John Rankin, Abolitionism’s Essential Founding Father. Caleb grew up in the town where John Rankin eventually died and was surrounded by stories of his role in history. He is now writing the authoritative biography on this forgotten founding father of the American abolition movement. He joins Garrett on the Forgotten America podcast to make sure we all remember this previously Forgotten American Hero.

    Caleb Franz’s book, The Conductor: The Story of Rev. John Rankin, Abolitionism’s Essential Founding Father Coming Out October 15th! https://www.amazon.com/Conductor-Rankin-Abolitionisms-Essential-Founding/dp/1637589891

    Follow Caleb’s work at Young Voices here: https://www.joinyv.org/staff/caleb-franz

    De Tocqueville on Slavery along the Ohio River https://voegelinview.com/noble-savages-and-barbarized-slaves-tocqueville-on-native-americans-and-african-americans-in-democracy-in-america/

    Beyond the River: The Untold Story of the Heroes of the Underground Railroad https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-River-Untold-Underground-Railroad/dp/0684870665

    Read more about John Rankin https://rlo.acton.org/archives/125356-the-letters-that-inspired-the-american-abolition-movement.html

    Second Great Awakening: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Great_Awakening

    John Rankin House https://www.ohiohistory.org/visit/browse-historical-sites/john-rankin-house/

    John Rankin’s burial place https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8760833/john-rankin

    National Underground Railroad Freedom Center https://freedomcenter.org/

    Buffalo Trace Bourbon: https://www.rarebourbonshop.com/products/buffalo-trace-bourbon-1-liter

    Elijah Craig Bourbon: https://www.rarebourbonshop.com/products/elijah-craig-small-batch-bourbon

    Twitter @CalebFranz

    Garrett Ballengee, Host President & CEO - @gballeng Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy Amanda Kieffer, Executive Producer Vice President of Communications & Strategy - @akieffer13 Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy Nate Phipps, Editor & Producer - @Aviv5753 Follow: YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram Support: Patreon, Donate, Newsletter
  • What do the French Horn, Led Zepplin, and C.S. Lewis have in common? They are all part of the Great Conversation. Dr. Junius Johnson joins the Forgotten America podcast to discuss classical education and the literary life. Dr. Johnson grew up in Louisville, KY, and shares his story of discovering the Western Canon, classical music, and Latin. This episode is a great introduction to the classical education movement taking the country by storm. If you’d like to see a little more truth, goodness, and beauty reflected in the world around you, you’ll want to listen to this episode and hear the wisdom Dr. Johnson has to share with us. And if you’re looking for a new book to add to your booklist, make sure you take notes while listening.

    Follow Dr. Junius Johnson’s work: https://www.juniusjohnson.com/ OR https://academics.juniusjohnson.com/

    Further Reference:

    The Western Cannon by Harold Bloom https://www.abebooks.com/first-edition/Western-Canon-Book-School-Ages-BLOOM/31214804233/bd

    C.S. Lewis https://www.christianbook.com/page/christian-authors/cs-lewis

    Mimesis - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mimesis

    Resource for scanning Latin poetry https://www.thoughtco.com/scan-a-line-of-latin-poetry-118819

    John Dewey: https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Dewey

    William James: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/james/

    Children of Time

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children_of_Time_(novel)

    Dune

    https://www.thriftbooks.com/series/dune-chronicles/37695/

    Garth Nix

    https://garthnix.com/books/the-seventh-tower/

    https://garthnix.com/books/the-keys-to-the-kingdom/

    https://garthnix.com/books/the-old-kingdom/

    Timothy Zahn

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quadrail_series

    Writing history textbooks for highschoolers with Classical Academic Press: Humanitas

    https://classicalacademicpress.com/

    https://classicalacademicpress.com/collections/humanitas

    Garrett Ballengee, Host President & CEO - @gballeng Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy Amanda Kieffer, Executive Producer Vice President of Communications & Strategy - @akieffer13 Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy Nate Phipps, Editor & Producer - @Aviv5753 Follow: YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram Support: Patreon, Donate, Newsletter
  • In this special solo episode, Garrett takes some time to reflect on recent conversations with guests of the Forgotten America podcast and his Spring vacation to Scotland & Ireland. The last few months of guests and travel have driven home the need for West Virginia to have a Hall of Heroes to celebrate its people and its past. This episode is a great reminder of the importance of loving the place you’re from and sharing your passion for it with others.

