About "The Living South"

I started this page because I wanted to write about the people who live in this ever-evolving, complex region, and because I didn’t see anything else like it.

I'm going to shine a spotlight every week on Southerners who are out doing interesting work in their communities. "Interesting" can mean a lot of things. In this setting, I mean people who are game-changers. They break down walls in their communities. They are innovative, restless, dynamic, originals. They can be political or apolitical. They write. They teach. They do. They make art. They cook. They talk to anyone. They shatter the mold. They are standouts.

We all know people who are just … special. I’m going to find them and talk to them.  It’s that simple.

Who am I?

My name is Billy Ball. I'm an award-winning journalist from North Carolina and senior editor at Cardinal & Pine, an online news site. I have bylines in The Atlantic, The Washington Post, MSNBC, and others.

Contact me

Know a game-changer I should talk to next or want to connect? Write me (billy@thelivingsouth.com).

Consider a paid subscription.

My writing is free to consume, but if you’re open to it, consider a monthly $4 subscription, or a $45 annual subscription, as encouragement to keep doing this. Paid subscribers will also receive an audio version of "The Living South." Sign up using the form below.