In short
Gainesboro, Tennessee, where a small-town land dispute becomes a broader social experiment. In fall 2024, “outsiders” began buying large tracts of land, prompting locals to question developers’ right-wing ties and motives. The episode frames the conflict as a “land grab in Appalachia” and a fight over the “Christian way of life,” with claims that the plan is to create a “shining hill” community rather than just develop property.
Guest backgrounds
No guests are named in the provided transcript.
Key claims
Developers with right-wing ties purchased hundreds of acres; locals feel unprepared and see the effort as opposing an administration.
Notable examples
Gainesboro’s population (just over 1,000), generational residents, and the “pioneers in Appalachia” branding.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:00If you drive 90 miles northeast of Nashville, into the foothills of the Appalachian mountains, You'll land in Gainesboro, Tennessee. How would you describe this place? I think raw would be a good word to start. Just over a thousand people live here. Many go back generations. I was related to pretty much everyone here. But in the fall of 2024, a group of outsiders started scooping up big tracts of land. That piques my interest because most of the time he would sell it to Jim Bob over the holler. As the battle for the future of America plays out in one small town. We were all flat-footed. We didn't have a clue.
0:40Developers with right-wing ties have purchased hundreds of acres of land in the area. The first thing you see when it pops up is pioneers in Appalachia. Pioneers in Appalachia. But the goal wasn't just to buy real estate. We need cities on a shining hill that exemplify and embody the healthy, natural, human way of life, the Christian way of life. Stop right there. Is that normal? From Bloomberg News and the Big Take podcast, this is Our Town. A show about what happens when a small town becomes the site of a social experiment. God need men to rule. Great. We're on the cusp of, I think, a land grab in Appalachia.
1:19Our hometown is not a test tube. and decides to fight back. Do not use my hard work to sell your bull****. They're not just opposing what's being planned for here. They feel like they're standing in opposition to an entire administration. Guess you didn't move in on a bunch of dumb hillbillies now, did you? Listen to Our Town starting August 7th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
1:51Thank you.
From the publisher
When new neighbors move into Gainesboro, Tennessee, a small town at the foothills of Appalachia, locals are confused. Who are these self-proclaimed pioneers? And what do they want with their little town?
Locals soon discover the new arrivals are connected to something much larger: A network of far-right Christians who have ties to Washington and are backed by venture capital.
This is a story about a battle over identity fought on small town soil with small town spunk. Where acreage, heritage, and what it means to be an American are all up for grabs. Episode 1 will be available to Big Take listeners Friday, August 7.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
