Behind the Blue

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 30, 2026) – Each spring, the University of Kentucky celebrates a new class of graduates stepping into the next chapter of their lives. But at UK, learning doesn't end at commencement.

On this episode of Behind the Blue, host Kody Kiser talks with Joey Conrad, director of the University of Kentucky's Office of Lifelong Learning, and Sue Oatey, an OLLI class participant, about the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at UK and the community it creates for adults ages 50 and older.

OLLI at UK offers educational and enrichment courses, forums, shared interest groups, trips, events and more for adult learners. Conrad says the program is designed for engagement and connection, with opportunities that encourage participants to explore new interests, revisit long-held passions, and build friendships through shared learning.

Oatey, who moved to Lexington after retiring nine years ago, shares how she discovered OLLI through a friend and quickly found it became a gateway to learning and community. She describes taking courses ranging from bourbon and wine appreciation to geology and constitutional topics, and says the program helped her build a network of friends and ongoing experiences in a place that was once new to her.

The conversation also highlights the Office of Lifelong Learning's Donovan Scholarship program, which helps Kentucky residents ages 65 and older take University of Kentucky academic courses. Conrad explains how participants can audit courses or pursue degrees, and how the office helps adult learners navigate the enrollment process and connect with campus resources.

OLLI at UK has sites in Lexington and Morehead and supports a growing community of learners. Conrad notes the program continues to expand course offerings and access, including online options that allow participants to learn from across Kentucky and beyond.

To learn more about OLLI at UK, visit olliatuk.uky.edu.

'Behind the Blue' is available via a variety of podcast providers, including Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Spotify. Subscribe to receive new episodes each week, featuring UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists, writers and the most important news impacting the university.

'Behind the Blue' is a production of the University of Kentucky. Transcripts for most episodes are now embedded in the audio file and can be accessed in many podcast apps during playback. Transcripts for older episodes remain available on the show's blog page.

To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here.

This interview has been edited for time and clarity.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 23, 2026) – As spring semester activity winds down across campus, the University of Kentucky is continuing to invest in safety systems designed to prevent incidents, communicate clearly, and respond quickly when issues arise.

On this episode of Behind the Blue, UK Strategic Communications' Dani Jaffe sits down with UK Police Chief Joe Monroe for a discussion of campus safety updates and the tools and strategies used to help protect students, faculty, staff, and visitors.

Monroe describes a layered approach to residence hall safety that includes secure access points, card swipes, front-desk check-ins, and expanded exterior patrols. He also discusses how UK is using technology to strengthen prevention and response, including campus-wide security cameras and pilot efforts to reduce "tailgating" into buildings through new authentication tools.

The conversation also explains how and why the university shares safety information with the community. Monroe outlines the requirements of the federal Clery Act, the difference between UK Alerts and crime bulletins, and why certain details may be limited to protect privacy or preserve the integrity of an active investigation.

Monroe emphasizes that safety is a shared responsibility and encourages students and families to stay informed, trust official sources, and report concerns when something does not feel right. He also notes that UK continues to evaluate its systems and invest in resources that support campus safety as the university grows.

For more information and campus safety resources, visit the UK Police Department website and review the university's safety and alert resources, including SafeZone and UK Alert.

You can watch a video version of this interview here.

'Behind the Blue' is available via a variety of podcast providers, including Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Spotify. Subscribe to receive new episodes each week, featuring UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists, writers and the most important news impacting the university.

'Behind the Blue' is a production of the University of Kentucky. Transcripts for most episodes are now embedded in the audio file and can be accessed in many podcast apps during playback. Transcripts for older episodes remain available on the show's blog page.

To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here.

This interview has been edited for time and clarity.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 16, 2026) – If you've ever wondered what happens behind the counter at a pharmacy, or how a medication makes its way from an idea to a prescription bottle, the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy wants to show you.

On this week's episode of Behind the Blue, host Kody Kiser talks with Dr. Olufunmilola "Funmi" Abraham about The Wonders of Pharmacy, a new hands-on community event designed for kids, families, and learners of all ages. The event will take place April 25 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will feature more than 60 interactive stations throughout the UK College of Pharmacy's Todd Building on South Limestone.

Abraham is professor and chair of the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science and serves on the college's executive council. She is also the founder of the CRoME Lab, a community-engaged research team focused on helping families build medication literacy through creative interventions, including educational games that teach safe and effective medication use.

