♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> HELLO AND WELCOME TO "INSIDE LOUISVILLE" WHERE WE INTRODUCE YOU TO THE PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS THAT MAKE UP KENTUCKY'S LARGEST CITY.

THERE IS NOTHING LIKE CURLING UP WITH A GOOD BOOK AND LOUISVILLE LOVES TO READ.

FROM THE LOUISVILLE FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY TO ONE OF THE OLDEST FAMILY-OWNED BOOKSTORES IN THE COUNTRY, THERE ARE PLENTY OF WAYS TO CURL UP WITH A GOOD BOOK IN LOUISVILLE.

THIS WEEK WE'VE GOT A REAL PAGE TURNER FOR READERS OF ALL AGES.

WE START AT LOUISVILLE'S OLDEST INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE, WHETHER YOU HAVE BOUGHT A BOOK THERE OR MAYBE JUST HEARD ABOUT IT FROM JACK HARLOW.

IF YOU KNOW LOUISVILLE, YOU KNOW CARMICHAEL'S.

>> WE ARE SECOND GENERATION FAMILY OWNED AND SECOND GENERATION WOMAN OWNED.

>> CARMICHAEL'S BOOKSTORE FIRST OPENED ITS DOORS IN 1978 JUST A FEW BLOCKS FROM WHERE IT IS TODAY.

>> IT WAS TWO FLOORS AND SOLD NEW AND USED BOOKS.

AFTER A COUPLE OF YEARS THEY MOVED TO THE CURRENT BARDSTOWN LOCATION AT LONGEST AND JAIME BROTHERS OPENED UP IN THE BACK.

WE HAD THE BOOKSTORE AND COFFEE SHOP SYNERGY AND RAMSEY'S NEXT DOOR OPENED UP AND BECAME A HUB FOR BARDSTOWN ROAD.

>> FOR ITS FOUNDERS, IT WAS A PERFECT STORM.

BARDSTOWN ROAD WAS JUST STARTING TO EMERGE AFTER THE 1974 TORNADO OTT BREAK.

CAROL AND MICHAEL, WHO COMBINED THEIR NAMES TO CREATE CARMICHAEL'S WANTED TO CREATE A FAMILY OWNED NEIGHBORHOOD BOOKSTORE THAT WOULD LAST.

>> I THINK THAT CAROL AND MICHAEL WERE EXTREMELY ASMART IN THE LOCATIONS THEY CHOSE.

THEY CHOSE CORNERS IN NEIGHBORHOODS SO IT'S HARD NOT TO THINK OF US AS A NEIGHBOR WHEN YOU ARE WALKING YOUR DOG PAST OUR DOORS EVERY DAY OR JOGGING BY.

WE ARE LITERALLY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> NOW IN TWO NEIGHBORHOODS.

CARMICHAEL'S SECOND LOCATION OPENED IN FRANKFORT AVENUE IN LOUISVILLE'S CRESS EBT HILL NEIGHBORHOOD IN 1999.

THEIR THIRD LOCATION, CARMICHAEL KIDS OPENED IN 2019, A BLOCK FROM THEIR ORIGINAL LOCATION.

CAROL AND MICHAEL RETIRED AND SOLD THE STORE TO THEIR DAUGHTER AND COUSIN KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILIAR I FAMILY.

NOW THEY HAVE 30 EMPLOYEES IN THEIR THREE STORES AND A HANDFUL ARE STILL FAMILY MEMBERS.

THEY SAY IT WAS THE FAMILY AND COMMUNITY MENTALITY THAT WAS THEIR HEART BEAT THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.

>> WE ENDED UP BEING CLOSED FOR THREE MONTHS.

SO WE COMPLETELY HAD TO UP END OUR BUSINESS MODEL.

WE HAD TO PIVOT AND RELY ON OUR WEBSITE WHICH WE BUILT OUT.

WE HAD TO RELY ON DELIVERY AND CURB SIDE PICKUP.

IT WAS SWEET.

THEY WOULD LEAVE US NOTES.

ONE DAY WE CAME IN AND THERE WAS A HEART MADE OF ROSE PET ALES ON THE FRONT STOOP SOMEBODY HAD MADE TO SAY THEY MISSED US.

IT WAS HEARTENING AND SCARY BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT, LIKE A LOT OF OTHER BUSINESSES, WOULD WE BE ABLE TO SURVIVE THIS?

>> THEY HAVE BEEN SURVIVING FOR 45 YEARS.

