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Kentucky Ferries; Idlewild Memory; Sneaker Culture

Kentucky ferries provide a graceful way to go back in time and enjoy the state's waterways; Doug recounts his visit to Idlewild in a Kentucky Life Memory; meet Sneakerheads in Kentucky who collect, sell, and customize their favorite shoes and have created a culture all their own. Kentucky Life Moment - pickleball at the Telford YMCA in Richmond.
Season 25 Episode 17 Length 27:51 Premiere: 04/11/20

About

Kentucky Life features our state’s great diversity with stories of its people, places and ideas. Since 1995, Kentucky Life’s focus has always been to help Kentuckians celebrate unique and regional people and cultures and present stories capturing the history and heritage of Kentucky.

Host, Chip Polston

Chip Polston began his tenure as host of Kentucky Life with the premiere of season 28.

A familiar face to Kentuckians, Chip has appeared on air during several KET pledge drives, was the host of KET’s Mixed Media and the longtime on-air personality for the Kentucky Lottery.

Chip is a graduate of Western Kentucky University and the University of Louisville. He is a lifelong Kentuckian and is thrilled to be traveling the state to highlight stories of the Commonwealth’s fascinating people and places.

Learn about the life experiences that led Chip Polston to his dream job as Kentucky Life‘s host.

Kentucky Life logo

Where will we go next?

Don’t miss any of our adventures; follow us on Facebook for updates, behind-the-scenes info, and more!

ARTICLE

Kentucky Ferries; Memory-Idlewild; Sneaker Culture

The Ferries of Kentucky

Kentucky has more miles of navigable waterways and streams than any other state except Alaska, and that requires a lot of infrastructure to get people and traffic across water as they travel the state. In addition to bridges and highways, Kentucky has an active ferry system that helps get people where they need to go.

Continue reading about Kentucky ferries and watch the video.

Kentucky Sneakerheads

Sneaker culture is a worldwide phenomenon. Sneakerheads seek out shoes that are rare, vintage, trendy, or just fashionable.

“I kind of liken it to music,” says footwear professional Brian Osborne. “You discover a new type of music and you kind of deep dive a little more into that. Sneakers are the same way. And the guys that really love sneakers want to show up in something that nobody else has.”

Read more about Kentucky sneaker culture and watch the video.

By: Leslie Potter

Recent Episodes

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Clips & Previews

Season 25 Episodes

Indoor Rock Climbing; Chained Rock; Dafford Murals
S25 E23 Length 27:28 Premiere Date 08/15/20

Russell Fork Rafting; UK's Digital Restoration; and more!
S25 E22 Length 25:57 Premiere Date 08/08/20

Paris Fire Department; Jonathan Queen; Florence Y’all
S25 E21 Length 26:37 Premiere Date 08/01/20

Music on Call; Vent Haven; Camp Shakespeare
S25 E20 Length 26:11 Premiere Date 07/25/20

Old Fashioned; Eugene Minihan Saddles; Secretariat Statue
S25 E19 Length 28:32 Premiere Date 07/18/20

Violins of Hope; Dr. Ephraim McDowell; USS Sachem
S25 E18 Length 28:01 Premiere Date 07/11/20

Kentucky Ferries; Idlewild Memory; Sneaker Culture
S25 E17 Length 27:51 Premiere Date 04/11/20

Celebrate Women's History Month
S25 E16 Length 25:26 Premiere Date 03/14/20

Shaker Village Music; Votes for Women Trail; George C. Wolfe
S25 E15 Length 26:18 Premiere Date 02/22/20

Julia Chinn; Barbara Kingsolver; Enid Yandell; Mary Todd
S25 E14 Length 27:10 Premiere Date 02/15/20

London Cycling; Fatherloss; May's Lick Rosenwald School
S25 E13 Length 25:32 Premiere Date 02/08/20

Alice Allison Dunnigan; Wendover; Mary Ingles
S25 E12 Length 26:56 Premiere Date 02/01/20

Bowman’s Valley School; Tom T. Hall Memory; Mutton Festival
S25 E11 Length 23:46 Premiere Date 01/25/20

Bibb House Reunion; Freedom Singers; Ché Rhodes; Goatscaping
S25 E10 Length 27:00 Premiere Date 01/18/20

Amy Gillingham; Ray Harm; Fishing with Doug; James Van Leer
S25 E9 Length 27:31 Premiere Date 01/11/20

Shelby Society; Dueling in Kentucky; Sisters of Charity
S25 E8 Length 27:52 Premiere Date 11/23/19

Kids Quilting; Bengals Training; Navajo Flute; Game Designer
S25 E7 Length 27:25 Premiere Date 11/17/19

