Moxietalk With Kirt Jacobs

MoxieMoments brings you Major General (retired) Robert S. Silverthorn Jr., an United States Army Attorney and Counselor at Law, telling us about his best piece of advice. Major General (retired) Robert S. Silverthorn Jr. credits growing up in a military family as his inspiration and drive to achieve excellence. Robert has served the United States in the military and as a counselor of law. He is a U.S. Army Vietnam veteran and was mobilized for Desert Shield/Desert Storm. He also served during the Global War on Terror from 2001 to 2005. Robert retired as Major General (2 stars) in 2008. He received many military decorations, including the Distinguished Service Medal, two Bronze Stars, an Air Medal, seven Meritorious Service Medals, and three Army Commendation Medals. He ran for election to the 30th Judicial Circuit in 2006 and 2007. In 2008 and 2009, he was appointed circuit judge to the Jefferson Circuit Court. He is a graduate of the Brandeis School of Law and the United States Army War College. Robert carri

MoxieMoments brings you Josh Miller, Co-Founder + CEO of IDEAS xLab, telling us about he wants to be remembered. Josh runs IDEAS xLab – an artist-led nonprofit based in Louisville, KY. He is an artist with a background in entrepreneurship, art & business administration, & editorial production – & explores the world through photography (& a lot of running), documenting his journey through joshmiller.ventures. In addition to his outdoor explorations, Josh celebrates the brilliance and strength of marginalized people including LGBTQ+ & Black communities through photography & collaborative storytelling. Josh was selected for Louisville Business First’s Forty under 40 and is a distance runner, a TEDx speaker, an advisor for the Derby Diversity & Business Summit, & founding Board Member of Civitas: Regional LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce headquartered in Louisville, KY. From 2016 – July 2019, he served as the Co-Chair of the Louisville Health Advisory Board’s Communications Committee. I

MoxieMoments brings you Ouita Michel, Owner of Ouita Michel Restaurants Group, telling us about the note she'd write to her past self. Since 2001, when Ouita & her husband, Chris, opened the Holly Hill Inn in Midway, Kentucky, she has made locally grown ingredients a priority in her world-class cuisine within her family of restaurants. Many bourbon aficionados will find her restaurants along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail – such as Holly Hill Inn or Wallace Station Deli & the Midway Bakery in Midway, Kentucky. The Windy Corner Market & Restaurant, Smithtown Seafood, or Smithtown at the Summit & Honeywood are all in Midway. Since its inception, Ouita’s has collectively purchased over $2 million of Kentucky – grown meats, dairy & produce! She has been a James Beard Foundation Award nominee for Outstanding Restaurateur & Best Chef in the Southeast. Ouita and Chris are graduates of the Culinary Institute of America in New York. She is a member of Slow Food USA; deacon & free community supp

MoxieMoments brings you Samantha Fish, Contemporary Blues Artist-Bourbon & Beyond, on what Moxie means to her. “You should always get outside of the box,” Samantha Fish says while discussing her boundary-breaking new album Belle of the West. “Challenging yourself is how you grow.” After launching her recording career in 2009, Samantha Fish quickly established herself as a rising star in the contemporary blues world. Since then, the charismatic young singer-guitarist-songwriter has earned a reputation as a rising guitar hero and powerful live performer while releasing a series of acclaimed albums showing her restless creative spirit, consistently taking her in new and exciting musicals directions. The New York Times called Fish “an impressive blues guitarist who sings with sweet power” and “one of the genre’s most promising young talents.” Her hometown paper, The Kansas City Star, noted, “Samantha Fish has kicked down the door of the patriarchal blues club” and observed that the young artist “displays more

MoxieMoments brings you Katie George, Sportscaster & 2015 Miss Kentucky USA, telling us about a note she'd write to her past self and how she wants to be remembered. Katie George sees her daily challenge to make herself and others better. Louisville-native Katie graduated from Assumption High School, where she played volleyball for Coach Ron Kordes. She received several volleyball sports accolades and was featured in the 2010 Faces in the Crowd in Sports Illustrated magazine. Among her many accomplishments and recognitions, Katie led her team to the Regional 7 Tournament Championship twice, was named in Under Armour’s All-American Watch List, and was also named Region 7’s Player of the Year. Katie came to the University of Louisville volleyball team and quickly moved to a starting position. She spent her summer overseas for the USA National Collegiate Team, winning the silver medal at the European Global Challenge Tournament in Pula, Croatia. Having no previous experience in beauty pageants, Katie was cro

