Podcasts about louisvillians

What are Louisville's biggest assets and how can we best leverage those?That was recently a topic of discussion on the Access Louisville podcast. We took the weekly LBF show live for a special episode — recorded in front of an audience and with three guests: Jennifer Barber, office member in charge, Louisville, Frost Brown ToddScott Catlett, chair, Impetus for a Better Louisville and former Yum Brands Inc. chief legal and franchise officerMike Mountjoy, founding partner and chairman emeritus of MCM CPAs and Advisors (now Cherry Bekaert)All three were members of LBF's Power 50 list of Louisville's most influential business people. They are all also at different stages of their careers, with Barber making her first appearance on that list, Catlett being a regular and Mountjoy being part of the inaugural Power 50 Hall of Fame. We talked about their careers for a bit at the top of the show, with each sharing their proudest accomplishments.After the career talk, we got to talking about what Louisville should look to accomplish as a city — and they all three had great takes: On building the economy"We talk about bringing big companies here — we don't need to bring the big companies here. We need to bring people here," said Mountjoy. He advocates 0% income tax as a means of doing that. "The businesses follow the people, not the other way around. There aren't enough engineers in Louisville. There need to be more. There's not enough technology people here." On getting involved"One thing about our community is it's small enough if you want to make a difference you can," said Catlett. "There are plenty of organizations where you can contribute and make a difference and it's gonna take that. We can't look to the leaders of the past. We need people to step up — of today's generation, of tomorrow's generation — to really be a force for good in the community." On the workforce"The talent pool is still very strong. Outside of the legal industry, I think the issue for Kentucky and for Louisville is less the talent pool and more workforce participation," said Barber, noting a troubling trend within that metric. "We've got to increase our workforce participation. We're going to have to tackle some things like housing issues and childcare issues to get more Kentuckians and more Louisvillians into that talent pool." Access Louisville, sponsored by Baird, is a weekly podcast from Louisville Business First. It's available on popular podcast services including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

One of the worst moments in broadcasting is having to announce the death of one of your friends. The numbness of the loss takes hold but the message must be delivered to the audience.Junior Bridgeman, a colossal figure in Louisville philanthropy, a servant of the Lord, and gracious community leader, was struck by a medical crisis at a public luncheon today. He was onstage and told the assemblage "I think I'm having a heart attack."The word spread quickly and millions of Americans waited for an update. It came about 4 hours after the luncheon. It was not the answer to our prayers.The devastating loss of Junior Bridgeman leaves an irreparable void in Louisville, Kentucky, the United States, and the world.

The number of people who don't have stable housing is on the rise nationally, and here in Louisville. And one facility, the Arthur Street Hotel, takes a somewhat unusual approach to helping them find shelter, stability, and opportunity. On this episode, we learn about what makes this model different from traditional shelters, and what the research says about whether it works.

We chat about what's next for the bourbon industry on this week's Access Louisville podcast.Specifically, LBF Bourbon Reporter Stephen P. Schmidt is on the show to talk about the coming year for the industry. Schmidt recently talked to several people in the industry for a two-part story on the year ahead in this signature Kentucky space. He heard a little bit of everything from speculation on acquisition deals to expanding the ways in which brands sell to their consumers. You can read part 1 of Schmidt's bourbon prediction story here, and part 2 here.A key takeaway: Last year was a challenging one for the industry — at least compared to the boom years of the last decade — and that's expected to continue in 2025.After that, we chat about a couple restaurant stories with Reporter Michael L. Jones. He tells us about a new location for popular Mexican restaurant I Love Tacos. He also shares an update about the former Pints & Union Space in New Albany, which will soon be home to a new tavern.Finally we wrap up the show with a discussion of Louisville's Hometown Heroes banners. The sepia-toned banners have for years decorated the sides of Louisville buildings with the faces of famous and notable Louisvillians. A new class of Hometown Heroes was recently announced, as Digital Editor Zak Owens recently reported. (Fun fact: One of the Hometown Heroes Honorees, Ken Clay, founder of Corner of Jazz, co-authored a book with Jones, 2024's "Soulful Sounds of Derby Town." You can hear Jones talk about the book on our show here.)Access Louisville is a weekly podcast from Louisville Business First. It's available on popular podcast services, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

