The Wisdom Project Podcast: Recent Episodes
Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History
The Wisdom Project podcast is produced by the Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History in the University of Kentucky Libraries. The podcast features stories drawn from oral history interviews and projects from the Nunn Center’s extensive collection of nearly 10,000 oral history interviews. Additionally, we will feature oral history-related news from all over the world.
In this episode of The Wisdom Project, host Doug Boyd explores the life-changing journey of kidney donation and transplantation through the stories of two childhood friends, Laura Ottaviani-Chacon and Dan Becker. Through intimate interviews with both donor and recipient—before and after the surgery—this episode reveals the emotional, medical, and human dimensions of organ transplantation. It examines the realities of life on transplant waiting lists, the growing role of social media and personal networks in finding donors, and the profound bond that forms when one person gives another the gift of life. Access oral history interviews online: Interview with Dan Becker, May 27, 2023
Interview with Laura Ottaviani-Chacon, June 10, 202
Interview with Dan Becker, Laura Ottaviani-Chacon, July 21, 2023
For more information about kidney donation or about becoming an organ donor: The National Kidney Foundation Episode produced by Doug Boyd Assistant Producer: Megan Hubbard and Emma Haas Music by Doug Boyd. The Wisdom Project is a podcast produced by the Louie B Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky LIbraries.
In this episode of The Wisdom Project Podcast, host Doug Boyd interviews acclaimed actor Steve Zahn for a deeply personal and unexpected conversation that moves far beyond Hollywood. Recorded as part of the Nunn Center's From Combat to Kentucky oral history project, this episode explores Zahn's lifelong fascination with military history, his profound respect for veterans, and his transformative experience traveling to Iraq on a 2008 Ambassadors of Hollywood morale tour. Access oral history interviews online: Interview with Steve Zahn, May 29, 2013 From Combat to Kentucky Oral HIstory Project Episode produced by Doug Boyd Assistant Producer: Megan Hubbard Music by Doug Boyd. The Wisdom Project is a podcast produced by the Louie B Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky LIbraries.
In early 2021, the Nunn Center and Dr. Janice Fernheimer partnered to launch the Women in Bourbon Oral History Project. This oral history project, built in collaboration with students, documents women who have played important roles in Kentucky’s bourbon industry. Doug Boyd and Janice Fernheimer reflect on this phase of the oral history project and some key themes expressed in the interviews.
Access oral history interviews online: The Women in Bourbon Oral History Project.
Episode produced by Doug Boyd and Janice Fernheimer
Assistant Producers: Taylor Davis, Emily Fay, Qwenton Briggs
Music by Doug Boyd
On June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court of the United States legalized same sex marriage. This episode explores the stories of two Kentucky couples and one lawyer who were part of the legal fight that led to the Supreme Court–and brought marriage equality to the country. The interviews are drawn from two Nunn Center projects, OutSouth: LGBTQ+ Oral History Project and the John G. Heyburn II Initiative for Excellence in the Federal Judiciary. Produced by Doug Boyd and Anu Kasarabada; Music by Doug Boyd.
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama was interviewed in Louisville, KY in 2013 for filmmaker Morgan C. Atkinson's documentary "The Many Storeys and Last Days of Thomas Merton" The Dalai Lama shared his memories of meeting Merton and the profound impact their friendship had on his life. Interview with His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, 2013. To learn more about Morgan Atkinson's documentaries: https://morganatkinson.com Music for this episode was composed by Doug Boyd
Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries
This episode features an interview with Mark Lyon Thornewill, interviewed on January 23, 2018. In addition to telling a story about dancing with Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret in 1947, this episode explores Thornewill's many adventures as a British naval officer during World War II, a priest, a husband, and a father. This episode features an interview with Thornewill's daughter, Joanna Hay.
Interview with Mark Thornewill, January 23, 2018
Music was composed by Doug Boyd, with the exception of a licensed version of "the Blue Danube" by Johann Strauss II.
This episode explores ghost stories about ghosts at the Wild Turkey Distillery. The ghost stories are from an oral history interview conducted in 2014 with Olivia J. Ripy for the Kentucky Bourbon Tales Oral History Project.
This episode was produced by Doug Boyd and Maddy Williams.
Music was composed and produced by Doug Boyd
In honor of the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, this episode features a powerful oral history interview conducted on September 11, 2002, with flight attendant Janet Foushee. Foushee recalls her memories of working on a flight that day.
