#IChampionHealth Chats

Meet Cheyene Helm, founder of the Bright Light Foundation . Cheyene champions health by inspiring others, raising awareness, and creating spaces for prevention, support, and connection. In this episode, Cheyene shares how the loss of her young daughter to fentanyl poisoning led her to establish the Bright Light Foundation and dedicate her life to community education and outreach. She talks openly...

Meet Anthony “Mindset” Moody , a licensed professional counselor associate and author. Anthony champions health by helping people build self-awareness and have honest conversations about mental health. In this episode, Moody shares his journey from experiencing panic attacks in a high-stress accounting career to finding purpose in counseling, writing, and community work. He talks about how his res...

Meet Commissioner Kacy Allen-Bryant, a longtime public health nurse turned community leader who oversees Social Services for the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government. Commissioner Allen-Bryant champions health through education and collaboration with community partners to strengthen support across the city. Listen as Commissioner Allen-Bryant shares her journey from 25 years in public health...

Meet District 1 Councilmember Tyler Morton , a lifelong Lexington resident, public servant, and the youngest person ever elected to the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council. Councilmember Morton champions health by staying deeply connected to neighborhoods, listening to residents, and working toward stronger, safer, and more supported communities. In this episode, Councilmember Morton shares how...

Meet John Q. Moses III, team leader for harm reduction services at the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department . John champions health by creating welcoming spaces where people can access support. Listen as John shares his powerful journey from personal loss and addiction to becoming a passionate voice for compassion-centered services. He discusses how alternatives to harm work, why empathy is...

Meet John Bowman, the Kentucky Senior Campaign Organizer at Dream.org . John champions health by connecting people and organizations to support resources across the Commonwealth. Listen as John shares his incredible journey from active addiction and incarceration to becoming a leading voice for public health and alternatives to harm across all 120 counties in Kentucky. John discusses the importanc...

Meet Jeanette Hart and Dr. Margaret McGladrey, leaders of the Lexington-Fayette County Health Improvement Plan (Lex-CHIP). Jeanette is the Quality Services Manager at the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department. Dr. McGladrey is an Assistant Professor at the UK College of Public Health. Jeanette and Dr. McGladrey champion health through rich collaborations and thoughtful community planning. Lis...

Meet Dale Morgan, founder and CEO of Foundation47, LLC . Dale is a financial literacy educator with deep roots in Lexington, Kentucky. Dale champions health by helping others achieve upward financial mobility. Listen as Dale dives into how his personal experience drives his mission to spread financial knowledge to the entire community. You'll hear how your values inform your finances, how the...

Meet Asia Smith. Asia is a real estate broker who championshealth by bringing awareness to the accessibility of homeownership. Listen as Asia discusses common misconceptions about buying real estate, the importance of multifamily properties, and her advice for emerging leaders. You’ll also hear her thoughts on community support, self-care through spirituality, and celebrating progress within the c...

Meet Quron Marks and Justin Edmondson. Coach Marks is a rising leader in college athletics, now in his third year coaching basketball at Kentucky State University. Justin is a senior business major and shooting guard who brings wisdom beyond his years. Quron and Justin champion health through teamwork and common purpose. Listen as they reflect on what connection really looks like—on and off the co...

Meet Dr. Nicholas Leverette. Dr. Leverette is a chiropractorand the founder of Revive Chiropractic Centers in Lexington, Kentucky. Dr. Leverette champions health through helping people align their body and mind. Listen as Dr. Leverette reflects on why serving humanity iscentral to his purpose and the life lessons he passes on to his seven sons and young leaders alike. He shares how awareness is th...

Meet Tania Whitfield. Tania is a narrative organizer with the Black Appalachian Coalition (BLAC) and an active member of Voices of Community Activists and Leaders Kentucky (VOCAL-KY). Tania champions health through sharing her light with others. Listen as Tania shares the strength and wisdom she learnedfrom her dynamic father growing up and how that leads her efforts today. You’ll hear her thought...

