The Voices of Winchester

WinCity Media, Inc

The Voices of Winchester Podcast brings your stories, our stories, & all of the voices of Winchester, Kentucky, to your ears. In each episode, your host Pete Koutoulas chats with the people who make our community unique. From the movers and shakers to the humble folks who help build the rich tapestry that is central Kentucky, we have it all.  The Voices of Winchester is brought to you by WinCity Media, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation based in Winchester, Kentucky. To learn how to help support free, independent, local journalism, visit www.wincitymedia.org. And be sure to check out our e-zine at www.wincityvoices.org.

  1. Apr 21

    Knives and Lives: Winchester Knife Maker and Life Coach Kevin Parido

    In this episode of Voices of Winchester, host Pete Koutoulas sits down with Winchester native Kevin Parido—neighbor, former pastor, knife maker, and life coach—for a wide-ranging conversation about craftsmanship, calling, and what it means to live with intention. Kevin shares how growing up surrounded by family in Winchester shaped him, how years in ministry in Chicago and back home influenced the way he works with people today, and why he eventually stepped into new work that blends hands-on creation with deep, practical reflection. Kevin takes listeners inside Shepherd’s Forge—how a meaningful family tradition and a COVID-era leap of faith turned into a thriving craft business where people can spend a full day forging their own knife (no experience required) and walk away with something built to last. He also explains what life coaching is (and isn’t), who it helps, and why the best coaching creates space instead of giving prescriptions. The conversation then turns candid and compelling as Pete and Kevin explore faith, fear, power, and the modern relationship between church and state—plus Kevin’s perspective on grace, truth, and why transformation can’t be forced. If you’re curious about making something with your hands, getting unstuck in life, or hearing a thoughtful local voice tackle big questions, this is one you’ll want to hear.

    39 min

  2. Mar 23

    ‘No Kings’ rally with Adam Johnson

    Saturday, March 28, will bring something new to Winchester: a ‘No Kings’ rally on the courthouse square downtown. In the latest episode of the Voices of Winchester Podcast, host Pete Koutoulas spoke with Winchester attorney Adam Johnson about the event. Adam emphasizes that the No Kings Rally is not primarily a political event; it’s a call for a return to checks and balances in government and a reminder that every voice matters in a democracy. He told us that this gathering is about structure and norms rather than aligning with any specific political ideology. “We all get to vote on this. There’s not one person who gets to decree how things go,” he explains. The rally is designed to create a space where community members can come together to discuss their values and hopes for the future, regardless of their political affiliations. In the lead-up to the rally, some concerns arose regarding its timing coinciding with another local event, McEldowney Madness. Adam reassures that there is no animosity between the two events, stating that both can benefit from each other’s presence. He believes that the overlap offers more people an opportunity to engage in community activities, reinforcing the idea that diverse expressions of community spirit can coexist.

    26 min

  3. Mar 4

    Donna Carter loves Winchester; wants to help make it even better

    When one speaks with Brenda Carter, one thing is clear: she loves Winchester and Clark County dearly, but is clear-eyed about both the challenges and the opportunities before our community. Although Donna was not born here, she has lived in Winchester with her husband — a native of our community — and their daughter for many years. And to hear her talk about it, one would think she has been here all her life. As she told me, “I love Winchester. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t live here.” I recently had the opportunity to record not one but two conversations with Donna. The first one had to be scrapped for technical reasons, but we got to record a do-over last Friday, and I think we both benefited from our “trial run.” Topics ranged from Donna’s work with the Internal Family Systems Institute in Chicago to her volunteer community work here in Winchester, particularly with the Clark County Equity Coalition, which she founded. We also talked about her life growing up in Baltimore and New Jersey, her thoughts on Black History Month, mental health, community involvement, and how to increase the number of people from minority populations in local government. The Voices of Winchester Podcast has been on hiatus since last summer, but with this interview, we are starting fresh with a commitment to producing at least one new episode per month in 2026 and beyond.

