Advertise on podcast: Behind the Blue

LEXINGTON, Ky. (October 22, 2026) – From his days as a University of Kentucky student to his current role as speaker of the Kentucky House of Representatives, David Osborne has gained a unique perspective on the opportunities and challenges facing the Commonwealth. On this episode of 'Behind the Blue,' Osborne reflects on his journey from growing up in Oldham County to attending UK, building a career in business and eventually entering public service. A UK graduate with a degree in agricultural economics, Osborne discusses how his college experience introduced him to people and communities from across Kentucky, broadening his understanding of the state he would one day help lead. He also shares his perspective on the university's land-grant mission, including the impact of agricultural research, Cooperative Extension, UK HealthCare and emerging opportunities in aerospace and technology. The conversation explores the importance of partnerships between higher education and state government, as well as preparing students with the critical thinking and communication skills needed to navigate a changing workforce. Looking ahead, Osborne expresses optimism about Kentucky's future and encourages students to remain curious and committed to lifelong learning. "The greatest learning experiences of my life have come post-college, but I think that college prepares you for learning how to learn," Osborne said. "So try to not lose sight of learning how to learn." 'Behind the Blue' is available via a variety of podcast providers, including Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Spotify. Subscribe to receive new episodes each week, featuring UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists, writers and the most important news impacting the university. 'Behind the Blue' is a production of the University of Kentucky. Transcripts for most episodes are now embedded in the audio file and can be accessed in many podcast apps during playback. Transcripts for older episodes remain available on the show's blog page.  To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here. This interview has been edited for time and clarity.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (October 15, 2026) – The University of Kentucky Alumni Association started the Great Teacher Award program in 1961 to honor excellent teaching at the university. There have been more than 300 teachers honored since that first year. Nominations may only be submitted by current students. To receive the award, a candidate must:  Hold the rank of full-time lecturer or above and have been a member of the faculty for the past three years at UK. Have superior knowledge of the subject matter. Have original and innovative classroom presentations. Demonstrate concern for students, both inside and outside the classroom setting. Not have been a recipient of the award for the past 10 years. A committee of the UK Alumni Association Board of Directors and a representative from the student organization Omicron Delta Kappa select the recipients based on objective rating and ranking of the eligible nominations submitted. This episode of Behind the Blue spotlights one of the six Great Teacher Award winners for 2025: Mark Prendergast, an endowed professor and director of the Neuroscience Bachelor of Science degree program in the UK College of Arts and Sciences. Prendergast's research is focused on examining biochemical mechanisms involved with the development of alcohol and drug dependence. In addition, his lab research efforts include the study of novel drug targets, such as stress hormone receptor systems, which might be targeted in the treatment of those dependencies. Prendergast is the faculty advisor of NeuroCATS, a 600-member student organization dedicated to expanding neuroscience education. He is a well-published researcher in the study of substance use disorder. 'Behind the Blue' is available via a variety of podcast providers, including Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Spotify. Subscribe to receive new episodes each week, featuring UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists, writers and the most important news impacting the university. 'Behind the Blue' is a production of the University of Kentucky. Transcripts for most episodes are now embedded in the audio file and can be accessed in many podcast apps during playback. Transcripts for older episodes remain available on the show's blog page.  To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here. This interview has been edited for time and clarity.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (October 8, 2026) – THIS IS AN ENCORE EPISODE PRESENTATION. Each spring, the University of Kentucky celebrates a new class of graduates stepping into the next chapter of their lives. But at UK, learning doesn't end at commencement. On this episode of Behind the Blue, host Kody Kiser talks with Joey Conrad, director of the University of Kentucky's Office of Lifelong Learning, and Sue Oatey, an OLLI class participant, about the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at UK and the community it creates for adults ages 50 and older.  OLLI at UK offers educational and enrichment courses, forums, shared interest groups, trips, events and more for adult learners. Conrad says the program is designed for engagement and connection, with opportunities that encourage participants to explore new interests, revisit long-held passions, and build friendships through shared learning.  