LOUISVILLE'S OLDEST INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE AND ONE OF THE OLDEST IN THE COUNTRY AND GETTING A NATIONAL FOLLOWING.

>> WE HAVE A UNIQUE RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR LOCAL RAPPER, JACK HARLOW WHO IS A REGULAR CUSTOMER.

HE IS A TRUE BLUE REARED.

WE CAN ATTEST TO THAT, BUT WE ARE ALSO REALLY HONORED AND KIND OF AMAZED THAT WE, AS AN INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE, GOT NAME CHECKED IN HIS SONG AND HE ACTUALLY SHOT PART OF THE VIDEO ON OUR STOOP AT OUR FRANKFORT AVENUE STORE.

AND IT IS SO FUNNY THAT WE GET ONLINE ORDERS FROM PLACES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY SAYING, I SAW YOU IN THE JACK HARLOW VIDEO AND WE WANT TO ORDER SOMETHING OR PEOPLE WILL BE VISITING FOR ANOTHER REASON AND THEY SAY THEY HAVE TO GO TO CARMICHAEL'S BECAUSE IT'S IN THE JACK HARLOW VIDEO.

WE THINK THAT IS SUPER COOL.

AND HONESTLY I DON'T KNOW OF ANY OTHER BOOKSTORES THAT CAN BRAG ON THAT.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ WELL, ANOTHER WAY YOU CAN GET READING IN LOUISVILLE IS, OF COURSE, AT THE LOUISVILLE FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

AND PAUL BURNS IS THE COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR THERE FOR THE LIBRARY, WHICH IS ABOUT A LOT MORE THAN JUST CHECKING OUT BOOKS.

YOU'VE GOT EVERYTHING FROM THE MAKER SPACE TO CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS, HOW-TO FESTIVAL.

YOU ALL HAVE A LOT GOING ON.

>> WE DO.

YOU KNOW, IT'S ALL ABOUT NOT ONLY ENGAGING KIDS, BUT IT'S ENGAGING ADULTS AT ALL STAGES OF LEARNING THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFE.

>> SO TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THOSE PROGRAMS THAT PEOPLE MAY NOT REALIZE YOU ALL DO.

>> WELL, YOU MENTIONED THE MAKERS SPACE.

THAT'S ONE OF OUR NEW THINGS THAT WE STARTED OFFERING AT OUR REGIONAL LIBRARIES.

IT HAS BECOME VERY POPULAR.

WE ARE ADDING THAT INTO THE LIBRARIES AIS WE BUILD THEM.

IF YOU ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE MAKER SPACE, IT'S A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN COME AND MAKE THINGS.

SO SOME OF THE TOOLS WE OFFER ARE HIGH TECH AND LOW TECH TOOLS SO IT MAY BE SOING SEWING MACHINES.

WE HAVE LASER CUTTERS TO DO HIGHER TECH KINDS OF THINGS.

3D PRINTERS.

WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE FROM ENTREPRENEURSHIPS, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO MODEL SOMETHING THAT THEY WANT TO TAKE TO MARKET, TO PEOPLE SELLING THINGS ON ET CETERAY THAT ETSY THEY'VE MADE AT THE LIBRARY.

A GREAT RESOURCE TO OFFER TO THE COMMUNITY.

>> MAYBE THE NEXT BIG INVENTION COMES FROM THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

SO OKAY, LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS AT YOU ALL OFFER.

ONE THING THAT I'M A BIG FAN OF IS THE LIBBY APP.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO SUBSCRIBE TO AUDIBLE TO LISTEN TO AID YO' BOOKS.

>> WE HAVE E. BOOKS THAT YOU CAN DOWNLOAD.

LIBBY IS A GREAT APP.

IT WORKS WONDERFULLY.

YOU CAN JUST GO ON THERE AND FIND BOOKS THAT INTEREST YOU AND LISTEN TO THEM AT YOUR LEISURE ONCE YOU'VE CHECKED THEM OUT.

THEY GO AWAY AT THE END OF IT SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ANY LATE FEES OR LOSING THE BOOK.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT'S MY FAVORITE PART.

BUT THAT IS AN INCREDIBLE RESOURCE.

NOW YOU GUYS ARE DOING SOME MAJOR EXPANSIONS RIGHT NOW.

SO YOU HAVE RENOVATIONS GOING ON AT THE MAIN LIBRARY, PORTLAND AND PARKLAND AND THEN A BRAND NEW LIBRARY COMING UP.

TELL US THE UPDATE ON THAT.

