♪ ♪ >> Kelsey: WELCOME TO "INSIDE LOUISVILLE" WHERE WE INTRODUCE YOU TO THE PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS THAT MAKE UP KENTUCKY LARGEST CITY.

I'M YOUR HOST KELSEY STARKS.

AND THIS WEEK WE MEET LOUISVILLE'S OWN, TORI MURDEN McCLURE.

ALTHOUGH SHE'S SERVED AS THE PRESIDENT OF SPALDING UNIVERSITY A PRIVATE UNIVERSITY IN LOUISVILLE FOR THE PAST 13 YEAR, THE WORLD KNOWS HER BEST AS THE FIRST WOMAN AND FIRST AMERICAN TO ROW SOLO ACROSS THE ATLANTIC OCEAN.

IN 1998, THE 36-YEAR-OLD RODE HER 23-FOOT BOAT, THE AMERICAN PEARL, FROM THE COAST OF AFRICA TO THE CARIBBEAN ISLAND OF GUADALUPE MORE THAN 3,000 MILES IN 81 DAYS.

TORI MURDEN McCLURE'S HARROWING STORY OF SETTING AMBITIOUS GOALS, WEATHERING HEFTY SETBACKS AND AS SHE DESCRIBES IT, ULTIMATELY FINDING HER HEART IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STORM IS NOW A BOOK AND AN ON-STAGE MUSICAL.

HERE IS HOW IT ALL BEGAN.

IT'S 6:30 A.M. MY RADIO ATTACHED TO ME, LIFE VEST ON.

AND I'M HOPING I MAKE IT THROUGH THIS.

♪ >> I'LL BE HERE FOR FOUR MONTHS.

THREE OF THEM FAST.

A LONG TIME.

♪ >> THREE DAYS AGO, I RECEIVED WORD THERE WAS A HURRICANE IN THE CARIBBEAN.

BUT THAT I REALLY AM NOT WORRIED BECAUSE THEY EXPECTED THE HURRICANE TO TURN NORTH.

WELL, FOR THE LAST THREE DAY, THE HURRICANE HAS PERSISTED IN TRAVELING EAST, AND IT IS NOW SIGNIFICANT THREAT TO CAUSE TROUBLE FOR ME OUT HERE.

SO FAR, THE WINDS ARE WELL IN EXCESS OF 40 OR 50 KNOTS.

PUT ON MY DRY SUIT AND MY LIFE VEST.

I HAVE NO RIGHT TO RISK THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE TO GET ME OUT OF THIS WIND.

QUITE FRANKLY, I DON'T THINK THEY WOULD BE EVER ABLE TO FIND THIS SMALL BOAT.

THE ONLY PART THAT'S CHILL IS PRETTY MUCH THE CABIN.

I'LL LIVE OR DIE ON THE WHIM OF NATURE, AND THAT'S IT.

THEY DIDN'T EXPECT IT TO MAKE ME A BETTER PERSON, BUT EXPECT IT TO MAKE ME A WISER PERSON.

>> TORI MURDEN MCCLURE, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND SHARING YOUR STORY.

IT IS SUCH AN HONOR.

WHAT'S IT LIKE FOR YOU SEEING THOSE VIDEOS NOW, 25 YEARS LATER?

>> YOU KNOW, IT IS SURREAL WHEN I WATCH THOSE VIDEO, PARTICULARLY THE REALLY SCARY ONES BECAUSE EVEN NOW, I'LL GO AND LOOK AT THE OCEAN AND FEEL, WHAT WAS I THINKING!

IT IS A LONG TRIP ACROSS THE ATLANTIC OCEAN IN A ROW BOAT.

>> IT IS AN UNBELIEVABLE STORY.

AND I WANT TO START WITH WHAT LED UP TO THIS.

AND THAT ADVENTUROUS SPIRIT.

THE NEED TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

WHY IN THE WORLD, WERE YOU ALWAYS LIKE THAT?

>> YOU KNOW, I HAVE A BOOK, "A PEARL IN STORM" MOSTLY ABOUT THE ROW BUT A FEW OTHER ADVENTURES.

