Tulsa Talks: A TulsaPeople Podcast: Recent Episodes
Langdon Publishing
From the editors of TulsaPeople Magazine, Tulsa Talks sits you down with interesting locals to provide informed perspectives on important issues. Each episode features a new song from a Tulsa musician.
Hear TulsaPeople's Musings columnist Connie Cronley read her October piece, plus a farewell from host Blayklee Freed.
Read more: Any fool can do it
Hear from hip-hop aficionado Steph Simon as Dreamland Festival approaches, as well as his latest projects with his own music and teaching young artists at McLain High School.
Hear a rundown of October's features, plus an inside look at Host Blayklee Freed's story on local artist Trueson Daugherty's events that promote community and creativity.
Read more:
- Urban playground: There’s so much to do and see downtown. Here are some TulsaPeople editor favorites
- Troubled waters: Testing shows extremely high levels of bacteria and the fish population is decreasing in the Arkansas River as the City eyes Labor Day 2024 opening for Zink Dam
- The new Tulsa tone: Get to know a new generation of musicians
- A visit with Patrick Gordon: A painter of consistent habits, a man of contrasts and change
- Social sculpture: In-home art experience comes to T-Town
We're looking forward to the fair and have some details on music and other live performances. Plus, Connie reads "Hello, I must be going."
Read more:
- What the ale: Heirloom Rustic Ale's Morning Devotion is beer of the week
- Tulsa 10: Sept. 25 - Oct. 1
- Awesome rides, food and fun: A guide to Tulsa State Fair, Sept. 28 – Oct. 8
In addition to an overview of September's issue honoring Tulsa women, hear how the queen bee at Roark Farms operates her hive, courtesy of handler Michael Roark and reporter Tiffany Howard.
- Power players: Meet the women shaping Tulsa's public relations landscape
- A century of civic engagement: League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Tulsa celebrates 100 years
- Picture perfect: Gathering Place photo contest
- Legends: JoAnn Gilford, education trailblazer
- Bee-hind the scenes: Local honey farm produces a robust product lineup
As summer winds down, we look ahead to a season of shows at local venues. Connie Cronley reads "Another letter to a niece (who hates her neighbors)."
More from this episode:
- Weathering the storms: TPS Superintendent Deborah Gist on fighting for her students and the future of public education
- City on stage: There’s a wealth of talent in this year’s performing arts guide
- Scenes from a Mercury Lounge Bluegrass Brunch featuring Johnny Mullenax Band
- Music listings
Host Blayklee Freed talks with Features Editor Tim Landes to discuss his multiple interviews with local educators. Plus, career-ready programs have been building students' skills and preparing them for a robust future.
- Weathering the storms: TPS Superintendent Deborah Gist on fighting for her students and the future of public education
- Skills to build on: How 4 local high schools prepare students for careers after graduation
- City on stage: There’s a wealth of talent in this year’s performing arts guide
- In session: A look at summer programming at Tulsa Dream Center locations
- Coffee with: Rebecka Peterson, National Teacher of the Year
Local comedian Evan Hughes performs around Tulsa and hosts monthly shows that he curates with comics of all skill levels. Hughes is performing this weekend at Blue Whale Comedy Festival. Plus, Connie Cronley reads her July column.
- Tulsa 10
- Blue Whale schedule
- Goodnight Sun by Connie Cronley
Photo by Ferrell Dixon Jr / ASLUT
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I'm your host Tim Landes.
After more than 100 episodes over the past four years it's time to go About Town.
On this episode Tim and About Town host Blayklee Freed talk about the future of this podcast channel and all the exciting things to come in the bi-weekly episodes of About Town that will run 10-15 minutes an episode.
We also reflect on the five years of Tulsa Talks and discuss some of the highlights.
All the podcast episodes will remain here and at TulsaPeople.com/Podcast.
We might be back later with more special episodes of Tulsa Talks. In the meantime, Tim will continue making appearances on random episodes of About Town.
So stay subscribed, buckle up and get ready to go About Town.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I'm your host Tim Landes.
Business is getting back to normal around Tulsa after the devastating effects of the June 17 storm that left me, some coworkers and thousands of other Tulsans without power for nearly a week. It was hot, but we made it… unlike way too many trees.
So this episode is dropping a week late and it’s a different format than usual.
I’ve been doing a lot of online content this year. Lots of concert photo galleries and some reviews, plus Q&A and photo galleries with local creatives. Plus our team publishes updated music listings, a weekly rundown of things to do, a beer of the week and more. We’re staying busy.
We have so many talented artists in this town, and I want to spend time with as many of them as possible. I love learning their stories and having the opportunity to share a part of it with our readers. Plus often there are lessons we can learn and use in our own endeavors.
As I continue to evolve in my work, I’ve been spending a lot more time working on my photography. It’s been a lifelong hobby, and a part of my jobs for over a decade. Most of it is photojournalism, which means capturing moments. I’ve been pushing myself to do more portraits, which pushes me out of my comfort zone. I’m getting better at it, and excited to keep chasing it as I move toward video, finally.
The film industry is exploding in Tulsa, and it’s inspiring to see so many creatives growing their styles here in Tulsa. Many are homegrown, but some are coming here to learn and make movies.
I recently went for a walk and talk with filmmaker Brea Mullen, a Tulsa transplant who didn’t go to film school and is grinding it out and learning as she goes and loving every second of it.
Her documentary Oklahoma Underground will premiere locally as part of the upcoming Circle Cinema Film Festival.
Read the Q&A with Brea.
Back in late May, I went for a Turkey Mountain hike with Branjae.
We covered a whole lot in this Q&A
She discussed how she took a break from music to take care of her mental health, and now she’s back and ready to roll out new music and more.
What didn’t make the cut in print is her thoughts on the local music and creative scene in 2023.
While she did take a break from most her musical duties, she did perform at the legendary Apollo Theater in NYC. I had to ask her about that experience.
And now since things got twisted, turned and thrown across Tulsa, I’m going to leave you with Connie Cronley reading her June column. This would normally appear on our About Town episodes, but even our podcast schedule felt the effects of the derecho.
Also congrats to Connie for her recent awards from the Great Plains Journalism Awards as well as the Oklahoma Press Association. She’s one of the best writers in the state and more than worthy of these awards.
Take us on your road trip, Connie.
Tulsa interdisciplinary artist Koda Miles opens her first solo exhibition this week at Positive Space Tulsa.
Titled “Caught Up,” the body of work Miles has on display includes 3D sculpture works and acrylic paintings.
Read more:
- Positively different: New gallery doubles as space for women creatives to feel accepted and heard
- Born for the role: New Juneteenth coordinator continues a family legacy
- What the Ale: Nook Brewing Co.'s Blood Orange Wheat is the beer of the week
- Tulsa 10: June 12-18
- Tulsa Music Listings
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I'm your host Tim Landes.
After nearly four decades of being a photographer and a decade of writing about beer for Tulsa World, Tom Gilbert now contributes beer of the week stories and photo galleries here at TulsaPeople, and I couldn't be more excited. He's someone I've looked up to for a long time, so I was thrilled he agreed to chat with me about his life passions of photography and beer.
Tom takes us back to his teenage years in Saudi Arabia when and where he learned about home brewing and fell in love with taking pictures. He returned home to Broken Arrow, went to college and then started at Tulsa World in the mid-late 1980s, where he worked until December of 2022.
We talk about the evolutions of photography and journalism and he shares his thoughts on where he thinks the industry is going.
We start and close talking about the always growing and evolving Tulsa beer scene. Cheers!
Celebrations need not end when Saint Francis Tulsa Tough races do. Host Blayklee Freed talks with co-founders of Flywheel, Phil Kaiser and Scott Carr, ahead of Big Ride and Big Bite, the organization's June 10 events in downtown Tulsa.
- Introducing Flywheel Presents: Big Bite, Tulsa's newest food festival on June 10 (sponsored editorial)
- June's calendar of events
- Scenes from Saint Francis Tulsa Tough 2022
- GoFundMe: Tyler's Recovery by CLIFFDIVER
Columnist Connie Cronley reads her May column, which you can read at the link below.
Read more: ‘So,’ I said ...
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes.
Long before I returned to journalism, I worked for my tribe, Cherokee Nation, for a decade. It was there I helped do media relations for Cherokee Casinos and Cherokee Nation Cultural Tourism. It was in that role I learned about the importance of the art. We’re storytellers because up until Sequoyah created the syllabary, the only way to share history was through stories and art. Even with the written language this continues. Over the last 15 years, Cherokee Nation has invested heavily in art. It’s actually a Cherokee Nation law that every construction project must incorporate art into the budget.
That’s not the case for Muscogee Nation. When the tribe acquired the Cancer Treatment Center and turned it into Council Oak Comprehensive Healthcare, they inherited a massive new facility that would help revolutionize health care for the tribe and open its doors for all area tribal citizens. The team behind the hospital saw an opportunity to not only provide medical treatment, but also help folks heal through art.
Under the curation of Osage Nation citizen Julie O’Keefe, who had helped Bacone College with their Acee Blue Eagle Collection, the tribe purchased and commissioned art from over 30 artists, which has resulted in dozens of pieces of art of all kinds hanging throughout the hospital campus, including some from Yatika Fields and outside in the courtyard, where Kenneth Johnson is creating his largest sculpture to date.
I wrote about this for a feature that is in our May issue of the magazine. I love this story, but due to space limitations I couldn’t share all I wanted to from the artists. This is often the case, sadly. Ask any journalist about the content piled on the cutting room floor and they might cry. That said, I realized I had an opportunity to share more from the artists on how important this project has been to them.
Something else that sometimes happens is an interview opportunity comes up after the story goes to press. In this case, hospital officials purchased a painting from legendary Muscogee Nation artist Dana Tiger. She calls the painting her masterpiece. When I learned the tribe had purchased the painting, I jumped at the chance to head down the turnpike to Muskogee to visit with Dana about her art.
First up is Yatika Fields, who is a Muscogee Nation citizen and Cherokee and Osage. He’s also a Tulsa Artist Fellow. The health care center acquired many of his paintings and commissioned him to paint his largest to date. He talks about how important it is, but also how there’s also the need for more public walls to showcase Native art.
Second is Kenneth Johnson is a sculptor, who resides in Santa Fe. He’s logged many miles driving back and forth to work on his courtyard installation, which it turns out has been a family affair.
I close with Dana Tiger, who I recently spent time with in her Muskogee studio, where she beamed with pride as she showed me her children’s artwork, which continues a family tradition that began with her late father.
Dana was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 1999, but she hasn’t let that slow her down. It means a lot that she took the time to talk to me, and I’m thrilled to share it with you on this episode. A note: you might notice cameos by one or two of her studio cats during the conversation.
Reeder's Auto and Tire is a tried and true Tulsa business with a global presence on social media. Host Blayklee Freed visits the local destination and explores candy and treats with Cheryl Reeder and Mary Hatheway, two members of the Reeders' trusty team.
- Read more from the Summer Fun Guide.
- Best of the fests: Summer festival guide
- What the Ale: Rapture Brewing’s Shadow Cabinet is the beer of the week
- Tulsa Music Listings
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I'm your host Tim Landes.
On this episode a conversation with Meg Gould, who has been very busy since joining Tulsa Office of Film, Music, Arts and Culture in January.
She discusses her background in television production and how she's excited to oversee Tulsa FMAC after most recently working for Dallas Film. Gould discusses her recent trips to Sundance and South by Southwest to promote Tulsa artists, and she talks about the need for more filming locations across town as productions continue to happen. This and much more.
Learn more about her in this article from our May issue.
Tulsa FMAC website is here.
Tulsa Creativity Database is here.
Tulsa's Luchadores are gearing up for Cindo de Mayo. Host Blayklee Freed talks to one of the wrestlers ahead of the annual showdown May 5 outside of Elote.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I'm your host Tim Landes.
On this episode we're back on the road for an afternoon at Coal Creek in Glenpool, where Blue Thumb Volunteer Coordinator Cheryl Cheadle met me to discuss her and the nonprofit's work in monitoring Tulsa County creeks and streams, and why it's so important.
Learn more about the organization in this April TulsaPeople article and/or visit Blue Thumb's website to learn more.
Hear Connie Cronley's April column: Letter to a niece who doesn’t like her friends anymore.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I'm your host Tim Landes.
It's been over three years since Danny Boy O'Connor opened The Outsiders House Museum, 731 N. St. Louis Ave. In that time thousands of fans of S.E. Hinton's book and Francis Ford Coppola's movie have visited the museum.
On the eve of the 40th anniversary of the movie's release, Danny Boy sat down on the house's living room couch and talked about the impact the museum has had since opening, plus how he hasn't stopped working on it.
He's still searching for props, costumes, cars and memorabilia pertaining to the Hinton movie universe because he has bigger dreams you'll hear about on this episode.
He discusses the popularity of the tours with students (10,000 students this year!) and fans and talks about the growing inventory of items available inside the gift shop.
The California transplant also talks about why Tulsa is so great after seven years of calling it home.
