SOUTHERN STORYTELLERS

Take a journey through the South as seen in PBS's new three-part docuseries.

EXPLORE THE SOUTH WITH OUR STORYTELLERS

Enjoy this interactive map featuring some excerpts from the three-part series on PBS, SOUTHERN STORYTELLERS. To make the most of this digital road trip through the South, please click from city to city on the map or scroll through the videos on the left to watch a curated selection of clips from all three episodes.

Premieres Tuesdays, July 18-August 1, 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET (check local listings)

Inside Look at SOUTHERN STORYTELLERS

Inside Look at SOUTHERN STORYTELLERS. Click to expand.

Director Craig Renaud and the creators explore Southern culture and how storytelling remains vital in the South. Celebrate Southern identity through the eyes of contemporary creators of literature, music, film, and television, including authors Jesmyn Ward, Michael Twitty, Angie Thomas, and David Joy; poets Jericho Brown and Natasha Trethewey; songwriters Jason Isbell, Lyle Lovett, Tarriona “Tank” Ball, Adia Victoria, Amanda Shires, and Justin Moore; songwriter/screenwriter/actor Billy Bob Thornton and songwriter/actress Mary Steenburgen; and screenwriters Qui Nguyen and Michael Waldron. #SouthernStorytellersPBS

ASHLAND CITY, TENNESSEE

ASHLAND CITY, TENNESSEE. Click to expand.

In "Episode 1" of SOUTHERN STORYTELLERS, singer/songwriter Adia Victoria gives a tour of her home in Ashland City, Tennessee, and talks about the writing process for her album "A Southern Gothic." Adia also discusses the influence of Eudora Welty and William Faulkner on storytelling in the American South. SOUTHERN STORYTELLERS "Episode 1" premieres Tuesday, July 18, 2023, at 9 p.m. ET on PBS. #SouthernStorytellersPBS

JACKSON COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA

JACKSON COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA. Click to expand.

In "Episode 1" of SOUTHERN STORYTELLERS, novelist David Joy ("Those We Thought We Knew") lives off the land in the mountains of North Carolina and writes about a place "misunderstood." David also shares what he wants people to understand about the South. SOUTHERN STORYTELLERS "Episode 1" premieres Tuesday, July 18, 2023, at 9 p.m. ET on PBS. #SouthernStorytellersPBS

ATLANTA, GEORGIA

ATLANTA, GEORGIA. Click to expand.

In "Episode 1" of SOUTHERN STORYTELLERS, poet Jericho Brown ("How We Do It") delivers a powerful spoken word poem and explores the role of the subconscious in writing. Jericho also discusses his writing process and inspiration. SOUTHERN STORYTELLERS "Episode 1" premieres Tuesday, July 18, 2023, at 9 p.m. ET on PBS. #SouthernStorytellersPBS

JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI

JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI. Click to expand.

In "Episode 2" of SOUTHERN STORYTELLERS, author Angie Thomas ("The Hate You Give") talks about growing up in Jackson, Mississippi. She also discusses why she decided to become a writer for youth audiences. SOUTHERN STORYTELLERS "Episode 2" premieres Tuesday, July 25, 2023, at 9 p.m. ET on PBS.  #SouthernStorytellersPBS

EL DORADO, ARKANSAS

EL DORADO, ARKANSAS. Click to expand.

In "Episode 2" of SOUTHERN STORYTELLERS, screenwriter Qui Nguyen ("Raya and the Last Dragon") talks about the stories that his grandmother shared with him growing up and how she inspired him to become a storyteller. Qui also discusses the value of stories. SOUTHERN STORYTELLERS "Episode 2" premieres Tuesday, July 25, 2023, at 9 p.m. ET on PBS. #SouthernStorytellersPBS

MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA

MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA. Click to expand.

In “Episode 2,” cookbook author and chef Michael Twitty speaks about the cultural significance of okra. SOUTHERN STORYTELLERS "Episode 2" premieres Tuesday, July 25, 2023, at 9 p.m. ET on PBS. #SouthernStorytellersPBS

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA. Click to expand.

In "Episode 3," Pulitzer Prize winner Natasha Trethewey discusses her book of poetry "Monuments," which is a creative defiance against cultural erasure in the face of white supremacy.  In this clip, Trethewey returns to New Orleans where the removal of Confederate monuments begs the question, "what was there?" SOUTHERN STORYTELLERS "Episode 3" premieres Tuesday, August 1, 2023, at 9 p.m. ET on PBS. #SouthernStorytellersPBS

DELISLE, MISSISSIPPI

DELISLE, MISSISSIPPI. Click to expand.

In “Episode 3,” two time National Book Award winner Jesmyn Ward is from DeLisle, Mississippi, also known as "Wolftown".  Ward wrote her memoir Men We Reaped, in memory of her late brother and four of her friends. In this clip, she laments the erasure of her ancestors and culture. SOUTHERN STORYTELLERS "Episode 3" premieres Tuesday, August 1, 2023, at 9 p.m. ET on PBS. #SouthernStorytellersPBS

POYEN, ARKANSAS

POYEN, ARKANSAS. Click to expand.

