FEATURED PROGRAMS on Blue Ridge PBS
Be sure to check our schedule for additional air times!
After Action
Fridays @ 7pm
Discover what military life is like before, during and after action with Air Force combat veteran Stacy Pearsall. The series explores the experiences of diverse veterans from across the country through candid conversations.
October 3 – Return with Honor
Meet former POWs who share how captivity impacted their lives.
October 10 – From the Front
Host Stacy Pearsall talks with three veterans who know the importance of military leadership.
October 17 – Homefull
Learn about three vets who faced homelessness and are now helping others.
October 24 – Boots to Badges
Hear from veterans who transitioned from military careers to law enforcement.
October 31 – Veteran Grown
Explore how veteran-farmers find healing and a sense of purpose through farming.
American Experience - NEW EPISODES!
@ 9pm
Discover the incredible characters and epic stories that have shaped America’s past and present.
September 30 – Hard Hat Riot
Revisit New York in 1970, when student protestors against the Vietnam War violently clashed with construction workers, ushering in a new political and cultural divide that would redefine the American political landscape.
Monday & Tuesday, October 27 & 28 - Kissinger
Explore the life of the brilliant powerbroker who rose to the topmost echelons of American diplomacy. Revered or reviled, Henry Kissinger’s contradictions reflect those at the heart of America’s foreign policy in the second half of the 20th century.
American Masters – Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Any More
Tuesday, October 14 @ 9pm
Take an intimate look at the life and career of actress Marlee Matlin as she shares her story in American Sign Language. At 21 years old, Matlin became the first Deaf actress to win an Academy Award for her role in Children of A Lesser God. With credits that include The West Wing and the Oscar-winning film CODA, Matlin continues to champion for more inclusivity and accessibility in entertainment.
Breaking the Deadlock
Tuesday, October 21 @ 9pm
An Emmy Award®-nominated, groundbreaking public affairs series designed to encourage civil dialogue today, when public conversation is so polarized. The series brings together a varied panel of prominent voices from political, cultural, and legal arenas to explore ethical dilemmas drawn from real life. It’s a fast-paced one-hour journey where series moderator Aaron Tang, author and Professor of Law, UC Davis, guides panelists through complex, hypothetical scenarios.
Brushstroke
Thursday, October 16 @ 10pm
When Mary Cane-Honeysett, a talented elderly artist living alone in London, suffers a stroke, she develops tremors in her hands that prevent her from holding a paintbrush steady. Depressed that she can no longer paint with the same tight, detailed style for which she has become known, she gives up art entirely. Struggling with the after-effects of her stroke, Mary also faces the problem of maneuvering around her house, which has become unmanageable in her physical condition.
The Gold on Masterpiece
Sundays in October @ 8pm
What began as a routine armed robbery turned into one of the biggest heists in British history. Inspired by true events, this gripping drama uncovers the 1983 Brink’s-Mat robbery in London and the decades-long ripple effects that followed.
Halifax: Retribution
Thursdays @ 9pm beginning October 2
A sniper is on the loose, as Jane Halifax comes back to the rescue to find the sniper before it's too late. 20 years on the race for answers is more important than ever.
Hometowns - NEW SEASON!
Thursdays @ 7:30pm
In this season of Hometowns, we uncover the soulful narratives behind diverse communities across the country. From our mountain roots in Central Appalachia to the Alaskan wilderness, we explore how these places came to life and why people choose to call them home. Travel far enough and you see it—every hometown is its own world, yet somehow, we’re all telling the same story.
October 16 – Asheville, NC
In this episode of Hometowns, we explore Asheville, NC’s creative mountain spirit.
October 30 – Grand County, CO
Explore Grand County, Colorado, where rugged peaks meet resilient communities.
Joy of Painting with Nicholas Hankins
Tuesdays @ 7pm
With each episode, Nicholas employs the late, great Bob Ross' "Wet-on-Wet Technique" in his paintings and shows viewers how to create their own works of art.
October 7 – View From Home
Learn to paint a quaint view of the Tennessee foothills with your host, Nicholas Hankins.
October 14 – Smuggler's Moon
Join host Nicholas Hankins as he paints a moody, humid tropical scene with a full moon and palm trees.
