♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> Renee: IN HONOR OF WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, WE HAVE SOME AUTHORS JOINING US WHO WERE EITHER MAKING HISTORY THEMSELVES OR DOCUMENTING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF KENTUCKY SHEROES WHO ARE NOT OFTEN CELEBRATED IN SCHOOL HISTORY BOOKS.

YOU WILL MEET A 10-YEAR-OLD, YEAH, A 10-YEAR-OLD WHO HAS WRITTEN ABOUT THE PANDEMIC AND A PAIR OF FORMER SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHERS TELLING THE STORY OF 30 FEMALE LUMINARIES IN THE STATE AND THEIR NEW BOOK FOR USE IN KENTUCKY CLASSROOMS, ALL COMING UP NOW ON CONNECTIONS.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOIN JOINING US ON CONNECTIONS.

HAPPY WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH.

WE FIRST MEET PRISHA HEDAU WHO PUBLISHED HER FIRST BOOK PANDEMIC 2020 LAST FALL, WRITTEN WHEN SHE WAS JUST NINE YEARS OLD SHE IS NOW BEING RECOGNIZED BY THE KENTUCKY ASSOCIATION FOR GIFTED EDUCATION'S DISTINGUISHED STUDENTS AWARD.

SHE HAS DONATED LARGE PORTIONS OF HER BOOK SALES TO DARE TO CARE FOOD BANK AND THE TEAM KENTUCKY FUND AND SHE HAS BEEN INTERVIEWED BY MORE THAN 100 GLOBAL MEDIA OUTLETS AFTER BEING NAMED ONE OF THE YOUNGEST KNOWN PUBLISHED AUTHORS.

WELCOME PRISHA.

I HOPE THIS INTERVIEW WILL BE AMONG YOUR FAVORITES.

I KNOW I HAVE SOME STIFF COMPETITION BUT IT IS GREAT TO HAVE YOU ON THE PROGRAM, DEAR.

>> THANK YOU, TOO.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HEAR.

>> Renee: YOU ARE NOW THE THE RIPE OLD AGE OF 10.

TELL ME LAST YEAR WHEN YOU WROTE THIS BOOK, WHAT IS THE BOOK ABOUT AND WHAT WERE YOU FEELING THEN THAT EVEN CAUSED YOU TO WRITE IT AND HOW DO YOU FEEL NOW?

>> WELL, I NEVER SET OUT TO WRITE A BOOK BUT THEN WHEN IT CAME TO THE PART WHERE I WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW WHAT, I WANT TO DO SOMETHING.

AND THEN WHAT HAPPENED WAS, I WATCHED THE NEWS AND I STARTED WRITING NOTE CARDS.

THOSE NOTE CARDS SOON TURNED INTO ESSAYS THAT WERE MORE DETAILED AND THE ESSAYS TURNED INTO A BOOK.

SO I SAID I SAT AT MY DINING TABLE AND I STARTED WRITING THIS BOOK AND I ACTUALLY HAVE IT HERE WITH ME RIGHT NOW.

PANDEMIC 2020, A NINE-YEAR-OLD'S PERSPECTIVE.

AS IT IS WRITTEN RIGHT HERE.

IT HAS PRACTICAL TIPS FOR ONLINE SCHOOLING, HOBBIES AND HEALTHY HABITS FOR COVID-19.

IT REALLY HAS ALL MY FEELINGS, ALL MY EMOTIONS, ALL MY EVERYTHING REALLY SOME SHOVED INTO IT.

>> Renee: WE JUST SAW A PICTURE OF YOUR NOTE CARDS.

LITERALLY YOU WERE WATCHING THE NEWS AND TAKING NOTES.

WERE YOU DOCUMENTING HOW YOU WERE FEELING ABOUT THE NEWS, OR WERE YOU SUMMARIZING WHAT THE DAY'S DEVELOPMENTS WERE OR WAS IT A COMBINATION OF BOTH?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

SO I WATCHED THE NEWS AND THAT IS THE TIME I REALIZED, THIS WAS AN HISTORIC EVENT AND I REALLY WANTED TO REMEMBER THE EXPERIENCE AND I WAS A LITTLE NERVOUS THAT I WOULDN'T BECAUSE I KNEW FROM THAT DAY THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO REMEMBER AND LOOK BACK TO.

SO THAT'S WHEN I STARTED WRITING NOTE CARDS ON MY DAILY BASIS WHEN LIFE WAS SLOWLY CHANGING INTO SOCIAL DISTANCING, MASKS, AND SO AND SO AND I WROTE THE THINGS I'M GRATEFUL FOR, HOW MY EXPERIENCE WAS WHEN I CAME BACK FROM SCHOOL, AND NOW IT'S VIRTUAL SO THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT IT WAS.

