LEX18 presents a podcast with hot takes, hot
topics with your hosts, Megan Manering and Evelyn
Schulz. This is Hot Mic. Hey there, everyone.
and welcome to another edition of Hot Mike here
at LEX 18. We say this every week, but we have
really leveled up this time. We see this woman
on the airwaves pretty often, but we're going
to peel back the curtain a little bit today and
get to know her better. Please welcome to Hot
Mike, your Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman.
Thank you. Thank you so much for having me. Thank
you for making the time for us. We're excited
to have you. It was kind of funny. It felt yesterday
around the newsroom a little bit like. having
your relatives over for a holiday because it
was like, is everything clean? We got to get
the Christmas tree up. We got a new plant. We
brought in the plant. So thank you for that.
I really appreciate that. I think it was some
good incentive to get some stuff done around
here. Well, thank you for being here. The mic
is hot. Um, but we promise we won't ask you anything
too crazy. So to kind of get into it, Lieutenant
Governor, let's start from the beginning. Where
did you grow up? Paint the picture for us. Okay.
So I grew up in the sprawling metropolis of Bergen,
Kentucky, which is about 30 minutes south of
Lexington. So, um, for those who know it's close
to Danville, that's kind of like a good point,
but is a tiny little town with, uh, we have about
a thousand people in a four way stop. And that's
it. And I was still living in Mercer County,
actually, when the governor asked me to run with
him. So I've been in rural central Kentucky my
whole life. Graduated from Mercer County High
School, went on to Center College and played
basketball there. When I graduated from there,
I went on to the University of Louisville to
get a master's degree in political science. And
I also worked on the women's basketball team
at UofL. And then I became a teacher and I started
kind of full circle back in Bergen. was my first
teaching job. I was a high school social studies
teacher, girls basketball coach, and I spent
most of my career at East Jessamine High School,
which is of course right outside of Lexington.
I think it's kind of like growing into each other,
you know, in Jessamine and Fayette counties.
I became an assistant principal at Nelson County
High School, and that's when this guy named Andy
Beshear called and asked if I wanted to be his
running mate. So I spent my whole life in rural
central Kentucky and in the classroom and on
the basketball court. When you were a child,
you know, if someone had said to you as a kid
and when you were studying education in college,
maybe, and maybe even early on as a teacher,
if someone had said you're going to have a future.
State politics, what would you have said? You
know, so people now will tell me, Oh, I always
knew that's what you were going to do. I never
knew that's what I was going to do. No. So like
to other people, they're not as surprised as
I am, I think, which is, which is interesting.
Yeah. What was it like growing up in such a small
town, the four way stop that had to have been
kind of a unique upbringing? It really, it really
was. And it's It was just a great little town.
It's one of those, it's like I was saying, small
towns. You know, you know all your neighbors
and your neighbors know all your business. So
there is, there's give and take there. But it's
a great little town and Mercer County was a great
place to grow up. And then to go to college kind
of in the county right next door, um, and, and
to teach then in Jessamine County, I guess I
got a little bit bigger as I went on, you know,
um, in, in the towns, but you know, you grow
up around friends and family and there are people
I still talk to and keep in touch with today.
And so I just, I'm very lucky to have been able
to grow up in a place like that. When you first
got the call from governor Beshear wanting to
work together, how do you be his running mate?
What were you thinking? Okay. So this is a great
story. So he, so we knew each other because circles
are small, you know? And so he called one day
and said, Hey, are you coming to the Capitol?
Do you want to go grab a cup of coffee? And I
said, well, I can't today, but I'll let you know
when I'll be there. And that was like a normal.
thing. What was not normal was when he called
me the next day and asked the same thing. And
I'm like, what do you want? Like, why are you
bothering me? What is going on? And so my husband
actually said, Jacqueline, he's going to run
for governor and he's going to ask you to run
with him. And I said, Chris, that is crazy. There
is no, that's not, that's not what's happening.
And so the funny thing about it is, is when we,
before we met, I was like, now I can only meet
at this time because I have bus duty. Right.
I had to wait to the last bus left the parking
lot before I could go would leave to go meet
with him because I was the assistant principal
at the time. And so I get there and he starts
talking to me about it. And I I guess my eyes
kind of got big because he said that, you know,
the, the first decision I have to make is who
I want my running mate to be. And he was like,
did you not think that's what we were talking
about? And I said, Andy, I just left bus duty.