We saw this scenario on Reddit where a guy stole his coworker's thunder with big news she was teasing all week...was he a jerk? Then YOUR stories of stealing other people's big moments! Plus the new class of Louisvillians getting Hometown Hero banners was revealed and we found a loop hole...could that open the door for us??? TBT was super fun, another round of #knowyourballs and a dumb college class that might actually be necessary...in high school.

This year's class, in alphabetic order, were officially inducted into the Hall of Fame September 10: Elmer Lucille Allen, 93, Louisville. A pioneering activist, Allen broke barriers in the Bourbon industry as the first Black chemist at Brown-Forman – and possibly the entire American whiskey industry. Her work to bring opportunity to all Louisvillians didn't stop when she left the company. Amongst her many accomplishments, she formed the Chickasaw Little League and led efforts to bring African American art and artists to the mainstream. Dee Ford, 59, Louisville. An international beacon of Bourbon hospitality. Ford's vision, experience and leadership have catapulted Angel's Envy and the Kentucky Bourbon Trail into an international, bucket-list tourism attraction. Since 2014, she's served as Chair of the KDA's Kentucky Bourbon Trail Committee, earning the respect of her peers and sharing best practices that have leveraged hospitality to elevate Kentucky Bourbon on the global stage. Ken Lewis, 71, Cincinnati. A spirits expert and groundbreaking policy leader, Lewis graduated college as a trained English teacher, but left shortly into his young career for the world of spirits retail. He championed efforts for Sunday sales and initiated litigation that allowed retailers to use credit cards for sales, eventually building The Party Source megastore, the first of its kind in the country. Learning the industry from the bottom up, Lewis brought innovation and entrepreneurship as the founder of New Riff Distilling in Northern Kentucky, paving the way for the craft Bourbon boom that now counts dozens of Kentucky distilleries. The late Peter T. Loftin, 61, Miami. A preeminent innovator, entrepreneur and philanthropist, Loftin founded the Bardstown Bourbon Company that transformed the landscape of custom whiskey production in 2014. He was among the first to take advantage of modernized Bourbon tourism laws in Kentucky, creating a world-class restaurant and bar that graciously features every distillery's brand on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail tour as well as an enviable vintage spirits lounge. Along with the state-of-the-art distillery, this high-value Napa Valley-style experience greatly raised the bar for Bourbon tourism and collaborative distilling. He died peacefully at his home in 2019. R.M. Corky Taylor, 75, Henderson, Ky. A respected businessman throughout the country, Taylor retired from an accomplished career in financial services and focused on a lifelong dream – to resurrect his great-grandfather's whiskey company. Taylor and his son spent countless hours poring over family history to bring back the Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co., originally owned by Henry Kraver in Henderson. He built back the family legacy in Louisville along historic Whiskey Row, gaining national recognition – and national awards – by patiently waiting for his whiskey to age, living up to the original quality Bourbon standards his ancestor first set in 1889. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the last few decades, plenty of Louisvillians have made their way through the ranks of Young Professionals Association of Louisville. But have you ever wondered how that organization got its start? As YPAL approaches its 25th anniversary, we sit down with its founders Cynthia Knapek, president of the Leadership Louisville Center; and Christy Ames, general counsel and EVP at Republic Bank & Trust Co.The two tell us how they were each looking for ways to connect with other professionals and with the leadership in the city at the time. They wanted to build something that lasted too — though they each admit they weren't thinking 25 years into the future back when they founded the organization.Access Louisville is a weekly podcast from Louisville Business First. You can find it on popular services such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify. 