I WOULD SAY A DAILY BASIS LIKE WHAT I WOULD DO ON A DAILY BASIS.

>> Renee: A JOURNAL OR DIARY OF THAT.

I KNOW THE BOOK-- YOU HAVE A HARD COPY OF COURSE WOULD YOU HAVE BUT FOR A WHILE IT WAS ONLINE, BUT NOW PEOPLE CAN PURCHASE IT AND GET A HARD COPY OF THE BOOK IF THEY CHOOSE.

>> YES.

SO I BUILT MY WEBSITE WWW.PRISHA.COM AND YOU CAN GO ON MY WEBSITE OR GO TO AMAZON AND GET MY BOOK FROM THERE.

THAT ACTUALLY BRINGS ME TO MY WEBSITE.

SO WHEN I WAS NINE YEARS OLD, I DECIDED I WANTED TO MAKE A WEBSITE SO ALL MY INFORMATION FROM DIFFERENT SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS COULD BE AT ONE AND PEOPLE COULD KNOW ALL ABOUT ME IN ONE PLACE INSTEAD OF GOING TO DIFFERENT PLATFORMS.

I ALSO WANTED TO BE ABOUT ME AND SO I COULD EXPERIENCE HOW TO MAKE A WEBSITE AND SO AND SO.

SO THAT'S WHERE MY WEBSITE PRISHA.COM.

>> YOU ARE A SWELL KID.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?

DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

DO YOU WANT TO BE A WRITER OR AUTHOR?

DID THIS EXPERIENCE CHANGE YOUR KIND OF THINKING ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT TO DO WHEN YOU GET TO BE, WELL, YOUNGER THAN ME BUT WHEN YOU GET TO BE GROWN UP?

>> WELL, I ALREADY AM AN AUTHOR SO I GUESS THAT'S CHECKED OFF.

I'M GOING TO MIDDLE SCHOOL NEXT YEAR AND I ACTUALLY APPLIED TO (INAUDIBLE) MIDDLE SCHOOL AND GOT IN.

THAT ONE HAS A LOT OF STEM IN IT, WHICH IS DIFFERENT, LIKE TECHNOLOGY, SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS SO I THINK LOOKING AT THAT AND JUST WHAT I ENJOY AND WITH MY WEBSITE, I THINK I'M GOING TO BE AN ENGINEER WHEN I GROW UP BUT CHANGES ARE CONSTANT AND THINGS CAN CHANGE.

SO, YEAH.

>> Renee: I THINK YOU ARE READY FOR WHATEVER IS NEXT AND WHATEVER YOU DECIDE TO BE NEXT.

SO YOU ARE IN LOUISVILLE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, RIGHT?

>> YES, I GO TO A JCS SCHOOL.

>> Renee: YOU ARE JUST NOW GOING BACK TO SCHOOL IN PERSON.

HOW IS THAT GOING?

>> SO ACTUALLY WE COULD CHOOSE TO BE VIRTUAL OR GO IN PERSON.

FOR ME AND MY FAMILY, WE DECIDED WE WOULD GO VIRTUAL FOR A LITTLE BIT LONGER JUST FOR OUR OWN SECURITIES.

SO, YEAH.

>> Renee: DO YOU MISS YOUR FRIENDS?

TELL US A MEMORABLE PART ABOUT THE BOOK OR A PART THAT REALLY DOES SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD SOME PRETTY LOW MOMENTS THROUGHOUT THIS LAST YEAR AND IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT IT HAS BEEN A YEAR SINCE OUR WORLD WAS KIND OF TURNED UPSIDE DOWN AND FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND WHAT KIDS YOUR AGE AND YOUNGER AND OLDER ARE GOING THROUGH, WHAT DO YOU HOPE ADULTS WOULD GET FROM THIS BOOK?

>> REALLY I THINK THIS BOOK IS FOR ALL AGES, WHETHER YOU ARE SEVEN OR SIX YEARS OLD.

IT'S REALLY FOR ALL AGES.

IT'S A KID'S PERSPECTIVE ON THE PANDEMIC AND THAT'S WHAT I REALLY LIKE ABOUT IT.

>> Renee: ARE YOU HOPEFUL NOW?

DID YOU EVER HAVE ANY LOW MOMENTS WHERE, WE KNOW THIS HAS BEEN TOUGH ON KIDS AND NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE THEIR FRIENDS AND DO ALL OF THE EXTRA COOL STUFF THAT DO YOU WHEN YOU ARE YOUR AGE AND DEALING WITH SOCIAL DISTANCING AND ALL THAT.