>> THE NEW LIBRARY WILL BE IN FERN CREEK, THE FERN CREEK BRANCH CLOSED IN 2019 AND WE ARE THRILLED TO BRING BACK LIBRARY SERVICE TO THAT END OF THE COMMUNITY.

A BEAUTIFUL 18,000 SQUARE FOOT LIBRARY.

THE PARKLAND LIBRARY WAS ONE OF OUR ORIGINAL CARNEGIE LIBRARIES THAT CLOSED IN 1986.

PARK LAND COMMUNITY HAS HAD A LIBRARY FOR ALMOST 40 YEARS SO WE ARE THRILLED TO BE ABLE TO REOPEN THAT BRANCH AND EXPANDING IT AS WELL.

IT IS GOING TO BE FANTASTIC AND THAT WILL OPEN PROBABLY FEBRUARY OR MARCH OF 2025.

IT'S COMING UP QUICKLY.

AND PORTLAND, ONE OF OUR CARNEGIES THAT HAS NEVER BEEN MAJORLY RENOVATED.

WE ARE DOUBLING IT AND EXPANDING THE SIZE.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE HISTORY THERE OF THE LOUISVILLE LIBRARY AND THE CARNEGIE CONNECTION AND OUR MAIN BRANCH IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BUILDINGS.

>> IT IS.

AND YOU KNOW, WE HAD A FLOOD, YOU KNOW, BACK IN 2009 THAT DAMAGED THE BUILDING.

WE DID A LOT OF RENOVATIONS TO THE CARNEGIE SIDE, THE YORK STREET BUILDING BUT THE 1969 EDITION HASN'T BEEN UPDATED IN QUITE A WHILE IN ANY MAJOR WAY.

SO THAT'S THE FOCUS OF THIS RENOVATION THAT WE ARE DOING AND WE ARE GOING BRING IN A LOT OF THOSE SAME SERVICES THAT WE OFFER AT OUR NEW REGIONAL LIBRARIES LIKE MAKER SPACES, BETTER MEETING ROOMS, THINGS LIKE THAT, INTO THAT BEAUTIFUL BUILDING.

SO WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

>> SO MANY THINGS GOING ON AND YOU MENTIONED EARLIER, TOO, SOME OF THE CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS AND THIS IS WHERE YOU CAN REALLY GET 'EM EARLY.

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, THAT'S ONE EFFORT THINGS THAT WE ARE BEST KNOWN FOR, OUR CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING.

WE OFFER STORY TIMES WEEKLY, WHICH IS A WAY TO HELP PARENTS, YOU KNOW, TEACH THEIR KIDS HOW TO READ, LEARN THE EARLY LITERACY SKILLS AND HELP PREPARE THEM FOR PRESCHOOL AND KINDERGARTEN.

BUT WE DO LOTS OF BIG PROGRAMMING FOR KIDS, TOO, JUST TO MAKE IT EXCITING AND LEARNING FUN.

SOME OF THE THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT EXPECT, WE DID A PROGRAM PARTNERSHIP LAST YEAR WHERE WE BROUGHT IN PROFESSIONAL WRESTLERS AND ACTUALLY SET UP A PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING RING THERE AND THEY MANIES READ TO THE KIDS AND SO IT WAS A GREAT WAY TO ENGAGE KIDS AND GET THEM EXCITED ABOUT THE LIBRARY.

>> ONE EFFORT THINGS THAT JUST STARTED IS NEXT SEASON OF ONCE UPON AN ORCHESTRA.

TELL US ABOUT THAT?

>> SO THIS IS OUR FOURTH YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ORCHESTRA AND THEY BRING ENSEMBLES INTO THE LIBRARY.

THEY READ A STORY THAT THEY HAVE ACTUALLY PAID COMPOSERS TO COMPOSE MUSIC SPECIFICALLY TO THOSE CHILDREN'S BOOKS SO IT'S POPULAR CHILDREN'S BOOKS LIKE IF YOU GIVE A MOUSE A COOKIE, SET TO MUSIC SO IT'S ANOTHER WAY TO ENGAGE KIDS THEY MAKE THEIR OWN LITTLE INSTRUMENT FROM RECYCLED MATERIALS AND PLAY ALONG AND IT'S A LOT OF FUN.

>> AND THE INITIATIVE TO GET A THOUSAND BOOKS BY THE TIME THEY START KINDERGARTEN?

IS THAT RIGHT?

>> YES.

IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT.

>> IT DOES.