    Special Mentions:

    Edinburgh, Scottland https://edinburgh.org/

    Similarities between Scottland and Appalachia https://www.ecoclimax.com/2021/05/the-appalachian-mountains-scottish.html

    Of course, Scottland would have a history of coal mining! https://edinburgh.org/event/before-and-after-coal/

    Adam Smith: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Smith

    Cliffs of Moher – Ireland https://www.cliffsofmoher.ie/

    Galway (Irish Nashville) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galway

    The Burren https://www.cliffsofmoher.ie/your-visit/beyond-the-cliffs-places-to-see/the-burren/

    Garrett Ballengee, Host President & CEO - @gballeng Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy Amanda Kieffer, Executive Producer Vice President of Communications & Strategy - @akieffer13 Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy Nate Phipps, Editor & Producer Communications & Social Media Associate - @Aviv5753 Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy Follow: YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram Support: Patreon, Donate, Newsletter
  • Tiffany Hoben is the Director of Education Partnerships & Strategy for the Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy. She joins the Forgotten America Podcast to share her motivations for moving from the Sunshine State to the Mountain State, her passion for civics education, and her belief in the importance of feeling rooted in a local community.

    The Outpost: https://outpostnrg.com/

    Florida Civics Standards: https://www.fldoe.org/civicliteracy/

    Comments from the Civics Alliance on the 2024 Proposed West Virginia Social Studies Standards: https://civicsalliance.org/letter-comment-on-west-virginia-social-studies-standards/

    New River Gorge: https://www.nps.gov/neri/index.htm

    Parrish, Florida: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parrish,_Florida

    Garrett Ballengee, Host President & CEO - @gballeng Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy Amanda Kieffer, Executive Producer Vice President of Communications & Strategy - @akieffer13 Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy Nate Phipps, Editor & Producer Communications & Social Media Associate - @Aviv5753 Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy Follow: YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram Support: Patreon, Donate, Newsletter
  • Homer Hickam is a true West Virginia hero. Raised in Coalwood, a mining town in southern West Virginia, he went on to fight in the Vietnam War, work for NASA, and become a best-selling author. His book, Rocket Boys, was made into the popular movie October Sky. In this episode, he shares with Garrett stories from his life that reveal how his upbringing in West Virginia contributed to his success.

    Homer tells about the inspiration behind his books, expresses his love for the Appalachian mountains, and gives his thoughts about education, the importance of community, and so much more. He even gives a sneak peek into some upcoming projects that he is working on.

    Garrett’s conversation with Homer evokes a sense of both comforting familiarity and otherworldliness. This episode of Forgotten America will leave you in awe of how much things have changed since the 40s but also grateful for the resilience of the Mountaineer Spirit.

    Follow Homer’s work by visiting his website: https://homerhickam.com/

    Get a copy of his newest book, Don’t Blow Yourself Up, here: https://homerhickam.com/project/dont-blow-yourself-up/

    October Sky (movie adaptation of his memoir, Rocket Boys): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0132477/

    Coalwood, WV: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coalwood,_West_Virginia

    Buddy Ebsen: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Ebsen

    Jake Gyllenhaal: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jake_Gyllenhaal

    Carrying Albert Home: https://homerhickam.com/project/carrying-albert-home/

    Garrett Ballengee, Host President & CEO - @gballeng Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy Amanda Kieffer, Executive Producer Vice President of Communications & Strategy - @akieffer13 Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy Nate Phipps, Editor & Producer Communications & Social Media Associate - @Aviv5753 Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy Follow: YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram Support: Patreon, Donate, Newsletter
  • This episode of Forgotten America opens with a brief walk down memory lane. Garrett shares how he first met Dr. Thompson at his Moral Foundations of Capitalism seminar at Clemson University. Dr. Thompson’s lecture was a catalyst moment for Garrett that led him down a career path that brought him home to run the Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy, a free market think tank.

