Traditional Appalachian stories trace their origins to the diverse cultural tapestry of the region's early settlers, primarily from the British Isles, including Scots-Irish, English, and German immigrants. These settlers brought with them a rich oral tradition of folklore, myths, and ballads, which they adapted to their new environment in the Appalachian Mountains.

The isolation of the region allowed these stories to evolve uniquely, incorporating elements from Native American tales and African American folklore introduced by enslaved people. Over time, these narratives were influenced by the region's rugged landscape, rural lifestyle, and the challenges faced by its people, creating a distinctive storytelling tradition marked by themes of survival, resilience, and community.

Learned from storytellers, sound archives, recordings, and Appalachians met along his travels, Adam's repertoire of traditional Appalachian stories includes wonder tales / märchen (what a lot of folks call fairy tales), ballads (stories in the form of songs), tall tales (such as Tony Beaver), ghostlore, witchlore, pourquoi tales (stories that explain reasoning or existence), and regional lore that has become traditional.