Oatey, who moved to Lexington after retiring nine years ago, shares how she discovered OLLI through a friend and quickly found it became a gateway to learning and community. She describes taking courses ranging from bourbon and wine appreciation to geology and constitutional topics, and says the program helped her build a network of friends and ongoing experiences in a place that was once new to her.  The conversation also highlights the Office of Lifelong Learning's Donovan Scholarship program, which helps Kentucky residents ages 65 and older take University of Kentucky academic courses. Conrad explains how participants can audit courses or pursue degrees, and how the office helps adult learners navigate the enrollment process and connect with campus resources.  OLLI at UK has sites in Lexington and Morehead and supports a growing community of learners. Conrad notes the program continues to expand course offerings and access, including online options that allow participants to learn from across Kentucky and beyond.  To learn more about OLLI at UK, visit olliatuk.uky.edu. 'Behind the Blue' is available via a variety of podcast providers, including Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Spotify. Subscribe to receive new episodes each week, featuring UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists, writers and the most important news impacting the university. 'Behind the Blue' is a production of the University of Kentucky. Transcripts for most episodes are now embedded in the audio file and can be accessed in many podcast apps during playback. Transcripts for older episodes remain available on the show's blog page.  To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here. This interview has been edited for time and clarity.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (October 1, 2026) – Homecoming Week is just days away at the University of Kentucky, bringing alumni back to campus while giving current students an opportunity to take part in traditions that have connected generations of Wildcats. On this episode of 'Behind the Blue,' Kelly Holland, incoming president of the UK Alumni Association, and Jill Smith, Vice President for Stakeholder Engagement and Executive Director of the UK Alumni Association, join host Kody Kiser to discuss Homecoming 2026 and the many ways alumni can remain connected to UK long after graduation. Holland reflects on her own UK journey — from an active student and Homecoming Queen to a UK employee, alumni volunteer and now Alumni Association president — and discusses her goal of encouraging Wildcats to give back to the university in ways that are meaningful to them. Holland and Smith also preview Homecoming Week activities, including the Homecoming football game and royalty traditions, the Block Party at Alumni Commons, the Lyman T. Johnson Awards, the Golden Wildcat Reunion celebrating the Class of 1976 and other opportunities for alumni, students, families and friends to reconnect with UK. For the latest schedule, event information and updates for Homecoming 2026, visit UKHomecoming.com. To learn more about the UK Alumni Association, alumni clubs, events, career services, networking opportunities and ways to get involved, visit UKAlumni.net. 'Behind the Blue' is available via a variety of podcast providers, including Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Spotify. Subscribe to receive new episodes each week, featuring UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists, writers and the most important news impacting the university. 'Behind the Blue' is a production of the University of Kentucky. Transcripts for most episodes are now embedded in the audio file and can be accessed in many podcast apps during playback. Transcripts for older episodes remain available on the show's blog page.  To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here. This interview has been edited for time and clarity.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (September 24, 2026) – The University of Kentucky Alumni Association started the Great Teacher Award program in 1961 to honor excellent teaching at the university. There have been more than 300 teachers honored since that first year. Nominations may only be submitted by current students. To receive the award, a candidate must: Hold the rank of full-time lecturer or above and have been a member of the faculty for the past three years at UK. Have superior knowledge of the subject matter. Have original and innovative classroom presentations. Demonstrate concern for students, both inside and outside the classroom setting. Not have been a recipient of the award for the past 10 years. A committee of the UK Alumni Association Board of Directors and a representative from the student organization Omicron Delta Kappa select the recipients based on objective rating and ranking of the eligible nominations submitted. This episode of Behind the Blue spotlights one of the six Great Teacher Award winners for 2025: Patrick Lee Lucas, a professor of Interior Design in the UK College of Design.  Lucas helps students bridge design history and practice, an award-winning instructor and international presenter. He inspires others to recognize design as a fundamental form of human expression and to understand how material environments shape a rapidly changing world. 