Kevin Lane Dearinger joins us again to talk about his new book, a beautifully put together scrapbook of photos and history of The Opera House. David asks him about the early history of the theater building, and Lexington’s history as a theater town and regional cultural hub. 

At the Lexington Opera House: a Scrapbook 1887-2026 by Kevin Lane Dearinger is available for checkout and for purchase from your favorite bookstore.

Dr. Elizabeth DeWolfe joins us by phone from Maine to discuss her book Alias Agnes: The Notorious Tale of a Guilded Age Spy with David. Alias Agnes is a narrative non-fiction exploring the role of Jane Armstrong Tucker, alias Agnes Parker, and her undercover role in the lawsuit brought by Madeleine Pollard against William C. P. Breckinridge. David and Dr. DeWolfe discuss the backgrounds of both women, how they differed, the results of the trial and how they went about their lives when the trial was over. 

Alias Agnes details the story of Jane Tucker, who took a job as an undercover detective with a ten-week mission. Her target: Madeleine Pollard, former mistress of Congressman William C. P. Breckinridge, whom she had sued for breach of promise when he failed to marry her. Exploring the intricacies of this trial and a scandal that captivated the nation, author Elizabeth A. DeWolfe demonstrates that a shared lack of power did not always lead to alliances among women. DeWolfe uncovers the strategies women used to make their way in the world, drawing parallels between the previously forgotten and incomplete tales of Tucker, Pollard, and the women who testified in the trial—from formerly enslaved persons, to white socialites, to single government clerks, to divorced physicians.

Alias Agnes is available for checkout from the library, and for purchase from your favorite bookstore.

David sits down with Sarah Hubbard, Kentucky Room Manager to talk about exciting updates to the Kentucky Room’s online digital archive. They discuss how to use the archive, and what Sarah’s favorite items in the collection are, plus some upcoming events in the Kentucky Room for 2026.

David sits down with Adam Lewis, local architecture photographer and archivist, to discuss Adam’s popular Instagram account: Southern Country Goodfellow (@southern_country_goodfellow on Instagram). They discuss Adam’s inspiration to start the account, his love of architecture, and how he finds homes to photograph. Adam tells us about his future plans for his photography, and how to get in touch with him if you would like to have your home featured on Southern Country Goodfellow.

David sits down with Dr. Jennifer Cramer, Director of the Appalachian Studies Program at the University of Kentucky and a Professor in the department of Linguistics to talk about the myths and realities of Appalachian Englishes. They talk about her research into dialects in Kentucky and Appalachia and how Appalachian English dialects are similar and different from other American English dialects, and how that influences the ways people think about the region. They also discuss her work with the Kentucky Humanities Council and participation in the Speakers Bureau, a program that provides high-quality speakers to libraries and other non-profits.

Thank you for joining us on Tales from the Kentucky Room this year!

David sits down with local historian Dr. Jeremy Popkin and local photographer Bob Willcutt about their collaboration on Gratz Park: The Heart of Historic Lexington, a gorgeously photographed book about the history of Lexington’s Gratz Park. They discuss their inspirations, research sources, and their favorite stories of the park, including how it became a public park.

Gratz Park: The Heart of Historic Lexington is available for checkout from the library and for purchase at your favorite bookstore or Willcutt Guitars in Lexington.

Coming to you from the library’s new podcast studio at Northside Branch, David chats with Wes Swietek, managing editor of the Bowling Green Daily News newspaper and author of The Cemetery Road Murders: The Shocking True Tale of Kentucky’s Murder Mansion, about his research into the double murder case featured in the book. Wes gives us an overview of the case and some of his thoughts about the outcomes of the trials, as well as what got him first interested in the house called Murder Mansion. The Cemetery Road Murders is available for checkout from the Library and for purchase at your favorite bookstore or from the publisher’s website.

This episode does describe the particulars of the murder and 1940s-era homophobia, so some listener discretion is advised.

David sits down with Wayne to discuss Wayne’s top list of sports highlights, events and personalities to celebrate sports month during Lexington's 250Lex 250th anniversary celebration. This episode is Wayne's last episode before his retirement in February 2025. 

David sits down with Chad Walker, owner of much of the Warehouse Block, and Erica Friis, a historic preservationist and host of the podcasts “The Lexington Podcast” and “Inside the Block” to talk about the history and revitalization of Lexington’s Warehouse Block. The block along National Avenue now hosts many restaurants and local businesses.

David sits down with Wayne to discuss Wayne’s list of notable people in Lexington's history. This year, 2025, is Lexington, Kentucky’s 250th anniversary, and there are many events around the city to celebrate. As part of the celebrations, Wayne put together lists of the 250 most important events and people, and he’s selected a few people on the list to share with us today.