Produced by Doug Boyd; Music by Doug Boyd
This episode explores the personal story of civil rights activist Charles Neblett who was a member of the Freedom Singers. Neblett was interviewed for the Kentucky Civil Rights Hall of Fame Oral History Project, a partnership between the Nunn Center, UK Libraries, the University of Kentucky's Office of Community Engagement, and the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights. Listen/search oral history interviews here: https://kentuckyoralhistory.org/catalog/xt7prr1pk37h
Produced by Doug Boyd and Hannah Jones; Music by Doug Boyd
This episode explores the story of moonshine in Wayne County, Kentucky. Interviews are part of the Moonshiners and Revenuers Oral History Project at the Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries and were conducted by Betty Boles Ellison and Russell Stockton between 1986-1988.
Listen/search oral history interviews here: https://kentuckyoralhistory.org/catalog/xt7kd50fxr0c
Produced by Doug Boyd and Hannah Jones.; Music by Doug Boyd
On November 7, 1996, the Heaven Hill Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky experienced one of the most devastating distillery fires of all time. Marking the 20th anniversary of the fire, this episode looks back from multiple perspectives. Full interviews are searchable online: https://kentuckyoralhistory.org
This episode was produced by Doug Boyd; Assistant Producer of this episode: JD Caruthers; Music by Doug Boyd.
Episode #006 of the Wisdom Project tells a story of archival discovery, linking Marshall Webb, a World War II veteran from Campbellsville, Kentucky, to the small town of Tremensuoli, Italy. This episode begins season 2 of the Wisdom Project podcast.
The oral history interviews featured in this episode are available online: https://kentuckyoralhistory.org
Marshall Webb’s papers and photographs (including his poetry) are available online via Explore UK: https://exploreuk.edu
View the original video story on YouTube: https://youtu.be/j5nOrByPE4U
This episode of the Wisdom Project was produced by Doug Boyd and Kopana Terry; Music by Doug Boyd
Episode #005 features an oral history interview with Effa Manley, the first African American woman to own a professional baseball team. She co-owned the Newark Eagles (Negro League) with her husband Abe Manley. In this episode Effa Manley looks back at the impact of Jackie Robinson and the integration of Major League Baseball on the Negro League.
To listen to and search the oral history interviews from this podcast: https://kentuckyoralhistory.org/catalog/xt7nzs2k9c74
Produced by Doug Boyd and Kopana Terry; Assistant Producer Charlotte Boyd
Episode #004 utilizes two oral history interviews conducted by poet/author Robert Penn Warren in 1964 with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X.
To listen to Robert Penn Warren's collection of oral history interviews with Civil Rights leaders, including the interviews used in this episode, go to http://kentuckyoralhistory.org
Produced by Doug Boyd and Kopana Terry; Assistant Producer J.D. Carruthers; Music by Doug Boyd
In honor of Veterans Day, episode #003 of the Wisdom Project focuses attention on the stories of two World War II veterans who both participated in the D-Day invasion. Jesse Beazley and Louis Bower tell powerful stories about their experiences. The interviews with Jesse Beazley and Louis Bower were both conducted by William J. Marshall and are part of the Colonel Arthur L. Kelly American Veterans Oral History Collection at the Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries. This episode is hosted by Doug Boyd.
To listen to and search the oral history interviews from this podcast:
Jesse Beazley, go to http://goo.gl/tHVUTf
Louis Bowers, go to http://goo.gl/uaWY9z
The Wisdom Project podcast is produced by Doug Boyd and Kopana Terry
Assistant Producer for this episode was J.D. Caruthers
©2015 Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries, All Rights Reserved
Music by Doug Boyd
Episode #002 features an oral history interview with Colonel Harland Sanders, founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken, and explores the foundational story of this company. Additionally, we explore the story of John Y. Brown, Jr.'s purchase of the company in 1964 and the company's transition into the global market. The interviews with Colonel Harland Sanders and John Y. Brown, Jr. are housed at the Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
To listen to and search the oral history interviews from this podcast:
Colonel Sanders, go to http://www.kentuckyoralhistory.org/interviews/24535
John Y. Brown, Jr. http://www.kentuckyoralhistory.org/interviews/27403
Produced by Doug Boyd and Kopana Terry
Assistant Producer Danielle Gabbard
©2015 Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries, All Rights Reserved
Music by Doug Boyd
This episode explores an oral history interview with Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis from 1981. The interview was conducted by Terry Birdwhistell for the John Sherman Cooper Oral History Project. The interviews with Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Terry Birdwhistell are housed at the Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries. To listen to and search the 1981 oral history interview with Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, go to http://kentuckyoralhistory.org/interviews/19058