In this episode, Pete Koutoulas and Rebecca Ison have a wide-ranging conversation about humanism, what it means to live without religious belief, and how humanists try to build a better community through action. They also walk through the Humanists of Winchester’s ten commitments, with practical discussion of topics including altruism, critical thinking, empathy, environmentalism, service, and more.

Pete and Rebecca each share their own path into humanism, including doubts about religion, the role of evidence, and the importance of questioning inherited beliefs. The conversation is both personal and civic-minded, with a strong focus on how values show up in everyday life.

Rebecca Ison is a Winchester resident, a teacher, nurse, nursing instructor, and president of Humanists of Winchester.

Additional Resources

• Humanists of Winchester website: https://www.humanistsofwinchester.org/
• Humanists of WInchester Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/humanistsofwinchester
• American Humanists Association: https://americanhumanist.org/
• The ten commitments of humanism: https://americanhumanistcenterforeducation.org/ten-commitments/

Host & Show Info

• Host Name: Pete Koutoulas
• About the Host: Pete is a retired IT professional and journalist residing in Winchester, Kentucky. He is the Executive Director and co-founder of WinCity Media — a 501(c)(3) nonprofit — and the publisher of Wincity Voices, an e-zine covering WInchester and Clark County, Kentucky. 
• Podcast Website: https://www.voicesofwinchesterpodcast.org 

Community & Calls to Action

• Please rate & review us on Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-voices-of-winchester/id1800721309

• Contact the show: info@wincitymedia.org 
• Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.wincityvoices.org/newsletter/ 
• Follow us on social media:
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wincityvoices 
  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wincityvoices 
  • Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/wincityvoices.org
• Share this episode with a friend! If you enjoyed it, tag us on social media and let us know your favorite takeaway!

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.)

Coming out as a gay man and embracing his vision of Spirit while rejecting parts of Christianity has required courage at times.

“As a marginalized person, I have to be brave,” says Jeffery.

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.

About the Voices of Winchester podcast

The Voices of Winchester podcast is the show that brings your stories, our stories, and all of the voices of Winchester right to your ears. Stick around for some great conversation.  

Did you know we also have a website — we call it an electronic magazine, or e-zine — where we feature some of the best local writers and artists, as well as news from around town. Check it out after the show at wincityvoices.org. Like everything we do. It is 100% free, with no ads. Zero. Zilch. And while you’re there, be sure to subscribe to our free weekly newsletter. You can also find us on Facebook and Bluesky.

This podcast is brought to you by WinCity Media, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. We are 100% supported by listeners and readers like you. Please visit wincitymedia.org to learn how to donate and help keep local independent journalism free for everyone.    

Join us as guest host Lisa Bush chats with her friend about what it was like growing up “different” and living her adult life as a transgender woman. 

This episode contains explicit material and is intended for mature audiences.

In this episode, I hosted Lisa Bush for a discussion that centered around her new thing—the All-Voices Reading Room, which is set to open with pop-up locations around town later this month. We also talked about three upcoming episodes of the podcast, in which Lisa will be the host and interview members of the LGBTQ+ community. 

Valerie shares her journey from New York City to Wilmington, North Carolina, and now to the Lexington and Winchester areas. Together with her partner Monty Hobbs, Valerie emphasizes the importance of highlighting charitable local businesses and the heartwarming stories behind them.

Valerie is not just a producer; she has a rich background in media and entertainment, having worked on various projects that emphasize family-friendly and inspiring content. With a passion for showcasing the goodness in communities, she brings a unique perspective to her work.

Valerie elaborates on how "Finding Kindness" was born out of their shared mission to promote businesses that give back to their communities. The show aims to celebrate local heroes who, despite challenges, contribute positively to society. Each episode features a different location and a celebrity host, aiming to create engaging and heartfelt content.

The Winchester Café is set to open as a permanent fixture in downtown Winchester, offering Southern comfort food and serving as a mini-museum showcasing the entertainment work being done in the area. Valerie envisions it as a place where locals and visitors can enjoy good food and learn about the community's involvement in the arts.

Valerie shares insights into upcoming episodes, including plans to film three episodes in Winchester. With a dedication to promoting small-town values and highlighting local businesses, the team aims to create content that resonates with viewers both in Kentucky and beyond.

## About Valerie Frost

Valerie Frost is a Clark County mom, former early childhood educator, TEDx speaker, and systems advocate. Her work focuses on helping families navigate complicated systems and strengthening community voice, accountability, and belonging.

Valerie is working to bridge the gap between families and institutions. As a survivor of domestic violence, she brings a unique perspective to her advocacy work, focusing on empowering families and ensuring their stories are heard.

