Peggy Noe Stevens: The First Female Master Bourbon Taster on Belonging, Reinvention, and Legacy | Kentucky's Wandering Realtor

Peggy Noe Stevens is known around the world for bourbon, hospitality, etiquette, and shaping how people experience Kentucky, but this conversation goes far beyond the résumé.

In this episode of Kentucky's Wandering Realtor, Peggy opens up about who she was before the titles: learning under Lincoln Henderson, becoming the first female Master Bourbon Taster, and helping shape the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

We talk about the rooms where she didn't always feel like she belonged, what it meant to bet on herself at 40, the advice that carried her through hard seasons, and what she understands about herself now that took years to learn.

And of course, there's fun along the way, bourbon culture, hospitality, etiquette, Louisville, and a rapid-fire round that brings out a different side of Peggy.

This isn't just a conversation about bourbon. It's a conversation about presence, confidence, belonging, hospitality, reinvention, and legacy.

More Than Good Taste with Peggy Noe Stevens

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Behind Louisville's Tables | The People Powering the Taste of Louisville

Taste of Louisville 2026: the people behind Louisville's restaurant community, on and off camera. What does it take to keep this scene thriving?

Tom Enyeart of Gordon Food Service and Kimberlie Thompson of US Foods represent competing companies, but they come to the same table as co-chairs of the 52nd annual Taste of Louisville. We filmed this conversation inside the empty Mellwood Art Center, the same space that comes alive on October 14 with more than 40 chefs, 20-plus beverage purveyors, signature tastings, drinks, live music, and people from across Louisville.

Tom and Kimberlie share their personal journeys, what diners never see behind the restaurant industry, and what has kept this Louisville food tradition going for more than five decades. We also explore how the event supports Feed Louisville and the Chase Gavin Coat-a-Kid initiative.

This conversation is about more than one night of food. It's about service, sacrifice, community, and the people behind Louisville's tables.

THE TASTE OF LOUISVILLE
Wednesday, October 14 | 6–9 p.m.
Mellwood Art Center
1860 Mellwood Avenue, Louisville, KY
21+ event

Tickets and more information: https://www.thetasteoflouisville.com/

Subscribe to Kentucky's Wandering Realtor for more conversations highlighting the people, businesses, and stories that make Kentucky worth wandering. New episodes feature Louisville food, bourbon, business, and nonprofit leaders every week.

Also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

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A Kentucky farm kid, a portable pizza oven, and a mission to fix food access in Louisville, this is the story behind Locals Food Hub & Pizza Pub.

Locals Food Hub & Pizza Pub is more than a place to grab a wood-fired pizza. It's a business built around a much larger mission: supporting Kentucky farmers and bringing fresh, nutrient-rich food into communities where access has historically been limited.

In this episode, Stephon sits down with Locals co-owner Birch Bragg to trace the personal journey behind that mission, from growing up on a small farm in Metcalfe County, to working in Hawaii and Lake Tahoe, to hauling a portable pizza oven around with his wife Michelle, to living alone in a camper while helping build West Sixth Farm.

Birch opens up about the sacrifices his family made, the difference between following a calling and chasing ambition. He also digs into the hard math of paying farmers fairly while keeping quality food affordable, entering Smoketown with humility, and earning the trust of the community Locals was built to serve.

This conversation goes beyond entrepreneurship. It's about food access, family, purpose, community, and what it actually costs to build something you believe needs to exist.

We also put Birch's strongest Kentucky opinions on trial, from seasonal eating to pizza's place in the farm-to-table conversation to building the most Kentucky pizza imaginable.

Support Locals Food Hub & Pizza Pub:
Frankfort — 863 Wilkinson Boulevard, Frankfort, KY 40601
Louisville — 822 E. Broadway, Louisville, KY 40204

Watch the full conversation, subscribe to Kentucky's Wandering Realtor, and share this episode with someone who believes local businesses can create meaningful change.

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Hannah Drake on Finding Her Voice, Louisville, and The (Un)Known Project | Raised Hand, Raised Voice

Before Hannah Drake became a nationally recognized poet, author, and voice for the unheard, she was a little girl in a fifth-grade classroom with her hand raised, waiting to be chosen.

In this episode of Kentucky's Wandering Realtor, Hannah opens up about how that moment shaped her voice, why seeing Maya Angelou helped her recognize her own worth, and what Louisville pulled out of the young woman who arrived here from Colorado.

We go beneath the public accomplishments to talk about the weight of being "the strong one," the influence of her mother, what uncovering forgotten names through The (Un)Known Project changed inside her, and why she stays invested in a city that has both embraced and hurt her.

There's also plenty of laughter as Hannah defends her love for Hot Browns, Louisville tap water, pizza, and cooking, and reveals the person her family and closest friends get to see when the microphone is off.

