PODCAST · news
On Track
by Louisville Public Media
On Track brings you news and conversations about what matters most to you. We meet people who enrich our community, and take a closer look at the issues that challenge us, in Louisville, Southern Indiana and more. Stay on track, with LPM.
Episodes
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Louisville group aspires to elevate women in immigrant and refugee communities
As Women’s History Month highlights women’s leadership, Amina Shale shares how More Than a Smile is creating space, support, and opportunity for immigrant and refugee women in Louisville.
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Hometown quarterback Chris Redman returns to lead Louisville’s new pro team
Former Cardinal quarterback Chris Redman takes the helm as head coach of the city’s new pro team: the Louisville Kings.
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Event will encourage Black Louisvillians to rest and recharge
This weekend, the nonprofit organization Change Today Change Tomorrow wraps up Black History Month with an event called “Black Recharge: Rest and Relaxation.” It’s designed to be a day of rest, with yoga, journaling and other self-care practices. Isaiah Scott, one of the event’s organizers, spoke...
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NPR Student Podcast Challenge returns to amplify young voices
NPR’s eighth annual Student Podcast Challenge invites students in grades four through 12 to share original audio stories.
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Researchers explore how place shapes connection for older adults in Louisville
A research effort in Louisville aspires to understand how neighborhood conditions shape belonging for older Louisvillians.
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Louisville nonprofit spotlights community’s role in nurturing families
Play Cousins Collective is a nonprofit organization rooted in the concept that it takes a village to raise a child. But how does that philosophy survive in a culture that puts so much value on individual rights and responsibilities? Play Cousins co-founder and Executive Director Kristen Williams...
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Louisville documentary explores link between transportation and food access
At The Food Literacy Project, a team of young people created a documentary about the link between food deserts and transportation
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Southern Indiana native Nick Goepper heads to his fourth Olympics
With the Winter Olympics are here. Olympic medalist Nick Goepper talks about returning to the games as a freeski halfpipe competitor, switching disciplines, and how growing up skiing in Southern Indiana shaped his career.
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Louisville group works to support Hispanic and Latino students to graduation
Adelante Hispanic Achievers is a group that uses mentorship and experiential learning to support Hispanic and Latino students towards graduation. Listen to a conversation with the group’s executive director.
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Louisville event will explore intersection of history and science with expert panel
A History and Science forum in Louisville will bring together leaders from both backgrounds to explore how they intersect. It’s part of a series hosted by the University of Louisville Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute. Natasha DeJarnett is an assistant professor of environmental medicine at…
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AMPED leader hopes new building will spark economic corridor on West Market Street
AMPED is a Louisville non-profit that uses music and technology to empower young people. In November, they opened a new Tech and Learning Center in the city’s West End. Dave Christopher, Senior is AMPED’s president and founder. He joins us to discuss how the new building, at 17th Street and West...
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A Community Care Campus takes shape as Louisville seeks homelessness solutions
Louisville is seeing growing demand for services for people experiencing homelessness. Volunteers of America Mid-States President and CEO Jennifer Hancock explains how the organization is working to address this challenge.
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Community land trust aims to give Russell residents a path to home ownership
The Russell Community Land Trust leases land to residents for them to own affordable homes in their community
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As the Winter Olympics approach, Louisville curlers gear up for a new season
With the Winter Olympics around the corner, Derby City Curling Club president Joe Sorg explains how curling works and how Louisville residents can get on the ice.
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Reflections on the life and legacy of Louisville cardiologist Dr. Kelly McCants
In late November, Dr. Kelly McCants, a prominent Louisville heart doctor and health equity advocate, died at the age of 50. Russ Cox, CEO of Norton Healthcare, joins us today to discuss McCants’ work addressing healthcare disparities and how his legacy will continue.
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Krampus comes to Louisville with folklore, artistry, and a growing community
Louisville Krampus Celebration founder Steve Vessell shares the folklore behind Krampus, how the tradition took hold in Louisville, and what continues to draw people to the community surrounding this dark holiday icon.
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New Louisville Free Public Library director talks library vision and cozy winter reads
Louisville Free Public Library’s new executive director, Heather Lowe, shares her journey into this new role, her hopes for the library, and a few cozy reading recommendations for the winter season.
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A new animal care campus hopes to relieve Kentucky’s overcrowded shelters and vet shortages
As Kentucky faces rising need for pet care and support, the leader of the Kentucky Humane Society discusses how a new service center could reshape care for pets and families.
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Founder of Berea’s bell hooks center M. Shadee Malaklou on love, justice, and radical inclusion
As the Festival of Faiths highlights its theme of “Sacred Belonging,” Berea College professor and bell hooks center founder M. Shadee Malaklou reflects on hooks’ legacy and the practice of radical inclusion.