I THINK THERE IS ANOTHER BOOK THAT'S IN ME THAT IS REALLY ABOUT WHAT I THINK IS THE FAR MORE IMPORTANT URBAN ADVENTURE.

SO I WOULD ALWAYS TAKE THESE BURNOUT JOBS, AND FINISH DIVINITY SCHOOL, RAN A SHELTER FOR HOMELESS WOMEN AT 32ND AND BROADWAY AND THEN DECIDED THAT I HAD TO CLIMB A MOUNTAIN TO GET OVER THE SENSE OF HELPLESSNESS OF NOT BEING ABLE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS IN THE URBAN ADVENTURE.

THEN I WORKED FOR MAYOR ABRAMSON ON THE EMPOWERMENT ZONE AND TRYING TO AROUND DISTRESSED NEIGHBORHOODS AND WE WERE GOING TO GET THIS MILLION DOLLAR GRANT AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND WE DIDN'T GET IT, IT WENT TO CHICAGO AND MORE POLITICALLY IMPORTANT PLACES.

AND SO I WENT TO THE OCEAN AND PUT A ROW BOAT ON ONE SIDE TO GET TO THE OTHER TO GET OVER THAT SENSE OF NOT BEING ABLE TO MAKE THE WORLD FAIR AND NOT BEING ABLE TO MAKE THE WORLD SAFE.

AND EVENTUALLY, ON MY SECOND ROW, I WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT TO ROW ACROSS THE OCEAN.

ON MY SECOND ROW, MOST OF THE WAY ACROSS, I GOT HIT BY ANOTHER HURRICANE.

AND IN THAT STORM, I WAS LIKE, WAIT A MINUTE, I CAN ROW TO THE MOON, I'LL STILL JUST BE A HUMAN BEING.

AND SO WHEN I TALK TO TEENAGER, I LOVE PARTICULARLY TALKS TO THE GOVERNOR'S SCHOLARS PROGRAM AS I HAVE FOR 25 YEARS AND I SAY, I RODE ACROSS THE OCEAN BECAUSE I WAS STUPID.

MOST WOMEN DO NOT HAVE TO ROW 3,000 MILES TO FIGURE OUT THAT LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP ARE GOOD THINGS.

AND IT IS LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP THAT MAKE HUMANITY BEARABLE BECAUSE WE CAN MAKE THE WORLD SAFE OR FAIR.

>> BUT, WE CAN KEEP TRYING.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AND A LOT OF THAT DATE BACKS TO YOUR CHILDHOOD.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND YOU EXPLORE THAT IN THE BOOK AS WELL.

AND YOUR BROTHER BEING A BIG CHARACTER.

>> MY BROTHER LAMAR HAS INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY AND SAY THE BEST OF WHO I AM COMES FROM LAMAR, THE WORST COMES FROM MY BROTHER LAMAR.

>> I LOVE HIS CHARACTER AND INFLUENCE IN YOUR LIFE.

AND AS YOU MENTIONED, THE FIRST WOMAN TO SKI THE GEOGRAPHIC SOUTH POLE AND ALWAYS LOOKING FOR A CHALLENGE, WERE YOU ALWAYS?

>> YEAH.

PRETTY MUCH.

YOU KNOW, IF I WASN'T LOOKING FOR CHALLENGE, I WAS LOOKING FOR A FIGHT.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> SO BUT I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE DO ASK US WHY.

AND I SAW SOMETHING WHERE YOU SAID, NEVER ASK A MAN WHY HE WANTED TO DO IT WHICH I THOUGHT WAS REALLY INTERESTING.

SO WHAT'S YOUR ANSWER TO THAT?

WHY?

>> YOU KNOW, I WENT ON A GLIDE TRIP TO BOSTON LAST WEEK AND AT FENNWAY PARK AND SOMEONE ASKED ME THAT QUESTION.

AND I HAVE A THOUSAND SMART ALEC ANSWERS AFTER 25 YEARS.

AND IT WAS AS A GIRL I WAS NOT ALLOWED TO PLAY BASEBALL AND I NEVER GOT OVER IT.

