Life in the High Coal

Corey grew up in the coal fields of Southern West Virginia along Route 3. While he did not originally plan on following in the footsteps of his grandfather, an opportunity in the mines fell into his lap and he has been working underground for about five years now. He serves as an electrician, handling the high voltage power centers that keep the operation running. Unlike the tight spaces many people imagine when they think of mining, Corey works in high coal where he can actually stand up straight.

“Being underground is nothing like you think it is. I am fortunate where I am at, it is about seven to twelve feet in height. So I do not ever have to crawl which is always good. That is high class.”

The Art of the Rib

The camaraderie in the mines is built on a foundation of humor and constant ribbing. Corey notes that talking crap to one another is a primary way that the miners bond during their long shifts. This natural ability for comedic timing helped him find success on social media. Although he started on TikTok, his following truly exploded when he moved to Facebook, gaining over 150,000 followers in just five months. People from the Appalachian region and beyond relate to his authentic portrayal of the culture.

“That is what we do man. We talk crap to each other and that is a way of bonding. You beat somebody down and you build them back up later.”

Morals over Machines

Even with his newfound digital fame, Corey remains deeply connected to his roots and his personal values. He has taken a firm stance against the use of AI and the expansion of massive data centers that threaten the local environment. He expresses concern over how these large corporations might impact the land and the people of Appalachia for minimal reward. For Corey, it is important to stand on his morals and stay true to the community that supports him.

“I have got to stand on my morals. I feel like the least amount you use it as possible the better because I mean you can not really complain about something while you are doing it.”

Ever wondered what it is like to balance a dangerous job underground with the life of a viral creator? You can hear the whole story about the mining life and the digital grind in the full interview.