'Behind the Blue' is available via a variety of podcast providers, including Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Spotify. Subscribe to receive new episodes each week, featuring UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists, writers and the most important news impacting the university. 'Behind the Blue' is a production of the University of Kentucky. Transcripts for most episodes are now embedded in the audio file and can be accessed in many podcast apps during playback. Transcripts for older episodes remain available on the show's blog page.  To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here. This interview has been edited for time and clarity.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (September 17, 2026) – When a child is diagnosed with cancer, families understandably want to know why. For some patients, part of the answer may be found in their genes. Researchers and clinicians know that about one in every 10 patients diagnosed with cancer may have a genetic finding that helps explain why they developed the disease. But identifying those patients based solely on family history or other clinical clues can leave some inherited cancer risks undetected. At UK Golisano Children's, Project Inherited Cancer Risk is working to change that. The project offers genetic testing to pediatric cancer patients to look for inherited genetic variants that may increase their risk for certain cancers. Identifying those variants can provide information that affects a patient's treatment and long-term surveillance while also carrying potentially important implications for parents, siblings and future generations. "Knowledge is power," said Dr. John D'Orazio, chief of the Division of Hematology and Oncology at UK Golisano Children's. "Just having one of these syndromes does not guarantee that you'll ever get cancer." Instead, D'Orazio says identifying an inherited cancer predisposition can allow a patient's care team to develop a personalized surveillance plan based on the cancers associated with a particular genetic variant, with the goal of identifying disease as early as possible. Project Inherited Cancer Risk grew from a need D'Orazio saw while caring for children whose family members had been identified with inherited cancer risks through genetic testing. As the program developed, the team recognized that relying on family history and other clinical signs alone could miss patients who carry cancer-related genetic variants. Every pediatric cancer patient at UK Golisano Children's is now offered testing through the project. Dr. Amanda Harrington, medical director of the Pediatric, Adolescent and Young Adult Inherited Cancer Predisposition Service, works with families after an inherited risk has been identified to help them understand what the finding means and develop an individualized approach to screening and surveillance. For families, she says, receiving that information can bring complicated emotions, including anxiety, but it can also give patients greater ability to make informed decisions about their health. "It doesn't mean I'm definitely going to get this and the future is still unknown, but I have the choice of whether or not I want to participate in screening upfront and how I want to take care of my own health," Harrington said. Genetic counselors are an important part of that process. James Collard, a genetic counselor in the DanceBlue Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Clinic, helps patients and families understand testing options and results, assess risk based on personal and family histories and process the emotional implications that can accompany genetic information. The program has also grown beyond UK. With support from philanthropic partners and the Kentucky Pediatric Cancer Research Trust Fund, Project Inherited Cancer Risk expanded to Norton Children's Hospital in Louisville, making testing available through the two institutions that primarily treat children with cancer in Kentucky. Following UK's entry into the Golisano Children's Alliance, D'Orazio and his colleagues have also begun working with other children's hospitals in the network, including participation in a multidisciplinary germline molecular tumor board that brings experts together to review inherited cancer predisposition cases. During Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, this episode of "Behind the Blue" explores how genetic testing is changing what clinicians and families can know about cancer risk — and how that knowledge can inform treatment, screening and care for patients and their relatives. D'Orazio, Harrington and Collard also discuss the emotional impact of living with an inherited cancer risk and the team's ongoing work to develop educational and psychosocial resources based on feedback directly from patients and families. 'Behind the Blue' is available via a variety of podcast providers, including Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Spotify. Subscribe to receive new episodes each week, featuring UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists, writers and the most important news impacting the university. 'Behind the Blue' is a production of the University of Kentucky. Transcripts for most episodes are now embedded in the audio file and can be accessed in many podcast apps during playback. Transcripts for older episodes remain available on the show's blog page.  To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here. This interview has been edited for time and clarity.