Melungeon Voices

Dr. Melissa Carver is the author of the book, "Who the Hell Told You That?" She's also the founder of the Annual Rejuvenation Retreat, President of the nonprofit organization, Mindset Junkies, contributing writer for Chopra and Elephant Journal, as well as a Chopra certified instructor. She is a mindset practitioner who feels authentic perspectives, generate happiness and fulfillment in all aspects of life.

In this season's final episode, host Heather Andolina and Dr. Carver discuss historical and generational trauma, hidden heritage and transcending racism. And they make an exciting announcement about next year's MHA Annual Union Conference!

Melungeon Voices is produced by Lis Malone (www.lismalone.com) and presented by The Melungeon Heritage Association (www.melungeon.org).

Gabriel Greaves, who earned a master's in American Studies from Kennesaw State University in Georgia, and is now a professor of African and African Diaspora Studies at Kennesaw State University, with a background in Afro-Latino studies, the civil rights era, Christianity in the Americas, and the social impact of religious worldviews. He is also a human services professional, historian, educator, and interdisciplinary researcher who has worked within community and grassroots outreach for over 14 years.

In this episode, Gabriel and host Heather Andolina, examine the possible connections of the Melungeon people to Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as discuss maroon communities in Latin America, the Caribbean, and the United States, and their ties to the Melungeon people.

Link to article referenced in this episode: https://the-melungeons.blogspot.com/2012/07/two-groups-of-melungeons-problem.html?m=1

Melungeon Voices is produced by Lis Malone (www.lismalone.com) and presented by The Melungeon Heritage Association. Visit www.melumgeon.prg to learn more.

Janeen Stevens is a native of Michigan and graduate of Wayne State University and has been researching her family genealogy and history for over 10 years. Growing up, she was exposed to the oral history given by her grandparents who were born in the early 1900s. And she experienced a deep longing to understand more about the history of her family.

For this week's episode, host Heather Andolina explains GED Matching, The One Drop Rule, and who was Walter Plecker, and has Janeen explore how one may discover their mixed ancestry, possible ties to the Melungeon and other origins through DNA.

Melungeon Voices is produced by Lis Malone (www.lismalone.com) and presented by the Melungeon Heritage Association. Visit them at www.melungeon.org to learn more.

Ron Carson is the founder of the Appalachian African American Cultural Center. He has dedicated his life and work to the collection and preservation of the narratives, experiences, and artifacts of historical import to the black people of Appalachia. Along with his wife, Jill, he prevented the demolition of an old one room schoolhouse he'd attended as a child, and in 1987, created the Appalachian African American Cultural Center within its walls.

In this week's episode, Heather Andolina welcomes back Ron Carson. He was a guest speaker at this year's Melungeon Heritage Association Union Conference. Ron further discusses the African American experience in Appalachia and how the Melungeon people are a part of black Appalachian history and his important work advocating for the diagnosis, treatment and benefits for coal miners with black lung.

Melungeon Voices is produced by Lis Malone (www.lismalone.com) and presented by the Melungeon Heritage Association. For more information please visit them on the web at www.melungeon.org. 

Mike Richards and Tim Webb are long-time friends turned music collaborators.

Mike Richards is a Dove award-winning songwriter and award-nominee. He has produced two albums which charted in Billboard magazine. He founded the Bluegrass Gospel group, The Chigger Hill Boys and Terri, and he co- wrote “Face to Face,” with Amazing Grace which propelled the act to number one on inspirational music charts. Although the bulk of his work is centered in the world of religious music, he has written music for movies and television and has had songs recorded by mainstream artists.

Tim Webb has worked in the pharmaceutical industry most of his life, but he is also a songwriter. He is a Melungeon descendant from Middle Tennessee, and now lives in Nashville. He’s been married for thirty years to his wife Beth, with three children and two grandchildren.

In this week’s episode, we explore the origins of Appalachian and bluegrass music and the possible connections to the Melungeon people, as well as feature for the first time on this podcast, a live musical performance.

Melungeon Voices is produced by Lis Malone (www.lismalone.com) and presented by the Melungeon Heritage Association.  For more information on the MHA visit them on the web at www.melungeon.org.

Ramona Moore Big Eagle is an award winning and internationally renowned motivational speaker, storyteller, cultural educator, consultant, and workshop facilitator. She is president and CEO of Dare to Soar Enterprises, an organization she formed in 1991 to empower people of all ages and across all walks of life to become more effective communicators.

In this episode, Heather Andolina (Melungeon Heritage Association Board President) speaks with Ramona about her Afro-Indigenous ancestry, the significance of storytelling in native communities, and the importance and traditions of storytelling.

Melungeon Voices is produced by Lis Malone (www.lismalone.com) and presented by the Melungeon Heritage Association.  For more information on the MHA visit them on the web at www.melungeon.org.

Last, but certainly not least, we present a compelling discussion with one of our prominent speakers from this year’s MHA Union Conference. Dr. Arwin Smallwood is Professor and Chair of the Department of History and Political Science at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro. His research primarily focuses on the relationships between African-American, Native-American, and Europeans in Eastern North Carolina during the Colonial and early Antebellum period. Wrapping up our second podcast season, in this final episode, Dr. Smallwood and I go into detail on the interrelation between European, African, and Indigenous people. Or to those who attend the this year’s virtual MHA Conference, the interrelation between the Lost Colony of Roanoke, the Tuscarora people, and the Melungeon people.

