Behind the Blue

LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 9, 2026) – THIS IS AN ENCORE EPISODE. Schyler Simpson, PhD, is no stranger to the University of Kentucky. A three-degree UK alum, she has spent years serving students in a variety of roles across campus, including teaching, advising, recruiting, and retention and engagement work in the College of Communication and Information. In her new role as director of Nationally Competit...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 2, 2026) – As the United States marks the 250th anniversary of its founding, the University of Kentucky Department of History is helping the campus and broader community think more deeply about 1776 — not only as a moment of celebration, but as a moment for reflection. Through its 'Celebrating 1776' lecture series, public events, film screenings and courses, the department is...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 26, 2026) – Summer is often thought of as the easy season — school is out, the days are longer and families are heading to pools, parks, camps, museums, beaches, mountains and airports. But summer also comes with questions, especially for parents, caregivers and travelers: Do we need vaccines before a trip? Are prescriptions refilled? What should we do about ticks, sunburns or...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 18, 2026) – When Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers first came to the University of Kentucky as a student, Lexington felt like "the big city." Growing up in southeastern Kentucky, between London and Manchester, Stivers saw UK as a place that opened his eyes to the diversity of the Commonwealth — its people, geography, industries and needs. Decades later, as one of Kentuc...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 11, 2026) – [THIS IS AN ENCORE EPISODE.] Artificial intelligence is moving fast — and Kentucky lawmakers are working to make sure the state can take advantage of new tools without sacrificing transparency, privacy or public trust. On this episode of 'Behind the Blue', Kentucky State Senator Amanda Mays Bledsoe — a Lexington native and University of Kentucky alum — joins host K...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 4, 2026) – A new partnership at Golisano Children's at UK will help put books directly into the hands of Kentucky children and families. On this episode of Behind the Blue, host Kody Kiser talks with Kelsey Rahenkamp of Golisano Children's at UK, Lindsey Westerfield of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library of Kentucky and Dr. Anna Thamann, a neonatal neurologist at UK HealthCare,...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 28, 2026) – When someone we care about is going through something painful, many of us struggle with the same question: What do I say? On this episode of Behind the Blue, Dr. Abbie Latimer, an assistant professor in the University of Kentucky College of Social Work, talks about hospice and palliative care, serious illness communication and how people can better support one anoth...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May  26 , 2026)  —  When NASA's Artemis II mission sent four astronauts on a path around the moon — farther from Earth than any humans have traveled in decades — the world watched in awe.   Yet ,  one of the most critical parts of the journey remained invisible.   For a team of faculty,  staff  and students  in the  Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering   at   University...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 14, 2026)  – [THIS IS AN ENCORE PRESENTATION.] What does it mean to "reckon" with the past — not as a distant record, but as a living force that still shapes our communities, our classrooms and our shared civic life? Kristine Yohe, a professor of English at Northern Kentucky University, explores that question in her new book, " Reckoning with the Past: The Historical Poetry of...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 7, 2026) —   Growing up on a farm in Paris, Kentucky, Jinger Ballinger's future seemed mapped o ut long before she had the chance to imagine anything different. Days were spent working alongside her family raising tobacco — a life rooted in hard work, but far removed from classrooms, cap-and-gown ceremonies or college dreams.  In high school, Ballinger made a decision that woul...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 30, 2026) – Each spring, the University of Kentucky celebrates a new class of graduates stepping into the next chapter of their lives. But at UK, learning doesn't end at commencement. On this episode of Behind the Blue, host Kody Kiser talks with Joey Conrad, director of the University of Kentucky's Office of Lifelong Learning, and Sue Oatey, an OLLI class participant, about...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 23, 2026)  – As spring semester activity winds down across campus, the University of Kentucky is continuing to invest in safety systems designed to prevent incidents, communicate clearly, and respond quickly when issues arise. On this episode of Behind the Blue, UK Strategic Communications' Dani Jaffe sits down with UK Police Chief Joe Monroe for a discussion of campus safety...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 16, 2026) – If you've ever wondered what happens behind the counter at a pharmacy, or how a medication makes its way from an idea to a prescription bottle, the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy wants to show you. On this week's episode of Behind the Blue, host Kody Kiser talks with Dr. Olufunmilola "Funmi" Abraham about The Wonders of Pharmacy, a new hands-on communi...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 9, 2026) – When people hear that the University of Kentucky has an $8.6 billion budget, it can sound like a single pot of money. In reality, that figure represents an "all-in" financial plan that supports everything from patient care and research to student success, facilities, and the daily operations that keep a major public university running. On this week's episode of Beh...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 2, 2026) – When an emergency happens on a college campus, a coordinated response doesn't begin in the moment — it begins long before, through planning, training and practice. On this episode of Behind the Blue, UK Strategic Communications' Dani Jaffe talks with Sarah Fink, Director of Emergency Management for the University of Kentucky Police Department, about how UK prepares...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 25, 2026) – For the first time in nearly a quarter century, the University of Kentucky is searching for new leadership in UK Athletics. Mitch Barnhart is stepping down after more than two decades of incredible success across a 23-sport program that has won multiple national championships, while experiencing unprecedented success in student performance in the classroom as well...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 18, 2026) – March Madness is built on split-second decisions, emotional swings and the thrill of uncertainty. From game-winning shots and busted brackets to late-night tip-offs and watch parties with friends, the NCAA tournament offers more than drama on the court — it also creates a window into how people think, react, connect and make meaning through sports. Using the scien...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 12, 2026) – Schyler Simpson, PhD, is no stranger to the University of Kentucky. A three-degree UK alum, she has spent years serving students in a variety of roles across campus, including teaching, advising, recruiting, and retention and engagement work in the College of Communication and Information. In her new role as director of Nationally Competitive Awards, she now helps...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 5, 2026) – University of Kentucky Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart will retire from his role at the end of June after nearly 24 years leading Kentucky Athletics, UK President Eli Capilouto announced Tuesday. Barnhart will remain at UK in a new role focused on the future of sports and workforce development. This week's episode of 'Behind the Blue' features a conversation with...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (February 27, 2026) – What does it mean to "reckon" with the past — not as a distant record, but as a living force that still shapes our communities, our classrooms and our shared civic life? Kristine Yohe, a professor of English at Northern Kentucky University, explores that question in her new book, " Reckoning with the Past: The Historical Poetry of Frank X Walker " — a thoughtfu...

