West Texas Talk - Interviews from Marfa Public Radio

In this conversation with host Elise Pepple, artists Carlos Motta and José Parlá discuss Donald Judd's writings about art and politics and describe the responsibilities they feel as artists and citizens to engage with politics in their work. Hosted by Elise Pepple for KRTS

The Marfa Public Radio staff pulls back the curtain to show us what it takes to produce content remotely during a pandemic. Elise Pepple, Diana Nguyen, Mitch Borden, Carlos Morales, Jacob Rockey, and Hannah Siegel-Gardner all share stories about working from home and adjusting to the new coronavirus reality. Hosted by Elise Pepple for KRTS

This week's episode features a rebroadcast of an interview with poet Eileen Myles, as well as another installment of 'Pandemic Pantry' with Seth Siegel-Gardner, a conversation between Elise Pepple and Marfa Public Radio DJ 'Lady C,' and a performance by David Beebe of Elvis Costello's 'Running Out of Angels.' Hosted by Elise Pepple for KRTS

The Kitchen Sisters tell story of the Lou Reed archive in New York. Closer to home, Carlos Morales describes steps being taken to support the town of Boquillas during COVID 19, and Seth Siegel-Gardner introduces a new cooking segment called 'Pandemic Pantry'. Hosted by Elise Pepple for KRTS

This week's West Texas Talk features the last episode of the pandemic podcast 'Our Show', a conversation between Mitch Borden and Christian Wallace, one interview with Dee Anna Good of Safe Place of the Permian Basin, and another with Guy McCrary about the Permian Basin Area Foundation's emergency relief fund. Hosted by Elise Pepple and Mitch Borden for KRTS

This week's episode of West Texas Talk begins with an episode of 'Our Show' by Erica Heilman. Then we'll hear interviews with Julia Caulfield in Telluride, CO, Sam Stavinoha in Marathon, TX, and Ian Lewis in Marfa, TX, as well as a 'Tiny Porch' performance from Jimmy Magliozzi. Hosted by Elise Pepple for KRTS

On this week's West Texas Talk includes an episode of 'Our Show' by Erica Heilman, interviews with Serah Mead, Lesley Villareal, and Gabriela Carballo, and a 'Tiny Porch' performance from Adam Bork. Hosted by Elise Pepple for KRTS

On West Texas Talk this week, General Manager Elise Pepple talks to artist Nick Terry about how to meditate and take a deep breath during a crisis. Then, Pepple talks to Laura Thoms about living at the McDonald Observatory. Laura’s already prepared for social isolation and offers some tips for people who are new to it. In the final segment of this week's show, we hope to lift your spirits. We’re creating a new series of videos called 'Tiny Porch.' This is a social isolation music series inspired by NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts. We’re asking musicians in Far West Texas to record a cover song from their porch. The videos are an opportunity for listeners across Far West Texas to come to... Hosted by Elise Pepple for KRTS

On this special edition of West Texas Talk, we hear from reporters on the ground, healthcare professionals, a parent learning to homeschool her kids and service industry workers who have found themselves out of a job — all in the midst of unfolding preparedness plans and new policies attempting to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the Permian Basin and Big Bend region. This episode contains information that is up-to-date as of 3 P.M. Thursday, March 19. After it originally aired, the first case of COVID-19 in the Permian Basin was confirmed in Midland. As of Friday March 20 at 11:30 A.M., there are no confirmed cases in the Big Bend region. (Elise Pepple / Marfa Public Radio) ... Hosted by Carlos Morales and Elise Pepple for KRTS

Elise Pepple and Sally Beauvais interview Diana Nguyen, the outgoing host and executive producer of West Texas Talk. Later on the show, Ian Lewis speaks to journalist and writer Amitava Kumar. They talk about the state of writing fiction and fake news — the subject of Kumar’s forthcoming book. Hosted by Elise Pepple & Sally Beauvais, Ian Lewis for KRTS

Diana Nguyen speaks to Marfa Public Radio’s Sally Beauvais and Christopher Collins, a reporter for the Texas Observer. They discuss the healthcare crisis in rural Texas. Later on the show, Rachel Monroe speaks with poet Martha Collins. They discuss Collins’ works in which she examines parts of her family history as a lens into racism in America. Hosted by Diana Nguyen & Rachel Monroe for KRTS

This week, we’re delving deeper into Respect Big Bend. Diana Nguyen talks to Marilu Hastings of the Mitchell Foundation and Dr. Michael Young with the Bureau of Economic Geology at UT Austin. They talk about how the Respect Big Bend initiative got started and discuss potential impacts renewable energy production could have on Far West Texas. Later, Nguyen talks Brendan Byrne — the space reporter for member station WMFE in Orlando. They discuss Blue Origin’s mysterious operations in West Texas. Hosted by Diana Nguyen for KRTS