No, that is not the conversation I thought we
were going to have here, but, but that's how
it started. It's got to be the only time in history
that. That conversation has started that way,
but it did. I'm sure you're relating to a lot
of teachers right now who've been in your shoes.
They've got a hundred things on their mind. How
has being in the classroom prepared you for your
role as Lieutenant Governor? So a lot of people
think that it's that I have jumped from, from
one world to another that are completely different.
And I can see how like you would think that,
but. Honestly, when we talk about the challenges
that we face in Kentucky or the things that we're
trying to get done, I think about the kids in
my classroom. Right. Because there's no challenge
that we face in our community that you don't
also face in the school because schools are like
microcosms of your communities. And so it's really
just it, it makes it more personal to me because
I don't see, you know, a spreadsheet or a statistic.
I can, if you tell me a challenge, I can tell
you the kid's name and their family that I met
that we're dealing with those things. And so.
I think it brings a little bit more of a personal
touch to it and it gives you a different understanding
than maybe people who haven't worked with kids
and families before. So I've tried to use that
and to never lose that because I think that's
so important when it comes to trying to figure
out how you can help people. Is there something
that you miss about being in the classroom every
day? You know, teaching high school kids is not
for the week, but they are they really every
day gave me an insight into what was going on
in the world or what they were hearing. And so
I miss having that connection, you know, because
as you talk to kids, you know, my my goal was
to teach kids. how government was supposed to
work and then what to do when it doesn't work
for you. And so just a lot of the conversations
that we had in class or their feedback always
kind of gave me an insight to what was being
said in their household or what they were around
when they weren't in my classroom. And I miss
that connection. Yeah. It's funny. I'm the product
of two public school teachers and it seems like
high school teachers could say they could never
teach elementary, elementary teachers say they
can never do middle school. Is there a grade
level that you just don't think you could do?
Well, I was always scared of the little kids
because like they can smell fear. You know, it's
like kindergarten call the big kids that I could
bluff them and they, you know, they were, they
were fine. That was kind of my niche. But, um,
I think now that I have a five year old, I feel
like I might be able to do, um, little kids,
maybe, maybe, I don't know, but, uh, I don't
think I could do middle school. Well, even remembering
what it's like to be a middle schooler, that's
such a hard time in everyone's life, I think.
Right. I don't even want to go back to middle
school. But everybody has their niche and they
fit it perfectly. And you can almost tell, that
was my thing I always like to guess in like big
teachers meetings is like, what grade do you
teach? I can tell by the way that you act and
talk and carry yourself and we just all have
our place. If Governor Beshear were to teach
a grade, where would you place him? That's a
good question. What grade level is he giving?
Senior calculus. I was just telling someone how
bad I was at calculus. Really? What makes you
say that? I just think he's really smart. So
he would be like that calculus teacher. Okay.
Like the cool teacher that like during study
hall kids are like eating their lunch in there
and hanging out. Would he be cool or would he?
I think he would definitely have his demographic.
Okay, we all have our little right. Yes, we all
have there's all there's always kids that kind
of migrate towards different teachers. And so
you end up having your own little little crew.
So I don't I don't think we Hey, you need all
students to go to play that role in their life.
And you mentioned your five -year -old daughter.
I believe she and I share a name. You do. Evelyn,
too. Would you call her? Does she go have a nickname
that she goes by? Sometimes Ev or Evy. Just like
me. That's so funny. Has having a young child
like that given you a new perspective on leadership
and politics? Absolutely. It's interesting. I'm
trying to like correct her or help her understand
how to teach how to treat other people. Um, I
just go back to like, Oh, there's some adults
that need some, you know, reminders of, of this.
So like, I always think like in my role, would
I, would I say, or do this in front of my child?
And if I, if I wouldn't, then I probably shouldn't
do it. Right. And, and I think that you could
probably apply that across the board. But I think
we've lost that somewhere along the way, really.
But she's a good reminder of not only like, we
should be examples for our kids in what we say
and do, but also a reminder of like, what's really
important. Yeah, kind of keeps you grounded.
Yeah. Oh, oh, she will do that. Yes, she is darling.
I've seen your photo. He's adorable. Her teacher
sent me a picture this morning. She's the teaching
assistant in class. And so she sent me a picture
of her and I was like her text her teacher back
and I said, I can just see the look in her eye
and she has too much power right now. Like I
can see it. So maybe she's got a future to lead
leading the state of Kentucky young leaders.