In the conversation, Abraham describes The Wonders of Pharmacy as similar in spirit to events like the UK College of Engineering's E-Day, with a "choose your own adventure" format that allows visitors to explore pharmacy and pharmaceutical science at their own pace. The day is designed to introduce the public to the wide range of roles pharmacists can play, from community health to hospital care, and to highlight pharmacists as one of the most accessible health care resources in any community.

The event is also a learning experience for UK students. Abraham explains that pharmacy and graduate students help design and run many of the stations as part of hands-on leadership and innovation training, building communication and community engagement skills alongside their academic coursework.

For event details about The Wonders of Pharmacy, search "UK Wonders of Pharmacy" or visit the UK College of Pharmacy website.

'Behind the Blue' is available via a variety of podcast providers, including Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Spotify. Subscribe to receive new episodes each week, featuring UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists, writers and the most important news impacting the university.

'Behind the Blue' is a production of the University of Kentucky. Transcripts for most episodes are now embedded in the audio file and can be accessed in many podcast apps during playback. Transcripts for older episodes remain available on the show's blog page.

To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here.

This interview has been edited for time and clarity.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 9, 2026) – When people hear that the University of Kentucky has an $8.6 billion budget, it can sound like a single pot of money. In reality, that figure represents an "all-in" financial plan that supports everything from patient care and research to student success, facilities, and the daily operations that keep a major public university running.

On this week's episode of Behind the Blue, UK Strategic Communications' Kody Kiser is joined by Dr. Eric Monday, the University of Kentucky's executive vice president for finance and administration, for another installment of The Business of UK. The series is designed to bring greater clarity and transparency to how the university works.

In the conversation, recorded earlier this spring, Monday breaks down what the $8.6 billion figure includes and how it is structured. He notes that roughly $5.1 billion is associated with UK HealthCare, about $3.3 billion supports the university's education, research, and public service mission, and roughly $200 million is tied to athletics. He also explains that the university's fiscal year runs from July 1 through June 30. The budget itself is a plan built from months of work and reviewed and approved by the UK Board of Trustees.

Monday addresses common misconceptions about the size of the budget, including the assumption that a large number automatically means unlimited flexibility. He explains that much of the university's budget is restricted by purpose, including grant funding, philanthropic gifts, and certain reimbursements. Only a portion of funds can be shifted to address changing needs or priorities.

The episode also explores the state's role in supporting UK's mission. Monday notes that in fiscal year 2026, Kentucky's state appropriation is $364 million, which is about four percent of the total budget. He describes it as the foundational investment that helps make possible the rest of the university's work, including supporting instruction, keeping academic buildings running, and enabling capital projects.

Finally, the discussion looks at how external factors can influence budget planning, including shifts in federal grants, changes in health care reimbursement, and broader economic volatility. Monday also highlights how UK works with partners at the state, federal, and local levels, along with public-private partnerships, to invest in facilities and capacity that expand the university's ability to serve Kentuckians.

Listeners are encouraged to submit questions and ideas for future 'Business of UK' episodes by emailing [email protected]. Upcoming installments will explore how the university operates as a complex organization, including how decisions are made and resources are managed across the institution, as well as how UK works with partners in Kentucky and beyond to advance education, research, health, and service at a statewide, national, and global scale.

'Behind the Blue' is available via a variety of podcast providers, including Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Spotify. Subscribe to receive new episodes each week, featuring UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists, writers and the most important news impacting the university.

'Behind the Blue' is a production of the University of Kentucky. Transcripts for most episodes are now embedded in the audio file and can be accessed in many podcast apps during playback. Transcripts for older episodes remain available on the show's blog page.

To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here.

This interview has been edited for time and clarity.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 2, 2026) – When an emergency happens on a college campus, a coordinated response doesn't begin in the moment — it begins long before, through planning, training and practice.

On this episode of Behind the Blue, UK Strategic Communications' Dani Jaffe talks with Sarah Fink, Director of Emergency Management for the University of Kentucky Police Department, about how UK prepares for natural, technological and human-caused incidents, and how faculty, staff, students and families can stay informed and ready.

Fink oversees the university's Emergency Operations Center (EOC), which serves as the central hub for incident coordination and resource management. The EOC can activate for both planned events, such as student move-in, and unplanned incidents like severe weather, helping campus partners share information quickly, prioritize life safety, and support a return to normal operations.

In the conversation, Fink also discusses the importance of training at every level, from monthly educational sessions to tabletop exercises and full-scale simulations. She reflects on a recent large-scale crisis exercise involving hundreds of participants and community partners, designed to test communication, coordination and response under realistic conditions.