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (September 10, 2026) – Taking steps toward better health doesn't always have to begin in a doctor's office. Sometimes it can start with a blood pressure check, a conversation about nutrition or a simple screening that identifies a potential health concern before it becomes something more serious. On Saturday, Sept. 19, UK HealthCare and University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension will bring those opportunities — along with plenty of family-friendly activities — together for the fourth annual Be Healthy Bash. The free community health and wellness event will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Fayette County Extension Office, located off Red Mile Road. More than 50 organizations from across UK, along with community partners and sponsors, will provide health screenings, wellness information and other resources designed to help Kentuckians take steps toward healthier lives. Trudi Matthews, chief of Value-Based Programs, Public Policy and Community Initiatives for UK HealthCare, says events like the Be Healthy Bash are an important part of the university's efforts to reach people before health concerns become more serious. "We are trying to do the right thing to not only care for the people who are in our clinics and our hospitals and other facilities, but we're also working really hard to try and go further upstream to prevent downstream complications," Matthews said. Visitors to the Be Healthy Bash can access services and information including blood pressure checks, vision screenings, hemoglobin A1C testing, immunizations and resources related to heart disease, diabetes, obesity, cancer, behavioral health and other health concerns. UK Cooperative Extension and other university experts will also offer resources focused on nutrition and healthy eating, including cooking demonstrations and information designed to help families prepare healthier meals that are affordable and accessible. But Matthews emphasizes that the event is intended to be more than a traditional health fair. Activities include Zumba, inflatables, a petting zoo, a farmers market, a smoothie bike and other opportunities aimed at making health and wellness approachable — and fun — for people of all ages. The event is free, and lunch will be provided to the first 500 attendees. Organizers expect between 500 and 1,000 people to attend this year. On this episode of "Behind the Blue," Matthews discusses the importance of preventive care, the barriers that can make accessing health resources difficult and how the Be Healthy Bash brings expertise from across UK and UK HealthCare together in one place to help Kentuckians connect with screenings, information and follow-up care. 'Behind the Blue' is available via a variety of podcast providers, including Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Spotify. Subscribe to receive new episodes each week, featuring UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists, writers and the most important news impacting the university. 'Behind the Blue' is a production of the University of Kentucky. Transcripts for most episodes are now embedded in the audio file and can be accessed in many podcast apps during playback. Transcripts for older episodes remain available on the show's blog page.  To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here. This interview has been edited for time and clarity.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (September 3, 2026) – University of Kentucky researchers are working to better understand how ticks move through Kentucky landscapes — and how wildlife, livestock, people and land use all connect in the spread of tick-borne disease. On this episode of Behind the Blue, Kody Kiser talks with Hannah Tiffin, Ashley Russo and Matt Springer from the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food & Environment about a UK research project focused on tick ecology and surveillance. The team is collecting ticks from different environments, including wooded areas, cattle pastures, horse pastures and mixed-use livestock settings, to learn more about which tick species are present, when they are active and what disease-causing pathogens they may carry. A major focus of the project is the role of mice, which Tiffin describes as "tick magnets." Because mice are common across many environments and can carry both ticks and pathogens, they can help researchers understand how ticks move between wildlife areas, farms, pastures and places where people and animals live and work. Russo discusses the fieldwork behind the project, including tick dragging, checking livestock, trapping mice and testing new mouse nesting boxes as a possible surveillance tool. If successful, that tool could one day support broader community-based science efforts, allowing people across Kentucky to help researchers track tick distribution and seasonality. The conversation also highlights the student learning component of the project, with undergraduate and graduate students gaining hands-on experience in wildlife handling, tick identification, field research and vector-borne disease education. Springer adds perspective on how wildlife management, outdoor recreation, agriculture and public health all intersect when studying ticks in Kentucky. The episode closes with practical advice for listeners who spend time outdoors, work with animals or have pets at home. The researchers emphasize knowing your risk, using prevention tools, checking yourself and your animals for ticks, and removing attached ticks promptly and properly. 