Happy New Year. In 2025, we wrote 54,816 words across 37 editions, and I truly appreciate you coming along for the ride.
As we look back, here’s a quick snapshot of what we covered together:
Over 147 people featured.
Over 50 businesses highlighted.
150+ six-figure jobs shared, with an average salary of $171K.
200+ events worth your time.
Putting this year-in-review together reminded me how much ground Louisville (and therefore you) covered in a single year.
When you step back, the momentum is hard to miss. I always look forward to my Spotify Year Wrapped, and I hope you enjoy our version of that below.
📈 Number: 54,816 is the total number of words written in Louisville Spark in 2025, with the longest edition coming in at 2,003 words in Edition #16.
As always, I appreciate you reading. 👊
-Todd
⭐ Top Stories You Loved
People stories dominated. Community features and City Roundups claimed nearly half our lead coverage…proof that who's doing what locally matters most. Business profiles weren't far behind. When we spotlight a leader or a company making moves, you pay attention.
The Breakdown:
Community & People: 24%
City Roundup: 22%
Business Profile: 19%
Economic Development: 14%
Food & Holiday: 14%
Events: 8%
Presented by: Volare Italian Ristorante
🐟 Fresh Catch at Volare: Barrelfish
This one’s special. Barrelfish, caught aboard the fishing boat Oxbow out of St. Augustine, Florida, pulled from 2,600 feet deep.
It’s a first-time fish for both the restaurant and their fishmonger, and when it’s gone, it’s gone.
Chef Josh Moore and the Volare team are serving it fresh right now… exactly the kind of limited catch worth planning around.
Call (502) 894-4446 or click to reserve.
🎉 Birthday Shoutouts
Birthday love for some local standouts
Candace Jaworski, President at Baldwin Marketing.
Lee Lingo, Principal at Lingo Consulting.
Drew McChesney, Managing Director at Relay Design Co
Katherine North, Vice President, External Affairs, Kentucky Association of Health Plans
💼 Top High Paying Jobs
C-suite and sales roles led the way. These weren't entry-level postings…the average salary hit $171K. Finance and ops stayed consistent. Tech-adjacent roles are creeping in…a sign of where things are headed.
By the Numbers:
Executive & Senior: 32%
Sales & Revenue: 28%
Finance & Operations: 23%
Tech-adjacent: 17%
📆 Events We Put On Your Radar
Music and comedic performances filled our events coverage. Festivals and pop-ups took a quarter of the spotlight…markets, themed nights, limited-run experiences. Food, family events, and sports split the rest. If it was worth your time, we tried to surface it.
The Mix:
Music & comedic performances: 35%
Festivals, markets, pop-ups: 25%
Food & drink: 15%
Family & seasonal: 15%
Sports & special events: 10%
🥃 Final Sip
One of the sleeper features people ask me about most is the 30+ anonymous confessionals. When you zoom out, two themes rise to the top… food and seasonal culture and fun Louisville quirks we all quietly recognize. Equal parts funny, honest, and very on brand for our city.
Be sure to submit your own here and yes, it’s actually anonymous.