The episode highlights practical steps community members can take, including downloading the SafeZone app for push notifications and direct connection to UK Police, signing up for UK Alert, reviewing the university's emergency response guide, and following the Wildcat Ready campaign, which emphasizes being informed, staying prepared and taking action.

For more information on emergency preparedness at UK, visit go.uky.edu/wildcatready.

'Behind the Blue' is available via a variety of podcast providers, including Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Spotify. Subscribe to receive new episodes each week, featuring UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists, writers and the most important news impacting the university.

'Behind the Blue' is a production of the University of Kentucky. Transcripts for most episodes are now embedded in the audio file and can be accessed in many podcast apps during playback. Transcripts for older episodes remain available on the show's blog page.

To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here.

This interview has been edited for time and clarity.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 25, 2026) – For the first time in nearly a quarter century, the University of Kentucky is searching for new leadership in UK Athletics. Mitch Barnhart is stepping down after more than two decades of incredible success across a 23-sport program that has won multiple national championships, while experiencing unprecedented success in student performance in the classroom as well.

At the end of June, Barnhart will leave UK Athletics, but stay at the university to help lead an initiative around workforce development, specifically growing and supporting careers in an evolving and rapidly changing sports industry. UK President Eli Capilouto has recently initiated a process to find new leadership for UK Athletics.

On this episode of 'Behind the Blue', he talks with UK Chief Communications Officer Jay Blanton about the process and how UK fans can stay involved in it, as well as Barnhart's new role and why it's so critical to future workforce efforts in the Commonwealth.

'Behind the Blue' is available via a variety of podcast providers, including Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Spotify. Subscribe to receive new episodes each week, featuring UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists, writers and the most important news impacting the university.

'Behind the Blue' is a production of the University of Kentucky. Transcripts for most episodes are now embedded in the audio file and can be accessed in many podcast apps during playback. Transcripts for older episodes remain available on the show's blog page.

To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here.

This interview has been edited for time and clarity.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 18, 2026) – March Madness is built on split-second decisions, emotional swings and the thrill of uncertainty. From game-winning shots and busted brackets to late-night tip-offs and watch parties with friends, the NCAA tournament offers more than drama on the court — it also creates a window into how people think, react, connect and make meaning through sports. Using the science and humanity behind those moments, the tournament can serve as a lens to explore pressure, sleep, brain health and identity.

Across UK's campus, experts in social work, neurology, aging and sociology study the kinds of moments March Madness brings into focus — from performance under pressure to the effects of lost sleep, from the role of social connection in brain health to the personal and cultural identities reflected in the brackets fans fill out each spring.

On this episode of 'Behind the Blue', we talk with several of those experts: Matt Moore, associate dean of academic and student affairs in the UK College of Social Work; Dr. Subhendu Rath, assistant professor of neurology with UK HealthCare's Kentucky Neuroscience Institute; Dr. Elizabeth Rhodus and Dr. Gregory Jicha of UK's Sanders-Brown Center on Aging; and Caroline Brooks, a sociology professor in the UK College of Arts and Sciences.

Moore explains why athletes who appear "clutch" are often relying on preparation, repetition and the ability to focus on what they can control; Rath outlines how even modest sleep loss during tournament season can affect attention, memory, mood and reaction time; and Rhodus, Jicha and Brooks examine how March Madness can foster brain engagement, social connection and a sense of belonging — while also revealing the subtle biases fans bring to the brackets they fill out each spring.

'Behind the Blue' is available via a variety of podcast providers, including Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Spotify. Subscribe to receive new episodes each week, featuring UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists, writers and the most important news impacting the university.

'Behind the Blue' is a production of the University of Kentucky. Transcripts for most episodes are now embedded in the audio file and can be accessed in many podcast apps during playback. Transcripts for older episodes remain available on the show's blog page.

To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here.

This interview has been edited for time and clarity.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 12, 2026) – Schyler Simpson, PhD, is no stranger to the University of Kentucky. A three-degree UK alum, she has spent years serving students in a variety of roles across campus, including teaching, advising, recruiting, and retention and engagement work in the College of Communication and Information. In her new role as director of Nationally Competitive Awards, she now helps students explore prestigious opportunities such as the Rhodes, Fulbright, Goldwater, Marshall and Truman awards.

The University of Kentucky's Office of Nationally Competitive Awards helps students pursue major scholarships, fellowships and study-abroad opportunities that can shape academic careers and open doors around the world. Despite the large amount of national competition, Simpson believes UK students are just as prepared and motivated to achieve these opportunities, saying, "students should not think that maybe they're not prepared enough or not ready enough, because this office is definitely proof that they can compete on a national level and win."