This week we bring you a vital community conversation about affordable and sustainable housing held on October 17th during the 2023 Louisville Sustainability Summit on Livable Louisville: Addressing local climate risks through planning and design. Across the country Americans are facing the effects of a changing climate with increased extreme weather events like hurricanes, tornadoes, and heat waves causing poor air quality, dangerous forest fires, and flooding. Recent studies predict Kentucky's risk of extreme heat, drought, wildfires, and inland floods will increase significantly. At the 2023 Louisville Sustainability Council Summit, we explored the risks and stressors our region is facing and how our buildings and cities can adapt to this new normal and address the problems. Learn more at http://louisvillesustainabilitycouncil.org/summit Today we'll listen back to the panel discussion on Housing for a Changed Climate. The impact of climate change affects all Louisvillians. Panelists discussed the need for and benefits of healthy, sustainable, and affordable housing. You'll learn about local and federal financial incentives, design strategies, and development approaches necessary to deliver healthy housing equitably while adding value to our city. The speakers include: Moderator, Cassia Herron is a leader in Kentucky's local food movement and as a community organizer, urban planner, writer, community development consultant and social justice warrior has extensive experience working to improve urban and rural communities in Kentucky. Through the lens of racial justice, equity and community wealth creation, Herron spends her time holding accountable public sector officials, challenging philanthropic and private investors and inspiring her fellow citizens to envision and create a new economy in Kentucky based on cooperation and equity. She co-founded the Louisville Association for Community Economics and has led the Kentuckians for the Commonwealth to advance the state's democracy and transition its energy economy. She is a graduate of UofL with a Masters of Urban Planning from the University of Michigan. Marilyn S. Harris is the Director of the Office of Housing and Community Development at Louisville Metro. She has previously served as the Director of Develop Louisville, and the Director of the Office of Housing. Marilyn is National Development Council Certified, and a Housing Development Finance Professional. She holds a B.S. in Sociology, and a Masters of Social Administration from Bellarmine. Ben Eilerman, is the Director of Real Estate Development for Over-the-Rhine Community Housing where he leads affordable housing development projects from initial concept, through funding, construction and occupancy, furthering the mission of the organization to “develop and manage resident-centered affordable housing to build inclusive community and benefit low-income residents”. Ben also brings professional experience as a LEED certified, licensed architect, having practiced in the Cincinnati region for over 10 years. Tiffany Broyles Yost is GBBN's Director of Sustainability and Resilience, providing strategic leadership for sustainable design across the firm's portfolio of projects and spearheading initiatives related to resilience and well-being, including the GBBN Sustainability Action Network. Her work includes sustainable design on projects from international supertall mixed-use to existing building renovations in 20+ countries. Tiffany is focused on creating low-carbon, healthy spaces at GBBN and advancing a circular economy regionally. She practiced architecture, worked as a sustainability consultant, and developed education for the green building industry, for over 15 years in New York City before returning to the Midwest.

Sean & Donnie are Joined by The Jasons to talk about their upcoming show at the Mag Bar w/ Creeps Inc & Daddy Sisters, how bad the last Louisville show was in June 2023 (because Louisvillians don't go to shows, but complain about bands not playing there, Kieth Morris' agent refuses to let the Circle Jerks play there), Friday The 13th movies, and a little secret about how the Jason's feel about Friday The 13th, how bad Donisi's Pizza is, despite what drunk white people in Olde Louisville. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sean0493/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sean0493/support

Louisvillians will be able to watch a partial solar eclipse on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023. Hear some details about the event, and tips on how to view the eclipse safely. Then, hear how the persecution of J Robert Oppenheimer (the 'father of the atomic bomb') in 1953 might have stifled political activism by scientists for 60 years. But did it? Here is the link to the entire 'This is Science' podcast (produced by the Union of Concerned Scientists'): https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/destroyer-worlds ‘Bench Talk: The Week in Science' is a weekly program that airs on WFMP Louisville FORward Radio 106.5 FM (forwardradio.org) every Monday at 7:30 pm, Tuesday at 11:30 am, and Wednesday at 7:30 am. Visit our Facebook page for links to the articles discussed in this episode: https://www.facebook.com/pg/BenchTalkRadio/posts/?ref=page_internal

