OUR Kentucky Home with Eric King

I'm not a "the universe is moving me" kinda guy. At least, I wasn't until about a month ago. I've had some swirling thoughts lately around growing up, processing racial incidents, micro-traumas, etc. And, as I've moved through those thoughts, I've been attentive to how others with similar backgrounds have navigated through their similar experiences.  {Door opens. Lisa Johnson enters.} Lisa Johnson grew up two doors away from me in Bardstown, KY. She is the HR Director at the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, a public speaker, and a communications coach. She works with different organizations to help build leadership skills. She is also published in "Imagination@Work: Shifting Boundaries in The Modern Workplace." Recently she performed a TEDx Talk about Implicit Bias. You can find Lisa's TEDx Talk "Moving Beyond Implicit Bias" here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1FpY7gmCXw

Ellen Hagan is the trifecta of talent. I remember doing theater with Ellen as a teenager- marveling at her master-level talent and wondering about all of the places she would go. What she would write- what she'd impact.  Ellen Hagan is a writer, performer, and educator. Her books include: Crowned, Hemisphere, Watch Us Rise, a YA collaboration with Renée Watson, Blooming Fiascoes (poetry collection forthcoming from Northwestern University Press, 2021) and Reckless, Glorious, Girl (middle grade novel in verse forthcoming from Bloomsbury, 2021). Ellen's poems and essays can be found on ESPNW, in the pages of Creative Nonfiction, Underwired Magazine, She Walks in Beauty (edited by Caroline Kennedy), Huizache, Small Batch, and Southern Sin. Ellen's performance work has been showcased at The New York International Fringe and Los Angeles Women's Theater Festival. She is the recipient of the 2013 NoMAA Creative Arts Grant and received grants from the Kentucky Foundation for Women and the Kentucky Governor's School for the Arts. National arts residencies include The Hopscotch House and Louisiana Arts Works, and has been on the po­etry faculty at West Virginia Wesleyan in their low-residency MFA program. Ellen is the Director of the Poetry & Theatre Departments at the DreamYard Project and directs their International Poetry Exchange Program with Japan, South Korea and the Philippines. She co-leads the Alice Hoffman Young Writer's Retreat at Adelphi University. A proud Kentucky writer, Ellen is a member of the Affrilachian Poets, Conjure Women, and is co-founder of the girlstory collective. She lives with her partner and daughters in New York City. Visit: ellenhagan.com for more. You can also find her here.

Sadiqa Reynolds will read you. I'm curious to know how many people will see that negatively. I see it as a trait that few can master. As President and CEO of the Louisville Urban League, in this precise moment in time, she is uniquely suited to run a civil rights organization and masterfully command the attention of the haves and the have nots.  Everyday. In this episode of "OUR Kentucky Home with Eric King," Sadiqa gives us a very vulnerable look at the sources of her strength. To learn more about SadiqaREynolds, visit: https://lul.org/about/

I'm not ashamed to admit this... I spent a lot of time thinking of a flashy headline for this episode. I mean, Shay McAlister (WHAS11 TV) is an investigative reporter who's led the journalistic effort on some major stories- most recently her work was featured in Netflix's "Tiger King." That alone calls for a marquis wordplay effort.  But, for Shay, flash isn't necessary- and that's perhaps why I find her so incredibly fascinating.  In this episode of OUR Kentucky Home with Eric King, Shay gives us a glimpse into some of her biggest investigations and her journey to get to a level of such exceptional ability. To learn more about Shay McAlister visit: https://www.whas11.com/article/about-us/team-bios/shay-mcalister/417-169167886 Shay's "Bardstown" podcast can be found wherever you get your podcasts.

WARNING: I'm about to name drop... I saw Aretha Franklin in concert. Twice.  Translation, I know a national resource when I see and hear it. With that, I say- Give Robbie Bartlett her flowers right now, because she is a living legend. Robbie has been performing in Louisville nightclubs since the early 80s. You might already know that. You may be surprised to learn this Louisville-born lady was a high-caliber athlete in multiple sports- a semi-resident of South Dakota, and at one point, struggled through imposter syndrome- which she overcame with grit and talent. You can learn more about Robbie Bartlett at her website www.robbiebartlett.com  You can also find her on Friday and Saturday nights at Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse in Louisville and at CiCi's Low Carb Kitchen on Wednesdays and Thursdays. You can find me on Facebook here, or on Instagram and Twitter at TVsEricKing

JD is the real deal.  I tend to be drawn to artists because I have absolutely no artistic talent. I'm fascinated by those who do. But, what sets JD apart from many, is the academic element JD fuses with his talent. That added to his punishing work ethic has made him a bonafide star. A star with small-town roots that he holds on to today.  This is a good old-fashioned "good boy does good" story- complete with some life lessons transferrable to any and all professions. You can learn more about JD at his website- www.jdshelburne.com You can find me on Facebook, Twitter, and on Instagram at TVsEricKing

Here we go! If you're naturally curious, fascinated by people, or remotely interested in success- this is the podcast for you!