Camp Nelson; Equine Artist Jaime Corum; Coca Cola Building
S25 E6 Length 27:44 Premiere Date 11/09/19

Stagecraft - Jecorey Arthur; Memorials; Beaumont Inn; StandUp Paddleboard
S25 E5 Length 27:10 Premiere Date 11/02/19

Famous Graves; Haunted Perryville; Kelly Green Men
S25 E4 Length 25:27 Premiere Date 10/26/19

Elijah Craig; Hurricane Creek Mine Disaster; Vian Sora
S25 E3 Length 26:17 Premiere Date 10/19/19

Kentucky Music Hall of Fame; Old Friends; Louisville Boxing
S25 E2 Length 28:43 Premiere Date 10/12/19

Paws on Patrol; Outhouse Races; Beer Cheese; Pralltown
S25 E1 Length 27:50 Premiere Date 10/05/19

Eastern Kentucky Flood
Clip Length 13:40 Premiere Date 05/31/23

Mojothunder Live at KET
Clip Length 16:35 Premiere Date 03/09/23

Bardstown, KY Named "Most Beautiful Small Town In America"
Clip Length 08:02 Premiere Date 02/23/23

Barrel Racing Sisters
Clip Length 07:02 Premiere Date 02/23/23

Fort Knox Gold
Clip Length 07:28 Premiere Date 02/23/23

Icelandic Horses
Clip Length 07:00 Premiere Date 02/23/23

Jesse James in Kentucky
Clip Length 07:45 Premiere Date 02/23/23

Traveling the Bluegrass
Clip Length 04:30 Premiere Date 02/23/23

Zenyatta (Thoroughbred Racehorse)
Clip Length 07:30 Premiere Date 02/23/23

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The Brick at Red River Gorge; Turtle Farm Pottery; Louisville Miniature Club; The Void; Irene Dunne - S27 E3

Visit The Brick, an ice cream, coffee, and pottery shop located at Red River Gorge; meet the artists at Turtle Farm Pottery; enthusiasts have an obsession for the very small at Louisville Miniature Club; a sake brewer in Lexington is introducing the drink to Kentucky; Louisville-born actress Irene Dunne earned the nickname The First Lady of Hollywood. A 2022 KET Production.

  • Thursday May 21, 2026 4:00 pm ET on KETKY
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  • Thursday May 21, 2026 7:00 pm CT on KETKY

Armadillos in the Bluegrass, Iron Horse Capitol of Kentucky, Liberty Hall, Clack Mountain Clay - S31 E10

Learn why Kentucky is seeing an increase in armadillos; Lexington became a pivotal crossroads during westward expansion with the invention of the steam locomotive; Chip visits Liberty Hall in Frankfort, the historic home that belonged to U.S. Senator John Brown; Quinn Maher harvests clay from Clack Mountain in Rowan County and demonstrates his creative process. A 2026 KET production.

  • Thursday May 21, 2026 7:30 pm ET on KET2
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  • Wednesday May 27, 2026 2:00 pm ET on KET2
  • Wednesday May 27, 2026 1:00 pm CT on KET2

Waveland History; Post-It Picasso; Miner's Songs; Wylie Caudill - S27 E4

Learn the history of the 19th century Greek Revival mansion Waveland, now a state landmark; a Letcher County teacher is posting colorful murals with an unusual medium; the 1931 song by Florence Reece that became an anthem for the union miners' cause during the Harlan County Wars; and the bright murals of artist and Cynthiana native Wylie Caudill.

  • Friday May 22, 2026 4:00 pm ET on KETKY
  • Friday May 22, 2026 3:00 pm CT on KETKY
  • Friday May 22, 2026 8:00 pm ET on KETKY
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The Sky's the Limit: Breathitt County Farming, Joyland Park, 65th Kentucky Shakespeare Festival - S31 E11

Progressive agricultural practices and community efforts are helping farmers and agriculture thrive in Breathitt County; the complex legacy of Joyland Amusement Park, a once-prominent landmark on the outskirts of Lexington; a group in Louisville is making theatre accessible to everyone in the state, using Shakespeare. A 2026 KET production.

  • Saturday May 23, 2026 8:00 pm ET on KET
  • Saturday May 23, 2026 7:00 pm CT on KET
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Lexington Camera Club; Maynard Blacksmiths; Charles Williams; Maurice Manning - S27 E5

After a long hiatus, the Lexington Camera Club has reinvented itself with new collaborations; artist-blacksmiths Matthew and Karine Maynard are blurring the lines between function and sculpture; artist Charles Williams inspired the founding of Moveable Feast in Lexington; meet Kentucky writer Maurice Manning.

