Life in the mountains and hills of Appalachia is filled with rich traditions, traditions of music, of worship and of sport. Some traditions are ones that are forever replaying themselves in each new generation – others are passed down but not so easily understood by those from outside the tradition or the region, and as is true everywhere – as boys and girls become men and women, they begin to question all they have known … and reach their own conclusions. On today’s Radio-Gram we offer you those stories following the Regional Roundup and the Coal Report.

The sport and tradition of cock fighting is alive and well in the mountains, and the right and wrong of it is a subject of debate, maybe more so around here where friends and neighbors can be on opposite sides of the issue. Eli Gover and Jordan Frazier of the Appalachian Media Institute had their own opinions – but decided to investigate further.

People getting together and playing music together is definitely a mountain tradition, but not everyone winds up picking up a banjo or fiddle. Tommy Anderson has the story of what kind of band you get when you cross a fighting cock with a cookie. (hint:It's Superful!)

Growing up in small tight knit communities may be a comfort to the very young and to the old – but when you are almost an adult – so close to the freedom not just of movement through life, but freedom of thought – that’s when the bounds and bonds sometimes begin to feel too tight. Eli Gover has this meditation on being newly open to a whole world of ideas.

We hope you enjoyed the show this week – if so or if not – let us know – email Radio-Gram at radiogram.wmmt@gmail.com or call 606 633-0108. We welcome your comments, opinions, thoughts and critiques – Radio-Gram was produced this week with help from Lora Smith, Eli Gover, Jim Webb, Rich Kirby, and Tommy Anderson. We invite you to tune in next week for another Radio-Gram, here on WMMT – 88.7 FM – mountain public community radio – we made it … just for you!

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Radio-Gram
C/O WMMT
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Whitesburg, KY
41858