On Track

America turns 250 next year, and it’s got us asking: how do you determine the birthday of a place? On this episode of “On Track,” we sit down with historian Dr. Patrick Lewis of the Filson Historical Society to unpack how a place becomes A Place, and why those dates matter. From frontier settlements to the people here long before them, we’re digging into what it really means to mark the beginning of a place we call home.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act is now law, and it’s made sweeping cuts to Medicaid. That puts health coverage for thousands of Kentuckians at risk, and threatens the future of rural hospitals and health care providers across the state. On this episode of “On Track,” we talk with Kentucky Public Radio’s Sylvia Goodman and Joe Sonka about what exactly is in the law, and who is most affected by it.

The historic Louisville Gardens is being repurposed into a soundstage complex, and Kentucky’s film tax credit program is drawing increased attention from filmmakers. Could the commonwealth become a true film hub? On this episode, we talk with producer Merry-Kay Poe and financier Justin Brown to break down tax incentives, creative infrastructure, and why more filmmakers are looking beyond Hollywood.

Berea College isn’t your typical school. It’s been tuition-free since 1892—and was the South’s first interracial and coeducational college. On this episode, we talk with Gretchen Dykstra, author of “Lessons from the Foothills: Berea College and Its Unique Role in America,” and alum Morgan Younge about what makes the school unique, and what it can teach us about education, equity, and opportunity today.

From packed summer shows to hometown discoveries, we’re checking in on Louisville’s local music scene. This episode, we hear from WFPK’s afternoon host and local music liaison Laura Shine, and talk to artist and AMPED program manager Dave Christopher, Jr. They share their local faves, who’s on their radar, and how you can support the city’s artists.

Free speech and the right to protest are at the heart of the First Amendment—but how do those rights really work in practice? Bob Corn-Revere from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression and Amber Duke, Executive Director of ACLU of Kentucky join us to explore what’s protected, and how these issues are showing up in 2025.

People say it affects everything from how they vote to when they make big purchases or change jobs: “the economy.” But under that blanket term are so many other things, like the stock market, inflation, interest rates, consumer behavior, and they’re all interconnected. On this episode, we’re covering all the things you may have forgotten from your Economy 101 class and are now afraid to ask about, with Kentucky economic policy expert Jason Bailey.

Lead exposure is still affecting families across Louisville, especially in older homes and historically underserved neighborhoods. On this episode we’re talking with Dr. Brian Guinn, a lead poisoning researcher at U of L, and Patrick Rich from Louisville Metro Public Health about who’s most at risk—and what’s being done to protect people.

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of classical music? Maybe you imagine a conductor on a podium in a fancy outfit. Maybe you remember a heart wrenching moment in your favorite movie. Or maybe it’s that McDonald’s commercial that’s been stuck in your head since the 1980s. Whatever your access point is to classical music, there’s much to explore and enjoy. On this episode, we’re talking with WUOL Program Director Daniel Gilliam about his own love of the genre, and what makes classical music so relevant and vital.