Mildly Amusing

Hosted by James Spragens
  • 5.0 (15)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE

Where hearsay meets heresy. James Spragens hosts Mildly Amusing, a podcast of small-town stories, unfiltered conversations, and plenty of good fun.

  1. 3D AGO

    Choosing Lebanon with John Turner, Plus a Special Segment with U.S. Senate Candidate Dale Romans

    In this episode of Mildly Amusing, James sits down with John Turner, who has called Lebanon home for the past 37 years. Born and raised in New Jersey, John shares some of his earliest memories of accompanying his father into the family business, which manufactured tubes for major companies such as Crest and Johnson & Johnson. John later moved to Kentucky in the 1980s to serve as plant manager of a facility in Carrollton before eventually being tasked with building and leading Teledyne Portland Forge in Lebanon. After traveling throughout the South in search of the right location, he chose Lebanon as the place to build the plant. He talks about why he and his wife fell in love with the community and why they decided to stay after retirement. John also shares his perspective on Lebanon’s strengths, its future, and the remarkable concentration of manufacturing industries that have helped shape the local economy. In a second segment, James talks with Dale Romans, the well-known thoroughbred trainer who is running as a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Mitch McConnell. He shares his thoughts on immigration and other issues facing the country. It’s a wide-ranging episode that moves from Lebanon’s industrial growth to national politics, offering two thoughtful conversations with leaders who care about the future. 🎶 This episode’s song is Johnny Come Lately by Joe Henderson.

    1h 20m

  2. APR 6

    Episode 18: One Conversation at a Time with Carrie Truitt

    In this episode of Mildly Amusing, James sits down with Carrie Truitt, who is running for the Democratic nomination for Kentucky’s 14th District State Senate seat. Raised in Bradfordsville on a dairy and tobacco farm, Carrie brings a background in agriculture, education, and community service. She has served on the local school board since 2016 and currently works with Leadership Kentucky, a statewide program that brings leaders together to gain a full view of the Commonwealth. Prior to that, she worked with Hosparus Health. Carrie shares how running for this office has been on her radar for several years and how she carefully considered the responsibility before making the decision to step forward. Carrie talks about her approach to leadership, built on listening, transparency, and staying connected to the community. She believes in solving problems one conversation at a time and emphasizes the importance of understanding the full picture when tackling issues. From school funding to income tax, she walks through how decisions affect both sides of the equation and why it’s important to find solutions people can stand behind. This conversation offers a thoughtful look at leadership, service, and what it means to stay engaged with the people you represent. Whether you follow politics closely or just want to better understand the people stepping up to serve, this is one worth a listen.

    57 min

  3. MAR 29

    Episode 17: Beautifying Loretto with Diane Mattingly

    In this episode of Mildly Amusing, James sits down with Diane Mattingly, founder of Beautify Loretto. A veteran who joined the reserves after high school, Diane never planned on a 40 year military career, but her path led her through years of service and various roles at Fort Knox. She also shares her background studying photojournalism and English writing at Western, and coming back home to Loretto to renovate her family home. Diane talks about the work Beautify Loretto has taken on, from pressure washing buildings affected by whiskey fungus to planting trees and flowers, adding a mural, and building a clock tower that recently won the Beautify the Bluegrass contest. She also shares what’s ahead, including plans for a military and first responder memorial and an all season community space. They also talk about how an unused space in the senior center was transformed into a satellite public library with help from Marion County Public Library staff, along with the addition of a free medical clinic in the same building. With plenty of events coming up this spring, summer, and fall, there’s a lot happening in Loretto. It’s an inspiring conversation about service, community, and what can happen when people take pride in where they live, perfect to listen to while driving, working, or whenever you have a few minutes to tune in. 🎶 This episode’s song is Flamenco Sketches by Miles Davis.

    47 min

  4. MAR 23

    Episode 16: History and Hidden Stories with Reba Weatherford

    In this episode of Mildly Amusing, James sits down with Reba Weatherford, archivist and director of the Loretto Heritage Center. Originally from West Virginia, Reba moved to Marion County in 2021 after earning her degrees from Guilford College and St. John’s University in library science and public history. Reba shares how the Loretto Heritage Center came to be and brings to life some of her favorite stories and artifacts connected to the Sisters of Loretto. She talks about the Sisters’ involvement in Operation Babylift during the Vietnam War and the impact it had, and she highlights notable historical figures connected to local and religious history, including Father Stephen Badin, Father Charles Nerinckx, and Mary Rhodes. Along the way, Reba explains how being an archivist is a bit like being a detective—you look without context and follow clues to uncover the true story behind the documents and artifacts. It’s a fascinating look at local history, remarkable lives, and the work that goes into preserving it for future generations. Perfect to listen to while driving, taking a walk, or whenever you have a few minutes to tune in.