BUT, THAT SENSE OF, IT IS AN INTELLECTUAL PASSION FROM TIME TO TIME AS A PHYSICAL FORM.

IT IS A WAY OF HEALING.

I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF HAVING MANY INCREDIBLY SMART FRIENDS, AND IF YOU REALLY TAKE OFF THE ROSE COLORED GLASSES AND LOOK AT OUR WORLD, THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT ARE MESSED UP.

AND SO MANY THINGS THAT IF WE POOLED OUR INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL WE CHANGE AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

AND I GET FRUSTRATED AND ANGRY AND EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, I JUST HAVE TO LEAVE AND RECOVER.

AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT IT HAS BEEN ABOUT.

>> SO AS YOU MEN SHINED, YOUR FIRST ATTEMPT IN 1998 WHICH I'LL STOP SHORT OF CALLING IT A FAILURE BECAUSE, IT REALLY WAS SO PIVOTAL IN YOUR SUCCESS, IT IS HARD TO LOOK AT IT AS A FAILURE, RIGHT?

>> YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARGUE WITH ME ABOUT WHETHER -- BECAUSE I DESCRIBE IT AS MY FAILED ATTEMPT TO ROW ACROSS THE OCEAN.

BUT I RODE 3,000 MILES BEFORE YOU GOT HIT BY A HURRICANE.

AND CAPSIZED.

AND SO MANY TIMES, SIDE OVER SIDE AND A COUPLE CAPSIZING WERE END OVER END.

AND AS I AM SURE THAT YOU HAVE HEARD ME TELL STORY, ONE CAPSIZE DISLOCATED MY SHOULDER AND THE NEXT PUT IT BACK INTO PLACE.

BY DEFINITION OF A BAD DAY.

>> I WOULD SAY SO.

SO, YOU KNOW, IN THAT -- LET'S TALK ABOUT THE BOAT FIRST OF ALL.

23 FEET LONG, WHICH YOU BUILT.

WHY WAS IT IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO BUILD THIS BOAT?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I DIDN'T HAVE ANY MONEY.

SO IT WAS JUST ALESS EXPENSIVE TO BUILD IT MYSELF THAN SOMEONE ELSE.

AND I BUILT IT OUT OF MARINE PLYWOOD WHICH WAS LESS EXPENSIVE THAN HONEYCOMB AND CARBON FIBER, THE HIGH-TECH THINGS THAT WOULD BE LIGHTER BUT I WOULD BE DEAD BECAUSE THE BOAT FILLED UP WITH WATER AND CARBON FIBER SINKS.

WOOD DOES NOT.

AND SO I WAS KIND OF LUCKY IN THAT SORT OF BALANCE OF POVERTY AND ADVENTURE.

BUT, I DIDN'T DESIGN THE BOAT.

THE BOAT WAS DESIGNED BY A BRITISH FELLOW PHILIP MORESON, BUT, I AM -- I PHYSICALLY BUILT IT IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, HOME OF OCEAN ROWERS WITH THE HELP OF FRIENDS.

AND I HAVE SINCE BUILT A NUMBER OF OTHER BOATS.

THEY ARE A LITTLE MORE SYMMETRICAL AND WELL DONE BUT NOT ONLY DID I BUILD IT AFTER THE HURRICANE, THE BOAT WAS RECOVERED.

AND RETURNED TO LOUISVILLE VIA UPS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND I REBUILT IT.

AND PHILIP MORRISSON, I DON'T KNOW HOW TALL HE IS BUT HE'S NOT SIX FEET TALL BECAUSE I COULDN'T PHYSICALLY SIT UP RIGHT INSIDE THE CABIN SO FIRST ROW AND SECOND, I RAISED THE CEILING BIT FOUR INCHES SO I COULD SIT UP.

>> SO, THE BOAT IS NOW ON DISPLAY AT THE FRAZIER HISTORY MUSEUM.

AND YOU CAN SEE FOR YOURSELF HOW SMALL THIS CABIN IS.

