Think Humanities

Foster Ockerman, Jr., a Lexington native, seventh-generation Kentuckian, attorney, and historian passed away in December of 2022. Ockerman appeared at the Kentucky Book Festival multiple times, and, today on the THINK HUMANITIES podcast, we remember him by listening to an interview with him from October in which he shares stories about Lexington and Kentucky. THINK HUMANITIES is made possible by g...

Need a new book to read in 2023? Try The Book Woman's Daughter by Kim Michele Richardson! Bill Goodman of the THINK HUMANITIES podcast talks to Kim Michele about The Book Woman's Daughter, which was selected as Kentucky Humanities' 2023 Kentucky Reads selection. The novel will be at the center of statewide conversations on the coming of age, the importance of family, literacy, access to education,...

How do we honor bell hooks? Some of those closest to bell consider how she wanted to be remembered and how they—and the world—continue to mourn and honor her. They explore ways in which we can put bell’s work into action and ensure her legacy continues.

bell’s friends and colleagues, including Linda Strong-Leek and Zillah Eisenstein, dive into discussions of the divine and desire, transformational love, bell’s philosophies, and how she continues to impact the world.

bell’s loved ones, including Crystal Wilkinson and Chad Berry, share bell as they knew her and share stories about how they met bell, her favorite—and least favorite—pieces of pop culture, sharing meals, and bell’s feelings about Appalachia and Kentucky.

Who was bell hooks? On this episode of bell hooks: becoming, being, beyond, we hear from her younger sister, Gwenda Watkins Motley, about bell’s youth in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and the Watkins family dynamics. Colleagues Silas House and Beth Feagan examine bell’s relationships to community, reading, and writing as she grew up and made the decision to move to California.

We're wrapping up our series of reruns with part 2 of Bill Goodman's discussion with William H. Turner, author of "The Harlan Renaissance: Stories of Black Life in Appalachian Coal Towns." They talked about Turner's book, which was recently nominated for the "Book of the Year" Award from the Museum of African American History and about the process of integration in Kentucky. THINK HUMANITIES is ma...

This week we're re-listening to one of our best shows ever, a two-part interview with author William H. Turner. Turner's book is entitled, "The Harlan Renaissance: Stories of Black Life in Appalachian Coal Towns." Bill Goodman and Turner talk about the book and assumptions and myths about Appalachian African Americans. Tune in next week for part two of their conversation. THINK HUMANITIES is made...

This week we're highlighting some of our best THINK HUMANITIES episodes. Take a listen to this conversation from earlier in the year with L. Scott Miller, a Kentucky folk musician. Bill Goodman talks to him about how he became a folk musician and about other legends of Appalachian and Kentucky folk music. Scott Miller is available to give talks about folk music across the Commonwealth through the...

Over the next few weeks we'll be highlighting some of our best THINK HUMANITIES episodes. Take a listen to this 2020 conversation with Dr. Amy Murrell Taylor, who joined host Bill Goodman to talk about her award winning book "Embattled Freedom: Journeys Through the Civil War's Slave Refugee Camps." THINK HUMANITIES is made possible by generous support from the Spalding University Sena Jeter Naslun...

This week on the THINK HUMANITIES podcast - the 41st Kentucky Book Festival. Host Bill Goodman talks to KBF Director Sara Woods, who is joined by incoming KBF Director Hap Houlihan. Sara and Hap talk all things Book Festival, preview some of the great authors who will be there, and let you know what to expect on October 29. The Kentucky Book Festival will take place on October 29 at Joseph-Beth Bo...

This week on the THINK HUMANITIES podcast, Bill Goodman talks to author Heather Henson about her new book "Wrecked," a young adult novel about three teens caught in the middle of the opioid crisis in rural Appalachia. You will be able to find "Wrecked" and visit with Heather at the 2022 Kentucky Book Festival in Lexington. For more information, visit kybookfestival.org. THINK HUMANITIES is made po...

This week on the THINK HUMANITIES podcast, Bill Goodman talks to poet Frank X Walker about his newly expanded and rereleased book "Buffalo Dance: The Journey of York." Buffalo Dance tells the story of the infamous Lewis and Clark expedition from the point of view of York, who was enslaved to Clark and became the first African American man to traverse the continent. You will be able to find Walker'...