Related links:
Celebrate "The Outsiders" movie's 40th anniversary in style
Will Rogers Middle School students have immersive 'Outsiders' experience
'The Outsiders' looking better than we've seen it before: A Q&A with American Zoetrope Film Archivist James Mockoski, who oversaw the 4K restoration
April's issue of TulsaPeople is live online and on its way to stands around Tulsa. Host Blayklee Freed gives an overview of the magazine and shares the beer of the week, upcoming events and news from Tulsa City-County Library.
- Tulsa’s EV market charges up
- Beyond books: Tulsa City-County Library offers free seeds, meeting space and much more
- What the Ale: Heirloom's Si Se Puede is the beer of the week
- April calendar of events
Host Blayklee Freed talks TulsaPeople's March issue music coverage, plus hear the latest Beer of the Week.
- Home bass: Tulsa family’s living room doubles as cozy concert venue for local and touring acts
- ‘The stories we tell each other’: Q&A with Tulsa country musician Joey Frendo
- What the Ale: Dead Armadillo's Dillo Track is the beer of the week
- Growth mindset: Tulsa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem helps local business owners grow and succeed
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. On this episode it's a conversation with Drew Winn inside his Guitar House of Tulsa, 1216 S. Harvard Ave.
For eight years, Winn has owned Guitar House of Tulsa. In 2020 he relocated the shop from its downtown location to midtown. He discusses those changes and the positives that came with the bigger space.
Winn is also the owner of Stillwater's Daddy O's Music Co., which is where he got his start in the industry as a teenager. It was then and there he began making connections that would help lead him to Tulsa. He reflects on those days and how they impacted his musical journey.
Late last year he released his self-titled debut. He discusses recording the album and what it means to finally be a recording artist.
Read more about him in our March issue.
For more information on Winn, visit his website that is mentioned in this episode.
Guitar House of Tulsa website
Daddy O's Music Co. (Stillwater) website
Hear TulsaPeople's longtime columnist Connie Cronley read her columns from the January and February issues.
January: I’m over it now. Almost.
February: Read out the names!
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I'm your host Tim Landes.
On this episode of Tulsa Talks, Tamecca Rogers, Ph.D., visits the podcast to talk about her new documentary "Crown" that premieres at Circle Cinema on Friday, Feb. 17.
According to Rogers, this relevant and timely documentary explores the lived experiences of prominent local Black women in Tulsa pertaining to racism and discrimination in the workplace and school. It is also a call to action for Oklahoma to join 19 other states to pass the CROWN ACT to prevent bullying and discrimination based on ethnic hair in the workplace and schools. In the documentary, different generations of women share their experiences and give a voice to Black women who are constantly silenced, ignored, or censored.
In 2020, Rogers wrote an essay for TulsaPeople in response to the police killing of George Floyd and the conversations she has to have with her three boys. Rogers reflects on that piece and discusses her response to last month's Memphis Police killing of Tyre Nichols.
The Navy veteran also discusses what it was like to be a first-time filmmaker and the lessons learned along the way to seeing her documentary on the big screen and more.
February's food cover has us hungry. Host Blayklee Freed shares stand-out moments from the issue. Plus, A-List nominations are open till Feb. 14!
- ‘Stronger together’: Home base for art collective serves as studio and gallery space
- Nominate your favorite local businesses to the A-List
- Coffee with: Hazel Turner, White River Fish Market waitress
- What the Ale: Marshall Brewing Co.'s El Gallo Macho! is the beer of the week
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I'm your host Tim Landes.
On this episode we're talking puppets and the fun of being creative with Emmy winner David Bizzaro.
The conversation begins with Bizzaro reflecting on living in New York City when COVID-19 began (nearly three years ago) and when and why he relocated to Tulsa. The first-generation American Latinx actor discusses how he got into the world of puppetry about a decade ago and how it led him to Sesame Street Studio. Bizzaro takes listeners inside the studio shop and shares experiences as a puppet wrangler that earned him an Emmy for his work during Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary.
He also shares insights into his creative process and what he's learned about art and creativity throughout his career, including a stint working for The Flaming Lips. He also talks about his latest work on the M&M's ad campaign and on the hit Netflix series “Waffles + Mochi’s Restaurant," which is produced by and stars Michelle Obama.
For more on Bizzaro from our February issue.
Tim Landes talks with TulsaPeople intern J. D. Myer, who wrote January's story about Aaru Entertainment, Tulsa's only VR cafe.
- Aaru ready for the future?: New VR cafe offers exhilarating entertainment options for Tulsans
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. On this episode a conversation with Mandy Lauck, Bramble and Holé Molé manager, about the mocktail movement happening across Tulsa. She discusses their expansive mocktail menus at the breakfast and dinner eateries located at 1302 E. Sixth St., and she also shares insights into the growing non-alcoholic offerings that can be found across Tulsa.
Links mentioned in this episode:
Tulsan of the Year cover story
Q&A with Punk magazine founder John Holmstrom
Q&A with photographer Roberta Bayley
Q&A with rocker/actress Sam Quartin
Tulsa Music Listings
MLK Day Parade gallery
Holé Molé is an evening concept residing at Bramble’s Pearl District location
N/A offerings at Ranch Acres
Buzzless beverages at Bramble
Host Blayklee Freed dives into January's edition of TulsaPeople magazine, which includes the story of Cain's and the family that built it into the iconic venue it is today. Plus, hear about an event tonight with OKPOP celebrating 45 years since Sex Pistols played at Cain's.
- Tulsans of the Year: Rodgers family custodians of Tulsa's music history
- Sex Pistols and steer horns: Q&A with John Holmstrom on the Pistols show that happened 45 years ago at Cain's
- No-buzz brews available at Ranch Acres Wine and Spirits
- The places you’ll go: Electric bicycles a popular mode of travel in Tulsa
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes. Happy New Year!
On this episode we return to Tulsa Press Club for my conversation with Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum that was recorded on Dec. 14. Bynum took part in the Press Club’s quarterly Page One Luncheon.
The mayor reflects on his six years in office, how 2020 changed him, how Tulsa has bounced back from the pandemic, the City’s ambitious $500 million plan to reduce homelessness and more, including whether he’s even considering another run in 2024.
I begin our conversation reflecting on the cover story I wrote about him back in 2016 when he was first elected mayor.
Tulsans in Automobiles Getting Food with Mayor G.T. Bynum (for 918 Day)
Host Blayklee Freed reviews relevant December content and gives hints for where to find the best holiday haps.
- Tulsa 10: Dec. 19-25
- December calendar of events
- December's Fab Finds
- Art with heart: The Equality Center’s gallery showcases works to move the community
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I'm your host Tim Landes.
It's Christmas week so instead of a long conversation, I thought I'd share with you some music to enjoy while you wrap those gifts or play in the background while you host family and friends.
But that's not all. Between the songs you'll hear from some folks that have Christmas stories and some ways to celebrate and special ways to shop local beyond Christmas.
Very special thank you to Luke Gray and the Jenks faculty, Mayor GT Bynum, Brian Horton and Horton Records, Morgan Phillips of Downtown Tulsa Partnership, Tulsa Press Club, Doug Dodd, and lastly all you listeners.
Songs:
Run Run Rudolph - Jenks High School faculty
Steve Pryor - Christmas Tears
Medicine Show - Not a Wise Man
Brad Absher - Merry Christmas Baby
Red Dirt Rangers - Christmas Lullaby.
Happy holidays!
This weekend, Nikki Glaser is coming to Tulsa for a night of laughs at Tulsa Theater. Digital Editor Tim Landes talked with her ahead of the show.
- 'Just a lot of fun': A Q&A with Nikki Glaser ahead of her Dec. 17 Tulsa Theater show
- Tulsa 10: Dec. 12-18
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I'm your host Tim Landes.
On this episode we're talking Tulsa's coffee culture, which is also a feature in our December issue.
Nordaggios owner Tor Nordstrom and master roaster Bobby Ellis visited our studio to discuss the modern history of coffee in Tulsa and their important role in helping make our coffee culture stronger and better tasting.
Each week Nordaggios roasts up to 3,000 pounds of coffee that is sold in their shop and in many others across Tulsa. Tor and Bobby talk about the history of the company that is over 20 years old and their passion for all things coffee, including their use of vintage equipment to make that delicious cup of coffee.
Following that conversation, hear the new single "Manifesto" from Lex, who also took part in a Q&A for our December issue.
Hear more of Lex's music on her Spotify.
Host Blayklee Freed visits Majda Phillips, operator and general queen of The Max retro pub, on a Tuesday night at the bar. Between serving thirsty customers, Phillips answered questions about becoming a professional DJ during the pandemic.
This week, seasonal festivities ramp up in Tulsa and the surrounding area. Blayklee Freed has highlights for your calendar.
Hoppin holidays: 2022 Tulsa and area holiday events calendar
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I'm your host Tim Landes. On this episode Meg Charron, Deputy Director of OKPOP Museum, discusses the vision and plans for the museum located across Cain's Ballroom in the Arts District.
She takes listeners floor by floor to breakdown how they will share the stories of Oklahomans impacts in pop culture. Meg talks about the growing collection of artifacts and how they will use them for storytelling. She also discusses construction funding and the need for additional money to complete the buildout.
We begin the conversation discussing the life and legacy of the late Gaylord Oscar Herron, who passed away the day before we recording the conversation. As mentioned in the episode, Sterlin Harjo co-directed a documentary a decade ago about G Oscar that can be viewed here.
Tim visited OKPOP for a December TulsaPeople feature, plus took part in their podcast, OKPOP Radio Hour, which you can listen to here.
With holidays in view, TulsaPeople shares our compiled calendar of festivities from the November issue. Plus, hear from Tulsa author RJ Young about his new book "Requiem for the Massacre," which released Nov. 1.
- Read the November issue of TulsaPeople
- Story over a century: ‘Requiem for the Massacre’ releases Nov. 1
- November calendar of events
- Dog days in Tulsa
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber.
Renee McKenney is the new senior vice president of tourism for Tulsa Regional Chamber and president of Tulsa Regional Tourism. She came to Tulsa in August with over three decades of experience in hospitality and tourism. She discusses why she chose to take on the job, what she's learned and experienced in the few months she's been here and her goals for tourism.
Her background includes meeting planning, sports events, hotels, resorts, airlines, cruises, even theme parks–uniquely and immediately positioning her as a wealth of insight and understanding of local and regional partner operations and challenges.
She previously worked for VisitDallas, where she was the first Chief Experience Officer in the nation for the hotel and destination space.
After this recording occurred, Tulsa Regional Tourism officials announced a record $359 million total economic impact for booked events in fiscal year 2022. The previous record was $308.2 million total economic impact in fiscal year 2019.
For more information on Visit Tulsa click here.
Following the conversation, hear a new song from Boston Celtic punk band Dropkick Murphys, which used Woody Guthrie lyrics and the Church Studio to record their new album and this single, which features Turnpike Troubadour's Evan Felker.
On this mini-episode, Digital Editor Tim Landes shares how you can keep up with all there is to do in town through TulsaPeople's online resources:
Music listings - save this URL for future reference
Tulsa 10 - A curated rundown of things to do each week.
E-Newsletter signup
Read Connie's column "Good Advice."
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber.
On this episode Cherokee filmmaker Jeremy Charles discusses putting down the cameras to produce a groundbreaking album of contemporary music in the Cherokee language performed by Cherokee musicians. That said he hasn't stopped working on film projects. He somehow found the time to do both, plus be a dad and husband.
Jeremy discusses how he went from being one of the most sought-after photographers in town a decade ago to becoming a leading filmmaker in the Cherokee Nation. The tribe is investing money in movies and shows, and Jeremy talks about what it means to be helping lead the charge in producing content that tells our tribe's story through our voices.
Links mentioned in the episode:
Lyrical legacy: Groundbreaking album aims to preserve Cherokee language
Cheers for ‘Chuj’
Scenes from "Anvdvnelisgi" live from Cain's Ballroom
Tulsa Talks episode that feature's Kalyn Fay's single.
Also later this week on Oct. 21, you can hear "Anvdvnelisgi" on all the streaming platforms.
There are CDs available and a limited vinyl available for preorder at Horton Records.
Hear from Alison Rossi, Gilcrease director of learning and community engagement, as she details how Tulsans can view pieces in the museum's collection around town.
Shared experience: Gilcrease Museum looks to connect its collection to locals throughout the city
Tulsa 10: Oct. 10-16
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes and I am about to share with you a very special episode of this podcast. Last month, I sat down with Eva Unterman inside the Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art’s Holocaust Center to discuss her life and to learn from her.
It has been 77 years since the liberation of Nazi death camps during World War II. In this conversation, Eva recounts her family’s experiences in the war from the day the Nazis invaded their home in Poland in 1939 when she was a small child to their liberation in 1945.
Eva turns 90 this month and is celebrating with her induction into the Tulsa Hall of Fame. We begin this conversation discussing her enshrinement and what it means to be a part of the 36th class of the Hall of Fame. You can read about all the inductees in our October feature.
I’ve spent most my life studying military history and it started with World War II. I’ve had the honor a of meeting numerous veterans of that war and sharing some of their stories. Eva says every one of them are her heroes because they all fought to stop Adolf Hitler and the genocide.