When I was doing some research, I learned you
have this wonderful like blended modern family.
Tell us about that. Oh, yes, we are about as
blended as we can be. So My husband, Chris, and
I met because we were both teachers and basketball
coaches. So he was coaching the boys team at
East Jessamine High School, and I was coaching
the girls team. And people always think that's
cute and it's not. Because all it means is that
you fight over gym time, right? And so when we
got married, he was a package deal. I got Will
and Nate with him. And so I have two bonus sons.
And then not long after that, actually one of
my basketball players became a part of our family
and we adopted Emma. And so we had those three
for a while until then I had Evelyn. And so the
age range though is wild. So Emma is 28. And
when I tell people I have a 28 year old, they
kind of look at me sideways and I'm like, no,
I didn't have her. I acquired her. And then Will
and Nate are 24 and 22 and then Evelyn's five.
So there's a huge gap there, but it's, you know,
adopted, you know, I call the boys my bonus sons
and then biological and we're all just one big
family. How fun to have all those different perspectives
in your family. That's really cool. It's almost
like Evelyn has like five parents. That's pretty
cool. How has adoption changed your life? Oh
my gosh. It's one of the best things that I ever
did. I always had a heart for it before, and
actually Chris and I had started an adoption
process when we got married. Then Emma moved
in with us. And so we kind of put it on the shelf
for a little bit. And then I realized, like,
maybe this is our adoption, you know? And so
she actually lived with us. She moved in with
us when she was a freshman in high school. And
we did not make the adoption official until her
senior year of college. And I had just kind of
always thought, like, you're a part of our family.
It is what it is and we don't need to do anything
to make it official unless you want to. And she
did. And so when we did it, she actually surprised
me and she changed her last name. I didn't know
she was going to do that. And so she's now Emma
Coleman O 'Brien. Yeah. And then Evelyn is Evelyn
Coleman O 'Brien. And so the guys on our detail
have nicknamed them Echo One and Echo Two, which
I think is hilarious. That is funny. Yeah. What
was that like when she told you that? she was
going to change her name. It was like, I mean,
listen, when you've taken a 14 year old redheaded
teenage girl, and you've never had, you know,
a child before, and you don't know what you're
doing, it was we had some hard times along the
way. And so when she came, uh, came around and
said she wanted to do that and change her name.
I was just like, Oh my gosh, it's all, it's all
worth it. You know, it was just, it was just
very sweet of her to do that. That's really cool.
Yeah. I know not every educator is out there
adopting a student or a player, but I think it
does go to show that our educators have such
a heart for kids and making sure that they're
in a loving home. Can you just speak to how maybe
teaching doesn't stop, you know, when that last
bell rings, right? No. And that's the thing is
like you, you, this is not a job you clock in
and clock out of, right? Like you, you carry
it with you. You think about it all the time.
You're either wrapping up the day or you're preparing
for the next one. And, you know, kids are in
your room all the time. They're in there before
school and after school. And, and especially
when you're a coach, you have kind of like a
different level of relationships with students
because it's outside of school. But yeah, it's
it. Being a teacher was one of the, I could tell
it was something I was meant to do. And I felt
every year like I could have, I always like kind
of reflected on the year and thought, gosh, I
wasn't really. good enough, I need to be better
next year. And then I would feel like I was doing
better. And then the next year, I'd be like,
gosh, I wasn't really good. And so it's always
like you're the goalpost is always moving. And
you never feel like you're good enough. But you're
always getting better is the goal. And so I would
say I want to go back to my first year students
and just say, I'm so sorry. You know, I just
was new. I was trying and I wasn't as good as
I should have been. But I tried to be better
every year. And that's that's the nature of being
a teacher. Yeah, we're all learning as we go
along. That's right. Yes. Yes, we are. Well,
you know, you talk about jobs that you never
turn off. You're a working mom. So many working
moms out there, working parents in general. What
do you think the state of Kentucky can do better
to support working moms? So much. There's just
so many barriers out there that exist. And it's
one of those things where if we keep doing what
we've always done, we're just going to get what
we've always gotten. And so if we want to improve
workforce participation rates, if we want to
improve cultures of workplaces and family life,
then we've got to think differently. And so one
of the things that I have pushed for since we
got elected was Pre -K for All. And so we're
working on that for Pre -K for All four -year
-olds in Kentucky. I actually was able to push
to make sure that we got paid family leave in
the executive branch for the first time. And,
you know, when I'm talking to the governor about
these things, I'm like, listen, like if we're,
if we need the private sector to do these things,
then we got to put our money where our mouth
is too. And so we got paid family leave. We're
working on childcare for executive branch employees
and are very excited about, you know, some potentials
that are upcoming there. And so just making it
to where people can Go to work and not worry
about where their kids are or what they're doing
They know they're safe and taken care of and
like that might seem like such a small thing
but You can put people's mind at ease and you
can improve worker productivity at the same time
because things are being taken care of So those
are all things that that I'm trying to work towards
in the executive branch or that we've gotten
done already that we also want to then push our
private sector to either do it themselves or
help us with it as well. So I think Pre -K for
All is going to take a combination of public
and private sector coming together, but it's
something we've got to get done. Like I think
about the kids in Evelyn's class, like she's
in kindergarten and I look at her classroom and
I just know by the statistics that more than
half of those kids walk through the door and
they're not ready. And so we've got to do something
about that. On the topic of issues, is there
another, maybe a different issue that Kentucky
faces that you think deserves more national attention?
