The Oklahoma Today Podcast

Cruising down Route 66 is the American dream, but it can be a time-consuming one. If you're looking to get some of those famous kicks in under an hour, might we suggest a visit to Puttin' the Park in Elk City? They have totally revamped their miniature golf course in Ackley Park to mimic travel down the famous Mother Road. Featuring Oklahoma icons like the Golden Driller of Tulsa and the Pops bottle in Arcadia (plus a number of other famous photo ops), it's a fun detour no matter which direction you're driving. Our guest this week is Marnie Tosh, who helped design the new course for Elk City. Our fearless host Ben tests his golf course against the person who made it.  Also on this week's show, the editors share their dream car for a trip down 66, and podvents tells us where to find a free Big K.R.I.T. concert. You won't want to miss it!

Toys: They teach us a lot as we're growing up. They teach us to value our possessions, to use our imaginations, and how much our parents don't like it when we leave them all over the floor. It's no wonder we end up putting a lot of nostalgic value into them, or that there is a museum dedicated to them in south-central Oklahoma. The Toy and Action Figure Museum in Pauls Valley has thousands of figures on display, including those from franchises like Marvel, DC Comics, Star Wars, and more. Museum founder Kevin Stark is our featured guest today, giving us a tour of the site's impressive collection and helping us realize why our playtime heroes are worth preserving.  Also on this week's episode, the editors share their own favorite toys of the past, and podvents tells us where to catch a cat by its tongue. You won't want to miss it!

June has arrived in Oklahoma, which can often mean that a dark room with air conditioning is very appealing. Thankfully an abundance of opportunities for just such an activity is headed for Oklahoma City. We're talking about the return of deadCenter Film Festival, the summertime favorite set to celebrate its twenty-fifth year June 11-15. Our guest this week is deadCenter's founding executive director Cacky Poarch, who tells us all about this year's Icon award winners, how it feels to see the festival at a quarter of a century, and why we can expect to see dinosaurs around downtown OKC.  Also on this week's episode, the editors share their favorite comfort movies, and podvents let's us know what happens when youth meets opera meets Tolkien. You won't want to miss it!

When it comes to local restaurant brands, 84 Hospitality Group is a heavy hitter. Empire Slice House is known far and wide, and Goro Ramen and Burger Punk have large followings of their own. There is a new name to add to that lineup now. Elisabetta Fine Italian & Wine is now open on North Western Avenue in Oklahoma City. Editor-in-Chief Nathan Gunter had a sit-down conversation with 84 Hospitality's Rachel Cope to talk about the new addition and what else is new from her line of delicious eats. Also on this week's episode, the editors discuss the "green flags" they look for in a restaurant, and podvents teaches us a little something about magnolias. You won't want to miss it!

It's the oldest historically black rodeo in the country, and it's back for another year! The Boley Rodeo, in the historic black town of Boley, got its start in 1961. The event has seen ups and downs over the years, but has seen a resurgence under organizer Karen Ekuban. We headed out to Boley to talk with Karen and get a firsthand look at a new art project which will make its debut at this year's event. The Boley Rodeo is Saturday, May 24, and tickets are $20. Also on this week's episode, the editors recommend their picks for summer vacation activities in the state, and podvents let's us know where to find the most happening 150th birthday party around. You won't want to miss it!

Oklahoma's vintage scene has a social media king, and his name is Clinton Avery Tharp. Along with childhood friend Eli Hartley, he owns and operates Main Street Vintage in Purcell. Fans of classic 1970s furniture, Kit-Cat Klocks, cigar box ukuleles, or anything cool and novel will get a kick out of visiting this shop of wonders. In this week's episode, Tharp and Hartley lead us on a tour through their carefully curated playhouse, and a lot of fun is had along the way. Also on this week's episode, the editors discuss their favorite barbecue restaurants in the state, and podvents takes America's pastime all the way back to the 1880s. You won't want to miss it! 

Another day, another tough challenge for our host. This week Ben gives it his best shot in a Bob Wills themed fashion contest. Bob Wills, known to have reigned over Tulsa's Cain's Ballroom along with his band The Texas Playboys during the 1930s and '40s, was and remains an influential icon of Western chic style. Hie reputation as a sharp dresser is so strong that this year they introduced a fashion contest during the annual Bob Wills Day celebration at the Oklahoma State Capitol. Ben is far from a ten-galloned fashionisto, but he is a bolo tie lover with a feel for style that can be best described as . . . marginally above average. Will that be enough to win the inaugural Bob WIlls fashion competition? Probably not, but let's find out.  Also on this week's episode, the editors try their best to describe their own fashion styles, and podvents tells Mom where to find the sweetest cruise in town this Mother's Day.

