Our guest on this episode of Sharing the Mic with David Phillips is Dr. Gregg Kimbell, Director of Public Service and Outreach for the Library of Virginia. Gregg grew up with a deep love of traditional music and an ear for old stories about family and community. His long interest in music inspired him to learn guitar, banjo, fiddle, and accordion. After a stint in the Army, he became a public historian and created a long list of exhibitions, publications, and programs for museums and libraries. Gregg works closely with the staff of the Barrier Islands Center to create the programming and workshops for the annual Art and Music on the Farm. This year, it will be on May 24 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

David’s guest is Dr. Bryan Watts, a conservation biologist and professor at William and Mary, where he serves as the Director of the Center for Conservation Biology. He holds a BS in biology from Virginia Tech, an MA in biology from William and Mary, and a PhD in ecology from the University of Georgia. Since founding the Center in 1992, he has led over 1000 avian research projects focusing on ecological principles and habitat conservation in the Mid-Atlantic region. His recent work includes studying Chesapeake Bay osprey nesting success and advocating for balanced ecosystem management.

Jim Duffy began his storytelling journey as a cub reporter for a small newspaper near Chicago and eventually made his way to Baltimore. He transitioned into magazine writing and editing, contributing to publications like Baltimore Magazine, Chesapeake Bay Magazine, and City Paper, before embarking on a freelance writing career centered on the arts, urban development, and healthcare. Currently, Jim focuses on capturing the culture and character of the Delmarva Peninsula. He founded “Secrets of the Eastern Shore,” a platform that highlights the region through storytelling, photography, and local products. His monthly newsletter, “Month of Fundays,” boasts over 13,000 subscribers, while his “Secrets of the Eastern Shore” Facebook page has garnered more than 60,000 followers.

Our next guest on Sharing the Mic with David Phillips (January 1st) is the esteemed Katy Clune, who serves as Virginia’s state Folklorist and is the innovative Director of the Virginia Folklife Program at Virginia Humanities. With a profound commitment to preserving and promoting the rich tapestry of diverse cultures and traditions throughout the state, Katy's work is vital in fostering community pride and cultural heritage. She holds a master’s degree in Folklore from the prestigious University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she cultivated her passion for exploring the stories and practices that shape our lives.

Her expertise and dedication were recognized with the honor of an Archie Green Fellowship from the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, highlighting her significant contributions to the field. Based in the historic city of Charlottesville, Virginia, Katy draws on her extensive background in cultural communications to engage with communities, ensuring that their voices and traditions are not only heard but thrive for generations to come.

Award-winning writer and author Tom Horton, a native of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, has written about the environment for the Baltimore Sun for over three decades. His lifelong interest in the Chesapeake Bay Region has found expression in a number of writings, including his memoir of life on Smith Island in the book An Island Out of Time (1996), as well as Bay Country, The Great Marsh, Turning the Tide, and Water's Way. Tom’s articles have also been featured in National Geographic. Tom has presented several lectures over the years at the BIC and brought his Salisbury University students here for learning tours during their class kayak trips. His last presentation of the documentary film Beautiful Swimmers Revisited was a standing-room only event.

Cullen Strawn, PhD, Executive Director for the
Arts at Old Dominion University has also overseen an art exhibition honoring the life and work of Eastern Shore artist and pastor Mary Elizabeth "MAMA-Girl" Onley (1953 - 2018). The exhibition is free and open to the public and will remain on view through May 10, 2025, at the Baron and Ellin Gordon Art Galleries at Old Dominion University.

Folks are invited to explore a diverse collection of some 150 artworks and objects from MAMA-Girl’s studio, generously shared with the public by more than a dozen lenders, including the Barrier Islands Center and residents of the Eastern Shore, along with others across Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina.

On this month’s episode of “Sharing the Mic,” host David Phillips sits down with Eastern Shore native Barry Mears. Author of the 2023 book Living Shoreborn: A Glimpse into Life on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, Barry captures the power of community – not only in the book, but also in his daily life.

David Phillips chats with 3 former BIC Margaret Jane Dickinson interns. Tune in on September 1st to find out what Max Patten, Destin Rodgers, and Anna Hart have been up to since their respective summers in Machipongo!