The Leadership Lounge

Lisa Benson is the leader of one of Louisville's largest media outlets, Louisville Business First, part of a national network of business journals. Aaron and Lisa discuss the challenges of becoming a leader just in time for 2020, gain an outsider's perspective on our city, and talk about pivoting content and events to virtual (and still keeping readers engaged).

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Aaron Miller sits down with Walter Woods, who moved to Louisville in 2017 to lead the Humana Foundation. They discuss leadership, ego, getting out of your own way, racial justice, and the importance of being a mentor. 

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Robert Barry Fleming talks about growing up in Frankfort and returning to Louisville to lead an iconic Louisville arts institution. Robert mentions three sources that we want to add here to the notes:
- Catalyst Project
- Racial Equity Institute
- The People's Institute for Survival and Beyond

We also encourage you in the conversation to do some research on Anne Braden. 

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Parks! Outdoors! Quality of place!  A community is often defined by the quality of its public spaces, and Scott Martin chats about how Louisville can become an even greater, healthier, and more equitable community by working on our park systems. Here are more show notes:
 Book recommendation: The Nature Fix by Florence Williams http://www.florencewilliams.com/the-nature-fix 

www.riverheritageconservancy.org (also on social media)

Scott's Recommendations for local things to do/see

Hays Kennedy Park (one of our park named for a prominent African-American leaders – a great story by itself that is undertold).   Add the Garvin Brown Preserve next door and it is a wonderful waterfront complex.  https://louisvilleky.gov/government/parks/park-list/hays-kennedy-park

Mammoth Cave Cedar Sink Trail (great day trip for families).  To see the spot where entire creeks vanish underground and how the caves shape the land above them is like stepping into a landscape crafted for Narnia or Lord of the Rings. https://www.nps.gov/maca/planyourvisit/trails.htm

Big South Fork Recreation Area (off the beaten path, but a massive memory maker of a uniquely Appalachian landscape and zone that makes you feel worlds away from Louisville) https://www.nps.gov/biso/index.htm

And O’Bannon State Park – just a fascinating state park with an ecology that seems like a piece of the Smokies that snuck away and hid in Southern Indiana.  The perfect day trip for Louisville folks that want to get off the grid.  I just learned about this site a few years ago and I find it more and more interesting each time I visit.  The blue river is right there, too.  Great paddling when everything else in the area dries up.  https://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2976.htm

And in the podcast we talk about the Knobstone Trail, and here is some info about that https://www.in.gov/dnr/forestry/4224.htm

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Sadiqa Reynolds, President and CEO of the Louisville Urban League, has a frank and honest discussion about race, the West End, "essential workers," and white allies.

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Recorded on June 4. Nikki shares her insights on protesters, race relations, and how the business community can be part of the solution.

Nikki references a book in the discussion, and it is The Covenant with Black America by various contributors with an introduction by Tavis Smiley, published in 2006. 

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Dr. Tailor is only the 6th woman to be elected President of the Greater Louisville Medical Society as well being the first Indian-American leader of that organization (and one of the youngest ever!). Aaron and Dr. Tailor discuss what unique talents she brings to the role along with some advice for safely reopening our community from COVID-19. Their shared nerd-dom also comes into play (one of them is a giant Harry Potter nerd).

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Sarah shares her thoughts on women in leadership, how to re-open the Louisville economy, and ballroom dancing during a pandemic.

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Former Kentucky Derby Festival president and current Secretary of the Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet Mike Berry sits down with Aaron to discuss his leadership journey (which involves working alongside several iconic state leaders) and also how you can learn everything you need to know about leadership from children's books.

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Aaron and Stacey discuss entrepreneurship, the value of relationships, and the power of understanding culture. And a little bit about learning spanish online during a pandemic.

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