Blackwater rivers are the haven of innumerable species, the keepers of our earliest recorded history, and the key to the health of our marshes, islands, and coastlines, but they’re under threat from mining, residential development, and pollution. We speak to Georgia author Taylor Brown about his piece “Ode to Blackwater Rivers” - it’s a love letter to the rivers he grew up on, and a call to keep them thriving for generations to come. Show Notes You can read the full story at the Bitter Southerner’s website. Here’s a link: Ode to Blackwater Rivers Credits Host Kyle Tibbs Jones Producer Ryan Eng ..read more

BATCH is back! We're bringing you conversations and excerpts from our new book Food Stories: writing that stirs the pot - we can't wait to share it with you! You're gonna love it ..read more

In our new BATCH of episodes - "Earth Stories" - we've recorded some of our favorite contributors reading their stories about special and fragile places across the South. Listen to these wonderful writers read their powerful words and then talk with our host, Kyle Tibbs Jones ..read more

To shore-living Marylanders, the humble, blue-collar Natural Light is more than just cheap beer. Five years ago, nearly to the day, we published "My Old Friend Natty Light." In her story, Mickie Meinhardt firmly staked the claim that a certain part of Maryland is "the South" while also paying tribute to Ocean City locals and their dogged devotion to "shore champagne," aka Natural Light beer. What does a food or beverage (or in this case a beer) say about a place and the people who live there? Mickie explains in this conversation and reading. Cheers to Episode 15 of BATCH! S ..read more

Show Notes You can read the full story at the Bitter Southerner’s website. Here’s a link: https://bittersoutherner.com/cooking-country-women-food-nashville It can also be found in our new book Food Stories: writing that stirs the pot, available here: https://bsgeneralstore.com/products/food-stories Credits Hosted by Kyle Tibbs Jones Produced by Ryan Engelberger Engineered by The theme music for Batch was made by Curt Castle. This episode of Batch (in fact this whole batch of food stories) was made possible by the support of E Pluribus Unum. Learn more at https://www.unumfund.org ..read more

Show Notes You can read the full story at the Bitter Southerner’s website. Here’s a link: https://bittersoutherner.com/feature/2023/immigrant-spaghetti It can also be found in our new book Food Stories: writing that stirs the pot, available here: https://bsgeneralstore.com/products/food-stories Credits Hosted by Kyle Tibbs Jones Produced by Ryan Engelberger Engineered by The theme music for Batch was made by Curt Castle. This episode of Batch (in fact this whole batch of food stories) was made possible by the support of E Pluribus Unum. Learn more at https://www.unumfund.org/ Plus, as promised ..read more

This week, in Episode 12, we're laughing, chatting, and reading with Alana Dao, author of "Southern Hustle: Houston Hip-Hop & Chinese Chicken." As we've seen in FX's "The Bear," (big love for that show here at The BS!) the energy and buzz of working in kitchens can show up in someone's DNA. Alana echoes that sentiment as she shares the tale of her great grandparents' journey to the U.S. and how her family's Houston restaurant, Timmy Chan's (and the egg rolls, fried chicken, and rice served there)  have become iconic in the chopped and screwed rap music. We're rapping and mapping ..read more

In Episode 11 of BATCH, we spend time with the talented and charming Caroline Hatchett, author of the James Beard nominated Bitter Southerner story, “The Elusive Roots of Rosin Potatoes.” Back in 2019, Caroline, a seasoned food writer, began a quest to solve a serious mystery. Bound and determined to uncover the true origin of people cooking potatoes in vats of boiling pine rosin, she asked the living and the dead, across 10 states and two countries, “What do you know about Rosin Potatoes?” Oh, there have been legends and myths and twists and turns and rabbit holes and dead ends. And as it tur ..read more

Today, for our last episode in this BATCH of Earth Stories, we look back at one of the most monumental environmental disasters in American history. While many stories have been written about how New Orleans came back after Katrina, at The Bitter Southerner, we were interested in a deeper question: Why did the people of New Orleans come back and rebuild their city? In episode 10, journalist and filmmaker, Lolis Eric Elie reads his piece “The Whys” - it’s as powerful as anything we’ve ever published, and we’re excited to share it on BATCH. Among many other works, Lolis’ credits include working o ..read more

In our latest "Earth Stories" episode, Bitter Southerner contributor Jessica Bradley Wells reads her sweet tale, "Where the Tupelo Grows." Since the 1800s (way before Van Morrison's hit "Tupelo Honey" or Peter Fonda starring in "Ulee's Gold,") locals in the panhandle of Florida have been harvesting our rare, sweet, and precious tupelo honey. So put in your earbuds and travel with Jessica to Wewahitchka, Florida, where the white tupelo tree grows and where beekeepers Gary Adkison and his wife, "Miss Pam," joyfully carry on the Tupelo tradition. This story has it all — a Southern food ..read more