We are proud to announce the launch of Blue Ridge Conversations, a new web series designed to encourage deeper dialogue around the histories, cultures, and narratives that shape our shared world. Hosted by BRC Founder and Executive Director Annie Newton, the series will invite viewers into thoughtful, accessible conversations that illuminate the complexities (and possibilities) of American history.
For Annie, Blue Ridge Conversations is a natural extension of her life’s work. A historian and nonprofit leader based in Chapel Hill, Annie brings a wealth of academic expertise and to every discussion. She holds a bachelor’s degree in History and Art from Randolph Macon Woman’s College and two master’s degrees: one in Teaching Social Studies from UNC–Chapel Hill and another in History from Virginia Commonwealth University, where she earned the Graduate School’s Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award for her study of Donna Reed and the evolution of modern feminism.
Throughout her career, Annie has worked to uncover and uplift stories too often left at the margins. At the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough, she led the Governor’s Award-winning Telling the Full Story project, which illuminated the contributions of Black and Indigenous communities to Hillsborough’s history. She later helped guide pioneering research and content development for Common Ground in Orange County, an America 250 project with Indigenous Memories exploring the intertwined histories of Black enslaved and Indigenous peoples in the Carolina Piedmont.
Within BRC, Annie continues this work daily, not only as an administrator and fundraiser, but as a working historian. She consults on our documentary films, exhibitions, and other media, ensuring every project is grounded in rigorous research and authentic storytelling.
Episode 1 features Annie in conversation with another BRC Founder, Brian Castle, as they unpack the layered history and evolving identity of the American South. Their discussion ranges widely: race, religion, food, politics, literature, and the mass migration transforming the region today.
They explore misconceptions people outside the South often hold, as well as inaccurate narratives Southerners sometimes tell themselves, including the myth of a culturally homogenous early South. From its earliest days, the South was complex, diverse, and deeply interconnected–-a reality that continues to shape it now.
“This series is an opportunity to step back and ask bigger questions about who we are,” Annie shares. “I’m excited to speak with some of the leading minds in the history community in future episodes, people who can help us see the past more clearly so we can engage the present with greater empathy.”
Got an idea for a conversation or a story we should explore? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at info@blueridgecollaborative.org or connect through our contact form at blueridgecollaborative.org.
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