Podcast

BATCH : A BITTER SOUTHERNER PODCAST

Welcome to BATCH, a Bitter Southerner podcast that digs into the archives and records interviews with the authors of some of your favorite stories. Inside these episodes, you’ll hear readings, a lot of laughter, and all the tales of how these stories came to life.

For 10 years, The Bitter Southerner has shared stories that hopefully move us forward and make the world just a little better. We love bringing these stories to you in audio. BATCH is released in five-episode mini-seasons and hosted by our very own Kyle Tibbs Jones. 

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Episode 16: Ode to Blackwater Rivers  — With Taylor Brown 

River Sturgeon that weigh half a ton. The legendary Altamaha-ha river monster. Hogzilla. Oh y'all, mystery awaits as Taylor Brown takes us upriver to the blackwater rivers. 

A haven of innumerable species, the keepers of our earliest recorded history, and the key to the health of our marshes, islands, and coastlines, our blackwater rivers are under threat from mining, residential development, and pollution. In this episode of BATCH, Kyle Tibbs Jones chats with author Taylor Brown about his story, “Ode to Blackwater Rivers” - a love letter to the rivers he grew up on, and a call to keep them thriving for generations to come. 

Episode 15: My Old Friend Natty Light  — Reading & Interview With Mickie Meinhardt

To shore-living Marylanders, the humble, blue-collar Natural Light is more than just a cheap beer. In Mickie Meinhardt’s story, "My Old Friend Natty Light”, she firmly stakes 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 (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.

Important Note: If you are working on a sober life and do not want to hear conversation about beer or drinking (we salute you), this episode may not be for you.

Episode 14: Country Cooking : Minnie’s Corn Pudding & Tammy’s Better Than Sex Cake  — Reading & Interview With Jennifer Justus

What in the heck is Better Than Sex Cake? Well, it depends on who's sharing the recipe. In this episode of BATCH, Nashville writer Jennifer Justus dishes on Tammy Wynette's version of that infamous cake, a banana pudding that made Burt Reynolds (her boyfriend at the time) literally pass out, and so much more. And while the queens of country music are often known for their cookbooks, Downtown Nashville is known for bars named after stars - most of those names belonging to men. More women of country music ought to be on those neon signs, y’all! In Episode 14 of BATCH, Jennifer Justus explores the history.

Episode 13: Immigrant Spaghetti  — Reading & Interview With Farhan Mustafa

In Episode 13, our host Kyle Tibbs Jones chats with talented and hilarious writer Farhan Mustafa, author of The Bitter Southerner story, "Immigrant Spaghetti." For Farhan (also a tech product builder and former investigative journalist) spaghetti swaddled in a meaty tomato sauce electrified with spices like coriander, cumin, and turmeric was a regular recipe both at the family table and at mosque potlucks. Recently Mustafa, the child of North Indian immigrants, realized how special spaghetti has been to him and to so many others looking for a taste of home here in the South. In this episode he talks about reporting the story, Italian nights growing up in North Carolina, jacked up jars of Ragu, and his very southern take on a Charles Dickens classic. There's also a recipe in the show notes. Episode 13 is fun. Enjoy!

Episode 12 : SOUTHERN HUSTLE : Houston Hip-Hop & Chinese Chicken  — Reading & Interview With Alana Dao

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) became iconic in chopped and screwed rap music. Alana’s story is a personal one, and we love it. Episode 12 is a must-listen.

Episod​​​e 11: ​The Elusive Roots of Rosin Potatoes — Reading & Interview With Author Caroline Hatchett

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 folks across ten 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 turns out, in Caroline’s search for the truth, we do learn a few things — mostly about the stories we tell ourselves.

Episod​​​e 10 : ​The Whys - Written and Read by ​Lolis Eric Elie

In Episode ​10​, ​our last Earth Story, ​​the brilliant and beloved journalist and filmmaker Lolis Eric Elie reads h​is​ story, "​The Whys." This is a​n essay​ about New Orleans, Hurricane Katrina, and the human spirit. After disasters, both natural and man-made, why do we come back? What calls us home? This piece of writing is as powerful as anything we've ever published, and we're thrilled to have Lolis join us on the podcast to read it in his own voice.​ ​We love it and hope you'll listen!

Episode 9 : Where the Tupelo Grows - Written and Read by Jessica Bradley Wells

In our latest "Earth Story," Episode 9, Bitter Southerner contributor Jessica Bradley Wells reads her story, "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 sweet story has it all — a Southern food staple, music, an important ecosystem, and even a Facebook romance... We love it and hope you'll listen!