Valerie’s website is https://www.valeriefrost.com/.
You can view her TEDx Talk, “Authority is Lived, Not Given” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUz6F-KJ1rw

## The Importance of Community Engagement

Valerie emphasizes that local democracy extends beyond voting; it includes giving families a real voice in community decisions. She believes that community engagement is crucial for building a supportive environment where families can thrive. This perspective is particularly important in Winchester, where Valerie is raising her children and advocating for systemic changes.

## Key Takeaways

- Community engagement is vital for creating a supportive environment for families.
- Families must have a voice in the systems that affect their lives.
- Personal experiences can drive meaningful advocacy and change.
- Stability and belonging are essential for families navigating challenges.

## About The Voices of Winchester podcast

The Voices of Winchester Podcast brings your stories, our stories, and 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.

##About WinCity Media Inc.

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 https://www.wincitymedia.org. And be sure to check out our e-zine at https://www.wincityvoices.org.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

And together, we explore actionable steps that we can take to support survivors, amplify the message of sexual assault awareness, and contribute to creating a safer community for everyone. 

Content Warning: This episode discusses sensitive topics, including sexual assault, rape, and other forms of sexual violence. Listener discretion is advised. About the Guests: Latisha Jackson is the Executive Director of the Ampersand Sexual Violence Resource Center of the Bluegrass region. She comes to Ampersand as an experienced Certified Addictions Professional with over 15 years of experience in substance use disorder and mental health treatment, case management, and over 7 years of experience in program development and operations management. Latisha has robust knowledge and experience working with human trafficking victims, youth and adolescents in foster care, and various at-risk populations within her social work career. She possesses a master's degree in Social Work from the University of Louisville and a Specialization in Alcohol Drug Counseling. Latisha is currently working toward her licensure as a licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselor. She is also a certified trauma-informed trainer and CPI certified. Latisha has always had a strong passion for social justice, empowering others to recognize their maximum potential while assisting them with breaking down barriers. She believes you should look through each person's eyes from a holistic approach to help those jump through the obstacles that have been hindering them from moving forward in life and even overcoming their traumas.  She states, “To have the opportunity to make a lasting, positive impact in the life of survivors and others we work with brings joy to my heart.”

Keisha Morgan is the Lead Advocate at Ampersand Sexual Violence Resource Center of the Bluegrass. Born and raised in central Appalachia, she saw the need for compassionate and creative care for survivors of trauma, and that is what drives her to do the work now. As an advocate for survivors of sexual assault, Keisha has seen how important it is for survivors to be able to explore all aspects of themselves in healing and strives to provide the space for that.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Official WinCity Voices Podcast brings your stories, our stories, & all of the voices of Winchester to your ears. If you like what you hear, be sure to give us a follow on social media @wincityvoices & check out more content like this at wincityvoices.org. Want to tell your story on the podcast? Send Lashana an email at lashanaharney@gmail.com. P.S. Sorry for the audio mixing on this episode! Had a lot of technical difficulties this episode. 

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.

About the Guest: Skylynn Burnam is a senior at George Rogers Clark High School. She’s been a writer for many years. If her creative writing didn’t speak in her writing at a young age, it definitely shined brightly in her voice and in conversations. Her favorite styles are creative writing and poetry. Skylynn plans to attend college in the fall and follow her dreams in journalism. 

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.

About the Guest: Willie Edward Taylor Carver Jr. is a youth advocate who works with the Kentucky Youth Law Project, Progress Kentucky, Narrative 4, and the Campaign for Our Shared Future. He is a Kentucky Teacher of the Year and the author of Gay Poems for Red States, a collection of narrative poetry about his childhood growing up queer in Appalachia. 

His creative work, which has been published in 100 Days in Appalachia, 2RulesofWriting, Another Chicago Magazine, Large-hearted Boy Blog, Smoky Blue Literary Magazine, and Good River Review, exists at the intersection of queer identity, Appalachian identity, and the politics of innocence. Willie is a candidate for the MFA in poetry at the University of Kentucky. He publishes and presents on the subjects of education, marginalization, and identity, and his story has been featured on ABC, CBS, PBS, NPR, and in The Washington Post, Le Monde, and Good Morning America. His advocacy has led him to engage President Biden and to testify before the United States Congressional Committee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. 

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.

We talked about saving and restoring historic downtown buildings, the high-side renovation project, the problem of the lack of affordable housing in Winchester, the vision of former city manager Mike Flynn, Adam’s vision of a “fraternity of business owners,” and the announcement of a new venue for live music on Main Street!

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.

For her first novel, Lisa Bush didn't just draw upon her knowledge of the land of her ancestors, she delved into a true event that happened in her family’s distant past. This personal connection, along with her deep understanding of the Eastern Kentucky landscape, brings a unique authenticity to her novel, Red Blood, White Ox.

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.

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.