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Spotlighting outstanding contributions Kentuckians have made to the arts and sciences.
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SPEAKER SERIES - Presenters
Interim Executive Director at Kentucky to the World, nonprofit management and fundraising professional
Dual-trained Physician–Scientist Neurosurgeon
Focuses on developing magnetic robotic technologies for curved trajectories in neurosurgery.
Activist, Public Speaker, Poet, Author
The State of Song: “My Old Kentucky Home”
Faces a Changing World
Ocean Explorer
Diving Deep: Chris Fischer’s Journey to Save
Sharks and Bring Balance to Our Oceans
Senior Associate at Frost Brown Todd, LLP
Diving Deep: Chris Fischer’s Journey to Save
Sharks and Bring Balance to Our Oceans
Simon & Schuster Senior Vice President and Publisher
The War on Terror to The War on Truth
Professor of English, University of Louisville
The Colonel of Comics: Zombies, Anti-Heroes
& the Art of Tony Moore
National Geographic Society Chief Education Officer
Public Education: Unbridled or Unraveling
Nobel Laureate, Institute Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
In Pursuit of Answers From Kentucky to Biotechnology
Freelance Writer Specializing in Science & Medicine
In Pursuit of Answers From Kentucky to Biotechnology
Flight System’s Engineer at Jet Propulsion Laboratory (Pasadena, CA)
Lead Flight Systems Engineer for the Europa Clipper Mission (2024)
Programs
UPCOMING EVENTS
An evening of dance, story and stardom through the eyes of one of Kentucky’s own who’s danced and choreographed with Michael Jackson, Beyoncé, Diana Ross, Mick Jagger, Janet Jackson and more.
March 3, 2026 - Kentucky to the World, in partnership with The Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science and the Warren County Public Library, presents Legacy in Motion: LaVelle Smith, Jr.’s Dance Journey From Kentucky to Pop Icons at the Capitol in Downtown Bowling Green, KY.
On Oct 16, 2025, the Kentucky to the World Republic Bank Foundation Speaker Series presents Dr. Ajmal Zemmar, renowned neuroscientist, in conversation with science writer and longtime KTW collaborator, Ms. Jenni Laidman.
News & Updates
NEWS & UPDATES
An evening of dance, story and stardom through the eyes of one of Kentucky’s own who’s danced and choreographed with Michael Jackson, Beyoncé, Diana Ross, Mick Jagger, Janet Jackson and more.
Kentucky to the World (KTW), in partnership with the WKU/Gatton Academy, will host internationally recognized neurosurgeon and neuroscientist Dr. Ajmal Zemmar for its Republic Bank Foundation Speaker Series in Bowling Green, KY.
Kentucky to the World (KTW), in partnership with the Kentucky Science Center, will host internationally recognized neurosurgeon and neuroscientist Dr. Ajmal Zemmar for its Republic Bank Foundation Speaker Series in Louisville, KY.
We are honored that The New York Times has recognized the extraordinary life and vision of our founder, Shelly Zegart. Shelly’s work redefined how the world understands quilts—transforming them into recognized works of art and history. Through initiatives like the Kentucky Quilt Project, The Quilt Index, and her PBS series Why Quilts Matter, she reshaped cultural narratives nationally and globally.
Kentucky to the World is proud to serve as the official media partner for The Soulful Sounds of Derbytown—a powerful tribute to Louisville’s legendary African American musicians and entertainers, now airing on KET. This inspiring production features unforgettable performances by icons such as The Jerry Tolson Quartet, Marjorie Marshall, Tanita Gaines, Lamont Butler and the Pearls, Jason Clayborn, and many more, blending live music, dance, and theater into one unforgettable celebration.
Watch the KTW program with Louisville native Tom O'Connell, a renowned stuntman and actor known for his roles as the Heavy Mandalorian and Darth Vader, on KET! Tom was the special guest at this dual-location event in Louisville, KY, and Bowling Green, KY. Live stunt demonstrations, interactive participation and on-stage discussions were part of the audience experience in KTW's Republic Bank Foundation Speaker Series with support from the Speed Art Museum, the WKU Innovation Campus, and the Gatton Academy for Gifted Studies. Recorded live at the Speed Art Museum in Louisville on Sept. 25, 2024.
