Behind the Blue

Some stories require a little more – a little more discussion, more context, more depth and breadth.

That’s the idea behind “Behind the Blue” – a weekly podcast created by UK Strategic Communications. It is designed to explore through probing interviews the in-depth the stories that make UK the university for Kentucky and that have impact across the institution, the Commonwealth and, in some cases, the world.

"Behind the Blue" is available on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK’s latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university.

For questions or comments about this or any other episode of "Behind the Blue," email BehindTheBlue@uky.edu or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue. Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show’s blog page.

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March 12, 2026 - Schyler Simpson (Nationally Competitive Awards)

Mar 12, 2026

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 12, 2026) – 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...

March 5, 2026 - UK President Eli Capilouto and outgoing AD Mitch Barnhart

Mar 5, 2026

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 5, 2026) – University of Kentucky Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart will retire from his role at the end of June after nearly 24 years leading Kentucky Athletics, UK President Eli Capilouto announced Tuesday. Barnhart will remain at UK in a new role focused on the future of sports and workforce...

February 27, 2026 - Kristine Yohe & Frank X Walker (Reckoning with the Past: The Historical Poetry of Frank X Walker)

Feb 27, 2026

LEXINGTON, Ky. (February 27, 2026) – What does it mean to “reckon” with the past — not as a distant record, but as a living force that still shapes our communities, our classrooms and our shared civic life?

Kristine Yohe, a professor of English at Northern Kentucky University, explores that question in her...

February 20, 2026 - Craig Collins (The Business of UK - Episode 005)

Feb 20, 2026

LEXINGTON, Ky. (February 20, 2026) – UK HealthCare is an academic health system made up of the University of Kentucky’s hospitals and clinics — about 9,000 team members, more than 80 specialized clinics and 140-plus outreach programs — in fiscal year 2023 alone, it served Kentuckians through roughly 1.4...

February 13, 2026 - Ky State Senator Amanda Mays Bledsoe (UK, Kentucky, and responsible AI development)

Feb 12, 2026

LEXINGTON, Ky. (February 13, 2026) – Artificial intelligence is moving fast — and Kentucky lawmakers are working to make sure the state can take advantage of new tools without sacrificing transparency, privacy or public trust.

On this episode of ‘Behind the Blue’, Kentucky State Senator Amanda Mays Bledsoe...