AND TO IMAGINE BEING IN THERE AND BEING FLIPPED OVER AND OVER.

AND DESCRIBE WHAT THAT WAS LIKE?

I MEAN, WATCHING THOSE VIDEO, IT IS TERRIFYING.

>> YEAH, AND EACH CAPSIZE IS AKIN TO A CAR CRASH.

IT IS NOT LIKE, OH, THE BOAT IS GOING TO GENTLY FLIP OVER.

IT IS LIKE -- AND THERE WERE TIMES LIKE WHEN THE BOAT WAS END OVER END, IT IS A 23-FOOT LONG BOAT.

THE WAVES HAVE TO BE AT LEAST 50 FEET HIGH FOR THE BOAT TO FLIP END OVER END SUCCESSFULLY.

SO THE WAVES WERE REALLY REALLY QUITE TALL IN HURRICANE DANIELLE.

AND AT THE TIME I LOST COMMUNICATION 78 DAYS BEFORE.

SO NO ONE COULD SAY, HEY, TORI, THERE IS HURRICANE COMING.

I LOOKED AND, THERE IS A CHAPTER ANY BOOK THAT JUST OPENS WITH THE LINE, THE WEATHER IS WEIRD.

[ LAUGHTER ] BECAUSE THERE'S A SENSE OF IMPENDING DOOM, YOU KNOW.

AND THE CLOUDS AND THE OCEAN WAS MOVING IN AN INCOMPREHENSIBLE WAY RELATIVE TO WHAT I HAD GROWN USED TO.

>> UNREAL.

AND SO, A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD SAY, WHY GO BACK AND TRY AGAIN?

>> WHEN I WAS WRITING THE BOOK, THE HARDEST AND PROBABLY, I FELT BAD FOR DON LANDIS AND DANIEL GOLDSTEIN WHO ULTIMATELY WROTE A MUSICAL CALLED "ROW" BECAUSE IN THE MUSICAL THERE IS THIS ABRUPT, SHE FAILS AND THEN SHE GOES BACK.

AND THAT, EXPLANATION OF HOW THAT HAPPENED, YOU KNOW, I CAME HOME, I WAS PRETTY DEPRESSED.

I WORKED FOR THE MAYOR OF LOUISVILLE.

HE HAD TO LEAVE OFFICE BECAUSE OF A TERM LIMIT.

I WAS ASKED IF I WANTED TO WORK FOR MUHAMMAD ALI.

MOHAMMAD, HE DIDN'T DO IT RIGHT AWAY BECAUSE HE KNEW THAT I WASN'T READY, BUT LIKE EVERY TIME THAT HE WAS IN TOWN, HE WAS LIKE, HEY, YOU GOT TO GET UP.

HE DIDN'T USE THOSE WORDS BUT EVERY FIBER OF HIS BEING IS LIKE, I KNOW WHERE YOU ARE.

YOU ARE ON THE MATT.

AND YOU HAVE GOT TO GET YOUR FEET BACK UNDER YOU AND YOU HAVE TO GET UP.

AND WHEN HE KNEW THAT I WAS READY, HE SAID, YOU DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH LIFE AS THE WOMAN WHO ALMOST RODE ACROSS THE OCEAN.

SO I WENT BACK.

BUT HE WAS PATIENT IN JUDGING AND TIMING AND I OFTEN SAID THAT MUHAMMAD ALI HAD A REAL SOFT SPOT FOR BROKEN PEOPLE BECAUSE I WAS BROKEN AT THE TIME.

BUT THERE IS THIS AMAZING SONG IN THE MUSICAL CALLED, "DROWNING."

AND IT HAPPENS AT A POINT IN THE SHOW WHERE YOU DON'T KNOW IF TORI STILL ON THE BOAT OR WHETHER SHE'S BACK IN CIVILIZATION, AND IT IS SORT OF BOTH.

BUT, IT IS THE BEST ENCAPSULATATION OF A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS THAT I HAVE EVER, EVER HEARD.

AND WHEN I HEARD IT FOR THE FIRST TIME, AFTER I STOPPED CRYING, YOU KNOW, I REACHED OUT TO DON LANDIS TO SAY, ARE YOU OKAY?

