Skid Row To Appalachia: The Forgotten People Of Rural America - Peter Santenello

Peter Santenello is an independent journalist, YouTuber, & author. Who are the forgotten people of rural America? The country’s political and moral divisions may stem not only from disagreement, but from distance, countless communities and subcultures living entirely separate lives, with little understanding of one another. So what is life really like in these overlooked towns, who still calls them home, and do they represent a version of the “real America” the rest of the country has forgotten? Expect to learn what Peter learned about America from traveling to 85 different countries, what’s actually going on in rural America nobody really sees or has forgotten about, what’s actually going on in the drug crisis in America, Peter’s biggest lessons from the Amish, the most misunderstood community in America and much more… - Get 35% off your first subscription on the best supplements from Momentous at https://livemomentous.com/modernwisdom Get up to 20% off Timeline powered by Mitopure (now at a lower price) at https://timeline.com/modernwisdom Get a Free Sample Pack of LMNT’s most popular flavours with your first purchase at https://drinklmnt.com/modernwisdom Get 15% off your first order of my favourite Non-Alcoholic Brew at https://athleticbrewing.com/modernwisdom Get ChatGPT to explore ideas, solve problems, and learn faster at ⁠https://chatgpt.com - 0:00 What Inspired Peter to Travel? 4:57 The Isolation of Living Abroad 10:04 The World’s Most Underrated Destinations 14:41 How Ukraine Changed Peter’s Path 23:44 What Americans Don’t Understand About America 26:19 What We Can Learn From Native Americans 30:44 Do Native Communities Still Hold Resentment? 36:53 Is This the Worse Place in America? 46:14 Is Fentanyl America’s Biggest Crisis? 51:20 The Amish Trick Everyone Falls For 59:18 Inside the Intensity of Jewish Life 01:05:14 Are Company Towns Modern-Day Slavery? 01:11:12 The Surprising Diversity of the US Landscape 01:16:39 What Will the World Look Like in 5 Years? 01:26:14 What’s Really Happening at the Mexican Border? 01:43:22 How the UK Really Sees London 01:49:14 Are People Still Speaking Elizabethan English in Maryland? 01:51:43 Why Strong Communities Matter More Than Ever 01:57:27 Where to Find Peter - Get access to every episode 10 hours before YouTube by subscribing for free on Spotify - https://spotify.modernwisdom.com or Apple Podcasts - https://apple.modernwisdom.com Get my free Reading List of 100 life-changing books here - https://chriswillx.com/books/ Try my productivity energy drink Neutonic here - https://neutonic.com/modernwisdom - Get in touch in the comments below or head to... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chriswillx Email: https://chriswillx.com/contact/

Chris WilliamsonhostPeter Santenelloguest

Aug 3, 20261h 58mWatch on YouTube ↗

EPISODE INFO

Released: August 3, 2026
Duration: 1h 58m
Channel: Modern Wisdom
Watch on YouTube: ▶ Open ↗

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

Peter Santenello is an independent journalist, YouTuber, & author. Who are the forgotten people of rural America? The country’s political and moral divisions may stem not only from disagreement, but from distance, countless communities and subcultures living entirely separate lives, with little understanding of one another. So what is life really like in these overlooked towns, who still calls them home, and do they represent a version of the “real America” the rest of the country has forgotten? Expect to learn what Peter learned about America from traveling to 85 different countries, what’s actually going on in rural America nobody really sees or has forgotten about, what’s actually going on in the drug crisis in America, Peter’s biggest lessons from the Amish, the most misunderstood community in America and much more… - Get 35% off your first subscription on the best supplements from Momentous at https://livemomentous.com/modernwisdom Get up to 20% off Timeline powered by Mitopure (now at a lower price) at https://timeline.com/modernwisdom Get a Free Sample Pack of LMNT’s most popular flavours with your first purchase at https://drinklmnt.com/modernwisdom Get 15% off your first order of my favourite Non-Alcoholic Brew at https://athleticbrewing.com/modernwisdom Get ChatGPT to explore ideas, solve problems, and learn faster at ⁠https://chatgpt.com - 0:00 What Inspired Peter to Travel? 4:57 The Isolation of Living Abroad 10:04 The World’s Most Underrated Destinations 14:41 How Ukraine Changed Peter’s Path 23:44 What Americans Don’t Understand About America 26:19 What We Can Learn From Native Americans 30:44 Do Native Communities Still Hold Resentment? 36:53 Is This the Worse Place in America? 46:14 Is Fentanyl America’s Biggest Crisis? 51:20 The Amish Trick Everyone Falls For 59:18 Inside the Intensity of Jewish Life 01:05:14 Are Company Towns Modern-Day Slavery? 01:11:12 The Surprising Diversity of the US Landscape 01:16:39 What Will the World Look Like in 5 Years? 01:26:14 What’s Really Happening at the Mexican Border? 01:43:22 How the UK Really Sees London 01:49:14 Are People Still Speaking Elizabethan English in Maryland? 01:51:43 Why Strong Communities Matter More Than Ever 01:57:27 Where to Find Peter - Get access to every episode 10 hours before YouTube by subscribing for free on Spotify - https://spotify.modernwisdom.com or Apple Podcasts - https://apple.modernwisdom.com Get my free Reading List of 100 life-changing books here - https://chriswillx.com/books/ Try my productivity energy drink Neutonic here - https://neutonic.com/modernwisdom - Get in touch in the comments below or head to... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chriswillx Email: https://chriswillx.com/contact/

SPEAKERS

Chris Williamson
host
Host of the Modern Wisdom podcast.
Peter Santenello
guest
Travel documentarian and creator known for on-the-ground video series about communities and countries.

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of Modern Wisdom, featuring Chris Williamson and Peter Santenello, Skid Row To Appalachia: The Forgotten People Of Rural America - Peter Santenello explores exploring America’s hidden subcultures, crises, and community through travel storytelling Santenello explains how early solo travel abroad shaped his storytelling style and later redirected his focus toward documenting overlooked realities inside the United States.

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