YOU KNOW,CAN YOU KIND OF HELP US OLDER FOLKS UNDERSTAND HOW WE NEED TO LISTEN TO YOU ALL AND TO MAYBE JUST BE THERE IN A WAY THAT WE STRUGGLE TO BE?

>> I THINK THE KID'S PERSPECTIVE IS UNIQUE AND EVERYBODY SHOULD LOOK AT IT BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO FIGURE OUT, EVEN ME WHAT I WANT TO DO WHEN I'M OLDER AND WHAT I WANT THE DO NEXT.

LOOKING AT A KID'S PERSPECTIVE IS A GOOD THING TO DO AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

IN MY BOOK THERE WAS A CHAPTER CALLED BE GRATEFUL.

LET'S LOOK AT THE CONTENTS AND IT IS THE LAST CHAPTER, CHAPTER 10.

IT HAS ALL THE THINGS I'M GRATEFUL FOR.

WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT THE PANDEMIC, IT IS A PRETTY NEGATIVE THING, YOU KNOW, BUT THERE ARE SO MANY POSITIVE THINGS THAT YOU CAN TAKE OUT OF IT IN THAT CHAPTER I SHOWED WHAT I'M GRATEFUL FOR DURING THE PANDEMIC.

DURING THE PANDEMIC I PICKED UP A FEW HOBBIES.

PAINTING.

I'VE ALWAYS DONE DANCE AND DANCE I'VE CONTINUED AND DONE BETTER AT.

CHESS AND JUST DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.

I'M VERY GRATEFUL THAT ME AND MY FAMILY IS SAFE AND THERE ARE SO MANY LIKE MOMENTS TO CHERISH, MAKING COOKIES OR HELPING MOM IN THE KITCHEN OR DOING HOME WORK OR LEARNING NEW THINGS OR PLAYING CARD GAMES WITH MY DAD.

SO MUCH FAMILY TIME AND IT'S SO MUCH FUN.

>> Renee: WE ARE SEEING PICTURES OF YOU HAVING FUN, YOU KNOW, AND YOU ARE RIGHT, YOU'VE GOT SUCH GOOD PERSPECTIVE, PRISHA BECAUSE IF ANYTHING THAT THE PANDEMIC HAS TAUGHT US AND THE SILVER LINING IS TO BE GRATEFUL FOR OUR FAMILY AND OUR FRIENDS OUR RELATIONSHIPS AND THAT WE HAVE HAD SOME TIME TO BOND WITH THEM THAT WHEN WE ARE IN SCHOOL AND AT WORK AND DOING JUST THE STUFF TO MAKE A LIVING, WE OFTEN KIND OF DON'T DO AS MUCH OF, RIGHT THIS CAN BE A GOOD TIME TO STRENGTHEN THE BONDS.

BUT I HAVE TO ASK YOU FOR KIDS WHO MAYBE ARE NOT AS FORTUNATE AS YOU, THAT DON'T HAVE A GOOD SOLID FAMILY, DO YOU HAVE ANY WORDS FOR THE KIDS THAT FEEL PRETTY DOWN AND FEEL LEFT OUT AND FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE NO ONE REALLY TO TALK TO OR TO CONFIDE IN.

DO YOU HAVE ANY WORDS OF WIS COMFOR THEM.

>> WELL, I THINK WE ARE ALL EXPERIENCING THIS PANDEMIC AND IT'S...

SO LOOK AT THE POSITIVE SIDE AND ENJOY YOUR TIME.

I THINK MY PARENTS SUPPORTED ME VERY MUCH AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL SO I THINK WE HAVE ALL LEARNED THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC THAT WE HAVE ALL BEEN GRATEFUL FOR THE LIVES WE HAD BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

BECAUSE BEFORE I WAS SO BUSY AND, IT MADE ME GO BONKERS BUT NOW I'M HERE LIKE THAT WAS A GREAT LIFE.

I GET TO DO SO MANY THINGS AND EXPERIENCE THROUGHOUT MY WAY AND YEAH, BUT YOU CAN ALSO WRITE A DIARY OF THOUGHTS THAT CAN HELP SOLVE IT OUT PERSONALLY TO ME, MY MOM AND MY DAD, SAYING WHATEVER IS IN MY MIND TO THEM HELPS ME CLEAR IT OUT AND MAKES ME FEEL BETTER.

YOU COULD LOOK AT YOUR INSPIRATION LIKE ANY INSPIRATIONS YOU HAVE.

