Metropolitan Library System Podcast: Recent Episodes
Metropolitan Library System
The Metro Library podcast celebrates Oklahoma arts, Oklahoma culture, Oklahoma history and the lives of influential Oklahomans today. Upcoming podcasts include a special on the BC Clark Anniversary Sale Jingle, a multi-episode segment on Oklahoma prohibition and alcohol laws, and a multi-episode segment on running for political office in Oklahoma. Future podcasts will include interviews with Oklahoma Poet Laurette Jeanetta Calhoun Mish, bestselling author Kim Ventrella, Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt and other influential Oklahomans. The library's podcast is hosted by the special collections and research department.
It's time for summer reading again at your local library, so Emily from the Metropolitan Library System's Outreach and Engagement office took some time out of her busy schedule to talk to a couple of this year's teen volunteers about what's going on at the library this summer and what it's like being a volunteer.
If you'd like to know more about summer reading, you can go to https://www.metrolibrary.org/summerreading
Ever wonder what a makerspace is or what you can do in one? Lindsay, Nell, Reagan, and Alex from the Metropolitan Library System's makerspaces talk about the many things you can do in our wonderful makerspaces, and about the upcoming MakerFest program at the Belle Isle branch.
April is poetry month, so on this month's podcast we talked to Betty Blanks, author of Pick Up Your Name and Write: The Life of Wilma Elizabeth McDaniel. Miss McDaniel was an Oklahoma born poet that moved to California during the Great Depression, but never stopped writing about her home in Oklahoma. Betty Blanks was kind enough to talk to us about her new biography of Wilma Elizabeth McDaniel and her work.
Did you know that March is craft month, or that the library offers lots of programs teaching different crafts? On this month's podcast we talk about some of the resources you can use through the library to help learn how to do a wide variety of crafts.
Erin Brown from the Oklahoma Territorial Museum tells us the stories of Oklahoma's first African-American territorial legislator Green Currin, and Oklahoma's first State Legistlator A.C. Hamlin.
Kristine from the library's Collection Development department talks about some of the new books we'll be getting in 2025.
Looking for something interesting and different to read during the upcoming holiday season? Librarians Lindsay, Maddie, Reagan, and Tyler share some recommendations from the library's collection of Christmas and winter related horror and mystery novels, graphic novels, and novellas.
Did you know that Bethany has a traveling exhibit from the Smithsonian coming soon? Librarian Anna from the Bethany Library tells us all about the Smithsonian's exhibit "Voices and Votes: Democracy in America" coming to the library, the upcoming festivities surrounding the exhibit, and a few interesting facts about the history of voting and democracy in Oklahoma.
Local author and expert in all things haunted in the state of Oklahoma Jeff Provine talks with us about his top five favorite haunted places around the state.
If you'd like to learn more about Jeff's books or take one of his ghost tours, you can find him at http://www.jeffprovine.com/
In this month's podcast Oscar Hokeah talks with us about his PEN/Hemingway Award winning novel, Calling For A Blanket Dance.
Did you know there's a Museum of Telephone History in Oklahoma City? What about the Pigeon Museum? In this month's podcast, self-proclaimed museum nerd Meg from the library's Special Collections Departments tells us about some of the many interesting and unique museums in Oklahoma City that she's visited.
If you'd like to hear more about interesting places around the city and around the state, check out Meg's podcast, OK By Me, also made available by the Metropolitan Library System.
https://okbyme.libsyn.com/
July is Parks and Recreation month, so we thought it might be fun to make book recommendations based on some of our favorite characters from the show Parks and Recreation. As always, if you want to check out any of our recommendations, you can find them on the library's catalog.
https://catalog.metrolibrary.org/?browseCategory=staff_picks
And if you'd like to find out which Parks and Rec character is most like you, feel free to take the quiz below.
https://www.buzzfeed.com/angelicaamartinez/parks-and-rec-personality-quiz
Did you know that many of the people involved in getting Americans into outer space were from Oklahoma? In this month's episode Special Collections librarian Jennifer Green talks with us about some of the many Oklahomans involved in the early days of the space race, both behind the scenes and in the shuttle.