>> THE GOOD THING IS CHILDREN'S BOOKS ARE USUALLY SHORT AND EASY TO READ, 15 MINUTES, THREE BOOKS A DAY AND YOU CAN FINISH IT WITHIN A YEAR AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT IS NOT ONLY CREATING A LOVE AND HABIT OF READING BUT A LOT OF REPETITION.

YOU READ THE SAME BOOKS OVER AND OVER AGAIN BUT THAT'S HOW KIDS LEARN HOW TO READ AND SO A THOUSAND BOOKS IS A GREAT, YOU KNOW, SORT OF NUMBER TO REACH THAT MILESTONE BEFORE YOU START KINDERGARTEN.

>> IF YOU ARE A PARENT, YOU KNOW ABOUT THE REPETITION IN READING.

WHEN WE COME BACK, WE WILL TELL YOU HOW DOLLY PARTON IS WORKING TO GET KIDS TO MEET THAT GOAL BEFORE THEY TURN 5.

>> I'M SO EXCITED TO BE HERE BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHY WE ARE HERE.

WE ARE GOING TO ROLL OUT THE IMAGINATION LIBRARY IN ALL OF KENTUCKY.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> BECAUSE OF DOLLY PARTON, MORE THAN 120,000 KENTUCKY KIDS, 45% OF PRESCHOOLERS IN OUR STATE, ARE CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN THE IMAGINATION LIBRARY.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> MARIA GURREN IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE IMAGINATION LIBRARY OF LOUISVILLE AND WE JUST HEARD THERE DOLLY PARTON HAS EXPANDED THIS PROGRAM TO ALL COUNTIES IN KENTUCKY.

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

ANY CHILD UNDER THE AGE OF FIVE IN KENTUCKY IS ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE A FREE BOOK IN THE MAIL EVERY MONTH ALL THE WAY UP TO THEIR FIFTH BIRTHDAY TO HELP THEM DEVELOP A LOVE OF READING AND HELP THEM GET READY FOR KINDERGARTEN.

>> THAT IS SO IMPORTANT.

HOW DID THE PROGRAM GET STARTED.

>> DOLLY DOLLY PARTON STARTED THIS IN 1995 ALONGSIDE HER FATHER AND HER FATHER NEVER LEARNED HOW TO READ SO SHE STARTED THIS AS A LITERACY INITIATIVE.

SHE SAID HER DAD WAS ONE OF THE SMARTEST PEOPLE HE KNEW BUT SAW HOW HIS LACK OF ABILITY TO READ OR WRITE HELD HIM BACK IN LIFE SO THEY STARTED THIS TOGETHER AND IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SHE ALWAYS SAID SHE THINKS HE WAS THE MOST PROUD OF HER OUT OF ALL OF HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

DOLLY IS SENDING A FREE BOOK IN THE MAIL EVERY MONTH TO THREE MILLION CHILDREN ACROSS FIVE DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.

>> INCREDIBLE.

NOW IN KENTUCKY, EVERY CHILD IN EVERY COUNTY, AND THAT'S NEW BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN KIND OF SPORADIC IN THE WAY IT STARTED.

>> YEAH, IT STARTED COUNTY BY COUNTY, IMAGINATION LIBRARY OF LOUISVILLE STARTED IN 2017 AND A FEW ZIP CODES AND EXPANDED.

WE HAVE BEEN A LITTLE OVER COUNTY WIDE FOR A YEAR AND SOME FOR JUST A FEW MONTHS.

DOLLY CAME TO VISIT EVERY TIME A STATE REACHES STATEWIDE VISIT WHERE EVERY CHILD IN THE STATE UNDER 5 IS ELIGIBLE.

SHE COMES AND VISITS.

SHE CAME TO THE LYRIC THEATER IN LEXINGTON AND WAS INTERVIEWED BY OUR GOVERNOR AND FIRST LADY BRITTANY BESHEAR AND ALSO PERFORMED A FEW SONGS, SO IT WAS QUITE A TREAT TO BE ABLE TO BE IN THE SAME SPACE AS HER.

SHE IS SUCH A LEGEND.

>> SO EXCITING AND SO IMPORTANT, THAT EARLY LITERACY.

AND JUST GETTING KIDS INTERESTED IN HOLDING BOOKS, AND HAVING BOOKS.

THAT'S JUST INVALUABLE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND SO DOLLY REFERRED TO THIS AS HER BOOK GIFTING PROGRAM.

PART OF IT IS REALLY CREATING A SPECIALNESS AROUND BOOKS.

SO THE BOOKS ARRIVE EACH MONTH WITH A CHILD'S NAME ON IT WHICH HELPS BUILD THE ATTACHMENT TOO BOOKS AND READING AT AN EARLY AGE.