AND YOU CAN WATCH A VIDEO OR JUST KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT ALONE >> Renee: YOU ARE A WISE, WISE LITTLE GIRL AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT YOU BECOME AND WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE OLDER.

CERTAINLY IT IS GOING TO BE TERRIFIC AND I JUST AM HONORED THAT YOU MADE SOME TIME TO CONNECT WITH US TODAY AND I WISH YOU ALL THE ABSOLUTE BEST.

>> AND YOU KNOW WHAT?

AGE IS NOT A BARRIER.

AND NEITHER IS GENDER SO YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT AS LONG AS YOU WORK HARD AND STAY FOCUSED.

I REALLY WANT TO BE LIKE MY INSPIRATIONS WHEN I'M OLDER AND I WANT TO TAKE OFF THEM AND ADD IT TO ME.

MY INSPIRATION NUMBER ONE, MY PARENTS.

THEY'VE SHOWN ME SO MUCH AND I'M READY TO LEARN MORE THINGS FROM THEM.

I'M REALLY INSPIRED BY MICHELLE OBAMA AND KAMALA HARRIS.

I WAS REALLY INSPIRED BY HER QUOTE "I MAY BE THE FIRST BUT I WON'T BE THE LAST OR SHOULDN'T BE THE LAST" AND IT REALLY HIT ME TO THE HEART.

I WAS LIKE, HEY, YOU ARE POSSIBLE.

YOU CAN DO THINGS, GIRL.

SO, YEAH, JUST STAY POSITIVE AND DO WELL.

>> Renee: THUMB'S UP TO YOU, TOO.

THANK YOU SO MUCH IT HAS BEEN SO FUN TALKING WITH YOU.

AND WE ARE GOING TO BE IN TOUCH WITH YOU, I'M SURE.

SO DON'T GO ANYWHERE.

STAY WITH US.

THE INSPIRATION KEEPS COMING BECAUSE WE HAVE A PAIR OF EDUCATORS RELEASING A BOOK CALLED "BLUEGRASS BOLD" STORIES OF KENTUCKY WOMEN AMPLIFYING THE VOICES OF MORE THAN 30 KENTUCKY WOMEN, SOME WELL KNOWN AND OTHERS WHO OPERATED IN THE SHADOWS.

THE ILLUSTRATIONS ARE FROM FEMALE ARTISTS IN THE STATE AND WE'LL CATCH UP WITH THE DYNAMIC DUO ON CONNECTIONS.

DON'T GO ANYWHERE.

WE ARE DELIGHTED TO CONNECT WITH THIS DYNAMIC PAIR OF EDUCATORS WHO ARE ELEVATING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF KENTUCKY WOMEN IN OUR HISTORY BOOKS.

MADDIE SHE SHEPARD IS A DEEPER RESOURCE LEARNING TEACH IN THE INNOVATION DEPARTMENT OF JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND I SHOULD SAY Dr. CARLY MUETTERTIES IS THE DOCTOR OF CURRICULUM DESIGN AT THE KENTUCKY KENTUCKY FOR SOCIAL STUDIES AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR BOTH OF YOU LADIES FOR BEING HERE AND I WANT TO GIVE A CONGRATULATIONS TO Dr. CARLY MUETTERTIES FOR EARNING YOUR Ph.D., CORRECT?

>> YES, I EARNED IT DURING COVID SO I GOT TO DEFEND LAST SPRING.

>> Renee: WONDERFUL.

CONGRATULATIONS.

THAT SHOWS A GREAT DEAL OF FORTITUDE TO KEEP PRESSING THROUGH DURING THOSE TIMES.

AND THE FACT THAT YOU ALL HAVE CREATED THIS WONDERFUL PIECE OF WORK OF HISTORY DOCUMENTED HISTORY IN OF WOMEN IN KENTUCKY, MANY OF WHOM WE KNOW SOME THINGS AND OTHERS WHO WERE IN THE SHADOWS.

TELL US AND I'LL START WITH YOU, CARLY, TELL US WHY THIS WAS AN IMPORTANT PROJECT AND WHY NOW.

>> I WAS A HISTORY TEACHER BEFORE I WAS A CURRICULUM DESIGNER AND I WAS ALSO A STUDENT OF KENTUCKY AND AS A TEACHER AND AS AN ADULT, I REALIZED THAT AS MUCH AS I LOVE HISTORY, THAT I REALLY DIDN'T KNOW THE DIVERSE HISTORY OF KENTUCKY AND KENTUCKY WOMEN.

