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
Sep 25, 2019 • 35min
Episode 101 - Dr. Chelsea Brislin, UK Gaines Center For The Humanities
Dr. Chelsea Breslin, Associate Director of the UK Gaines Center for the Humanities, is our guest on this week's episode of THINK HUMANITIES. She discusses the work and history of the Gaines Center as well as the upcoming Bale Boone Symposium. This year's speaker is Tayari Jones, author of An American Marriage. The Bale Boone Symposium will be held on Wednesday, October 2nd at 7 p.m. at the Singletary Center for the Arts in Lexington. The event is free but requires an RSVP.
Sep 18, 2019 • 34min
Episode 100 -Joshua Douglas, Professor at University of Kentucky College of Law
Professor Joshua Douglas is our guest on this week's episode of THINK HUMANITIES. Professor Douglas teaches and researches election law and voting rights, civil procedure, constitutional law, and judicial decision making at the University of Kentucky College of Law. He is the author of Vote for US: How to Take Back our Elections and Change the Future of Voting, a book that provides hope and inspiration for a positive path forward on voting rights. Come see Professor Douglass at the 38th annual Kentucky Book Fair on Saturday, November 16th at the Kentucky Horse Park's Alltech Arena.
Sep 11, 2019 • 28min
Episode 99 - George Herring, Professor Emeritus of History
On this week's episode of THINK HUMANITIES host Bill Goodman is joined by Professor George Herring for a look back at the lead up to the tragic events of September 11, 2001, and what occurred in the aftermath.
Sep 4, 2019 • 44min
Episode 98 - Casey Cep, New York Time Bestselling Author
New York Times bestselling author Casey Cep joins us for this week's episode of THINK HUMANITIES to discuss her first book, Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee. You can hear more from Casey Cep and pick up a copy of Furious Hours at the Kentucky Book Fair on Saturday, November 16th at the Kentucky Horse Park's Alltech Arena.
Aug 28, 2019 • 36min
Episode 97 - Virginia Smith, Author
Host Bill Goodman is joined by Kentucky Author Virginia "Ginny" Smith. Virginia Smith is the bestselling author of 38 novels, an illustrated children's book, and more than 50 articles and short stories. An avid reader with eclectic tastes in fiction, Ginny writes in a variety of styles, from lighthearted relationship stories to breath-snatching suspense. Find out how she left the corporate world behind to become a full-time writer on this episode of THINK HUMANITIES.
Aug 21, 2019 • 34min
Episode 96 - Mason Smith, Author & EKU English Instructor
Host Bill Goodman is joined by author & EKU English Instructor Mason Smith. The duo discuss UFOs, Monsters & Cryptids in Kentucky lore, the long-time popularity of detective stories, and Smith's own writing career. In addition to being an author and English Instructor, Mason Smith is also a member of the Kentucky Humanities Speakers Bureau.
Aug 14, 2019 • 34min
Episode 95 - Tom Eblen, Independent Journalist
Host Bill Goodman is joined by Independent journalist Tom Eblen. Eblen previously worked at the Lexington Herald-Leader and is currently working as an independent journalist, writer and photographer. He was inducted into the Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame in 2016. In this episode of THINK HUMANITIES Goodman and Eblen discuss the current state of journalism, what the future holds, and so much more!
Aug 7, 2019 • 30min
Episode 94 - Foster Ockerman, Jr., President & Chief Historian of the Lexington History Museum
Foster Ockerman, Jr. is our guest on this week's episode of THINK HUMANITIES. Ockerman is the President & Chief Historian of the Lexington History Museum and a new member of the Kentucky Humanities Speakers Bureau. Ockerman will be at the Kentucky Book Fair on Saturday, November 16th at the Kentucky Horse Park's Alltech Arena with his new book, Hidden History of Horse Racing in Kentucky.
Jul 31, 2019 • 22min
Episode 93 - Governor's Scholars Program
Host Bill Goodman visits Centre College to discuss the Governor’s Scholars Program with this summer’s campus director, Bryan Rich, who teaches at Ballard High School in Louisville. GSP is an immersive, five-week summer residential program for outstanding high school students in Kentucky who are rising seniors. Two scholars, Clayton Rhoads and Mary Grace Hemingway of Owensboro, share with us their experiences and their thoughts on why GSP is such a special program for Kentucky students.
Jul 24, 2019 • 33min
Episode 92 - Jayne Moore Waldrop, Writer & Attorney
Host Bill Goodman is joined by Kentucky writer and attorney Jayne Moore Waldrop. She recently published her first chapbook, "Retracing My Steps," which was a finalist in the 2018 New Women’s Voices Chapbook Competition. Waldrop is a graduate of the University of Kentucky (B.A., J.D.) and Murray State University’s MFA in Creative Writing Program. Today, Waldrop shares one of her poems with us titled “Coming Through Cumberland Gap.”