Louisville, Kentucky has experienced a major onslaught of wildfire smoke from the thousands of forest fires burning in Canada this summer. What is so unusual about these fires? How dangerous is it for us (and our loved ones) to inhale this smoke? How can we stay informed about the quality of the air we are breathing? What can we do to protect ourselves and our family from air pollution? ‘Bench Talk: The Week in Science' is a weekly program that airs on WFMP Louisville FORward Radio 106.5 FM (forwardradio.org) every Monday at 7:30 pm, Tuesday at 11:30 am, and Wednesday at 7:30 am. Visit our Facebook page for links to the articles discussed in this episode: https://www.facebook.com/pg/BenchTalkRadio/posts/?ref=page_internal

When The New York Times recommended their top 52 destination spots for this year, Louisville landed smack between cities in Greece and Brazil and even outranked some places in Italy and Spain. Tourism is big business in Louisville, and this week on “In Conversation,” we'll meet some of the folks working to make sure business keeps booming. We took a look at downtown tourism and measures to get more Louisvillians from outlying areas to venture back for museums, dinners and shows. And we checked on the outlook for the rest of 2023, as our hospitality industry still attempts to rebound from the early days of COVID-19.

The History of Louisville: A Story of Absolute Power, Founding Fathers, & Building a Great City In today's episode of Spirit & Spire, John & Erik begin a long and exciting story of how the city of Louisville came to get it's name and why that matters for the future. When things have felt bleak, confusing, or frustrating, it's time to go back in time to unearth some critical truths about where we've come from so we can embrace where we're heading--all so that us Louisvillians, as well as all people, can embrace who we ARE. This is PART ONE of the History of Louisville and the beloved Archdiocese within! John Sohl hosts this episode with his co-host Erik Huff. Isaac Fox could not join us today. Look for Spirit & Spire on Google, Apple, Spotify, or wherever podcasts are found. Check out the teaser trailer and share this far and wide as more episodes are coming. www.SpiritandSpire.com Support Us | www.patreon.com/spiritandspire Please support our incredible sponsors! www.FamilyRenewalProject.com www.CathedraloftheAssumption.org If you would like a shoutout in an upcoming episode, contact us at spiritandspire@aol.com

Jeffersontown Police Chief Rick Sanders discusses his belief that Louisville is a hub of drug distribution for this part of the country, overdose deaths in the Commonwealth, gang issues in the Metro, and how to make people feel safer in our city...

Jeffersontown Mayor Bill Dieruf thanked those who cast their vote for him yesterday to make him the Republican candidate for the Mayor of Louisville. He also discussed creating a better relationship with Frankfort, economic development, providing the desired services, future budget issues, public safety, and the importance of experience...

There's no doubt that history is important to many Louisvillians and it's often the subject of debate when it comes to new development.We chat about that on this week's episode of the Access Louisville podcast.We've gotten a little taste of this debate in the last few months, with the Dream Hotel project proposed on West Main Street. Fortunately, the developers and those wanting to preserve the character of Main Street were able to come to an agreement on this one — though there are still a few more approvals to go before work gets started.After the preservation talk, we chat about a new construction project from Baptist Health Louisville, a recent layoff announcement from McKesson and the sad news of Hadley Pottery closing. Access Louisville is a weekly podcast from Louisville Business First. You can find it on most popular podcast services. 

When you talk about housing in Louisville it tends to trigger debates. Lots of people agree that Louisville needs more affordable housing. And market-rate and luxury housing fetches plenty of interest too.But, frequently, when a developer proposes a new housing development, be it single family homes or apartments, the reaction is negative. That's particularly true with the 'not-in-my-backyard' set who seem to be always concerned with traffic, parking and flooding issues. We get into all of the above on this week's Access Louisville podcast, focusing on two housing proposals — one in St. Matthews and another in Windy Hills — which have both sparked debate about what's needed in town.After that we talk about Norton Healthcare and Goodwill Industry's huge $100 million West Louisville investment. And finally we wrap things up with news of a cyber attack against Norton Healthcare.Access Louisville is a weekly podcast from Louisville Business First. It's available on most popular podcast services. 