SO THE INSPIRATION FOR THAT BOOK WAS REALLY CHANGED THAT AND TO GIVE A BROADER HISTORY THAT TELLS ALL OF THESE DYNAMIC INSPIRING STORIES OF PEOPLE OF THE PAST AND PRESENT AND HOW THEY TOOK WHAT WAS IMPORTANT TO THEM, WHETHER IT WAS THEIR COMMUNITY, WHETHER IT WAS A CAREER AMBITION AND THEY USED THAT AS A WAY TO BETTER THEIR SOCIETY, WHETHER KENTUCKY OR BEYOND.

>> Renee: 30 WOMEN OUT OF THE HUNDREDS, THOUSANDS OF WOMEN THAT COULD HAVE BEEN A PART OF THIS BOOK, HOW DID YOU NARROW IT DOWN AND ARE THERE ANY KIND OF CONSISTENT THROUGH LINES OR THEMES THAT REALLY CONNECT THESE WOMEN THAT YOU ARE HIGHLIGHTING?

>> A FOCUS ON AGENCY AND A FOCUS ON ACTION.

ALL OF OUR WOMEN TOOK SOME KIND OF ACTION TO BETTER THEIR LOCAL OR GLOBAL COMMUNITY IN SOME WAY.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE REALLY WANTED TO FOCUS ON.

THROUGHOUT THE SELECTION PROCESS, WE TRIED TO REALLY HIGHLIGHT WOMEN THAT WERE DOING THIS IN REALLY DIVERSE WAYS AND SO WE WERE LOOKING FOR WOMEN THAT WERE GEOGRAPHICALLY DIVERSE.

THEY COME FROM ALL OVER KENTUCKY THEY CALM COME FROM ALL DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND TIMELINES AND WE WERE INTENTIONAL ABOUT CHOOSING WOMEN THAT WERE REPRESENTATIVE OF ALL KENTUCKIANS SO ALL OF THE WOMEN ARE RACIALLY DIVERSE AND REPRESENT FACETS OF OUR OWN IDENTITIES THAT WE HOPE KIDS AND ADULTS ALIKE WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THEMSELVES IN ALL OF THE STORIES SO REALLY TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY KENTUCKIAN FEELS REPRESENTED BOMB OR NOT IN ALL OF THE STORIES PRESENTED IN OUR BOOK.

>> Renee: AND AS I MENTIONED, TRYING TO WHITTLE IT DOWN TO JUST MORE THAN A COUPLE OF DOZEN WOMEN,TELL US ABOUT YOUR-- I'M SURE IT WAS AN ARDUOUS PROCESS OF GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE THESE WERE THE WOMEN IN THIS INAUGURAL ADDITION AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE I WONDER IF THERE IS GOING TO BE ANOTHER SEQUEL OR ANOTHER VOLUME TO THE WORK.

>> THERE ARE SO MANY STORIES THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY THAT ARE LEFT UNTOLD AND SO MANY VOICES AND PERSPECTIVES THAT THE WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BROUGHT TO THE TABLE.

WE STARTED AT, YOU KNOW, ONE NUMBER OF STORIES THAT WE WANTED TO HAVE IN THE BOOK AND ADDED A FEW THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS BECAUSE THEY WERE JUST WOMEN'S STORIES AND WOMEN'S VOICES THAT WE COULDN'T LIVE WITHOUT IN THE FIRST ITERATION.

THAT PROCESS WAS ARDUOUS.

WE CONSULTED WITH A FEW PEOPLE WITHIN THE SOCIAL STUDIES AND THE CIVICS AND EDUCATION SPACE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE BEING REPRESENTATIVE.

BUT IT IS WAS A LONG PROCESS AND LOTS OF SPREAD SHEETS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WAS REPRESENTATION OF EVERY FACET OF KENTUCKY THAT WE COULD THINK OF.

>> Renee: AND SO I DO WANT TO ASK YOU, CARLY, BUT THIS IS GOING TO BE A GREAT ONLINE RESOURCE FOR FOR EDUCATORS.

HOW DO YOU IMAGINE IT BEING INTEGRATED IN THE SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM OR EVEN IN AREAS OF STUDY.

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

WHAT WE ARE REALLY HOPING IS THAT FIRST TEACHERS USE THIS IN THE CLASSROOM THAT THEY CAN USE IT WHETHER TO SUPPORT LITERACY DEVELOPMENT OR TO CREATE A MORE ROBUST SOCIAL STUDIES INSTRUCTION.

WE PROVIDE FREE RESOURCES ON THE WEBSITE TO HELP TEACHERS INCORPORATE THESE STORIES INTO THEIR TRADITIONAL LANGUAGE ARTS OR SOCIAL STUDIES CLASSROOM TO HELP BRING KENTUCKY STORY INTO NOT ONLY-- BRING WOMEN INTO KENTUCKY'S STORY BUT ALSO BRING KENTUCKY'S STORY INTO THE NATIONAL NARRATIVE.