On this episode of the THINK HUMANITIES podcast, Bill Goodman talks with Foster Ockerman, Jr. Ockerman is a seventh-generation Kentuckian and a native Lexingtonian and has a new book out entitled "A New History of Lexington, Kentucky." Listen in to hear some unique stories from the city's history. You will be able to find Ockerman's book and visit with him at the 2022 Kentucky Book Festival in Lex...

On this episode of the THINK HUMANITIES podcast, Bill Goodman interviews a very special guest, Raymond McLain of the McLain Family Band. Listen to Raymond talk about his beginnings in music and the importance of traditional Bluegrass music and hear him play a couple tunes! On October 22nd, Hermitage Farm will be celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Kentucky Humanities with some of the best food and...

On this episode of the THINK HUMANITIES podcast, host Bill Goodman talks to Kentucky Book Festival author William Hinkebein about his upcoming book, "A Brief History of Baitcasting Bass Fishing & the Kentucky Reel." The first widely popular multiplying fishing reels were hand made in Kentucky in the nineteenth century. William talks about the fascinating history the Kentucky Reel and hobby of coll...

On the THINK HUMANITIES podcast this week, host Bill Goodman travelled to Russellville to visit the SEEK Museum, a collection of buildings that tell the stories of enslaved peoples in Russellville. Dr. Selena Doss, a historian at Western Kentucky University, and Michael Morrow, the director of the SEEK Museum, tell us a little about some of those stories. THINK HUMANITIES is made possible by gener...

This week on the THINK HUMANITIES podcast, host Bill Goodman goes on a walking tour of the Frazier Kentucky History Museum's new exhibit: "The Commonwealth: Divided We Fall". Andy Treinen, President of the Frazier, gives listeners a preview of what they can expect from this engaging exhibit when they visit. THINK HUMANITIES is made possible possible by generous support from the Spalding University...

Kentucky's own Ada Limón was recently named the 24th U.S. Poet Laureate. Back in in 2018, Bill Goodman, host of the THINK HUMANITIES podcast, spoke to Limón about her work, her life, and her move to Lexington. Listen to that interview now. THINK HUMANITIES is made possible by generous support from the Spalding University Sena Jeter Naslund-Karen Mann Graduate School of Writing.

In late July 2022, Eastern Kentucky experienced historic and devastating flooding. On today's episode of THINK HUMANITIES, Bill Goodman hit the road to talk to staff and volunteers at the Hindman Settlement School and the Appalachian Artisan Center about their efforts to save invaluable archive and museum materials and what resources they will need in the near future. THINK HUMANITIES is made poss...

Former Kentucky Poet Laureate Frederick Smock passed away at the end of July. On this episode of THINK HUMANITIES, Bill Goodman collects remembrances from some of Smock's friends and fellow authors, including Richard Taylor, Sena Jeter Naslund, Keith Runyon, and Nana Lampton. THINK HUMANITIES is made possible by generous support from the Spalding University Sena Jeter Naslund-Karen Mann Graduate S...

On this week's episode of the THINK HUMANITIES podcast, Bill Goodman talks to Dr. Benjamin Fitzpatrick, Professor of History at Morehead State University and a new member of Kentucky Humanities' Board of Directors. They talk about Fitzpatrick's background, years teaching, and the importance of history for all ages. THINK HUMANITIES is made possible by generous support form the Spalding University...

On this episode of THINK HUMANITIES podcast, host Bill Goodman talks to George Humphreys, historian and author of the new book "The Fall of Kentucky's Rock: Western Kentucky Democratic Politics since the New Deal." THINK HUMANITIES is made possible by generous support from the Spalding University Sena Jeter Naslund-Karen Mann Graduate School of Writing.

This week's guest on the THINK HUMANITIES podcast is Andrew Reed. who is a professor of film at the University of Pikeville and also one of the newest members of the Kentucky Humanities Board of Directors. Host Bill Goodman talks to him about film studies and the humanities. THINK HUMANITIES is made possible by generous support from the Spalding University Sena Jeter Naslund-Karen Mann Graduate Sc...

This week on the THINK HUMANITIES podcast, Bill Goodman talks to Dan Gediman, a noted radio producer. He talks about his newest project, the Kentucky U.S. Colored Troops Project, which uses historical documents to identify African American soldiers from Kentucky who fought in the Civil War. THINK HUMANITIES is made possible by generous support from the Spalding University Sena Jeter Naslund-Karen...