MoxieMoments brings you Robert Curran, Artistic Director of the Louisville Ballet, telling us about their personal inspirations. Trained at The Australian Ballet School & having enjoyed an exciting & fulfilling career with The Australian Ballet as a Principal Artist, Robert took the passion & discipline he developed as a dancer & set his sights on diversifying his knowledge, skills & abilities. With education and experience, he continually expanded his ability to move his own body on stage &, through this, move an audience through a wide range of emotions. Beyond his dancing career, he strives to move people towards a satisfying encounter with dance. Robert is motivated by the form that a dancer gains from training in the traditions of classical ballet, where respect & discipline can facilitate breathtaking strength & freedom. He is also inspired by the innovation that forms the function of any artist, that being to bravely & boldly express oneself through art for the great

MoxieMoments continue with Chef Dallas McGarity, the Executive Chef & Owner of The Fat Lamb Modern Kitchen & Bar & Portage House Restaurants, telling us about his biggest triumph. More about Chef McGarity, He grew up in rural South Carolina; his mom & mamaw instilled a passion for food early. After going to culinary school at Johnson & Wales University & working in Charleston, SC, for many years. In 2004, he moved to Louisville and was encouraged that the food scene had much to offer a young chef & fell in love with the city. After working at several Louisville fine dining places as Executive Chef, he was ready to open a restaurant as Executive Chef & Owner. With the help of his wife, Laura, The Fat Lamb ModernKitchen & Bar opened in Nov. 2016. The small, open-kitchen concept has received a great response from the highlands neighborhood within which it is located & continues to serve both local patrons & visitors upscale comfort food with an emphasis on locally sour

Explore our first moxie moment with Rob Dietrich, the Master Distiller & Blender of METALLICA | BLACKENED™ American Whiskey, giving his best piece of advice. A little “back-story” on how BLACKENED came to be as follows: BLACKENED began as a collaborative effort between Metallica & Master Distiller & Blender Dave Pickerell. Sadly, Dave passed away in late 2018, shortly after the launch of BLACKENED. In 2019, Master Distiller Rob Dietrich joined the team as Master Distiller & Blender taking the helm as Master Distiller & Blender in Dave’s passing and guardian of Dave’s legacy blend. As unapologetic masters of the craft in their respective fields, they’ve built world-renowned legacies by carving out new spaces and bringing their singular, incendiary perspectives to everything they touch. Unlikely collaborators on the surface, their shared creative fire and dedication to craft make them anything but. Together, they’ve created BLACKENED – an unconventional whiskey of uncompromising quality. Rob

Eric is deeply passionate about raising awareness of mental, physical, & sexual abuse within Independent Baptist Churches & is currently producing a documentary on the subject.    His accompanying podcast, Preacher Boys, launched in Jan. 2020, quickly surpassed 200k downloads in just 9 months! As Host & Creator of The Preacher Boys, he sits down with brave survivors who shed light on DECADES of physical, mental, & sexual abuse within the Independent, Fundamental Baptist movement,  as well as a 2nd Podcast called Film School’d-that has featured directors, actors, writers, academy award-winning FX artists, & more film industry experts. Since 2013, he has fulfilled various media production roles, including as a videographer, photographer, writer & graphic designer. His work has taken him to over 20 states & 13 different countries & has included a documentary film, an 8-episode mini-series, several commercials.