In honor of the library's upcoming author visit on June 23, librarians Meg and Scott discuss the works of award winning author TJ Klune. Klune's works include the best seller, The House In The Cerulean Sea, The Greencreek series, The Extraordinaries series, and many more.
If you'd like to listen to more of Scott's book reviews, you can find them on his podcast, Unsolicited Book Reviews.
In this month's episode we talk about what makes us pick up a book in the first place, some of our favorite book covers, and the books behind those covers.
April is poetry month, so on this month's podcast we're joined by poets Durell Carter and Yoko Hill to talk about their organization, Red Dirt Poetry, and the wealth of talented poets currently writing in Oklahoma.
On this month's episode we talk about some of the books and movies available at the library by and about women, many of them about women with interesting Oklahoma ties.
In this month's episode, some of the librarians from the Metropolitan Library System's Special Collections team talk to us about the library's John Dunning III Collection, a collection of thousands of Oklahoma City items housed in the library's archive.
If you'd like to learn more about what is in the collection, you can contact the Special Collections department at special.collections@metrolibrary.org, and you can find any of the items in the collection that have been made available for viewing online at https://www.metrolibrary.org/archive
In this episode we talk about some of our favorite things that came to the library in 2023.
Over 70 years ago in Oklahoma City a fight promoter/state legislator named Red Andrews started inviting people to an annual Christmas dinner that has gone on every year since, and has grown to a crowd of nearly 6,000 people annually. In this episode of the podcast Mary Blankenship-Pointer from the Red Andrews Christmas Dinner foundation talks with us about who Red Andrews was, and the history of this Oklahoma City Christmas tradition.
On this month's episode we talk about our favorite cookbooks available for check out from the library just in time for all of those family holiday get togethers coming up.
With Banned Books Week coming up, we talked with Janeal and Melissa from the library's Collection Development department about book challenges and how the library handles them.
In this month's podcast librarians Sheldon and Juliana discuss what part of America Oklahoma belongs to. Is Oklahoma in the South, the Midwest, the Southwest, or do we need to be made into our own region with Texas? We'll examine history, geography, and of course food to see what area is the Sooner state best represents.
On this month's podcast librarians Annika, Kimberly, and Danielle talk about the library's upcomind Litfest, and share some of their favorite resources for writers.
Librarian Lisa from the Metropolitan Library System's Special Collections department talks about the postcard collection in the library's archive, and shares what they tell us about Oklahomans throughout the state's history.
On this month's episode Kristin, Emily, and Kimberly talk about one of the library's biggest events and longest running traditions, the library's summer reading program.
In honor of the 25th anniversary of the Bricktown Ballpark, we sat down with the Oklahoma City Dodgers' Alex Freedman and talked about the history of baseball in Bricktown.
Did you know the Metropolita Library System's libraris have a whole collection made up just of graphic novels? On this episode of the Metro Library Podcast librarians Kimberly and Kristine talk about some of their favorite things in the graphic novel collection.
In this month's episode Suzette Chang talks about the history of Oklahoma's All-Black Towns.
On this month's episode Meg, Josh, and Corey talk about some of their staff picks for best fiction, poetry, and movies available from the library that came out in 2022.
Historian Dale Ingram tells the story of an often forgotten and sometimes controversial Oklahoma vaudeville star named Ruby Darby.
In this month's podcast we talk about some of the resources the library has to offer for Native American Heritage Month.
In this episode Chantry and Lisa from the Overholser Mansion talk about the Overholser family and their contribution to early Oklahoma City.
Librarians Gloria and Lupita talk about library resources and events celebrating Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month.
In this episode we talk about all kinds of things invented in the Great State of Oklahoma!
Ever wonder what the whole K-Pop phenomenon is all about? Listen as librarians Kimberly, Anna, Mary, and Gloria talk about all things K-Pop and all of the K-Pop related resources the library has to offer.