Ben is mad. Like, really mad. With all that rage, he needs an outlet. It's a good thing Tulsa Stained Glass exists. Though normally a home for art and peaceful crafting, attached to this longtime Tulsa glass studio is a rage room where perturbed patrons can smash and shatter various glass wares for a cathartic release. The rage room is the brainchild of Tulsa Stained Glass owner Richard Bohm, who joins the podcast as guest today. Unlike some other rage room experiences, Bohm wants to make sure guests are reflecting on the positive as well as the negative. Listen as he guides Ben through unfamiliar territory (for him): destructive anger.  Also on this week's episode, the editors share their favorite tips for finding calm, and podvents reminds us of the word spelunking. You won't want to miss it!

Purchased by the legendary Leon Russell in a deal struck at the diner across the street, Tulsa's Church Studio has become an iconic piece of music history. All-time greats like Tom Petty, George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and Stevie Wonder recorded there while the former real-life church was used as the home of Shelter Records in the 1970s, and the walls still very much contain a musical soul. On this week's show we meet up with Teresa Knox, who revived the Church Studio after it had sat vacant for many years. Today it is a first-rate recording studio once again, as well as a key tourist destination for music fans. Church Studio's Carney Fest, a celebration of Leon Russell's top-hat showmanship and legacy as a godfather of the Tulsa Sound musical style and movement, takes place Saturday, May 3.   Also on this week's episode, the editors discuss some of the historical sites in Oklahoma they love to visit, and podvents triggers some old prom memories. 

The podcast assumes a more serious tone this time around as we reflect on the thirtieth anniversary of the April 19, 1995, bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah federal building in downtown Oklahoma City, still the largest-scale and most deadly domestic attack in the nation's history. As a result of the attack, 168 people (adults and children) died. Today our guest is current OKC Fire Chief Richard Kelley, who has spent more than three decades in service to the local fire department and was a first responder the day of the bombing. He recounts what he saw on the scene that day, the scare of a rumored second bomb, and speaks on the important lessons the response to that day can teach future generations of first-responders and Oklahomans.  Also on this week's show, the editors share what they remember about that day in 1995. This includes Chris, a working video journalist at the time. You won't want to miss it!

Spanning nine centuries of armor worn by the iconic and fascinating warriors of old Japanese society, the new Samurai exhibition at Philbrook Museum of Art gives viewers a deeper understanding of the culture, lifestyle, and art of the day. Coming to the Tulsa museum from the Collection of Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller, Samurai is on display now through August 3. Nathan and Chris paid a visit to the exhibit for an up-close look at this blockbuster summer attraction at the Philbrook. Also on this week's episode: The editors share their favorite places to eat in Tulsa (of which there are many good ones) and podvents reminds us of an all-time Oklahoma Today cover. You won't want to miss it!

The name of the baseball team in Oklahoma City might have changed for this season, but it'll be the same familiar fun times at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark this spring and summer. Known last year as the Oklahoma City Baseball Club while the organization underwent rebranding efforts, the newly dubbed Oklahoma City Comets take their inspiration from "The Commerce Comet," a nickname of Oklahoma-born baseball legend Mickey Mantle. With the first Comet homestand beginning April 1, we took the time to meet some of the faces behind the new brand. This includes new manager Scott Hennessey, team president Michael Byrnes, and everyone's soon-to-be favorite mascot Moonshot.  Also on this week's episode, the editors discuss their concession-stand favorites, and podvents blows the trumpet for the Medieval Fair of Norman. You won't want to miss it!

Chalk it up to a good time: Our guest today is Jacquelyn Knapp, art professor at the University of Sciences and Arts in Chickasha and organizer for the annual Montmartre Festival of chalk art on campus. Though not quite as big as its famous namesake festival in France, USAO's Montmartre Festival is one of the best times to visit Chickasha. Part of the USAO Spring Triad on campus, the festival coincides with the USAO Scholastic Meet and the Droverstock Music Festival. Artists from a variety of age groups will compete for sidewalk supremacy will flexing their creative muscles in an event that is equally fun for competitors and spectators.  Also on this week's show, the editors discuss which color they would add to an Oklahoma themed crayon set, and podvents tells us where to get our next caffeine fix. You won't want to miss it!