So I will tell you this, I think one of the big
challenges that we're seeing now is there's a
lot of issues going on with the federal government
and internationally with tariffs and with all
of those things. Most people don't realize, and
I grew up on a farm in Mercer County, but most
people don't realize how high the suicide rate
is for farmers. It's a demographic that is...
higher than normal. And when you think about
it, they're running a small business because
every farm is a small business. They probably
can't make ends meet with that alone. So they
also have a whole nother career and job that
they're working on. And so one of the issues
that, you know, with the tariffs, with the soybean
issues that we're hearing about, all of the things
that are happening around agriculture, I'm actually
really concerned about farmers' mental health.
And so that's something that I think we need
to lift up a little bit more, obviously in a
very agricultural dependent state, but across
the country as well, because these are real issues
that sometimes, you know, if you have to sell
your family farm or you know you're not going
to be able to make ends meet, that changes the
dynamic of your family. And so it's something
I think we've got to be aware of and we've got
to be better at providing supports for. And we
know in Kentucky, I mean, the weather alone is
a massive impact on farmers and the year that
we've had. Yeah. Wow, like every the pendulum
of weather. Right. And just like all of the things
that our agricultural community has to deal with
that they can't control is hard enough. And so
when you throw more and more at them, you know,
it just we have an aging farming population.
It's harder and harder for young people to get
involved because I don't know how people afford
to farm anymore, to be honest with you. And then
the farmland is shrinking. And so that's a workforce
issue. And and we don't always think about it
like that. Because you think a lot of times when
we think of workforce, we think of like, college
degrees and you know, maybe manufacturing plants
and things like that. But it's agriculture, too.
Yeah, well, it's something probably that a lot
of us I didn't grow up on a farm, but in a rural
rural community. But you don't always think that's
where your food comes from, right? Without farmers.
Mm hmm. We're not eating. So right, right. And
support them. Yeah. And we have a great programs
in Kentucky's high schools and colleges and even
some middle schools like FFA and 4 -H and things
like that. But I actually worked with our ad
commissioner, Jonathan Schell. And it's always
funny when people see us together because they're
like, you guys are not alike at all. And we're
not. We come from two different parties. I know
you've interviewed him a few times. Yeah. But
when it comes to ag education, we are I mean,
on the same page about it, because we both know
how important it is. And so we work together
to create All In for Ag Education Week in Kentucky
to get into our elementary schools and to get
kids to exactly what you said. They need to know
where their food comes from. They need to understand
it a little bit better. And so just that creating
awareness around it. And I always say, you know,
for every challenge we face, education is the
solution. And that's true with ag education as
well. Definitely. Just curiosity, what kind of
farm did you grow up on? We had, so we had horses
and cattle and we actually leased out part of
it for tobacco a long time ago, too. So yeah.
You mentioned working closely with Commissioner
Schell. You also, of course, worked closely with
the governor. Is there anything that has surprised
you with over the past few years working with
him? You know, the truth is Uh, Andy is really
funny. You know, he's very serious on his, you
know, he, and he, and when he, he's, uh, you
know, obviously a great leader and he's done
a great job getting us through some really tough
times. So none of those things, you know, there's
no room for humor there, but, um, there are times
where he just, he's so funny about things sometimes
behind the scenes. And, um, I think a lot of
people don't, may not see that part of him, but
yeah, he's a, he's a funny guy. I have a confession
about governor Beshear. This is from me and Larry,
my co -anchor. So when Governor Beshear dressed
up like Mr. Rogers before Halloween, his team
Kentucky update that particular day was our lead
story at five o 'clock and Larry and I had been
running around. We didn't know that he was dressed
up and we weren't even thinking that it's Halloween.
