The Voices of Winchester

Knives and Lives: Winchester Knife Maker and Life Coach Kevin Parido

In this episode of Voices of Winchester, host Pete Koutoulas sits down with Winchester native Kevin Parido—neighbor, former pastor, knife maker, and life coach—for a wide-ranging conversation about craftsmanship, calling, and what it means to live with intention. Kevin shares how growing up surrounded by family in Winchester shaped him, how years in ministry in Chicago and back home influenced the way he works with people today, and why he eventually stepped into new work that blends hands-on creation with deep, practical reflection. 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.

‘No Kings’ rally with Adam Johnson

Saturday, March 28, will bring something new to Winchester: a ‘No Kings’ rally on the courthouse square downtown. In the latest episode of the Voices of Winchester Podcast, host Pete Koutoulas spoke with Winchester attorney Adam Johnson about the event. Adam emphasizes that the No Kings Rally is not primarily a political event; it’s a call for a return to checks and balances in government and a reminder that every voice matters in a democracy. He told us that this gathering is about structure and norms rather than aligning with any specific political ideology. “We all get to vote on this. There’s not one person who gets to decree how things go,” he explains. The rally is designed to create a space where community members can come together to discuss their values and hopes for the future, regardless of their political affiliations. In the lead-up to the rally, some concerns arose regarding its timing coinciding with another local event, McEldowney Madness. Adam reassures that there is no animosity between the two events, stating that both can benefit from each other’s presence. He believes that the overlap offers more people an opportunity to engage in community activities, reinforcing the idea that diverse expressions of community spirit can coexist.

Donna Carter loves Winchester; wants to help make it even better

When one speaks with Brenda Carter, one thing is clear: she loves Winchester and Clark County dearly, but is clear-eyed about both the challenges and the opportunities before our 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 [https://www.wincityvoices.org/category/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.

Bill McCann: A Memoir in Prose & Poetry

Winchester resident Bill McCann was sent to The Cove Schools residential school in Racine, Wisconsin, in 1962 because he had severe behavioral issues and learning disabilities and required special education that was not available in Kentucky at the time. Today, Bill is a playwright, a member of the Dramatists Guild, a poet, an essayist, and a contributor to WinCity Voices, among many other things.  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.

A quick announcement

A brief announcement about our YouTube channel and upcoming podcasts.  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 [http://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.