StoryTown Radio

History

About

Real stories, real people. This storytelling program is filled with true-life adventures of people past and present from Jonesborough, Tennessee, and the surrounding Southern Appalachian Region. Each program presents stories built around a common theme. All of these stories, which are collected from the hills and hollers, and sometimes up in the Mountains of East Tennessee, are scripted into a show that explores the culture, heritage, and history of these diverse voices. Home to the town of the first Abolitionist Newspaper in the Country. Home to the state that made Women’s Suffrage a reality. Home to Warner Institute, training Freedmen and Women as teachers beginning less than a decade after the end of the Civil War. Surprising, heartwarming, and often hilarious stories of the independent East Tennessee people come to life in this podcast with a voice and accent that can be found nowhere else. Sponsored by: The Tennessee Arts Commission, WETS 89.5 FM, The Town of Jonesborough, The M

Episodes

  • Voices of the Archive: Gary Degner

    Voices from the Archive is a monthly segment of StoryTown Radio. It shares stories from people living here, just how they told them. You might think of it like a news report that tells you about all sorts of things. From ghost stories to a…

  • Director's Cut No. 21: Church Camp

    In this podcast we feature stories that didn’t make the final cut for the live radio show, but they are excellent stories and need to be shared. This story was written years ago by Leon Overbay, the Boones Creek Bard. He was a founder of t…

  • StoryTown Radio Show: Tell Me a Story, Radio Show Greatest Hits

    StoryTown Radio is a production of the McKinney Center's Story Initiative. Grounded in the belief that stories connect people to each other, the Story Initiative sets out to collect, archive, and share the stories from the region. Broadcas…

  • Voices of the Archive: Wesley Wilson

    Voices from the Archive is a monthly segment of StoryTown Radio. It shares stories from people living here, just how they told them. You might think of it like a news report that tells you about all sorts of things. From ghost stories to a…

  • Director's Cut No. 20: MLK Day '98, White Outs and Black Ice the Struggle Was Real

    This podcast features stories that didn’t make the final cut for the live radio show, but they are excellent stories and need to be shared. This heartwarming story was shared by Reenie Fetters for the February 2026 show. SPONSORED BY: Tenn…

  • StoryTown Radio Show: Black, White and Shades of Grey

    StoryTown Radio is a production of the McKinney Center's Story Initiative. Grounded in the belief that stories connect people to each other, the Story Initiative sets out to collect, archive, and share the stories from the region. Broadcas…

  • Voices of the Archive: Sandy Sgrillo

    Voices from the Archive is a monthly segment of StoryTown Radio. It shares stories from people living here, just how they told them. You might think of it like a news report that tells you about all sorts of things. From ghost stories to a…

  • Voices of the Archive: Valentine's Special

    Voices from the Archive is a monthly segment of StoryTown Radio. It shares stories from people living here, just how they told them. You might think of it like a news report that tells you about all sorts of things. From ghost stories to a…

  • Voices of the Archive: Rufus Houston and Rick Newell

    Voices from the Archive is a monthly segment of StoryTown Radio. It shares stories from people living here, just how they told them. You might think of it like a news report that tells you about all sorts of things. From ghost stories to a…

  • Director's Cut No. 19: A Thanksgiving Story

    This podcast features stories that didn’t make the final cut for the live radio show, but they are excellent stories and need to be shared. This heartwarming story was shared by Stephen Goodman for our annual Soups & Songs holiday show. We…

  • StoryTown Radio Show: Soups and Songs

    StoryTown Radio is a production of the McKinney Center's Story Initiative. Grounded in the belief that stories connect people to each other, the Story Initiative sets out to collect, archive, and share the stories from the region. Broadcas…

  • Voices of the Archive: Christmas Special

    Voices from the Archive is a monthly segment of StoryTown Radio. It shares stories from people living here, just how they told them. You might think of it like a news report that tells you about all sorts of things. From ghost stories to a…

  • StoryTown Radio Show: Haints, Hollers, and Halloween

    StoryTown Radio is a production of the McKinney Center's Story Initiative. Grounded in the belief that stories connect people to each other, the Story Initiative sets out to collect, archive, and share the stories from the region. Broadcas…

  • Director's Cut No. 18: Sue Henley's Ghost

    In this podcast we will feature stories that didn’t make the final cut for the live radio show, but they are excellent stories and need to be shared. This story was considered for the "Haints, Hollers, and Halloween" episode of the Radio S…

  • Voices of the Archive: Steve Cook

    Voices from the Archive is a monthly segment of StoryTown Radio. It shares stories from people living here, just how they told them. You might think of it like a news report that tells you about all sorts of things. From ghost stories to a…

