In the last year we have had to find a new way to bring you Uniquely Kentucky amid a global pandemic.  When we first started this podcast, we loved recording in person, there is nothing like a good chat that then becomes a podcast.  Once the pandemic hit, we were forced to connect with our guests in a different way, mainly online.  In this episode I am joined by Sam Dick, my evening WKYT co-anchor and WKYT Chief Meteorologist Chris Bailey as we look back on the last year of living and working during a pandemic.

Uniquely Kentucky with Amber Philpott

Uniquely Kentucky with Amber Philpott | Evening Team-A look back

As Renee Shaw likes to say she was born in Tennessee but grew up in Kentucky. Shaw came to the state to attend Western Kentucky University and once she graduated, she never left. Shaw is now a longtime anchor and host for Kentucky Educational Television.  She got her start at KET in 1997 as a public policy reporter, she now hosts legislative coverage, anchors election coverage and in 2005 she launched Connections a show she continues to host. Connections is a statewide minority affairs program tackling several issues. She is a fellow journalist who like a lot of us has had to adapt in this last year.

Uniquely Kentucky with Amber Philpott | Renee Shaw

Jonathan Webb is the founder and CEO of AppHarvest, a new company based in Kentucky and focusing on making Appalachia the AgTech capital of the country and even the world.  Webb a Kentucky native worked in New York and Washington but decided to return to Kentucky with an idea of using indoor farming to help change the landscape of agriculture.  In 2017 he was encouraged by investors to make his dream a reality and returned home to Kentucky to do so. The first indoor farm is now open and producing tomatoes at a 60 acre facility in Morehead, Kentucky. Jonathan Webb is a busy guy these days, AppHarvest just when live on the stock market and he is busy telling the story of AppHarvest to people all across the globe.  

Uniquely Kentucky with Amber Philpott | Jonathan Webb, AppHarvest

As co-founder of Black Soil: Our Better Nature Ashley Smith is working to reconnect black farmers to their agricultural heritage and legacy. Founded in 2017, the Lexington based agritourism organization was started to help shine a light on the underrepresentation of minorities when it comes to Kentucky's agricultural world. There were so many things that 2020 opened our eyes to, the pandemic has help to shine a light even more on hunger and the need for access to healthy foods for everyone in this country. It also helped to shine a light on diversity and a much-needed conversation on bringing everyone to the table. When I first learned about Ashley Smith I was fascinated by what she was doing not just here in Lexington, but across the state when it comes to African American farmers and helping to bring together urban families, rural and urban black farmers and growers to begin the conversation about the possibilities.

Uniquely Kentucky with Amber Philpott | Ashley Smith, Black Soil

Happy New Year how is your 2021 going so far.  I know the world is still a tough place to navigate right now, I'm hoping like me you can try and look for the good anywhere we can find it.   For the first Uniquely Kentucky podcast of the new year I chose a guest who spends his days looking for ways to put those positive vibes into the world.  I believe we can all be a good light for others and Austin Shuck is one of the brightest.  He is the host of the What the Shuck podcast. Austin's story is like so many, life sort of just piled up and before he knew it, he was stuck in a place he didn't want to be but finding that spark to change was hard.  Once he did though, amazing things are happening for the West Liberty, Ky native. In this episode we are talking about his podcast and the space it creates for him to learn from others. We are also talking about mental health, knowing when to ask for help and more importantly learning it's okay to ask for it.  

Uniquely Kentucky with Amber Philpott | Austin Shuck

In this episode of Uniquely Kentucky we are exploring the back roads of Eastern Kentucky through the eyes of a Nashville based photographer.  Jay Farrell is a self-proclaimed urban and rural explorer who not only photographs, but also writes about what he says are forgotten corners of the Americana.  Farrell is the author of a series of books entitled, Abandoned.  He has written 12 books, three of which focus of Kentucky including his latest entitled Abandoned Eastern Kentucky.   I think all of us have probably driven down the road, saw a house or building falling in and wondered about its history, why it was left to the elements and those questions are exactly what draws Farrell in closer to try and figure out why it's abandoned.  In this episode we talk about why he loves venturing off the beaten path and why this Nashville photographer loves Kentucky.

Uniquely Kentucky with Amber Philpott | Jay Farrell, Author

This week on Uniquely Kentucky we are sitting down with a Winchester, Ky native and man who fought for our country nearly making the ultimate sacrifice. Retired Marine Corporal Matthew Bradford lives by the motto "No Legs, No Vision, No Problem." During the month in which we celebrate Veterans Day we wanted to take a moment to talk with Bradford, to learn of the combat mission that took not only his legs, but also his vision and tried to take his life. Bradford survived an improvised explosive attack, his battle back from his injuries was long and grueling, but he now spends his days traveling the country talking with other veterans to spread his message of hope. Bradford who moved back to Kentucky, has never let his injures stop him. He has run marathons, climbed Mt. Rainier and in 2010 he re-enlisted as the first blind, double amputee in the military. His story is one of hope, perseverance and determination and he is one of countless veterans we can thank for our freedom here at home.

Uniquely Kentucky with Amber Philpott | Matthew Bradford

Who loves a good ghost story? I guess you could say I'm a sucker for a good story, and I really love those rooted most in history. When I was a child growing up in Harrison County, I often heard one ghost story that has been told for years and it’s another reason why Kentucky is so special. Communities here are rich in stories and tales that have been passed down from generation to generation. In this episode of Uniquely Kentucky I'm talking with Roger Slade, he is a storyteller extraordinaire in Harrison Co. He wears many hats, he is a schoolteacher, small business owner and a man who loves history. Take a listen as Slade and I talk ghosts, storytelling and how communities like his are using things like ghost walks to introduce outsiders to the history of the place he calls home.

Uniquely Kentucky with Amber Philpott | Roger Slade, Cynthiana Ghost Walk

WKYT’s Amber Philpott talks with those who make Kentucky so special.

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Uniquely Kentucky with Amber Philpott

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