On this episode of 'Behind the Blue', Simpson reflects on the path that brought her to the role, explains how her office works directly with students on everything from identifying opportunities to refining essays and application materials, and discusses the life-changing impact these awards can have on students and why building awareness of those opportunities across campus is a major priority.

'Behind the Blue' is available via a variety of podcast providers, including Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Spotify. Subscribe to receive new episodes each week, featuring UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists, writers and the most important news impacting the university.

'Behind the Blue' is a production of the University of Kentucky. Transcripts for most episodes are now embedded in the audio file and can be accessed in many podcast apps during playback. Transcripts for older episodes remain available on the show's blog page.

To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here.

This interview has been edited for time and clarity.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 5, 2026) – University of Kentucky Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart will retire from his role at the end of June after nearly 24 years leading Kentucky Athletics, UK President Eli Capilouto announced Tuesday. Barnhart will remain at UK in a new role focused on the future of sports and workforce development.

This week's episode of 'Behind the Blue' features a conversation with Capilouto and Barnhart, recorded just before the announcement. The two reflect on Barnhart's leadership, the transformation of Kentucky Athletics during his tenure, and what comes next for both Barnhart and the university.

Capilouto said Barnhart's legacy is defined not only by competitive success, but by a commitment to doing things the right way — creating a culture of excellence, integrity and student support that strengthened the university and its connection to the Commonwealth. Under Barnhart's leadership, UK has won six NCAA team championships and achieved more than 60 conference or conference tournament titles, while also emphasizing academic achievement for student-athletes.

Barnhart has also played a significant leadership role nationally, including service on the College Football Playoff Committee and chairing the NCAA Men's Basketball Committee during the COVID era.

Following his retirement as athletics director, Barnhart will become the first executive-in-residence of the UK Sport and Workforce Initiative, a new effort designed to prepare students and professionals for leadership across the evolving sports industry. Capilouto said additional details about the initiative will be announced in the coming weeks, and he plans to conduct a listening tour as UK begins its search for the next athletics director.

On this episode, Barnhart and Capilouto also discuss the personal elements of Barnhart's decision — including family, faith, and what Barnhart describes as the importance of "passing the baton" at the right time — while expressing gratitude for the people and community that shaped his years at Kentucky.

'Behind the Blue' is available via a variety of podcast providers, including Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Spotify. Subscribe to receive new episodes each week, featuring UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists, writers and the most important news impacting the university.

'Behind the Blue' is a production of the University of Kentucky. Transcripts for most episodes are now embedded in the audio file and can be accessed in many podcast apps during playback. Transcripts for older episodes remain available on the show's blog page.

To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here.

This interview has been edited for time and clarity.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (February 27, 2026) – What does it mean to "reckon" with the past — not as a distant record, but as a living force that still shapes our communities, our classrooms and our shared civic life?

Kristine Yohe, a professor of English at Northern Kentucky University, explores that question in her new book, "Reckoning with the Past: The Historical Poetry of Frank X Walker" — a thoughtful, book-length study of Walker's historical persona poetry. In that work, Walker gives voice to pivotal figures such as York, Isaac Murphy and Medgar Evers, inviting readers to engage history with honesty, empathy and deeper context.

Walker, a UK professor, poet, and the first African American writer to be named Kentucky Poet Laureate, says historical persona poetry can put readers "on the inside of the story," bringing an emotional truth that traditional accounts often can't capture. And while most people won't sit down with "the 300-page version" of history, he belives poetry can invite them in — because "the truth is the grand sum of all those points of view where everybody gets heard."

On this episode of 'Behind the Blue', Yohe and Walker discuss the book, what it means to "reckon" with the past, and why literature can help communities confront both the good and the painful realities that shape the American story.

The conversation also explores how Yohe and Walker bring this work into the classroom — what surprises students most when they encounter these histories for the first time, and how research, imagination and craft can help students build empathy, sharpen critical thinking and better understand the relationship between past and present.

'Behind the Blue' is available via a variety of podcast providers, including Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Spotify. Subscribe to receive new episodes each week, featuring UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists, writers and the most important news impacting the university.

'Behind the Blue' is a production of the University of Kentucky. Transcripts for most episodes are now embedded in the audio file and can be accessed in many podcast apps during playback. Transcripts for older episodes remain available on the show's blog page.

To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here.

This interview has been edited for time and clarity.