This month we're starting a new segment on our podcast where librarians share their vast knowledge of library resources. Since May is Mental Health Month, we're talking about some of the library's mental health resources. But don't worry if you're looking for more Oklahoma history, that'll be coming right up next month!
In 1964 Oklahoma City was bombarded with sonic booms everyday for months. Ted Hopkins, one of the pilots that flew the jet that created the booms, talks about the sonic boom tests and what it was like to fly over OKC at the speed of sound.
Archivist Scott Grimwood talks about the history of the first hospital in Oklahoma Territory, St. Anthony. If you'd like to contact Mr. Grimwood about more St. Anthony history you can reach him at scott.grimwood@ssmhealth.com
In this podcast we discuss the little known story of the murder trial of Dr. Richard Thacker.
Historian Michael Williams joins us to tell the story of outlaw/sideshow attraction/mummy Elmer McCurdy.
Historian Michael Williams tells the story of journalist and nature lover Frederick S. Barde.
In this month's podcast historian James Gregory tells the story of Oklahoma vaudeville star Cora Youngblood Corson. It's a tale of tubas, cultural appropriation, and entertainment in vaudeville's heyday.
When most of us think of witch killings we think of Salem in the 1600s, but did you know that the last witch killings in America were in Oklahoma? Historian John Truden talks with us about Solomon Hotema and the 1899 witch killings in Choctaw country.
If you think the podcast is interesting and you'd like to learn more Choctaw history, you can visit https://hinahanta.choctawnation.com
Sitting between two sundown towns in Oklahoma, the Threatt Filling Station was a safe haven for African American travelers on Route 66 during the time of Jim Crow. Cousins Charles and Ed Threatt talk about the filling station and its importance to our state's history.
Historian Erin Brown from the Oklahoma Territorial Museum discusses the lives of two women involved in early Oklahoma politics, writer of the state constitution May Peebles, and the first woman elected to state office, Kate Barnard.
Since Halloween is coming up, we decided to get a little creepy and look at some of the famous final resting places of Oklahomans, both in and out of Oklahoma. Historian Dale Ingram talks with us about the graves of Will Rogers, Woody Guthrie, and more.
Historian John Truden talks about the American Indian Movement and its history in Oklahoma. For more information you can read Mr. Truden's article on the topic here https://newprairiepress.org/ojrrp/vol15/iss3/1/
Freedom Oklahoma's Allie Shin and City Councilperson James Cooper talk about the history of the LGBTQ+ community in Oklahoma City and the city's Pride celebration.
In this month's podcast we hear the story of the arrest of Oklahoma City gay rights activist Paul Thompson and his fight in court.
For the third interview in our series about the history of the Oklahoma City National Memorial we talked with bombing survivor Richard Williams. Mr. Williams served many roles in the creation of the memorial over the years following the bombing. He spoke with us about what it was like working toward creating and eventually opening the memorial.
For the second in our series of interviews about the history of the Oklahoma City National Memorial we talked to attorney Bob Johnson. Mr. Johnson began working on the memorial only days after the bombing and helped lead the city with the creation of the memorial and museum.
As this month marks the 25th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing, we thought it might be interesting to look at the history of the Oklahoma City National Memorial, so we spoke with three people involved in the creation of the memorial. The first in this series is an interview with Ron Norick, mayor of Oklahoma City at the time of the bombing.
In this month's podcast we talk about the state wedding between Oklahoma and Indian Territories, and we explore the marriage of Governor E.W. Marland and his wife/daughter Lydie.
This month's podcast tells the story of how the Oklahoma City Zoo used the Christmas song "I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas" to help get Matilda the hippo.
Did you know that central Oklahoma has its own Christmas music courtesy of a local jeweler? On this podcast we explore the central Oklahoma phenomenon that is the BC Clark Christmas Jingle.
In this month's podcast we explore the past, present, and future of education among Native Americans in Oklahoma with the Cherokee Immersion school in Tahlequah, Sovereign Community School in Oklahoma City, and more.