This isn't just a conversation about Hannah Drake's work. It's the story of a little girl who fought to have her voice heard, and the woman who now uses that voice to make sure others are never forgotten.

Special thanks to Our Place at Ben Washer Park for welcoming us into their space for this conversation and providing a great lunch afterward.

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Nachand Trabue doesn't just talk about resilience, she lives it. In this episode of Kentucky's Wandering Realtor, she opens up about growing up in Smoketown, building multiple businesses, and advocating for Black entrepreneurs in Louisville.

"I didn't stop moving. I just started moving different."

This conversation goes far beyond entrepreneurship. Nachand reflects on loss, leadership, community, and purpose, including how the memory of her son Makel continues to shape the work she does today. We talk about Louisville's relationship with Black entrepreneurship, the real difference between access and investment, and what it means to have a seat at the table and use it.

This is a conversation about what happens when life changes the plan, but not the purpose.

She Moves Different with Nachand Trabue

If you enjoy conversations that go beyond the résumé and get into the person behind the work, subscribe and follow Kentucky's Wandering Realtor for more stories from across Louisville and Kentucky.

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WHAT MAKES J-TOWN, J-TOWN? | Jeffersontown, Gaslight Festival & The Power of Community
with Deana Karem & Greg Hayden

What makes a community feel like home, and how do you keep that identity as it grows?

Ahead of the 57th Gaslight Festival, I sat down in Jeffersontown with Deana Karem, President & CEO of the Jeffersontown Chamber of Commerce, and Greg Hayden, owner of 3rd Turn Brewing, for a conversation that goes far beyond one of J-Town's biggest celebrations of the year.

Greg takes us back to 2015, when 3rd Turn intentionally opened its doors during Gaslight Festival, and shares how an idea between homebrewers grew into a neighborhood gathering place woven into the fabric of Jeffersontown.

Deana opens up about the influence of her grandmother on the leader she became, what continues to drive her after decades in economic development, and the challenge of helping a community grow without losing the character that made people want to be there in the first place.

We also dig into this year's expanded Gaslight Festival, the culture that makes J-Town unique, the realities of entrepreneurship, and the importance of genuine human connection, plus one big question:

Is there such a thing as the wrong kind of growth?

Then we have some fun with rapid fire, asking what Jeffersontown needs to preserve so that 57 years from now, people can still recognize what makes J-Town, J-Town.

This is a conversation about community, entrepreneurship, legacy, growth, and the people behind it all.

Subscribe to Kentucky's Wandering Realtor for more conversations with the people, businesses, and stories shaping Louisville and Kentucky.

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Woodford Bourbon Guy Jay Jacobs opens up his private bourbon collection of nearly 1,000 bottles, and the story behind it is bigger than whiskey.

Jay Jacobs, known online as Woodford Bourbon Guy, turned an ordinary garage into one of Kentucky's most talked-about private bourbon bars, starting with a bar he found on Marketplace and bolted straight to the floor. But the real story isn't the shelves, it's how a passion that began as something he did for his mom turned into a trusted voice in the bourbon community.

In this episode of Kentucky's Wandering Realtor, Jay shares why he originally forced himself to learn to like whiskey, how Woodford Bourbon Guy grew from a social media handle into a name bourbon fans trust before they spend their money, and what that responsibility actually feels like.

We talk Penelope Bourbon, American Light Whiskey, and Stagg Jr., a few Kentucky bourbon opinions that might get him in trouble, the bottles that deserve way more attention, and whether owning nearly 1,000 bottles ever gets in the way of just enjoying the pour.

Because the name Woodford Bourbon Guy carries more weight than most people realize, we also dig into the culture, food, and character of Versailles and Woodford County, and what Jay thinks visitors miss when they only see the tourist version.

Plenty of bourbon. Plenty of laughs. But at its core, this is a conversation about everything that gets built around the bottle, family, community, and connection.

1,000 Bottles, One Garage with Jay Jacobs, on Kentucky's Wandering Realtor.

#WoodfordBourbonGuy #KentuckyBourbon #BourbonCollector #VersaillesKY #WoodfordCounty #KentuckysWanderingRealtor #BourbonCommunity #WhiskeyPodcast

Louisville artist and former Atlanta Braves minor league player Richard Sullivan joins Kentucky's Wandering Realtor for a raw conversation about identity, healing, and who you are when the applause stops.

For Episode 50, Richard Sullivan, the 2024 Kentucky Derby Festival poster artist whose work has been featured by the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, and Kentucky Derby Museum, opens up about the space between being admired and being truly known.