We close this conversation with her thoughts on the world today as she sat a few feet away from a floor-to-ceiling image of white supremacists marching with tiki torches in Charlottesville in 2017. She’s concerned about the rise of fascism and just as much so about how we’re mistreating our planet that’s creating devastating results.
It’s one thing to hear Eva tell her story. It’s another to watch her share it. We also filmed this conversation. The video will be linked in the show notes when it's available.
Before we begin, I’m sharing a sponsor message so you can listen to the conversation uninterrupted.
Thank you so much to Eva and the staff at the Sherwin Miller.
This is Tulsa Talks with Eva Unterman.
Hear September's Musings column read aloud by author Connie Cronley.
Read the column here.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I'm your host Tim Landes.
On this episode I talk with Tulsa Day Center Associate Director Noe Rodriguez, who has devoted the last 16 years to helping people who are experiencing homelessness get back on track and get into housing.
He discusses how numerous Tulsa organizations, including the Day Center, are working together and adapting to meet the needs as the demands increase, which is also the topic in this September magazine feature. He also talks about the ways you can help them in their efforts. Noe was previously featured in a 2018 feature.
Following that conversation hear a new single from Kalyn Fay, who is one of many Cherokee artists, who recorded songs in Cherokee for the groundbreaking new album "ANVDVNELISGI" released by Horton Records and produced by Jeremy Charles who will be a guest on the Oct. 19 episode of Tulsa Talks.
See images from the Cherokee National Holiday concert here.
Learn more about the Horton Records release here.
Learn more about Kalyn here.
Kalyn's NRP performance.
More info about the Oct. 15 performance at Cain's Ballroom.
September is in full swing, and Tulsa is celebrating a smorgasbord of talent with Dreamland Festival, Hip Hop 918, Guthrie Green events and more ahead of 918 Day. Plus hear from local artist Anne Pollard James about her debut solo show at Positive Space Tulsa.
Mentioned in this episode:
- Turning Tulsa into Dreamland: A Q&A with Steph Simon, Dreamland Festival founder
- On 'Surfacing': Q&A with Anne Pollard James about her first solo art show
- Land for you and me: Guthrie Green at 10
- Tulsa Music Listings
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber.
On this episode: McNellie’s Restaurant Group’s Lindsey Gifford discusses her role in the company as a managing partner overseeing popular restaurants The Tavern, Bull in the Alley and Wild Fork, plus the upcoming Bar Serra in Utica Square. Originally from OKC, Lindsey relocated to Tulsa in 2009 and took a job as a part-time waitress. She discusses working her way up in the industry and how it’s changed since she started. McNellie’s Group has numerous restaurants participating in Restaurant Week from Sept. 9-18. She discusses the importance of the event in helping feed Oklahoma kids through the Food Bank’s Food for Kids program. Plus music from the Shelter People.
It’s a great time to be a music fan in Tulsa. I mean it’s always been a good time, but now it’s different. It feels even better. Maybe it’s the resurgence of live music following two years of a lot of live streaming and YouTube sessions. You can catch a great show every night of the week. We publish weekly music listings (linked in the show notes). Save that link so you can check it out anytime and see who is playing where.
In our October issue I talked to Cain’s Ballroom co-owner Chad Rodgers about how things are going at the historic concert venue. If you go to a show this fall there’s a good chance I’ll be there enjoying it as well. So many great bands coming.
I also talked to rapper Steph Simon about his upcoming Dreamland Festival happening in the Arts District over 918 Weekend. It will conclude with Hip-Hop 918 at Guthrie Green, which is celebrating it’s 10th birthday the day this episode drops. Lots more happening there for the big anniversary.
One of our most popular stories out the gate this month is about new music venue Thelma’s Peach over in the Kendall-Whittier. They too have big plans for 918 weekend. And congrats to them on the successful opening in June.
While we’re talking major music happenings, coming up Nov. 2-5 is the Music Cities Convention. There will be talks and presentations, complimentary music tours, after parties and tons of live music and networking opportunities. It will be the biggest and longest Music Cities Convention yet because that’s how we do it here.
Like I said, it’s a great time to be a music fan in Tulsa.
Now on to this week’s song from The Shelter People courtesy of Horton Records.
You can order the EP and lots of other great music at HortonRecords.bandcamp.com.
Hear August's column "We went and lost our bright golden haze" read aloud by author Connie Cronley — plus a bonus reading from the archives about Lynn Riggs.
Join TulsaPeople on a tour of the maker space at 501 S. Lewis Ave., complete with a laser-cutting demonstration. Maker Faire is Aug. 27 at Fab Lab Tulsa. Read more about the space in our August article, and see video footage from the tour on our TikTok, @tulsapeople.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes and this is the 100th episode! Thank you so much for listening to each episode.
On Aug. 4, I moderated a conversation with University of Tulsa President Brad Carson at the Tulsa Press Club for one of its Page One events.
I got to know Brad over 20 years ago when he was running for Congress. We hadn’t talked in 19 years, so I really enjoyed the opportunity to catch up and learn about where life and his work has taken him before he landed at TU last July.
In this conversation, the Jenks graduate reflects on his time in Congress, including being in his capitol building office on 9/11. Brad discusses how politics have changed since he served. He talks about why he joined the Navy in 2008 and his work under President Obama running the Army. Brad also shares his thoughts on the college landscape, including NCAA sports, and his vision for TU.
Following our talk at the Press Club, hear a new song from Monica Taylor.
A Perkins, OK native, Monica Taylor’s musical roots are at The Farm, which is still the epicenter of Red Dirt Music. Her nickname, The Cimarron Songbird, was given to her by Jimmy LaFave and Bob Childers, thanks to her distinctive singing style and her home near the Cimarron River. She sings from the heart, telling stories of red dirt roads, home, fence posts, trains, and sharing her Cherokee Indian heritage as well as her Scottish roots.
Monica’s new album Trains, Rivers and Trails, which includes the track you’re about to hear, is now available at HortonRecords.org.
TulsaPeople editors Tim Landes and Blayklee Freed talk Tim's recent time on the Whayne family ranch interviewing local cattle roper William Whayne Jr.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. On this episode we take the podcast on the road to the new Bob Dylan Center, 116 E. Reconciliation Way. See images from the grand opening event.
Museum Director Steven Jenkins takes listeners on a tour of the two-story museum located in the Tulsa Arts District next door to the Woody Guthrie Center. He discusses the creation of the museum and shares insight into each of the exhibits that share the story of Bob Dylan, to date.
Following the tour hear the song "Love Revolution" from Tom Skinner's Science Project, which released their album "First Set" on Horton Records on July 15.
Hear Connie read her column from June, and find out when you can read August's issue of TulsaPeople.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber.
On this episode Libby Billings reflects on 14 years operating downtown restaurants. It started with a $30,000 bank loan in 2008 and a plan to serve puffy tacos, and now she owns the building Elote resides in. She discusses the current state of restaurants more than two years into the COVID-19 pandemic and reflects on her career path to date. Libby also talks about her efforts in revitalizing downtown Deco's District and how far it's come, plus more.
Following that conversation, hear a new single from OKC-based hard rockers Sisteria, which is releasing their debut album Aug. 19 on Horton Records. Hear them live Sept. 23 at Vanguard in support of Rainbows are Free.
TulsaPeople's new editor Tiffany Howard introduces herself and talks with arts and entertainment editor Blayklee Freed about storytelling.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. On this episode, Mercury Lounge co-owner Bobby Dean Orcutt talks about how the music venue and bar responded to the COVID-19 pandemic and all the changes happening there this summer, including more patio space and more ticketed events. He talks about his family's history in Tulsa and how his upbringing led him down a path of a continuing musical journey. Days before recording this conversation, he filed to run for city council. At the end of the conversation he explains why he has entered the race. Plus hear the single "Vegas Bomb" from CliffDiver, which is on the road this summer.
Hear Connie Cronley's column, "A Gardener's Lament," from the July issue of TulsaPeople.
Arts and entertainment editor Blayklee Freed cools off with one of the A-List Editor's Picks: A silver fox snow cone from Josh's Snow Shack.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber.
On this episode, new Gathering Place Executive Director Julio Badin discusses taking on the job last August and what's in store this summer for one of the best parks in America. He also discusses Guthrie Green's role as it nears its 10th anniversary and what's to come with LowDown, the jazz club below Duet. In the second half, Badin also reflects on his time spent working at Disney Land and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Plus a new single from Nuns.
Host Blayklee Freed previews Tulsa Tough and Black Proud, two big events this weekend in T-Town, from the June issue. Be sure to check June's A-List, our reader's choice awards for the best businesses and restaurants in Tulsa.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber.
On this episode Daniel McHenry breaks down what attendees can do at the inaugural Black Proud Festival, which is happening in the Tulsa Arts District from June 10-12. McHenry is the founder of Black Queer Tulsa, which is a networking organization in its first year. He talks about launching the organization and its goals.
In the second half of the conversation, McHenry, 27, shares his story of growing up in Tulsa as the son of a preacher and attending public school as he learned more about himself and turned to self-hate before accepting what he knew all along. He shares insight for others who are young and can relate to his life. Read more about him here.
Following the conversation with McHenry, hear a new single from Tulsa's Cliffdiver.
Intern Julianne Tran discusses her reporting on local ethnic grocery stores for the May issue of TulsaPeople. Plus, Connie Cronley asks, "Why not just say what happened?
Read Tran's May feature here
Read Cronley's May column here
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber.
On this episode podcast producer Morgan Phillips sits in the guest seat as she and host Tim Landes bust open the mailbag to answer some questions they've received. It's PGA Championship week, the Bob Dylan Center is now open and there are lots more to talk about, including our favorite restaurants.
The much-anticipated Bob Dylan Center opened May 10 in Tulsa. Blayklee Freed talks to attendees at the opening ceremony and shares sounds from the scene, including an excerpt of Joy Harjo's "Twisted," and a Dylan song performed in Cherokee by Agalisiga Mackey.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes.
It’s spring in Tulsa and all the events are back. There’s Mayfest this weekend, Iron Man returns, Black Wall Street Legacy Festival, and Southern Hills Country Club is hosting the PGA Championship for a record fifth time, which you can read all about in our May issue.
While those events help draw people to Tulsa, many of our city’s young professionals will gather around the drawing board to come up with ideas to enhance a section of Tulsa going through a revitalization.
On May 13-14 TYPROS annual community development event Street Cred: Outside the Loops returns with a focus on reimagining an area just outside of downtown and creatively strategizing development opportunities.
Andrea Pemberton, Executive Director of TYPROS, is here to discuss Street Cred and more on this episode.
She’s worked for the organization for since 2018 and took over the helm in 2020, which means Andrea has guided TYPROS through the COVID-19 pandemic. TYPROS is an organization that’s lifeblood is people networking together in the same room. She discusses how they were able to go with the flow and adapt to continue their mission.
It’s an interesting time for the organization. Since birth TYPROS has basically been a millennial club. Seventeen years later many of the millennials are aging out and the next generation of young professionals are growing. Andrea discusses what they’re seeing during this transition and what’s to come in the near future.
Tulsa is growing with people from all over the country relocating here. This includes Andrea. We discuss what the organization is seeing from programs like Tulsa Remote, and she talks about what brought her to Tulsa and why she’s such a big fan of the city.
She’s also very civically engaged, so we talk about our shared passion for voting and why she’s so passionate about the electoral process. We also dive into her background on why she got an Anthropology degree at OU and how she’s used it throughout her career. We cover a lot of ground in this one.
Following my conversation with Andrea, hear a new song from John Moreland. More on that later.
OK, let’s get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks with Andrea Pemberton.
John Moreland is back with new music. That’s one of the best emails I’ve received recently. The Tulsan can write and sing a song like no other. He’s a rare talent and as you’ll hear in this song he continues to grow and showcase his skills.
Ugly Faces, is the first single from his new album “Birds in the Ceiling” out July 22. You can preorder the album at johnmoreland.net. There you can also check out his slate of nationwide tour dates starting in July. So far there are no Tulsa shows on the schedule, but there is an opening the first week of August between St. Louis and Santa Fe (hint, hint Cain’s Ballroom).
I’ll let John take it from here with “Ugly Faces”
Photographer Michelle Pollard shares tales from photoshoots at farms featured in April's magazine. "The pigs are like dogs, the cows are like cats and the dogs are like people," she says. Plus, Connie Cronley reads April's column, "Someone cheer us up!"
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes, and I have loved the performing arts for as long as I can remember.
My guest on this episode is Mark Frie, Tulsa Performing Arts Center’s CEO since 2017. As you can imagine the last couple of years have been tough on the theater industry, but things are looking up.
He discusses how they’re bouncing back and gearing up for a big year of shows including Frozen and Oklahoma! (and it’s not your grandma’s version).
Mark is a native Tulsan. His love of acting and singing has helped guide his career that has taken him to DFW, Boston, Broadway, then to Broken Arrow and finally back home to Tulsa.
As someone who loves going to the theater, I was excited to learn more about his time in New York at Radio City Music Hall and what it’s like in that world. As you’ll hear my brain explodes when he tells me about what all can be seen at the NYC library.