Diana Nguyen talks to Billy Tarrant of Borderlands Research Institute. They talk about the projections of expanded renewable energy production in the region and the goals of the coalition. Later in the show, Elise Pepple talks to Rachel Neel, the Senior Supervising Producer of Ask Me Another — a live show from NPR and WNYC that blends brainteasers, pub trivia, comedy and music. They talk about the show and about Neel’s former life as an employee at Marfa Public Radio. Hosted by Diana Nguyen and Elise Pepple for KRTS

Elise Pepple talks to Rachel Monroe and Gaby Carballo about a topic on a lot of residents’ minds… the difficulty of dating in rural America. They go over the complications, the highs, and the lows of finding love in West Texas. Later in the show, a conversation Carlos Morales had with journalists Alfredo Corchado and Angela Kocherga about their observations and experiences in covering the U.S.-Mexico border. Hosted by Elise Pepple, Carlos Morales for KRTS

Diana Nguyen talks to Rainer Judd, the daughter of the late artist Donald Judd and the president of the Judd Foundation. Later, Jona Bechtolt and Claire L. Evans talk about the YACHT album “Chain Tripping.” They used artificial intelligence to write the songs that were eventually recorded in Marfa. Hosted by Diana Nguyen for KRTS

For the next few weeks, we’re re-broadcasting some of our favorite interviews from the past year. Diana Nguyen talks to Mark Scott and Katy Rose Elsasser of Convenience West. Earlier this year, they made Texas Monthly’s cut for Top 25 New Barbeque Joints in Texas. Later, Rachel Monroe talks about her book "Savage Appetites." It’s an investigation of our cultural fascination with crime and looks at four true stories of women driven by obsession. Hosted by Diana Nguyen for KRTS

Elise Pepple talks to Sam Sanders, a correspondent and host of of the NPR talk show "It’s Been A Minute with Sam Sanders." Sanders talks to journalists, actors, musicians, and listeners to make sense of the world through conversation. Later in the show, Diana Nguyen talks to choreographer Kim Brandt, a Chinati artist in residence. Brandt’s work involves the development of movement scores that explore physical, spatial, and temporal relationships to place and the symbiotic relationship between bodies and the environments within which they move. Hosted by Elise Pepple, Diana Nguyen for KRTS

Diana Nguyen speaks Michael Stangl — a graduate student who's been studying the mountain lions of West Texas with the Borderlands Research Institute. They talk about the takeaways from their research on the mysterious creatures. Later on the show, poet Sally Wen Mao discusses “Oculus,” a collection of poetry that re-imagines the flattened narratives of women of color. Mao looks at the roles and representations that Asian women endure in a society that continually objectifies them. Hosted by Diana Nguyen for KRTS

We air a portion of the town hall Marfa Public Radio held a week ago in collaboration with The Big Bend Sentinel. On November 21, about a hundred people packed into The Sentinel space to talk about access to resources and healthcare for seniors in the Big Bend. In addition to hearing questions and comments from participants, Diana Nguyen talks to Marfa Public Radio reporter Sally Beauvais about big takeaways from the town hall. Hosted by Diana Nguyen for KRTS

Diana Nguyen and Station Manager Elise Pepple update you on everything that’s been happening at Marfa Public Radio. Their conversation includes talk about projects on the horizon, and some BIG announcements. Later in the show, Nguyen talks to Lannan writer-in-residence poet James Arthur. They talk about the importance of ambiguity in poetry, and his newest collection, The Suicide’s Son. Hosted by Diana Nguyen for KRTS

Diana Nguyen talks to Maisie Crow, the editor of the Big Bend Sentinel and The International. Later on the show, Nguyen talks to musician Roberto Carlos Lange of Helado Negro. Hosted by Diana Nguyen for KRTS

Diana Nguyen speaks to Annette Minjarez of the Family Crisis Center of the Big Bend. They talk about domestic and sexual violence, and the resources the organization provides for residents of the region. Later in the show, Nguyen talks to Caitlin Murray, co-editor of “Donald Judd Interviews.” It’s a volume of conversations the artist had spanning thirty years. The book covers a diverse range of topics which include art, politics, and philosophy. Hosted by Diana Nguyen for KRTS

This week we're breaking format on West Texas Talk and highlighting some spooky stories. We're revisiting "There's Something Out There" — a 2014 series about the strange things that happen in everyday life. Hosted by Diana Nguyen for KRTS

Diana Nguyen speak to CJ Alvarez, the author of “Border Land, Border Water." The book examines the history of construction projects that have shaped the region where the United states and Mexico meet. Later, Nguyen talks to to Paul Chavarria and Chris Gonzales. Together, they’ve started organizing drag shows in Marfa. Hosted by Diana Nguyen for KRTS