IF YOU WROTE THAT, YOU HAVE BEEN IN SOME DARK PLACES.

>> AND THAT'S WHERE YOU THOUGHT THAT YOU WERE.

>> BUT, AT ONE POINT, IT WAS A TWO-PART SHOW AND THE INTERMISSION WOULD HAVE HAPPENED AFTER DROWNING AND I WOULDN'T HAVE COME BACK IF I WAS AN AUDIENCE MEMBER.

SO I WAS GLAD THAT IT BECAME A ONE-ACT SHOW BECAUSE YOU DO RECOVER FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ WHY WOULD I CLIMB MOUNT EVEREST ♪ BECAUSE IT IS IN FRONT OF ME ♪ ASK ME, O ASK ME DEAR ♪ IS IT YOU DON'T SEE ♪ WHY WOULD I CLIMB MOUNT EVEREST ♪ BECAUSE IT'S THERE FOR ME ♪ ASK ME O ASK ME DEAR ♪ PUT MYSELF THROUGH ALL OF THE PAIN ♪ MY ANSWER, MY ANSWER, O IS ALWAYS BE THE SAME ♪ IT'S NOT OVER ♪ GOING FROM POINT A TO POINT A ♪ THE SOLITUDE AND ALL THE UNCERTAINTY ♪ I'LL CONFRONT MY DEMONS BEFORE THEY GET TO ME ♪ >> THESE TWO LOVELY ARTISTS DON LANDIS AND GOLDSTEIN CAME TO MY OFFICE AT SPALDING.

I WAS PRESIDENT AT THAT POINT AND THEY SAT DOWN VERY EAGERLY AND DANNY HAD THIS DOG ORDER COPY OF "A PEARL IN THE STORM" MY BOOK AND SAID WE WOULD LIKE TO GET THE RIGHTS TO YOUR BOOK TO WRITE A MUSICAL.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT I ACTUALLIBLY SAID BUT MY INTERNAL BEING WAS LIKE "NO, NOT HAPPENING."

YOU CAN'T SPEND TWO MONTHS IN A BOAT UNLESS YOU'RE AN INTRO VERT, I DON'T WANT A MUSIC A SHE PULLS OUT HER GUITAR, SINGS TWO SONGS REALLY SMART AND ON TARGET AND VERY TRUE TO ME AND I THOUGHT, IT IS A MUSICAL ABOUT A WOMAN ALONE IN A ROW BOAT.

IT IS GOING NOWHERE, RIGHT?

I CAN SAY YES.

THERE IS NO HARM.

I'M NEVER GOING TO SEE THESE PEOPLE AGAIN.

JUST SAY YES.

ALL RIGHT, OKAY, YOU HAVE MY PERMISSION.

AND THEY WERE LIKE, SERIOUSLY, WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO GET THE RIGHTS.

AND I'M LIKE, I'M A LAWYERING YOU HAVE MY PERMISSION AND I SLIDE THE PAPER ACROSS THE DESK.

AND THEY LOOK AT EACH OTHER AND GO BACK TO NEW YORK AND SENT ME A BOX OF COOKIES.

SO MY HUSBAND TELLS ANYONE WHO WILL LISTEN THAT I SOLD THE RIGHTS TO MY BOOK FOR A BOX OF COOKIES.

AND THEN THEY DID IT.

AND SO I SAW AN EARLY VERSION IN NEW YORK, AND NOTHING LIKE THE SHOW AS IT IS NOW BECAUSE I GUESS THE PROCESS OF WRITING A MUSICAL IS RINSE AND REPEAT, RINSE AND REPEAT.

AND I MEAN, I THINK THAT DAWN HAS WRITTEN 30 OR 40 SONGS, MOST OF WHICH HAVE ENDED UP -- ONE OF THE SONGS ENDED UP ON WHAT AMENDED TO A COUNTRY ALBUM FOR HER AND THE SONG IS CALLED "I DON'T DANCE" AND IT IS A DUET BETWEEN THE TORI CHARACTER AND THE CHARACTER OF MAC, WHO IS MY HUSBAND.