    39 min

  4. 07/07/2025

    Bill McCann: A Memoir in Prose & Poetry

    Winchester resident Bill McCann was sent to The Cove Schools residential school in Racine, Wisconsin, in 1962 because he had severe behavioral issues and learning disabilities and required special education that was not available in Kentucky at the time. Today, Bill is a playwright, a member of the Dramatists Guild, a poet, an essayist, and a contributor to WinCity Voices, among many other things.  In this episode, Voices of Winchester host Pete Koutoulas talks with Bill about his new book, Yearnings: A Memoir in Prose & Poetry, and about Bill's experiences at The Cove School. The book is available at Arts on Main in Winchester, online at www.cyberwit.net, and in other bookstores, as well as at the Clark County Public Library.  On July 8, 2025, Bill will be at the Gateway Regional Arts Center in Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, from 6:30 to 8 PM to officially launch his memoir.

    26 min

  5. 03/17/2025 ·  Video

    Willie Carver: "Saving Kids' Lives"

    Willie Edward Taylor Carver Jr. is an accomplished educator, author, and advocate. He was named the 2022 Kentucky Teacher of the Year for his work teaching French and English at Montgomery County High School. He later left his teaching position, citing discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals. He has since become a prominent advocate for equality, testifying before the U.S. House Oversight Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties in 2022. He is a board member of the Kentucky Youth Law Project. He works at the University of Kentucky and continues to inspire through his writing, public speaking, and advocacy. He is also a published poet, with his collection Gay Poems for Red States receiving critical acclaim and multiple awards. Willie is well-known in Winchester, having spoken at the former Wildcat Willie’s Distillery, now known as Regeneration Distillery, and was the headline speaker at the 2023 Voices of Winchester storytelling event at Leeds Center for the Arts. Willie’s advocacy for Kentucky’s young people, particularly LGBTQ+ youth, involves counseling, lobbying the state legislature, and keeping abreast of legal issues surrounding the community. He recently sat down with our Lisa Bush to talk about his work and his heart for struggling queer youth. ------- About WinCity Voices WinCity Voices (WCV) is sharing the voices of Winchester one story at a time. We are all about connection, conversation, and community. Launched in November 2021 as WinCity News & Views and rebooted in October 2022, we are a group of volunteers who love creating engaging content in all its forms. Our work consists mostly of short stories about ideas, happenings, people, places, and more. We also feature fiction and art of all kinds.  Our Mission WinCity Voices believes storytelling in all of its forms — the visual, the written, the spoken — is vital to meaningful change. Our storytellers provoke thought, promote happenings, and provide entertainment. Our mission is to celebrate creativity, foster informed conversation, and inspire the people of Winchester and beyond to build connection and community. Our Vision  We envision a community where diversity is celebrated and all are welcomed, inspired, and empowered to become active participants in the social and civic life of Winchester and beyond. Links Website: https://www.wincityvoices.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wincityvoices Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wincityvoices/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/wincityvoices.org

    39 min

  6. 03/08/2025 ·  Video

    Jeffery Hale: ‘I have to be brave’

    Winchester resident, teacher, and business owner Jeffery Hale is no stranger to contradictions. Unlike many gay people, who have eschewed religion, Jeffery fully embraces his Christianity—although his practice differs significantly from the dominant form that seems to get all the air in today’s America. Jeffery describes himself as “a simple man trying to live in God’s love.” Yet his relationship with God and his personal spiritual practice are anything but conventional. He has found a way to ignore the often homophobic attitudes of many evangelicals while retaining his love for “Spirit”—his personal name for the Christian Trinity (God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit). Last week, Lisa Bush sat down with Jeffery in the cozy confines of Mason on Main, the downtown shop Jeffery runs with his husband, Mason Rhodus. In a revealing and intimate 30-minute video for The Voices of Winchester Podcast, Lisa and Jeffery explore the many facets of his roots in Eastern Kentucky up to the present day. This episode is the second installment of a three-part series of interviews Lisa is doing for us exploring the lives of three very different LGBTQ+ people in Central Kentucky. WinCity Voices (WCV) is sharing the voices of Winchester, one story at a time. We are all about connection, conversation, and community. We are a group of volunteers who love creating engaging content in all its forms. Our work consists mostly of short stories about ideas, happenings, people, places, and more. We also feature fiction and art of all kinds.  WinCity Voices believes storytelling in all of its forms — the visual, the written, the spoken — is vital to meaningful change. Our storytellers provoke thought, promote happenings, and provide entertainment. Our mission is to celebrate creativity, foster informed conversation, and inspire the people of Winchester and beyond to build connection and community. We envision a community where diversity is celebrated and all are welcomed, inspired, and empowered to become active participants in the social and civic life of Winchester and beyond. Website: https://www.wincityvoices.org/