  • Monday May 25, 2026 4:00 pm ET on KETKY
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Purrfect Day Cat Cafe; Elk Population; Restoration at Aviation Museum of Kentucky; AppHarvest - S27 E6

Purrfect Day Cafe provides a unique way of finding new homes for cats; after 25 years of restoration efforts, Kentucky's elk population is thriving; volunteers at the Aviation Museum of Kentucky restore aircraft and other aviation artifacts with a combination of research and dedication; AppHarvest seeks to provide quality jobs by growing tomatoes in Appalachia. A 2022 KET Production.

  • Tuesday May 26, 2026 4:00 pm ET on KETKY
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Julia Perry; Morehead Space Science; Quilts of Valor; Hickory & Oak; Raceland - S27 E7

Learning about composer Julia Perry's life and work with the Lexington Philharmonic; NASA's Lunar IceCube satellite was developed and built at Morehead State University; honoring military veterans with handmade quilts; bringing Appalachian-inspired dishes to Bowling Green; remembering a Kentucky racetrack nearly 100 years later. A 2022 KET Production.

  • Wednesday May 27, 2026 4:00 pm ET on KETKY
  • Wednesday May 27, 2026 3:00 pm CT on KETKY
  • Wednesday May 27, 2026 8:00 pm ET on KETKY
  • Wednesday May 27, 2026 7:00 pm CT on KETKY

Grayson Jenkins; Frankie's Corner; Patricia Neal; Western Library; Virginia Movie Theatre - S27 E8

Musician Grayson Jenkins talks about growing up in Muhlenberg County; Frankie's Corner Little Thoroughbred Crusade introduces youth to the equestrian world; the career of Oscar-winning and Kentucky-born actress Patricia Neal; the Western Branch of the Louisville Free Public Library was the first public library built for and staffed by African Americans; The Virginia Theatre in downtown Somerset. A 2022 KET Production.

  • Thursday May 28, 2026 4:00 pm ET on KETKY
  • Thursday May 28, 2026 3:00 pm CT on KETKY
  • Thursday May 28, 2026 8:00 pm ET on KETKY
  • Thursday May 28, 2026 7:00 pm CT on KETKY

Pioneer Playhouse; Mountain Sports Hall of Fame - Wayland Gym; Saints of Louisville; Plant-Based Lexington - S28 E1

Pioneer Playhouse in Danville is a unique outdoor theater that has been open for seven decades; restoration efforts of the old Wayland gym in Floyd County will house a museum honoring the region's high school athletes; St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church in Louisville houses the skeleton remains of two 2000-year-old Roman Martyrs; a duo of plant-based restaurants in Lexington is challenging the notion that vegan foods are bland and boring. A 2023 KET Production.

  • Friday May 29, 2026 4:00 pm ET on KETKY
  • Friday May 29, 2026 3:00 pm CT on KETKY
  • Friday May 29, 2026 8:00 pm ET on KETKY
  • Friday May 29, 2026 7:00 pm CT on KETKY

The Little School That Could, Nada Tunnel, Kentucky Museum, Lexington's 1833 Cholera Epidemic - S31 E12

Jackson Independent School District in Breathitt County is at the center of a community effort to preserve local agriculture and feed hungry kids in the process; the history of Nada Tunnel, a former railroad tunnel that is often referred to as "The Gateway to the Red River Gorge"; Chip visits the Kentucky Museum in Bowling Green; and a look back at the 1833 cholera epidemic in Lexington. A 2026 KET production.

  • Saturday May 30, 2026 8:00 pm ET on KET
  • Saturday May 30, 2026 7:00 pm CT on KET
  • Sunday May 31, 2026 7:00 am ET on KETKY
  • Sunday May 31, 2026 6:00 am CT on KETKY
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  • Monday June 1, 2026 2:00 am ET on KET
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  • Thursday June 4, 2026 2:30 am ET on KETKY
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  • Thursday June 4, 2026 7:30 pm ET on KET2
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Packhorse Library; Fall Traditions in Nancy; Robert Beatty; Beaver Dam Amphitheater - S28 E2

During the Great Depression, a group of women riding horses and mules brought books to the people of Appalachia; two local farms provide classic Fall activities in the small town of Nancy; Lexington artist Robert Beatty is one of the most recognizable creators of modern album artwork; Beaver Dam in Ohio County is making a big name for itself as a Kentucky concert destination. A 2023 KET Production.

  • Monday June 1, 2026 4:00 pm ET on KETKY
  • Monday June 1, 2026 3:00 pm CT on KETKY
  • Monday June 1, 2026 8:00 pm ET on KETKY
  • Monday June 1, 2026 7:00 pm CT on KETKY

Hillbilly Days; Stitching the S.E.L.F.; Kentucky's Stonehenge; Friends of Eastern Cemetery - S28 E3

Every April, Pikeville hosts the Hillbilly Days festival, three days of food, fun, and hillbilly spirit; Lexington students get first-hand experience in the world of fashion; the late artist Chester Fryer created Kentucky Stonehenge in Munfordville; Friends of Eastern Cemetery in Louisville is helping to restore the most over-buried cemetery in the U.S. A 2023 KET Production.