    Dr. Bradley Thompson was born in Canada, but he considered himself an American born in the wrong country from a young age. He tells the story of how hitchhiking through the United States was a formative experience for him and explains that he chose to explore rural America this way for two reasons: to discover America and to discover himself.

    This episode of the Forgotten America podcast explores the origins of Dr. Thompson’s Substack entitled Redneck Intellectual, how COVID impacted a generation of young men and women, what makes classical education unique, and the importance of fatherhood. If you enjoy thinking about the big questions of life, this episode is one that you won’t want to miss.

    The Well Trained Mind (online resource) https://welltrainedmind.com/

    The Well Trained Mind: The Essential Edition (book)

    C. Bradley Thompson, Professor at Clemson University and Executive Director for the Clemson Institute for the Study of Capitalism https://www.clemson.edu/centers-institutes/capitalism/cisc/bradley-thompson.html

    Dr. Thompson’s website: https://cbradleythompson.com/

    The American Mountain People: National Geographic https://www.amazon.com/American-Mountain-National-Geographic-Society/dp/B00PAC6LMY

    The How and Why Book of the American Revolution https://www.amazon.com/How-Book-American-Revolution-Wonder/dp/B000BOZY3I

    The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fountainhead

    Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand https://aynrand.org/novels/atlas-shrugged/

    Fathers and Sons, American Style https://cbradleythompson.com/fathers-and-sons-american-style/

    LocoFoco Press https://cbradleythompson.substack.com/p/announcement-from-the-redneck-intellectual

    Twitter: @CBradleyThomps1

    Garrett Ballengee, Host President & CEO - @gballeng Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy Amanda Kieffer, Executive Producer Vice President of Communications & Strategy - @akieffer13 Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy Nate Phipps, Editor & Producer Communications & Social Media Associate - @Aviv5753 Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy Follow: YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram Support: Patreon, Donate, Newsletter
  • Sarah Montalbano is the Policy Manager for the Alaska Policy Forum and a senior fellow with the Independent Women’s Forum. She was born and raised in Wasilla, AK, and her family has roots in the state from the era before Alaskan statehood. Sarah joins the Forgotten America podcast to share about the culture, natural beauty, and economic growth of the state. Garrett & Sarah discuss public policy challenges Alaska faces, art and culture, and the history of the native population as well as how Alaskans handle issues of conservation and responsible land development. Follow @SarahMontalban0 and at IWF, Young Voices, and Alaska Policy Forum. Additional Resources for This Episode Wasilla, Alaska: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wasilla,_Alaska Alaska Policy Forum: https://alaskapolicyforum.org/author/sarahm/ Mat-Su Valley: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matanuska-Susitna_Valley Alaska Permanent Fund: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska_Permanent_Fund Endless Wall Trail in West Virginia https://www.nps.gov/places/endless-wall-trail.htm Hatcher Pass Alaska https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatcher_Pass 229 federally recognized federally recognized Alaskan native villages. Alaska Federation of Natives: https://www.nativefederation.org/ Alaska Native Corporations: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska_Native_Claims_Settlement_Act 13 regional corporations that generate revenues and distribute them to shareholders Denali National Park: https://www.alaska.org/destination/denali-national-park Hobo Jim State Balladeer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobo_Jim Bus 142 from Into the Wild: https://www.uaf.edu/museum/collections/ethno/projects/bus_142/index.php Into the Wild (book): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Into_the_Wild_(book) Firecracker Boys (book): https://www.amazon.com/Firecracker-Boys-Dan-ONeill/dp/0465003486 Garrett Ballengee, Host President & CEO - @gballeng Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy Amanda Kieffer, Executive Producer Vice President of Communications & Strategy - @akieffer13 Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy Nate Phipps, Editor & Producer Communications & Social Media Associate - @Aviv5753 Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy Follow: YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram Support: Patreon, Donate, Newsletter

