Inside the Block

A packed room, old monster movies on the screens, and a host who takes boos with a grin. Kendra Lynn joins us from Kentucky Monster Lodge, the Lexington horror community built on cult films, practical effects, and a surprisingly big heart. We talk about how the Lodge grew from a handful of people into a network of “lodgers” who swap physical media and welcome newcomers fast, even in khakis.

Kendra makes the case for Re-Animator as her forever favorite and for bold practical effects over perfect polish. We also debate “fun scary” versus “can’t sleep scary” and confess our own blind spots.

Then we turn to Linda Claw, the Lodge’s giveback program, which has supported the Lexington Humane Society, Louisville Metro Pet Services, classrooms in need, and Eastern State Hospital’s patient care program. Next up is a partnership with The Nest’s Reindeer Exchange to help families get holiday toys for young kids, with drop-offs, QR codes, and wishlists making it easy to give.

She memorized picture books before she could read, got accused of “pretend reading” in kindergarten, and shot back with the line: “Maybe YOU can’t read.” That stubborn streak has served her well. We sat down with bestselling author Gwenda Bond inside the Lexington Writers Room where she also helps shape a flourishing, tight-knit writing community.

We talk craft in a practical way, starting with the crossroads between screenwriting and novels. Gwenda explains why screenwriting is external storytelling where everything must be visible, while novels do something no other medium can quite match: deep interiority, full access to what a character thinks and feels. That difference helps explain her pull toward young adult fiction, the power of voice, and why a screenwriting background can actually make a plot feel more natural.

We also get honest about a writing career timeline. Gwenda published her first book at 37, wrote multiple books before selling one, and learned how rejection can become training for the inevitable peaks and valleys of creative work. We close by digging into the publishing industry today: traditional publishing, self publishing, rights, and the new pressure of AI on the marketplace.

She memorized picture books before she could read, got accused of “pretend reading” in kindergarten, and shot back with the line: “Maybe YOU can’t read.” That stubborn streak has served her well. We sat down with bestselling author Gwenda Bond inside the Lexington Writers Room where she also helps shape a flourishing, tight-knit writing community.

We talk craft in a practical way, starting with the crossroads between screenwriting and novels. Gwenda explains why screenwriting is external storytelling where everything must be visible, while novels do something no other medium can quite match: deep interiority, full access to what a character thinks and feels. That difference helps explain her pull toward young adult fiction, the power of voice, and why a screenwriting background can actually make a plot feel more natural.

We also get honest about a writing career timeline. Gwenda published her first book at 37, wrote multiple books before selling one, and learned how rejection can become training for the inevitable peaks and valleys of creative work. We close by digging into the publishing industry today: traditional publishing, self publishing, rights, and the new pressure of AI on the marketplace.

Forty years doesn’t happen by accident, especially in a former industrial corridor that was once considered “outside the city limits.” We sit down with Chad Walker, the longtime steward of Lexington’s Warehouse Block, to unpack how a single practical purchase on North Ashland grew into a neighborhood people now line up to join. Along the way, we trade the polished origin myth for the real version, complete with snow-shovel nights, a delirious “marlin” in the sky, and the kind of unfiltered stories only a place with true history can produce. 

We dig into what the Warehouse Block used to be: trades, automotive shops, and buildings that were functional long before they were trendy. Chad explains how adaptive reuse, zoning constraints, and parking expectations shaped the neighborhood’s turnaround, and why serving on city boards like the Board of Adjustment puts real weight behind seemingly small decisions. If you care about historic districts, urban redevelopment, or preservation, this episode is for you!

When Ryan Filchak says marketing puts a magnifying glass on a company, he means it exposes everything: what you promise, what you actually deliver, and whether customers can understand you in ten seconds. Ryan joins us to break down what Bolt Marketing does in Lexington, from branding and messaging to websites, photography, video, SEO, ad campaigns, and social media, and why the best client work starts with one uncomfortable question: “Why do we want this?”

We also get into the fun parts: building community in a way that does not feel like traditional networking. Bolt’s happy hours have grown from a tiny, weather-threatened meetup to packed rooms through consistency, hospitality, and collaborations with other local businesses and civic groups. He shares how bartending and event work taught him to read a room, welcome people fast, and keep the energy warm without forcing connection.

Then we zoom out to what’s next for Lexington culture. Ryan is helping launch Good Reception Records, a new record store coming to Southland Drive with a coffee shop partner, plus pop-ups, DJs, and physical media for people who still love vinyl, cassettes, and CDs. We compare Lexington and Chicago on food, nightlife, and the kind of sound-forward spaces that make a city feel authentic.