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Americana seeks financial strength as it serves Louisville's immigrant community
Americana Community Center has served Louisville’s refugee and immigrant communities for over 30 years. Last month, the nonprofit hired Ricky Santiago to be its new executive director. Santiago talks with LPM about the financial challenges Americana has weathered, his hopes for future...
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Kentuckians face rising costs while wages stay stagnant
Across Kentucky, families are feeling the squeeze as the cost of living keeps rising, while wages have barely moved. We spoke with Jason Bailey, the founder and executive director of the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, a progressive think tank, about what’s driving essential costs up across...
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How multigenerational learning can help close Kentucky's literacy gap
November is Family Literacy Month — a chance to focus on how families, schools and communities support reading. Here in Louisville, Felicia C. Smith, president and CEO of the National Center for Families Learning, leads two-generation literacy work that connects adults and children. We spoke with...
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Louisville Jamaican eatery helps those impacted by Hurricane Melissa
Janice Clarke opened a Jamaican restaurant Elliment in downtown Louisville earlier this year, and it’s already become a gathering spot and resource for Louisville’s Jamaican community. Last month, Clarke’s native country of Jamaica was devastated by Hurricane Melissa, the strongest recorded...
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A Louisville nonprofit helps bridge the gap between food insecurity and access
Unlike a lot of places in greater Louisville, access to groceries in west Louisville can be difficult, especially for those who don’t have their own transportation. Since 2019, the nonprofit Change Today, Change Tomorrow has worked to narrow the gap between needing food and having access to it.…
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The only hospital in west Louisville celebrates its first year of being open
Until a year ago, Louisville’s West End hadn’t had a hospital in 150 years. But last November, Norton West Louisville Hospital opened its doors and has since provided care to thousands of patients. Corenza Townsend, the hospital’s chief administrative officer, helped plan the hospital from the...
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Louisville Grows talks fall composting
It’s the end of the growing season, when pumpkins shrivel on porches and leaves blanket our yards. But instead of sending that fall waste to the landfill, gardeners can turn it into something useful. Seamus Allman is the urban horticulture manager at Louisville Grows, where he helps residents…
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Louisville nonprofit aims to support children in South Sudan
Louisville-based nonprofit Nile Orphan Care is working to help hundreds of orphans in South Sudan, a country that’s experienced decades of conflict and civil war.
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Putting money in the wallets of women: How one Louisville entrepreneur is building economic sisterhood
October is Women’s Small Business Month, and here in Louisville, Amanda Dare has built a platform that celebrates women-led shops year-round. She's the founder of Woman-Owned Wallet Feminist Gift Shop in NuLu and creator of the Woman-Owned Walking Tour — a map that highlights local businesses…
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Kentucky’s Bats Are Vital, Vulnerable and Often Misunderstood
It’s Halloween season, when bats appear in holiday decorations and spooky stories. But beyond their eerie reputation, bats are year-round neighbors in Kentucky and a vital part of our environment. Matthew Springer is an associate extension professor of wildlife management at the University of...
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2BUCK Invitational Graffiti Jam Gives Louisville A Makeover
The event has expanded from a grassroots graffiti jam to a festival hosting more than 170 artists, raising the city’s profile in the street art community.
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Helping mothers thrive amid birthing care gaps
In Louisville, access to prenatal and postpartum care is still a challenge for many families. One leader working to close those gaps is Shemika Whiteside, Executive Director of Zora’s Cradle, where she helps families with everything from milk and diapers to housing, therapy, and advocacy.
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Louisville group aims to get more Black people camping
A Louisville group dedicated to encouraging outdoor events and camping in the Black community will have its second annual camping event this weekend. Brittiney Griffin is the founder of Black Azz Camping. She talks with LPM’s Michelle Tyrene Johnson about the event and her group’s mission.
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Ahead of Goatman Festival: Unpacking a Kentucky cryptid
Every October, spooky stories resurface — and here in Louisville, few loom larger than the Goatman, also known as the Pope Lick Monster, said to haunt a railroad trestle in eastern Jefferson County. Michael Book is the author of “The Legend of Pope Lick.” He spoke with LPM’s Ayisha Jaffer about…
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Sadiqa Reynolds says stepping down from Perception Institute means she can focus on Louisville
Sadiqa Reynolds announced last month that she was stepping down as CEO of the Perception Institute, a think tank based in New York City, to focus fully on the Norton Healthcare Sports and Learning Center. Reynolds was a longtime leader of the Louisville Urban League. Reynolds sits down with LPM's...
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Once upon a time there, was a book festival
The Louisville Book Festival is back October 11, and at its center is local author and therapist Deedee Cummings. On this episode, Deedee talks about this year’s Festival, her new children’s book “Hope in the Nick of Time,” and why access to diverse stories matters now more than ever.
