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If you have ever been to Highlands, NC, you know how beautiful of a spot that is in the Western NC Mountains. It just happens to also be home to The Bear Shadow Music Festival. Festival Director Casey Reid provides details and talks about what this family friendly festival has to offer. This conversation originally aired on April 15, 2022.

A native of West Virginia, Donna Marie Todd trained in classical vocal performance at the renowned Peabody Conservatory of Music with Metropolitan opera soprano Marilyn Cotlow and now writes and performs a unique combination of original story woven with artful song.

Sheila Kay Adams is a seventh-generation ballad singer, musician, and storyteller. She was born and raised in Madison County, North Carolina, in a little place named Sodom. It's an area well-known for it’s a cappella ballad singing, a tradition that dates back to the early Scots/Irish and English settlers of the mid-17th century. Also known as Henry Lee, Young Hunting is an 18th century murder ballad likely of Scottish origin. Aired 2/6/22

Peter Holsapple talks with us about the dB’s new retrospective, how his musical upbringing in the hyper local scene in Winston Salem North Carolina served him well as an adult, his lifelong musical friendships, the seemingly unlikely influence of Mott the Hoople and much more. We feature music from I Thought You Wanted To Know as well, a collection that sounds as fresh and innovative now as it did when it was first put on tape.

Linda Goodman, a Virginia Appalachian Mountain native of Melungeon descent, learned the art of storytelling from her father, a former coal miner who was himself a master yarnspinner. She began writing her own stories while she was in elementary school and continues to be a prolific writer to this day.

Bobby McMillon passed away on November 28, 2021. His passing leaves a great void in the traditional music and Appalachian cultural landscape. Throughout the course of his life, Bobby took this awareness he gained from his grandfather’s passing and turned it into a legacy of collecting, performing, and friendships.

Different Strokes Performing Arts Collective and The American Myth Center, both in Asheville, are working to locate and provide opportunities for Black Playwright's to be seen and heard. Stephanie Hickling Beckman, the managing artistic director for Different Strokes, joined WNCW to share the news about the desire to find and help emerging African American playwrights. This conversation originally aired on Feb. 18, 2022.

An ongoing and expanding part of Isothermal Community College's (located in Spindale) educational opportunities is workforce development. Guest for this Friday Feature was Mark Franklin, who serves as Director of Customized Training and Development Engineering for the college. Mark shared ICC's business model, the college's relationships with industries, facilities for training, and newer business classes in Culinary Arts and Truck Driving. This interview originally aired on Feb. 11, 2022.

Investigative and Enterprise Reporter with The Asheville Citizen Times, Joel Burgess, recapped his story concerning the Buncombe County Detention Facility. Joel brought up concerns and changes that might be necessary. Just how important is the criminal justice system and mental health?

In this episode, Joshua Ray Walker talks about how his family influenced his career and his songs, how he approaches writing lyrics, the rich music scene of his East Dallas home, and a lot more. Woven throughout is music from his live session on public radio WNCW where he played several songs from his third solo album See You Next Time.