Chances are, you're due for a visit to the Oklahoma State Capitol. Even if you have seen all the significant restoration and art upgrades made in the past few years, you probably haven't seen the newly reopened Betty Price Art Gallery. Housed on the Capitol building's second floor, this room features works from the State Art Collection, with big-name artists like Ed Ruscha and Allan Houser represented, among many others. We attended the opening and caught up with Oklahoma Arts Council executive director Amber Sharples to learn about all the work that went into reopening the gallery and what the collection says about Oklahomans as a people.  Also on this week's episode, the editors share what they're looking forward to this spring, and podvents introduces us to Ben's "white whale." You won't want to miss it!

Going with the flow is easier said than done for some of us, but it is the name of the game in improv, the stage art of unscripted comedy. Founded in 2009, OKC Improv is both an organizer for great community events and a training and performance vehicle for actors and comics of both the serious and aspirational varieties. Executive Director Kendon Lacy is our guest on the show this week. He talks about his personal history with improv, big events coming up at OKC Improv's theater in Oklahoma City's Plaza District, and how interested community members can sign up for classes. Plus your favorite Oklahoma travel podcast hosts give their best effort in some basic improv exercises.  Also on this week's show, the editors discuss their favorite dessert destinations in the state, and podvents brings us some fishy props. You won't want to miss it!

Bob Wills' Texas Playboys were synonymous with Tulsa's Cain's Ballroom through America's Great Depression years, becoming national stars with daily radio broadcasts. Wills died many years ago, but the band's legacy lives on, currently led by Jason Roberts. Roberts and the Texas Playboys band will once again return to Tulsa this week for the annual Bob Wills Birthday Bash. Later in the week the will head to Oklahoma City for Bob Wills Day at the Oklahoma State Capitol. Roberts joins the show this week to talk about his career path that led to this classic role. He is also joined by Texas Playboys manager and music historian Brett Bingham, and the pair of them discuss the larger musical legacy of this classic Western swing act. Also on this week's show, the editors huddle around the warmth of their laptops during this remotely recorded ice week show, and podvents previews a future family outing for our host Ben. You won't want to miss it!

The Oklahoma State Meal—which became an official state symbol in the 1980s—is a legendary spread: chicken-fried steak, biscuits with sausage gravy, barbecue pork, cornbread, grits, okra, squash, corn, black-eyed peas, strawberries, and pecan pie. Isla's Southern Kitchen in Tulsa is currently the only restaurant in Oklahoma where diners can order the entire state meal. Though it comfortably feeds 2-4 people, Isla's does give brave (or foolish) souls the option to compete in the Oklahoma State Meal Challenge, in which a single diner racers to consume all the dishes in under forty-six minutes (Oklahoma is the 46th state). Today our host Ben Luschen, dubiously qualified for such an endeavor, takes the challenge head-on, with coaching provided by former Oklahoma Today Podcast host Greg Elwell.  Also on this week's episode, the editors weigh in on what dishes they would like to see included in an updated version of the state meal, and podvents tells us where to go for fried oysters and town gossip. You won't want to miss it!

This week's featured guest is RC Davis-Undiano, executive director of the World Literature Today magazine and organization based in Norman. World Literature Today is an internationally recognized literature and culture magazine heralded by the Nobel Prize committee as “one of the best edited and most informative literary publications” in the world. Davis-Undiano is a Mexican-American writer who additionally serves as Neustadt Professor in Literature and the director of the Latino Studies Program at the University of Oklahoma. This audio-only conversation was conducted by Poteau-born writer Rilla Askew, author of The Mercy Seat and Prize for the Fire. Also on this week's show, the editors share what books they're currently reading, and podvents let's you know where to find a one karat diamond. You won't want to miss it!

Yes, that Fear and Loathing. This week our guest is British artist and illustrator Ralph Steadman, most famous for his collaborations with famed gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson, including the iconic novel Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. He has a new career retrospective exhibit titled Ralph Steadman: And Another Thing on display now through May 10 at the OSU Museum of Art in Stillwater. Our photo editor Megan Rossman got to talk with the artist and his daughter Sadie Williams about the exhibit, his career, and what new projects Steadman's working on.  Also on this week's show, the editors discuss their favorite places in the state to view art, and podvents introduces us to a historic Union general. You won't want to miss it!