Dr. Khiani is 1 of 5 siblings & is the son of Jaikrishin & Veenu Khiani. Kamal specializes in Diagnostic Radiology with Subspecialization in Musculoskeletal Radiology. He is a unique individual with degrees in BOTH engineering & medicine, graduating Summa Cum Laude with Masters in Electrical Engineering from the J.B. Speed School of Engineering in 1997 & the UofL School of Medicine in 2002. Before those 2 massive academic achievements, in 1995, he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering. He then completed his pre-med training @ the UofL-affiliated hospitals from 2003-04, & his Radiology Residency @ the Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, PA., from 2004-08 & his Musculoskeletal Radiology fellowship @ the Yale University School of Medicine from 2008-09. In addition, he graduated valedictorian (that’s 1st in class) from his 1990 Fern Creek High School graduating class, & if all those educational milestones were not enough to keep him busy, he enjoys Ba

The Whitney/Strong Organization is a non-profit focused on responsible gun ownership & ending gun violence by taking a non-partisan approach to legislation in Ohio, Kentucky & on the federal level by acting on data to implement educational opportunities & funding research to find science-based steps to reverse the pervasiveness of gun violence. Impassioned after surviving a Sept. 6, 2018, mass shooting in Cincinnati, OH., Whitney cofounded Whitney/Strong with her husband, Waller. Under her leadership, Whitney/Strong has executed a # of responsible gun ownership solutions, including securing the 1st hearing on gun safety legislation in Frankfort in over a decade & with a bipartisan coalition of KY. State Senators. Joining Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine to announce the STRONG Ohio legislation, responding to the community call of “Do Something” after the Dayton Oregon District shooting in 2019. Distributing over 12,000-gun locks across KY. & OH. thanks to a partnership with the American Academy of Ped

Gant Hill & Associates (formerly Venterra Realty), founded in 2002, specializes in enhancing the best interests and outcomes of its clients that own, invest, lease &/or operate real estate. Having served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) Institute, based in Chicago, IL, and as the Region 7 VP, overseeing the CCIM chapter activities in seven Midwest Chapters, Gant takes his leadership role seriously. Prior to his appointment to those respective roles, he was President of the KY. CCIM Chapter, overseeing membership of over 215 commercial real estate professionals. Gant has been active in non-profit organizations that are consistent with his passions–real estate & education. In honor of his community service & professional accomplishments, Gant was named as 1 of the 2004 Louisville Business First’s “Forty Under Forty” and nominated to the 2008 Leadership Louisville Class. In 2010, he was named a Louisville Connector–(1 of 123 selected out o

As President and CEO of Greg Coker Development Inc., Greg’s mission is to develop the individual, team & organization. Considered an expert in human behavior & organizational dynamics, his vision is due to reading his books attending his keynotes/workshops; participants are moved to achieve higher levels of performance & their organizations better places to work after graduating from W. KY. Univ. with an undergraduate & Master’s degrees in organizational communication & psychology, he joined the powerful D.C. lobbying firm of Black, Manafort, Stone & Kelly, representing some of America’s top cos. & managing campaigns ranging from U.S. Senate to POTUS. Still, in the immortal words of Happy Chandler, “I never met a Kentuckian that wasn’t trying to get back home,” Greg heard the call to return to the Bluegrass joining the telephone Co., BellSouth, & what is now AT&T, with responsibility for lobbying K.Y.’s state legislative delegation & K.Y.’s 6-member Congressional Delega

A little “back-story” on how BLACKENED came to be as follows: BLACKENED began as a collaborative effort between Metallica & Master Distiller & Blender Dave Pickerell. Sadly, Dave passed away in late 2018, shortly after the launch of BLACKENED. In 2019, Master Distiller Rob Dietrich joined the team as Master Distiller & Blender taking the helm as Master Distiller & Blender in Dave’s passing and guardian of Dave’s legacy blend. As unapologetic masters of the craft in their respective fields, they’ve built world-renowned legacies by carving out new spaces and bringing their singular, incendiary perspectives to everything they touch. Unlikely collaborators on the surface, their shared creative fire and dedication to craft make them anything but. Together, they’ve created BLACKENED – an unconventional whiskey of uncompromising quality. Rob serves as the guardian of Dave’s original recipe and brand steward moving into the future. He’s widely known for his ability to fuse traditional distilling metho

Join Kirt Jacobs as he talks with the crowd at Railbird!