  • Tuesday June 2, 2026 4:00 pm ET on KETKY
  • Tuesday June 2, 2026 3:00 pm CT on KETKY
  • Tuesday June 2, 2026 8:00 pm ET on KETKY
  • Tuesday June 2, 2026 7:00 pm CT on KETKY

Bluegrass Barons Vintage Baseball; Casey Jones Distillery; Highland Renaissance Festival; Lemonjuice McGee's Comic Cavalcade - S28 E4

Our friend Doug Flynn learns about the Bluegrass Barons and vintage baseball; Casey Jones Distillery in Hopkinsville specializes in moonshine; hosted by the Kentucky Renaissance Faire, the Highland Renaissance Festival in Eminence is an annual tradition; Lemonjuice McGee's Comic Cavalcade in Somerset is home to a wide selection of toys, comic books and more.

  • Wednesday June 3, 2026 4:00 pm ET on KETKY
  • Wednesday June 3, 2026 3:00 pm CT on KETKY
  • Wednesday June 3, 2026 8:00 pm ET on KETKY
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Cove Haven Cemetery; Huntertown; Julia Perry; Western Library - S28 E5

Cove Haven Cemetery has served the Black community of Central Kentucky since 1907; the rich history of Huntertown, established in 1871 as an African American free town in Versailles; musician Julia Perry and her association with the Lexington Philharmonic; the Western Branch of the Louisville Free Public Library system was the first library in the nation staffed by, and intended for, African Americans. A 2023 KET Production.

  • Thursday June 4, 2026 4:00 pm ET on KETKY
  • Thursday June 4, 2026 3:00 pm CT on KETKY
  • Thursday June 4, 2026 8:00 pm ET on KETKY
  • Thursday June 4, 2026 7:00 pm CT on KETKY

Cora Wilson Stewart Moonlight Schools; Paramount Arts Center; Tuk Tuk Sri Lankan Bites; Apple Valley Hillbilly Garden and Toyland - S28 E6

Started in Rowan County in 1911, Cora Wilson Stewart thought up the idea of Moonlight Schools to combat adult illiteracy; the history of the iconic Paramount Arts Center in Ashland, Kentucky; first-generation Sri Lankan-American Sam Fore recounts her journey starting a small pop-up restaurant in Lexington; the unique Apple Valley Hillbilly Garden and Toyland in Calvert City. A 2023 KET Production.

  • Friday June 5, 2026 4:00 pm ET on KETKY
  • Friday June 5, 2026 3:00 pm CT on KETKY
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Repurposing Railroads, Farmington Historic Home, A Shire of Our Own - S31 E13

Kentucky communities are looking to repurpose old railroad tracks in a variety of innovative and entertaining ways; Farmington Historic Home has over 200 years of history to tell; and did J.R.R. Tolkien find inspiration for the Shire in "The Hobbit" and "Lord of the Rings" from what he heard about Kentucky? A 2026 KET production.

  • Saturday June 6, 2026 8:00 pm ET on KET
  • Saturday June 6, 2026 7:00 pm CT on KET
  • Sunday June 7, 2026 7:00 am ET on KETKY
  • Sunday June 7, 2026 6:00 am CT on KETKY
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  • Monday June 8, 2026 2:00 am ET on KET
  • Monday June 8, 2026 1:00 am CT on KET
  • Tuesday June 9, 2026 2:00 am ET on KETKY
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  • Tuesday June 9, 2026 2:30 pm ET on KETKY
  • Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:30 pm CT on KETKY
  • Tuesday June 9, 2026 9:30 pm ET on KETKY
  • Tuesday June 9, 2026 8:30 pm CT on KETKY
  • Thursday June 11, 2026 2:30 am ET on KETKY
  • Thursday June 11, 2026 1:30 am CT on KETKY
  • Thursday June 11, 2026 7:30 pm ET on KET2
  • Thursday June 11, 2026 6:30 pm CT on KET2
  • Friday June 12, 2026 10:00 am ET on KETKY
  • Friday June 12, 2026 9:00 am CT on KETKY
  • Friday June 12, 2026 2:30 pm ET on KETKY
  • Friday June 12, 2026 1:30 pm CT on KETKY
  • Saturday June 13, 2026 12:30 am ET on KET2
  • Friday June 12, 2026 11:30 pm CT on KET2
  • Saturday June 13, 2026 3:30 pm ET on KETKY
  • Saturday June 13, 2026 2:30 pm CT on KETKY
  • Wednesday June 17, 2026 10:30 am ET on KET2
  • Wednesday June 17, 2026 9:30 am CT on KET2
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Painting Large; Tony Moore; Red River Gorge Trail Crew; Mojothunder - S28 E7

The large-scale murals of central Kentucky artists Graham Allen and Geoff Murphy include a diverse group of people with Kentucky roots; meet comic-book illustrator and artist Tony Moore; the Red River Gorge Trail crew maintains the trails of this Kentucky treasure; Mojothunder is an up-and-coming rock band in the Bluegrass. A 2023 KET Production.