  • StoryTown Radio Show: Ode to First Responders

    StoryTown Radio is a production of the McKinney Center's Story Initiative. Grounded in the belief that stories connect people to each other, the Story Initiative sets out to collect, archive, and share the stories from the region. Broadcas…

  • Director's Cut No. 17: Ode to the First Responders

    In this podcast we will feature stories that didn’t make the final cut for the live radio show, but they are excellent stories and need to be shared. This story was submitted for the Ode to First Responders episode. The poem “Ode to Kelly,…

  • Voices of the Archive: Caroline Lowery Light

    Voices from the Archive is a monthly segment of StoryTown Radio. It shares stories from people living here, just how they told them. You might think of it like a news report that tells you about all sorts of things. From ghost stories to a…

  • StoryTown Radio Show: The Old College Try

    StoryTown Radio is a production of the McKinney Center's Story Initiative. Grounded in the belief that stories connect people to each other, the Story Initiative sets out to collect, archive, and share the stories from the region. Broadcas…

  • Director's Cut No. 16: Money Can't Buy Happiness

    In this podcast we will feature stories that didn’t make the final cut for the live radio show, but they are excellent stories and need to be shared. This story was written by Laurie Herlich for our August 2025 show, “The Old College Try:…

  • Voices of the Archive: Joyce Dean Garrison

    Voices from the Archive is a monthly segment of StoryTown Radio. It shares stories from people living here, just how they told them. You might think of it like a news report that tells you about all sorts of things. From ghost stories to a…

  • StoryTown Radio Show: Kitchen Disasters & Culinary Fails

    StoryTown Radio is a production of the McKinney Center's Story Initiative. Grounded in the belief that stories connect people to each other, the Story Initiative sets out to collect, archive, and share the stories from the region. Broadcas…

  • Director's Cut No. 15: Classic Kitchen Failures

    In this podcast we will feature stories that didn’t make the final cut for the live radio show, but they are excellent stories and need to be shared. This story was written by Guerry McConnell for our July 2025 show, “Kitchen Disasters and…

  • Voices of the Archive: Carlos Turriate

    Voices from the Archive is a monthly segment of StoryTown Radio. It shares stories from people living here, just how they told them. You might think of it like a news report that tells you about all sorts of things. From ghost stories to a…

  • StoryTown Radio Show: How Did You Get Here, Tales of Immigrant & Interstate Travel

    StoryTown Radio is a production of the McKinney Center's Story Initiative. Grounded in the belief that stories connect people to each other, the Story Initiative sets out to collect, archive, and share the stories from the region. Broadcas…

  • Director's Cut No. 14: Beeting Colon Cancer in Krakow

    In this podcast we will feature stories that didn’t make the final cut for the live radio show, but they are excellent stories and need to be shared. This story was written by Reenie Fetters for our June 2025 show, “How Did You Get Here: T…

  • Voices from the Archive: Libby Shelton Tipton - Part 2

    Voices from the Archive is a monthly segment of StoryTown Radio. It shares stories from people living here, just how they told them. You might think of it like a news report that tells you about all sorts of things. From ghost stories to a…

  • StoryTown Radio Show: Salute to Veterans

    StoryTown Radio is a production of the McKinney Center's Story Initiative. Grounded in the belief that stories connect people to each other, the Story Initiative sets out to collect, archive, and share the stories from the region. Broadcas…

  • Director's Cut No. 13: Salute to Veterans

    In this podcast we will feature stories that didn’t make the final cut for the live radio show, but they are excellent stories and need to be shared. This story was written by Reenie Fetters for our May 2025 show, “Salute to Veterans.” Man…

  • Voices from the Archive: Libby Shelton Tipton

    Voices from the Archive is a monthly segment of StoryTown Radio. It shares stories from people living here, just how they told them. You might think of it like a news report that tells you about all sorts of things. From ghost stories to a…

  • StoryTown Radio Show: Say What Now?