And so Carolina Bucheck, our political reporter,
pops up and makes no mention of it, you know,
because it wasn't about that. And there's Governor
Beshear in this. mean just really bad red sweater
and Larry and I looked at each other and we were
like oh my gosh because we're chatting while
the package is playing and we said who let him
wear that today? We figured it out shortly after.
Not his usual style. No. That is hilarious. I
actually think he would be very proud that people
did not know he was... He got us. Yes, he did.
He did. Yeah. And then the little video that
came out after the fact, we were like, okay,
it all makes sense now. But yeah, Larry and I,
we were on high alert. Well, whoever his stylist
is, I don't know. Right. Right. You know, you
mentioned, this is a little more serious, but
you mentioned the challenges that you all have
dealt with. natural disasters. I can't think
of another state that has almost experienced
as many natural disasters in the time that I've
been here in Kentucky, five years. What is it
like for you all on a personal level? When obviously,
you know, there are people who have experienced
these things and it's hard to even fathom what
they're dealing with. But what is it like when
you go to a place that has just been devastated
for you all to deal with that and meet with people
and see people? Does that take a toll on you
personally? It does, but I think it has to. Because
our thing, and this is how we've always been
from the beginning, is we show up. Neither one
of us have ever claimed to have all the answers.
Neither one of us have ever claimed that we know
how to solve every problem. But what we try to
do is show up and listen and put yourself in
that person's shoes, which makes it gut -wrenching
sometimes. It also is what humanizes the situation.
And it, again, instead of it being a statistic
or a spreadsheet, I can tell you that family's
name. I can tell you their story and what happened
to them. And I, you know, look at these parents,
especially like with kids like Evelyn's age when
she was, you know, maybe two when the tornadoes
and the floods happened. And you see those families,
they've lost everything and they're moving into
a travel trailer, which, you know, We provided
those and most states don't and so everyone was
just happy to have somewhere to go But then you
think their whole like their entire home is gone
and they're moving into this little place and
they're trying to figure out like Where are there?
Where are the papers that they need? How do they?
begin to like navigate the FEMA process and what
do they do for work and so like all of those
things if you've got to put yourself in it or
or you're too far removed, in my opinion. And
so when we go, it's hard. It's hard to see people
going through those things. I think about being
in Wolf County at the shelters, but people in
Wolf County didn't get hit by the floods the
way that Bradford County did, but they opened
all of their gyms in the school system and let
people move in and stay there as like a shelter.
And so I just go around and talk to people and,
you know, sometimes they're like, they're almost
embarrassed and, and, and I'm like, you didn't
do anything wrong. You know, this is, this could
have happened to anybody. And so to sit there
and listen to them and some of them have their
animals with them. Some of them have babies and
all, you know, pet, you know, pet the animals,
hold the babies, listen, give the moms a break
for a minute. And that's all so important because.
It really helps you to understand not just like
from a policy level of You know the things that
you need to get done but you also need to understand
how it makes families feel and When you personalize
it in that way I think you're you're able to
better serve people and even though it's hard
and it would be easier just to stay away and
send resources in I Think there's something about
it that you have to put yourself in the middle
of it to truly understand it. Yeah After you
have those days when you're kind of on the ground
meeting those families, what is the work like
once you get back to the Capitol and are working
on emergency funding and all of those things?
Well, I'll tell you, one of the things that we
actually were able to get done because of all
of this. So I go to, I go to Jackson and the
Lexington fire department is like command central.
They're the ones that have set up and are helping,
you know, in all of all of areas. And so they
start pointing out to me that, okay, well here's
West Virginia's team and here's Tennessee's team
and here's Indiana's team. And I'm like, what
are you talking about teams? And they said, well,
every state around us has an urban search and
rescue team. They call them USAR teams, except
for us. And I'm like, well, why don't we have
one? You know, and they're like, well, come sit
down and we'll tell you all about it. They had
been trying to get a USAR team passed in Kentucky
since after the tornado in West Liberty in 2011.