Get Back To The Tap with us on this week's Truth to Power Happy Hour! Forward Radio volunteers, Ruth Newman and Justin Mog (host of Sustainability Now!) are joined by Kelley Dearing Smith, VP of Communications & Marketing for the Louisville Water Company. Join us for a wide-ranging conversation about the history and current status of water treatment from our very own publicly-owned utility which has been keeping Louisvillians safe and hydrated since 1860! We address public concern about potential contaminants in our drinking water such as lead, mercury, radon, nitrates, microbes, pharmaceuticals, microplastics, and PFAS/PFOA “forever chemicals.” We also touch on the impacts of climate change, the federal infrastructure bill, and we offer tips on how you can help protect water quality at the source – i.e. how to keep pollution out of the Ohio River. Learn more at http://louisvillewater.com On Truth to Power each week, we gather Forward Radio programmers and friends to discuss the state of the world, the nation, the state, and the city! It's a community conversation like you won't hear anywhere else! Truth to Power airs every Friday at 9pm, Saturday at 11am, and Sunday at 4pm on Louisville's grassroots, community radio station, Forward Radio 106.5fm WFMP and live streams at http://forwardradio.org

Usually, the word anniversary brings to mind celebrations. Commemorating happy occasions. The marking of a precious moment in time. But remembering 9/11 is different. Yes, it's the anniversary of the date on a calendar. But it was also a complicated historical event — an attack on American soil that still resonates two decades later.  This week on “In Conversation,” we talked about what it means to Louisvillians who lived in New York City when the Twin Towers were attacked, and the world as we knew it was changed forever. We also talked about the backlash and bigotry that followed 9/11 for our Muslim American communities. We unpacked pain and healing and continued bias as it connects to that day, and ongoing international events. 

The Kentucky State Fair offers us a unique opportunity to celebrate the beauty that is Kentucky agriculture. From getting up close and personal with livestock, to the crops on display, this week offers Louisvillians a chance to see what the rest of the state has to offer. But Kentucky agriculture is not just about farmers, it has so much more to offer. So, on today's podcast, Warren Beeler and Jonathan Shell join to talk about the amazing science, innovation, and families that make Kentucky agriculture the best.

Emily Elizabeth created the "Wondering Mind" podcast in February 2020 after going through a series of hardships and mental health challenges. Her goal with the podcast is to have candid conversations about mental health and the challenges people face daily, which helps to break stigmas and normalize conversing about mental health. I first met Emily at a photoshoot & we started chatting & discovered that both of us local Louisvillians had something in common: podcast hosts, often with similar subject matter. After she shared with me what her mission was all about, I knew she had to be one of my guests! Let's face it mental health has a bit of a not so darlin stigma & we both want to break that. Listen in as Emily & I chat about her own personal mental health issues from which she suffers including anxiety, ADHD, & depression, & why she decided to start her podcast. Also, Emily invited me to be a guest on her podcast to share my mental health & eating disorder story, which was a great honor; please take a listen to that episode here (link https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/52-fearing-food-with-tonya-phillips/id1513841558?i=1000528121257).

There were three big acquisitions in the last week and we talk about them all on this week's Access Louisville podcast. We don't know the dollar figures on these deals but it seems likely that national long-term acute care player Kindred Healthcare was the largest.  This last week also saw the sale of Liquor Barn, a popular Kentucky retailer; and LEO Weekly, a small but still a well-known business among the media savvy in Louisville. We go over all three acquisitions with Louisville Business First reporters Haley Cawthon and Chris Larson. After that we lighten things up a bit and talk about a few new places to visit in town, including a new brewery in the Portland neighborhood and a new bourbon bar in Downtown Louisville.And, lastly, we chat about a new report that says Louisvillians are good drivers — surprising right?Access Louisville is a weekly podcast from LouisvilleBusinessFirst.com. It can be found on popular podcast services including Apple Podcast, Spotify and Stitcher. 