SO WE PROVIDE THAT FOR TEACHERS RIGHT NOW, BUT THE DREAM IS THAT TEACHERS AND STUDENTS USE THIS AS A LAUNCH PAD FOR THEIR OWN INVESTIGATIONS INTO NOT ONLY THESE WOMEN AND THEIR GREAT ACHIEVEMENTS BUT TO ALSO INVESTIGATE OTHER LEADERS OF THE STATE AND BEYOND THAT ALIGN WITH STUDENTS INTEREST WITH STUDENT IDENTITIES SO THAT THIS IS MORE OF A FIRST STEP TO PEAKING STUDENTS CURIOSITY INTO THE WORLD AROUND THEM AND THE PAST THAT BROUGHT US HERE.

>> Renee: AND IT'S NOT JUST TO ELEVATE GIRLS PERCEPTION OF WHAT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED WHEN YOU GROW UP TO BE WOMEN.

BUT ALSO HELPS BOYS UNDERSTAND THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF WOMEN, RIGHT?

I MEAN THIS IS NOT A GENDERLESS ENDEAVOR YES, IT'S ABOUT ELEVATING AND JUST BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT WOMEN DOESN'T MEAN IT IS JUST FOR WOMEN AND YOUNG GIRLS.

>> OUR FOCUS WAS TO BRING IN WOMEN'S STORIES BECAUSE THEY'RE SO UNDERREPRESENTED IN A LOT OF OUR CURRICULUM MATERIAL BUT YOU ARE RIGHT, WOMEN'S HISTORY IS ALL OF OUR HISTORY.

THIS BOOK ISN'T JUST FOR GIRLS OR WOMEN.

IT'S FOR ALL KENTUCKIANS AND REALLY ALL, EVERYONE OF ALL AGES BECAUSE THESE STORIES ARE, ALTHOUGH THEY ARE OF WOMEN, THEY REPRESENT PIECES OF AGENCY AND IDEAS AND THEMES AND CELEBRATIONS THAT ALL OF US CAN TAKE PART IN AND LEARN FROM.

>> Renee: LET US GO THROUGH A FEW THAT WE SELECTED AND WE WILL BRING THOSE UP ON THE SCREEN, YOU CAN GIVE US ALL THE WHOLE STORY, BUT THIS IS THE BOOK.

I LOVE THE ILLUSTRATION THERE AND THESE ILL ILLUSTRATIONS ARE DONE BY KENTUCKY ARTISTS, SOME ARE STUDENTS OF ARTISTRY, OTHERS WHO ARE SEASONED.

GEORGIA DAVIS POWERS, I MENTIONED BEFORE, WE WENT ON THE AIR, ONE OF MY PERSONAL FAVORITES.

CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH THESE AND THE ARTISTRY OF THE ILLUSTRATIONS?

CARLY, DO YOU WANT TO DO THAT FOR US?

>> WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO WALK THROUGH A PARTICULAR STORY OR TALK ABOUT THE ARTISTS?

>> Renee: EITHER ONE.

LIKE RIGHT HERE WE SEE THIS TRIO.

THAT'S REALLY INTERESTING.

TELL BUS THAT.

>> >> WELL, SO THOSE ARE STUDENTS FROM MARSHAL MARSHALL COUNTY AND THE REASON WE WANTED TO INCLUDE THEM WAS BECAUSE AT MARBLE COUNTY, THERE WAS A SCHOOL SHOOTING SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND THESE GIRLS FELT IMPACTED BY THAT.

AND WANTED TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF GUN LEGISLATION.

AND WE THOUGHT THEIR STORY WAS PARTICULARLY INTERESTING AND RELATABLE TO STUDENTS, NOT BECAUSE WE WANTED TO NECESSARILY TAKE A STAND ON POLITICAL ISSUES, BUT RATHER WE REALLY WANTED TO 'EM BOLDEN STUDENTS TO TAKE ACTION ON THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THEM.

EVEN IF IT IS UNPOPULAR.

IF IT IS SOMETHING THAT THEY FEEL LED TO DO, AND ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT, IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW PEOPLE RESPOND TO YOU OR JUDGE YOU THAT YOU NEED TO MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT'S THE RIGHT THING.

AND THAT STORY AND THAT IDEA IS IN SEVERAL STORIES ABOUT HOW WOMEN STOOD UP FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVED WAS RIGHT FOR THEMSELVES AND FOR THEIR COMMUNITY AND OFTEN FACED VIOLENCE OR BACKLASH.