Chocolate isn't for everyone (we're looking at you, dogs), but it sure is for us! Oklahoma's chocolate lovers will find the most creative and culinary cacao creations at this year's Chocolate Decadence event Thursday, February 6, at Leadership Square in Oklahoma City. The annual event benefiting the Automobile Alley district and Lights on Broadway will feature unique chocolate dishes from beloved local restaurants like Paseo Grill, Tellers, and even Highball Sushi. The night will also honor Oklahoma's favorite chocolate brand, Bedré Fine Chocolate, which is celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary with the Chickasaw Nation. Downtown OKC's Kristen Vails stops by the studio to tell us more. Also on this week's episode, the editors describe what self-care looks like to them, and podvents promises antique dolls . . . lots of them. You won't want to miss it!

A summer trip to the Oklahoma Arts Institute at Quartz Mountain State Park in southwestern Oklahoma is a time of creative enchantment for many high-school-aged artists around the state. Applications are now open for teenage creatives who'd like to make the trek this year. Wren Pfal, communications and outreach officer for OSAI, joins the show this week to talk about the amazing opportunity for students to develop as creatives and professionals, and the magic that can only be found at Quartz Mountain. Also on this week's show, the editors discuss their favorite types of soup, and podvents reveals a killer in our midst. You won't want to miss it!

Whether you first heard about them on America's Got Talent, on the popular FX television series Reservation Dogs, or pushing their CDs and merch around the Oklahoma City metro area, no one can deny the brotherly hip-hop and entertainment duo Lil Mike & Funny Bone (known collectively as MikeBone) were destined for stardom. The local legends and authors of the popular song "Rain Dance" joined us in the studio to reflect on their career journey, including their self-sabotaged AGT experience, how they scored a role on Reservation Dogs, and the duo's undeniable aura which has been said to ward away nefarious spirit energy. As a staff full of MikeBone fans, we're super excited about this one! Also on this week's show, the editors discuss what other Oklahoma celebrities they'd like to meet, and podvents takes us back to the future with no DeLorean required. You won't want to miss it! 

Bread. Meat. Cheese. Bread again. There are variations to the formula but this is generally the food structure known as the sandwich. In Oklahoma Today's new January-February issue (out on newsstands now!) our Sandwich Quest feature profiles ten fantastic handheld meals from across the state impressive enough to have convinced the Earl of Sandwich to put down his silly card game. The Sandwich Quest was completed for the magazine by The Martin Duprass: an Oklahoma City-based, husband-wife comedy duo consisting of Jeremy Martin and Lauren Thomas-Martin. They stopped by the show to recount their epic sandwich adventure and propose a new food concept that could change the culinary world forever. Unless we stop them.  Also on this week's show, the editors discuss their favorite places to get a sandwich in Oklahoma, and podvents settles the debate of what really belongs in a chili bowl. You won't want to miss it!

New year, new look, same us! This is the launch of our exciting new sixth season of the Oklahoma Today Podcast, and we're kicking it all off with a very special in-depth interview with James Beard semifinalist chef Tabb Singleton. Tabb is known as the resident pitt genius at Idabel's Phat Tabb's BBQ, where the lines are long and the barbecue is the stuff of legends. He will be the chef in residence at The Feast at Stuart Ranch, a now sold-out March 1 dinner event co-hosted by Oklahoma Today in Waurika. Editor-in-chief Nathan Gunter sat down with Tabb to talk about his amazing career that has included run-ins with Emeril Lagase and the Food Network, as well as his plans for the Stuart Ranch beef in March. Also on this week's show, the editors discuss the Oklahoma travel destinations they plan on visiting in 2025, and podvents is . . . on a boat! You won't want to miss it. 

There is a long, long heritage of great songwriters hailing from the Tulsa area and from Oklahoma in general. To close 2024, we're adding Sierra Spirit to that impressive list. Spirit—the Otoe-Missouria and Keetoowah Cherokee recording artist had a fantastic launch to her career the past year, releasing well-crafted singles and a stellar debut EP titled coin toss. For the final show of our fifth season, we caught up with Spirit to talk about her vault into the recording industry, taking inspiration from her family and Indigenous cultural heritage in her music, and why the craft of songwriting is experiencing a resurgence in popular appreciation.  Also on this week's show, the editors share their favorite Oklahoma travels of the past year, and podvents takes it to the limit one more time for 2024. You won't want to miss it!

