Local Global Leaders

Jimmy Chadwell (he/him), President of Voices of Hope, discusses pathways to recovery, shared vulnerability, and harm reduction.

Toa Green (she/her), Owner and Operator of Crank & Boom Craft Ice Cream, discusses serial entrepreneurship, joy-driven leadership, and innovative flavors.

Jose Cubero, Mayor of Shepherdsville, Kentucky, discusses local development, family engagement, and quality of life.

McKenna Dowell (she/her), Student Body President at the University of Kentucky, discusses cheerleading, affordability, and transparency.

Kelly McManus, Vice President of Higher Education at Arnold Venture, discusses high-quality education, effective policymaking, and persistent advocacy.

Nicholas Hazelett (he/him), City Councilmember for Paintsville, Kentucky, discusses family roots, youth leadership, and hometown pride.

Michael Adams, the Secretary of State of Kentucky, discusses the American Dream, pragmatic governance, and safeguarding fair elections.

John Koehlinger, the Executive Director of Kentucky Refugee Ministries, discusses reluctant leadership, humanitarian empathy, and civic drive.

Angie Cruse-Tinch (she/her), Chief Executive Officer of Special Olympics Kentucky, discusses disability inclusion, women’s empowerment, and athletic competition.

Silas House (he/him), acclaimed novelist, journalist, professor, and activist, discusses class divisions, Appalachian activism, and intersectional storytelling.

Robert Blythe, the Mayor of Richmond, Kentucky, discusses the power of faith, civility, and confessions.

Mindy Haas (she/her), the Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass, discusses community building, political empowerment, and Jewish identity.

Sally Hamilton, Chief Administrative Officer of Lexington, KY, discusses city administration, diverse leadership, and effective collaboration.

Emma Curtis (she/her), District 4 Councilmember of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council, discusses identity, filmmaking, and creativity.

Maddie Duff (she/her), Student Body President at the University of Kentucky, discusses neuroscience, Appalachia, and dog discipline.

Angela Evans (she/her), the Fayette County Attorney in Kentucky, discusses social work, public service, and the pursuit of justice.

Ashley Smith (she/her), Executive Director and Co-Founder of Black Soil KY, discusses her success in agribusiness, event management, and cultural responsiveness.

Noel Osborn (she/her), Director of Development for CivicLex and Co-Director of New Leaders Council Kentucky, discusses her passions for fundraising, civics, and diversity.

Burney Jenkins (he/him), Mayor of Georgetown, KY, discusses his background as an educator, the importance of mentorship, and lifelong values.

Michelle Hollingshead (she/her), Culture Consultant, Executive Coach, and Founder of Imprint, discusses key lessons about leadership consulting, cultural transformation, and nontraditional life paths.

Sharon Murphy (she/her), Founder of Real Life Civics, discusses the importance of politics, human-centered leadership, and our favorite crisis manager.

Rob Perez (he/him), Founder and Co-Owner of DV8 Kitchen, discusses social enterprise, overcoming personal struggles, success in the restaurant business, and second-chance employment.

Christian Adair (he/him), Executive Director of the Lyric Theatre & Cultural Arts Center and Founder & Director of Alpha League, discusses civil rights history, empowering young Black and Brown men, and servant leadership.

Dan Wu (he/him), At-Large City Council Member and Vice Mayor for Lexington, KY, discusses political leadership, learning from mistakes in the restaurant industry, and empowering marginalized communities through civic initiatives.

Host Abeer Sikder (he/they) briefly discusses how he developed a passion for leadership development, why he created this podcast, and what to expect in future episodes.