People-Inspired Podcast

It’s April in Kentucky, which means grass as green as a lime lollipop, blooming trees, and the opening of Keeneland’s Spring race meet, the perfect time to introduce my next People-Inspired Podcast guest, Kim Wickens. Kim Wickens is the award-winning author of Lexington: The Extraordinary Life and Turbulent Times of America's Legendary Racehorse , a national, bestselling narrative nonfiction...

I'm so pleased to welcome guest Paul Halloran, author of Cody’s Wish: A Boy, A Racehorse, and a Fight for Life, which releases in three months and is available for preorder now. A lifelong storyteller and seasoned journalist, Paul began his career as a sportswriter and editor at The Daily Item in Lynn, Massachusetts, before joining Grant Communications and later founding his own firm, PKH Com...

My guests are a father and son who, in their own ways, have shaped the lives and communities around them — in Atlanta and far beyond. Dr. Linton Hopkins is a retired neurologist and professor who spent 45 years seeing patients, teaching medical students, and mentoring young doctors at Emory Medical School and clinic. His approach to medicine was always about more than science, and included listeni...

Today I’m thrilled to spend a few minutes with the inspiring Sarah Berry, co-founder and co-owner of Copperhill Brewery and Ocoee River Distilling in Ducktown and Copperhill, Tennessee. Sarah and her partners are in a very small club of women distillery owners, but she wasn’t always a business owner or a distiller. She started out, like me, as a teacher. She taught fourth grade for four years and...

When you think about Georgia athletics, there are a few names that stand out for their impact, longevity, and stories, either lived or written. One of those names is Loran Smith. No one loves the University of Georgia more than Loran Smith. Loran's journey with the Bulldogs began as a student-athlete, track team captain, and MVP in 1959 — but it didn't end with graduation. Instead, it tu...

I’m thrilled to spend a few minutes with the inspiring Bill Mott, Hall of Fame, award-winning Thoroughbred trainer. Bill has had a long and successful career training race horses since he was 15 years old in South Dakota. In 1978, he struck out on his own after riding and training for Jack Van Berg, and by the time Bill was 45 years old, he was the youngest trainer ever to be inducted into the Rac...

Today, I'm excited to spend time with my inspiring friend, Trisha Addicks, whom I knew in an early chapter of my life at the University of Georgia as Trisha Grode, friend and Chi Omega sorority pledge sister. I didn't know then that Trisha would go on to make Greek Life her purpose, but her passion for helping young women all over the country manage the rush process and beyond truly insp...

Our first connection is with our mothers. We all have one, and they all influence and inspire us in ways we may not recognize until something pops up, like an expression they used that we just said, a recipe we crave, or a moment of courage when we pull from the memory of her showing us how to find it. In this oral history montage pulled from the interviews with Kentuckians as they sat for artist...

Isabel was a participant in our Common Wealth of Kentucky Project. We interviewed her when she was 97 years old. She drove herself to Kelly's studio and told us not to tell her children. Isabel passed away at 100 years old on February 26, 2025. We published her soundbite so people could continue to hear her strong voice.  Thanks for listening. If this story stayed with you, I’d love for you t...

Judge Goodwine is now Justice Goodwine, the first woman of African heritage to be elected to the Kentucky Supreme Court. Her story is one of incredible resilience. We published her soundbite in celebration of her grand accomplishment. It was what she most wanted and she made it happen.  Thanks for listening. If this story stayed with you, I’d love for you to share it—and join me next time for anot...

Father Norman Fischer, a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Lexington, Kentucky, passed away suddenly on July 15, 2024. He was and is beloved and his voice was beautiful and meant to always be heard.  Abridged narrative from the CWKY Project book, published 2022:  Norman attended Centre College, where he majored in Art and Psychology. Elected Chaplain of his fraternity, it was during this time at C...

Join artist Kelly Brewer, storyteller Beth Pride, and advocate Jill Johnson as they travel to Shaker Village where, in a simple living space on the second floor of a shop, they retreated to reflect on the inspiration, the process, and a few takeaways of this year-long passion project about the common wealth of Kentucky.  Kelly starts the conversation with her story of inspiration, and Beth and Jil...

Lee Kiefer is an American foil fencer and three-time Olympic champion in women's foil, having won the individual event at the 2020 Summer Olympics, and the individual and team events at the 2024 Summer Olympics. She is the most decorated women's foil fencer in American history. Also a participant in our Common Wealth of Kentucky Project, Lee's story is both remarkable and inspiring....

Cordell Anderson left his home in Jamaica when he was twenty-four years old to follow a filly to America--the equine kind--and he stayed. He has whispered in thousands of Thoroughbred ears ever since as Ring Man at Keeneland and for various horse farms in Kentucky. His story is as amazing as he is. Here are a few minutes of his beautiful voice.  Thanks for listening. If this story stayed with you,...