Mayor Greg Fischer started our conversation by responding to Tucker Carlson's claims earlier this week on Fox News. He also discussed A Path Forward For Louisville (specifically black Louisvillians) and the need for another federal stimulus package...

Mayor Greg Fischer started our conversation by responding to Tucker Carlson's claims earlier this week on Fox News. He also discussed A Path Forward For Louisville (specifically black Louisvillians) and the need for another federal stimulus package...

We are happy to have the father son due, Jake and Justin Brown joining us for Chip Chat episode 4. Learn about how Jake developed The Marian Group and how his son, Justin, left his investment banking job in New York to come home and work with his father to help change the lives of many Louisvillians.

Is a property tax hike in Jefferson County the solution to its education problems? Despite unprecedented unemployment, the JCPS school board seems to think it is a good time to raise taxes on Louisvillians in order to pump more money into the school system. But are there are ways forward? Theresa Camoriano, Resa, believes this is the wrong time, and wrong solution to JCPS's problems. Why is she so passionate about this issue? Hear her talk about her love for education, and why voters should have a say in this tax increase. Check out her website NoJCPSTaxHike.com to learn more. As well on today's podcast we discuss our newest report on emergency powers in Kentucky. Should Kentucky's general assembly have a check on the Governor's powers? Many other states allow this, and it might just be time to bring it to the commonwealth.

We are happy to have the father son due, Jake and Justin Brown joining us for Chip Chat episode 4. Learn about how Jake developed The Marian Group and how his son, Justin, left his investment banking job in New York to come home and work with his father to help change the lives of many Louisvillians.

In this week's episode, Jay and Gabe spend time with Joe Kristufek, a professional horse racing analyst and advocate at Churchill Downs. Originally from Chicago, Joe found his way into the horse racing industry almost by chance. An avid sports fan and journalism student, Joe quickly learned that the world of horse racing involved much more than what was happening on the track. Fast forward a few decades, and Joe eventually found his way to the heart of horse racing country: Louisville, KY.Now a professional analyst at Churchill Downs, and a partner in the successful Brilliant Racing team, Joe has seen the industry from all sides imaginable. In this episode, Joe breaks down how the sport of kings involves more moving parts than most Louisvillians realize; even those who frequently find themselves in the shadows of the Twin Spires.

The Kentucky Derby tradition has grown and changed over the past 145 years in Louisville, creating epic moments and memorable scenes for people. We hear from Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, the Kentucky Derby Museum's Chris Goodlett and historian Emily Bingham, as well as Louisvillians who celebrate the Derby in their own unique ways.

It dawned on me this week that I chose the worst possible time of the year to begin a fitness journey as a member of the media in Louisville, Kentucky. Derby Season is wild for most Louisvillians, but my role in digital media means going to as many events as possible to capture photos for features on YesLouisville.com and our many social platforms. Follow Lori's journey as she gets #FitToFly! We'll be dropping weekly video updates, along with some raw reflections from her along the way! #Serendipity #TheSerendipitousChannel presented by YesLouisville.com

For many of us, having the internet at home is as important as having electricity, or maybe even water. We use it to watch our favorite TV shows, to do homework, to pay bills. But inside 40 percent of Louisville's poorest households, there is no internet access. Those families don't hop on the computer to help kids with homework, they don't look up tutorials for home repairs, and they don't play games online or look at social media. These are things we — and maybe you, too — take for granted. But for many Louisvillians, having the internet at home is just not an option. Internet access is essential for most people anymore, and the city of Louisville has a digital inclusion plan that aims to help low-income residents get connected at home. City reporter Amina Elahi joins us today to talk about how the plan is working and how it could be improved, and we meet a woman whose life is being changed just by being able to get online at home.

3rd District congressional candidate Vicki Yates Glisson dropped-by the studio to introduce herself. She discussed knocking on doors and meeting with Louisvillians, her roots on a cattle farm in Spencer County, President Trump’s tariffs and their effect on Kentucky farms, the Governor’s attempt to save the Medicaid expansion, impeaching the President, and more.

