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
Jul 15, 2020 • 32min
Episode 141 - The 2020 U.S. Census
On this week's episode of THINK HUMANITIES the topic is the 2020 U.S. Census. Host Bill Goodman talks with Michelle Elison and Erin Peabody of the U.S. Census Bureau and Maddie Shepard, President of the Kentucky Council for Social Studies, about the importance of counting every Kentuckian during this census and what the census means for education and public life.
Jul 8, 2020 • 32min
Episode 140 - Tom Owen, Historian
Dr. Tom Owen is one of Kentucky Humanities' newest board members. Bill Goodman, host of THINK HUMANITIES, talks with Tom about his career as an archivist, historian, and politician.
Jul 1, 2020 • 36min
Episode 139 - Patrick Lewis & Anne Twitty
This week on THINK HUMANITIES, host Bill Goodman talks with Dr. Patrick Lewis of the Filson Historical Society and Dr. Anne Twitty of the University of Mississippi about monuments, their place today, and efforts to remove monuments.
Jun 24, 2020 • 32min
Episode 138 - William Luckey, President Of Lindsey Wilson College
Bill Goodman continues a series of discussions on racial equity. On this week's episode of THINK HUMANITIES he is joined by Dr. William Lucky, the President of Lindsey Wilson College. They discuss some of the challenges put forth by Robin DiAngelo, author of White Fragility, and how we can address address racism and inequality in our country.
Jun 17, 2020 • 32min
Episode 137 - DaMaris Hill, Author
This week join Bill Goodman as THINK HUMANITIES continues its series of discussions about racial inequality in America with this week's guest, Dr. DaMaris Hill. Dr. Hill teaches courses in English, Creative Writing, and African American, Gender, and Women's Studies at the University of Kentucky. Her most recent book, A Bound Woman Is a Dangerous Thing, weaves history with poetry to tell the story of incarcerated African-American women. Dr. Hill talks with Bill Goodman about the recent protests, military action, and a path forward.
Jun 10, 2020 • 32min
Episode 136 - Marta Maria Miranda-Straub, Poet And Activist
This week on THINK HUMANITIES, Bill Goodman continues a series on racial equity by talking to Marta Maria Miranda-Straub, a Latinx poet and activist. Miranda-Straub talks with Bill about her activism and poetry and about what needs to be done to make equality for all a reality.
Jun 3, 2020 • 31min
Episode 135 - Aaron Thompson, President Of The Kentucky Council On Postsecondary Education
This week on THINK HUMANITIES, host Bill Goodman talks with Dr. Aaron Thompson, president of the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education. Dr. Thompson shares his thoughts following the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and David McAtee. Dr. Thompson focuses on what is needed for lasting change and the crucial role of the humanities in addressing oppression and inequality.
May 27, 2020 • 25min
Episode 134 - Phoebe Stein, President Of The Federation Of State Humanities Councils
On this week's digital episode of THINK HUMANITIES, host Bill Goodman talks with Phoebe Stein, the new president of the Federation of State Humanities Councils, about the work of the humanities councils around the United States and how they are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
May 20, 2020 • 46min
Episode 133- Fenton Johnson, Author
Host Bill Goodman talks with author Fenton Johnson on this episode of THINK HUMANITIES. They discuss Johnson's new book "At the Center of All Beauty: Solitude and the Creative Life," the figures that inspired his book, and what solitaries teach us about living a good life.
May 13, 2020 • 23min
Episode 132 - George Herring, Historian
Dr. George Herring joins Bill Goodman for this week's virtual episode of THINK HUMANITIES to talk about American leadership in times of crisis or other lessons from history that help us understand our current moment in time during COVID-19.
