For much of the twentieth century, communities across Appalachia were sustained not only by coal mining, but also by furniture plants, textile mills, apparel shops, steel, glass, machinery, and other forms of manufacturing. But along came a wave of deindustrialization linked in large part to one consequential policy decision: granting China Permanent Normal Trade Relations and bringing China into the World Trade Organization. Appalachian journalist James Branscome joins us to discuss the consequences.

History teaches us so much about the present and can help is anticipate the future. Joining contributing interviewer Gerald Smith, himself a UK Professor of History, are Scott Alvey, executive director of the Kentucky Historical Society, and Stephanie Lang, editor of the Register of the Kentucky Historical Society.

“Returns and Exchanges” is the new novel from Mt. Sterling native Kayla Rae Whitaker. The story is about retail, marriage, ambition, class, sexuality, family inheritance, and what it costs to build a life inside systems that may never fully belong to you.

You’ll meet Josh Hamilton, the Lexington Chamber Chorale’s new Artistic Director and Conductor. We explore the challenges of coordinating human voices to work in collaboration.