We talk about the evolution of performing arts and what upgrades are needed for the PAC that’s now 45 years old and how the nonprofit is devoting more energy on supporting numerous community organizations.
We also discuss one of the most important questions theatergoers often ask: What should I wear to a show?
I had a great time getting to know Mark and learning more about Tulsa PAC and all they great things happening there. Also, I absolutely love his idea you’ll soon hear about the need for a traveling theater company.
Later on, I’ll share a groovy new single from Brad Absher and the Superials that I can’t stop playing.
Before we dive into the conversation, I want to mention that we want to hear from you. For the second Tulsa Talks episode in May, we want to answer your questions about Tulsa. It can be anything Tulsa related. How tall is the Golden Driller? What is the best coney in town? Why are our streets named the way they are? Do you miss Crystal’s Pizza? Why do people say “on Brookside” when it’s not a street, but a neighborhood?
Send us your questions to ContactUs@LangdonPublishing.com or Tim@langdonpublishing.com. Subject line: Mailbag.
OK let’s get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks with Mark Frie.
Tulsa musician Brad Absher and his band, the Superials, release their debut album, "Tulsa Tea," on June 10 with a special show and crawfish boil at the legendary Cain’s Ballroom beginning at 7 PM.
Billed as the NEUTRAL GROUND THROWDOWN, the show will also feature special guests Poppa Foster and the Grits and Little Joe McLerran. "Tulsa Tea" was produced by Chris Combs and recorded at Paradise Studio at Grand Lake in nearby Tijuana, Oklahoma, the studio founded and made famous by the legendary Leon Russell.
The album will be released by Horton Records. I’ve included the preoder link. As well as a link for tickets to Neutral Ground Throwdown.
And with that here is the single Be the Love.
What's new with TulsaPeople? The spring issue of TulsaPeople Home, a special publication that explores the varied styles of local abodes.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes.
In this month’s issue of TulsaPeople, we go green and talk a lot about farming, crops, and plants. This includes a story about Chef Nico Albert, a Cherokee Nation citizen, who recently launched her own business: Burning Cedar Indigenous Foods.
Nico is really into foraging. She also takes part in Cherokee Nation’s Heirloom Seed program. The Cherokee Nation Seed Bank was founded in 2006 to preserve the genetic integrity of heirloom plants.
Today, the Cherokee Nation Seed Bank distributes a select number of heirloom seeds to citizens annually, and it grows a reserve of seeds for future generations. Last year, more than 6,800 seed packets were distributed.
This year’s varieties include Cherokee tan pumpkin, Cherokee White Eagle corn, Trail of Tears beans, gourds and possum grapes. Seeds mostly come from the Cherokee Nation Heirloom Garden, sprawling nearly 3 acres just east of the Cherokee Nation Complex in Tahlequah.
Back to Nico. She’s originally from California and then raised in Arizona before a family move to Oklahoma reconnected her with her family’s tribal history.
It was also shortly after relocating to Green Country, that Nico fell in love with the world of food and the local restaurant industry.
In this conversation recorded in late March, Nico had just returned from our tribe’s homelands in North Carolina, so we begin with her recent travels and then rewind to learn how she got to where she is today. She discusses her journey in the restaurant scene and also how she’s reconnecting with her Cherokee roots.
I really enjoyed getting to know her through this conversation that we had to end before I could get much into the musical side of her life but listen at the end to hear about her next live performance.
Following my conversation with Nico, hear a new single from Tulsa’s own Groucho. More on that later.
OK, let’s get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks with Nico Albert.
In the mid 90s, my favorite phrase was “The truth is out there.” Of course my favorite show was The X-Files. I obsessed over it if we’re being honest. I also was really into alternative music. My love for both continues. All that to say I got really excited when I started listening to Groucho’s “The Truth is Out There. (Bob Lazar)”
Bob also believes the truth is out there. He claims to know it actually. Anyway, back to the song.
Groucho describes their music as “A ride for the mind in a bind” and this single is a perfect example. They let loose and take the listener on a rock n roll trip. This song feels like it time traveled three decades, and I’m here for it. I’m excited to hear the rest of the album when it drops later this year.
In the meantime, you can Groucho live:
- Apr 23 - Whittier Bar w/ North by North
- Apr 30th w/Congress of a Crow (reunion) @ Shrine
- May 21st @ Mercury Lounge
- May 28th @ Juicemaker (Horton Records Residency)
Check out more of their music on Bandcamp, Spotify and YouTube, plus follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes.
If you’ve been to any live events the last couple of years there’s a good chance artist Scott Taylor is somewhere in the room doing a painting whether it’s an Oilers game, an outdoor orchestra performance, a charity event or in a classroom at Riverfield Country Day School, where he’s worked with the kids.
He recently opened his own gallery on Cherry Street and a pop-up shop in Mother Road Market. He even has his own billboard on 11th Street. He’s also featured in our March issue in a great profile by Ethan Veenker.
You can’t knock the hustle. I just wanted to know the hows and why?
Why is he working so hard? How does he have the time to do everything?
He came to the office a couple weeks ago and sat down for a conversation that starts with those questions, and then becomes a running theme.
As with any artist, I wanted to know what drives him? What inspires him and more?
This turned into a conversation about creativity, entrepreneurship, mental health and lots more.
Scott is a Tulsa transplant originally from South Carolina. He’s now resided here for 15 years. I was curious what brought him to T-Town before we were giving people money to move here.
He has a growing fanbase in Tulsa as he evolves his business and his art. I enjoyed the opportunity to get know the artist who likes to hide behind tinted glasses and a big beard.
Following my conversation with Scott, hear music from A-ILLA. More on that later.
OK, let’s get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks with Scott Taylor.
Scott Taylor's Instagram: ThatScottTaylor
Last year I heard Ayilla perform live and was instantly hooked by her soulful R&B sound, so I’m excited to share her music with you.
The day this podcast drops she will be representing Tulsa’s music scene as one of our local artists performing at SXSW in Austin. Next week, she has show in NYC. I think it’s easy to say she’s one to watch and listen to as she continues climbing.
You can find all her music, including her latest EP “Witch Tape” on Spotify, Tidal and Apple Music, and YouTube. To keep up with her journey, follow her on Instagram: eye.am.ayilla.
And with that here is Ayilla with “You Lie.”
On the heels of International Women's Day, TulsaPeople editors Morgan Phillips and Blayklee Freed discuss some of Tulsa's bada$$ businesswomen as featured in the March issue of TP.
The A-LIST is here! From now through March 20, vote for your favorite Tulsa businesses for a chance to win $1,000 in prizes.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks, presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes.
My guest on this episode is Kristin McQuaid, who has danced through life, and is now also exploring all the other opportunities that are out there for her YouTube series “Kickin it with Kristin.”
Kristin is a lifelong entertainer. She started dancing when she was kid and quickly became a professional. She danced in a Prince video and was a lead dancer on Britney Spears’ Onyx Hotel Tour in 2004. She went from dancer to choreographer and in 2015, Kristin was honored to win the choreographer’s TV show Make A Move. Her work has been featured in TV commercials and campaigns for major brands. It's also been seen on So You Think You Can Dance and fan favorite, Dance Moms. Her choreography has gone viral with such talent as Dance Moms star Nia Sioux, 6-year-old online star Boss Baby Brody, and Nickelodeon’s sweetheart Jules Leblanc.
During the early days of the pandemic, Kristin thought about her life’s work and wondered if there was something else out there that might speak to her. She’s since tried glassblowing, horseback riding, pottery and more.
I wrote about all of this for our March issue. The thing is we talked for over half an hour and 90% of the conversation didn’t make it into the article. By the time we were wrapping up, she had me even more excited to chase my own new creative adventures and see what happens. It’s not “What If, but when,” she reminded me.
So, before it ended I asked her if we could talk again for this podcast. She agreed, shut off Zoom and within hours was on a plane to Vegas to meet her new daughter.
When Kristin and I reconnected last week over Zoom, she was happy, but tired. That newborn life. We started chatting and the conversation started out heavier than last time we talked, but it's a very important topic that I knew little about before this conversation.
Last year Kristin and her husband, Steve, started a nonprofit in honor of their daughter, London Quinn, who was stillborn at 39 weeks in July, 2021. London is the Reason supports surrogates and their intended parents through infant loss and offers free resources and support groups to help both sides through their grieving process. She is also the celebrity spokesperson for PUSH Pregnancy which aims to end preventable stillbirths.
We discuss all she’s been through and learned and then we talk about season two of Kickin’ it With Kristin and how much Tulsa has changed for the better since she moved here a little over a decade ago, plus more.
I can’t wait to check back in with her down the road and hear about what crazy fun she’s having for her series and in motherhood.
Following my conversation with Kristin, hear new music from George Barton. More on that later.
Ok, Let’s get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks with Kristin McQuaid.
TulsaPeople Art Director Georgia Brooks shares her passion for delivering curated staff picks to readers’ inboxes each month.
Click here to sign up to receive our e-newsletters, including Fab Finds.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes.
This time last year it was an arctic tundra outside for weeks. The weather was so bad for so long, there was the implantation of an overflow shelter for those experiencing homelessness. That wasn’t enough. People experiencing homelessness were moved into any hotel that rooms available. That still wasn’t enough.
Next up, Housing Solutions Tulsa converted the old Wyndam Hotel on 41st to a Hotel to Housing program. It was a learning experience for the organization while helping save lives from the deadly weather.
Housing Solutions is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to building systems that make homelessness rare, brief and non-recurring in Tulsa.
My guests on this episode are Housing Solutions Executive Director Becky Gligo and Tyler Parette, Director of Outreach and Engagement. I’ve spent a lot of time talking to these two the last few years. I’ve written many stories on homelessness and taken part in the last two point-in-time counts, including the most recent one in late January.
As you’ll hear, the point in time count is an annual census that collects data, allowing Housing Solutions to see trends over time, while learning about those experiencing homelessness and what they need to get back on their feet. There will be more about this in our March issue along with a photo gallery with the online story.
For this conversation, I used it as a check-in to see where we are a year after that Frozen February and two years into a pandemic, which has increased the number of those experiencing homelessness. I also used it as a way to ask common questions people often ask me about homelessness. One of the main questions I get is how can I help? In the show notes, I’ve linked Housing Solutions website where you can request an outreach and more.
As you’ll hear, we have a lot of work to do and it starts with affordable housing.
Following my conversation with Housing Solutions, listen to a song from Bandelier. More on that later.
OK, let’s get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks with Housing Solutions.
In March, many Tulsa musicians will be returning to SXSW to showcase our local music scene. Bandelier will be among them. They'll be joining friends of the pod Steph Simon, Cassii Stephan and many more at Tulsa FMAC’s showcase in Austin on March 16. Speaking of Tulsa FMAC, they are relaunching their popular Play Tulsa Music program to help support local musicians and venues. You can read more it here.
As for Bandelier, it looks like we’re going to be getting a new record from them. You can get updates on their facebook page and website linked in the show notes. And in the meantime, here’s fan favorite: “Bison Bison.”
TulsaPeople's editors take a cue from three Tulsans interviewed for our February education issue and discuss the benefits of lifelong learning.
CORRECTION: Our February 2022 College Guide is not, in fact, a comprehensive list of colleges and universities in the state of Oklahoma. It includes the Tulsa area, the area east of Interstate 35 and the Oklahoma City suburbs for the most part.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes.
President Barack Obama launched the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance in 2014 to build safe and supportive communities for boys and young men of color.
Eight years later, under the purview of ImpactTulsa, Tulsa has accepted the My Brother’s Keeper challenge, with native Tulsan BerThaddaeus Bailey taking the lead.
BerThaddaeus is my guest on this episode. That intro is from a short piece on him in our February issue, which is linked in the show notes.
I'm thrilled we were able to bring that story to life with this conversation. I had never talked to BerThaddaeus before we chatted over zoom in late January. This is a young man with a sort of unique name, who is wise beyond his years. You’ll hear why I say sort of a unique name shortly. He’s also extremely passionate about helping people.
I had to remind myself throughout our conversation that he is still in his 20s. Of course when you hear the energy he brings to this conversation and his work drive it makes a bit more sense because he is a really busy person.
BerThaddaeus was raised in north Tulsa before going to OU and earning a bachelor's in political science followed by an MBA and MPA at the same time. He worked for the state as an analyst in health care and child support for a handful of years while living near OKC, but his new job has brought his focus back home.
He’s a community activist, nonprofit founder, policy analyst, a consultant and also a motivational speaker.
I say it at the end of the conversation, and I’ll say it again here: BerThaddaeus is one to watch in the coming years. He’s really smart. He’s compassionate. He’s energetic. And he wants all of his neighbors to succeed.
Following my conversation with BerThaddaeus, hear a song from Pets. More on that later.
OK let’s get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks with BerThaddaeus Bailey.
In our February issue, Julie Watson writes about a couple of musicians' side project that took off.
Born in 2019 from a side project of Candy Fly bandmates Matt Baker and Chayton Burleson, Tulsa alternative rock band Pets. has grown into a five-piece ensemble that now includes Jordan Hodges, Michael Davis and Nathan Hairston.
