On Track

Kentucky is home to multiple species of ticks… and they’re all just waiting for us to head outside to enjoy some warm weather. Some tick bites can even lead to Lyme Disease and Alpha-Gal Syndrome. On this episode, we talk about how to avoid becoming a tick's lunch, and what to do if you find one has hitched a ride on you or your pet.

There’s never a shortage of things to do in Louisville, if you’re paying attention. And if you’re not paying attention, don’t worry! LPM’s Arts & Culture reporter Breya Jones has you covered. On this episode, we check in with Breya about the latest news in Louisville’s arts scene.

Late last year, Mid City Mall was listed for sale. Since then, the site’s future has been in question. On this episode, we talk about the history of the mall, what business owners and neighbors would like to see next, and how a big change could affect the whole area.

Everyone in Louisville knows there’s a right and a wrong way to say the name of our city. So then why are there so many different ways to pronounce it? And how did it evolve this way? On this episode, we’ll talk with University of Kentucky linguistics professor Dr. Jennifer Cramer about the many ways to say Louisville, and how language can become a stand-in for identity, and belonging.

February is Black History Month, and Black history is Louisville history. But on this episode, we’re focusing on the present. We’ll talk to Lyndon Pryor, president and CEO of the Louisville Urban League, about the state of Black Louisville today. What is the league’s focus, and how is it changing with the national political climate, and big companies rolling back their DEI initiatives? Who is working to address disparities in our community, and how can we help?

The number of people who don’t have stable housing is on the rise nationally, and here in Louisville. And one facility, the Arthur Street Hotel, takes a somewhat unusual approach to helping them find shelter, stability, and opportunity. On this episode, we learn about what makes this model different from traditional shelters, and what the research says about whether it works.

In a town full of great restaurants, some people still go hungry. But an organization called Feed Louisville is trying to fix that, and reduce food waste at the same time. Feed Louisville is the beneficiary of this year’s Restaurant Week, which starts February 24. On this episode, we meet Feed Louisville’s Founder and Executive Director, Rhona Bowles Kamar. We learn about the organization’s work, and how we can all get involved in ending food insecurity in our community.

President Trump’s executive orders have shifted immigration policy dramatically in the United States. Enforcement has increased, and a ban on new refugees is disrupting life in many cities, including here in Louisville. On this episode, we talk about how these changes are affecting immigrants in our community, refugees looking for safety here, and the advocates who help them.

The new presidential administration is making headlines every day, but state politicians are moving along with their own agendas too. On this episode, we’re checking in on the Kentucky General Assembly. Their 2025 session is underway, and Kentucky Public Radio’s Sylvia Goodman will let us know what’s happened so far, what we should be watching for next, and most importantly, how proposed legislation could affect our lives in Kentucky.

Experts have called it an epidemic. Not of some new virus — but loneliness. On this episode, we learn about the challenges of forming friendships, especially as we get older. And we find out about the mental health benefits of making connections. Our guests are Hannah Brosnan, Executive Director of Mental Health America of Kentucky, and friendship researcher Dr. Jeffrey Hall, Director of the Relationships and Technology Lab at the University of Kansas.