  • Jerry Apps is Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the author of more than 35 books. He is a storyteller and historian, joining the Forgotten America podcast to share about his life growing up on a dairy farm in rural, central Wisconsin. Born during the Great Depression, his youth inspired much of his subsequent work and his love for rural America. He joins Garrett to discuss his upcoming book, Farms & Rural Communities: An Agricultural Ethic for the Future. If you’ve ever enjoyed listening to a beloved grandparent tell stories of their childhood, you’ll particularly enjoy this episode which dives into the history of family farming and much of the forgotten history of rural life in America. Follow Jerry’s work at https://jerryapps.com/ Purchase a copy of his new book from Fulcrum Books. Signed copies are available. Garrett Ballengee, Host President & CEO - @gballeng Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy Amanda Kieffer, Executive Producer Vice President of Communications & Strategy - @akieffer13 Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy Nate Phipps, Editor & Producer Communications & Social Media Associate - @Aviv5753 Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy Follow: YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram Support: Patreon, Donate, Newsletter

  • Nick Deiuliis is a chemical engineer, attorney, and business executive. During a career spanning 30 years, he served as the CEO or Chairman of the Board of five public energy companies. During that time, Nick has been on the front lines of the war being waged by elites against working men and women of Appalachia, the “doers” of the American economy, and the free-thinking individual. Nick is a lifelong Pittsburgher and considers himself a proud capitalist and free enterprise advocate. He joins Garrett today to discuss the city of Pittsburgh and its place among Appalachian cities, the energy industry’s role in society and the future of the region, and Nick’s book, Precipice: The Left’s Campaign to Destroy America. Nick shares about the thinkers who inspired his own personal philosophy and the path his career in the energy industry took. If you’re wondering what Appalachians can do to build a brighter future and fight back against coastal elites, you’ll want to listen to this episode of Forgotten America. Learn more about Nick’s work here. Buy and Read Precipice: The Left’s Campaign to Destroy America Reason Article Mentioned: https://reason.com/2005/10/01/rethinking-the-social-responsi-2/ Garrett Ballengee, Host President & CEO - @gballeng Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy Amanda Kieffer, Executive Producer Vice President of Communications & Strategy - @akieffer13 Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy Nate Phipps, Editor & Producer Communications & Social Media Associate - @Aviv5753 Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy Follow: YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram Support: Patreon, Donate, Newsletter

  • Elyse Marcellino is the Director of Embark in Mississippi. Embark is a new schools accelerator that works with school founders to help them move from idea to doors open. They guide school founders through early planning and preparing to launch so they can successfully open new schools to serve students throughout the state. Elyse and Garrett start this episode by celebrating what West Virginia and Mississippi have in common and commiserating as residents of states that are often ridiculed by coastal elites. Elyse shares about her experience with several types of education environments growing up which inspired her to make a career in the education reform movement. Sometimes supply needs a little help meeting demand - Garrett & Elyse discuss how we can improve education options outside of state legislatures by working alongside education entrepreneurs to meet the educational needs in our communities even in rural communities. Embark Laurel, Mississippi Home Town on HGTV Mississippi Delta Garrett Ballengee, Host President & CEO - @gballeng Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy Amanda Kieffer, Executive Producer Vice President of Communications & Strategy - @akieffer13 Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy Nate Phipps, Editor & Producer Communications & Social Media Associate - @Aviv5753 Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy Follow: YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram Support: Patreon, Donate, Newsletter