To celebrate Women’s History Month, KET is featuring programs celebrating trail-blazing, history-making women. KTW’s program featuring legendary film animator Carol Wyatt, who grew up in Louisville, was chosen as part of that showcase. In the program, Wyatt sits down for a conversation with Brooke Keesling, head of animation talent development at Bento Box.
In October 2024, Kentucky to the World and R. Harvey Johnston III hosted the Premiere of "A Pathway Forward", a documentary celebrating the highly successful pathway partnership between Central High School's Law and Government Magnet program and the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law.
Video & Streaming
Kentucky to the World on KET Streaming
Kentucky to the World is proud to serve as the official media partner for The Soulful Sounds of Derbytown—a powerful tribute to Louisville’s legendary African American musicians and entertainers, now airing on KET. This inspiring production features unforgettable performances by icons such as The Jerry Tolson Quartet, Marjorie Marshall, Tanita Gaines, Lamont Butler and the Pearls, Jason Clayborn, and many more, blending live music, dance, and theater into one unforgettable celebration.
Louisville native Tom O'Connell, a renowned stuntman and actor known for his roles as the Heavy Mandalorian and Darth Vader, was the special guest at this dual-location event. Originally trained as a computer engineer, O'Connell's journey led him from an aspiring astronaut to a standout career in film and television. Live stunt demonstrations, interactive participation and on-stage discussions...
A dynamic combination of live musical performances, audience engagement and conversation featuring Harry Pickens, Ben Sollee, Hannah Drake and Emily Bingham, examines the role of "My Old Kentucky Home" as the song that represents our state, and thus ourselves, from its problematic roots to its modern disconnect.
Legendary film animator Carol Wyatt, who grew up in Louisville, sits down for a conversation with Brooke Keesling, head of animation talent development at Bento Box. Wyatt talks about animation as a profound means of storytelling through color, allowing her to weave narratives through her work on programs such as Rick and Morty, The Simpsons, Rocko's Modern Life, Foster's Home for Imaginary...
Kentucky to the World is excited to welcome Chris Fischer, OCEARCH Founder and Expedition Leader, home to Louisville for an exclusive live program on Monday, May 16, 2022, at the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts’ Bomhard Theatre.
Nothing shapes the possibilities we dream and the solutions we discover quite like stories. And, who better to help us tell the story of the future of Kentucky than individuals who are working toward building it? These stories will inspire people throughout Kentucky and beyond to think about a future here for themselves. Recorded at Waterfront Botanical Gardens in Louisville.
Dana Canedy is senior vice president and publisher of Simon and Schuster, the first African American to lead a top U.S. publishing imprint. She speaks with Richard Green, former editor of the Courier Journal, about her career and growing up in Kentucky.
Louisvillian and Food Network personality Chef Damaris Phillips hosts a panel of up-and-coming women chefs including Chef Samantha Fore, Chef Kristin Smith, and Chef Nikkia Rhodes. They discuss the impact of women on the culinary arts in Kentucky. The program also highlights the LEE Initiative that pairs women chefs with mentors to help train and elevate them as culinary leaders.
Artist Tony Moore is known for his work on The Walking Dead and The Exterminators and Fear Agent comic books. He speaks with U of L's Dr. Joe Turner about growing up on a farm in Cynthiana, Kentucky; his mother's influence and becoming a comic book artist. Moore attended U of L's Hite Art Institute and has been nominated the Eisner Award. He is a Kentucky Colonel, one his most cherished honors.
Sound engineer and Kentucky native, Finis 'KY' White, managed to turn homelessness and hopelessness into a multi-platinum career mixing and engineering records for artists like Drake, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, and more. Sean Cannon speaks with White to see how this entrepreneur rose to the top of the hip-hop world. Known as "the engineer from Kentucky," White is the owner of Bass Recording Studios.
Chuck Brymer went from Louisville's Main Street to Madison Ave as one of the world's leading brand experts whose work influences decision-making around the world. Brymer is chairman of DDB Worldwide Communications Group, one of the top advertising and marketing agencies in the world. He speaks with Maggie Payette Harlow about his work and how his Kentucky roots have been an advantage.
Global education strategist and Kentucky native Dr. Vicki Phillips speaks with former U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Matthew Barzun, about taking the power of public education and transforming it into a system that can move Americans to the highest levels of performance in the world, including utilizing Kentucky's citizens, businesses, and others to help support this important mission.
