One big takeaway from the 2016 election is that people are people -- not political categories -- which is a topic of interest for former coal miner Gary Bentley. He is from eastern Kentucky and now lives in Lexington. He has written extensively about his time underground, including in a blog series called ‘In the Black’ for the Daily Yonder.

This week’s episode of Inside Appalachia is about fierce women — something we have no shortage of here in Appalachia.We’ll hear about the folk music collaboration between Wu Fei and Abigail Washburn. Their new album combines the tones of Appalachia with the melodies of China. We’ll also hear a story about the first transgender person elected to political office in West Virginia, and a 90-year-old newspaper publisher who is still hard at work each week.

On Sunday, November 1 Mountain Stage will record its first new episode since February of 2020. The two-hour live-performance radio program will record an episode without an audience, for delayed broadcast via the shows 270+ NPR affiliates. A one-time live-stream of the show will be offered free starting at 7p.m. EST, but viewers are encouraged to purchase a “pay what you wish ticket” via Eventbrite, with the option to add on a Mountain Stage face mask or a Mountain Stage bandana.