BUT WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO BETTER THEIR SOCIETY.

>> Renee: AND I DO WANT TO GET TO THE POINT, I LOVE THE SKETCH.

IF YOU CAN TALK TO US, MADDIE, ABOUT THE ARTISTRY BEHIND... >> THAT'S BEAUTIFUL.

>> IT'S ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.

TALK TO US ABOUT THE ARTISTRY BEHIND THESE IMAGES.

>> ONE OF OUR FAVORITE PARTS ABOUT THIS BOOK IS THAT IT IS KENTUCKY THROUGH AND THROUGH SO EVERY ONE OF OUR ARTISTS IS A WOMAN FROM KENTUCKY AND MANY OF THEM HAVE PERSONAL CONNECTIONS TO EITHER THE WOMAN BEING DEPICTED OR THE STORY ITSELF AND THE THEMES WITHIN IT SO THAT CONNECTION WAS VERY INTENTIONAL AND WE ARE SUPER EXCITED TO NOT ONLY HIGHLIGHT THE STORIES OF KENTUCKY WOMEN BUT ALL OF THE AMAZING WCT ARTISTS THAT ARE WOMEN AS WELL.

>> Renee: SOME OF THESE ARE YOUNG STUDENTS I UNDERSTAND.

SO YOU HAVE A SPAN OF AIMS THAT ARE REPRESENTED BOTH AS THE SUBJECTS AND THE ARTISTS.

I MEAN IT IS SO WELL THOUGHT OUT.

I'M CURIOUS ABOUT HOW LONG THIS PROJECT HAD BEEN IN THE WORKS.

DO YOU EVEN REMEMBER AT THIS POINT BECAUSE I KNOW HOW, WHEN YOU GO FROM THE INCEPTION TO THE ACTUAL EXECUTION AND COMPLETION, THAT IT CAN BE A LOT LONGER THAN PERHAPS YOU PLANNED.

HOW ABOUT THAT, CARLY?

>> THE IDEA FIRST CAME TO ME OVER TWO YEARS AGO IT WAS PARTIALLY INSPIRED BY ANOTHER BOOK SERIES THAT FEATURED WOMEN FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD CALLED GOOD NIGHT STORIES FOR REBEL GIRLS.

AND THEN A COLLEAGUE OF MINE WHO, A PROFESSOR IN IOWA CREATED A SIMILAR BOOK FOR IOWA WOMEN AND NO SHADE TO IOWA BUT I THOUGHT KENTUCKY CAN DEFINITELY REPRESENT.

THAT WE HAVE GREAT HEROES HERE IN KENTUCKY.

SO ONCE I FELT COURAGEOUS ENOUGH TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT, I CONTACTED MADDIE WHO, WE ARE CONNECTED IN THE SOCIAL STUDIES WORLD AND SAID, I THINK YOU WOULD BE THE PERFECT PARTNER FOR THIS.

FOR THIS PROJECT AND SHE, WHETHER FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE, SHE JUMPED ON IT AND FROM THERE, THE PARTNERSHIP HAS BEEN JUST VERY STRONG AND ALIGNED IN TERMS OF THE VISION IN LIFTING UP WOMEN FROM THE STOARTS TO THE ARTISTS.

>> Renee: IT SEEMS LIKE YOU HAVE GOOD CHEMISTRY TOGETHER, A GOOD ENERGY TOGETHER THAT YOU FEED OFF OF VERY WELL AND I WANT TO GO BACK TO A QUESTION I ASKED ABOUT, NOW THAT YOU HAVE THIS FIRST PROJECT UNDER FOOT, AND READY TO GO, THINKING ABOUT PART TWO AND ARE YOU ALREADY WORKING ON THAT AND HOW SOON CAN WE EXPECT TO HAVE THE NEXT VOLUME?

>> WELL, WE DEFINITELY WILL NOT RUN OUT OF CONTENT.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF KENTUCKY WOMEN AND PLENTY OF STORIES FOR US TO TELL.

WE'VE DEFINITELY THOUGHT ABOUT A PART TWO.

IT'S NOT IN THE WORKS QUITE YET.

WE WOULD LIKE TO GET THIS ONE UNDER OUR BELT AND OUT TO THE PUBLIC AND GET SOME FEEDBACK ON THAT.

BUT THERE IS, LIKE I SAID, PLENTY OF STORIES FOR US TO TELL >> Renee: HAVE YOU HAD A FEW SELECT EYES EYEING IT AND GIVING YOU FEEDBACK AND WHAT HAS BEEN THE FEEDBACK?

