The month of February is one we often think about love because of Valentine's Day, but it's also a month where we put the heart front and center. We put the heart first, not just because of love this month, but rather for health reasons. February is American Heart Month, it's a time when we should all focus a little more on our cardiovascular healt…

As I was thinking about a guest list for this upcoming year on Uniquely Kentucky, I knew it had to include a number of musical artists. It seems in the last year my ears have been delighted by so many new and upcoming Kentucky artists who are making their mark in the industry. I am also amazed by the wealth of talent in this state, namely the amoun…

If you have been wondering where the July episode of Uniquely Kentucky has been, do not worry you did not miss a thing. We decided to hit the pause button out of respect to several major tragedies making the headlines in eastern Kentucky in June and July. First the funerals for the deadly ambush on three Floyd Co county officers and a K9 in early J…

For this episode of Uniquely Kentucky, host Amber Philpott is talking sports. It is no secret she grew up playing and loving fast pitch softball in Kentucky. The game itself and really sports in general taught her so much about life, respect for yourself and others and about work ethic and discipline. June 23, 1972, changed the game for girls and w…

As a journalist now for 19 years WKYT's Amber Philpott says there have been stories that have quite frankly just fascinated her. There are stories that when simply mentioned she is compelled to click on our watch to learn the latest in the case or story. One of those stories is that of disgraced eastern Kentucky lawyer Eric C. Conn. The Floyd Count…

Uniquely Kentucky podcast host Amber Philpott is a self-proclaimed bookworm. As much as she loves reading, she also loves learning about authors, how they got their start, where their inspiration comes from and how they finally found the courage to put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard to make their stories come to life. This month on Uniquely Ke…

The month of March is Women's History Month, but did you know that as recently as the 1970s, women's history was an unknown topic for students K-12. In 1978 a California education task force began a movement to establish Women's History Week. According to the National Women's History Alliance it took until 1986, for fourteen states to declare March…

What does music do for you? Does a certain song transport you in time? Do you feel emotion through certain songs? Does music move you? Music is the soundtrack of our lives, the good the bad and the ugly. Music is often one of the things that can unite us. In this episode of Uniquely Kentucky host Amber Philpott talks with Michael Preacely, a rising…

Welcome back to Uniquely Kentucky, a podcast hosted by WKYT evening news anchor Amber Philpott. Uniquely Kentucky is dedicated to conversations with people in Kentucky or who have ties to the state who are interesting, inspire us and sometimes just simply fascinate us. In this first episode Amber talks with central Kentucky mural artist Wylie Caudi…

In the last year we have had to find a new way to bring you Uniquely Kentucky amid a global pandemic. When we first started this podcast, we loved recording in person, there is nothing like a good chat that then becomes a podcast. Once the pandemic hit, we were forced to connect with our guests in a different way, mainly online. In this episode I a…

As Renee Shaw likes to say she was born in Tennessee but grew up in Kentucky. Shaw came to the state to attend Western Kentucky University and once she graduated, she never left. Shaw is now a longtime anchor and host for Kentucky Educational Television. She got her start at KET in 1997 as a public policy reporter, she now hosts legislative coverag…

Jonathan Webb is the founder and CEO of AppHarvest, a new company based in Kentucky and focusing on making Appalachia the AgTech capital of the country and even the world. Webb a Kentucky native worked in New York and Washington but decided to return to Kentucky with an idea of using indoor farming to help change the landscape of agriculture. In 20…

As co-founder of Black Soil: Our Better Nature Ashley Smith is working to reconnect black farmers to their agricultural heritage and legacy. Founded in 2017, the Lexington based agritourism organization was started to help shine a light on the underrepresentation of minorities when it comes to Kentucky's agricultural world. There were so many thing…

Happy New Year how is your 2021 going so far. I know the world is still a tough place to navigate right now, I'm hoping like me you can try and look for the good anywhere we can find it. For the first Uniquely Kentucky podcast of the new year I chose a guest who spends his days looking for ways to put those positive vibes into the world. I believe …

In this episode of Uniquely Kentucky we are exploring the back roads of Eastern Kentucky through the eyes of a Nashville based photographer. Jay Farrell is a self-proclaimed urban and rural explorer who not only photographs, but also writes about what he says are forgotten corners of the Americana. Farrell is the author of a series of books entitle…

This week on Uniquely Kentucky we are sitting down with a Winchester, Ky native and man who fought for our country nearly making the ultimate sacrifice. Retired Marine Corporal Matthew Bradford lives by the motto "No Legs, No Vision, No Problem." During the month in which we celebrate Veterans Day we wanted to take a moment to talk with Bradford, t…

Who loves a good ghost story? I guess you could say I'm a sucker for a good story, and I really love those rooted most in history. When I was a child growing up in Harrison County, I often heard one ghost story that has been told for years and it’s another reason why Kentucky is so special. Communities here are rich in stories and tales that have b…