And they were like, we can't even get the bill
heard. Like no one will even hear it to even
voted up or down. And I'm like, we're going to
fix this because we were just coming off of the
tornadoes and now the flood. And we have a great
guard, KSP, first responders. They're amazing,
but they were kind of operating in their own
little places and doing the best they could without
any kind of coordination, support, resources.
that every other state around us had. We were
like one of seven states that didn't have a USAR
team. And I'm like, okay, now is the time, you
know? And so I worked with the first responders
here in Lexington. They handled some of the legislative
side, and I worked with Kentucky Emergency Management,
the governor's office. And we got that bill passed
in both chambers unanimously, and the governor
signed it into law. So something that they'd
been trying to get done for over a decade and
couldn't even get a vote on it. passed unanimously
in both chambers and was signed into law. So
now we have an organized response that is faster,
more efficient, better resource than it was before.
So when the next, you know, natural disaster
hits, we're going to be a little bit better than
we were the last time and a little bit better
than we were the last time. And so those are
the kind of things that when you learn about
like, well, Why does Kentucky not have this and
everyone else does? You wouldn't even realize
that it doesn't have that. No. And so I just
decided like, okay, we're going to do something
about that. And so we were able to get it done.
Yeah. Going back to other issues and kind of
your to -do list, do you feel like you still
have unfinished business in Frankfurt? Oh, yeah.
I mean, I don't know that you ever ever really
feel like you get the things done that you want
to get done. But I want to I want to see the
the child care through for our state employees.
And we're working on that. Pre -K for all four
year olds is huge. And it would change the trajectory
of a generation of kids and their and their futures.
But it also would provide so much relief to working
moms and, you know. and businesses who need workers
right now. So those two things I think are really
important to make sure that we get those done.
We also have a lot of economic development announcements
and jobs and all of those things that we want
to make sure that we put a bow on all of it before
we leave and get it done so that there's no hold
up once we leave office. We want to make sure
we finish what we started is what I like to say.
I saw a very interesting headline this week.
It said starting in 2026, 14 states will have
female governors. You might've seen that same
headline from NBC. What would it take for you
to consider running for governor? Well, I am.
I'm giving it some serious consideration here
in Kentucky. It's interesting that I know Abigail
Spanberger in Virginia and Mikey Sherrill in
New Jersey. I've had the privilege of getting
to know them and calling them friends. And so
watching their move from Congress to the governor's
office was a really cool thing to see. And in
the same week that our country elected a record
number of female governors on both sides of the
aisle, Kentucky laid to rest our only female
governor so far with Martha Lynn Collins, who
was also a teacher. And so it was almost like
a full circle moment. while I thought, you know,
this is a hero that blaze trails and this is
a well -deserved rest for her. I just keep thinking
there's a whole lot more work to be done. And
so I'm going to, I'm going to keep thinking about
it, talking to folks about it. I've had a lot
of conversations with people across Kentucky
about it, just looking for, you know, what, what
are, what do we need in a leader? What do we
need to keep the good things going and, and where
we're not hitting all of our marks, what do we
need to do differently? And I think that legacy
is important. What are some of the things that
people are telling you that they want to see
in a leader or some of the things they would
want to see you tackle if you were in that role?
Yeah, well, everybody wants to make sure that
their school is the best, right, and gets better
at every turn. And I always say the future of
Kentucky's economy is in our classrooms today.
And so even if you don't think about it from
an education perspective, you got to think about
it from an economic one because that's our driver.
I hear from people all the time that they want
to keep the good economic development and job
creation going. And they also want to keep, you
know, Andy and I have really made a conscious
effort. to keep Washington DC out of Kentucky,
you know, in terms of like the rhetoric and the
culture war stuff that you hear on the news all
the time that it might be, you know, great to
talk about on TV, but in reality, normal people
aren't thinking about those things or worried
about those things. They're thinking about, you
know, their kids' schools and the roads and their
safety and things like that. And so making sure
that we keep it to where Kentucky is focused
on Kentucky and we don't let all of the other
stuff that goes on elsewhere distract us. It's
something that people actually have really liked
because it's exhausting. You know, that other
stuff is just exhausting to constantly have to
worry about whatever culture war of the day is
on cable news. And so I've heard from a lot of
people, I really like that you guys don't get
involved in that. So that's fine with me because
I think it's exhausting and I have a I think
it's the teacher and the coach in me that I just
don't have time for the nonsense Sure, like we
have a job to get done. So that's how I focus
on it too. What do you hope your legacy is that
part of what you hope your legacy is in Frankfurt?