We talk about:

- How baseball became a childhood safe haven, and what happened to his identity when the uniform came off

- The fear of creating without seeking approval

- A spiritual awakening that led to deep healing and self-discovery

- Reconnecting with his inner child through his newer artwork

- His return to Louisville's historic Portland neighborhood

- Building BNK St. Gallery + Studio, a creative space in Louisville's West End

This isn't just a baseball story or an art story. It's the story of a man who spent his life mastering performance — and is now learning how to live without it.

If this conversation resonates, like the episode, subscribe for more Kentucky stories, drop a comment, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

IN THIS EPISODE:

Richard Sullivan's journey from Louisville to the Atlanta Braves

Life after professional baseball

Becoming a full-time artist

The psychology of achievement and identity

Spiritual awakening and the healing journey

Creating art without seeking approval

The 2024 Kentucky Derby Festival poster

Portland Louisville and BNK St. Gallery + Studio

Learning who you are beyond success

Guest: Richard Sullivan

Podcast: Kentucky's Wandering Realtor

Episode: 50

Location: Louisville, Kentucky

#KentuckysWanderingRealtor #RichardSullivan #LouisvilleArtist #AtlantaBraves #KentuckyDerbyFestival #BNKStGallery #PortlandLouisville #LouisvillePodcast #CreativeJourney

THE MISSION AFTER SERVICE | Luis Martinez Jr. of Whiskey Valor Foundation

What happens when the uniform comes off, but the need for purpose, brotherhood, and service remains?

In this episode of Kentucky's Wandering Realtor, Stephon Lewis sits down with Luis Martinez Jr., Marine Corps veteran and founder of the Whiskey Valor Foundation, for a deeply personal conversation about identity after military service, veteran mental wellness, family, and the mission that continued long after his time in uniform.

Luis shares how his journey took him from the Marine Corps into military intelligence, higher education, and the Pat Tillman Foundation community. He also reflects on how a wellness retreat in Louisville helped shift his understanding of what veterans need after service, and planted the seed for what would eventually become Whiskey Valor.

Whiskey Valor Foundation uses community events, partnerships, wellness retreats, and its RideShare Initiative to support veterans and their families, promote responsible drinking, and help reduce DUIs within the military community. Rather than judging veterans for where they are, Luis and his team are committed to meeting them there with accountability, connection, and meaningful resources.

We also had the honor of joining Whiskey Valor for a special barrel pick through its partnership with the Blue Skies Foundation, together, we selected a whiskey expression that will help raise money for an incredible cause.

In this conversation, Luis opens up about:

• The person he was before joining the Marines
• What military service gave him and what it demanded
• The identity shift that followed leaving the uniform behind
• The 2022 Pat Tillman Foundation Wellness Retreat in Louisville
• The unconventional idea that became Whiskey Valor
• Using whiskey as an invitation to connection, not the hero of the story
• The mission behind Whiskey Valor's RideShare Initiative
• Why some veterans may be searching for more than a safe ride home
• Creating Whiskey Valor's own wellness retreat
• Marriage, fatherhood, and serving the people closest to him
• What he hopes his children will one day understand about his mission

This episode is about much more than whiskey. It's about brotherhood, vulnerability, responsibility, and finding a new way to serve when one chapter of service ends.

A special thank-you to Onyx & Amber Tasting Room and Tartan House for once again opening their doors and giving us the space to share another meaningful story.

Listen and subscribe to Kentucky's Wandering Realtor on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts for more conversations with the people, founders, veterans, chefs, creators, and community leaders whose stories deserve to be heard.

#WhiskeyValorFoundation #VeteranMentalHealth #MarineVeteran #PurposeAfterService #KentuckysWanderingRealtor #LouisvilleKY #BourbonCommunity #VeteranStories #MilitaryCommunity

Brittany Penny, founder of The Nine Bourbon, made history as one of the few Black women to launch her own bourbon brand, but this Kentucky's Wandering Realtor conversation reveals why her story means far more than being first.

Watch More Than the First with Brittany Penny, follow Kentucky's Wandering Realtor on Instagram, and check out The Nine Bourbon at 2centsinc.com.

Brittany opens up about the journey behind The Nine Bourbon, from the sleepless nights of new motherhood that helped spark the idea to building a company alongside her husband, James. She shares how her love of bourbon began, what it took to develop her first blend, and the pressure that comes with entering an industry where few people look like her.

We also talk about the difference between being welcomed into a room and truly being given access, how rejection has shaped her ambition, the responsibility she feels as a trailblazer, and what she hopes her daughter will one day understand about the legacy she is building.

The conversation also includes Louisville culture, bourbon industry truths, a founder's offer from Darth Vader, and a major announcement from Brittany about what's coming next.

This is more than a conversation about bourbon. It's a story about motherhood, marriage, representation, ownership, perseverance, and the woman behind The Nine.

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https://www.instagram.com/kentuckys_wandering_realtor

The Nine Bourbon: 2centsinc.com

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