Lexington is growing fast, and the hardest question is where that growth should go. We sat down on the Warehouse Block with District 3 council candidates Griffin Van Meter and John Larson for a wide-ranging, candid conversation about housing, transportation, and the choices that will shape Lexington’s character for the next generation. If you’ve been wondering why traffic feels worse, why rent keeps rising, and why the urban service boundary debate never goes away, you’ll hear real answers and real tradeoffs, not talking points. 

We get into the Urban Service Boundary, preserving horse farms and farmland, and the argument for focusing on infill development and adaptive reuse instead of sprawl. Griffin shares a planning-and-policy lens grounded in parks, public space, and connection across neighborhoods, while John brings decades of public service, a sharp focus on stewardship of taxpayer money, and a push to prioritize core infrastructure like roads, police, and fire. Along the way, we talk student housing pressure near campus, historic neighborhood impacts, parking lots downtown, and what it means to build a city for people instead of cars. 

Affordable housing is a centerpiece: funding realities, what local subsidy can actually produce, and practical tools like accessory dwelling units and corridor-focused zoning. We also explore inequality, the role of public education, libraries, parks, and transit, plus a frank look at respect and services for people experiencing homelessness. 

Behind every glamorous Pride festival is a lot of unglamorous work. Someone has to wrangle permits, manage budgets, and keep the food pantry stocked on a Tuesday. That someone is Jason Schubert, a Lexington community leader who helps steer the Lexington Pride Center and the Lexington Pride Festival, and we're so glad he finally sat down with us. 

In this episode, we cover the Pride Center's day-to-day impact, from support groups and a community library to the People's Market food pantry, which serves 70 to 80 households a week. Jason also breaks down why festival locations change, what accessibility really means when you're setting up hundreds of vendor booths, and how planning starts quietly in late summer before turning into a full-on sprint by June. We also talk Frontrunners Lexington, an LGBTQ walk-run group building connection and funding real outcomes through the Pride Run 5K, grants, and scholarships.

And yes, we get honest about handling protesters without letting them steal the day.

A new breakfast and lunch spot in Versailles. A fine dining room nine floors above downtown Lexington. A members-only club with a rooftop pool that has to fight Kentucky weather. We sit down with restaurateur Cole Arimes to talk about what it really takes to build restaurants that last, from the first idea to the first menu pivot.

Cole also takes us through his latest project, Black Squirrel, including the local history behind the name and why Versailles is ready for a stronger food scene. Then we head to The Vine Lexington, where he breaks down the balancing act of a seafood-forward menu in a landlocked market, how guests learn to trust a chef-driven kitchen, and why “approachable” does not have to mean boring.

We also dig into hospitality leadership: managing multiple teams, mentoring chefs, keeping consistency night after night, and reducing front-of-house and back-of-house friction so the dining room feels calm even on a slammed Saturday. Along the way, we get into Kentucky-specific flavor and craft, from curing country ham to fermentation projects, plus Cole’s ultimate bourbon order and what he hopes for downtown Lexington’s growth.

We're joined by Anne Livengood, the force behind a wildly popular Walk Club in the Warehouse Block, to talk about how she helped turn the National Avenue area into a weekly meetup for people who want connection without the intimidation factor of a run club. The result is simple, welcoming, and surprisingly powerful: show up, walk, talk, and actually get to know your city.

From there, we zoom out into Lexington, Kentucky real estate and why "the market" is never one single story. Anne breaks down seller's market reality, why some homes still fly off the market, and how neighborhood micro-markets can change everything. We also dig into why finding the right agent matters when walkability, older homes, and downtown access top your list.

And of course the fun stuff: Lexington's food scene, taking kids to great restaurants, and how Anne uses her marketing background to spotlight the people and places she genuinely loves.

Lexington's Warehouse District used to be a stretch you drove past. Now it's a destination, and Kentucky Ballet Theatre is part of why. We sit down with Norbe Risco to trace how a small, determined ballet company helped shape the neighborhood's identity, and how the neighborhood helped the company grow into a year-round cultural anchor.

We dig into what's on the horizon: Ballet Spectrum 2 at the Pam Miller Downtown Arts Center, where classical meets contemporary and dancers get a rare shot at choreographing on professional artists, plus a full Don Quixote production with bold choices that spotlight strength and character.

Then we go behind the curtain — six-to-seven hour training days, corps precision, injuries (including an ACL tear and a hip replacement), costumes built in-house, the "no gossip" rule that protects company culture, and Norbe's ongoing support of all things ballet.

If you love the performing arts, or the real work that makes beauty look effortless, this one's for you!