Kitchen Curious with Vivian Howard
Tuesdays @ 7pm
This series tackles the everyday questions home cooks face in the kitchen and the bigger ideas behind them. Guided by chef, mom and storyteller Vivian Howard, it explores topics such as why cast iron is still king, how pasta can save the planet and why the freezer might be the unsung hero of one's home.
October 21 – Cast Iron
Vivian celebrates cast iron skillets—from scouring antiques with Warren Brothers to touring Charleston’s Smithey Ironware. She debunks cleaning myths, compares cast iron and carbon steel, cooks shakshuka, and bakes a cornmeal-blueberry coffee cake—honoring cast iron’s enduring role in American kitchens past and present.
October 28 – Pasta
Vivian uses pasta to explore a global tradition: stretching small amounts of meat into meals. Nutritionist Christine Byrne helps her weigh whole grain pasta’s value while Dan Pashman joins Vivian for a noodle crawl in Charleston featuring meaty spins on classics. She returns home to make two pantry-friendly dishes—spaghetti with anchovy and breadcrumbs, and a modern Hamburger Helper with bowties, beef and cabbage.
Maigret on Masterpiece – NEW SERIES!
Sundays @ 9pm
Meet Maigret as he pursues Paris’s ruthless criminals while confronting his own troubled past.
October 5 – The Lazy Burglar, part 1
Follow Maigret as he investigates a series of bank robberies plaguing Paris.
October 12 – The Lazy Burglar, part 2
Despite being demoted, Maigret continues to pursue justice for Honoré Cuendet.
October 19 – Maigret’s Failure, part 1
Maigret’s case is derailed when ordered to investigate billionaire Ferdinand Fumal’s death threats.
October 26 – Maigret’s Failure, part 2
As Maigret reels from his failure to protect Fumal, he also suffers a devastating personal blow.
Miss Austen on Masterpiece
Sundays, October 19 & 26 @ 9pm
Notoriously known for burning Jane’s letters, did Cassandra Austen truly protect her famous sister’s reputation? Immerse in this literary mystery, reimagined as a fascinating, witty, and heart-breaking tale of sisterly love.
Nature
Wednesdays @ 8pm
Rich and rewarding stories from the wild to homes across America.
October 15 – Dracula’s Hidden Kingdom
Discover Transylvania, one of Europe’s last true wildernesses in central Romania.
October 22 – Walrus: Life on Thin Ice
Follow a paleontologist on an Arctic adventure to uncover the hidden lives of walrus and the threats they face as climate change shrinks the sea ice.
October 29 – Willow: Diary of a Mountain Lion
Never-before-seen behaviors are shown in a decade-long mountain lion study throughout Montana’s mountains through the eyes of a female named Willow.
NOVA
Wednesdays @ 9pm
Explore the science behind the headlines in PBS's premier science series. With compelling stories and spectacular visuals, NOVA programs demystify science and technology for viewers of all ages and spotlight people involved in scientific pursuits.
October 1 – Human: Neanderthal Encounters
Discover how Homo sapiens outlasted Neanderthals – and how they helped make us who we are today.
October 8 – Human: Into the Americas
Follow ancient humans’ journey into an icy and perilous new land.
October 15 – Human: Building Empires
Discover how two revolutionary ancient inventions changed the course of humanity forever.
October 22 – Ancient Desert Death Trap
Explore mysterious 9,000-year-old Stone Age megastructures found in the Arabian Desert.
October 29 – Superfloods
Find out why deadly flash floods are on the rise and how we can protect ourselves from them.
Secrets of the Dead
Wednesdays @ 10pm
Explore some iconic historical moments while debunking long-held myths and shining new light on past events.
October 8 – The Rise and Fall of the Colosseum
The spectacular arena showcasing Ancient Rome’s power also contributed to its downfall.
October 15 – Cleopatra’s Last Temple
An unprecedented discovery could reveal new information about Cleopatra’s reign.
October 22 – Cracking the Queen’s Code
See how secret letters written by Mary, Queen of Scots, were finally decoded.
October 29 – Chasing the Plague
Scientists study medieval bubonic plague victims in hopes of preventing future outbreaks.