Eastern Standard Tom Martin

On this week's edition of Eastern Standard: Tom Eblen in conversation with Barbara Kingsolver about her best-selling Appalachian novel, Demon Copperhead. In this interview, Eblen explores Kingsolver's views of media portrayals of her home region, and how she provides such detailed and intimate insights into the plight of the older foster child, the depths of opioid addiction, and the realities of 21st-century mountain culture. The interview leads to Tom Martin's conversation with Cynthia Schepers, Peer Coach Coordinator for Kentucky Youth Advocates, whose own foster care experience in many ways mirrors that of Kingsolver's protagonist. And, as Kentucky Monthly Magazine celebrates its 25th anniversary, publisher Steve Vest recalls the very first edition and discusses the editorial philosophy that has won subscribers in all of Kentucky's 120 counties, all 50 states and territories, and six countries. 

On this week's Eastern Standard: Pushback against efforts to teach that slavery was beneficial to the enslaved, and a grad student's discovery of the largest single slave auction in US history. We hear about existing assets that make southeastern Kentucky attractive to business. And a theatre professional shares the journey of pursuing the craft while making ends meet.

 Episode Three of this three-part series explores preparations for the 2027 closure of the project and how the loss of its highly skilled workforce, as well as generous federal support for an enhanced emergency response system is expected to impact the economy and public services of Madison County. And with local officials stressing that the Blue Grass Army Depot "is not going away," we'll probe future plans for the site.  

For the past five years, the most lethal chemical weapons on earth have been undergoing a challenging disposal process in a special facility at Blue Grass Army Depot near Richmond. 
In part two of a three-part series, Crystal Jones and Shepherd Snyder take us behind the fence and into the process, talking with members of a highly skilled team as they go about their dangerous work. Hear their stories in their words. 

The first in a series of three full-length programs about the mission to eliminate a 523-ton stockpile of chemical weapons stored for generations at the Blue Grass Army Depot just outside Richmond, Kentucky. 
Part One focuses on the history of a grassroots movement that successfully fought a US Army plan to incinerate the weapons containing lethal mustard, VX and Sarin agents, building a national and international coalition and uniting supporters from across the political spectrum. Part Two highlights the project’s highly skilled employees. Part Three focuses on what it means to the Madison County economy as the weapons disposal program winds down to an end by 2027. 

On this week’s edition of Eastern Standard:
There’s a new kid in class. Goes by the initials “A.I.” How classroom teachers are preparing for the influence of artificial intelligence on the real thing. Discover the mission of the program, Black Males Working. Learn about a pair of efforts to recover, preserve and protect artifacts of Kentucky arts and culture. And, we have details of the 16th annual Chamber Music Festival of Lexington.