Like many other creatives, the pandemic meant lots of time for Pets. to make new music. The band has recently started releasing those quarantine-created singles to a rapidly expanding fan base.
Including this one. Here is Pets. with "Seeing Stars."
Senior Editor Morgan Phillips and her 8-year-old review the new children's museum at 31st Street and Riverside Drive. Plus, A&E Editor Blayklee Freed provides a peek into Tulsa's art community spotlighted in the January issue of TulsaPeople Magazine.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes and the digital editor here at TulsaPeople Magazine. Before we get into the new episode, I wanted to let you know that on TulsaPeople.com we have original content almost every day of the week. There are the Oklahoma Best Sellers lists on Sundays, Tulsa music listings every Monday afternoon (that’s where you can find out what bands are playing where on what day all in one place), Wednesdays are for this podcast and About Town mini episodes. On Thursdays arts editor Blayklee Freed shares her 10 things to do in Tulsa for the week. Then also the third week we have Fab Finds. Oh, and we cover a lot of events, so there are tons of photo galleries like this week’s MLK Day Parade. You can find all this content on our social media channels and at TulsaPeople.com/AboutTown.
Speaking of stories you can read on our site, in our January issue we have an article about the different ways and places you can workout in town. Megan Harlan, my guest on this episode, operates Pure Barre South Tulsa at 89th and Yale, and Row House at 61st and Yale.
I was ready to learn more about Pure Barre when she and I talked in late December. I had seen a story a while back about the creator of Barre and knew its roots were in ballet, but I had a lot of questions. Among them, what’s the difference between Barre and Pure Barre? Also do men participate in the classes?
Megan breaks it all down. She was the first person to open a Pure Barre in the state nearly a decade ago, so she has a lot of knowledge and experience.
We also discuss the ins and outs of Row House South Tulsa, and by the end of the conversation I was ready to drive over and get on a row machine. I didn’t. I ate a Bill and Ruth’s sandwich instead (support our local restaurants), but I am going to make it down there.
Following my conversation with Megan, musical quadruple threat Casii Stephan is back with another single. More on that later.
OK, Let’s get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks with Megan Harlan.
Casii Stephan is one of my favorite local artists. There are her lyrics, her vocals, the piano playing, her energy. If you haven't already, after you listen to this song, go look up any of her live performances or music videos on YouTube.
In fact, the video for “These Hard Days” was an Oniros Awards Finalist. Also, Casii was named a 2022 artist to watch by NPR Music.
I interviewed her last March at the time of the release of her single “Here Comes the Light,” and she mentioned she was working on the song you're about to hear:
And with that here is Casii Stephan’s “These Hard Days.”
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber! I’m your host Tim Landes.
Happy New Year! It’s also a new podcast season, and new you maybe?
My guest on this episode is Ali Hanson of Ali Made Food and the new Bon Broth Bar at 81st and Harvard. She recently popped into the studio to let me try some of her broth options and talk about how it changed her life. She’s also featured in our January issue out on newsstands now. Our cover story is about our Tulsan of the Year Sterlin Harjo, who appeared on this podcast in late 2020. Overall it’s a great issue. You can read the digital version or all the stories at TulsaPeople.com
Following my chat with Ali hear a new song from country musician Brandon Bethel. More on him later.
OK, let’s get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks with Ali Hanson.
We highlighted Brandon Bethel’s musical journey in the December issue of the magazine.
He moved to Oklahoma after high school where he attended Muskogee’s Bacone College before transferring to Oklahoma State University, graduating with a degree in criminal justice. The Fort Gibson resident writes his own songs, and he has a real appreciation for the musical history of his adopted state.
After years as a part-time musician, the now 30-year-old Bethel recently began pursuing his passion full time.
He released a new single, “How to be a Man,” in October, which you’ll hear shortly.
“I wrote the song about my dad and how he raised me,” Bethel says. A five-song EP is expected this month. He also performs around Tulsa and can often be found on stage at one of the local casino venues.
With that here is Brandon Bethel with "How to Be A Man."
Our editors recap the history of the Tulsa Voice newspaper, review a new Cherry Street bar and find out how Topeca Coffee’s Ian Picco traded in the stage for the coffee shop.
Our editors talk Tulsa’s best cinnamon rolls, foodie zines and memories of the Woodland Hills Mall carousel.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes.
For this month’s issue of the magazine, I wrote about the staffing issues that are impacting our first responders in policing, fire and EMSA and how they’re trying to fill the gaps in protection.
I also took part in a ridealong with TPD patrol officer John Shelton, who works in the Mingo Valley Division, which is based in east Tulsa. It’s the busiest division in terms of calls, and the November night I was in a car, the calls were nonstop.
I wrote about some of that experience to highlight the job they have to do while short staffed. I also shared a photo gallery in the online version story.
I talked to both Police Chief Wendell Franklin and Fire Department Chief Michael Baker. Both are in their second year on the job, and both have their own challenges to face to help keep Tulsa safe. Both men shared way more info than I could fit in the story, so I’m doing it here.
Franklin is a repeat guest of the podcast, but this was the first time I sat down with him face-to-face to interview him. We talked in his office on Nov. 16. Something I like about Franklin is he’s a history buff and a reader. He filled me in on the Daniel Silva spy series that filled a shelf or two after we talked about his job. And now I have more books to read.
In this conversation, you’ll hear Franklin talk about the morale of his officers before getting into why they are stretched thin. He talks about how staffing issues are impacting community policing, which he calls collaborative policing. He also discusses the benefits of the pay raise and the pros and cons of the TPD’s 4-year degree requirement.
One of the most complicated topics of the year is the McGirt decision, which upholds tribal sovereignty and has an impact on policing. Local politicians have shared their opinions. I wanted to hear from Franklin his thoughts on how they are handling the changes and what can be done to make the transition easier for everyone. He then concludes by talking about the year in crime. Homicides are down and violent crime is up. Franklin shares his thoughts maybe why this is the case.
After my conversation with him, hear from TFD Chief Baker on how they’ve overhauled the application and hiring process to take the department into the 21st century. He also talks about the morale of a department that has seen many fire fighters retire and is currently in arbitration for more funding to pay fire fighters and fix equipment.
The guys who make up Jasper Wilderness took advantage of the pandemic to grow together as a band. In November the alt-rockers released their five song EP “Coming Home to Silence.”
Coming in our January issue is a story about the release.
Lead singer Gabe Philips says: “Coming Home to Silence" was born out of a lot of artistic writing sessions that we wouldn’t have been able to have without the lockdown. The band is a small, tight-knit group and were able to meet during the craziness and get good creative energy/get on the same page about how to pursue music. Now the band has a great foundation for stepping out and playing live.”
And with that here is the EP track “Alibi.“
About Town, Ep. 10: The mirror fail and other tales from 2021
Editors Morgan Phillips and Blayklee Freed provide a brief year in review from TulsaPeople Magazine.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes.
Like many people these days, I have a love/hate relationship with social media. I've taken month long breaks from my personal Facebook and Twitter. Even today, I find myself more of a lurker and heart giver than posting random thoughts that will be misunderstood by Aunt Gertrude. I do still love to look at images on Instagram.
We recently published a Q&A with Meg Ferguson, my guest on this episode. The Tulsa fashion designer was a participant in this season of Project Runway. The Q&A got a lot of views and shares. Then a couple weeks later it was shared a lot. I did a quick search on Meg’s name and there were lots and lots of hateful tweets. We’re not talking the fun mean tweets Jimmy Kimmel would have her read in a segment.
I knew there was a reality show controversy involving Meg and she was no longer on the show. I knew there was some criticism of her and some evil tweets sent to her. She agreed to come on the podcast to talk about life after reality TV. While many of us have imagined winning Survivor or some other reality show at some point, we never imagine what it would be like to be painted in a certain light and then not win. As you’ll hear it’s awful.
I greatly appreciate Meg opening up about the struggles that came from being on the show and how it impacted her mental health. People are really mean and enjoy typing awful things from the safety of their couch. It’s gross. It’s sad.
We knock out the tough stuff and then go on to talk about happier news like how Meg is currently based in Dallas working on costumes for the new Yellowstone prequel “1883.” I mean how cool is it to be able to say you’ve designed a costumes for Faith Hill, her hubby Tim McGraw and more?
In this conversation recorded over Zoom, we talk about her experiences creating costumes and go through her bucket list of people she dreams to design for someday.
When she’s not helping make movies and TV shows come to life, Meg also has her own company that allows her to create memorable attire for clients.
A note, in the second half of the conversation there will be some background noises you might here from time to time while Meg talks. I’ve left in the sounds and the reveal because it brought laughs to what had been a tough conversation in the beginning.
Thank you Meg for the open and honest talk. Following our conversation, hear a Christmas song from teenage rising country star Mikayla Lane. More on that later.
OK, let’s get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks with Meg Ferguson.
Breakout indie country recording artist Mikayla Lane has been dubbed “Today’s Traditional Country Trendsetter.” On the heels of her sophomore EP release, the 16-year-old singer is celebrating the holiday season with a dual rollout of Christmas classics. She says:
“Christmas time is my favorite time of year; for so many reasons, and these two songs (‘Amazing Grace’ and ‘O Holy Night’) are both meaningful and magical. They paint a moving imagery of the birth of baby Jesus and convey the true meaning of Christmas. I chose to record these songs for those very reasons.”
And with that here is Mikayla Lane with “O Holy Night.”
TulsaPeople editors Morgan Phillips and Blayklee Freed preview December's holiday issue and share stories about local pets, some of which even have jobs.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes.
Through my writings for TulsaPeople, I often get to share stories of people from all walks of life. For the past two years I wrote a monthly piece called I Am. I’ve shared the stories of Tulsans who are trans, blind, gay, Buddhist, and the list goes on. If you’re a longtime listener to this podcast, you’ve heard a wide range of guests in conversation.
I love how diverse our city is. Diverse people offer diverse ideas. We’re not all supposed to share the same views or beliefs, but we should be able to live together successfully. That’s what makes a community and makes it thrive.
The reason I’m talking so much about diversity is because my guest on this episode is Jonathan Long, Tulsa Regional Chamber’s new VP of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
As you’ll hear Jonathan is passionate about his work and understands what we need to do to keep growing in a positive way and why DEI is so important for future success.
Jonathan talks about the easy steps every Tulsan can take whether as an individual or business owner to grow your circles with more diversity and inclusion. He also discusses why it’s important that we all continue to do measurable actions that go beyond making pledges or commitments to be better to ensure we have an optimal community full of thriving diversity.
Not all the talk is about DEI. We also talked about why the 40 under 40 honoree chose to leave Wichita to come to Tulsa and what he’s found that he loves since moving here this summer.
I had a great time getting to know Jonathan and look forward to checking in down the road to see how we’re all doing.
Following my conversation with him, hear a new single from Beau Jennings and The Tigers. More on that later.
OK, let’s get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks with Jonathan Long.
Beau Jennings and the Tigers just released the EP “Feel the Sun.” They will celebrate it with a release party on Nov. 19 at Mercury Lounge. Speaking of the Merc, we twice highlight them in the November issue. It is among the best places to catch a show in Tulsa and they also have a new beer they partnered with Heirloom Rustic Ales to make.
Beau has long been one of the staples of the Tulsa music scene, and if you catch him live you’re guaranteed to have fun time. If you want to learn more about him visit his website at beaujennings.com and Facebook.com/beaujenningsok. And that’s Beau spelled BEAU.
And with that here is the EP title track, “Feel the Sun.”
Our editors discuss why they never know what day it is and what it’s like to fly in a World War II-era aircraft.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes.
For this episode all I had to do was ask my guest Deborah Laker to walk across the office to have this conversation. Deborah is our fall intern. She’s in her final semester as an international student at Oral Roberts University, where’s she’s majoring in journalism and political science.
She’s from Uganda, which is located in Eastern Africa. It is a smaller country surrounded by South Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The southeast portion of Uganda is Lake Victoria which is the base of the magnificent Nile River, which flows north through the middle of the country and thousands of miles later becomes the main source of water for Egypt.
I’ve never been there, but I’ve long dreamed of visiting that part of the world. I have lived vicariously through Paul Theroux's travel writing in Dark Star Safari, and other books plus numerous documentaries. Also there’s a lifelong obsession with ancient Egypt.
I’d talk to Deborah from time to time about her home, but we agreed early on to do this podcast conversation, so I held off till we recorded it in late October to dive in and learn more.
We discussed how she first learned about Tulsa, what her expectations were before arriving and how different this city and country is than what she expected.
Being a journalist who studies global politics for fun, I wanted to learn more about what drove Deborah to chase those degrees and what she thinks she might do with them when she graduates. We also talk about the differences between our political system and Uganda’s, and what it was like for her to witness the 2020 election season.
It turns out her mom, Margaret, recently ran for office and lost this time, but she’s not going to give up according to her proud daughter. I have to say, Margaret, go get ‘em! You've got a supporter over here in Oklahoma. I'll be cheering you on when the time comes for you to run again.
I really enjoyed learning more about Deborah and how her experiences are shaping her. Toward the end of our conversation, I flipped the script and let her ask me a few questions.