THE FIRST BOOK THAT CHILDREN GET IS THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULD, WHICH I KNOW IS VERY POPULAR AND WHEN CHILDREN GRADUATE, THEY GET LOOK OUT KINDERGARTEN, HERE I COME I.

IS A WAY TO GET CHILDREN EXCITED ABOUT BOOKS AND READING AND ALSO THE BOOKS ARE CHOSEN SPECIFICALLY FOR THE CHILD'S AGE AND SO PARENTS ARE GOING GET BOOKS THAT ARE DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE FOR THEIR CHILD WITHOUT HAVING TO DO THE RESEARCH AND KNOW WHAT IS OUT THERE.

THEY'RE JUST GOING TO ARRIVE ON THEIR DOORSTEP AND HELP THOSE BUILDING BLOCKS OF LITERACY AND IMPROVE KINDERGARTEN READINESS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> AND IT'S COMPLETELY FREE.

HOW DO PEOPLE SIGN UP?

>> YOU CAN GO TO IMAGINATION LIBRARY.COM AND CLICK ON CHECK AVAILABILITY AND IF YOU ARE ANYWHERE IN KENTUCKY, YOU ARE GOING TO PUT YOUR ZIP CODE IN AND IT'S GOING TO SAY A PROGRAM IN YOUR AREA, IT WILL ASK FOR YOUR CHILD'S NAME AND DATE OF BIRTH, ADDRESS AND CONTACT INFORMATION AND WITHIN EIGHT TO 10 WEEKS, YOU WILL GET YOUR FIRST BOOK IN THE MAIL.

>> TELL ME SOME OF THE THINGS YOU HAVE HEARD FROM PARENTS OR MAYBE EVEN CHILDREN WHO HAVE EVEN GROWN UP AT THIS POINT, ABOUT WHAT THIS MEANS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WHEN WE TABLE EVENTS, SOMETIMES WE'LL HAVE KIDS COME UP TO OUR TABLE AND POINT TO THE BOOKS AND SAY I HAVE THAT ONE AND THAT ONE AND YOU KNOW THEY THIS WERE IN THE PROGRAM.

PARENTS HAVE COMMENTED A LOT ON THE QUALITY AND DIVERSITY OF THE STORIES THAT THEY GET, AGAIN WITHOUT THEM HAVING TO DO THE RESEARCH OR KNOW WHAT IS OUT THERE, THEY JUST GET REALLY HIGH QUALITY BOOKS DELIVERED TO THEIR DOORSTEPS AND PARENTS HAVE COMMENTED ON HOW MUCH THEIR CHILDREN ENJOY THE BOOKS AND THESE ARE SOME OF THE BOOKS IN THEIR HOUSEHOLD THAT THEY ASKED TO BE READ TO THEM OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

WE DID A RECENT SURVEY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH U OF L AND 96% OF PARENTS WHO RESPONDED TO THE SURVEY HAVE TOLD ANOTHER PARENT ABOUT IMAGINATION LIBRARY.

I DON'T THINK YOU CAN GET A BETTER ENDORSEMENT THAN THAT.

>> THAT'S INCREDIBLE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH AND YOU KNOW READING DOESN'T HAVE TO STOP WHETHER YOU GROW UP.

WHEN WE COME BACK, WE ARE GOING TO TALK TO FOLKS FROM THE KENTUCKY AUTHORS FORUM ABOUT THAT PROGRAM, THE HISTORY OF IT AND SOME OF THE INCREDIBLE AUTHORS THEY HAVE LINED UP.

WELL, HERE WE ARE ON THE SET OF THE KENTUCKY AUTHORS FORUM, A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED PROGRAM THAT HAPPENS RIGHT HERE AT THE KENTUCKY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER.

AND MARY MOSS GREENBAUM IS THE CREATOR AND PRODUCER OF THIS PROGRAM THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE HISTORY.

>> LONGER THAN YOU THINK.

I THINK 28 YEARS AT THIS POINT.

YES, ON MAY 13, 1996 WE HAD OUR FIRST.

IT ALL BEGAN BECAUSE I WENT TO MARLOWE BURKE, THE PRESIDENT OF THE CENTER.

I SAID THIS IS A GREAT IDEA.

WE DON'T HAVE THIS IN LOUISVILLE KENTUCKY, GREAT CITIES WITH CULTURE HAVE IT.

HE SAID IT HAS BEEN TRIED.

NOT GOING TO WORK.

NOBODY CAME.