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Fall arts & culture roundup
It’s fall in Louisville—a time when arts and culture are buzzing across the city. From Halloween traditions and local folklore to Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations and music education programs, what’s shaping Louisville’s creative scene right now? On this episode, we check in with LPM’s arts…
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Prison gerrymandering and political power in Kentucky
Gerrymandering isn’t just about drawing political maps—it’s also happening in Kentucky’s prisons. When incarcerated people are counted as residents of prisons instead of their hometowns, it can shift political power and representation across the state. On this episode, we talk with Mike Wessler,...
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Veteran Louisville journalist Betty Bayé
Louisville Public Media is celebrating 75 years of service to our community. As part of that celebration, we’re sharing the stories of people who’ve helped shape Louisville, in a project called 75 and Change. Today, Michelle Tyrene Johnson from the “On Track” production team sits down with one of...
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Working hard with Racing Louisville
Soccer pride is building in Louisville and Racing Louisville is at the center of it. From big wins on the field to growing hometown support, how is this young club shaping the city’s sports identity? We’ll be talking with Head Coach Bev Yanez and Team Captain Arin Wright about the team, their...
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Why music education matters
What is music education, and why is it so beneficial for young people, even if they’re not musicians? We’re joined by vocalist, songwriter and educator Kiana Del, LPM’s Engagement Manager for Music Education, to talk about teaching music to kids, how it shapes their growth, and why access and...
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Forever chemicals in Kentucky
Louisville’s tap water is award-winning and nationally recognized. But so-called “forever chemicals” are raising new questions about what’s really in our drinking water. We talk with health and environmental reporter Morgan Watkins from the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting about PFAS…
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Keeping kids mentally healthy
Your child’s mental health matters, but between school pressures, social media, and life changes, it can be hard to know what kids really need. On this episode, Dr. Katy Hopkins of Norton Healthcare joins us to share what families should watch for, and how to build habits that support kids’…
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Do you speak Lou-uh-vull?
Everyone in Louisville knows there’s a right and a wrong way to say the name of our city. So then why are there so many different ways to pronounce it? And how did it evolve this way? We're revisit our conversation about the many ways to say Louisville, and how language can become a stand-in for...
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Bernheim Forest and Arboretum, past, present and future
Bernheim Forest and Arboretum is one of Kentucky’s most beloved natural spaces, connecting people with nature in the region. It protects rare wildlife and welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors a year. We talk with Bernheim’s President and CEO, Mark Wourms, and Director of Conservation Andrew...
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Downtown Louisville Traffic
If you’ve been driving through downtown Louisville lately, you’ve probably noticed construction zones, lane closures, and shifting traffic patterns. The city is in the middle of a major transportation overhaul that could reconfigure how key streets work. So what’s being done to keep traffic…
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Louisville event spotlights Black men’s wellness
Black Louisvillians have higher rates of cancer, heart disease and stroke than their white neighbors. And men here have a lower average life expectancy than women do. On this episode, we meet Kamari Wooten, the coordinator of Black Men’s Wellness Day. It’s an event featuring health screenings, a…
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Keeping kids healthy this school year
A new school year just started. Has your student come home with the sniffles yet? From rising measles cases to COVID-19, flu, and other bugs, what should you be watching for? And how can you set your child up for good health this year? Dr. Eva Stone, District Health Manager for JCPS, joins us to...
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Changes to voting in Louisville
Big changes are coming to how we vote in Jefferson County. Starting in 2026, local races will no longer include party labels on the ballot. What does that mean for voters, and how can you prepare now to make sure your vote still counts? On this episode, we’re breaking it all down with Dee...
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Countdown to the Kentucky State Fair
The Kentucky State Fair starts later this week, and we have a look behind the scenes, with Ian Cox Executive Director of Communications for Kentucky Venues. From deep-fried foods to prize-winning livestock, we’ll talk about what makes the fair so important—and fun. And we’ll go over some pro tips...
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Child abuse in Kentucky
Kentucky has one of the highest rates of child abuse in the country—nearly double the national average. We’re looking at the factors that contribute to abuse and neglect in our state, and what’s being done on the ground to make a difference. We talk with Elea Fox, President and CEO of Family &...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
On Track brings you news and conversations about what matters most to you. We meet people who enrich our community, and take a closer look at the issues that challenge us, in Louisville, Southern Indiana and more. Stay on track, with LPM.
HOSTED BY
Louisville Public Media
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does On Track have?
On Track currently has 323 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is On Track about?
On Track brings you news and conversations about what matters most to you. We meet people who enrich our community, and take a closer look at the issues that challenge us, in Louisville, Southern Indiana and more. Stay on track, with LPM.
How often does On Track release new episodes?
On Track publishes regularly with 323 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to On Track?
You can listen to On Track on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts On Track?
On Track is created and hosted by Louisville Public Media.
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