It’s been great having her here as an intern. She shared a delicious curry recipe in our October issue, wrote about a new musical and courtroom dogs, and she has a great feature coming in December. She has a very bright future ahead, and I’m excited to follow her journey.
Following my conversation with Deborah, hear a new song from Tulsa’s Wilderado. More on that later.
Ok let’s get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks with Deborah Laker.
Indie-rock trio Wilderado released its self-titled debut album in October. Two of three hail from Tulsa and Mannford, respectively, and moved back home from LA in 2018 to record the album. I talked to them shortly after their return and then music writer Julie Watson talked to them for last month’s issue.
...
And with that here is Wilderado with Mr. Major.
A rundown of Halloween haps in Tulsa this weekend, plus embarrassing costume stories from TulsaPeople editors Morgan Phillips and Blayklee Freed.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes.
Kate Barnard should be a household name in Oklahoma. There’s a good chance you’ve never heard of her. She was the first woman elected to state office before women had the right to vote. In her role as Charities and Corrections Commissioner, she created compulsory education laws, child labor laws and uncovered the abuse of prisoners and mental hospital patients.
My guest on this episode is author Connie Cronley. She spent the last five decades writing the biography of Kate Barnard titled “A Life on Fire,” which is now available from OU Press.
At her peak, Kate was the most well-known Oklahoman in America. She traveled the country speaking to large crowds and politicians about the work being done in what many considered the most progressive state in the union.
Then she learned about the Native American children who were being cheated out of their land allotments by white politicians and oil men. She was on to what was happening on the Osage Reservation before the federal investigators rode into the state. Her fight to help Native Americans cost Kate her job. Her story buried in history.
I recently found my second grade Oklahoma history workbook from the 100th anniversary of the land run. There’s no mention of Kate. There’s no mention of her in my 4th grade Oklahoma history workbook either. Guessing if I found a copy of my freshmen textbook it’d be the same result. I knew nothing about her until I read Connie’s book in two days. I couldn’t put it down. I’m guessing my blood pressure increased as I read the pages.
Mental health treatment has been gutted in this state. Public education is continually in a fight with state lawmakers for more funding. Julius Jones awaits his fate in a state prison system that has the second highest imprisonment rate in the country according to the Sentencing Project. This is not a category we should be proud to be a Top 10 state.
The tribes that call Oklahoma home are thriving. The governor has said a recent Supreme Court decision upholding tribal sovereignty is the biggest problem in the state during a pandemic.
The reason I mention these things is because this is all stuff Kate fought for just over 100 hundred years ago and look where we are. I can’t help but wonder what Kate would say if she was around today? I think she’d look at the political makeup our of government and say she’s not surprised. It’s barely been 100 years, which isn’t that long when you divide it by 4 years at a time. She’d also probably say that we should stand up for what’s right and be ready to fight for it.
I really admire Connie for all her work in putting a spotlight on Kate. Connie is a veteran journalist and writer who contributes a monthly column for us that is always one of my favorite reads in our magazine. She also wrote this month’s feature on new TU President Brad Carson.
This was the first time we had the chance to sit down and talk to each other, and I really enjoyed getting to learn more about her work in telling Kate’s powerful story. It’s one that every student and taxpaying citizen in Oklahoma should learn.
Following my conversation with Connie, a new song from Tulsa rapper Dialtone. More on that later.
Ok, let’s get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks with Connie Cronley.
Track info:
"Activites" by Dialtone and produced by XL Middleton
NoParkingStudios.com
Longtime TulsaPeople photographer Michelle Pollard discusses how her job has changed over 20+ years, as well as some of her favorite photo shoots. Then CEO Gail Lapidus tells about an unexpected role in her early career with Family and Children’s Services.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes.
Late next year OKPop Museum is slated to open across the street from Cain’s Ballroom. Once the doors open museum visitors will walk past an authentic Bob Wills tour bus as they begin learning about our state’s rich and diverse history in pop culture and how it connects to today’s famous Oklahomans.
Blake Ewing is my guest on this episode. He serves as the museum’s creative director. He provides a construction update on the new museum and shares when it’s slated to open. Blake also talks about some exhibit concepts and how it all fits into an overall goal to connect our past to the present while inspiring future creatives.
OKPOP will open on the heels of the television and movie industries embracing Oklahoma as the backdrop for stories to be told, with many of them being written about Oklahoma and/or by Oklahomans.
Speaking of some pop culture, if you slept on the first season of Reservation Dogs, it’s time to fire up Hulu and enjoy a great show co-created by Sterlin Harjo. It’s the first show to be shot entirely in northeast Oklahoma, features the first all-indigenous writers’ room in Hollywood and it’s got a killer soundtrack featuring numerous Okie musicians. ICYMI, Sterlin was also on the podcast last fall.
Blake talks about the greatness that is Rez Dogs and the growing film industry and how both those things mean great things for the museum and our state.
Blake is featured in this month’s issue in our covers revisited piece from our 2009 downtown issue, when he, Elliot Nelson and Marybeth Babcock graced the cover as leaders of downtown revitalization before the BOK Center and ONEOK Field were built.
At the time, Blake owned Joe Momma’s Pizza and some other food and bar operations. He was also a city councilor representing downtown, so he’s been involved in downtown’s growth in various ways over the last two decades.
He reflects on those old days of downtown and how it’s continuing to grow and evolve, including his buddy Elliot’s upcoming Santa Fe Square, which you can read about in our October issue.
I love pop culture and downtown, so I had a lot of fun chatting with Blake. Following my conversation with him, hear a song from Thabos. More on that later.
Just a reminder that if you haven’t already subscribed to this channel, you should. We share two in-depth conversations a month, plus multiple mini episodes of About Town that go behind the scenes of the magazine and more. We also appreciate your ratings.
OK, Let’s get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks with Blake Ewing.
Thabos /ta, bos/ is a seSotho noun for one who is never without joy. Thabos’ goal is to reach lost ones with his passion of music and art. He started making music on his phone at age 15 in Richmond Virginia, and since then has released over five projects, one being “HIS OWN: MY OWN” which took over 2 years to make in his ORU dorm room. Thabos says he is far from done, he has plans for music and much more and says he is working on a new project that will dwarf any that have come prior.
Find him on Instagram @_thabos (and his music is on Apple Music, Spotify and YouTube. Just search Thabos.
About Town Editor Blayklee Freed and City Editor Morgan Phillips preview the October downtown issue of TulsaPeople. Blayklee gets in the Halloween spirit with ghost tours, and Morgan talks about visiting a local neon sign shop for a story.
Read all the October articles at TulsaPeople.com beginning Friday, Oct. 1.
Our editors share online exclusives and how Elizabeth Frame Ellison wants to help more women reach the C-Suite.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes.
In this month’s issue of TulsaPeople, our cover story is about being mom. There are profiles of women who became moms during the pandemic. The importance of shifting the mental load. We also share snapshots of what motherhood looks like for a group of women spanning the metro. One of those women is my guest on this episode, Thuy Bui.
I had a lot of fun getting to know her in the following conversation.
Thuy is a mom to boys Nicholas, 17, and Tyler, 10. As you’ll hear, she loves being their mom. She quit her job as a nurse a couple years ago to spend more time with them as she saw Nicholas nearing high school graduation.
She talks about how as a child she thought she wanted to be a teacher, and then how the COVID-19 pandemic made that a reality. She also discusses her timing in leaving nursing and how she’s stayed in touch with her former colleagues.
Thuy runs lifestyle blog HeyThuy.com, which is linked in the show notes. We discuss how this came to be and what it’s life like as an influencer. She also runs an online hair accessories company, Micale Lynn. We talk about the return of scrunchies and banana clips, and what trends she saw at the recent Dallas market, plus how the pandemic has impacted her work.
Thuy is a first generation American, whose parents immigrated here in 1975 around the conclusion of the Vietnam War. She shares what life was like growing up on Tulsa’s east side and attending East Central High School in the 90s and how it’s different than the world her boys are growing up in.
I learned a lot in this conversation and had a good time chatting with her.
Following my conversation with Thuy, hear a catchy fun tune from Tulsa’s And Then There Were Two. More on that later.
OK let’s get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks with Thuy Bui.
This month’s issue of TulsaPeople includes a photo essay of my time spent documenting life and nature along our city limits. You can see it at TulsaPeople.com. It was nice to get out and drive around Tulsa and see how diverse it is outside my midtown bubble. I’ve always found driving rural roads to be a relaxing, peaceful experience. I also enjoy long road trips and am overdue for putting some miles on the car.
So why am I talking about driving? Closing out this episode is Tulsa band Then There Were Two singing “Come take a drive on route 66 with me” in their single “Take A Drive.” This is a fun one.
You can hear them live on Saturday, Sept. 18, at 4pm at the Williams Green for the PAC's Arts In The Air concert series. You can also listen to them on Spotify and their Facebook page is Facebook.com/AmyandAustin.
I’m going to go back to daydreaming about a road trip now.
Here is Then There Were Two with “Take a Drive.”
This episode is produced by Morgan Phillips and Tim Landes.
Listen now for our editors’ favorite September stories, what happens when a source becomes a friend and Elliot Nelson’s weekend ritual.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes.
My guest on this episode is Johnna Hayes of 3 Sirens Restaurant Group. She first appeared on the podcast a couple years ago to talk about her growing restaurant operation that would soon span three cities. That was our first conversation. A few months later we started dating. A few months after that COVID-19 reached Tulsa and she was dealing with the shutdown.
We’re still dating. Four of her five restaurants are currently open. She has a smaller staff and lots of customers expecting the restaurant experience to be the same as it was two years ago.
We’ve talked a lot the past 17 months about her experiences being a restaurant owner during a pandemic. She’s had to navigate a lot of obstacles just to keep the doors open. We felt it was a good time for her to come back on the pod and discuss some of what she’s experienced and learned along the way.
We kick off the conversation with a status report on the three Brambles and Bird & Bottle, and then discuss the importance of Restaurant Week, which is Sept. 10-19. You can find participating restaurant menus at TulsaPeople.com/RestaurantWeek. I encourage you to pick one or two out and then call to make reservations if possible. Don’t wait to the last minute.
We didn’t get into everything she’s faced, but we did discuss the on-going staff shortage and what she’s learned about wages through her experiences working with her employees from dishwashing to running fryers. We talk about how she was forced to navigate the politics that came with COVID and operating restaurants in three different cities, including Broken Arrow. We talk about the entitlement people believe they have and the lack of patience for many and how they think its ok to scream at teenagers and become violent because they have to wait on a table or asked to wear a mask.
We also talk about how the pandemic forced local restaurants to band together and how that’s changed the Tulsa restaurant industry for the better, plus other positives to come out of the pandemic, so far.
It’s been quite an experience watching her grow as a business owner and become a voice for the industry since I first spoke to her for this podcast. I’m really proud of her and how much stronger of a leader she’s become.
I’d also like to give a shoutout to her employees for their loyalty and dedication. The restaurant business is a tough one when there’s not an ongoing pandemic. It only got harder, but her core group of employees have really stepped up because they care about the company and the customers as much as they do each other.
Following my conversation with Johnna, hear a single from Kaitlin Butts. More on that later.
OK, let’s get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks with Johnna Hayes.
Kaitlin Butts is a Nashville singer/songwriter, but her roots are here in Tulsa, where she graduated from Union in 2011.
In our September issue Steve Hunt wrote about her and the song that is featured next:
In 2017 she wrote “How Lucky Am I” as a Valentine’s Day present for her husband, Cleto Cordero, also a Nashville-based recording artist. She then created a video using footage from their wedding and of them as a couple. That video generated nearly 9,000 views its first month on YouTube and to date has nearly 600,000 streams on Spotify.
“It took me so much time and I worked really hard on it, but it was worth it because it’s cool to look back and remember every little bit,” Butts says. “Every little clip is a good memory.”
Butts, the daughter of Tulsa homebuilder Bill Butts, performed this past April at Cain’s Ballroom and will perform Sept. 17 in Pryor as part of the Born and Raised Music Festival.
And with that here is Kaitlinn Butts with “How Lucky Am I.”
On this mini episode, About Town Editor Blayklee Freed gives a rundown of on-stage premieres in Tulsa, City Editor Morgan Phillips tells a story from the set of Stillwater and the conductor of a community orchestra shares his vision on how music can unify Tulsa.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes.
My guest on this episode has been providing the soundtrack for fun Sunday nights at the Colony for a decade. He’s also played just about every stage in Tulsa during his nearly 30-year career.
If there was a Mount Rushmore for modern Tulsa musicians Paul Benjaman’s sunglassed smiling face would be there representing the new Tulsa Sound.
Paul has toured all over the US and Europe, and played many music festivals, including representing our city and state’s music scene numerous times at South By Southwest.
Since 2010, he has been featured on multiple Horton Records releases, including a few studio albums. He also appears on the 2020 compilation “Back to Paradise: A Tulsa Tribute to Okie Music” where he covers JJ Cale, Don White, Steve Pryor and Teegarden & Van Winkle.”