THE "COURIER JOURNAL" TRIED IT BUT IF YOU WANT, HE SAID I'LL GIVE YOU THE ROOM ONCE.

I'LL GIVE YOU THE THEATER.

YOU CAN GO A GO AT IT.

SO I LEFT AND AS I LEFT, HE SAID TO ME, IF THIS WORKS, I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU SOMEONE, MY PRIZE PERSON, LESLIE SISSEL.

SHE HAS BEEN WITH ME SINCE.

THE NEXT THING THAT HAPPENED WAS THAT I WENT TO SEE ALICE BROWN.

I THOUGHT I BETTER GET A SENSE OF WHETHER THE COMMUNITY IS GOING TO BE INTERESTED IN THIS.

HE THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT IDEA.

HE SAID I REMEMBER, YOU KNOW, THE ROMAN FORUMS WITH THEIR ROSTRA AND THEIR PLATFORMS AND PEOPLE SPEAKING ABOUT DIFFERENT SUBJECTS, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT WE DO.

HE SAID THAT'S WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

THE UNIVERSITY NEEDS TO HAVE LIGHT.

YOU NEED TO SHINE LIGHT ON OUR UNIVERSITY.

IT DOESN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO PULL THESE PEOPLE IN.

SO BE SURE THAT WHEN YOU DO IT DOWNTOWN, THAT YOU ALSO DO SOMETHING ON CAMPUS.

THAT TOOK ME TO Dr. SCHUMAKER WHO WAS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES-- PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY.

HE, TOO, THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT IDEA.

THEN I SAID WHAT CONCERNS ME IS WE ARE A SMALL CITY AND HOW ARE WE GOING TO SELL THOUSANDS OF BOOKS WHEN OTHER CITIES ARE COMPETING?

IT SEEMS TO ME WE NEED SOMETHING TO DO WITH TV, WITH GETTING THE STORY OUT.

WAIT A MINUTE, HE SAID.

HOLD ON.

HE RUSHED OUT THE DOOR AND SHOUTED, VIRGINIA FOX, DON'T GO HOME YET.

VIRGINIA RAN BACK, SHE WAS THE PRESIDENT OF PUBLIC TELEVISION.

SHE HEARD THE STORY AND SHE SAID YOU'RE ON.

LET'S DO IT.

THAT'S HOW IT HAPPENED.

>> AND THEN HOW DID IT BECOME SUCCESSFUL?

LIKE WHAT WAS THAT FIRST PROGRAM LIKE AND HOW HAS IT EVOLVED SINCE THEN?

>> WELL, IN THE FIRST PLACE, I HAD TO FIND AN AUTHOR AND THAT TOOK ME TO A FUNNY STORY TO NEW YORK WHEN I WENT TO SEE THE ICON, SAT OUTSIDE HIS OFFICE ON A BOX FOR AN HOUR.

HE FINALLY CAME BACK.

HE KNEW ME NOT, OBVIOUSLY.

SAID WHO ARE YOU.

WE HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION.

HE SAID HOW ABOUT BILL BRADLEY, SENATOR BRADLEY?

I SAID THAT WOULD BE FANTASTIC.

HE SAID HE HAS WRITTEN A MEMOIR.

I SAID ACCEPTED.

THEN I WENT TO NEWS WEEK AND GOT ELEANOR CLIFT WHO IS A PUNDIT AND STILL IS ON POLITICS AND THAT'S HOW MAY 13, 1996 HAPPENED.

>> AND SINCE THEN YOU HAVE HAD SOME BIG NAMES COME HERE FROM HILLARY CLINTON, SANDRA DAY O'COONOR, JANE GOODALL AND THE LIST GOES ON.

HOW DO YOU GET SOME OF THE BIG NAMES HERE IN LOUISVILLE?

>> I THINK THAT THE FIRST WORD IS PERSEVERANCE.

AND I THINK THAT GOES FOR THE TEAM AS WELL.

ANYONE WHO KNOWS ME KNOWS THAT THAT'S PART OF MY PERSONALITIES.

BUT I HAVE HAD EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE WORKING WITH ME ALL THESE 28 YEARS.

AND WE JUST WORKED VERY HARD FIRST TO FIND AN INTERVIEWER ON THE SUBJECT WHO WAS AN EXPERT AND MAYBE AN AUTHOR LESS KNOWN OR A FAMOUS AUTHOR AND AN INTERVIEWER WHO KNOWS AS MUCH.

I CREATED THIS SET WITH BITNERS.

THEY HAVE BEEN EXTRAORDINARY SINCE THE BEGIN BEGINNING.