We talk with Louisville's own Olympic Gold Medalists in swimming Mary T. Meagher and Kelsi Worrell Dahlia. They discuss how Kentucky impacted their path to success and how to navigate life when it seems like your greatest accomplishment is behind you. WHAS 11's Whitney Harding moderates.
Nobel Prize Laureate Dr. Phillip A. Sharp is an Institute Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), co-founder of Biogen, Inc., and founder of Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. He discusses growing up on a farm in Kentucky and his pursuits in science, from his past accomplishments to his vision for the future of biotechnology with writer Jenni Laidman.
This program focuses on Louisville's own Global Game Changers (GGC), a nonprofit seeking to empower children to discover their inner superpower through educational programs and partnerships. Sam Corbett, president of the Jefferson County Public Education Foundation, moderates a discussion with GGC co-founders Jan Helson, her daughter Rachel Annette Helson, as well as Anne and Justin Walker.
Style expert and Louisville native Elizabeth Mayhew talks with WAVE3's Shannon Cogan and shares how being born and raised in Kentucky has helped propel her success in some unexpected ways. Mayhew is the brand editor for Reese Witherspoon's Southern-inspired brand Draper James, is a regular on NBC's Today Show, and a columnist for The Washington Post. She is the author of FLIP! for Decorating.
National political reporter and Louisville native Perry Bacon Jr. shares an insider's view honed from more than a dozen years in Washington and on the campaign trail covering our nation's most important political developments. He shares his insights on the rise of hyper-partisanship, the growing connection between celebrity and political success, and how technology is reshaping media and politics.
Wendy Whelan, America's premier ballerina, sits down for an intimate conversation with historian and author Emily Bingham to discuss her future and embracing her creative power.
Louisville natives and brothers Daniel Roth, executive editor of LinkedIn, and Evan Roth, founding partner of BBR Partners, host the financial podcast Breaking the Mold. They interview franchise entrepreneur and former University of Louisville and NBA star Junior Bridgeman about how he navigated his transition from the world of sports to the list of the highest-earning retired athletes in Forbes.
The Booth sisters, Lady, Rebecca, and Cecil, talk about growing up in Kentucky; success in their chosen professions; and their famous dad - Wayne Perkey of 84 WHAS radio.
Kentucky to the World on YouTube - Featured Video Stories
How does recording the activity of a dying brain change a neurosurgeon’s own perspective on life? Dr. Ajmal Zemmar explains how his research made him reflect on memory, mortality, and the importance of living more fully in the present.
Dr. Ajmal Zemmar shares his remarkable journey from fleeing the war in Afghanistan as a child to becoming Chief of Neurosurgery at the VA. His path through Germany, Switzerland, Canada, and the U.S. reveals the resilience and dedication behind a career focused on helping patients with Parkinson’s, tremors, epilepsy, and chronic pain through functional neurosurgery.
Blog Stories
Blog
As the U.S. commemorates its 250th anniversary of independence in 2026, organizations across the nation are celebrating the people, places, and events that make up our country’s shared history. That’s certainly the case at Kentucky to the World, which is proud to honor the legacy of our Commonwealth. See some of the ways KTW - and Kentuckians at large - celebrate America250 below.
I grew up in a bubble. I didn’t get out much. In high school especially, I was the kind of kid that just wanted to play Call of Duty online with my friends more than the kid who went to football games and took part in extracurricular activities. But before that, I spent my childhood in the woods. Summers were spent next to Lake Cumberland in Somerset, right on the border of Nancy, with frequent trips in the fall to Haney’s Appledale Farm and Bear Wallow Farm. I played with neighborhood friends in abandoned trailer parks with double wides toppled over hills. Froze my feet off in treestands hunting in Campbellsville with my Grandad. Sat on a dead log housing a seed tick nest while chasing squirrels. Had front yard reunions with my Mom’s mom’s side of the family in Flemingsburg, and the Daulton family Christmas in my Aunt’s garage.
This story begins in Los Angeles at Paramount Recording Studios. “It’s not quite right,” I explain to my co-writers. “It needs more authenticity to it. I want people to hear this opening line and feel like they’re actually in the car with me, traveling from Kentucky to Los Angeles.” I’ve been awaiting this moment for a few weeks now, the day that we finally started working on a new album - and genre - that honors my experience as a Korean American from Kentucky: K-BELLE, a blend of my Korean and Southern Belle identities.
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