Paul learned from legendary guitarist Junior Brown and has worked with Steve Earle, Jamie Johnson, George Porter Junior of The Meters, John Densmore of The Doors, Kris Kristofferson, Rita Coolidge, Gary Busey and many more. There was also an appearance on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon as sideman for the T Bone Burnett produced Secret Sisters.
When he’s not playing live music, he’s been helping others learn how to play guitar for 25 years through as an instructor at Guitar House of Tulsa. We featured a great article on the business earlier this year that is linked in the show notes.
We discuss his musical origins, his long career in music and what has kept him in Tulsa all this time. We talk about the current state of the music scene and what he’s got in the works and lots more.
Following our conversation, you can hear his song, “Sneaker.”
He is a really cool dude and a heck of a musician. I’m so happy we finally got the chance to talk.
A reminder: you can always find weekly music listings every Monday at TulsaPeople.com. Also, be sure to subscribe to this podcast channel, so you can hear all our featured conversations and our twice-monthly mini episodes of About Town.
OK let’s get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks with Paul Benjaman.
On the first Tulsa Talks mini episode, About Town, editors Morgan Phillips and Blayklee Freed discuss their favorite stories from the August magazine. Plus, Kristin Dotson of Celebrity Attractions shares her pandemic hobby, the best meal in Tulsa and the musical that still makes her cry.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes.
My guest on this episode is Gitzel Puente, who used to report the news at KJRH and now helps provide information as a communications staffer for the City of Tulsa. In her new role, she uses her bilingual expertise to share information with the Spanish-speaking media and constituents.
Gitzel is a first generation American, who moved to Tulsa in 2015 to work for the NBC affiliate, in what she planned on being a step up the TV news journalism ladder. As you’ll hear, she fell in love with the city and its people and decided to stay.
She talks about going from reporting the news to helping create it and what she’s learned along the way, but we spend a lot of time talking about her passions outside of her job.
Gitzel is active on numerous boards, including Tulsa Global Alliance and Circle Cinema, so of course we talk movies. She’s also an active participant in Tulsa’s French Club and talks about her love of other languages and why she’s now learning Italian.
If you follow her on Instagram, you’ll see the food posts, so of course we talked about some of our favorite meals in Tulsa.
This was a fun conversation. As you’ll hear we recorded this on a Friday morning after a long week, so we might have struggled to come up with some names and such, but it led to more laughs along the way.
Following my conversation with Gitzel, I’ll share new music from Winston Churchbus. More on that later.
Also, big podcast news! We’re launching a new podcast series on this channel next week. Catch new mini episodes called About Town starting August 11th. In the first episode City Editor Morgan Phillips and About Town Editor Blayklee Freed chat about their favorite stories from the August magazine, as well as things to do this month in Tulsa.
If you haven’t picked up an August issue, there might still be some on racks across Tulsa. You can also read the digital copy or the individual articles at TulsaPeople.com. There’s lot of good stuff in this issue, including a cover story on the Union High School Renegade Regiment marching band, plus the fall arts and festival guides and more.
OK, let’s get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks with Gitzel Puente.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes.
My guest on this episode is one of the busiest people in the Tulsa music scene. Rapper Steph Simon didn’t even let the COVID-19 pandemic slow him down.
In the last two months he’s been involved in two album releases. First there’s Fire In Little Africa, which features 60 artists on 21 tracks, most the artists are from Tulsa, and it’s mostly the artists way of talking about the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. The project was picked up by Motown Records and Steph was in New York City promoting the new album when we talked over Zoom on July 13.
The album debuted to critical acclaim, and it’s lead singles “Shining” and “Elevator” quickly climbed the streaming charts. Listening to Steph talk about making the album gave me chills. From the recording process at Greenwood Cultural Center to inside the mansion of the late Tate Brady, who helped orchestrate the race massacre, to wrapping up the recording sessions the day the world stopped, it’s an incredible story.
Then there’s Steph’s sixth studio album, Diamonds from the Tisdale, which dropped June 14. It’s another personal effort from the Tulsa-born and raised rapper, with many of the songs helping form his biography. The album is released under his and former NFL player Felix Jones label “Skyline Star Records.” Steph talks about how he’s balanced the two worlds when it comes to releasing on a major label versus his own.
One of my favorite tracks on the new album is “Skate Town,” and I was excited to hear the back story. I asked Steph if we could share it as the playout song, and he agreed, so after hearing us talk about it, make sure you give it a listen. There’s also a great video that is linked in the show notes.
I’ve watched Steph perform numerous times over the years and have always admired his style of rapping, so I was excited to get the opportunity to finally learn more about him, including the artists that inspired and motivated him. I could definitely hear the Biggie Smalls sound, but his main inspiration surprised me until he described it and now every time I listen to his music, I can’t help but hear the influence.
This fall, he’ll get the chance to be a hip-hop educator at McLain. We shared an article about the program last August, but the pandemic forced a delayed start to in-person classes till this fall. As you’ll hear, Steph is super excited about being a teacher and helping create creative pathways for the students.
When he’s not rapping or teaching, he’s helping book and promote shows like the recent World Culture Music Festival and the upcoming Curren$y show at Cain’s Ballroom on Aug. 20.
You can catch Steph and the rest of Fire In Little Africa when they open for Lil Baby at the BOK Center on Aug. 6.
I could have talked to Steph for hours, but like I said he’s a busy man. I had a great time getting to know him and it only made me respect and admire him even more. We’re lucky to have him making music here in Tulsa.
OK, let’s get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks with Steph Simon.
Alright, lace up those skates and get ready to roll. From Steph’s new album “Diamonds from the Tisdale,” here is “Skate Town.”
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes.
My guest on this episode is a household name in northeast Oklahoma for two reasons: her work as a journalist and for her many successes in fishing and hunting. Tess Maune is a veteran journalist for News on 6 and she just might be our state’s most famous noodler.
When she’s not sharing news, her social media feeds are full of pictures of her with standing in lake water holding a giant catfish or decked out in camo holding turkeys or deer. I wrote a profile about her in our July 2018 issue.
We kick off this conversation by talking about her love for the outdoors before moving on to her career in news.
Tess and I both attended Oklahoma State University’s journalism school at the same time, and then we ventured out into the real world where our paths crossed while she worked for KHOG 40/29 in Northwest Arkansas. In 2012, she took the job at News On 6, where she’s reported from major events and now kicks off the day as an anchor and reporter for 6 in the Morning. She also shares hunting and fishing photos submitted by viewers in her segment “Outdoor Adventures with Tess.”
Sometimes it’s hard to believe we’re both now veterans of the media industry. It just doesn’t seem possible. Tess and I discuss how TV news has evolved during her career and how she went from the newbie to being old enough to be a coworkers parent.
I’ve always been a big fan of Tess and her work, and I think it’s really cool that so many young people get to look up to her as a role model. She loves sharing stories about her fellow Oklahomans and she’s always working hard to do her best and continually get better. she genuinely loves what she does. She's twice been named Tulsa Press Club’s “Favorite Anchor/Reporter, and Tulsa Press Club also awarded her for “Best Use of Social Media by an Individual.”
She’s a great social media follow and does her best to stay connected with fans, We discuss the pros and cons that come with being that engaged on Facebook and Instagram.
I really enjoyed catching up with her. She’s a great ambassador for our field and someone I continue to look up to and learn from. Hopefully the next time we get together it’s in shallow water near a catfish hole. I’m ready to try to wrestle a big one out of the water.
Speaking of fishing, if you want to learn more about the history of fishing businesses in Tulsa and the best spots for fishing in the area, make sure to pick up a copy of our July issue or read the articles at TulsaPeople.com.
Following my conversation with Tess, I share the new single “While We’re Waiting” from Rushmore Beekeepers. You’ll want to make sure to give it a listen. More on it later.
OK, let’s get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks with Tess Maune.
In our July issue, Brandon Schmitz wrote about the duo that recorded this episode’s playout sing.
From the article:
After watching Wes Anderson’s 1998 film “Rushmore,” Zach Fountain says he knew that if he were to ever start a band, it would be called Rushmore Beekeepers.
Although this began as a solo project in 2001, Fountain has performed off and on with others throughout the years. These days, the Beekeepers are comprised of Fountain and his sister-in-law, Amanda Hawkins.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic the indie-folk duo composed one song per week from March 10, 2020, to March 2, 2021.
Now Fountain is using that work to create a 12-song album that is slated to drop Oct. 1. The duo will be performing at the Tiny Porch Festival on Sept. 25 in the historic Owen Park neighborhood.
Here is the album’s first sing
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes.
My guest on this episode has what I believe is one of the coolest jobs in the city. Lindsay Hutchison is Tulsa Zoo’s president and CEO. It’s a position she’s held for just under a year, but she’s worked for the zoo since 2005, and been hanging around the place her whole life.
Before being the leader of Tulsa’s most diverse animal kingdom, Lindsay served as Vice President of Philanthropy and Community Engagement for five years starting in 2015. A decade earlier she began as a development coordinator.
Throughout her career she established herself as a leader in fundraising, guest relations and external engagement. She oversaw fundraising for the amazing Lost Kingdom exhibit that includes a bridge that allows the Malayan tigers to walk over people and an indoor/outdoor space for the snow leopards to play. Most recently they opened the Helmerich playground, which was originally slated to be played on in the summer of 2020, but there was COVID-19.
Lindsay talks about how they responded to the pandemic by operating safely, and how zoo operations are returning back to normal for the most part, but advanced tickets are still required for now. Masks are optional.
The Zoo has changed a lot since she started working there. We discuss the changes she’s been a part of and how they’re fundraising for more new exhibits to house even more animals as part of the zoo’s master plan. Speaking of fundraisers, we talk about Waltz on the Wild Side moving to the fall and how this year’s theme will hopefully result in some guests doing their best Crockett and Tubbs impersonations.
I’ve known Lindsay for nearly a decade and have always admired her passion for the animals and staff that call Tulsa Zoo home. It was great to catch up with her in studio on June 4. As you’ll hear in this conversation, she really loves her job and our zoo and city is better because of it.
Following my conversation with Lindsay, I’ll share the new single from Pilgrim. More on that later.
Let’s get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks with Lindsay Hutchison.
I've been watching Beau Roberson play songs for audiences going back to 2007 when I spent many late nights on the second floor of McNellies and inside Colony listening to him and his friends play music.
Beau is the frontman and guitarist for Pilgrim, which dropped the new single “Pray for You” last week from the forthcoming Horton Records release “No Offense, Nevermind, Sorry” out June 25. It can be preordered at HortonRecords.Bandcamp.com.
About the song, Beau told Vents Magazine, which premiered the single on June 11:
“First off, it’s not about religion! It’s about a father who would go so far as to pray for his daughter’s confidence, mental health, and overall safety, even though he’s not a fan of praying.”
This is a good one. I’m excited to hear the rest of the album, but in the meantime, here’s Pilgrim with “Pray for You.”
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes.
The saying goes if you can’t beat them, join them, but for the Chamber it was if you can’t beat them, recruit them to come here to ensure you get the big wins down the road.
My guest on this episode is Arthur Jackson, who is fairly new to Tulsa having moved here from Austin a few months ago to become the new senior vice president of economic development for Tulsa Regional Chamber.
Jackson came to Tulsa having most recently served as senior director of economic development for the Austin Chamber of Commerce, where he helped recruit Elon Musk and his Tesla cyber truck factory to the Lone Star State, beating out Tulsa.
Shortly after arriving to the 918, Jackson was named a 2021 Economic Development 40 Under 40 Award recipient by Development Counsellors International (DCI) and Jorgenson Consulting. The award recognizes rising stars in the economic development industry.
Mike Neal, president and CEO of the Tulsa Regional Chamber had this to say about Jackson:
“Arthur has had great success as an economic development professional, and we at the Chamber are elated to see him receive this well-deserved recognition. It’s an honor to work alongside some of the best and brightest talent in the economic development profession, and Arthur has already shown himself to be a tremendous leader for our organization and for furthering northeast Oklahoma’s economic prosperity.”
As you’ll hear in this conversation recorded over Zoom on May 18, Jackson has hit the ground running. We discuss how he’s settled into his new role and started working to recruit businesses to open shop in a Tulsa metro that recently surpassed 1 million residents.
He discusses the emerging sectors and how we’re doing with our foundational economic drivers in energy. We also discuss how he’s working with the tribes and what it means for the city from an economic development standpoint as all eyes are on Tulsa as we commemorate the centennial of the Tulsa Race Massacre.
I’m excited to see all that he accomplishes for our city in the coming years.
Following my conversation with Jackson, I’ll share a new single from Omaley B that will be featured on the new compilation album: 1921... The Black Wall Street Project. More on that later.
OK, let’s get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks with Arthur Jackson.
This past weekend, Tulsa musician Omaley B performed on the main stage at Black Wall Street Legacy Festival and instantly brought everyone to their feet as soon as he started performing “Kerosene” from the upcoming 1921...The Black Wall Street Music Project. The single includes rapper Steph Simon.
On May 31-June 1, 1921, 35 city blocks in the Greenwood District were burned to the ground.
