On Track

Reproductive rights have been front and center lately, including rhetoric about the United States' relatively high rate of death during pregnancy and birth. And it's true, the U.S. does have a higher pregnancy-related mortality rate than many comparable countries. As with most health problems, people of color are affected disproportionately, and CDC data shows racial disparities in pregnancy outco...

Animal shelters in Louisville have been at capacity, prompting some to try to recruit foster more homes, and even waive their adoption fees. What's behind this surge in the homeless pet population? Are these the pandemic puppies and kitties whose families don't have time for them anymore? Has there been a decrease in spaying and neutering, leading to too many litters? We dived into it this week on...

The world is in year three of a pandemic that has taken over one million lives in this country alone.  Countless families and friends are grieving the loss of loved ones to COVID-19.   This week on “In Conversation,” we talked to grief counselors and other experts about the unique aspects of grieving amid the pandemic and beyond.  We also heard from journalists about the local impact of the U.S. S...

It has been about six months since a swath of tornado devastation in western and southern Kentucky killed 81 people.  It also caused hundreds of millions of dollars of destruction, leaving many to rebuild their homes, businesses, and communities.    This week on “In Conversation,” we talked to journalists who have been covering the tornado destruction and the recovery efforts in their communities....

It’s Pride Month, a celebration of LGBTQ history and contributions, celebrated in June to honor the anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising in 1969. This week on “In Conversation,” we talked to organizers and activists about LGBTQ representation and equality, and what local organizations are doing to help. We also looked at some legal challenges that could affect LGBTQ Americans, like Florida’s so-c...

Warm weather is here, and people are getting out of the house for fun and frolic. And for some of us, the perfect summer day isn’t perfect without a good book. This week on “In Conversation,” guests from the Louisville Public Library gave the skinny on which books to tuck into your beach bag or read in your favorite chair. We also talked about the books that might keep children and young adults re...

Muhammad Ali, Louisville’s favorite son, is remembered for his activism as much as his first-class boxing. But Ali was not alone in using the pulpit of his sporting success to stand up for social causes. This week on “In Conversation,” we explored how fighting for equity — in the past and now — is as important to many athletes as competing for awards and accolades.

Primary Election Day is May 17th, with early in-person voting taking place May 12-14. Louisville decides who its mayoral candidates will be in the fall, and Kentucky has key congressional races up for grabs.   On “In Conversation,” state and local journalists joined host Rick Howlett in a live voter guide, to sort out the people and positions you’ll be voting on. 

It’s Derby Week in Louisville, Kentucky, y’all! Is there anything more to say? Actually, there is, as host Rick Howlett sat down with two handicappers to get the scoop on what bets are good, which horses are long shots, and where the racing industry stands these days. The Kentucky state song will be performed at this year’s Derby, despite controversy over its racist themes. We talked to Emily Bing...

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer is heading into the final months of his administration. This week on "In Conversation," we checked in with him about the next city budget, and issues like policing, racial justice, homelessness and Louisville’s economic emergence from COVID-19.

This Friday on “In Conversation,” we talked about the pandemic's effect on how kids are learning, developing, and socializing. What does the future hold for young people as we navigate current and possibly new variants? We talked to child development experts and educators, and ask some young people how COVID-19 changed their lives. This episode was made possible in part by the Jewish Heritage Fund...

Reaching a certain age once meant your best years were behind you. But scientists say advances in medicine now mean people are aging "better" than they used to. On this Friday’s “In Conversation” host Rick Howlett talked with experts about how growing older doesn’t look quite the same as it used to. And we got their advice on how to stay healthy and happy later in life.

Love has always been in the air, but for the past two years, COVID-19 has impacted all of our air quality. This week on “In Conversation,” we talk to love and relationship experts on the challenges and rewards of dating in the era of apps and masks. And in case your romance didn't survive the pandemic, we get some advice on how to get back out there and find a new boo.

April showers bring May flowers. And vegetables! But what do experts say about how to get the best from your garden? “In Conversation” host Rick Howlett talks to gardeners who work with plants, flowers, trees and vegetables. They answer the questions of first-time gardeners and experienced handlers of soil and seeds.

Louisville concert series Waterfront Wednesday turns 20 this year! This week on "In Conversation," we found out how WFPK is planning to celebrate the big anniversary, and share some memorable moments from the waterfront.  Have you gotten into the Wordle craze and wondered whether it’s good for you? Rick Howlett asks an expert on brain health.  We also revisited a conversation with visitors from th...

It’s March. And for those who love college basketball, that means it’s also the time for a little madness to kick in.   This Friday on “In Conversation,” we discussed what might happen now that the brackets for this year’s NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments have been set.

Plastic, paper, cans and bottles. It can get confusing figuring out what should stay in your regular trash can and what should go in the recycling bin.  This Friday on “In Conversation,” we learned what to recycle, how recycling protects the environment, and how recycling technology has changed.

The German educational system has the daunting task of teaching about the Holocaust and the rise of the Nazi Party. Can their approach inform how schools in the U.S. teach about atrocities in our own country’s past?  On this week’s “In Conversation,” we talked about the difficulties of teaching about race in America, particularly with current legislative attempts to limit curriculum about race in...

Your credit score doesn’t determine your worth—but it can greatly affect your access and opportunities. And if money management isn’t something you learned about as a kid, it’s hard to figure out how to catch up. This week on “In Conversation” we discussed personal finance and financial literacy. Do you need a budget, and how do you tackle making one? Which debts should you pay off first? And how...

Education news tends to focus on high schools and grade schools. But what about higher education — how are COVID-19 and education bills, for example, affecting colleges and universities? On this week’s “In Conversation,” host Rick Howlett talked to regional college and university leaders about their issues, challenges, and aspirations.

Turn on cable news or open any social media app, and you’ll see example after example of awful public behavior. People are throwing hands on airplanes, serving up knuckle sandwiches in restaurants and bullying each other online. Public civility seems like a quaint concept.  On this week’s “In Conversation,” we talked about how our social norms and behaviors have changed since 2020, and how we can...

Coming up this Friday, we'll talk about teaching race in schools. Proposed legislation in several states, including Kentucky, could limit how race is covered in classrooms. It's the subject of a recent documentary from the WFPL newsroom called "A Critical Moment," and the reporters who made it will be part of our panel this week. Here's the piece, so you can listen in advance of our show. To learn...

Failure brings to mind all the negative associations of letting yourself or others down. But what are the benefits of missing the mark? On this week’s “In Conversation,” host Rick Howlett talked to some of the participants from a program at the Louisville Free Public Library on how and why to celebrate failure from various perspectives. 

Many big-ticket items are under consideration during this session of the Kentucky General Assembly: the budget, redistricting, education bills, abortion, laws regarding criminal justice, the legalizing of medical cannabis, and more. On this week’s “In Conversation,” host Rick Howlett talked to reporters Ryland Barton, Jess Clark and Becca Schimmel, along with Dee Pregliasco with the League of Wome...

bell hooks was a widely regarded author, activist, and academic who explored the intersection of sexism and racism in American society. She was also a Kentucky native, with deep roots in the state. hooks died at the age of 69 last month in Berea, Kentucky.   On this week’s “In Conversation,” host Rick Howlett talked with friends and colleagues of bell hooks, and Kentucky poet laureate Crystal Wilk...