In “Episode 3,” country music star Justin Moore still lives in his hometown of Poyen, Arkansas; population 300.  In this clip, Moore shows viewers the land he grew up on and remembers his grandfather who inspired his songwriting. SOUTHERN STORYTELLERS "Episode 3" premieres Tuesday, August 1, 2023, at 9 p.m. ET on PBS. #SouthernStorytellersPBS

Inside Look at SOUTHERN STORYTELLERS

Director Craig Renaud and the creators explore Southern culture and how storytelling remains vital in the South. Celebrate Southern identity through the eyes of contemporary creators of literature, music, film, and television, including authors Jesmyn Ward, Michael Twitty, Angie Thomas, and David Joy; poets Jericho Brown and Natasha Trethewey; songwriters Jason Isbell, Lyle Lovett, Tarriona “Tank” Ball, Adia Victoria, Amanda Shires, and Justin Moore; songwriter/screenwriter/actor Billy Bob Thornton and songwriter/actress Mary Steenburgen; and screenwriters Qui Nguyen and Michael Waldron. #SouthernStorytellersPBS

Premieres Tuesdays, July 18-August 1, 2023, 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET (check local listings).

ASHLAND CITY, TENNESSEE

In "Episode 1" of SOUTHERN STORYTELLERS, singer/songwriter Adia Victoria gives a tour of her home in Ashland City, Tennessee, and talks about the writing process for her album "A Southern Gothic." Adia also discusses the influence of Eudora Welty and William Faulkner on storytelling in the American South. SOUTHERN STORYTELLERS "Episode 1" premieres Tuesday, July 18, 2023, at 9 p.m. ET on PBS. #SouthernStorytellersPBS

JACKSON COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA

In "Episode 1" of SOUTHERN STORYTELLERS, novelist David Joy ("Those We Thought We Knew") lives off the land in the mountains of North Carolina and writes about a place "misunderstood." David also shares what he wants people to understand about the South. SOUTHERN STORYTELLERS "Episode 1" premieres Tuesday, July 18, 2023, at 9 p.m. ET on PBS. #SouthernStorytellersPBS

ATLANTA, GEORGIA

In "Episode 1" of SOUTHERN STORYTELLERS, poet Jericho Brown ("How We Do It") delivers a powerful spoken word poem and explores the role of the subconscious in writing. Jericho also discusses his writing process and inspiration. SOUTHERN STORYTELLERS "Episode 1" premieres Tuesday, July 18, 2023, at 9 p.m. ET on PBS. #SouthernStorytellersPBS

JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI

In "Episode 2" of SOUTHERN STORYTELLERS, author Angie Thomas ("The Hate You Give") talks about growing up in Jackson, Mississippi. She also discusses why she decided to become a writer for youth audiences. SOUTHERN STORYTELLERS "Episode 2" premieres Tuesday, July 25, 2023, at 9 p.m. ET on PBS.  #SouthernStorytellersPBS

EL DORADO, ARKANSAS

In "Episode 2" of SOUTHERN STORYTELLERS, screenwriter Qui Nguyen ("Raya and the Last Dragon") talks about the stories that his grandmother shared with him growing up and how she inspired him to become a storyteller. Qui also discusses the value of stories. SOUTHERN STORYTELLERS "Episode 2" premieres Tuesday, July 25, 2023, at 9 p.m. ET on PBS. #SouthernStorytellersPBS

MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA

In “Episode 2,” cookbook author and chef Michael Twitty speaks about the cultural significance of okra. SOUTHERN STORYTELLERS "Episode 2" premieres Tuesday, July 25, 2023, at 9 p.m. ET on PBS. #SouthernStorytellersPBS

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA

In "Episode 3," Pulitzer Prize winner Natasha Trethewey discusses her book of poetry "Monuments," which is a creative defiance against cultural erasure in the face of white supremacy.  In this clip, Trethewey returns to New Orleans where the removal of Confederate monuments begs the question, "what was there?" SOUTHERN STORYTELLERS "Episode 3" premieres Tuesday, August 1, 2023, at 9 p.m. ET on PBS. #SouthernStorytellersPBS

DELISLE, MISSISSIPPI

In “Episode 3,” two time National Book Award winner Jesmyn Ward is from DeLisle, Mississippi, also known as "Wolftown".  Ward wrote her memoir Men We Reaped, in memory of her late brother and four of her friends. In this clip, she laments the erasure of her ancestors and culture. SOUTHERN STORYTELLERS "Episode 3" premieres Tuesday, August 1, 2023, at 9 p.m. ET on PBS. #SouthernStorytellersPBS

POYEN, ARKANSAS

In “Episode 3,” country music star Justin Moore still lives in his hometown of Poyen, Arkansas; population 300.  In this clip, Moore shows viewers the land he grew up on and remembers his grandfather who inspired his songwriting. SOUTHERN STORYTELLERS "Episode 3" premieres Tuesday, August 1, 2023, at 9 p.m. ET on PBS. #SouthernStorytellersPBS

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