Episode 71: Season Five Prologue

Summary

Old Gods of Appalachia Episode 71: Season Five Prologue Release Date: December 5, 2024

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Introduction to Season Five

In the prologue episode of Season Five, hosted by Steve Schell from DeepNerd Media, listeners are welcomed back to the eerie and atmospheric world of "Old Gods of Appalachia." The episode sets the tone for the upcoming season, promising a return to the anthology format that fans have come to love. Steve emphasizes the deep connection between the listeners and the podcast community, referring to them affectionately as "family."

Notable Quote:

"Old Gods of Appalachia is a horror anthology podcast and therefore may contain material not suitable for all audiences. So listener discretion is advised."
— Steve Schell [03:25]

Transition from Patreon to The Holler

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to announcing the transition from Patreon to their new subscription service, The Holler, powered by Supercast. Both Steve Schell and co-host Cam discuss the benefits of this move, highlighting improved features such as ad-free episodes, exclusive storylines, and a more streamlined platform for subscribers.

Key Points:

• Steve Schell [00:00]: Announces the discontinuation of Patreon and introduces The Holler as the new subscription platform.
• Cam [15:09]: Elaborates on the exclusive content available through The Holler, including titles like "Build Mama Coffin" and "Black Mouth Dog."
• Steve Schell [15:59]: Provides instructions for existing Patreon members to transition smoothly to The Holler, ensuring no loss of subscription time.
• Cam [16:21]: Encourages new listeners to join The Holler, emphasizing the ease of access and the wealth of exclusive content available.

Notable Quote:

"You can ask questions if you need to, and the good folks over at Supercast are standing by to help if you have any technical questions or need help getting moved on over."
— Steve Schell [15:59]

Season Five Prologue: A Haunting Reflection on Appalachia

The heart of the episode is a profound and poetic monologue delivered by Steve Schell. This narrative delves deep into the psyche of Appalachia, exploring themes of confinement, tradition, and the yearning for escape. The monologue paints a vivid picture of the struggles faced by those living in the mountainous region, grappling with familial expectations, societal norms, and the haunting presence of ancient gods beneath the hills.

Themes Explored:

• Confinement vs. Escape: The tension between staying rooted in Appalachia and the desire to seek a better life elsewhere.
• Tradition and Change: The struggle between adhering to longstanding traditions and embracing personal growth and change.
• Supernatural Presence: The omnipresent dark forces and old gods that embody the region's mysterious and foreboding atmosphere.

Notable Quotes:

"Oh Appalachia, the voice of a mother is that of a jealous God. At times she wants what is best for us, holds us close to her loving bosom so that we can only breathe when she breathes."
— Steve Schell [03:25]

"Your body an ill fitting garment against your soul... with a different voice in your ear, one that sounds more like your own or the one you wished you had, whispering, run, child, run like hell."
— Steve Schell [14:28]

Old Gods of Appalachia Theme

Interwoven with the monologue is the haunting theme music of "Old Gods of Appalachia," which reinforces the dark and mysterious tone of the podcast. The lyrics echo the sentiments expressed in Steve's narrative, emphasizing the perpetual struggle between darkness and the faint glimmers of hope.

Theme Lyrics Excerpt:

"When the walls close in and the light gets swallowed and there ain't no place that feels like home... The hearth grows cold and home is nowhere."
— Old Gods of Appalachia Theme [13:23]

Closing Remarks and Final Announcements

As the episode concludes, Steve and Cam reiterate their excitement for Season Five and express gratitude towards their loyal listeners. They encourage new and existing subscribers to join The Holler for exclusive content and remind the audience of the continuous support available through their website and social media platforms.

Notable Quote:

"Once again, we are super excited to have you with us for season five, family. We got miles to go before we sleep and that sleep probably won't be easy or untroubled."
— Steve Schell [17:16]

Conclusion

Episode 71 serves as a powerful and evocative prologue to Season Five of "Old Gods of Appalachia." Through poetic storytelling and atmospheric narration, Steve Schell invites listeners to immerse themselves once again in the dark, enigmatic world of Appalachia. The transition to The Holler marks a new chapter for the podcast, promising enhanced engagement and a deeper connection with the community. As the season kicks off, fans can anticipate a blend of horror, folklore, and the timeless struggle between tradition and the desire for liberation.

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Stay Connected:

• Website: www.oldgodsofappalachia.com
• The Holler Subscription: Accessible via the show notes in each episode
• Social Media: Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Tumblr

Support the Show:

• Patreon Transition: Instructions provided within the episode for existing patrons
• Merchandise: Available at Old Gods Merch Shop

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Note: Advertisements and promotional segments have been excluded to focus on the core content and thematic elements of the episode.