'Behind the Blue' is available via a variety of podcast providers, including Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Spotify. Subscribe to receive new episodes each week, featuring UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists, writers and the most important news impacting the university. 'Behind the Blue' is a production of the University of Kentucky. Transcripts for most episodes are now embedded in the audio file and can be accessed in many podcast apps during playback. Transcripts for older episodes remain available on the show's blog page.  To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here. This interview has been edited for time and clarity.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (August 28, 2026) – THIS IS AN ENCORE EPISODE. A new partnership at Golisano Children's at UK will help put books directly into the hands of Kentucky children and families. On this episode of Behind the Blue, host Kody Kiser talks with Kelsey Rahenkamp of Golisano Children's at UK, Lindsey Westerfield of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library of Kentucky and Dr. Anna Thamann, a neonatal neurologist at UK HealthCare, about the hospital becoming an official enrollment location for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. Through the partnership, families coming through Golisano Children's at UK can enroll children under age 5 in the program and receive their first book before they leave. Children enrolled in Imagination Library receive a free, high-quality, age-appropriate book in the mail each month until they turn 5, at no cost to families.  Rahenkamp explains that families do not have to be patients to sign up. Patients, siblings, visitors, grandparents and others can enroll eligible children while at the hospital by scanning posted QR codes or visiting the pediatric education center for help with enrollment and to receive the first book.  The episode also explores the broader impact of early literacy. Westerfield discusses the history and statewide reach of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, which is now available in every county in Kentucky. She also shares research showing that children enrolled in the program are more likely to be read to regularly and more likely to demonstrate early literacy and kindergarten readiness skills.  Thamann explains what happens in a child's brain during the first months and years of life, and why reading, talking and shared time with parents and caregivers can support language development, bonding and emotional connection. She describes parents, teachers and caregivers as "brain changers," helping shape early development through simple, everyday interactions.  Together, the guests discuss why a children's hospital is a natural partner for a literacy program and how access to books can support the whole child, from physical health to development, confidence and long-term success. To learn more about Dolly Parton's Imagination Library of Kentucky or to enroll a child, visit imaginationlibrary.com. 'Behind the Blue' is available via a variety of podcast providers, including Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Spotify. Subscribe to receive new episodes each week, featuring UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists, writers and the most important news impacting the university. 'Behind the Blue' is a production of the University of Kentucky. Transcripts for most episodes are now embedded in the audio file and can be accessed in many podcast apps during playback. Transcripts for older episodes remain available on the show's blog page.  To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here. This interview has been edited for time and clarity.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (August 20, 2026) – A UK HealthCare patient who has lived with severe lupus for more than 20 years recently became the second patient in the United States to receive an experimental CAR-T cell therapy through a Phase 2 clinical trial. On this episode of 'Behind the Blue,' Dr. Paramarajan Piranavan, chief of the Division of Rheumatology at UK HealthCare, and Dr. Izabela Antic, the patient's primary rheumatologist and a sub-investigator on the study, explain how the trial came to UK and why researchers are cautiously hopeful about what this approach could mean for patients with severe, treatment-resistant autoimmune disease. CAR-T cell therapy is most often associated with blood cancers. In this study, researchers are testing whether a similar approach can help patients with severe lupus by targeting the B cells that help drive the disease. Dr. Piranavan explains how lupus disrupts the immune system, why some patients become refractory to available treatments and how an "immune reset" could allow the body to rebuild without the same harmful immune memory. The episode also explores what the treatment process requires, including screening, cell collection, genetic modification, chemotherapy, infusion and a 14-day hospital stay for close monitoring. Dr. Antic discusses the patient's decision to participate after years of aggressive disease and failed treatments, while both physicians emphasize that this remains an experimental therapy and that one patient's experience cannot determine whether the treatment will work for others. Also central to this complex clinical trial is the UK Center for Clinical and Translational Science, which has provided extensive support from its research coordinators, clinical research clinics and nurses, and regulatory and finance teams.  