    30 min

  7. 03/01/2025 ·  Bonus

    A quick announcement

    A brief announcement about our YouTube channel and upcoming podcasts.  The Voices of Winchester Podcast brings your stories, our stories, & all of the voices of Winchester to your ears. If you like what you hear, be sure to follow us on social media @wincityvoices & check out more content like this at wincityvoices.org. Want to tell your story on the podcast? Email Lashana at lashanaharney@gmail.com or Pete at peteky1961@gmail.com. ----------- WCV's Mission: WinCity Voices believes storytelling in all of its forms — the visual, the written, the spoken — is vital to meaningful change. Our storytellers provoke thought, promote happenings, and provide entertainment. Our mission is to celebrate creativity, foster informed conversation, and inspire the people of Winchester and beyond to build connection and community.

    1 min

  8. 01/28/2025

    Jeffery Hale: ’I have to be brave’

    Winchester resident, teacher, and business owner Jeffery Hale is no stranger to contradictions. Unlike many gay people, who have eschewed religion, Jeffery fully embraces his Christianity—although his practice differs significantly from the dominant form that seems to get all the air in today’s America. Jeffery describes himself as “a simple man trying to live in God’s love.” Yet his relationship with God and his personal spiritual practice are anything but conventional. He has found a way to ignore the often-homophobic attitudes of many evangelicals while retaining his love for “Spirit”—his personal name for the Christian Trinity (God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit.) Last week, Lisa Bush sat down with Jeffery in the cozy confines of Mason on Main, the downtown shop Jeffery runs with his husband, Mason Rhodus. In a revealing and intimate 30-minute video for The Voices of Winchester Podcast, Lisa and Jeffery explore the many facets of his roots in Eastern Kentucky up to the present day. This episode is the second installment of a three-part series of interviews Lisa is doing for us exploring the lives of three very different LGBTQ+ people in Central Kentucky. The Voices of Winchester Podcast brings your stories, our stories, & all of the voices of Winchester to your ears. If you like what you hear, be sure to follow us on social media @wincityvoices & check out more content like this at wincityvoices.org. Want to tell your story on the podcast? Email Lashana at lashanaharney@gmail.com or Pete at peteky1961@gmail.com. ----------- WCV's Mission: WinCity Voices believes storytelling in all of its forms — the visual, the written, the spoken — is vital to meaningful change. Our storytellers provoke thought, promote happenings, and provide entertainment. Our mission is to celebrate creativity, foster informed conversation, and inspire the people of Winchester and beyond to build connection and community.

    30 min
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About

The Voices of Winchester Podcast brings your stories, our stories, & all of the voices of Winchester, Kentucky, to your ears. In each episode, your host Pete Koutoulas chats with the people who make our community unique. From the movers and shakers to the humble folks who help build the rich tapestry that is central Kentucky, we have it all.  The Voices of Winchester is brought to you by WinCity Media, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation based in Winchester, Kentucky. To learn how to help support free, independent, local journalism, visit www.wincitymedia.org. And be sure to check out our e-zine at www.wincityvoices.org.

Information

  • Creator
    WinCity Media, Inc
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    21
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 WinCity Media, Inc
  • Show Website
    The Voices of Winchester