Merry Christmas and happy holidays everyone! We have a very merry episode of the Oklahoma Today Podcast in store for this week. We're bringing Torie Thompson from Oklahoma State Parks into the studio to talk about the popular First Day Hike program that will get us all moving in the New Year. That plus plenty more holiday merriment is in store. The editors share their baking plans for the holidays (or lack thereof in Ben's case), and podvents presents music fans with a lot of options. You won't want to miss it!

You might know him from television of for his family's place those responsible for popularizing Thai food in the United States, but for fans who head to Pocola's Choctaw Casino & Resort on December 28 and 29, Jet Tila is the chef behind their next great meal. Tila's visit is the latest installment in a series of celebrity takeover events at the casino—others have included Alex Guarnaschelli and Roco Dispirito. We caught up with Chef Tila recently to talk about his stellar one-off menu planned for Pocola and his experiences as perhaps the most visible ambassador for Thai food in America today.  Also on this week's show, the editors discuss which chef they'd like to prepare their next meal, and podvents finally has Ben using his inside voice. You won't want to miss it!

His epic mustache alone remains iconic in Oklahoma City, and his Blazers hockey team rocked the old Myriad in an era before the capital city turned major league. Coach Doug Sauter is a sports legend in the state, but what is the Saskatchewan native up to these days? Well, wonder no more. We caught up with him recently—and yes, he's still in Oklahoma. Sauter shows off his prized clydesdales and percherons at the Express Clydesdales Barn in Yukon, then we sit down to catch up with the coach on his own land a few miles away. What's harder, coaching hockey players or coaching horses? And what does he think of the old Myriad site being used for the new Oklahoma City arena? He answers all—and then some. Also on this week's show, the editors share their favorite breakfast destinations in the state, and podvents gets a visit from Jimmy Stewart (sort of). You won't want to miss it!

We can't fully explain it, but there's something about trains that just goes really well with the Christmas season. The people of Muskogee realize this, which is why those who head to the town's Depot Green Christmas celebration throughout this month can enjoy a ride on the festive Christmas train, taking a tour of the beautiful Garden of Lights set up in Honor Heights Park. Rick Ewing from Muskogee Parks joins this week's show to talk about all the fun to be had in Muskogee this season, plus a few other recent developments in the town. Also on this week's show, the editors declare when the holiday season officially begins, and podvents revives an old Hee Haw routine. You won't want to miss it!  

Those who have been paying attention might have noticed a recent movement in the cultural zeitgeist in remembrance of the great life and career of Norman-born musician Jesse Ed Davis. A good portion of those new attention paid toward a historically under-appreciated talent comes to use due to the work of historian and author Douglas Miller, whose book Washita Love Child: The Rise of Indigenous Rock Star Jesse Ed Davis is available for purchase now. Miller joins this week's episode of the podcast to talk about the immense musical legacy Davis left behind—having worked alongside the likes of Leon Russell, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and more—and the many coming tributes to JED which include tribute concerts, a new archival record of unissued songs, and an exhibition at the Bob Dylan Center curated by Joy Harjo. Also on this week's episode, the editors discuss their ideal Thanksgiving dessert plate, and podvents lets us know where we can have an extravagant Thanksgiving meal without having to do any dishes afterwards. You won't want to miss it!

If you've already tuned in to one of those Christmas music stations on the radio, there's a good chance you have already heard the holiday classic "I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas" this year. Gayla Peevey, the Oklahoma-born original singer of the 1953 song, joins The Oklahoma Today Podcast this week as our featured guest. The song helped raise money to buy the OKC Zoo's first hippo, Matilda. Now the zoo is planning to build a statue a statue honoring Gayla and Matilda in the next year or two. We talked with Gayla about the honor, her history with the song, and even the Moo Deng sensation. Speaking of the OKC Zoo, Safari Lights is also now open for the season, and we got a sneak peek of that as well.   Also on this week's episode, the editors discuss which exotic animal they'd want to find under their own Christmas tree, and Oklahoma Tourism's Kaitlyn Rivas joins us as a special guest host. You won't want to miss it!