Since the study involves multiple areas across UK's research enterprise and hospital system, combining standard patient care with investigational treatment, there are unique challenges that require a multidisciplinary, creative and highly dedicated team. "It has truly involved a herculean effort, and we are all so committed to the success of this clinical trial — not just for this patient but also to bring CAR-T forward as a cutting-edge treatment beyond oncology and thus open up the doors for so many other therapeutic areas," said Dorothy Ross, research coordinator and senior research development director for the CCTS. 'Behind the Blue' is available via a variety of podcast providers, including Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Spotify. Subscribe to receive new episodes each week, featuring UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists, writers and the most important news impacting the university. 'Behind the Blue' is a production of the University of Kentucky. Transcripts for most episodes are now embedded in the audio file and can be accessed in many podcast apps during playback. Transcripts for older episodes remain available on the show's blog page.  To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here. This interview has been edited for time and clarity.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (August 14, 2026) – The University of Kentucky Alumni Association started the Great Teacher Award program in 1961 to honor excellent teaching at the university. There have been more than 300 teachers honored since that first year. Nominations may only be submitted by current students.  To receive the award, a candidate must: Hold the rank of full-time lecturer or above and have been a member of the faculty for the past three years at UK. Have superior knowledge of the subject matter. Have original and innovative classroom presentations. Demonstrate concern for students, both inside and outside the classroom setting. Not have been a recipient of the award for the past 10 years. A committee of the UK Alumni Association Board of Directors and a representative from the student organization Omicron Delta Kappa select the recipients based on objective rating and ranking of the eligible nominations submitted. This episode of Behind the Blue spotlights one of the six Great Teacher Award winners for 2025: Robin Cooper, a professor of neurobiology and neurophysiology in the UK College of Arts & Sciences. Cooper's research focuses on the mechanisms underlying synaptic differentiation and communication between neurons and muscle cells. A comparative physiologist, he has spent decades investigating how living systems work and fostering the same curiosity in his students. An accomplished scholar, he has published extensively, served as editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Zoological Research, and is deeply engaged in community outreach and STEM education.  'Behind the Blue' is available via a variety of podcast providers, including Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Spotify. Subscribe to receive new episodes each week, featuring UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists, writers and the most important news impacting the university. 'Behind the Blue' is a production of the University of Kentucky. Transcripts for most episodes are now embedded in the audio file and can be accessed in many podcast apps during playback. Transcripts for older episodes remain available on the show's blog page.  To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here. This interview has been edited for time and clarity.

The University of Kentucky Alumni Association established the Great Teacher Awards in 1961 to recognize outstanding teaching at UK. More than 300 faculty members have received the honor, and nominations may only be submitted by current students. Honorees must demonstrate exceptional knowledge of their subject, innovative teaching, and a strong commitment to students inside and outside the classroom. On this episode of Behind the Blue, Steve Shaffer speaks with 2026 award recipient ToniMarie Marchioni, professor of oboe in the UK College of Fine Arts, about the highly personal nature of one-on-one music instruction, the connection between performing and teaching, and her goal of helping students become independent problem-solvers who carry lessons in excellence, accountability and integrity far beyond the oboe studio. 'Behind the Blue' is available via a variety of podcast providers, including Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Spotify. Subscribe to receive new episodes each week, featuring UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists, writers and the most important news impacting the university.  'Behind the Blue' is a production of the University of Kentucky. Transcripts for most episodes are now embedded in the audio file and can be accessed in many podcast apps during playback. Transcripts for older episodes remain available on the show's blog page.  To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here. This interview has been edited for time and clarity.