I mean, that would be nice if people could look
back and say, you know, the Beshear Coleman administration
went to work every day, they showed up for people.
They they focus on the things that we're worried
about. And they didn't drag us through, you know,
the national mud. That would be that would be
fine with me if that's if that's the legacy that
we leave behind. Yeah. Is there something that
people would be surprised to learn about you
outside of politics? Oh, I am a little obsessed
with Christmas. Well, you know how to segue.
So I really didn't get into it a lot, like growing
up, but When I got my own house and my own family,
I was like, we're gonna do this big. So I may
or may not have four Christmas trees. And then
I decorate the one in our office. I won't let
anyone else do it. It's like those clips where
the mom is like, why is no one helping me? And
then someone tries to put an ornament on and
you're like, wrong place. That's not my vision.
I know, I know. So the governor's mansion staff
will come in sometimes to our offices and so
they saw the tree. And they're like, who did
this? And my office folks were like the lieutenant
governor and they were like, can she come help
us decorate the mansion? I was like, I don't
think you know how much I would love to do that.
So we have all those things. And I just love,
I just love making it feel like Christmas. And
I used to be a very hardcore wait till the day
after Thanksgiving. And then I realized it just,
it makes me happy. And so I'm just doing it.
So I do it at the beginning of November. Hey,
yeah, no rules. I love that. I respect that.
Yeah. Having a five year old, what's that like
around the holidays? Well, she's so into it.
Like, we have an elf. Is that the elf on the
shelf? Oh, yeah. Yep. Yep. Not my not my decision.
And also not my responsibility. Sure. I was like,
I do everything else. Chris can move the elf.
So We have, she gets into that and she talks
about Christmas all year long. Like she'll listen
to Christmas music in the summer. And so Chris
is like, you have created a little Christmas
monster. And I'm like, I really have. So now
she's into like timelines. So she's trying to
figure out like how many days until this, how
many weeks until this. And I have totally thrown
her off by decorating, you know, early because
she thinks Christmas is like next week. And I'm
like, no, that's Thanksgiving. She's like, well,
when's Christmas? And I'm like, it's coming.
It's coming. Keeping her on her toes. Never know
when Christmas is going to be here. Do you have
a favorite Kentucky Christmas tradition? I really
like going to see the Southern Lights at the
horse park. We like to do that. Sometimes there's
houses that are in our neighborhood. The neighborhood
we live in now, they have a competition. And
they're serious about it. So like so many of
the houses in our neighborhood decorate and every
since Evelyn could like tell us what she wanted
to do every night in like from Thanksgiving to
Christmas, we go drive the neighborhood. And
you know, so she knows even in like the summer,
she'll say, well, that's the house with the Grinch
and that's the house with with Mickey Mouse and
that's the house with Elsa or whatever. And so
we drive the neighborhood every single night.
And she we look at as the lights go up and as
people start to decorate and she remembers them
all year long. So that's what we do literally
every night. I love that. I have to start doing
some good houses in Lexington. Yeah, since you
do have kids of all different ages. What is Christmas
morning look like for you guys? I mean, is your
five year old waking up at 5am or the older kids
sleeping in? Like what's it like? Yes, and yes.
So Evelyn, we have to make sure that she doesn't
go downstairs without us, obviously, but we actually
send her to wake up all the big kids. And I'm
like, you can't go downstairs until everybody's
awake. So she's just jumping on them and you
know, like, get up. And they actually really
like I mean, like they probably wouldn't get
up early if it weren't for her. So they love
to come down and watch her just get so excited
about everything too. So it's so fun being with
kids around the holidays. It is it really adds
an element of chaos that I think is kind of needed.
That's a great way to say that. Yeah, it is the
holiday season. This episode will be coming out
right at the start of December. But it's you
know, a time when people are thinking of what
they have what they're grateful for. What does
that mean for you? I I'm really grateful. for
honestly the the the goodness that I get to see
every day from the people in Kentucky. You know,
we just did our Salvation Army Red Kettle kickoff.
And in the angel tree, we have one of those at
our church and, and I actually was able to thank
the Salvation Army for giving us an opportunity
to help because sometimes people will say like,
I just want to help, but I don't know how, right.