>> SO FAR SO GOOD.

I WAS GOING TO SAY WHEN WE WERE WRITING IT, WE DEFINITELY REACHED OUT TO OUR FRIENDS, WHETHER EXPERT OR HISTORIANS ON SOME OF THE PEOPLE TO MAKE SURE WE WERE GETTING THE STORIES RIGHT, GETTING, KEEPING THE MAGIC OF THE INDIVIDUAL AND WERE BEING ACCURATE FOR THEM.

EVERYONE WHO IS STILL LIVING WE WOULD HAVE THEM READ IT AND GIVE US FEEDBACK AND I CAN SHOUT OUT MY PARTNER BECAUSE I READ ALMOST EVERY STORY TO HIM OUT LOUD AND HE PROVIDED SOME VERY GOOD FEEDBACK.

IT WAS REALLY A COMMUNITY EFFORT WITH THE STORY OF FRIENDS, FAMILIES AND COLLEAGUES AND BRINGING THEM TO LIFE.

>> AND IF EVER THERE WAS A TIME, I MEAN THERE WAS LOTS OF CONVERSATION ABOUT WOMEN.

WE HAVE HAD SOME UNFORTUNATE INCIDENTS OF LATE THAT HAVE ELEVATED THE DISCUSSION ABOUT HONORING WOMEN, REVERING THEM IN A WAY THAT IS NOT ABUSIVE, NOT SEXUALIZING WOMEN, RESPECTING THEM FOR THE INTELLIGENCE THAT THEY BRING AND THE LEADERSHIP THAT THEY BRING AND DURING THIS MONTH WHEN WE ARE HONORING THAT, CARLY, AND I WILL HAVE YOU DO IT AS WELL, MADDIE, GIVE US WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE IN HISTORY AND HISTORY THAT IS BEING MADE AND THE CHALLENGES THAT ARE AHEAD.

HOW IMPORTANT IS IT WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING RIGHT NOW, HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT?

>> I THINK ABOUT SOME VARIATION OF THIS QUESTION A LOT.

AGAIN, HAVING BEEN REALLY INVESTED IN HISTORY SINCE I WAS AN ADULT AND WANTED TO BE A HISTORY TEACHER, BUT NOT REALIZING HOW FEW WOMEN IN HISTORY I FELT I COULD LOOK UP TO, REALLY HAVING THESE MOMENTS OF REALIZATION AND WE SPOKE PREVIOUSLY ABOUT GEORGIA DAVIS POWERS WHO ADMITTEDLY I HAD NOT HEARD ABOUT HER UNTIL RECENT YEARS AND WAS SO INSPIRED BY AND HER ENERGY IN A WAY THAT I HADN'T SEEN GROWING UP IN MY STUDIES SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THE LANDSCAPE TODAY, WE LOOK AT HOW WOMEN ARE STANDING UP, WHETHER IN ME TOO OR, YOU KNOW, IN THE WHITE HOUSE THAT THESE STORIES ARE ALL THE MORE IMPORTANT FOR STUDENTS TO SEE HOW WOMEN ARE A PART OF ALL OF THESE NARRATIVES.

THEY'RE A PART OF ALL OF THE STORIES AND JUST BECAUSE WE MIGHT NOT HAVE HEARD THEM, DOESN'T MEAN THEY WEREN'T THERE AND THEY HAVEN'T STOOD IN THE FACE OF OPPRESSION OR MARGINALIZATION AND FOUGHT FOR THEIR RIGHT OR FOUGHT ON BEHALF OF OTHERS THAT NOW MORE THAN EVER, BOYS AND GIRLS NEED TO SO SEE THE POTENTIAL THEY HAVE IN THEM.

>> Renee: WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE, UNFORTUNATELY.

THANK YOU NOT JUST FOR BEING HERE AND TALKING WITH US BUT FOR THE WORK AND THE WORK YET TO COME.

I THANK YOU FOR DOING SUCH GOOD HOME WORK AND DUE DILIGENCE TO MAKE SURE THESE STORIES ARE HEARD AND RESPECTED.

THANK YOU.

AND SO THANK YOU FOR JOIN CAN US.

WE HAD THIS DYNAMIC PROGRAM TODAY WITH ALL THESE GREAT BRILLIANT AUTHORS AND WRITERS AND HISTORIANS.

IT HAS BEEN MY PLEASURE TO BRING IT TO YOU AND YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON TWITTER, FACEBOOK, ANY TIME.

GO BACK AND WATCH PREVIOUS EP SODS AT ket.org/PODCAST.