AND BUT SHE'S WORKED SO HARD AND THERE ARE SO MANY AMAZING PIECES OF MUSIC IN IT.

THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE A WORLD PREMIERE SUMMER OF 2020 AND GOT CANCELED BECAUSE OF COVID.

THEY WANTED THE CAST TO GET SOME INCOME SO IT WAS THE FIRST MUSICAL IN HISTORY RECORDED AS A WORLD PREMIERE ON AUDIBLE.

AND SO, I THINK $5.50.

AGAIN I HAVE NO ECONOMIC INTEREST.

YOU CAN HEAR IT ON AUDIBLE WITH A BROADWAY CALIBER CLASS CAST.

TORI'S ACTRESS IS AN AMAZING ACTRESS AND JUST STUPENDOUS.

THE MOST IMPRESSIVE -- THEY WERE ALL IMPRESSIVE.

BUT THEY REALLY STRUGGLED WITH HOW TO CAST MY BROTHER LAMAR.

AND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES, HE'S PROFOUNDLY HARD OF HEARING.

SO THEY STRUGGLED WITH HOW TO DO IT APPROPRIATELY.

THEY THOUGHT ABOUT HIRING A DOWN ACE SYNDROME ACTOR BUT MY BROTHER ISN'T DOWN'S.

AND THEY ULTIMATELY HIRED A DEAF ACTOR, A GENTLEMAN NAMED JOHN McGUINTY WHO PLAYED THE HUNCH BACK OF NOTRE DAME ON BROADWAY IN A MUSICAL.

AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO LET ME AUDITION FOR THIS PART.

THE HUNCH BACK IS DEAF.

AND WE'RE LIKE, IT IS A MUSIC A HE SAID, YOU HAVE TO LET ME AUDITION.

THEY ENDED UP HIRE HIRING HIM AND HAD A SINGING HEARING ACTOR BEHIND HIM BUT AS I ACTED OUT THE PART, NOBODY WAS LOOKING AT THE OTHER GUY.

HE WAS SO AMAZING.

AND WATCHING JOHN McGUINTY PLAY THE PART OF MY BROTHER WAS SO TRANSFORMING.

HE ACTUALLY HELPED ME TO COME TO TERMS WITH ELEMENTS OF MY CHILDHOOD THAT I WASN'T REALLY AWARE OF UNTIL I HEARD -- I MEAN, JOHN'S QUOTES WERE SO CLOSE TO MY BROTHER'S THAT MADE IT CLEAR THAT MY BROTHER, I HAD INTI WELCOINTELLECTUAL DISABILIS HAPPENED LATER IN OUR CHILDHOOD RATHER THAN RIGHT AWAY ASSAULT OF TRAUMA.

>> SOME OF, OF COURSE, HE'S A MAIN CHARACTER.

SOME OTHER CHARACTERS IN THE MUSICAL THOUGH, I MIGHT ADD, INCLUDE DOLLY PARTON, CHER, TINA TURNER, BARBRA STREISAND.

SO HOW IS THEIR PRESENCE PART OF YOUR JOURNEY IN THIS?

>> SO MY FIRST ROW, I HAD BOOKS BY CLASSICAL WORKS.

AND SO "DEAD WHITE MEN" AND CLASSICAL MUSIC, DEAD WHITE MAN.

AND I'M A GRADUATE OF SMITH COLLEGE.

SO BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND ROW, I GOT LIP FROM MY SMITH FRIENDS GOING, YOU KNOW, WERE THERE ANY WOMEN ON THE BOAT?

WHAT AM I, CHOPPED LIVER.

SECOND, I TOOK TINA TURNER, BARBRA STREISAND, CHER AND DOLLY PARTON AND READ BOOKS BY PROMINENT WOMEN AS WELL ON THE ROW.

BUT THE -- I HAVE THIS GROUP OF WOMEN I THINK OF AS MY ROWING SISTERS WHO REALLY ARE SISTERS TO ME.

AND, EACH OF THE ROWING SISTERS HAS AN ALTER EGO.