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 9, 2026) – THIS IS AN ENCORE EPISODE. Schyler Simpson, PhD, is no stranger to the University of Kentucky. A three-degree UK alum, she has spent years serving students in a variety of roles across campus, including teaching, advising, recruiting, and retention and engagement work in the College of Communication and Information. In her new role as director of Nationally Competitive Awards, she now helps students explore prestigious opportunities such as the Rhodes, Fulbright, Goldwater, Marshall and Truman awards.  The University of Kentucky's Office of Nationally Competitive Awards helps students pursue major scholarships, fellowships and study-abroad opportunities that can shape academic careers and open doors around the world. Despite the large amount of national competition, Simpson believes UK students are just as prepared and motivated to achieve these opportunities, saying, "students should not think that maybe they're not prepared enough or not ready enough, because this office is definitely proof that they can compete on a national level and win."  On this episode of 'Behind the Blue', Simpson reflects on the path that brought her to the role, explains how her office works directly with students on everything from identifying opportunities to refining essays and application materials, and discusses the life-changing impact these awards can have on students and why building awareness of those opportunities across campus is a major priority. 'Behind the Blue' is available via a variety of podcast providers, including Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Spotify. Subscribe to receive new episodes each week, featuring UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists, writers and the most important news impacting the university. 'Behind the Blue' is a production of the University of Kentucky. Transcripts for most episodes are now embedded in the audio file and can be accessed in many podcast apps during playback. Transcripts for older episodes remain available on the show's blog page.  To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here. This interview has been edited for time and clarity.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 2, 2026) – As the United States marks the 250th anniversary of its founding, the University of Kentucky Department of History is helping the campus and broader community think more deeply about 1776 — not only as a moment of celebration, but as a moment for reflection. Through its 'Celebrating 1776' lecture series, public events, film screenings and courses, the department is bringing together historians, public scholars and UK experts to explore the American Revolution, the Declaration of Independence and the ideas that have shaped the nation across two and a half centuries. On this episode of 'Behind the Blue,' Amy Murrell Taylor, Ph.D., the T. Marshall Hahn Jr. Professor of History at UK, joins host Kody Kiser to discuss America 250, Kentucky's place in the story of the founding era and why the principles of liberty, equality and governance by the people remain so alive in the national conversation. "These are moments, yes, of celebration, but moments that encourage people to stop and think: what are we celebrating exactly?" Taylor said. "What is this nation? What is this Declaration of Independence that we're celebrating?" Taylor's scholarship focuses on the Civil War era, slavery, emancipation and the lived experiences of ordinary Americans. The last time she joined 'Behind the Blue,' the conversation centered on her award-winning book, 'Embattled Freedom,' and the national debate over Confederate memorials. In this episode, Taylor connects that earlier conversation to America 250 through questions of public memory — how people remember the past, what they choose to honor and how history continues to shape the present. "One through line between the conversations about Confederate memorials and the 250th is clearly how do we remember our past?" Taylor said. "How do we look back on it and learn from it and celebrate it?" Taylor also discusses Kentucky's relationship to the founding era. While Kentucky was not yet a state in 1776, the region was deeply shaped by the American Revolution, westward expansion, Indigenous resistance and settlement. Lexington itself was named for the Battle of Lexington in 1775, and what would become Kentucky was part of Virginia during the Revolutionary era. "Kentucky is part of what we might consider to be the traditional revolutionary story," Taylor said. "But it's also part of this other side to the revolution that hasn't gotten as much attention in our collective memory." The episode also previews the Department of History's 'Celebrating 1776' series. Events include public conversations and lectures with leading historians and public scholars, including Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Joseph Ellis; Christy Coleman, executive director of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation; a September screening of highlights from the PBS film "The American Revolution" by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt; and an October lecture by Patrick Spero, chief executive officer of the American Philosophical Society, on "André Michaux, Thomas Jefferson, and the Kentucky Conspiracy of 1793." The department is also incorporating the anniversary into coursework, including classes on the American Revolution and U.S. history. Taylor