The City of Frankfort Podcast

Live from Frankfort, this episode captures the historical conversations of the Liberty Haller Music Festival, blending local music with reflections on Frankfort's significance in America's 250-year history. Speakers honor the region’s Indigenous past, explore Frankfort’s founding and bourbon heritage, and introduce a lineup of bluegrass and Americana acts celebrating Kentucky’s cultural roots.

Join Blair for the Frankfort 15 — a concise roundup of July in Kentucky's capital, featuring the Liberty Holler America 250 Music Festival, July 4th fireworks, summer concerts, pool nights, and National Night Out. Blair also covers city commission meeting dates and board meetings, downtown infrastructure updates, trash schedule changes, and how to stay connected with city alerts and resources.

This episode gathers a diverse panel of Frankfortians to reflect on Juneteenth, the June 19, 1865 moment in Galveston that symbolizes delayed freedom and the ongoing struggle for equity. Panelists include community leaders, historians, museum staff, activists, and a message from the governor. Together, they discuss personal backgrounds, local history, education, and actions communities can take to...

Following National Garbage Workers Appreciation Day, hosts Sarah, Byron Roberts, and Ally Hall take listeners behind the scenes of Frankfort and Franklin County’s solid waste system. They discuss daily operations, safety, recycling, yard waste, e‑waste drop‑offs, and ways residents can help make collection more efficient. The episode also covers tools and resources like the FrankWaste app, local d...

Fire Marshal Marshall Marshall sits down with host Kenton to walk through essential summer safety for Frankfort: home fire prevention, smoke alarm and CO detector programs, grilling and fireworks safety, heat precautions, and family escape plans. Find out how to request free smoke alarms, where to place detectors, common causes of house fires, and why big fireworks belong to professionals. Plus en...

In this episode, Blair delivers the Frankfort 15 for June, covering city commission and board meeting dates, Juneteenth observance, and public meeting access. Stay informed on grant opportunities and upcoming developments like the new Target at the paddocks. Plus community events and park updates, Kentucky History Day, summer concerts (including Bourbon Week), Juneteenth activities and a community...

With river and creek season arriving in the region, this episode dives into everything that makes Kentucky's waterways worth exploring — from beginner-friendly floats to the rich history flowing through Frankfort's rivers. Nathan Deppenbrock shares his journey from zoo keeper to co-owner of Canoe Kentucky and Kentucky River Tours, explaining how a three‑generation family business grew into the reg...

Host Scott sits down with Frankfort veteran Daryl Casey to trace his 33-year military career and his work since retirement to support fellow veterans through the VFW and the Veteran Resource Center. In this episode: - Helping veterans file disability claims - Mental health and housing initiatives - The VFW’s community traditions like the Fourth of July fireworks - Daryl’s new role as a riverboat c...

Host Sara Anderson and Finance Director Amber Moreland walk listeners through Frankfort’s city budget: what a budget covers, how departments prioritize spending, and the timeline of budget creation from February to June. The episode explains revenue sources and the difference between taxes and fees. In this Episode: Amber shares how the city improves efficiencies How the City involves the communit...

City Communications Manager, Blair Hecker presents the monthly Frankfort 15—your essential guide to the upcoming month in Kentucky's capital. This segment covers: Notable events happening around Frankfort Important dates and deadlines to know Civic participation opportunities for residents for May Unique Grant Opportunity Stay informed and connected with everything happening in Frankfort this mont...

Host Kenton sits down with Frankfort City Manager Jason Monroe for a fast-paced, conversation shaped entirely by questions from the community. From daily responsibilities to clearing up common misconceptions, this episode pulls back the curtain on one of local government’s most important — and often misunderstood — roles. In This Episode: - What a city manager actually does on a day-to-day basis -...

It's Derby season in Kentucky's capital city, and this week Dr. Ellie Hasken-Wagner sits down with Susan from the legendary Coolmore America Ashford Stud in Versailles to celebrate one of the most exciting times of year for Frankfort and the entire Commonwealth. From the energy of the Governor's Derby Celebration in downtown Frankfort to the storied legacy of Thoroughbred breeding right in our bac...

