The story of the Appalachian mountains could not be adequately told without diving into the history of dispossession in the region. Since early settlement the class of peasant farmers, many of whom were fleeing dire circumstances in Ireland and Scotland, that inhabited the southern mountains faced an elite class that wanted them to assimilate into the new government and economy of the United States. Their simple makeshift lifestyles did not fit the mold of what those in power saw as progress. As a result, they were driven from their land through centuries of calculated policy and action on the part of both government and industry. In this interview I speak with author Steven Stoll, a scholar on the topic of dispossession in southern Appalachia. In his book, Ramp Hollow: The Ordeal of Appalachia, he offers a thorough history of land use patterns and human geography in the region. In this episode, we dig into some of the most potent and currently relevant topics from the book from the role of capitalism in rural lives to what policy can be put in place to begin to put land back in the hands of small-holder farmers rather than large corporations. I hope you enjoy!