YOU KNOW, MY FRIEND IS ALSO DOLLY PARTON AND MY FRIEND BETSY IS CHER, AND MY FRIEND MARGARET IS TINA TURNER.

SO THEY ALL HAVE THESE ALTER EGOS SO THERE IS MY FRIENDS, AND THEN THEY ARE GOING OFF AS THESE WOMEN WHO I LISTEN TO AS I RODE THE BOAT ACROSS THE OCEAN.

>> AND WE SHOULD NOTE THAT THE ONE WITH THE WOMEN FRIENDS IS THE ONE WHO WAS SUCCESSFUL.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR ROLE AT SPALDING NOW FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, YOU HAVE BEEN THE PRESIDENT OF SPALDING UNIVERSITY.

WHY WAS IT IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO BE -- TAKE THAT KIND OF ROLE IN EDUCATION?

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST A ROLE IN EDUCATION BUT IN A PLACE LIKE SPALDING.

OBVIOUSLY, I WENT TO SMITH.

I WENT TO DIVINITY SCHOOL AT HARVARD.

I HAD OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK AT FAR MORE PRESTIGIOUS, MORE RESOURCED PLACES.

BUT SPALDING MEET AS PARTICULAR NEED IN AN AREA.

I MEAN, LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, HAS CHALLENGES.

AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE TOP 25% OF STUDENTS ACROSS OUR NATION, THEY ARE GOING TO GET A GREAT EDUCATION EVEN IF THEY GO TO THE LIBRARY.

BUT THEY CAN GO TO ANY INSTITUTION AROUND THE COUNTRY.

AND THE NEXT 50% THAT MAYBE ARE CHALLENGED AND DON'T HAVE THE ECONOMIC WHEREWITHAL TO GO TO SCHOOL.

SPALDING, WE WORKED SUPER HARD TO KEEP PRICES REALLY ACCESSIBLE AND FOR A PRIVATE SCHOOL, SOONER OR LATER WE'LL BE ABLE TO COMPETE ON PRICE WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE WORK HARD EVERY DAY TO DELIVER A PREMIUM PRODUCT FOR A PRICE THAT YOUNG PEOPLE CAN AFFORD.

AND OUR STUDENTS, INITIALLY I WAS A LITTLE EMBARRASSED BECAUSE WE LOOK DOWN OUR NOSES AT SCHOOLS THAT TRAIN YOU FOR PARTICULAR PROFESSIONS.

WE CALL THEM VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS.

LIKE IF YOU'LL BE A NURSE OR A TEACHER, OR SOCIAL WORKER OR AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST, SOMEHOW THAT'S LESS THAN GOING TO A LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGE.

NOW I'M 50 LIKE, WAIT A MINUTE, THE STUDENTS CAN PAY BACK THE STUDENT LOANS, AND THEY DON'T LIVE IN DEBT LIKE I SHOULD NOT BE EMBARRASSED BY THAT.

AND OUR STUDENTS GO AND DO QUITE WELL.

BUT, THAT TRADITION IN HIGHER EDUCATION THAT SAYS, IF YOU USE YOUR HANDS TO MAKE A LIVING, THAT'S BAD.

SO DOCTORS WERE DISRESPECTED UNTIL THIS CENTURY.

AND THERE IS JUST SO MUCH ABOUT HOW WE GRADE INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL THAT DOESN'T MAKE MUCH SENSE.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR TIME IN LOUISVILLE.

YOU'RE NOT ORIGINALLY FROM LOUISVILLE.

YOUR FAMILY MOVED -- >> I HAD THE MISFORTUNE OF BEING BORN IN FLORIDA BUT IT WAS NOT MY FAULT.

BOTH OF MY BROTHERS WERE BORN IN LOUISVILLE AND MY MOTHER WAS FROM LOUISVILLE SO THEY ARE DEEP LOUISVILLE ROOTS.

AND I MARRIED A -- MY HUSBAND IS THE GRANDSON OF PAPPY VAN WINKLE SO I MARRIED BOURBON ROYALTY.

>> YOU'RE STUCK NOW.