Transcript

[Steve Schell]

Well, hey there family. Steve Schell from Old Gods of Appalachia here. If you're listening to one of the earlier episodes of our show, those before the beginning of season five, you may hear us talk about supporting the show through our Patreon. I'm just popping in to let you know that Patreon is going away. We just launched our very own subscription service, the Holler. The Holler is powered by Supercast, a platform built from the ground up for podcasters and their listeners. We think you're going to like it a lot. So if you'd like to support the show and enjoy ad free episodes, exclusive storylines and more, visit old gods of appalachia.com the Holler and join the family today. You can find that link in the show notes of every episode.

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[Cam]

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[Steve Schell]

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[Steve Schell]

Old Gods of Appalachia is a horror anthology podcast and therefore may contain material not suitable for all audiences. So listener discretion is advised. Oh Appalachia, we have heard your call, have felt it pull on our heartstrings and tug at our innards anytime we might think of moving away. We have felt your breath on the back of our necks when we dare wonder what else is out there and if indeed the grass might be greener there. Oh Appalachia, how quick is your hand to correct an errant child, to blister a backside if we stray from the five miles to work, two miles to church and back routine that was good enough for them that come before us. Oh Appalachia, the voice of a mother is that of a jealous God. At times she wants what is best for us, holds us close to her loving bosom so that we can only breathe when she breathes. Our heart is allowed to beat only because it is in time with hers. Oh Mother, can't you see that after a lifetime of eating at the same table, praying at the same altar, hearing the same stories about how things used to be and how they were so much better back then, we can't help but strain our necks to get a look at that wind and blacktop beast that eventually becomes one with the pounding heart of the highway. And if we stay, then we've been seduced by that siren serenade as surely as if she stood on our shoulders whispering that home is where the heart is while she holds ours clutched bleeding in her talons. Oh Appalachia, you tell us that the road that leads from this place, all asphalt and yellow lines paved and maintained by the county, can only bear us to damnation, but the road that carries us home, well, blessed be that well worn path, that holy back road, that marriage of gravel and cold earth that calls us back again and again, whether we mean it to or not. O Appalachia, do you not see that they are one and the same? O mother, will you ever let us go? For some folks hearth and holler might be enough. But the further you get from the generations that lived, died and killed to hold on to this land, you'll find notions of the grandeur of familial proximity tend to wane. There is a whole world outside of Appalachia, and it's full of bright lights and jobs behind desks and buildings that are clean and carpeted and well lit while the folks back home are still scraping beneath the earth for the remaining crumbs of the dark wealth that filled our coffers for so very long. See, there are places in this world that these mountains never wanted you to see. Places where earning a living doesn't have to come with a lifetime of pain and misery. Where generations of judgment and expectations don't hang over your head like the cold choked heart of the mountain. The world changes, but often people do not. You may love your mamaw or your mama and daddy, but the day may come when their kind and accepting hearts seem a little bit less of both. They see who you're becoming and it ain't like them. And they don't know what to do with that. Traditions begin to feel like obligations and who you are and who they raised you to be start to feel like fighters on opposite sides of a squared circle. You begin to ask questions. A lot of folks around here don't like it when you ask questions. Cause questions make people nervous. Pretty soon they're looking at you like a stranger, asking questions about them books you've been reading, them bands you've been listening to. And pretty soon everything about you seems dark and worrisome to them. Folks start muttering about appearances of evil and warning you about that devil music. All them backward messages hidden in the mix that you don't even realize you're singing along with until it's too late. Cuz shouting at the devil is all fun and games, they say, until the devil shouts back. So you might be a teenage girl writing poetry darker than a vice principal's heart in the back room of your mama's single wide up on Sherry Hill, just counting the days till you're old enough to get the hell out of this town that threatens to wrap around you like the weeds that choke the medians on the four lane that lead down the mountain and away from this awful and beautiful place. The license Issued to you by the Commonwealth on your 16th birthday may be the greatest treasure you will ever own as it bestows upon you the right to follow that great asphalt ribbon wherever it leads. And for a girl who yearns to escape the petty prejudices and strangling expectations of small town life, the holy rights of clutch and gear shift, the combination of speed and a mixtape in the cassette deck are the closest thing to religion you may ever accept. And you know one day they will take you far from here. And yet when it calls, you answer. And that always means a detour. You might be a boy on the cusp of 17 being told you're already a man grown. Your daddy and mommy were practically married at your age. And your daddy knows somebody over at B and L that can get you on digging coal or turning wrenches on the diesels up on the strip job, little bit of training, you'll be making that good money in no time, son. Oh, it ain't like it used to be. There's all kinds of safety measures in place now to make sure the company can wring 30 or 40 years out of you instead of the usual 20. I'm sure people still get buried alive or cooked in fires, but shoot, nowadays you're more than likely to end up with every joint in your body ground down to gristle and dust. Your spine a crumbling avalanche of herniated discs and nerve damage before your lungs even start to go bad. What you want to be like them that run off and left their blood behind, then that think they're better than us going off to some fancy college or applying to jobs at some better place? What place is better than home? Unless it's military. Course, that's different. Man can leave here a hillbilly and come back a hero. I mean, as long as he comes back at all. Could be you're a child of the moon and stars. Your body an ill fitting garment against your soul. The bones that bury you upright little more than a cage to keep you in. In these hills, your heart has to work three times harder just to keep you upright and mo. And you learn early on that escape is your best option. That staying here is a death sentence. And you got living to do so you gotta get out and stay out. And you can feel in your bones that there are places that will love and accept you as you are. You just have to find them. Those places are not here. Will likely never be here. Now you'll find a place or two that's tolerable. Maybe, but it's tolerable enough to hang your whole life on. So you go. You write letters home from time to time. Call a friend or two you left behind. Ask after your people without having to deal with your people, if you know what I'm saying. Maybe you come home to bury somebody who was dear to you. Maybe you see your friends familiar smiles pressed like the fingerprints of ghosts onto the faces of their children and grandchildren before the last of them forgets you or is gone. You can try to ignore it. You can refuse to answer. You can sit still and pretend you haven't heard its call. But if you stay in these mountains for any time at all, you will find yourself there alone, far from the light of your own porch, your feet carrying you ever deeper into the velveteen night of these hills, with a different voice in your ear, one that sounds more like your own or the one you wished you had, whispering, run, child, run like hell.

