
Think Humanities
Kentucky Humanities is an independent, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities in Washington, D.C. The Council is supported by the National Endowment and by private contributions. We are not a state agency, and we receive no state funds, but we are proud partners with Kentucky's cultural, heritage, arts, and tourism agencies.
Why are we Telling Kentucky's Story?
More than just history, by Kentucky's story we mean Kentucky's writers, inventors, judges, musicians, architects, doctors – in short, the contributions from every walk of life to the quality of life in Kentucky. We recognize a need to build civic engagement as well as literacy, and we want to involve all ages and all places from Pine Knot to Princeton. Everyone has a story to tell, and everyone can learn from the stories of others. These stories, taken together, are the stories of our communities, our counties, our regions, and our unique Kentucky culture and heritage. They are the basis of our pride and the basic premise of community.
What are the Humanities?
Humanity in all its forms. The humanities are the values by which we live, the ideas that organize our thinking, and all of the ways we communicate with each other. The humanities include the ways of knowing found in the academic disciplines of history, literature, and philosophy, as well as anthropology, sociology and psychology. But they encompass much more: religion, culture, the origins of Bluegrass music, the archaeology of landfills, Kentuckians' love for their counties, what they teach their children, why they make burgoo. All these things are the humanities.
Latest episodes

Nov 1, 2023 • 31min
Episode 303 - Wayne Onkst and Tammy Blackwell, Librarians
Book banning has reached new heights in recent months and years. Join the THINK HUMANITIES podcast to hear a discussion about how book bans have been affecting Kentuckians with Wayne Onkst and Tammy Blackwell, both long-time Kentucky librarians.
THINK HUMANITIES is made possible by generous support from the Spalding University Sena Jeter Naslund-Karen Mann Graduate School of Writing.

Oct 25, 2023 • 39min
Episode 302 - Lesléa Newman, Poet
THINK HUMANITIES is back with a special episode hosted by Spalding's Lynnell Edwards. Today, she talks to poet, author, and editor Lesléa Newman about "October Mourning: A Song for Matthew Shepard" and how poetry is needed in our current time.
THINK HUMANITIES is made possible by Spalding University's Sena Jeter Naslund-Karen Mann Graduate School of Writing.

Oct 18, 2023 • 8min
Episode 301 - J.R. Ward, Author
It's Kentucky Book Festival Week. Come on our to meet lots of fantastic authors and find a new favorite book! Get excited by listening to this short interview by EKU's Tom Martin with author J.R. Ward who will be at the Kentucky Book Festival on Saturday, October 21st.
For more information, visit kybookfestival.org.
THINK HUMANITIES is made possible by generous support from the Spalding University Sena Jeter Naslund-Karen Mann Graduate School of Writing.

Oct 11, 2023 • 36min
Episode 300 - Kentucky Book Festival Preview
It's almost Kentucky Book Festival time! Get excited by listening to THINK HUMANITIES' Bill Goodman talk to KBF Director Katerina Stoykova and KBF Event Producer Julie Klier about the fantastic lineup and events planned for October 21st.
For a full schedule of Kentucky Book Festival events, visit kybookfestival.org
THINK HUMANITIES is made possible by generous support from the Spalding University Sena Jeter Naslund-Karen Mann Graduate School of Writing.

Sep 27, 2023 • 37min
Episode 298 - Paul E. Patton, 59th Governor of Kentucky
Former Kentucky Governor Paul E. Patton joins Bill Goodman on THINK HUMANITIES to discuss his upcoming book coauthored with Jeffrey S. Suchanek entitled "The Coal Miner Who Became Governor."
Patton will be at this year's Kentucky Book Festival on October 21st at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Lexington, Kentucky. For more information, visit kybookfestival.org
THINK HUMANITIES is made possible by generous support from the Spalding University Sena Jeter Naslund-Karen Mann Graduate School of Writing.

Sep 20, 2023 • 42min
Episode 297 - John Winn Miller, Author And Journalist
John Winn Miller, award winning investigative journalist and novelist, joins Bill Goodman on THINK HUMANITIES to talk about his latest book, "The Hunt for the Peggy C," a World War II maritime thriller.
Miller will be at the 42nd Kentucky Book Festival on October 21st at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Lexington. For more information, visit kybookfestival.org.
THINK HUMANITIES is made possibly by generous support from the Spalding University Sena Jeter Naslund-Karen Mann Graduate School of Writing.

Sep 13, 2023 • 1h 7min
Episode 296 - Dr. Eric Jackson & Dr. Amrita Chakrabarti Myers, Historians
This week on THINK HUMANITIES we're discussing African American history. First up is Dr. Eric Jackson, Professor of History at Northern Kentucky University, who talks about the impact of African American Studies programs around the nation. On the back half of the program, Bill Goodman talks to Amrita Chakrabarti Myers, Professor of History at Indiana University Bloomington about her new book "The Vice President’s Black Wife."
Dr. Myers will be at the Kentucky Book Festival on October 21, 2023 in Lexington, KY. For more information, visit kybookfestival.org
THINK HUMANITIES is made possible by generous support from the Spalding University Sena Jeter Naslund-Karen Mann Graduate School of Writing.

Sep 6, 2023 • 47min
Episode 295 - Patricia Hudson, Author
The Kentucky Book Festival is just over a month away, and we're very excited to introduce you to some authors you can meet there on October 21st! Today's special guest on THINK HUMANITIES is Patricia Hudson, the author of a new historical fiction entitled "Traces," which tells the story of the Boone women. Patricia talks about her research process and how she has brought the Boone women to life in her novel.
The Kentucky Book Festival will be held on October 21st at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Lexington, KY. For more information, visit kybookfestival.org.
THINK HUMANITIES is made possible by generous support from the Spalding University Sena Jeter Naslund-Karen Mann Graduate School of Writing.

Aug 30, 2023 • 39min
Episode 294 - The African American Museum of Bowling Green and The Lexington History Museum
The past few years have been hard on museums in Kentucky. Today on THINK HUMANITIES, we hear from Wathetta Buford with the African American Museum of Bowling Green and Mandy Higgins of the Lexington History Museum to hear about their renovations and new exhibits.
THINK HUMANITIES is made possible by generous support from the Spalding University Sena Jeter Naslund-Karen Mann Graduate School of Writing.

Aug 23, 2023 • 31min
Episode 293 - Todd Bale, Director of The Sons of the American Revolution
The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution is one of the oldest lineage societies in the US, and is headquartered in Louisville. Director Todd Bale joins THINK HUMANITIES to talk about the important work that NSSAR does.
THINK HUMANITIES is made possible by generous support from the Spalding University Sena Jeter Naslund-Karen Mann Graduate School of Writing.
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