said students are engaging directly with founding documents such as the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, not simply to memorize them, but to understand their origins, their meaning and how Americans have continued to invoke them across generations. "What I want them to get out of reading these documents is they're not going to memorize them," Taylor said. "But I want them to generally understand basically what's in there, but walk away from my class with an impulse to always go back and look." For Taylor, America 250 offers an opportunity for the public to ask historical questions — not only about what happened in 1776, but about why those events continue to matter. "I would love for people in this moment to ask some questions about what they're celebrating," Taylor said. "Even as they're eating their hot dogs and watermelon and whatever they're having, maybe some questions will come to their minds." You can find out more about the UK Department of History here. And, you can learn more about the department's 'Celebrating 1776' lecture series here. 'Behind the Blue' is available via a variety of podcast providers, including Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Spotify. Subscribe to receive new episodes each week, featuring UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists, writers and the most important news impacting the university. 'Behind the Blue' is a production of the University of Kentucky. Transcripts for most episodes are now embedded in the audio file and can be accessed in many podcast apps during playback. Transcripts for older episodes remain available on the show's blog page.  To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here. This interview has been edited for time and clarity.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 26, 2026) – Summer is often thought of as the easy season — school is out, the days are longer and families are heading to pools, parks, camps, museums, beaches, mountains and airports. But summer also comes with questions, especially for parents, caregivers and travelers: Do we need vaccines before a trip? Are prescriptions refilled? What should we do about ticks, sunburns or injuries? And how can families keep kids learning without making summer feel like school? On this episode of 'Behind the Blue,' experts from across the University of Kentucky offer a practical "Summer Survival Guide" to help listeners plan ahead, stay safe and make the most of the season. The episode begins with Dr. Nick Van Sickels, an infectious disease physician at UK HealthCare, who discusses how travel clinics help people prepare for trips abroad. Housed within the Bluegrass Care Clinic, UK HealthCare's travel clinic helps travelers think through vaccines, food and water safety, altitude, transportation, medical evacuation coverage and destination-specific risks. Van Sickels emphasizes that travel planning is about more than checking a vaccine box. A travel clinic visit can help build a comprehensive prevention plan based on where someone is going, what they will be doing and what health needs they may have. Listeners will also hear from Dr. Dylan Spencer, a pharmacist with UK HealthCare Pharmacies and the UK PharmacistCare team. Spencer shares advice on refilling prescriptions before travel, keeping medications in original labeled containers, packing prescriptions in carry-on luggage, protecting medications from heat and moisture and checking whether over-the-counter supplies may be covered by FSA or HSA plans. The episode then turns to summer safety with Dr. Christopher Belcher, associate professor in the UK College of Medicine and associate program director for emergency medicine. Belcher explains how summer changes what emergency departments see, with more trauma, orthopedic injuries and environmental exposures. He discusses helmet use, water supervision, hydration, sunscreen, tick checks, animal bites, first-aid kits, fireworks safety and when families should consider the emergency department versus urgent care or a pediatrician. For families thinking about the "summer slide," Jonathan Thomas from the UK College of Education offers a lower-pressure approach to keeping kids' minds active. Rather than trying to recreate school at home, Thomas encourages families to use board games, reading, libraries, new places, made-up games and simple questions to keep children curious and engaged. The episode closes with Stuart Horodner, director of the UK Art Museum, who offers advice for families looking for meaningful summer outings. Horodner encourages visitors not to worry about being "right" when they visit a museum, but instead to notice what catches their attention, slow down, ask questions and let curiosity guide the experience. 'Behind the Blue' is available via a variety of podcast providers, including Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Spotify. Subscribe to receive new episodes each week, featuring UK's latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists, writers and the most important news impacting the university. 'Behind the Blue' is a production of the University of Kentucky. Transcripts for most episodes are now embedded in the audio file and can be accessed in many podcast apps during playback. Transcripts for older episodes remain available on the show's blog page.  To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here. This interview has been edited for time and clarity.