How similar are the Appalachians and Romania's Carpathian Mountains?

Board a flight from central Appalachia to Romania’s Carpathian Mountains and you’ll find many similarities in the regions.

Both share mountain cultures rich in literature and arts, have sustainable agriculture and forestry and face various challenges in the coal mining industry.

Radford University Appalachian Studies Director Theresa Burriss serves as U.S. co-chair of the 2019 Appalachian/Carpathian Mountain Conference, which will be held in October. The conference aims to explore the striking parallels between the two regions thousands of miles apart.

Burriss will talk about her involvement with the conference on the With Good Reason public radio program next month. Her interview will air Feb 2-8 on more than 60 With Good Reason stations across the United States.

Listeners in the New River Valley can hear the show at 6 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 5, on Public Radio WVRU 89.9. Programs are available as podcasts at withgoodreasonradio.org.

With Good Reason is produced by the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities for the Virginia Higher Education Broadcasting Consortium and is broadcast on public radio stations in Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Washington, D.C.

With Good Reason has won five Gabriel Awards for Best Documentary or Public Affairs Programs and is the recipient of top honors from the Public Radio News Directors, Radio and Television Digital News Association and the Virginia Association of Broadcasters.