 LEXINGTON, Ky. (February 20, 2026) – UK HealthCare is an academic health system made up of the University of Kentucky's hospitals and clinics — about 9,000 team members, more than 80 specialized clinics and 140-plus outreach programs — in fiscal year 2023 alone, it served Kentuckians through roughly 1.4 million outpatient visits. Suffice it to say, UK HealthCare is a driver for positive healthcar...

 LEXINGTON, Ky. (February 13, 2026) – Artificial intelligence is moving fast — and Kentucky lawmakers are working to make sure the state can take advantage of new tools without sacrificing transparency, privacy or public trust. On this episode of 'Behind the Blue', Kentucky State Senator Amanda Mays Bledsoe — a Lexington native and University of Kentucky alum — joins host Kody Kiser to talk about...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (February 5, 2026) – From College of Medicine research labs to the halls of UK HealthCare, Lindsay Ragsdale, M.D., has spent much of her career here at the University of Kentucky. Now the chief medical officer for Golisano Children's at UK , she oversees a growing team of specialists and subspecialists dedicated to providing the most complex care for the children of Kentucky. In thi...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (January 30, 2026) – Central Appalachia has powered the nation for generations — fueling industry, building cities, and supporting economic growth far beyond the region itself. But as coal and other extractive industries decline, communities across Appalachia are once again facing transition. The question, as many have learned through hard experience, isn't whether change is coming...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (January 23, 2026) – The business of college athletics is at an inflection point, and leaders across higher education are grappling with a new reality: rising costs, shifting rules and a model many say can't hold. On this week's episode of 'Behind the Blue,' UK's Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration and Co-Executive Vice President for Health Affairs Dr. Eric Monda...