Happy Veterans Day, listeners! To honor the holiday we ventured out to Fort Sill—the 94,000 acre Army post near Lawton—for a visit to the National Field Artillery Museum. Fort Sill has a long history as an artillery school, so it makes sense to of the have artillery museum here. Gordon Blaker, director and curator for the museum, guides us through the collection (which also includes a steel beam segment from the World Trade Center and a fragment of the Berlin Wall) for our guest interview of the week.  Also on this show, the editors talk about the veterans in their own lives, and podvents lets us know about a beloved Robin Williams classic hitting the Tulsa PAC stage. You won't want to miss it!

If you've seen the new November-December issue of Oklahoma Today, you've seen country music's newest superstar Zach Bryan on the cover. Bryan, born in Oologah, seems to have taken off on the national scene over night, and he's set for a homecoming victory lap in December headlining three straight nights at Tulsa's BOK Center. How has Bryan been able to climb so high so fast? That's exactly the question writer Preston Jones attempted to answer in his cover story. Jones joins the show to talk about what Bryan's rise might signal about the future of the music industry and what other Oklahoma acts he'd like to see take off in a similar fashion. Also on this week's show, the editors share their favorite places to view fall foliage, and podvents sheds some light on proper cast iron care. You won't want to miss it!

On the outside we all look different, but on the inside all of us are propped up by a frame of collagen, calcium, and minerals forming the human skeleton. And it's not just us with the bones—most of the animals we see around us have them too. These graveyard greeters might have a grim reputation that often make them a symbol of Halloween, but Ashley Mason Burns-Meerschaert—director of operations and education at Oklahoma City's Museum of Osteology—joins the show today to explain why they might not be so scary after all, and give us a scoop on how to get involved with their Forensic Nights. Also on this week's episode, the editors discuss some of their favorite Halloween costumes from the past, and podvents merges the worlds of fellow Wills, Rogers and Smith. You won't want to miss it!

Another season of the Oklahoma City Thunder is upon us, and many are expecting big things from the team this year. Could this be the year the team brings home the state's first major pro sports championship title? Andrew Schlect of The Athletic and the Down to Dunk OKC Thunder Podcast joins the show as guest to tell us where to put our expectations and introduce the new faces in Thunder blue this season. Also on this week's episode, the editors discuss their dream road trip with Rumble the Bison, and Ben bring The Price Is Right to podvents. You won't want to miss it!

Our double header of podcasts featuring prominent Oklahoma-based musicians continues with Norman's Beau Jennings, who is set to release the new album American Stories and Major Chords with his band The Tigers this Friday. The Tigers have two release shows planned this week, starting at the Blue Door in Oklahoma City on October 18 and then heading up the turnpike to Tulsa's Mercury Lounge on October 19. Jennings also has recently entered the role of interim director of the Prairie House Preservation Society—and he discusses all the above on the show. Also this week, the editors share the song that most reminds them of Oklahoma, and this week marks the first show recorded inside our beautiful new studio space. You won't want to miss it!

At this point, hip-hop artist Jabee is an Oklahoma City icon, but it's about time to take his profile to a more national level. Thankfully he is in good company to do just that. Earlier this year Jabee announced his signing to hip-hop's prestige indie music label, Mello Music Group. His first release with MMG, the eight-song mini-album The Spirit Is Willing But The Flesh Is Weak—featuring a guest verse by underground rap sensation Quelle Chris and production from the likes of Conductor Williams, Evidence, and Apollo Brown—debuted on streaming services this past Friday. Jabee, fresh off a West Coast flight following a marathon weekend at his Peace Needs OKC conference that included the legendary Chuck D as speaker, graced the Oklahoma Today Podcast with an interview previewing the new release.   Also on this week's episode, the editors get cute about their favorite at-home animals, and podvents shows us why Merle Haggard will now forever be an Okie in Muskogee. You won't want to miss it!

For many, thoughts of stage performances churn up images of tear-jerking musical numbers, Shakespearean soliloquies, and highly structured dramas of literary significance. While this type of theater is awesome, the truth is there are no limits to what a stage production can be. Fans who want to experience some truly unique performances would be wise to head to the Theatre Crude Fringe Festival October 10-19 in Oklahoma City's Paseo Arts District. Festival co-founder Adam Brand joins the show to tell us what exactly fringe theater is and what unique productions fans can expect to see this year. Also on this week's show, the editors share their favorite karaoke tunes and podvents shows us why books are still superior to social media. You won't want to miss it!