Welcome to Uniquely Kentucky, a podcast built around chatting with some of the state's most interesting characters and the things they are doing to making Kentucky so unique. On this episode we are sitting down with Lexington author and life coach, Vitale Buford about her new book "Addicted to Perfect, A Journey Out of the Grips of Adderall." In th…

The month of August is upon us and that typically means the start of a new school year is in sight for parents, but this year will look much different for students across the state as COVID-19 concerns cause schools to change up how students learns. My guest this week on Uniquely Kentucky is a central Kentucky man that by day is one of those educat…

As host of this podcast getting the chance to talk with anyone musically talented is extra fun for me, probably because I have no musical talent. I love to learn how people in the music industry got their start, what inspires them to make music and I love learning about the behind the scenes aspect of country music itself. The Bluegrass state is ri…

If you are like me, you continue to miss things that probably you took for granted before the world changed. I love live music and I adore sitting in a theater watching a live production. Hello Dolly, Mary Poppins, and Wicked are just some of my favorites. The lights on Broadway went dark on March 12th, as COVID-19 cases skyrocketed in New York Cit…

As we put this particular episode out it comes after a very trying week across the country in the wake of the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis that sparked outrage and a call to action to end police brutality and inequality. Here in Kentucky we have seen protests in the name of George Floyd and for the death of Breonna Taylor back in March in L…

Would you leave your home and go fight on the frontlines of COVID-19 in the heart of a hot zone? It is a big ask and this week as I am putting out another episode of this podcast it is National EMS Week. Our first responders are heroes, they go to work every single day not knowing what awaits them. They often walk into situations that many of us wo…

Matthew Mitchell will be entering his 13th season as head of the Women's Basketball program at the University of Kentucky this season. He came in with a vision of making the women's program a powerhouse program and he has done so using his three "winning tools" for success: honesty, hard work and discipline. Mitchell and his teams have helped build…

This week in Kentucky should have been Derby Week, meaning we should have been celebrating the sights and sounds of one of the best traditions in the state. Unfortunately because of COVID-19 it has been postponed, so we will have to wait until September to experience the fun Derby brings. I couldn't let Derby week pass without taking time on the po…

Normally this time of year we would be talking spring football and how the University of Kentucky Wildcats are looking for the fall, but with COVID-19 that is not the case. So to talk a little college football this week I'm sitting down with UK Senior Offensive Tackle and Lexington, Ky. native Landon Young. He decided to return to the Cats and fore…

If you are like me you are probably longing for those things that you once loved prior to the COVID-19 pandemic that have had to be put on hold right now so that we can all stay safe. For me, one of those things is sports and namely this time of year its golf. I love the PGA, I love following golf and I dream of a day when I can walk the course of …

One of the areas hit hard by the closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic is our restaurant industry. Here in Lexington and really all around central Kentucky we have a vibrant "foodie" scene if you will. Our tastebuds here in the city really run the gambit of different foods and we have so many amazing options. This week on Uniquely Kentucky my guest…

This week for Uniquely Kentucky Amber is talking with a Kentuckian who loves to be home, but is also probably one of the busiest guys she knows. Jason Smith is everybody's favorite home baker having been the first one to win the Holiday Baking Championship on the Food Network. While we are all being healthy at home, Jason is cooking up a storm and …

While the world seems very heavy right now with the COVID-19 outbreak and our new normal has changed our lives and in some cases turned them upside down. Despite the state we may be in, there is hope and there are things to laugh and smile about it. For just a bit Amber Philpott would like to use Uniquely Kentucky to take your mind off of all the h…

Here in Kentucky the last two weeks have been unprecedented, scary and uncertain we know. While Uniquely Kentucky is usually meant to give you a break from the hustle and bustle of the world around us, for this episode of Uniquely Kentucky Amber sits down with her co-anchor WKYT's Sam Dick to just talk about what has unfolded the last few weeks. In…

How many of us are guilty of not exploring more of the cities and states in which we live? Sometimes we forget that we can actually be a tourist in our own communities. Audra Meighan is helping people that live in central Kentucky explore one of the largest cities through a new book, “100 Things To Do In Lexington Before You Die.” Meighan is a cent…

With the recent deadly tornadoes that ravaged Nashville, Tenn. and surrounding areas Amber checks in on a friend and musician living in the Music City. Brandon Holder is a Tennessee native who cut his teeth on music in and around the Lexington, Ky. area when he was getting his start. Holder can now be found playing some of the most popular spots on…

Kimmery Martin is a critically acclaimed ER doctor turned author who just released her second book. Living now in the Charlotte, NC area, Martin grew up near Berea, KY living what she calls a very magical life that always included books. She admits she is a lifelong literary nerd who reads two to three books a week in her free time. On the heels of…