[ LAUGHTER ] YOU WENT TO COLLEGIATE.

AND GREW UP FOR THE MOST PART HERE IN LOUISVILLE.

BUT, YOU REALLY COULD HAVE GONE ANYWHERE.

WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO STAY HERE?

>> I WENT TO DIVINITY SCHOOL IN BOSTON AND HAD A VERY GOOD JOB OFFER IN BOSTON.

AND BINGHAM JR. WAS A MENTOR AND FRIEND TO ME AND I SAID, YOU KNOW, TORI, YOU CAN SPEND 20 YEARS WORKING YOUR WAY UP IN BOSTON BEFORE YOU'LL BE ABLE TO REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE OR COME TO LOUISVILLE AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE RIGHT AWAY.

AND SO I CAME TO LOUISVILLE, MY FIRST JOB WAS RUNNING A SHELTER FOR THE VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA.

AND I LEARNED SO MUCH.

AND I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE EVER SINCE.

AND SPALDING IS A GREAT PLACE TO DO THAT I'M IN MY 14TH YEAR AS PRESIDENT.

I WAS THE VICE PRESIDENT BEFORE THAT I WAS AND I WAS A TRUSTEE BEFORE THAT SO I PUT IN 25 YEARS TO SPALDING.

AND, WE SERVE AMAZING STUDENTS WITH INCREDIBLE FACULTY THAT WORK INCREDIBLY HARD TO FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT EVERY DAY.

>> >> I WANT YOU TO READ THIS PASSAGE FROM THE BOOK THAT WAS CUT FROM THE BOOK INCREDIBLY BUT I THINK IT SUM THINGS.

>> UP THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A PERFECT LIFE BUT EVERY LIFE, THERE ARE PERFECT MOMENTS.

THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WHAT YOU ARE FADES INTO EVERYTHING THAT YOU TOUCH.

WHEN YOUR PERFORMANCE LIVING UP TO YOUR POSSIBILITIES AND WHEN POSSIBILITY TRANSFORMS TO FACT.

WE CANNOT ESCAPE THE GUT WRENCHING SOL SOUL IT WASSING EXPERIENCES THAT GO INTO BEING A HUMAN BEING.

WE ALL HAVE OCEANS TO TRAVERSE.

WE ALL FACE WAVES.

WE ALL WEATHER STORMS.

AND DESPITE OUR DEEPEST LONGINGS, WE'RE NOT LIMITLESS.

WE ARE AN AMALGAM OF DUST AND DIVINITY, EACH OF US IS MORTAL AND EACH HEROIC.

WE NEED NOT ACCEPT REALITIES NOT IN TUNE WITH OUR HEARTS.

WE MAY NOT SUCCEED IN STEALING FIRE FROM HEAVEN, BUT THE MAJESTY OF HUMANITY LIES IN OUR HAVINGNEWILLINGNESS THOUGH KEEP.

>> WHAT AN INSPIRATION.

HER BOOK IS CALLED "AARY THE STORM: HOW I FOUND MY PART IN THE MIDDLE OF THE OCEAN."

CHECK OUT OUR ONLINE CONTENT.

WE'LL TAKE YOU ON A TOUR OF THE AMERICAN PEARL BOAT THAT'S RIGHT NOW INSIDE THE FRAZIER HISTORY MUSEUM.

YOU WON'T BELIEVE HOW SMALL THAT CABIN REALLY IS.

PLUS IF YOU'RE WONDERING WHAT BOOKS WERE ON BOARD, MAYBE WHAT TOPPED HER PLAY LIST AS SHE MADE THAT JOURNEY, WE'VE LINKED ALL OF THAT UP FOR YOU AT KET.ORG/INSIDELOUISVILLE.

DON'T FORGET TO GIVE US A FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM.

FOLLOW BEHIND THE SCENES CONTENT AND MORE.

FIND.

THANK YOU FOR SPENDING A LITTLE TIME GETTING TO KNOW LOUISVILLE THIS WEEK.

I HOPE WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

UNTIL THEN, MAKE IT A GREAT WEEK!