Marnie Vinge of the Eerie Okie podcast (https://eerieokie.com) joins us this month to talk about a few historical places around downtown OKC that may or may not be inhabited by a supernatural presence. We also hear from Elizabeth Macias from the haunted Paramount Room (http://www.theparamountroom.com) and author/OKC ghost expert Jeff Provine (https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJeffProvine/)
Have you noticed all the construction around the Oklahoma state capitol lately and wondered what's going on? On this month's podcast we talk Oklahoma Capitol history and future with State Capitol Restoration Project manager Trait Thompson, and Director of the Sate Arts Council Amber Sharples
Ever wonder how Oklahoma got a Broadway song as its state song? Our team of experts tell the story of Oklahoma's state songs from the prairies of Oklahoma to the stages of New York theater.
One July night in 1933 George "Machine Gun" Kelly came to Oklahoma City and kidnapped a wealthy oilman named Charles Urschel in a caper that would ultimately be Kelly's ticket to Alcatraz. Kent Frates, writer, historian, and the nephew of Charles Urschel sat down with us to tell the tale of one Depression era gangster, and the oilman that lead the FBI to his capture.
Ward 2 city councilman James Cooper, the first openly LGBT member of Oklahoma City's city council, talks about the history and struggles of the LGBT+ community in OKC.
Join us on a journey down the Oklahoma River from the frequently flooded pre-statehood zoo at Wheeler Park to the Olympic training facility there today.
New York Times writer Sam Anderson, came by the library recently to talk about his book Boom Town: The Fantastical Saga of Oklahoma City, Its Chaotic Founding, Its Apocalyptic Weather, Its Purloined Basketball Team, and the Dream of Becoming a World-Class Metropolis. Guest interviewer Claire Donnelly drove around OKC with Sam to talk OKC, it's neighborhoods, and their history, and librarian Sheldon Beach interviews Sam about his book.
In celebration of poetry month, we talked with Todd Fuller about the history of poetry in Oklahoma and interviewed Oklahoma Poet Laureate Jeanetta Calhoun Mish.
In honor of Women's History Month, Reagan, a.k.a. Suzy Heartbreaker, takes us on a journey through the history of the roller derby in Oklahoma City from the founding to the breakups, and make ups that have made the sport what it is today.
George Henderson is a professor at the University of Oklahoma, civil rights activist, and founder of OU's Human Relations program. He told us the story of his life in Oklahoma from unknowingly accepting a job in a sundown town, to founding the university's Human Relations program, and his hopes for the future.
Oklahoma author Kim Ventrella talked to us about her upcoming book, Bone Hollow, along with other projects she's been working on.
This episode looks at the Metropolitan Library System's annual Friends of the Library Book Sale.
In part 2 of our exploration of Oklahoma politics we talked with Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt and Village Mayor Sonny Wilkinson about what it's like being the mayor of a city in the state of Oklahoma.
Ever wonder what it takes to run for public office in Oklahoma? In part one of our two-part series about politics in Oklahoma we talked to one candidate running for Congress, one running for State House of Representatives, and one from the Oklahoma State Election Board to find out what it takes to run for office, and what it's like to be a first time candidate in the Sooner state.
Did you know that central Oklahoma has its own Christmas music courtesy of a local jeweler? On this podcast we explore the phenomenon that is the BC Clark Christmas Jingle.
In part three of our series on Oklahoma's liquor laws from prohibition to present, we spoke with several area brewers about the current state of craft beer in Oklahoma, and we talked to state senator Stephanie Bice about the new laws that have allowed those brewers to open their own tap rooms, and to sell their beer in grocery stores.
In part two of our history of Oklahoma's liquor laws from prohibition to present, we talked to historian Kent Frates and liquor store owner Byron Gambulos about bootleggers, the end of prohibition in Oklahoma, and the early days of life in the legal liquor business.
With the recent changes in Oklahoma's alcohol laws, we decided for our inaugural podcast that we would examine the history of our state from prohibition to present. In part 1 historian Buddy Johnson talks about pre-statehood and early Oklahoma leading up to the 18th Amendment.