The Kentucky General Assembly has wrapped up for the year, and host Alex sits down with State Representative Erika Hancock to make sense of it all. They talk about the process, the moments that defined the session, and what unfinished business she'll be keeping an eye on heading into the interim. As someone who represents the state capital itself, Hancock brings a perspective that's hard to find a...

Ever driven by a street and thought, “Why did they cut that tree down?”  In this episode we’re digging into the rest of the story. Kenton flips the script and interviews our own podcast host, Alex, in her role as City Arborist for the City of Frankfort. Together, they break down what really goes into the decisions behind tree removal, maintenance, and urban forestry management. From safety concern...

City Communications Manager, Blair Hecker presents the monthly Frankfort 15—your essential guide to the upcoming month in Kentucky's capital. This segment covers: Notable events happening around Frankfort Important dates and deadlines to know Upcoming Derby celebrations and other events  Civic participation opportunities for residents for April Ways to get youth involved in Frankfort youth sports...

Spring is on the way, and you know what that means in Kentucky—severe weather season is right around the corner. This week, host Scott sits down with Ray Kinney, Frankfort's Emergency Management Director, to talk about how our community prepares for tornadoes, severe storms, flooding, and other weather emergencies, especially as we come up on the one year Frankfort Flood anniversary. More importan...

Host Kenton Bottoms sits down with Planning Director Eric Cockley to break down the ins and outs of reaching the right city departments, understanding the permitting process, and navigating the ordinances that govern how things work in Frankfort. Whether you're planning a home renovation, starting a business, or just trying to figure out who to call about that thing you need—this episode is your r...

This week, we're celebrating International Women's Day with a very special guest—Kentucky's Lt. Governor AND fellow Frankfortian, Jacqueline Coleman! Hosts Sara Anderson and Alex Cunningham sit down with Lt. Governor Coleman for an inspiring conversation about women in leadership, the importance of representation, and what it takes to create a more equal future for women and girls in Kentucky and...

City Communications Manager, Blair Hecker presents the monthly Frankfort 15—your essential guide to the upcoming month in Kentucky's capital. This segment covers: - Notable events happening around Frankfort - Important dates and deadlines to know - Upcoming Frankfort Burger Week - Civic participation opportunities for residents for March - Ways to get youth involved in Frankfort youth sports Stay...

Host Sara Anderson sits down with Alexis Jones, a City of Frankfort employee and proud Kentucky State University alumna, to discuss what it means to have a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) right here in our community, and how that experience shaped her path to public service. This is a powerful conversation about education, representation, legacy, and the unique role Frankfort play...

Host Alex sits down with Frankfort's snow removal crew to get the inside scoop on what really happens when those flakes start falling. Ever wondered why some streets get plowed before others? Curious about what goes into preparing for a winter storm? Want to know what YOU can do to help make snow removal more efficient? This episode has all the answers and more! IN THIS EPISODE: - Behind the scene...

This week, we're kicking off a brand new segment called "You Would Not Believe What They Found" where we talk to City of Frankfort staff about the strangest things they've encountered on the job. In this episode, host Kenton Bottoms sits down with Sharon Murphy, Frankfort's Neighborhood Inspector, to pull back the curtain on what it's really like to patrol our city's neighborhoods. From overgrown...

City Communications Manager, Blair Hecker presents the monthly Frankfort 15—your essential guide to the upcoming month in Kentucky's capital. This segment covers: - Notable events happening around Frankfort - Important dates and deadlines to know - Civic participation opportunities for residents - Community engagement challenges - Ways to get involved in your city Stay informed and connected with...

Just in time for Valentine's Day! Join host Sara Anderson for a conversation with Suzy Hosley, Executive Director of Downtown Frankfort, Inc., as they discuss the upcoming Chocolate Stroll and the best date night spots in Kentucky's capital city. Suzy shares insider details about this weekend's Chocolate Stroll event, talks about her work supporting downtown businesses, and reveals her favorite Fr...

In this powerful episode releasing just ahead of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Dr. Ellie Hasken-Wagner sits down to discuss the historical 1964 Freedom March on Frankfort where Dr. King delivered a stirring address to thousands gathered in Kentucky's capital city. She shares information on the transformative day in March 1964, when an estimated 10,000 people marched through downtown Frankfort demand...