There’s something about music in Appalachia that isn’t just heard… it’s lived. It’s passed down in kitchens, on porches, in church pews, and in the quiet moments in between. When Laura shared this piece about the music in her family, it settled in my heart. Not just because of how beautifully she told it, but because it reflects something so many Appalachian families carry deep in their roots. My own story is a little different. Life took us all over, and while my Granny’s ro

I didn’t grow up thinking about family history. Most of us don’t. You assume the people who raised you will always be right there — sitting in their chairs, answering the phone, telling the same stories you’ve heard a hundred times. You assume there will always be another holiday, another Sunday visit, another chance to ask the questions you never got around to. But life has a way of proving you wrong before you’re ready. In 2023, I lost my mom. In 2024, I lost my dad. And in

Meet Kentucky Appalachian Author Laura Lea Cupp Rooted in Faith, Family, and the Hills Laura Lea Cupp – Appalachian Author Spotlight Kentucky Appalachian author Laura Lea Cupp writes the way Appalachia breathes, steady, honest, and unafraid of the truth. A Kentucky writer shaped by faith, family, and the mountains that raised her, Laura’s words are not polished for shine, they are polished for meaning. Writing first took hold of Laura when she was a child, but it deepened in

How the Human Animal Bond Supports Healing Loneliness, illness, and long days inside medical facilities are realities many Appalachian families know well. In places where community once filled the gaps, isolation can creep in quietly. Sometimes, what makes the greatest difference isn’t a treatment plan or a tightly scheduled program, but the steady presence of another living being and the simple feeling of being seen. One such program is HABIT, a volunteer-based initiative th