A reporter experiencing poverty has dental work, at a free clinic, in a horse stable. Produced by Jacqui Fulton and Fendall Fulton with special thanks to Sarah Smarsh for her permission to use excerpts from her essay, “Poor Teeth.”

Teeth Are a Luxury

People in the Appalachian Mountains have developed a reputation:
Sweat stains. confederate flags, pick-up trucks. racism. incest…

I’m Jacqui Helbert. I grew up there. And yeah, some of the stereotypes are true. But not truer than anywhere else in rural America. 

Appalachia has modernized. Just like everywhere else. We have high speed internet, cell phones, and hipsters. Despite what you’ve heard we don’t all drink moonshine on the front porch and shoot at strangers.

In the Backwoods podcast you are going to hear stories from real Appalachia. It will cover the nooks and crannies of the hollows, all the way to the big cities.

We may be from the backwoods, but we’re not all backwards.

Stay tuned, our first episode is coming soon.


Backwoods Promo

In 2008 a gunman opened fire in a church during a children's production of Annie Jr. His motivation was his hatred for gays, blacks, and liberals. He killed 2, wounded 8, and traumatized the congregation and community. 

Can the witnesses recover? Will the Reverend be able to guide his congregation through the horrific aftermath?

Episode 1:The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow

The violence over the last week has driven one man to stand on the street and protest-all alone. But will one person be enough? 

"And so that just really... that just pushed me over the top, bud. I just went and got me a sign."


Episode 2:The Lone Protester

This special episode was produced in only 24 hours, for the 24 hour Radio Race hosted by KCRW. The theme was "Out of range".

Produced by: Jacqui Helbert ,Jimmy Gutierrez ,Suzie Kelly (artwork)

Episode 3: Cannot be Completed

A portrait of a young Native American artist who really gets under her patrons skin.

Episode 4: Beauty Markings

"KCRW's 6th Annual 24 Hour Radio Race is a whirlwind day of high-stakes radio making for producers of any experience level. You will have 24 HOURS to write, record and edit a nonfiction four-minute-long radio story."

The theme this year-the new normal. This is our submission.

Death By A Thousand Cuts

Backwoods is a podcast from Appalachia that goes beyond typical poverty porn stereotypes. We may be from the backwoods but we are not all backwards.

Backwoods

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