I HAD GONE THERE AND NOTICED THAT CLARA, THE PRESIDENT AT THAT TIME WAS SITTING AT A MAGNIFICENT DESK WHICH WAS A PARTNER'S DESK WHICH IS WHAT THE OLD LEGAL TEAMS USED TO DO AND I THOUGH THE THAT'S HOW I'LL OVERCOME WHATEVER DIDN'T WORK BEFORE.

AND SO WE WERE OFF AND RUNNING.

WE HAD OUR SET ESTABLISHED.

WE HAD OUR FIRST AUTHOR AND WE WERE ON THERE.

I WON'T SAY WE HAVEN'T HAD OUR WOES WHICH WHAT IS YOU ARE ABOUT TO ASK ME ABOUT.

WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH UPS AND DOWNS.

WE HAD 23 YEARS OF SERIOUS SUPPORT AND THAT WAS WONDERFUL.

WE HAD HUMANA.

WE HAD BROWN FOREMAN AND WE HAD THE UNIVERSITY DOING HALF OF IT.

SOMETIME AROUND 2019, WE HAD, LIKE THE REST OF THE WORLD, TO FACE COVID AND COMPLETE CHANGE OF SUPPORT FROM ALL THOSE THREE.

AT THAT POINT, THE BROWN FOUNDATION, THE J. GRAHAM BROWN FOUNDATION STEPPED IN AND SAID YOU ARE AN INSTITUTION.

COVID-19 OR NO COVID, FUNDING OR NOT, YOU NEED TO BE SAFED.

AND THEY WERE EXTRAORDINARY.

I REMEMBER SPEAKING WITH THEM ABOUT HOW Mr. BROWN, A DIFFERENT BROWN, AND I THINK THE AUDIENCE NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THAT.

NOW DECEASED.

BELIEVED IN LOUISVILLE AND WANTING IT TO HAVE LIGHT.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT GIVES US THAT, PROCEED TO STABILIZE YOURSELF AND WE DID.

AND NOW THE OWSLEY BROWN, THE SECOND FAMILY OF BROWN FOREMAN, IS SUPPORTING US ALONG WITH LDG AND YOU KNOW THAT COMPANY IS THE ONE THAT DOES THE LOW COST HOUSING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND THAT'S CHRISTIE SINGER AND HE IS NOW ONE OF OUR PARTNERS WITH THE BROWNS.

>> SO YOU Y'ALL HAVE A LOT OF PARTNERS AND THAT'S KIND OF WHAT ALL OF THIS IS ABOUT, THAT PARTNERSHIP.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IT IS ABOUT LOUISVILLE, THE COMMUNITY HERE OR KENTUCKY IN GENERAL THAT KEEPS SOMETHING LIKE THIS GROWING AND SO IT CAN BE SUCH AN INSTITUTION?

>> I THINK KENTUCKY IN THE FIRST PLACE IS A TOTALLY UNUSUAL STATE.

YOU KNOW MA THEY SAY ABOUT KIDS WHO GROW UP HERE, THEY ALWAYS EVENTUALLY COME BACK.

I THINK THIS CITY HAS A HUGE HISTORY OF CULTURE.

AND THIS FIT RIGHT IN AND SEEMED TO BE A VACUUM AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED; SOMETHING TOTALLY MISSING FROM IT.

SO THAT GAVE THESE THE SPIRIT TO AT LEAST TRY.

I THINK THE SUCCESS OF IT IS CAUSED BY OR WAS DUE TO FUNDING THAT DIDN'T DISAPPEAR, A SUPPORTIVE BOARD, WHO DIDN'T DISAPPEAR, A DEDICATION TO ONLY THE BEST IN TERMS OF AUTHORS AND INTERVIEWERS, NOT EVER COMPROMISING.

AND I THINK THOSE REALLY LED TO OUR SUCCESS, WHICH HAS A GREAT DEAL TO DO WITH PUBLIC TELEVISION BECAUSE THEIR ABILITY TO PUT US IN 200 STATIONS IS UNIQUE AND MAKES LOUISVILLE SHINE.

>> YES.

>> WHICH IS WHAT WE WANTED.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS SEASON NOW BECAUSE YOU JUST HAD A SOLD OUT EVENT AND UPCOMING WHAT HAVE YOU GOT ON TAP?

>> WELL, THAT'S FOLLOWED BY JOAN BAEZ, A NAME WE HAVE ALL HEARD.

AND DIANE REAM IS COMING TO INTERVIEW HER.