Robert Armstrong (Kelley Travers, MITEI) Robert "Bob" Armstrong Diana Nguyen speaks Robert Armstrong, the director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Energy Initiative which "links science, technology, and policy to transform the world’s energy system." They discuss transitions happening in the world's energy landscape due to climate change. Armstrong was in Marfa in early October when the Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute hosted him to talk about combating climate change. Ovum, from Panoply: Eight Silkscreens Inspired by the Splendours of the Great War, 1971. (©John Wesley) Linda Norden on John Wesley Later in the show, Nguyen talks to New Yor... Hosted by Diana Nguyen for KRTS

Diana Nguyen speaks to Superintendent Bob Krumenaker and Chief of Interpretation Tom VandenBerg about the history of the beloved parks founding and about what’s on the horizon. Later, Nguyen talks to Chinati Artist in Residence Leeza Meksin. She's a New York-based interdisciplinary artist who works in painting, installation, and public art. Hosted by Diana Nguyen for KRTS

Adam Bork, Katy Rose Elsasser, Mark Scott, and Kaki Aufdengarten of Convenience West (Sarah Vasquez / Courtesy of Big Bend Sentinel) Katy Rose Elsasser and Mark Scott of Convenience West Far West Texas is often described as desolate. And for a long time, in terms of barbecue, it was. But the recent arrival of a couple of restaurants like Convenience West has changed that. The restaurant made the cut for Texas Monthly’s Top 25 New Barbeque Joints in Texas, and this week, they were featured on BBQuest (a show that highlights secret menu items at some of the best barbecue joints in Texas.)On this episode, Diana Nguyen speaks with Mark Scott and Katy Rose Elsasser — half of the ... Hosted by Diana Nguyen for KRTS

David Keller (Jessica Lutz) David Keller On this episode, we highlight some of our favorite 2019 interviews for a special Fall Membership Drive edition of West Texas Talk. First, Diana Nguyen talks to archaeologist David Keller about his book, In The Shadow Of The Chinatis. Keller dives into the history of the early ranchers who settled the area and examines the forces that changed the region over the last hundred years. This interview originally aired in May. Cassandro el exótico (Rowdy Dugan / Courtesy Ballroom Marfa) Cassandro el Exótico Later on the show, Nguyen talks to Cassandro el exótico.The El Paso-based luchador has been wrestling for... Hosted by Diana Nguyen for KRTS

Luis Armendariz at the Presidio Lumber Yard. (Carlos Morales / Marfa Public Radio) Luis Armendariz For today’s show, we’re highlighting voices from Presidio to celebrate of the launch our newest broadcast frequency —KOJP 95.3 FM. Diana Nguyen talks to Luis Armendariz, a 75-year-old Presidio resident who's spent the majority of his life in West Texas. He was the former superintendent of Big Bend Ranch State Park and took over managing the Presidio Lumber Yard — the Armendariz family business — after he retired from Texas Parks and Wildlife.They discuss his life and family history. Molly Rodriguez (Emanuel Burgos ) Molly Rodriguez Later in the show, Di... Hosted by Diana Nguyen for KRTS

Odessans mourn at the memorial for victims of the shooting that occurred on August 31, 2019. (Mitch Borden / Marfa Public Radio) Mitch Borden and Carlos Morales Diana Nguyen talks to Marfa Public Radio reporters Mitch Borden and Carlos Morales about the shooting that began in Midland County and continued into the City of Odessa over Labor Day Weekend. On August 31st, A 36-year-old white gunman opened fire after being stopped by a state trooper. He proceeded to drive through Odessa on a rampage, killing 7 people and injuring at least 25 others. This was the second mass shooting in West Texas within the span of a month. In early August, a gunman targeted Hispanics at a Walmart in E... Hosted by Diana Nguyen for KRTS

(Trinity University Press) Jim Martinez and Mary Lou Saxon on "Marfa Garden" Diana Nguyen speaks to Jim Martinez and Mary Lou Saxon about the book Marfa Garden. The project is a collaboration with their friends, Jim Fissell, and Martha Hughes, that showcases the beauty and variety of native plants of the Big Bend. The book includes a selection of vines, grasses, trees, herbs, shrubs, cacti and succulents that can be found in the Chihuahuan Desert. Andy Stack of Joyero (Logan Caldbeck) Andy Stack of Joyero Later on the show, Nguyen speaks to musician Andy Stack. The former Marfa resident is one half of the band Wye Oak and plays with EL VY and Lambchop. Mo... Hosted by Diana Nguyen for KRTS