Meet Taca Hollis. Taca is a powerful poet and spoken word artist who champions health through her words and performances. Listen as Taca shares her journey of transforming painful experiences into healing for herself and others. You’ll hear her discuss the significance of youth in the community, the importance of emotional intelligence, and the necessity of unplugging to continue helping others ef...

Meet Lafayette Cowden IV and Baba Kenyattaa Henry. Lafayette and Baba are musicial storytellers from Louisville, Kentucky who champion health through drumming. Listen as Lafayette and Baba educate on the history, tradition, and significance of drumming and dance as tools for connection and healing. They also emphasize the importance of passing on stories and the wisdom elders in our communities ha...

Meet cousins Tony Wavy and Jayceon Jackson. Tony, also known as the Hip-Hop Picasso, is a multi-talented artist who pours his soul into music, visual art, apparel, and the community. Jayceon is a recent graduate of Henry Clay High School who competed in multiple sports and is part of the next generation of changemakers. Tony and Jayceon champion health through creativity and personal expression. L...

Meet Gerri Botts Stuart, a PACE outreach coordinator with Bluegrass Care Navigators. Gerri champions health through compassionate care. Listen as Gerri dives into the essence of community work, especially the importance of serving individuals to build stronger neighborhoods and communities. You’ll hear her thoughts on finding hope, addressing mental health, and reflecting on impactful moments of s...

#IChampionHealth Chats is back for a second season! This season, #IChampionHealth and Project Ricochet teamed up for something special—a joint series of community interviews recorded live at the 2025 Central Kentucky Black Family Conference. Across this series, you’ll hear stories about health, leadership, family, and life’s everyday moments from local young people, professionals, and artists. Con...

Meet Jaeda Tevis and Malachi “Mali” Buchanan Jr., students from Leestown Middle School who participated in the #IChampionHealth Community Health Champions program in Spring 2024. Jaeda champions health through family and friends. Mali champions health through family and sports. Listen as these young leaders talk about their lives and community. They share their goals and dreams, what they want to...

Meet Gerald “GEO” Gibson, the visionary behind Operation Making A Change and a community program coordinator for the Lexington Police Department. GEO champions health through family and giving every opportunity. You know him as the regular host of #IChampionHealth Chats, but now you can hear his story. Listen as GEO explains his path to OMAC and what he’s learned along the way. He shares the chall...

Meet Lawrence Weathers, Chief of Police for the Lexington Police Department. Chief Weathers is a Lexington native who champions health through connecting with others. Listen as Chief Weathers explains the connections he sees between public safety and community health. He shares his humble journey from growing up in the projects to becoming Chief of Police, the importance of family support and cont...

Meet Jonathan Richardson, founder of Unity in the Community, a non-profit helping individuals experiencing homelessness in Lexington, KY. He is also an employee of the University of Kentucky and a UK Gatton College of Business and Economics student. Jonathan champions health through persistence and dedication. Listen as Jonathan explains how personal loss led him to return to school and seek ways...

CW // suicide Meet Jermaine Dunn, a father working to start a non-profit focused on mental health. Jermaine champions health through conversations. Listen as Jermaine reflects on the tragic loss of his son, Cameron, in November 2023 and what he’s learned about life since. He shares how he has learned to cope, advice for checking in with our loved ones, and what the community could do more of to su...

Meet Timothy Johnson, President and CEO of the United Way of the Bluegrass. Timothy is a self-described "poverty reduction specialist" and champions health through financial empowerment. Listen as Timothy shares his journey to Lexington, the importance of helping the community meet basic needs and experience financial empowerment, and current United Way of the Bluegrass initiatives to re...

Welcome to #IChampionHealth Chats - the podcast dedicated to improving health for all in Lexington, KY! In this preview episode, you'll meet your host, Gerald "GEO" Gibson, and producer Jakob Hester. You'll also learn about the #IChampionHealth initiative and what you can expect from the first season. Be sure to click the follow button on your favorite podcast platform so that yo...