[Old Gods of Appalachia Theme]

When the walls close in and the light gets swallowed and there ain't no place that feels like home the ones you love turn into strangers and you cast your eyes through the winding road Keep your foot on the gas, your eyes straight forward Clear your heart and mind best leave them ghost behind.

[Steve Schell]

When.

[Old Gods of Appalachia Theme]

The hearth grows cold and home is nowhere Then you might as well when darkness calls Run like hell.

[Steve Schell]

Well, hey there, family, and welcome to season five of Old Gods of Appalachia. Run like hell. This season we'll be returning to our traditional anthology format with a variety of tales centered on one simple truth about living in a place like this. Eventually, when the hills seem to close in around you and there's not enough daylight to go around when you just can't stand it anymore We've all tried to get out, and sometimes that means we do indeed. Gotta run like hell. I am not alone here in the void, family. I think I hear a familiar voice coming through the gloom.

[Cam]

Well, hey there, family. I thought I'd pop over and join Steve for the premiere of this season that I know we are both very excited about, and we hope you are too. But that's not the only thing we're excited about. I don't know if you've heard us shouting from the mountaintops over on social media lately, but we have launched our very own paid subscription service called the Holler, powered by Supercast, a platform designed from the ground up. With podcasters and our listeners in mind, the Holler is replacing our Patreon as the one true destination for all of our exclusive storylines and extras, such as Build Mama Coffin, Black Mouth Dog, the Door under the floor and so much more. It's all in a streamlined, well organized format that folks who've already moved to the Holler have been really excited about. If you've already moved to the Holler, we thank you for all those kind words and welcome you home.

[Steve Schell]

If you're an existing Patreon member and you haven't made the move yet, it's quick and easy. Just log into Patreon and look for the post titled A Friendly Reminder from Steve. Listen to the audio message from yours truly and follow the instructions that Cam has so meticulously laid out for you. You can ask questions if you need to, and the good folks over at Supercast are standing by to help if you have any technical questions or need help getting moved on over.

[Cam]

And speaking of billing, you don't even have to figure out when your current Patreon subscription expires, then wait till that day to make the switch. We know that's a huge pain to try to remember, so Supercast is going to credit you the remaining time you have on Patreon to your new subscription with the Holler. Now I know what some of y'all are thinking, blah blah blah. Cam, I'm not on Patreon. Well, for those of you who haven't tossed your tithe in the offering plate yet, or maybe you used to subscribe, but you've been waiting for this new season to start, we got you. You can head on over to oldgodsofappalachia.com theholler the link is right here in the show notes and join the family in the Holler today. It's so quick and easy to gain access to hours of exclusive content with just a few clicks.

[Steve Schell]

Is that everything? Witch? I know we had a lot to tell the family about today. Did we remember everything?

[Cam]

I think we did. And if we missed anything, well, we'll just post it on Socials Fam.

[Steve Schell]

Alright then. Once again, we are super excited to have you with us for season five, family. We got miles to go before we sleep and that sleep probably won't be easy or untroubled. So let's go y'all. We'll talk to you soon, family. Talk to you real soon.

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