MoxieTalk with Kirt Jacobs #490: Garey Faulkner
MoxieTalk with Kirt Jacobs
Beard fame: A Cincinnati roofer turned local icon, Garey gained widespread attention for his award-winning full beard, which became a fixture at Cincinnati Bengals games. He has been featured in New Era ads and recognized globally as the “Beard Guy.” Achievements: Won the Full Beard Freestyle category at the National Beard & Mustache Championships. Placed third at the 2019 World Beard & Mustache Championship. Fan persona: Often seen at Bengals home games, Garey’s signature beard and game-day attire made him a fan favorite. He has hosted charity fundraisers, including one that...
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MoxieTalk with Kirt Jacobs #489: Abbie Stockard
MoxieTalk with Kirt Jacobs
Abbie Stockard, who was crowned Miss America 2025 on January 5, 2025, in Orlando, Florida, is a 22-year-old nursing student at Auburn University in Alabama. At just 22 years old, she has already distinguished herself as a role model of resilience, service, and leadership, becoming only the 4th woman from Alabama to hold the crown. Born on July 26, 2002, and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, Abbie is a graduate of Vestavia Hills High School. She continued her education at Auburn University’s College of Nursing, where she became deeply involved in campus life as a student recruiter, a...
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MoxieTalk with Kirt Jacobs #488: Bruce Asmussen
MoxieTalk with Kirt Jacobs
Good times and priceless moments with the personalities that made up the “sea of Humanity” that made for a very festive crowd on a very WET Kentucky Derby 151! This time we cross paths with the one and only Bruce Asmussen-aka-“THE PBR PATRIOT”.
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MoxieTalk with Kirt Jacobs #481: Soozie Eastman
MoxieTalk with Kirt Jacobs
Soozie is a film director, producer, & environmental advocate based in Louisville, Kentucky. She is notably recognized for her work in documentary filmmaking, with a focus on environmental and health-related topics. Critical aspects of Soozie Eastman’s career and contributions include: Documentary Filmmaking: Eastman has produced and directed documentary films that often highlight environmental and health issues. Her work in this field focuses on raising awareness and educating the public on important topics. Environmental Advocacy: In line with her professional work, Eastman advocates...
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MoxieTalk with Kirt Jacobs #486: Bob Baffert
MoxieTalk with Kirt Jacobs
🏆 Career Achievements Kentucky Derby Winner 7 times (1997, 1998, 2002, 2015, 2018, 2020, 2023) – though the 2021 victory with Medina Spirit was later disqualified. Preakness Stakes Winner 8 times (1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2010, 2015, 2018, 2023). Belmont Stakes Winner 3 times (2001, 2015, 2018). Triple Crown Victories American Pharaoh (2015) ended a 37-year drought, the first Triple Crown since Affirmed in 1978. Justify (2018) became only the second undefeated horse to win the Triple Crown. Breeders’ Cup...
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MoxieTalk with Kirt Jacobs #485: Umberto Rispoli
MoxieTalk with Kirt Jacobs
On May 17, 2025, Umberto Rispoli didn't just win a horse race; he galloped into the history books. With a masterful and gutsy ride aboard the formidable colt Journalism, he conquered the Preakness Stakes, becoming the first Italian jockey ever to win a jewel of the American Triple Crown. It was a moment that solidified his place among the world's elite riders and marked the pinnacle of a journey that is nothing short of extraordinary. Join us for a conversation with a man whose story is one of resilience, ambition, and relentless drive. From the tough streets of Scampia, Naples, to the...
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MoxieTalk with Kirt Jacobs #484: Kenny McPeek
MoxieTalk with Kirt Jacobs
What does it take to spot a diamond in the rough? In this episode, we chart the incredible career of trainer and bloodstock agent Kenny McPeek, a man whose legacy is built on skill, persistence, and an unparalleled eye for equine talent. Born at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas, but a true son of Lexington, Kentucky, Kenny McPeek has racing in his blood. Since earning his license in 1985, he has meticulously built a reputation for transforming modestly-bred yearlings into elite competitors. His breakout moment on the national stage came in 2002 when he guided Harlan's Holiday to a Florida Derby win,...