So I thank them for giving us an opportunity
to help but also to give us the opportunity to
teach our kids how to help. So trying to explain
to Evelyn like why that person is ringing the
bell when we go to Kroger and explaining to her
why we got an angel off the tree at church and
helping her to understand like some kids don't
have a lot of things for Christmas. And so we're
going to help them. We're going to help get some
presents for some kids and for her to get excited
about getting things for other people and for
helping someone that she'll never meet. one of
my favorite things to do now. But the opportunities
that we've been given to get to know people in
Kentucky, the things I've learned from them,
it's just been something that I honestly, I think
about how lucky I am every day that I get to
do it. And it's never left me. And I don't think
it ever will because it's just something I really
enjoy. Well, that puts a nice Christmas bow on
our conversation. Before we let you go, we know
you're very busy. We want to do a few quick hot
takes for you. Quick questions. They're not too
crazy, so don't worry. First one, underrated
Kentucky town. Oh, underrated Kentucky town.
This is a hard one, I think. It is, you know?
I just went to Millersburg in Bourbon County.
They're very festive there. Very festive. And
they have a whole Main Street program they're
trying to because they had that fire not a while
ago. And so they're really trying to get everything
back up and going. And it is a cute little town
and they I can tell like They are working really
hard to get it back to where they want it to
be. And so like, it's it, that's a good one.
And that's one that I actually had not been to
before. Like Paris and Bourbon County, but not
Millersburg. Who would play you in a movie about
your life in politics? Oh, and Eddie has already
answered this question for you yesterday. So
maybe after you say yours, I'll say what I said.
Okay. So I hear just from like, looking like
me. There are two actresses that people always
tell me look like me. One is the woman on the
blacklist. I don't know who's that. I can't think
of her name. But if you watch the black woman,
okay. And the other one is Olivia Wilde. Oh,
that's that. Yeah, yeah, that. But from Yeah,
I would say I guess one of those two just because
they look like me but from a maybe from an attitude
perspective, it would be like a, I don't know,
like a maybe like a Sandra Bullock. That's a
good one too. I said Julia Roberts. That's who
I thought maybe. Wow. This was discussion in
the newsroom. Who would play you in a movie?
All right. Couple more holiday questions. Hallmark
movies or no? No. Really, I don't do Hallmark
movies. Mm -hmm. I do like I have a favorite
though. We watch it every year It's called four
Christmases. Oh, so good. I don't think I've
seen that one. Oh, you got to it's like Vince
Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon Oh, okay. Yeah,
it's very cute. Both of their families. Both
of their parents are divorced And so that's what
the four Christmases, but it's so it's it's a
funny it especially like anytime you have like
dysfunction in the family, you see it in that
movie and you're like, okay, so I'm not the only
one. Right. You're not alone. Right. Okay. This
is, we already asked you Christmas tradition,
but what's your favorite Kentucky tradition in
general? Oh gosh. My favorite. Well, it would
have to be the Derby because Chris and I got
engaged on Derby day at Keeneland and then we
got married the next Derby day. Um, and we timed
it so that our reception would be a Derby party.
So we watched the Derby. We got married. We had
a horse barn and that's where we got, that's
where we got married. Um, and had our reception.
And so my dad to this day will say something
very sarcastic on Derby day, like, Oh, well there's
nothing else to do in Kentucky on Derby day.
So let's get married. You know, but it was the
best. It was a very Kentucky. Like. experience.
And so I'm glad that we did it that way. Yeah,
very cool. Yeah, that is very Kentucky. Yeah.
Lieutenant Governor, any final thoughts or any
message to the folks who are going to listen
or watch this? Well, I would just say, if you're
out there listening and you're and you're able,
you know, go go to your local Kroger or maybe
I think they have angel trees at the mall and
it you know, in churches and things like that
and just If you could help one person, get a
meal for them at Kroger or buy some gifts for
some kids that need it, take a little time to
do that because it may feel like the need is
so big that you don't know where to start. But
if everybody did just a little something, it
would have a huge impact. And so I hope as folks
are listening, they remember to help some other
folks during the holiday season, especially.
Thank you so much for being here. We enjoyed
it. This is awesome. We leveled up on Hot Mic.
I can't wait to recap this. It's going to be
good. Lieutenant Governor, thank you so much
for taking the time. It was so nice to get to
know you a little better and more about who Jacqueline
Coleman is. Thank you. Thank you for coming on.
To our listeners and our viewers, thank you so
much and we will see you on next week's episode
of Hot Mic.