THAT IS GOING TO BE EXTRAORDINARY.

WE FOLLOW THAT-- WE LIKE DIVERSITY-- WITH A GLOBAL STORY OF THE CHANGING POWER IN THE WORLD, THE BALANCE AGAINST THE UNITED STATES OF IRAN, RUSSIA, ET CETERA.

AND WE PROBABLY, NO DOUBT, WILL HAVE A WONDERFUL FOURTH.

WE TEND TO HAVE FOUR A YEAR.

AND THEY TEND TO SELL OUT AND SO PEOPLE HAVE TO LEARN TO CALL EARLY.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK KEEPS PEOPLE COMING BACK AND INTERESTED IN THESE EVENTS?

>> I THINK IT GOES BACK TO WHAT OWSLEY BROWN TOKE SPOKE TO ME ABOUT, THE FORUM AND WHAT IT WAS IN ROMAN TIMES.

IT HAD A WIDE VARIETY.

PEOPLE STOOD ON PLATFORMS AND TALKED ABOUT DIFFERENT SUBJECTS.

YOU COULD LISTEN AT THE MARK YOU WANTED.

MAYBE THIS SUBJECT INTERESTED YOU MORE THAN OTHERS.

SO WE HAVE WINTON MARSALIS IN MUSIC, JANE GOODALL TALKING ABOUT AFRICA AND HER INCREDIBLE WORK, WE HAVE JUSTICE FROM THE SUPREME COURT, WE HAVE POLICY, WE HAVE A JOHN McCAIN COMING ABOUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE SENATE AND HIS MEMOIR AND WE HAVE WONDERFUL WRITERS OF FICTION.

SO, AGAIN, IT IS A FORUM.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE GOING TO COLLEGE.

>> AND LOOKING AHEAD, ARE THERE ANY GETS THAT YOU STILL WANT TO HAVE COME HERE THAT YOU HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO YET?

>> THERE WOULD BE ENDLESS ONES.

I COULDN'T EVEN NAME THEM.

BUT EVERYONE ALWAYS ASKS ME, WAS THERE A FAVORITE?

AND I CAN'T SAY THERE WAS A FAVORITE.

BUT I CAN SAY THAT WE HAD AN UNUSUAL NIGHT WITH JANE GOODALL.

SHE WAS INTERVIEWED BY RICHARD RANGUM WHO WAS HEAD OF ANTHROPOLOGY AT HARVARD.

AND AT THE END OF THAT NIGHT, IN WHICH HE SPEAKS ABOUT AFRICA AND THE ANIMALS AND WHETHER HEEM BELIEVE IN EVOLUTION OR NOT, IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE.

THEY DON'T, BUT MOVING ON, SHE SAID, WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS OVER.

WE'VE COME TO THE END OF OUR CONVERSATION, ACTUALLY Dr. RANGUM SAID THAT.

AND SHE SAID SHOULD WE SAY GOOD NIGHT?

AND HE SAID WHY DON'T WE DO THAT IN CHIMPANZEE AND SHE SAID FINE.

SO THEY SAID GOOD NIGHT, EACH OF THEM TO THE OTHER IN AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT ANIMAL LANGUAGE.

AND THE CAMERAS CLICKED OFF AND THAT WAS IT.

AND I THINK NO ONE HAS FORGOTTEN.

>> WHY DON'T WE CLOSE BY HAVING A LITTLE BIT OF A SOFT NIGHT ON THE TYPE THAT CHIMPS HAVE WHEN THEY GO TO SLEEP.

>> WHEN THEY GO TO SLEEP, AND THEIR BELLIES ARE FULL, THEY'RE REALLY HAPPY LYING IN THEIR NESTS, TO ME, THE CLOSEST TO SINGING, DON'T YOU THINK?

>> WONDERFULLY PEACEFUL.

>> IT'S A WONDERFUL SOUND.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> WELL, GO ON AND GET READING.

YOU CAN WATCH, STREAM AND SHARE THIS PROGRAM ANY TIME AT ket.org/"INSIDE LOUISVILLE."

PLUS, IF YOU WANT TO SEE MORE FROM BEHIND THE SCENES - CHECK OUT OUR INSTAGRAM.

YOU CAN SEE MY BASTER BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS.

YOU CAN FOLLOW AND SHARE AT KET IN LOU.

THANKS FOR SPENDING A LITTLE TIME GETTING TO KNOW LOUISVILLE THIS WEEK.

I HOPE WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME FOR INSIDE LOUISVILLE... UNTIL THEN, MAKE IT A GREAT WEEK!

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