Think Humanities

April is National Poetry Month, and Kentucky Humanities is celebrating with a poem a day from Kentucky’s most celebrated poets, including Frank X Walker. Walker is the former Kentucky Poet Laureate and is a Professor of English at the University of Kentucky. He is a co-founder of the Affrilachian Poets and coined the term "Affrilachia."

April is National Poetry Month, and Kentucky Humanities is celebrating with a poem a day from Kentucky’s most celebrated poets, including Tasha Cotter. Tasha joins us today to further discuss her creative process, and the experiences and inspirations that led her to become a writer. Tasha earned an MFA at the Bluegrass Writers’ Studio and currently teaches in the Landscape & Architecture department at UK. On today's episode, Cotter reads some of her own work and provides tips to aspiring poets.

Host Bill Goodman is joined by Dr. Duane Bolin, Professor Emeritus of History at Murray State University and Kentucky Humanities Board Member. Professor Bolin's timely new release, "Adolph Rupp and the Rise of Kentucky Basketball" is a full biography examining the life and legacy of the basketball phenomenon.

Host Bill Goodman is joined by Dr. Christia Brown, Professor of Developmental Psychology and Director of the Center for Equality and Social Justice at the University of Kentucky. Brown's research examines how children’s and adolescents’ academic, psychological, and social lives are shaped by the social groups they belong to.

In celebration of Women’s History Month, host Bill Goodman is joined by Dr. Melissa McEuen, professor of history at Transylvania University. McEuen also teaches Women's, Gender, & Sexuality Studies. A specialist in women’s history, Dr. McEuen discusses the origin of Women’s History Month and elaborates on the three themes of its initiative: amplifying women’s voices to honor the past, inform the present, and inspire the future. Goodman and McEuen reflect on the contributions great women have made throughout U.S. history, with a special focus on the Progressive Era that brought forth a wave of female activism.

Host Bill Goodman is joined by Dr. James Humphreys, professor of history at Murray State University. A specialist in southern history, Dr. Humphreys addresses President Lincoln, race, and emancipation on today’s episode. Dr. Humphreys provides a detailed look into the complex history of Lincoln as the “great emancipator,” and explains Lincoln's ideology surrounding emancipation and how he and his advisors came to the Emancipation Proclamation.

Host Bill Goodman is joined by Margaret Verble, a celebrated author and finalist for the 2016 Pulitzer Prize in fiction for her novel, Maud’s Line. Verble’s new novel, Cherokee America, was just released on February 19, 2019 and is a prequel to Maud’s Line. As an enrolled and voting citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, Verble’s inspiration for her novels comes from her family’s history, living on Native American land in Oklahoma. Be sure to pick up your copy of Cherokee America today!

In celebration of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday week and Presidents’ Day, host Bill Goodman is joined by Dr. Greg Waltermire, who portrays Lincoln for Kentucky Chautauqua. Waltermire holds a PhD in Educational Policy Studies & Evaluation from the University of Kentucky and is a minister at Heritage Baptist Church in Lexington. On today's episode, he steps into character and gives us a sneak preview of his Chautauqua performance to provide some lesser-known facts about the life of Lincoln.

Host Bill Goodman is joined by the new executive director of the Kentucky Historical Society, Scott Alvey, who has been with KHS for over a decade. Goodman and Alvey address the relevance of Kentucky history in today’s environment and the importance of making history accessible to all. Alvey discusses the variety of programs and services offered by KHS that preserve history and enrich the lives of Kentuckians. Among these programs are the Register of the Kentucky Historical Society, Kentucky Ancestors Online, exhibits at the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History, the HistoryMobile, and their various research collections.

Host Bill Goodman is joined by artist Laura Petrovich-Cheney, whose artwork is currently on display at Berea College’s Doris Ullman Gallery. Petrovich-Cheney creates art by turning salvaged wood into a wooden patchwork quilt. She repurposes debris left behind by natural disasters such as Hurricane Sandy, the Gatlinburg, TN fires, and a series of nor’easters. Wood that was once clapboard siding, floorboards, or kitchen cabinets, is transformed into vibrant, wooden quilts. You can meet Laura and learn more about her work when she visits Berea’s Ullman Gallery on February 7th at 4:30pm. Her work will be on display until February 15. To learn more about the artist and to view her other creations, visit www.lauracheney.com