  • Monday June 8, 2026 4:00 pm ET on KETKY
  • Monday June 8, 2026 3:00 pm CT on KETKY
  • Monday June 8, 2026 8:00 pm ET on KETKY
  • Monday June 8, 2026 7:00 pm CT on KETKY

River City Tintype; Kentucky Women Veterans Honor Flight; Henderson Border; Ben E. Clement Mineral Museum - S28 E8

In Louisville, Rudy Salgado creates tintype photos with techniques and equipment from the 19th century in this 2024 Ohio Valley Chapter Regional Emmy Award-nominated segment; Kentucky women veterans traveled to DC over the summer for Honor Flight Kentucky; learn about the small part of Kentucky "north" of the Ohio River; the Ben E. Clement Mineral Museum in Marion, Kentucky, features thousands of colorful fluorite mineral specimens. A 2023 KET production.

  • Tuesday June 9, 2026 4:00 pm ET on KETKY
  • Tuesday June 9, 2026 3:00 pm CT on KETKY
  • Tuesday June 9, 2026 8:00 pm ET on KETKY
  • Tuesday June 9, 2026 7:00 pm CT on KETKY

Community Aid in Eastern Kentucky; Photographing Appalachia; Painting Appalachia; Russell Railroad YMCA - S28 E9

The historic flood that devastated portions of Eastern Kentucky in July 2022 highlighted the hard work, resilience and kindness of mountain communities; photographer Dean Hill has dedicated his life to capturing Appalachia on film; painter Ceirra Evans draws from her childhood to showcase the people of Appalachia; in Russell, the once-popular Railroad YMCA, now an abandoned building, was originally built to house railroad workers. A 2023 KET Production.

  • Wednesday June 10, 2026 4:00 pm ET on KETKY
  • Wednesday June 10, 2026 3:00 pm CT on KETKY
  • Wednesday June 10, 2026 8:00 pm ET on KETKY
  • Wednesday June 10, 2026 7:00 pm CT on KETKY

WRFL 88.1 FM; Flame Run; Hensley Settlement - S28 E10

WRFL is the University of Kentucky's student-run radio station and has been operating for 35 years; visit Flame Run, a glass studio and gallery in Louisville and glass artist Brook Forrest White Jr.; and the history of Hensley Settlement and one man's determination to preserve a quieter way of life for his family. A 2023 KET Production.

  • Thursday June 11, 2026 4:00 pm ET on KETKY
  • Thursday June 11, 2026 3:00 pm CT on KETKY
  • Thursday June 11, 2026 8:00 pm ET on KETKY
  • Thursday June 11, 2026 7:00 pm CT on KETKY

Wade Houston; Flavors from Home; First Vineyard Winery; Honoring Jonesville - S28 E11

Meet Wade Houston, Louisville businessman and former basketball coach at Male High School and the University of Louisville; author Aimee Zaring explores the recipes and journeys of refugees who live in Kentucky in her new cookbook; established in 1799 by Kentucky State Statute, First Vineyard was the first commercial winery in the U.S.; and a Buon fresco mural honors the once thriving African American community of Jonesville in Bowling Green. A 2023 KET Production.

  • Friday June 12, 2026 4:00 pm ET on KETKY
  • Friday June 12, 2026 3:00 pm CT on KETKY
  • Friday June 12, 2026 8:00 pm ET on KETKY
  • Friday June 12, 2026 7:00 pm CT on KETKY

Forgotten Veterans, Scary Good: The Heart Behind the Horror, Fort Boonesborough, Lexington's Public Square - S31 E14

A Western Kentucky couple works to identify unclaimed remains of veterans at funeral homes so they can be buried with full military honors; meet filmmakers who share more than just a passion for jump scares and bloodthirsty monsters; Chip visits Fort Boonesborough, Kentucky's earliest American settlement; and explore the beginning of Lexington's Public Square. A 2026 KET production.