Ferris wheels, fried foods, and farm animals—you know where to go to find them all. The State Fair in Oklahoma City is over, but fair season lives on in Oklahoma as the Tulsa State Fair begins September 26. Amanda Blair, the Tulsa fair's vice president and chief operating officer, joins this week's podcast as our featured guest to talk about what people can expect from this year's fall-time festival and why she thinks state fairs never go out of style.  Also on this week's show, the editors share their favorite thing about the fall season, and we welcome videographer Chris Cook to the OKT Pod crew. You won't want to miss it!

Sometimes things we think will be temporary stops in our life turn into lifelong fixtures. This is exactly what happened to Brandy Adkins, who opened Flo's Burger Diner in Catoosa with the intention of building up her culinary career and eventually selling it off—not realizing she would fall in love with the place. Brandy, who also runs Flo's Smokehouse Eats in Tulsa and the catering company Yes Chef Tulsa, joins this week's podcast to talk about how her food career has taken off in the past several years. A fair warning: Descriptions of Flo's creative burger menu may cause sudden feelings of intense hunger. Also on this week's episode, the editors discuss their favorite child-approved travel destinations in the state, and podvents gives us two Bobs for the price of one. You won't want to miss it!

Any and every good restaurant starts with good people, and few realize that more than Kindt Myers, newly appointed Vice President of People for Oklahoma City-based The Social Order restaurant group. Myers joins the podcast as this week's guest to discuss his new role with the group and its brands, which include the Jones Assembly, Spark, Dave's Hot Chicken, and Fuzzy's Tacos. We're already getting hungry!  Also on this week's show, the editors discuss their favorite food trucks around the state, and podvents takes us back to the Oklahoma State Fair. You won't want to miss it!

Art museums are primarily known as spaces to view art, and the OSU Museum of Art in Stillwater certainly has thought-provoking works to capture the imagination of guests. However, the university museum also aims to provide a space for the community to engage with their own creativity. Marketing coordinator Casey Ihde joins this week's podcast to discuss the facility's unique programming and any-time ArtLab that help visitors discover their inner artist.  Also on this week's show, the editors discuss their own creative hobbies, and Ben proves himself the master of illusion in podvents. You won't want to miss it!

A new season of college football is finally upon us—practically an annual holiday in the state of Oklahoma. Every new season brings a new sense of excitement and opportunity, but it's perhaps never been more true than this year. OU and Texas are leaving the Big 12 conference for the SEC, leaving OSU to hold down the fort in a conference that has newly added Utah, Arizona, Arizona State, and Colorado. What will life be like for the Sooners in their new home? We're bringing on none other than the Sooner Football radio voice himself, Toby Rowland, on as our guest of the week to discuss just that. This is college football's season of change across the board, and by proxy it's bringing some changes into Toby's life as well. Hear Rowland take us behind the scenes on how the new league effects his work, preview upcoming opponents, and pine for the much-anticipated arrival of an overhauled postseason. Also on this week's episode, the editors reminisce on their own Oklahoma alma maters, and Ben brushes up on facial hair for podvents. You won't want to miss it! 

There is no doubt that Oklahoma City's food profile nationally has risen in the past several years—in no small part due to the contributions of the James Beard Award Southwest winning chef Andrew Black. We recently caught up with Chef Black at his newly opened restaurant Perle Mesta, located inside Oklahoma City's historic Skirvin Hilton hotel, which is the same location the chef got his culinary start in Oklahoma at the former Park Avenue Grill. In this new interview, Chef Black discusses the fresh and stellar menu at Perle Mesta and characterizes his other proven local concepts such as Black Walnut and Grey Sweater. Also on this week's podcast, the editors reveal the most delicious thing chilling in their fridge at home, and podvents brings us friends in show places. You won't want to miss it!

