Connections With Renee Shaw

Ruchita Agrawal, M.D., associate chief medical officer for Seven Counties Services in Louisville, and Joseph Bargione, Ph.D., a former lead psychologist for 25 years with Jefferson County Public Schools and a leader with the Bounce Coalition, discuss mental health and wellness issues during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially among young people.

Louisville activist Christopher 2X talks about his journey as a former convicted drug dealer who received government pardons for his crimes, to his community work helping young people stay on a better path through early childhood education initiatives.

Renee speaks with retired Lt. Col. Keith Jackson, commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs about how the impact of COVID-19 on VA facilities, the posthumous promotion of African American soldier Col. Charles Young to Brigadier General, and other topics.

Renee Shaw speaks with University of Louisville alums OJ Oleka and Terrance Sullivan, co-founders of AntiRacism Kentucky, a coalition focused on eliminating institutional racism within state and local government policy.

Renee Shaw speaks with Urban League of Lexington-Fayette County president and CEO P.G. Peeples and former Lexington Herald-Leader columnist and journalist Jacalyn Carfagno who led the effort to document the organization’s success resulting in a release of a 50th anniversary book.

Renee Shaw talks with Kentucky Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, who also serves as secretary of the state Education and Workforce Development Cabinet, about the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on students as well as priorities for the Beshear Administration to improve education funding and boost school and career readiness.

Host Renee Shaw talks with Nashville-based writer, educator, and activist Caroline Randall Williams about race, identity, Confederate monuments, soul food, and more. Southern Living magazine named Williams “One of the 50 People Changing the South.”

Renee Shaw speaks with Amy Luttrell, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Kentucky, and Adria Johnson, chief impact officer of Metro United Way, about the work of their organizations and how COVID-19 has impacted their operations.

Renee Shaw talks with Kentucky Education Commissioner Jason Glass about how the COVID pandemic is impacting public schools and students. He also talks about the Department of Education's new chief equity officer and previews the 2021 General Assembly.

In the wake of national criticism surrounding the Breonna Taylor shooting, Louisville Metro Police Department Interim Chief Yvette Gentry talks about use of force issues and her plans to bring transparency, accountability, and equity to the agency.

Political operatives Colmon Elridge, a Democrat, and Tres Watson, a Republican, discuss the presidential contest as well as Kentucky's U.S. Senate and 6th Congressional District races.

Renee Shaw talks with Beth Howard and Michael Harrington about building multi-racial alliances among poor and working-class Kentuckians. Then Devine Carama discusses his walk across the state to promote voter awareness and racial justice.

Renee Shaw talks with Lexington attorney Betsy Johnson about her experience arguing a U.S. Supreme Court case before Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Then Western Kentucky University political scientist Saundra Ardrey discusses Ginsburg's legacy, women's suffrage, and current political issues.

Host Renee Shaw talks with Lexington hip hop performer Devine Carama about his social and racial justice projects. Then artist Marjorie Guyon and Barry Darnell Burton discuss the I Was Here project, which honors Blacks bought and sold at a 19th century slave market in Lexington.

Host Renee Shaw speaks with Julian Vasquez Heilig, Ph.D., dean of the College of Education at the University of Kentucky, about teacher shortages across the nation and in Kentucky, how colleges are preparing future classroom teachers, charter schools, diversity, and more.

Host Renee Shaw speaks with State Treasurer Allison Ball about what she hopes to accomplish in her second term, state budget proposals, and more.

Renee speaks with Kentucky Auditor Mike Harmon about high-profile audits conducted during his first term in office, the public pension system, and priorities for his second term.

Georgetown College President William Jones talks about growing up in Appalachia, the transformative power of education, goals for the college, a full-tuition scholarship program for Scott County students, and the state of higher education in Kentucky.

Renee speaks with Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles about his second term, issues facing agriculture, and his priorities for the 2020 legislative session.

House Minority Whip Angie Hatton, a Democrat from Whitesburg, talks about her priorities for the 2020 legislative session, ideas on boosting the eastern Kentucky coal-mining region, and other topics.