Kentucky Today Podcast

Kentucky Today discusses Norah O'Donnell's interview with President Trump on 60 Minutes, along with where the newest Safe Haven Baby Boxes are being installed in Kentucky, and how the University of Kentucky BCM is working to strengthen their ministry.

Lawrence recaps the demolition of the last independent abortion clinic in Louisville, Mark explains how a bivocational pastor benefited from a KBC mentoring resource, and sports writer Keith Taylor joins to explain the state of sports portals and how they affect college basketball.

Lawrence interviews Brian Horton with the KBC on a church replanting program that works to bring new life to struggling churches.

Lawrence interviews Senate Budget Chair Chris McDaniel on the budget bill to exempt churches from collecting sales tax, Mark explains how Kentucky pastors are using KBC resources both for physical wellness and church revitalization, and Tessa describes an international health training program for women in remote villages that also shares the gospel.

Tessa details the death of abortionist Kermit Gosnell, and the conditions in which he carried out the murders of live babies, Chip announces the new executive director of the Indiana Baptist Convention, Mark recaps gospel outreach work that took place during spring break with Baptist Campus Ministry, and Lawrence interviews Louis Hatcher with Sunrise Children's Services on legislation they are hoping to pass.

Lawrence interviews Kentucky State Auditor Allison Ball on the heartbreaking conditions some foster children are living in, Mark details the outcome of Beach Reach, a Gospel initiative to reach college students during spring break, Chip describes more of the revival underway at Hartford Baptist Church, and Tessa outlines some sources of division among the pro-life movement.

Lawrence, Chip, and Mark recap the 2026 Reach Evangelism and Missions Conference. Chip highlights a way that a Kentucky Baptist church is undergoing revitalization in several areas, Mark describes how two churches have practically lived out cooperative work through a generous donation, and Lawrence interviews David Walls with the Family Foundation about an effort to elevate the needs of children above the desires of adults through the Greater Than campaign.

The Kentucky Today teams discusses the implications of the U.S. attack on Iran, and how each of them are praying for these circumstances. Lawrence interviews Dr. Andrew Walker with The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary on how Just War Theory can be applied to this recent attack.

This week, the Kentucky Today team discusses the State of the Union address, Baptist news, and a proposal that would make grooming a crime in Kentucky.

Lawrence and Tessa discuss Seth Carter's open letter to Governor Andy Beshear on his use of the words "children of God". They also discuss the implications of house bills that could affect how abortion pills are classified and how pregnancy resource centers are regulated.

Should there be a state law prohibiting protesters from interrupting church services? This week, Lawrence, Chip and guest host Tessa Redmond discuss that and other top stories of the day.

Ex-CNN anchor Don Lemon has been indicted for his role in an anti-ICE protest that disrupted a church service in Minnesota. Was Lemon acting as a journalist or an activist? Are there First Amendment concerns? Veteran journalists Lawrence Smith, Mark Maynard and Chip Hutcheson discuss Lemon’s controversial arrest this week on the Kentucky Today Podcast.

Lawrence interviews former IMB Explorer Ava Taylor on the requirements to be an explorer and the regions of the world where she took the Gospel to for several years, Mark highlights how Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief and Send Relief are working to help the state recover from the recent winter storm, and Chip describes how just moving a meeting may have prevented a church fire.

In light of the protest that interrupted the Sunday service of a Minneapolis church, Lawrence Smith interviews church security expert Jim Wilcox on practical ways to make your church services safer.

Did you know that teenagers are allowed to legally bet in Kentucky? In this episode, Lawrence interviews Richard Nelson with the Commonwealth Policy Center on its push to raise the minimum betting age in the state from 18 to 21.

Lawrence interviews Kentucky representative Jennifer Decker on what will be discussed during the state's general assembly session.

Lawrence interviews author and columnist Dawn Reed on a new book that she is publishing to bless Kentucky baptists during the advent season, Chip describes how a power line fire miraculously spared a baptist church, and Mark shares an annual tradition that this year is blessing children in Rockcastle county.

Lawrence interviews Tessa Redmond on a new video visually detailing pre-born development at conception, Chip honors the life and legacy of a woman who faithfully served her church at 101 years old, and Mark describes the latest jingle that will soon have you singing, "Lotta Lottie!"

Lawrence interviews Keith Taylor over the firing of UK football coach Mark Stoops and the transition to hiring Will Stein, and Mark and Chip discuss the state of college football and the high cost of sports betting in Ohio and Kentucky.

Lawrence interviews Scott McConnell with Lifeway Research on the results of a new state of theology poll.

On this week’s Kentucky Today podcast, Lawrence, Mark and Chip review and take us behind the scenes of the KBC Annual Meeting, Pastors Conference and Crossover events. Also, Lawrence interviews Jacob Ogan of the Commonwealth Policy Center about a disturbing new poll about the attitude of Americans towards political violence – and what Christians can do to help.

In this episode, Lawrence interviews SBC Director of Abuse and Prevention Response Jeff Dalrymple, and outlines the resources that are available to Southern Baptists to help in this area.

Lawrence interviews Sunrise Children's Services president Dale Suttles on current project expansions, how the uncertainty of SNAP will affect the ministry, and how Cooperative Program funds continue to fuel gospel ministry to children and families across Kentucky.

Lawrence, Mark, and Chip discuss the damage caused from Hurricane Melissa so far, Lawrence outlines what to expect at Hope for Northern Kentucky coming up in November, and Mark highlights a 16-year old girl at First Baptist Church Mayfield who is bringing new life to missions work at her church.