    1h 1m

  5. FEB 23

    Episode 15: Lighting Up Loretto

    In this episode, James sits down with Josh Ballard, director of operations at the Loretto Motherhouse. Josh shares how his early volunteer work with the fire department and St. Francis picnic, along with becoming an EMT in college, fueled his passion for community service. He talks about running for office to take advantage of grants for sidewalks, joining the city council as soon as he met the minimum age requirement, and even earning a federal explosives license so the community could put on professional-level fireworks shows at discounted rates.  Josh also highlights the Sisters of Loretto’s efforts to reengage with the community through public events, farm-to-table meals, classical concerts, and retreats on the campus. He shares about the soon-to-be-open to the public natural burial site, which will be the only green burial option in Kentucky, as well as other outreach and political events organized by the Peace Committee. There’s a lot covered in this conversation, and you’ll want to give it a listen from start to finish. 🎶 This episode’s music is Look at Little Sister by Stevie Ray Vaughan.

    1h 1m

  6. FEB 15

    Episode 14: Forward Looking—A Conversation with Kathy Blandford-Hawthorne

    In this episode of Mildly Amusing, James sits down with Kathy Blandford-Hawthorne, former mayor of Lebanon and the first and only woman to hold the office in the city’s history. Kathy moved to Lebanon in 1959 when her father relocated here to work at the Telecom factory. Over the years, she became deeply involved in the community, eventually serving both a four year and a five year term as mayor. She reflects on stepping into leadership at a time when the city was financially struggling and how those early challenges shaped the work that followed. During her time in office, Lebanon made major investments in infrastructure, including the sewer plant and Fagan Branch. Those improvements laid the groundwork for future growth and helped make it possible for Lebanon to attract new industry. The conversation also covers the expansion of city services for a town our size, including the city pool, recycling programs, street lights, sidewalks, building improvements, and the purchase of the Centre Square block. Kathy describes Lebanon as a forward looking town, and this episode highlights how much of that vision was built through steady leadership and long term planning. It’s a meaningful look at local history, civic responsibility, and the progress that shapes the community we know today.

    1h 5m

  7. FEB 8

    Episode 13: Made From Scratch—A Conversation with Gwyn Artz

    In this episode, James sits down with Gwyn Artz to talk food and how her culinary journey led her to Lebanon, Kentucky. Gwyn shares her background in the culinary world, including attending culinary school in Poughkeepsie, working as a corporate chef, her experience as a personal chef, and the restaurant she owned here in Lebanon. The conversation also digs into how the restaurant industry in Lebanon has changed over the years. James shares his own experience owning a restaurant in Lebanon and what that era was like from behind the scenes. They also talk about Souper Tuesdays, where locals can show up and enjoy some truly great soups made with heart and experience. 🎶 This episode’s song is Dinner by Gary DeMichele from the Big Night soundtrack.

    1h 7m

  8. 12/14/2025

    Episode 12: Back to the Land with Mike Thacker

    In this episode of Mildly Amusing, host James Spragens talks with Mike Thacker, who shares how what began as a motorcycle journey across the country ultimately led him to Marion County, Kentucky. Mike reflects on the Back to the Land movement and the communities that formed here as that movement grew from the 1960s into the 1970s, including Living Love, Cornucopia, Earthward Bound, F-Span, and others. The conversation explores a time when people across the country were seeking a simpler, more self-sufficient way of life, building communes and collectives rooted in community, shared values, and a desire to live closer to the land and less tied to the outside world. It’s a thoughtful look back at a unique chapter of local and national history, perfect to listen to while driving, relaxing, or whenever you have a few minutes to tune in. 🎶 This episode’s song is Let the Sunshine In by The 5th Dimension.

    1h 14m
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5
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

Where hearsay meets heresy. James Spragens hosts Mildly Amusing, a podcast of small-town stories, unfiltered conversations, and plenty of good fun.

Information

  • Creator
    Hosted by James Spragens
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Mildly Amusing
  • Show Website
    Mildly Amusing

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