What started as a story in Oklahoma Today is now a full-fledged book. Writer Susan Dragoo—a frequent contributor to Oklahoma Today magazine—published her new historical nonfiction account of the Butterfield Overland Mail stagecoach route, titled Finding the Butterfield: A Journey Through Time In Indian Territory, in July. The old mail route stretched from St. Louis, Missouri, to San Francisco, California, cutting through the Rocky Mountains and a stretch of modern-day Oklahoma in Indian Territory. Dragoo joins this week's podcast to shed some light on the history of the short-lived route and tell us what remains for the curious to see today. Visit susandragoo.com/butterfield-oklahoma for purchasing information.  Also on this week's podcast, the editors discuss the oft-debated topic of Oklahoma's best burger, and in podvents Karlie tells us about a week-long paint party in OKC. You won't want to miss it! 

When it comes to states with wild historic stories, Oklahoma can go toe-to-toe with any. From Indigenous dwelling pre-contact to land runs and oil booms, this state has produced a lot of big moments and unforgettable characters. Thankfully, we have the Oklahoma History Center Museum in Oklahoma City to document all those twists and turns. As summer break ends and schools return to session, the History Center plays a big role in stimulating young minds. Museum Deputy Director Sarah Dumas joins this week's podcast to discuss all the exciting exhibits and programming going on in August and the coming months. Also on this week's show, the editors discuss which past or present Oklahoman they'd most want to have dinner with, and Karlie spins a convincing yarn in podvents. You won't want to miss it!

Schools might be going back into session soon, but summer is not over yet. Savor those final days of freedom during Red Brick Nights, which bring fun, games, food trucks, and live music to historic downtown Guthrie. Red Brick Nights occur during the first Saturday or every month May through September, including this Saturday (August 3). Make your plans to head to Guthrie this weekend to see Oklahoma-favorite headliners Beau Jennings & The Tigers. Event organizer James Long joins the show to talk about what else people can expect and how Guthrie has grown through the years. Also on this week's show, the editors discuss their favorite annual festivals in the state, and all aboard the crazy train for podvents. You won't want to miss it! 

Good news for all your Olympic fans out there: The summer games return better than ever this week! After a couple of the international games being subjected to pandemic restrictions, Paris 2024 will bring the Olympics back in full force. Oklahoma is a state with numerous Olympic ties, and one of those is the USA BMX headquarters and Olympic training facility in Tulsa. The Oklahoma Today Podcast partnered with USA BMX for a series of interviews with USA BMX athletes headed to Paris for the games that begin this Friday.  Also on this week's episode, the hosts discuss their personal favorite Olympic events, and podvents presents us with a unique event featuring a Pro Football Hall of Famer. You won't want to miss it!

Don't ask to see Aunt Meg's place when you venture out to Wakita in far-northern Oklahoma—if you remember Twister well enough, you know the house doesn't make it to the end credits. But die-hard fans of the 1996 cult-classic disaster film won't be disappointed when they visit the tiny town's Twister Movie Museum—dedicated to telling the story of Wakita's brush with Hollywood since before the movie even premiered. As the long-awaited sequel Twisters hits theaters across the country this week, we venture out to the museum for an interview with its caretaker, Linda Wade. With Twister fever back at a fever pitch, visitors from all over the world are making the trek out to Wakita. Also on this week's episode, the editors discuss which movies they have seen the most in their lives, and podvents tells us the story of two peaches. Plus Karlie is back! You won't want to miss it!

Downtown Tulsa is home to one of the most storied live music venues not just in the state, but in all the country. Cain's Ballroom, first made famous in the 1930s as the home of Bob Wills' radio broadcasts, celebrates 100 years in 2024. The springy wooden dance floor is one of the best places to see a show, but don't just take our word for it. Ask the parents of pop star du jour Chappell Roan, who recently relayed their affection for the place to Cain's co-owner and operator Chad Rodgers. Chad joins the podcast this week to reflect on his journey as an owner of this historic gem and how the live entertainment industry has evolved in the past couple of decades.  Also on this week's show, the editors give their picks for Oklahoma buildings that should be preserved forever, and podvents brings us a Christmas celebration . . . in December? You won't want to miss it.  

The July Fourth holiday is here again, and there are countless ways to celebrate in Oklahoma. One of the best is with a trip to Pawhuska and scenic Osage County for the Pawhuska Freedom Celebration and The Pioneer Woman Mercantile's Patriotic Party on the Prairie. Pawhuska Chamber of Commerce director Mike McCartney joins the show to talk about the full day of activities planned in the town for Independence Day. Also on this episode, the editors share their plans for the upcoming holiday and Ben gives a booming rundown of July Fourth celebrations in podvents. You won't want to miss it!