Long before Daniel Boone was hired to widen it for the Transylvania Company, the path now known as the Wilderness Road existed as the Warrior's Path — a route traveled for centuries by Cherokee, Shawnee, and other Indigenous nations. In this episode, I follow that trail from Cumberland Gap (just a few miles from where I grew up in Whitesburg, Kentucky) all the way to Lexington, where I live now.

This is a story about music, memory, and what it means to be a tradition-bearer who holds grief and remembrance along with celebration and pride.

We talk about:

• The history of the Wilderness Road and what it meant for the people who traveled it and the people who were already there
• The Indigenous, African, and European musical traditions that braided together along this trail to create what we now call Appalachian music
• Kentucky fiddlers and banjo players who carried these tunes forward, such as Estill Bingham, Morgan Sexton, and Dori Mae Wagers
• The Trail of Tears song by Walker Calhoun, and how music carries stories across generations
• Why I named my summer dance camp after this road, and what it means to me personally
• My Appalachian Music and Dance Manifesto — why I dance, who I dance for, and what this tradition means in 2026

Music featured in this episode: Cumberland Gap and other traditional tunes from along the Wilderness Road, courtesy of John Harrod, The Hamblen Collection, JuneAppal Records, and Berea College Special Collections.

Links mentioned:

• Wilderness Road Dance Camp
• Appalachian Flatfooting & Clogging Academy

What Dreamers Do is hosted by Carla Gover, 8th-generation Kentuckian, traditional musician, Master Artist, and dance educator. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

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What if the simple act of remembering joy could change the world?

In this luminous meditation episode of What Dreamers Do, my friend Geoffrey guides us through a meditation that gathers our most tender memories and sends that energy out like a spider's web touching every living thing.

We invite you to get comfortable and settle in for a gentle and uplifting meditation. You are the light. You always were.

Note: We don't recommend doing this meditation while driving.

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Welcome to a deeply personal and transformative episode of What Dreamers Do. Today, I sit down with my longtime spiritual mentor and friend, Geoffrey Bullington, whose journey from the hills of Eastern Kentucky to the mountains of West Virginia—and through the darkness of trauma, war, and inner struggle—has resulted in a lifetime devoted to helping others heal and awaken.

In this open, raw conversation, Geoffrey shares how pain became his first teacher, leading him through combat in Vietnam, battles with PTSD, and a profound spiritual awakening that forever altered his understanding of creativity, consciousness, and the human soul. Together, we discuss the family patterns that shape us, the addictive cycles of thought and emotion passed down through generations, and practical tools for reclaiming your power and your dreams, regardless of your past.

If you’re ready to challenge the limiting beliefs that keep you stuck, discover some of the fascinating science behind how we heal from trauma, and learn how your own self-work can ignite positive change in the larger world, join us for this conversation between old friends.

And stay tuned: as promised, a powerful guided meditation will be released in the next episode—your invitation to participate in collective healing, creativity, and change.

Note: This conversation contains some real talk about healing from the traumas of war, sexual abuse, and other difficult experiences. It does so in a gentle way, but I wanted you to know in case you have young ones around.

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