Presented by The Melungeon Heritage Association

Hosted by Heather Andolina

Produced by Lis Malone

Lauren Magnussen is a Production Editor at Mascot Books. She has a B.A. in English from the College of William and Mary and is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in English Literature. She worked in Academia and professional theatre before transitioning to her dream job in book publishing.In this week’s episode, Lauren and I discuss her extensive research and discoveries on the Melungeon people.

Presented by The Melungeon Heritage Association

Hosted by Heather Andolina

Produced by Lis Malone

Onur Kaya is a Professor at Burdur Mehmet Akif  Ersoy, located in Burdur, Turkey. He has written several published articles and papers, as well as presented at many Academic conferences. The Melungeon people are one of his main research areas and the subject of his PhD thesis. In this episode, Onur joins Heather from his home country of Turkey, to share his extensive research on the surprising, Turkish-Melungeon connection.

Presented by The Melungeon Heritage Association

Hosted by Heather Andolina (MHA Board President)

Produced by Lis Malone (www.breakingdishes.org)

William Isom II is a native of Hamblen County, Tennessee. He's the director of community outreach for East Tennessee PBS, and is the director of the Black in Appalachia Project. During this episode, William shares what it’s like to be multi-ethnic and black in Appalachia, how it is connected to the Melungeon people, and how it inspired the growth of the Black in Appalachia Project.

Presented by the Melungeon Heritage Association (www.melungeon.org)

Hosted by Heather Andolina (MHA Board President)

Produced by Lis Malone (www.breakingdishes.org)

LaTonya Beatty is an avid Genealogist, blogger, and family Historian. She has been researching Genealogy for almost twenty years. She holds an Associate’s Degree in Art, and is the author of two books and is currently working on a new children’s book. In today’s podcast, Tonya shares little known facts about the Quakers, the Underground Railroad, and Free People of Color.

Presented by the Melungeon Heritage Association; Hosted by Heather Andolina, MHA Board President; Produced by Lis Malone, Creator & Host of "Breaking Dishes" Podcast.

Jake Richards grew up and currently lives in East Tennessee. He is the author of two books, one published just a few of months ago. Jake writes about his Melungeon and Cherokee traditions and ancestry, which are on both sides of his family. His Melungeon ancestors came from both Newman’s Ridge and the Pee Dee River migrations. In this episode, Jake shares his fascinating knowledge of Appalachian folklore and magic, as well as some interesting spiritual traditions connected to the Melungeon people.

Presented by the Melungeon Heritage Association; Hosted by Heather Andolina, MHA Board President; Produced by Lis Malone, Creator & Host of "Breaking Dishes" Podcast.

Kimberly Knight earned a Bachelors in Family & Consumer Sciences, and a Masters in Social Work.  She is the Founder and Editor of "The Lux Blog NC" and is the Committee Chair of the Advisory Council for the first Black Indians NC Powwow for the state of North Carolina. She is currently Co-Directing and Co-Producing the upcoming documentary, “Duality: A Collection of Afro-Indigenous Perspectives.” 

In this season’s debut episode of Melungeon Voices, Kimberly discusses her Afro-Indigenous roots, her cultural identity, and latest endeavor in teaching others about her unique ancestry through film.

Presented by The Melungeon Heritage Associan; Hosted by Heather Andolina, MHA Board President; Produced by Lis Malone, Creator & Host of "Breaking Dishes" Podcast 

Season Finale - Author, Public Radio Station Manager and former MHA President, Wayne Winkler, discusses his book "Beyond the Sunset" about the Melungeon outdoor drama, Walk Toward the Sunset, and its significance on the Melungeon people back then, as well as today. 

Internationally acclaimed Gullah/Geechee artist, speaker, and Pan African Culture Heritage Fellow, Sonja Griffin Evans, shares her beautiful and unique Gullah/Geechee heritage, and its influence on her artwork. She also discusses what inspires her, and how her cultural roots from the past impacts her work and messages it will send to future generations. 

Software developer, Robert Wells, repurposed his professional skills in both research and analysis to pursue genealogical studies. In this episode he shares his knowledgeable insight while providing tips on how to apply genealogical records, DNA analysis and third-party ancestry records services to learn more about your own personal family tree, as well as ways to avoid common research pitfalls.

Host Heather Andolina shares insight into her current documentary film, "Infamous Characters Notorious Villains" and how her family's Melungeon heritage discovery served as inspiration.

Author and retired Library Director, Paul Johnson, shares insight into his research on Sarah Stanley Grimke and her connection to several mixed ethnic members of a distinguished Coastal Carolina plantation family, as well as Paschal Beverly Randolph and his possible connection to President Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings. 

Retired Dentist, Author and Researcher, Bill Gipson, shares his vast knowledge and research findings into the historic migration of the Gipson/Gibson and Collins families, in addition to surprising possible foreign origins related to Melungeon ancestry.

Presented by the Melungeon Heritage Association

Hosted by Heather Andolina

Produced by Lis Malone

District Court Judge and Author, Beverly Scarlett, shares her personal journey in discovering her Melungeon ancestry which began with a mysterious family photo and later developed into her deep genealogical family research which has inspired her new book due out this summer.

Presented by the Melungeon Heritage Association

Hosted by Heather Andolina

Produced by Lis Malone

Historian and Documentary filmmaker, Frederick Murphy, discusses filmmaking, race, historical trauma, his personal story (and Melungeon connection) and the mission of his project organization, History Before Us.

Presented by the Melungeon Heritage Association

Hosted by Heather Andolina

Produced by Lis Malone

Melungeon Heritage Association President, Heather Andolina, teams up with Podcaster, Lis Malone, to bring its members (and all those interested in learning about this mixed heritage group of people) an audio -version of what was to be shared at the 2020 Conference.