Please note, this episode of Uniquely Kentucky has mature content and may not be suitable for younger listeners. Human trafficking and sexual exploitation may seem like a big city problem, but places like central Kentucky are no stranger to the crime. The trafficking of humans, especially women is a nearly $10 billion industry in the United States.…

Kentucky is known for basketball, bourbon and horses, but music is also high on that list. From bluegrass, country, rock, jazz and more Kentucky has seen its fair share of amazing artists, musicians and songwriters. In Lexington, the live music scene is exploding with more and more, great music being heard in bars, clubs and breweries across town. …

Spreading joy one t-shirt at a time, that has become the unofficial company motto for Shop Local Kentucky. The company, selling fun and interesting t-shirts was started by husband and wife Rick and Joni Paynter in their garage. The grassroots style business quickly grew becoming the place many now turn for their favorite t-shirt. The Paynter's have…

Since 1935 the Miss Kentucky Organization has evolved from a mere beauty pageant into a well-respected program that has provided thousands of dollars in scholarship money to young women in central Kentucky. For many young girls across the state becoming Miss Kentucky is a dream and the woman crowned each year becomes a role model for so many. In Ju…

Every year many of us make resolutions or goals in the new year to change something in our lives, but sadly many of those fly right out the window in just a couple of weeks. One of the most popular resolutions for people is getting in shape and eating better. In this episode of Uniquely Kentucky Amber sits down with a Lexington, Ky. fitness trainer…

On New Year's Eve the University of Kentucky football team pulled off a thrilling win in the 2019 Belk Bowl with a 37-30 win over Virginia Tech. One of those players still celebrating that win is linebacker and UK graduate Kash Daniel. The Paintsville, Ky. native has been a leader both on the field and off for the UK football team. Wearing number 5…

Two brothers, a couple hundred dollars and a dream of starting a business is what led to the creation of the small business, New Frontier Outfitters. Jared and Josh Ravenscraft of Morehead, Ky. started the outdoor lifestyle brand two years ago selling a clothing line that some consider to be Appalachian chic. The two grew up loving the outdoors, bu…

With the Christmas season upon us that can only mean one thing, it is Christmas movie watching season! Time for you to sit around glued to your television or smartphone taking in endless hours of Hallmark, timeless classics or the hilarious Christmas favorites we have all come to love and adore. No one loves Christmas more than Amber Philpott and C…

Jacqueline Coleman will be officially sworn in as Kentucky's next Lt. Governor on Tuesday, December 10, 2019, Coleman has been hard at work since first being elected to the position back in November. Coleman will be busy serving in that role and as the Secretary of the Education and Workforce Development Cabinet. Coleman also has another new title …

Makenzie Thomas is a soulful singer and semifinalist on season 15 of the hit NBC show The Voice. Thomas, a native of Fleming Co., Kentucky grew up singing in church at the just the young age of 3-years-old. She says she is inspired by gospel, R&B and soul music. While she may have been eliminated in the Top 8 on The Voice Thomas has made a name for…

Tara Conner was crowned Miss USA in 2006, but the Kentucky native would encounter headlines of a different kind just a few short months later. Allegations of underage drinking and testing positive for cocaine put Conner’s title and career on the line. Her then boss and former owner of the pageant, Donald Trump gave her a second chance, but she was …

Uniquely Kentucky is rolling out season two, and episode one has a guest that knows her way around the kitchen and has her finger on the pulse of the food culture in central Kentucky. Chef Ouita Michel is a James Beard Foundation Award nominee and queen of the Bluegrass culinary scene. She and her husband Chris bought Holly Hill Inn in Midway, Kent…

If you love ghost stories, paranormal activity and things that are just plain strange, then you will love Lexington husband and wife team Jerry and Tracy Paulley. Together the two host the podcast Hillbilly Horror Stories which focuses on the paranormal, true stories behind some of your favorite scary movies and even unsolved mysteries. The couple …

Film director and writer William Robert Chadwell is a Corbin native who grew up watching classic 80’s films, idolizing people like Steven Spielberg and dreaming of one day producing a film of his own. With no formal filmmaking experience Chadwell has made that dream come true with his first film, Moonbow. Growing up in and around Cumberland Falls i…

On September 6, 2018 a routine walk into work for 38-year-old Whitney Austin turned in anything but routine. Austin, who is from Louisville was on a conference call while walking into the Fifth Third Office Tower in downtown Cincinnati when she found herself in the middle of an active shooting scene. Austin was shot 12 times and played dead so the …

Bourbon is just one of the things Kentucky is known for and its history is as rich as its taste. The stories behind the bottles though are an even bigger part of the experience. We know the distilleries of today, but what about those distilleries of days gone by and the stories that may have went with it. One man is using his love of history and ar…