Episode 8 : Down to the Tide Line - Written and Read by Boyce Upholt

In Episode 8, writer Boyce Upholt notes, “There’s a lot of beauty and joy and wonder in the world. And of all the beautiful places in our country, the Southeastern coast is one of our most beloved and extraordinary.” Oh, how we love our beaches! Unfortunately, our coastlines are now some of the most at risk due to the accelerating impacts of climate change, sea level rise, intensifying storms, and flooding. In “Down to the Tide Line,” Boyce takes the long view of this ever changing place where the land meets the sea, reminding us that it’s by cosmic luck that we’ve wound up on a planet quite so beautiful. We hope you enjoy Boyce’s reading and conversation with our host, Kyle Tibbs Jones. This essay is great and the episode is short — only 30 minutes!

Note: we recorded our conversation with Boyce Upholt prior to Hurricane Ian roaring through Florida in September. And as we publish this episode, we are just beginning to assess the devastating destruction there. Our thoughts are with everyone in Fort Myers and the surrounding area who were impacted.

Episode 7: The Untold Story of Hibiscus Grandiflorus - Written and Read by Jim Barger

In Episode 7, writer Jim Barger reads his piece "The Untold Story of Hibiscus Grandiflorus." Listen as Jim tells of wading through water filled with alligators and water moccasins taking us deep into the interior forest of a barrier island to witness a grove of gigantic prehistoric flowers - flowers the world had thought lost. Jim is an outspoken advocate for conservation and protecting the Georgia coast. His magical story and conversation with our Kyle Tibbs Jones make for a very entertaining episode.

Episode 6 : Okefenokee Heavy & Precious - Written and Read by Janisse Ray

In this episode, Janisse Ray almost whispers her cautionary tale. Her voice is mesmerizing, her writing takes our breath away, and the message of her story sets our hearts on fire to save the Okefenokee Swamp. Janisse is an acclaimed author and environmental activist whose first book, Ecology of a Cracker Childhood won the American Book Award. Since then, there have been many books and stories, some in The Bitter Southerner. "Okefenokee Heavy & Precious" is published on our website. Now, on BATCH, listen to Janisse read her inspiring words.

Episode 5: The Seven Essential Southern Dishes - Written and Read by Sheri Castle

In Episode 5, from Old North Durham, North Carolina, Sheri Castle reads her story "The Seven Essential Southern Dishes." A note about this story : It is the second most read (and most argued over) story in Bitter Southerner history. With that in mind, there's a bit more discussion in today's podcast than in the last few episodes. Brunswick Stew, Pound Cake, Chess Pie, Field Peas and Chow Chow, Country Ham and Red-Eye Gravy, Potlikker Greens and Cornbread... Kyle and Sheri discuss it all. We also dive into some dangerous waters : sugar in cornbread, cream cheese in pound cake and the time the sheriff had to post outside of Sheri's house BECAUSE of one of these recipes!

Episode 4: The Queen of Delicacies - Written and Read by Shane Mitchell

In episode 4 of​ BATCH, James Beard Award winning author Shane Mitchell reads her​ piece, "The Queen of Delicacies."​ ​Yes, this is a story about that prized-above-all Southern fruit : the peach. W​hat makes a good one​? Who are ​the people who grow them and how ​did ​they get here​? Oh and what about those beauty pageants? A​ peach of an episode, if we do say so ourselves. ​We hope you listen!

Episode 3: Beans and Rice & Lemon Meringue Pie - Written and Read by Nikesha Elise Williams and Kathleen Purvis

In today's episode, two stories for the price of one. Nikesha Elise Williams reads her story about beans and rice, that Southern dish that is sometimes (and sadly) given a hard time. After that, hear Kathleen Purvis' funny tale about the summer dessert she hates with a passion. Two great stories, y'all. We hope you listen!

Episode 2: Meat and Three & Ten Dollars’ Worth of Regular - Written and Read by Kate Medley

Take a road trip through the Mississippi Delta, and you'll enjoy eating fried olive po'boys, pound cake, tacos, and tamales, all served up at — gas stations. That's right. If you grow up in the South, you know there's some good eating at service stations down two-lane highways. From Lula to Leland to Alligator, Mississippi, in this episode, Kate Medley shows us how to truly get to know a community.