Nick reacts to Louisville football news, Ohio State's deadline, and famous maybe-Louisvillians. Plus, John Lewis, What We Learned, and Fast Five.

When you're looking for a new job, there are lots of things to consider. Does it pay enough? Would you enjoy the work itself? What kind of benefits and time off do you get? And, of course: the commute. If all the other answers are great, you might be willing to overlook some extra time in the car every day. But if you ride the bus, you might not have that option. As part of The Next Louisville, our partnership with the Community Foundation of Louisville, WFPL's Amina Elahi talked with people who use public transportation in Louisville. She learned that bus routes are the deciding factor in where some Louisvillians live and work (and if you've heard our show before, or if you know anything at all about Louisville, you won't be surprised to hear that some parts of town are more widely-affected than others). Amina joins us this week, along with data reporter Alexandra Kanik, who created a visual representation of bus routes & how long they take compared to driving your own car.

Me’Shorn Daniels, from Man-Up and the Descendants of American Slaves, says that telling black people that their status in life is a result of slavery is wrong. He believes that it is within their power to better their status in life. They just have to “man-up”. He also discussed his “Perimeter Concept,” plans for an MLK celebration, and plans to help Louisvillians find out who they really are.

This episode is all about how Louisvillians get around - and a little bit about how they don't. And who better to talk about transportation in our city than Tyler Allen, architect of 8664, and JC Stites, longtime transportation advocate and TARC board member? They join Councilman Coan to talk about the continued debate of the Louisville Light Rail, how transportation creates a sense of place, and how it affects the quality of life in our city - for both better and worse. For more information about 8664, visit: http://8664.org/ For more information about TARC, visit: https://www.ridetarc.org/

Lockbox chef Jonathan Searle opened with an update on the upcoming first birthday party at 21c Museum Hotel: art, cocktails, nibbles. But of course! Then Jenn Desjardins of Copper and Kings American Brandy in Louisville laid out the specifics of the new Ideal Bartender School, created in honor of African American cocktail book author Tom Bullock and intended to offer opportunity to 20 Louisvillians committed to hospitality and spirits.

This week we introduce you to a new member of the WFPL newsroom, political reporter Ashley Lopez. Ashley joins us to talk about Indiana's controversial "religious freedom" act, Louisville's attempt to appeal to LGBT tourists, and a recent poll showing Kentucky's opposition to marriage equality. We also hear Ashley's recent report on the Kentucky marriage equality case that will go before the Supreme Court late next month. She fills us in on where that case stands, who might make oral arguments, what experts think will be the outcome, and she introduces us to some of the Kentucky plaintiffs. And a group of Louisvillians are bringing a Juneteenth Festival back to the Derby City for the first time in years. Juneteenth celebrates the freeing of enslaved Africans and African Americans in the United States in 1865, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation became the law of the land. Organizer Gary Brice takes a break from festival planning to stop by the Strange Fruit studios and let us know what's in store for festival attendees, and how our listeners can get involved. This week we also give a shout out to friend-to-the-show Aisha Moodie-Mills, who this week was named the new president and CEO of the Victory Fund, a national organization that supports LGBTQ political candidates. Moodie-Mills is the first woman, and the first African American, to hold the job. And our colleague Devin Katayama, political reporter and midday host with WFPL, is heading to KQED in San Francisco, to cover poverty and other issues affecting Oakland, California. Finally this week we say a sad goodbye to teen trans activist Blake Brockington, who ended his own life last week. Despite suffering rejection from family and friends upon coming out as trans, Brockington went on to become homecoming king at his North Carolina high school. Brockington was a tireless fundraiser and activist for LGBTQ issues, and was also an outspoken participant in the #BlackLivesMatter movement against police brutality. If you or someone you know is struggling or in a crisis, please reach out to The Trevor Project's Lifeline at 866-488-7386, or visit thetrevorproject.org for more ways to contact their counselors, who are specially trained to help LGBTQ youth. Stay safe, Fruitcakes.