The blues is music for all time—past, present, and future—and few artists simultaneously exemplify those multiple temporal moments of the genre like North Mississippi’s Cedric Burnside. The Mississippi Hill Country blues guitarist and singer/songwriter contain the legacy and future of the region’s prescient sound stories. At once, African and American and southern and Mississippian, these stories tell about love, hurt, connection, and redemption in the South. His newest contribution to this tradition is I Be Trying, a 13-track album treatise on life’s challenges, pleasures, and beauty. “Life can go any kind of way,” Burnside says. He would know with almost 30 years of performing and living blues in him. Burnside’s blues inheritance, the North Mississippi Hill Country blues, is distinct from its Delta or Texas counterparts in its commitment to polyrhythmic percussion and its refusal of familiar blues chord progressions. Often, and especially in Burnside’s care, it leads with extended riffs that become sentence

Growing up in Baltimore, Maryland, Liz Cooper never dreamed she would be the Folk-Blues Singer-Songwriter she is today, with her distinctive voice — and androgynous, salty, caramel drawl — captivates one’s soul it has been said. Still, the interplay with bandmates Grant Prettyman on bass and Ryan Usher on drums fascinates. In fact, from a young age, everyone believed she was going to be a professional golfer. Golf was just a hobby for her, though; music had always been a passion. She only pondered and dreamed of it, but it wasn’t until her senior year of high school that she decided she wanted to pursue music as a career. So, leaving behind her friends, family, and college golf scholarship, Liz Cooper packed her things and moved to Nashville, TN. Known for her unique guitar picking and haunting tone, she is steadily making a name for herself in the music industry. Liz is a self-proclaimed “the happiest girl,” Liz ironically describes her lyrics as dark and soulful. Growing up on classic rock artists like The

A native of rural western Kentucky’s rolling hills and coal mining communities, Grayson Jenkins is a singer-songwriter who now calls Lexington, KY, his home. After attending the University of Kentucky and working there for four years, Grayson walked away from his salaried job in 2017 to chase his dream as a full-time musician. With his recent ‘Cowboy Dream’ EP, Grayson is poised to reach even more ears and hearts in the coming year. This release will be the first in a wave of new music recorded with an A-list band. The team included: Miles Miller (Sturgill Simpson), Jesse Wells (Tyler Childers), Nicholas Jamerson, Kenny Miles (Wayne Graham), and many more. A late-comer to the music world by most standards – Jenkins played his first show and wrote his first song at 21. Now 28, Jenkins has two albums under his belt and feels more focused and energized than ever about his music. His lyrics are inspired by the words of Mark Twain, who always said, “Write what you know.” In keeping with this motto, Grayson’s so

Samantha (Sam) Fore is a first-generation Sri Lankan-American from Lexington, Kentucky. She started her pop-up restaurant in 2016 after traditional Sri Lankan brunches in her home outgrew her dining room. Tuk Tuk Sri Lankan Bites™ pop-up menus include Sam’s spin on Southern classics and riffs on her mother’s time-tested recipes. Tuk Tuk is one of the few representations of Sri Lankan cuisine in the United States and reflects Sam’s Sri Lankan upbringing in the American South. Her work has been featured in Food & Wine, Taste of the South, and Fine Cooking magazines. She was selected as one of Southern Living magazine’s 2020 Cooks of the Year and was named as one of Plate Magazine’s 2018 Chefs to Watch. She also serves as Director of Technology for the LEE Initiative.

Being Master Distiller is something Brent Elliott says is hard to call a job because, to him, “it’s a privilege and a passion to be a part of Four Roses.” A native of Owensboro, Kentucky, Brent became Master Distiller at Four Roses in September 2015. He is uniquely qualified for this role… after all, he’s been involved in Producing Four Roses premium Bourbons since he began with the company in 2005. As the Distillery’s Director of Quality, Brent’s years of experience with Four Roses include everything from applying his Chemistry degree in production, managing barrel inventories, production planning, to selecting barrels for special Single Barrel bottlings and Limited Edition products. Brent applies his on-the-job experience to his role of Master Distiller, ensuring that each Four Roses product has the fruity, smooth and mellow character, along with a hint of spice, that the brand has become known for around the world. Every stage of the production process is critical, and you’ll find Brent’s heart and soul in