<figure><img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e25f098/2147483647/strip/false/crop/1000x583+0+0/resize/792x462!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc6%2F3e%2F1797b4244c3cb030640ac2732f34%2Fshutterstock-1788113420.jpg" alt="&quot;The widening gulf between rural and urban America is becoming the most serious political divide of our day.&quot; — Nick Jacobs, co-author of The Rural Voter: The Politics of Place and the Disuniting of America."><figcaption> "The widening gulf between rural and urban America is becoming the most serious political divide of our day." — Nick Jacobs,&amp;nbsp;co-author of &lt;i&gt;The Rural Voter: The Politics of Place and the Disuniting of America.&lt;/i&gt;(Shutterstock / Shutterstock)</figcaption></figure>This week on Eastern Standard:Nick Jacobs, co-author of “The Rural Voter: The Politics of Place and the Disuniting of America,” is Carolyn Dupont’s guest for the latest episode of her Eastern Standard series, “Civics, Civility and the path to a Shared American Future.”Shaunna Scott and Kathryn Engle, co-editors of “Toward Just Transitions: Visions for Regenerative Communities in Appalachia”, a book featuring contributions from more than two dozen writers and thinkers in the region on maintaining Justice in transitioning a regional industrial base from, for example, fossil fuels to renewable forms of power generation.As Lexington’s new Arts &amp; Culture Director, Celeste Lewis begins this leadership role in the Lexington arts community with a call to action for devising a cohesive strategy to nurture, support, encourage, and grow the local arts ecosystem.

<description>Nick Jacobs, co-author of “The Rural Voter: The Politics of Place and the Disuniting of America,” is Carolyn Dupont’s guest for the latest episode of her Eastern Standard series, “Civics, Civility and the path to a Shared American Future.”</description>

Nick Jacobs, co-author of “The Rural Voter: The Politics of Place and the…

Nick Jacobs, co-author of “The Rural Voter: The Politics of Place and the Disuniting of America,” is Carolyn Dupont’s guest for the latest episode of her Eastern Standard series, “Civics, Civility and the path to a Shared American Future.”

Eastern Standard: February 19th, 2026

<figure><img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ce3ad45/2147483647/strip/false/crop/1528x2048+0+0/resize/394x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F11%2F5c%2F56465b9142cc85448084742a6d15%2Fai-revolution-logo-maroon.png" alt="Secretary of State Michael Adams discusses AI in elections."><figcaption> Secretary of State Michael Adams discusses AI in elections.</figcaption></figure>This week on Eastern Standard:What are the implications of Artificial Intelligence in elections? Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams is Art Shechet’s guest for this latest episode of our series “The AI Revolution: Promises and Perils.”A new poll commissioned by KyPolicy finds most Kentuckians don’t feel the state legislature’s income tax cuts are helping them personally—and they would rather see lawmakers focusing on affordability and core services. We get details from KyPolicy’ Jason Bailey.The Kentucky Resources Council and three other environmental justice groups joined to commission an analysis of energy use in Kentucky. They wanted to know about the opportunities and the obstacles to meeting Kentucky’s electricity demand, and what are the most affordable, reliable, and resilient ways to reduce greenhouse gases and other environmental risks and liabilities.

<description>What are the implications of Artificial Intelligence in elections? Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams is Art Shechet’s guest for this latest episode of our series “The AI Revolution: Promises and Perils.”</description>

What are the implications of Artificial Intelligence in elections? Kentucky…

What are the implications of Artificial Intelligence in elections? Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams is Art Shechet’s guest for this latest episode of our series “The AI Revolution: Promises and Perils.”

Eastern Standard: February 12th, 2026

<figure><img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c368eb4/2147483647/strip/false/crop/2560x1440+0+0/resize/792x446!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Faf%2F07%2F811525bc4093a81fcc47dbb9bacd%2Falice-lloyd-college.jpg"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>This week on Eastern Standard:Our series, “The AI Revolution: Promise and Peril” continues with guest Lisa Blue, Director of AI Strategies at Eastern Kentucky University. We explore how EKU is adapting AI in its programming, workforce and campus life.Shannon Moody, Chief Strategy and Policy Officer at Kentucky Youth Advocates on how the current session of the state General Assembly can meet the needs of Kentucky’s most vulnerable children.That time when the founder and namesake of Alice Lloyd College was tricked into being flown to Los Angeles to appear on the tv show, “This is Your Life” and the suspenseful, but remarkable response that followed. The story is portrayed by Jacqueline Kohl Hamilton as part of the Kentucky Humanities Chautauqua series. She sits down with Eastern Standard theatre contributor, Bill McCann.Bob Martin, producer of Shiners: Voices from Owsley County, discusses the award-winning documentary that celebrates the resilience and creativity of Appalachian youth.

