Welcome to the Deep Below Podcast. I’m your host, Karen Miller. My father’s hometown of Bedford, Pennsylvania, is drenched in American history. Walk its paths from Fort Bedford and the fiery defiance of the Whiskey Rebellion, the battles of the Civil War, the Lincoln Highway and the secret routes of Prohibition-era bootleggers, scratch the surface and this land has seen it all.

But this isn't just a history lesson. Deep below the grand events of the past, lies the raw, real history of my own family: the Smiths, the Overs, the Brightbills, and the McKinleys.

Through historical artifacts, official records, and cherished family lore, we are piecing together a narrative that bridges strict history and historical fiction. The names and the people are real—and it all starts in 1875 with a young woman named Lavinia McKinley Brightbill.

This is Deep Below, brought to you by Cussewago Productions. Hit that subscribe button, and listen closely as we learn what is hidden deep below the surface.