  • Saturday June 13, 2026 8:00 pm ET on KET
  • Saturday June 13, 2026 7:00 pm CT on KET
  • Sunday June 14, 2026 7:00 am ET on KETKY
  • Sunday June 14, 2026 6:00 am CT on KETKY
  • Sunday June 14, 2026 4:05 pm ET on KET
  • Sunday June 14, 2026 3:05 pm CT on KET
  • Tuesday June 16, 2026 2:00 am ET on KETKY
  • Tuesday June 16, 2026 1:00 am CT on KETKY
  • Tuesday June 16, 2026 9:30 am ET on KETKY
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  • Tuesday June 16, 2026 2:30 pm ET on KETKY
  • Tuesday June 16, 2026 1:30 pm CT on KETKY
  • Tuesday June 16, 2026 9:30 pm ET on KETKY
  • Tuesday June 16, 2026 8:30 pm CT on KETKY
  • Thursday June 18, 2026 2:30 am ET on KETKY
  • Thursday June 18, 2026 1:30 am CT on KETKY
  • Thursday June 18, 2026 7:30 pm ET on KET2
  • Thursday June 18, 2026 6:30 pm CT on KET2
  • Friday June 19, 2026 10:00 am ET on KETKY
  • Friday June 19, 2026 9:00 am CT on KETKY
  • Friday June 19, 2026 2:30 pm ET on KETKY
  • Friday June 19, 2026 1:30 pm CT on KETKY
  • Saturday June 20, 2026 12:30 am ET on KET2
  • Friday June 19, 2026 11:30 pm CT on KET2
  • Saturday June 20, 2026 3:30 pm ET on KETKY
  • Saturday June 20, 2026 2:30 pm CT on KETKY

Wickliffe Mounds; Kudzu in Kentucky; Charles Young; Monte Casino Chapel - S28 E12

Wickliffe Mounds, a Native American archaeological site, features abundant wildlife, museum exhibits, a walking trail, welcome center, a gift shop and picnic areas; kudzu is known as 'the vine that ate the south' because it is so invasive; Charles Young from Mays Lick overcame barriers and became a military leader and overall renaissance man - a century after his death, Young received long overdue recognition; and while the 127-year-old Monte Casino Chapel may be small in stature, it more than makes up for its size in history. A 2023 KET Production.

  • Monday June 15, 2026 4:00 pm ET on KETKY
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Bri Bowers; Bike Polo; Kentucky Meat Shower; Kelly Brewer - S28 E13

The illustrations of Louisville artist Bri Bowers depict some of the city's most well-loved local landmarks; bike polo in Lexington; explore an 1876 phenomenon that occurred when a substance resembling meat fell from the sky over the Crouch family farm in Olympia Springs - in this 2024 Ohio Valley Chapter Regional Emmy Award-nominated segment; artist Kelly Brewer and friends started the Common Wealth of Kentucky Project, using their talents to showcase people and places. A 2023 KET production.

  • Tuesday June 16, 2026 4:00 pm ET on KETKY
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B-29 Superfortress Tour; Pink Boots Society; Artist Robert Morgan; Alice Houston - S28 E14

Explore the history of the B-29 Superfortress, the plane used to deliver the atomic bombs during World War II; Pink Boots Society comprises movers and shakers in the fermented and alcoholic beverage industry; Lexington-based artist Robert Morgan creates moving assemblage sculptures out of discarded family items in this 2024 Ohio Valley Chapter Regional Emmy Award-nominated segment; and explore the life of Louisville native and business leader Alice Houston. A 2023 KET Production.

  • Wednesday June 17, 2026 4:00 pm ET on KETKY
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Empress Chili; Painter Jon Gaddis; White Hall; Artist Lakshmi Sriraman - S28 E15

Chip visits Empress Chili in Alexandria, the restaurant that started the Cincinnati Chili craze in 1922; the works of contemporary landscape painter Jon Gaddis; the history of White Hall, the mansion that has been in Richmond since the 1700s and was the home of the prominent Clay family; meet Lexington artist Lakshmi Sriraman, who specializes in painting, dance, and more. A 2023 KET Production.

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Author bell hooks; Lexington Writer's Room; WKDZ and the History of Radio; A Pollinator's Paradise - S28 E16

Explore the life and works of renowned Kentucky author and activist bell hooks; The Lexington Writer's Room offers local, active writers (and visitors) affordable and collaborative workspaces; when the tornados went through Western Kentucky in 2021, WKDZ stayed on the air showing the importance of local radio in this 2024 Ohio Valley Chapter Regional Emmy Award-nominated segment; the Butterfly Greenhouse at Wilson Nurseries & Plant Co. educates Kentuckians about the importance of native pollinators. A 2023 KET Production.