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MoxieTalk with Kirt Jacobs #483 Steve Asmussen
MoxieTalk with Kirt Jacobs
In the world of American Thoroughbred racing, few names carry as much weight as Steve Asmussen. Born into a horse-racing dynasty in Gettysburg, South Dakota, his path seemed destined for the racetrack. With a trainer for a father and a mother also deeply involved with horses, the sport is in his blood. His brother, Cash Asmussen, found international fame as a jockey, and Steve himself had a brief career in the saddle before his height and weight guided him toward training, the field where he would leave an indelible mark. Since taking out his trainer’s license in 1986, Asmussen's ascent has...
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MoxieTalk with Kirt Jacobs #482: Chapel Tinius
MoxieTalk with Kirt Jacobs
Chapel Tinius was Miss Kentucky 2024, a title she earned on June 15, 2024, at the Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center (SKyPAC) in Bowling Green, Kentucky. A Bowling Green native and a graduate of Belmont University, where she earned dual degrees in Musical Theatre & Corporate Communications in 2022. Community Service Initiative: Tinius’s community service initiative, “Operation Gratitude: For the Fallen, For the Fighting, For the Veterans,” is deeply personal. She is the granddaughter of two World War II veterans—her maternal grandfather, Dr. Lawrence Emberton, a Navy...
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MoxieTalk with Kirt Jacobs #477: Nate Morris
MoxieTalk with Kirt Jacobs
Nate Morris is Chairman and CEO of , a privately held conglomerate headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky. Founded in 2010, Morris Industries leverages the power of business to solve some of America’s biggest challenges. Before founding Morris Industries, Nate Morris established Rubicon, one of America’s largest waste and recycling companies, operating in 50 states and 20 countries. Legally formed in 2009 with a $10,000 line of credit. Morris served as CEO for over 12 years. Under his leadership, Morris led a $ 2 billion transaction to bring Rubicon public on...
info_outlineReed Sheppard, born on June 24, 2004, in London, Kentucky, is an American professional basketball player currently serving as a guard for the Houston Rockets in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
He is the son of Jeff Sheppard, the Most Outstanding Player of the 1998 NCAA Tournament, and Stacey Reed Sheppard, both of whom played basketball at the University of Kentucky.
High School Career:
He attended North Laurel High School in London, Kentucky, where he distinguished himself as a top basketball prospect.
Collegiate Career:
Played for the University of Kentucky Wildcats during the 2023–24 season.
Averaged 12.5 points, 4.5 assists, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.5 steals per game.
Accolades:
National Freshman of the Year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
SEC Freshman of the Year by the league’s coaches.
All-SEC Second Team honors:
Notably, he was the only player in the country to record at least 145 assists, 80 steals, and 75 three-pointers during the season.
Declared for the 2024 NBA Draft and was selected as the third overall pick by the Houston Rockets.
He excelled in the NBA Summer League, averaging 20.0 points, 5.3 assists, 4.8 rebounds, 2.8 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game, which earned him a spot on the NBA 2K25 All-Summer League First Team.
NBA
As of December 2024, Sheppard is considered a leading candidate for the NBA Rookie of the Year award, reflecting his seamless transition to professional basketball.
A SEA OF BLUE
Personal Life:
Sheppard’s basketball lineage includes his father, Jeff, a two-time national champion with Kentucky, and his mother, Stacey, who also played for the Wildcats.
He has been in a long-term relationship with Brailey Dizney, whom he met during high school.
Reed Sheppard’s ascent from a high school standout to a pivotal player for the Houston Rockets underscores his exceptional talent and dedication to the sport.
His early success in the NBA suggests a promising and impactful career ahead.