Lawrence interviews Hailey Winders, a student at Christian County High School who started a bible study at her school, Mark highlights how God is working to rapidly grow a church in Frankfort, and Chip shares that a leader in Southern Seminary is now retiring, and the new person to fill the role.

Lawrence interviews Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman on the lawsuit against Roblox, Mark highlights a church that is helping to train pastors in Uganda, and Chip describes a unique tool a church is using to share the gospel during Halloween.

Kentucky Today interviews Harold Best on pastoral wellness and the online resources available to pastors, Mark describes a new warehouse to help KY Baptist Disaster Relief in Shelbyville, and Chip highlights a recently retired KBC regional consultant.

On this week’s Kentucky Today podcast: · How should Christians respond to recent the deaths of ministry giants · Celebrating the Cooperative Program · College students find new life · A Kentucky Baptist church reaches a huge milestone

The memorial service for Charlie Kirk is said to have been one of the largest gospel gatherings in history. On this edition of the Kentucky Today podcast, Lawrence Smith and Mark Maynard comment on the service — and its coverage. Also, Life Issues Reporter Tessa Redmond discusses her story on the appearance of signs advertising abortion pills at Kentucky gas stations.

Kentucky Today examines the Charlie Kirk assassination from the angle of the Christian response, political impact, and reaction from younger generations.

Lawrence walks through Kentucky's state audit of the Department of Education with auditor Allison Ball, and shares what its findings mean for the Commonwealth.

Lawrence interviews Scott McConnell on the morality in America poll, Chip honors the life and legacy of former KBC media production associate Larry Brannin, and Mark describes how a pastor in seeing fruit in a church plant in Pennsylvania.

Lawrence interviews Mike Harmon with the Commonwealth Policy Center, Chip describes who saved a pastor from choking to death, and Mark provides an update on a developing ministry based in Chile.

Lawrence Smith interviews pastor Kyle Noffsinger about his ministry in Haiti, Chip highlights the retirement of Crossings Camps president Lance Howerton, and Mark describes four sisters who were all recently baptized.

Lawrence interviews baptist historian Ben Stratton, Chip discusses a pastor who has retired from ministry, but not from sharing the gospel, and Mark describes how three people were saved through a text message.

In this episode, Louis Hatcher tells his story of leaving a successful legal practice in Georgia to help Sunrise Children's Services in Kentucky.

In this episode, Lawrence interviews Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman about gender identity concerns in sports, Mark and Lawrence discuss the relevance of Fancy Farm, and highlight the turnout of this year's student worship camp.

Lawrence celebrates the Kentucky Baptist Foundation's 80th birthday with its president and CEO, French Harmon. In this episode, Harmon outlines how KBF continues to serve Kentucky baptists, and its vision for the future.

Lawrence Smith interviews Kentucky senator Lindsey Tichenor, who discusses and clarifies the terms of Senate Bill 181, which limits how public school teachers, staff and volunteers can communicate with students.

Lawrence interviews Richard Nelson on the latest Supreme Court rulings, Mark discusses how Burlington Baptist Church is engaging its community, and Chip highlights Matt Ellis' return to Kentucky and his new role.

Lawrence Smith interviews Dr. Dustin Sims with Clear Creek Baptist Bible College on the ethics of the United States bombing the nuclear sites in Iran.

Life issues reporter Tessa Redmond provides a debrief on the abortion pill, Mark discusses what we know about the First Corinthian Church bus wreck, Chip highlights an increase of salvations at the Southern Kentucky church, and Lawrence recaps what happened at the SBC Annual Meeting.

Lawrence provides an SBC update after interviewing Brandon Porter with the SBC, Mark discusses a witnessing tool to help Kentucky Baptists, and Chip highlights the new president of Crossings Camps.

Lawrence recaps his interview with Disaster Relief blue hat Larry Doughty, Chip discusses the start of Crossings Camps this summer, and Mark overviews the joint worship services that led to unity for churches in Crofton.

Ron Crow with KY Baptist Disaster Relief discusses the recovery effort underway since the Kentucky tornado, Mark discusses how an army chaplain closed out his career, Chip highlights how Ninth and O Baptist Church is expanding, and Lawrence outlines how the KBC is partnering with churches and ministries in Chile.

Life issues reporter Tessa Redmond outlines the ceremonial signing of House Bill 90, Lawrence recaps the Cooperative Program Celebration in Memphis, Mark discusses the events planned for Hope for Northern Kentucky, and Chip highlights how Ashland Avenue Baptist Church is adopting other churches.

Lawrence, Chip, and Mark recap decisions made during the KBC May Mission Board Meeting, a new church launch based in Somerset, updates on the requirement for Real ID, and a 10 year follow up on former Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis as she continues to battle same-sex marriage.

KBC regional campus minister Josh Skipper discusses an effective way of combating pornography with the gospel, Mark outlines a new book that a Kentucky Baptist pastor has written about the Baptist Faith and Message 2000, and Lawrence describes how the dangers that come with abortion pills have been grossly under reported in media.

Jacob Ogan with Commonwealth Policy Center discusses a drag show held at WKU, Mark gives an update on KY Disaster Relief work still underway in the state, and Lawrence describes the legacy of Pope Francis and what his death means for Kentucky Baptists.

Marina Shelton discusses the reopening of First Baptist Church Mayfield since the 2021 tornado, Chip outlines the increase of Cooperative Program Giving and what those contributions are making possible, Mark provides an update of relief efforts after the recent floods, and Lawrence touches on the evangelistic nature of the upcoming Easter services around the state.