<description>Our series, “The AI Revolution: Promise and Peril” continues with guest Lisa Blue, Director of AI Strategies at Eastern Kentucky University.</description>

Our series, “The AI Revolution: Promise and Peril” continues with guest Lisa…

Our series, “The AI Revolution: Promise and Peril” continues with guest Lisa Blue, Director of AI Strategies at Eastern Kentucky University.

Eastern Standard: February 5th, 2026

<figure><img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0cb3372/2147483647/strip/false/crop/1000x527+0+0/resize/792x417!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F98%2Fc3%2Ff22fed114af1a27fb26bb1d0c62d%2Fshutterstock-2465672475.jpg"><figcaption>(Shutterstock / Shutterstock)</figcaption></figure>This week on Eastern Standard: “The Future Would Like A Word”- Episode 26 of our series, “Democracy Optimist,” hosted by UK election law and voting rights research professor Joshua Douglas.Our guests: <ul class="rte2-style-ul" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"><li>LaJuan Allen, the Executive Director of Vote16USA, a nonprofit dedicated to lowering the voting age to 16 in response to concerns about youth engagement, civic readiness, and the long-term health of our democracy.&nbsp;</li><li>Boyle Co. H.S.&nbsp;senior&nbsp;Luisa Sanchez of the Kentucky Student Voice Team and KSVT managing partner Rachel Belin discuss the organization’s lawsuit claiming the state has failed its constitutional duty under Section 183 of the Kentucky Constitution to provide “an efficient system of common schools.”</li></ul>

<description>“The Future Would Like A Word”- Episode 26 of our series, “Democracy Optimist,” hosted by UK election law and voting rights research professor Joshua Douglas.</description>

“The Future Would Like A Word”- Episode 26 of our series, “Democracy Optimist,”…

“The Future Would Like A Word”- Episode 26 of our series, “Democracy Optimist,” hosted by UK election law and voting rights research professor Joshua Douglas.

Eastern Standard: January 29th, 2026

<figure><img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d35be72/2147483647/strip/false/crop/735x1000+0+0/resize/388x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa8%2Fb1%2Fa1e906b44203856ada0df3e6ce5b%2Fyork.jpg" alt="York was William Clark's personal slave and accompanied the Lewis and Clark 'Voyage of Discovery' as a fully participating member of the expedition."><figcaption>York was William Clark's personal slave and accompanied the Lewis and Clark 'Voyage of Discovery' as a fully participating member of the expedition.(Shutterstock / Shutterstock)</figcaption></figure>We Americans are marking the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding with diverging accounts — sometimes offered from irreconcilably different perspectives — of what has gone down in this country since 1776. This week on Eastern Standard we present two views that in many ways defy what we have been taught about American racial and indigenous history. Literary contributor Kevin Nance sits down with Kristine Yohe and Frank X Walker to discuss Yohe’s book: “Reckoning with the Past: The Historical Poetry of Frank X Walker.” Tom Martin gets a deeply researched perspective on who called Kentucky home before this place became “Kentucky.” His guest: Stephen Warren, author of “The Worlds The Shawnee Made.” And Sylvia Lovely joins us with details of an effort to recognize women of Fayette County whose contributions have been made behind the scenes.

<description>This week on Eastern Standard we present two views that in many ways defy what we have been taught about American racial and indigenous history.</description>

This week on Eastern Standard we present two views that in many ways defy what…

This week on Eastern Standard we present two views that in many ways defy what we have been taught about American racial and indigenous history.

Eastern Standard: January 22nd, 2026

WEKU's weekly public affairs program discussing topics and concerns of Central and Eastern Kentucky, hosted by Tom Martin

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