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Mountain Dulcimer, Verna Mae Slone, Kentucky Is Cave Country - S31 E15

Learn about the history of the mountain dulcimer and its origins in Hindman, Kentucky; Verna Mae Slone led the charge for cultural preservation through Eastern Kentucky; and beneath Kentucky's rolling hills lies a vast and fragile world of caves and karst systems. A 2026 KET production.

  • Saturday June 20, 2026 8:00 pm ET on KET
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Tambour Beading; Soap Box Derby; Huntertown; Somernites Cruise; Triangular Jog - S27 E2

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Spirit Nest; Walter Tevis; Cove Haven Cemetery; Appalachian Horse Project; Sassafras Tree - S27 E1

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Kentucky Life: Host Special - S26 E7

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Armadillos in the Bluegrass, Iron Horse Capitol of Kentucky, Liberty Hall, Clack Mountain Clay - S31 E10

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Kentucky Life: Bourbon and Horses - S26 E6

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Kentucky Life: Great Outdoors - S26 E5

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Kentucky Life: Food - S26 E4

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Kentucky Life: Music - S26 E3

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Kentucky Life: Historical Figures - S26 E2

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Putting Kentucky on the Map, Henry Faulkner, Lexington's Main Street - S31 E17

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Kentucky Life: Arts - S26 E1

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Indoor Rock Climbing; Memory-Dwight Yoakam; Chained Rock; Dafford River Murals; Maysville Murals - S25 E23

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Russell Fork Rafting; UK's Digital Restoration Initiative; Memory-Breaks Interstate Park; Bowling Green Youth Orchestra - S25 E22

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Paris Fire Department; Memory-Agate Hunting; Artist Jonathan Queen; Florence Y'all - S25 E21

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Music on Call; Memory-Magee's Transparent Pie; Vent Haven Museum; Camp Shakespeare - S25 E20

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Disco Balls, Sadie Price: Bowling Green's Victorian Pioneer, The Gateway to Kentucky, Transylvania University - S31 E16

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Louisville's Old Fashioned; Kentucky Springseat Saddle; Memory-Mountain Pleasure Horses; Secretariat Statue - S25 E19

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Violins of Hope; Memory-Kentucky in Africa; Dr. Ephraim McDowell; USS Sachem - S25 E18

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Kentucky Ferries; Memory-Idlewild; Sneaker Culture; Pickleball - S25 E17

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Women's History - S25 E16

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Shaker Village Singer; Marsha Weinstein & the "Votes for Women" Trail; Memory-Hoop Fest; George C. Wolfe Honored - S25 E15

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Kentucky's Last Great Places: A Kentucky Life Special - S10 E10

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Mountain Dulcimer, Verna Mae Slone, Kentucky Is Cave Country - S31 E15

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Julia Chinn; Memory-Barbara Kingsolver; Enid Yandell; Mary Todd Lincoln - S25 E14

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London Cycling; Dave's Memory-Fatherloss; Mays Lick Rosenwald School; Moment-Spring Beauty - S25 E13

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Alice Allison Dunnigan; Memory-Doug's First Segment; Wendover; Mary Ingles - S25 E12

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Repurposing Railroads, Farmington Historic Home, A Shire of Our Own - S31 E13

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Bowman's Valley School; Byron's Memory-Tom T. Hall; Mutton; Moment-Prohibitionist Mural - S25 E11

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Bibb House Reunion; Memory-Freedom Singers; Goatscaping; Ché Rhodes; Moment-Clydesdales - S25 E10

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Top

Buried Treasure

“The Coins Kept Coming”

In 2023, a Kentucky farmer discovered a cache of more than 800 gold and silver Civil War-era coins buried in a cornfield — a rare find one coin expert said was “hard to comprehend.” The discovery triggered an avalanche of media interest from around the globe, with stories appearing in The New York Times, The Guardian, Smithsonian Magazine and USA Today, among others.

On this brand-new special episode of Kentucky Life, for the first time, we hear from the farmer, as well as antique coin expert Jeff Garrett with Mid-America Rare Coin Galleries, offering their thoughts about that fateful day and the discovery now known as The Great Kentucky Hoard. We also hear from UK historian Amy Murell-Taylor on what was happening in Kentucky during the Civil War that may have led to these coins being put in the ground, and we go exploring with three guys who call themselves The Dirt Nerds as they search for buried treasure in the Bluegrass.

Fearing an onslaught of fortune seekers on his property, the Kentucky farmer went to great lengths to remain anonymous and silent — until now.

“I initially found the 1856 Seated Liberty Half Dollar probably 20 to 30 feet from where the hoard was located,” the farmer told Kentucky Life. “I would have never believed what came next. Things that only happen in dreams. When I continued walking and saw the glint of gold – a thick reeded edge. When I pulled the coin from the ground, I was astonished when I realized I was holding a $20 Double Eagle from the 1860s. After I flipped the first clump of dirt over the next 45 minutes to an hour, the coins kept coming. I knew it was hundreds.”