    StoryTown Radio is a production of the McKinney Center's Story Initiative. Grounded in the belief that stories connect people to each other, the Story Initiative sets out to collect, archive, and share the stories from the region. Broadcas…

  • Director's Cut No. 12: SELEKING

    In this podcast we will feature stories that didn’t make the final cut for the live radio show, but they are excellent stories and need to be shared. This story is called “SELEKING.” It was written by Laurie Herlich for our April 2025 show…

  • Voices from the Archive: Johnny Russaw

    Voices from the Archive is a monthly segment of StoryTown Radio. It shares stories from people living here, just how they told them. You might think of it like a news report that tells you about all sorts of things. From ghost stories to a…

  • StoryTown Radio Show: Breaking Through-Stories of Tough Times and Even Tougher Women

    StoryTown Radio is a production of the McKinney Center's Story Initiative. Grounded in the belief that stories connect people to each other, the Story Initiative sets out to collect, archive, and share the stories from the region. Broadcas…

  • Director's Cut Podcast No. 11: The Third Time Is the Charm

    In this podcast we will feature stories that didn’t make the final cut for the live radio show, but they are excellent stories and need to be shared. This story is called “The Third Time is the Charm.” It was written by Laurie Herlich for…

  • Voices from the Archive: Katie Hoffman

    Voices from the Archive is a monthly segment of StoryTown Radio. It shares stories from people living here, just how they told them. You might think of it like a news report that tells you about all sorts of things. From ghost stories to a…

  • StoryTown Radio Show: Fair Play in the Arena of Life

    Production Team: Anne G’Fellers-Mason, Director Brett McCluskey, Music Director John Saylor, Sound Engineer/Editor Matthew Gulley, Stage Manager Gary Degner, Sound Effects Heather McCluskey, StoryTown Theme Song StoryTown is Sponsored by:…

  • Director's Cut Podcast No. 10: John France

    The Director's Cut podcast shares stories that did not make the final cut for the live version of the StoryTown Radio Show. They're still great stories, though, and deserve to be shared. This story comes from Leon Overbay, the Bard of Boon…

  • Voices from the Archive: Calvin Robinson

    Voices from the Archive is a monthly segment of StoryTown Radio. It shares stories from people living here, just how they told them. You might think of it like a news report that tells you about all sorts of things. From ghost stories to a…

  • StoryTown Radio Show: I Remember the Jackson

    Production Team: Anne G’Fellers-Mason, Director Brett McCluskey, Music Director John Saylor, Sound Engineer/Editor Matthew Gulley, Stage Manager Gary Degner, Sound Effects Heather McCluskey, StoryTown Theme Song StoryTown is Sponsored by:…

  • Director's Cut Podcast No. 9: Jimmy Rhein Remembers the Jackson Theatre

    The Director's Cut podcast shares stories that did not make the final cut for the live version of the StoryTown Radio Show. They're still great stories, though, and deserve to be shared. This edition is a little different. We kicked off th…

  • 2024 StoryTown Commercial Reel

    Sponsors include McLeod Organics, the Silver Raven, Mountain Empire Cremation and Burial Services, Trivia with Budds. the Wild Women of Jonesborough, Allandale Mansion, Tiebreakers, Off Leash Social, Olde Towne Pancake House, Windsong Stud…

  • Voices from the Archive: Katherine Weiss - Part 2

    Voices from the Archive is a monthly segment of StoryTown Radio. It shares stories from people living here, just how they told them. You might think of it like a news report that tells you about all sorts of things. From ghost stories to a…

  • Voices from the Archive: Katherine Weiss

    Voices from the Archive is a monthly segment of StoryTown Radio. It shares stories from people living here, just how they told them. You might think of it like a news report that tells you about all sorts of things. From ghost stories to a…

  • StoryTown Radio Show: Soups and Songs 2024

    https://www.mcleodorganics.com/

  • Director's Cut Podcast No. 8: The Phantom of the Opry

    The Director's Cut podcast shares stories that did not make the final cut for the live version of the StoryTown Radio Show. They're still great stories, though, and deserve to be shared. This story was submitted by Laurie Herlich for the "…

  • Voices from the Archive: Don Burger

    Voices from the Archive is a monthly segment of StoryTown Radio. It shares stories from people living here, just how they told them. You might think of it like a news report that tells you about all sorts of things. From ghost stories to a…

  • StoryTown Radio Show: Legs in a Barrel Murder Mystery

    Anne G'Fellers-Mason - Director Brett McCluskey - Music Director, Accompanist John Saylor - Sound Engineer & Editor Matthew Gulley - Stage Manager Nori Shaw - Sound Effects Heather McCluskey - Theme Song/Original Music SPONSORED BY: Windso…

  • Director's Cut Podcast No. 7: The Real UT

    The Director's Cut podcast shares stories that did not make the final cut for the live version of the StoryTown Radio Show. They're still great stories, though, and deserve to be shared. This story was submitted by Doug Gross for the "Work…

  • Voices from the Archive: Lucinda Grandy

    Voices from the Archive is a monthly segment of StoryTown Radio. It shares stories from people living here, just how they told them. You might think of it like a news report that tells you about all sorts of things. From ghost stories to a…