Watch Now

Chip Talks with the Farmer

Had you ever made any discoveries like this before, and was this the type of thing you were looking for?
Never in a million years did I think I would ever come across anything even close to this. Normally, when I’m not working, I wander the fields searching for native American artifacts and anything that may have been lost hundreds of years ago.

Talk me through the day leading up to the discovery – in general, what had you been doing?
I was in the fields as any other normal day, when I had gotten off work, I started walking a portion of the property I had seen broken pieces of pottery and brick strewn in a fairly confined area when I came across the first coin. Something that has happened a decent amount of times. I found my first “old coin” when I was maybe 9 walking the fields around my hometown looking for arrowheads, and boom, there it was a pristine 1937D Mercury dime, sitting there basking in the sun. This time it was a little more exciting beings it was a beautiful 1856O Seated Liberty half dollar which was almost perfect minus a few marks from where it had been struck by farm equipment. Little did I know what that would lead to next.

When you first looked down in the dirt and saw the coins, what was going through your mind? Did you realize the enormity of what you had just found and that this was a life-changing event?
I initially found the 1856 Seated Liberty Half Dollar probably 20-30’ from where the hoard was located. I would have never believed what came next. Things that only happen in dreams. When I continued walking and saw the glint of gold….a thick reeded edge… when I pulled the coin from the ground I was astonished when I realized I was holding a 20$ DOUBLE EAGLE from the 1860s. After I flipped the first clump of dirt over the next 45 minutes to an hour the coins kept coming. I knew it was hundreds. I guessed initially around three to maybe 400 coins. To my surprise when I got home and started counting the total was over 800 coins. 770 of which were gold.

The very first thing I would have done would have been to clean off the coins – Jeff said you were smart enough to not do this as it greatly enhanced their value. How in the world did you know not to do this?
I have been in the hobby of walking fields and admiring coins from the age of we’ll say ten or younger. My dad had gotten me into coins after he had collected all the way back since the late 1970s. He had always warned me against cleaning anything silver. Knowing that gold is far softer than silver it was a no-brainer for me to leave them be. They had quite a bit of rust on the surfaces, I assumed either they were in an old iron box or something that corroded over the years and left a lot of the coins encrusted.

Walk me through the days after the discovery – what were you thinking?
I knew right away that I had made an enormous discovery. I hadn’t heard of such a find in the US in ages. I spent hours researching each coin and the different years and varieties to check for rarities and key dates. I knew that anything with a D mint mark from the time would be very rare and valuable. Out of 700+ gold coins, I believe only ONE was minted in Dahlonega Georgia. I found a few other gold dollars with mint marks some rarer than others…but after researching the key dates for the Liberty Head 20$ I realized I had not one…but EIGHTEEN of one of the rare dates, the 1863 20s. This is when my head began to spin and I knew I needed help.

Jeff literally wrote the book on coins like this – how did you find him, and how much reassurance did it bring you that you’d connected with such an expert?
I had actually posted on a social media group I am a part of, and one of the members mentioned that I should reach out to a Jeff Garrett. They said he was the expert on US minted Gold Coins. I began to research his name and read of his incredible and very extensive background in the coin world. I was skeptical at first, something of this magnitude is HUGE and people can be extremely greedy in times of other’s fortunate events. I sent him a very vague, very short email with a picture of one single 1863 Double Eagle, stating only that I had a coin I knew was potentially valuable. We agreed to meet in his office in Lexington, where I brought six of the Double Eagles and a few other coins from the find. By the end of our meeting, I revealed to him that was a very very small portion of what I had discovered, and that I had 12 more 1863 Double Eagles at home along with several hundred more gold coins of the same timeframe. Everything else from there came down to personally transporting the coins to Sarasota to NGC where we met with Mr. Mark Salzberg and Dave Camire for the next steps in cleaning, grading and preserving this incredible discovery.

Any advice you’d offer to treasure hunters or anyone else out there captivated by this story?
Keep your eyes out and never stop looking. I never even imagined I would find one gold coin in my entire life. Let alone something so significant it has its own hoard name. There are hundreds of stories of lost treasure, hidden staches from bandits and just the superstitious wealthy old guy who didn’t trust the banks…

Has this changed the way you walk around and look at things?
Surprisingly, not much, as I said I have spent many years wandering the fields and river banks looking for anything that catches the eye. My Father did it before me, my great-grandmother had one of the most incredible museum-worthy collections of arrowheads all found walking cultivated land and the banks of the rivers. I guess maybe it’s in my bones, I have always been extremely fascinated with discovering items from the past.

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