According to a recent press release announcing the album and single:
Omaleyb uses this lesson to fuel the passions of young people to achieve despite this dark stain on Tulsa and America's history. When he sings "My citys on fire!" it's less of a look backwards, than a look forward firing up the next generation. He declares "the proof is in the youth" -and he should know, given his recent crowning as "Teacher of the Month" by Tulsa Public Schools.
The album is slated to drop this summer. It will also feature 3-time Grammy nominee Taylor Hanson, singer Branjae, Spoken Word poets Kode Ransom, Jerica Wortham, and Sterling Matthews. It will also spotlight Dane Arnold from Dane & The Soup, Tulsa hip hop pioneers Dangerous Rob and Playya 1000, newcomer JANNAH, 80 year old jazz master Washington Rucker, and a posthumous premiere by bassist Wayman Tisdale.
I can’t wait to hear the whole album.
And with that here is Omaley B with “Kerosene.”
Welcome to a bonus episode of Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes.
On May 18, Scott Ellsworth published “The Ground Breaking: An American City and Its Search for Justice.” That American city is Tulsa, which is Ellsworth’s hometown.
In 1982 he published “Death in a Promised Land,” which brought the story of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre to national attention for the first time in six decades. It became the most stolen book at the library, which is also where Ellsworth first saw the original newspaper stories through microfilm as a middle schooler in the late 60s.
In his book, Ellsworth recounts his nearly five decades of research and work that includes helping the Tulsa Race Riot Commission, which he co-authored the report in 2001. A couple years ago he received a call from Deputy Mayor Amy Brown asking for his help in the mass graves search. Last fall at Oaklawn, they found 12 bodies that could be from the massacre. They will start the excavation process on June 1.
I interviewed the historian about his new book on May 11 through Zoom, while he was back at his office at the University of Michigan. There was so much great content that I couldn’t share it all in print, so by the end of our conversation I asked if I could share the audio as this bonus episode.
We cover a lot of topics in our conversation. We discuss how the book came to be, what it’s been like building a story out of mostly oral histories and what work there is still to be done. Have you heard the stories about pilots dropping bombs on Greenwood? Ellsworth shares insight into what he believes was mostly likely tossed from planes during the tragic events.
He shares his thoughts on whether there should be a criminal trial, the need for reparations, which he says is better described as restitution, and what we’re supposed to do after commemorating the centennial to ensure the story continues to be told. He also shares what parts of the history mystery he’s still working to solve.
OK, let’s get to it.
Here is my conversation with Scott Ellsworth about his phenomenal new book, “The Ground Breaking.”
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes.
At the end of May and early June, all eyes will be on Tulsa as the city commemorates the centennial of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. There will be a nationally televised event at ONEOK Field featuring Stacey Abrams and John Legend, plus more. There will be a candlelight vigil to remember the victims of one of the worst acts of terrorism in US history and many other events over the next few weeks.
On June 2, Greenwood Rising history center will open at the corner of Greenwood and Archer. It will tell the story of Greenwood before and after the Massacre.
My guest on this episode is Phil Armstrong, project director for the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission. He’s been overseeing the numerous events for dedications, donations and groundbreakings, while also helping oversee the construction of Greenwood Rising.
He’s been a very busy man.
When we talked on Monday, May 10, it was hours before a contentious meeting in response to then commission member Governor Kevin Stitt’s signing of HB1775, which the commission stated goes against their mission.
In a May 11 letter to the governor after he failed to show for the meeting, Armstrong wrote:
“As a Centennial Commission member, surely you know that the vigorous exchange of ideas through education lies at the heart of our mission. Telling the story of 1921 requires confronting and sharing the facts about this horrific period in Oklahoma’s and Tulsa’s history. It also demands an exploration of the underlying causative factors. HB 1775 chills the ability of educators to teach students, of any age, and will only serve to intimidate educators who seek to reveal and process our hidden history.”
On May 14, the commission removed Stitt from its roster. In this conversation, you’ll hear more of the backstory and also why they opted to keep US Senator James Lankford on the commission after his comments helped fuel the big lie and the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol just days after the senator shared a virtual speech at a commission event calling for unity and reconciliation.
A native of Ohio, Armstrong has made Tulsa his home for more than 20 years. He has a varied background in the corporate sector and as an entrepreneur in the restaurant business and has been actively engaged in the community by serving on several non-profit boards. He discusses what brought him to Tulsa and why he’s stayed.
He also shares more info on Greenwood Rising and what he hopes to do after the commission ceases operations after June 30.
Following my conversation with Armstrong, I share some of About Town Editor Blayklee Freed’s interview with Jerica Wortham about the Greenwood Art Project. More on that later.
OK, let’s get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks with Phil Armstrong.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes and I’m addicted to Mexican food.
I could eat Mexican food for every meal, every day and not once complain. There are so many different options and then different takes on the dishes. The more I learn about it the more I want to explore and try everything.
So you can imagine how excited I was that we feature a Tulsa taco guide in our May issue. We break down nine different types of tacos and 18 places to get them, including Calaveras Mexican Grill, located in the Kendall Whittier District. It’s also a food truck, which has been the Molina family’s primary operation since 2020.
My guest on this episode is David Molina. He’s continuing his family’s tradition to feed people delicious authentic Mexican food. His parents immigrated from Jalisco, Mexico, to California in 1993 and then relocated to Tulsa, and as you’ll hear they’ve been operating restaurants throughout Tulsa ever since.
David is a first-generation American and a native Tulsan, who has grown up in a city that is a lot different than when his parents settled here 24 years ago. Today, you’ll most likely find him somewhere around Tulsa slinging tacos out their food truck window.
They kicked off the month at the Jenks Food Truck Festival and had a line around the block shortly after they opened the window. In this conversation recorded April 27 on Zoom, we discuss how much fun it is to run a food truck and toward the end of the conversation he shares their upcoming schedule and the best way to book them for your event.
Anytime I have the opportunity to discuss Mexican food with an expert, I have to ask the burning questions like is a burrito a taco and does Taco Bell count as Mexican food? He answers those questions and more.
I had a great time getting to know David and learning more about his and his family’s role in the Tulsa food scene.
Following my conversation with David, I’m sharing Sarah Frick’s cover of the classic Dwight Twilley song “I’m on Fire.” More on that later.
OK, let’s get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks with David Molina.
****
Forty six years ago in April, Tulsa musician Dwight Twilley released his debut single “I’m on Fire,” which would go on to peak at No. 16 on the Billboard 100 in the summer of 1975.
Fast forward to February 2020 when Golden Ones frontwoman Sarah Frick stood at the microphone ready to put her touch on the Twilley classic. Inside the late Leon Russell’s famed Paradise Studio, Frick sang about how you ain’t got no lover while surrounded by an all-star slate of current Tulsa musicians helping bring the song and Tulsa’s rich music history back to life as part of Horton Record’s “Back to Paradise: A Tulsa Tribute to Okie Music,” now available at HortonRecords.org.
I love the original version, but Frick’s cover might replace it as my go-to version. There’s just something about her vocals that transforms the song into a bluesy, more soulful, more rock n roll version, and of course it helps to have Jesse Aycock and Paul Benjaman on the guitars. After enjoying this song make sure you check out the video directed by Justin France and 8X8 Productions.
I really hope I get to hear her perform this live somewhere around Tulsa soon. Speaking of which, you can always find the latest Tulsa Music Listings at TulsaPeople.com.
Here is Sarah Frick’s “I’m on Fire.”
****
This episode produced by Morgan Phillips and Tim Landes.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes.
We are about one month out from the centennial of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. It was one of the worst acts of domestic terrorism in US history, and we’re still learning about it a century later as we work on reconciliation.
Often the stories are bleak. Hundreds of dead. 35 city blocks destroyed. Businesses lost. The Greenwood we now know is nothing like what it once was. Before the Massacre it was a thriving economy.
It took a while to get going again, but Black Wall Street did come back to life in a big way following the horrific events of 1921. My guest on this episode is Carlos Moreno. He’s devoted a lot of time to focusing on the Victory of Greenwood, which is also the name of his upcoming book being released in mid-May.
I had the opportunity to read some of it before it went to press, and as I say in our conversation, it’s a book that’s needed for the library on the history of Greenwood and our city.
Carlos also wrote the second part in our ongoing series on Greenwood for our April issue. His story focuses on the renewal following the Massacre and also the destruction that came through the creation of the Inner Dispersal Loop that cuts through the heart of Greenwood Ave and creates a concrete segregation line dividing North Tulsa from the rest. He also examines the failures of Model Cities and Urban Renewal, often called “Urban Removal.”
Carlos moved here just over two decades ago from California. He didn’t know about the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre when he arrived. As you’ll hear in this conversation recorded over Zoom, a work opportunity created an academic obsession for Carlos that has only grown over time.
His research and numerous writings and upcoming book make up a long running passion project. By day he’s a graphic designer for CAP Tulsa, which was once again named one of the best nonprofits to work for in the country. It is Oklahoma's largest anti-poverty nonprofit organization and a national leader in early childhood education. He also volunteers with Code for Tulsa, working to make local government work for the people, by the people, in the 21st century.
Carlos serves on the board of Urban Coders Guild which teaches programming skills to disadvantaged youth, as well as the Open Source Software Development Education Advisory Board at Tulsa University, the Advisory Board for the City of Tulsa’s Office of Performance Strategy and Innovation, the Gilcrease Museum Community Advisory Council, and the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) MPA Advisory Board.
I enjoyed having the opportunity to talk to him about all the great work he’s doing in Tulsa and how his work at CAP is instrumental in making our city’s future bright.
This is Tulsa Talks with Carlos Moreno.
30 years ago this week, Nirvana played “Smells Like Teen Spirit” for the first time. When it was released months later it was like they dropped a bomb on the musical landscape, changing it forever. What followed was a musical revolution led by grungy young musicians creating a sound that was stripped down and just as grungy as their aesthetic.
Fast forward to today and Tulsan Kylie Slabby aka Ramona and the Phantoms has recently released the new album, “Marmalade and Blood.” Among the first singles is the track “Happy,” which sounds like it came straight out of the mid 90s, and that’s a good thing. The accompanying video even looks like it was filmed then.
In a world dominated by auto-tuned singing and generic synthesized music, it makes my ears happy to hear the grunge sound is still alive and well and continuing to evolve through the musicianship of people like Kylie.
Produced by Morgan Phillips and Tim Landes
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes.
It’s been 100 years since All Souls Unitarian Church was founded by Richard Lloyd Jones, publisher of the Tulsa Tribune, and William R. Holway, a civil engineer behind the Spavinaw water project that provided drinking water to Tulsa.
Jones name may sound familiar. His writings in his afternoon paper helped fuel the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre two months after he co-founded the church.
My guest on this episode is Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, senior minister of All Souls. It’s not only his job to lead the congregation each Sunday, but also to help reconcile the past. As you’ll hear in this conversation it’s a complicated, messy history, but there are also some truly remarkable achievements along the way.
We covered some of the church’s history with a story in our March issue. In this conversation recorded April 1 on Zoom, Reverend Lavanhar dives deeper into the that history and discusses how they’re re-examining their past and how they’re continuing a long mission of working toward equality in today’s Tulsa.
Marlin grew up in Chicago then relocated to New Orleans where he graduated from Tulane with a degree in sociology. He and friend then spent three years traveling the planet to learn about the world’s religions. After that life changing adventure, he attended Harvard University School of Divinity where in 1999 he earned a Masters in divinity.
In 2000, All Souls came calling. As you’ll hear, shortly after he and his family settled in Tulsa, the 1921 Race Riot Commission released its findings on the tragic events that occurred May 31 and June 1, 1921. That opened the door for work to be done by the reverend and his church.
In 1957 the church moved to its current location at 29th and Peoria. Today more than 1,800 adults call All Souls their spiritual home, making it the largest unitarian church in the country. According to the church it is a welcoming community. Everyone, regardless of age, race, culture, economic status, gender identity or sexual orientation is welcome.
We start the conversation with All Souls at 100 and how they’ve been able to continue hosting services for a fast growing global online audience throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. We also discuss the role of the church in today’s Tulsa and why they’re working to achieve equality for all who call this city home.
Following my conversation with Rev. Lavanhar, I share an excerpt from my recent Q&A with Tulsa composer Barron Ryan, who just released his new album “First of Its Kind,” and the song “If I Don’t See You Again.” More on that later.
Barron Ryan kicked off the year being named one of Smithsonian Magazine's "Ten Innovators to Watch in 2021." He followed that up with his first release of all original compositions with "First of Its Kind," and I can't stop listening to it.
It’s also his first attempt to infuse other genres of music he admires into his classical songs.
Included on the album is the song “If I Don’t See You Again,” which you can hear in a moment. There are no lyrics to song yet, but Ryan encourages anyone to create them. He has published his music in the public domain. While there are no lyrics, there is a story behind the song.
You can read the full interview at TulsaPeople.com and it is linked in the notes. And with that here is Barron Ryan’s “If I Don’t See You Again."
This episode is produced by Morgan Phillips and Tim Landes.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes.
Has anybody else noticed we’re going through a sort of modern age renaissance period in Tulsa? Some may hear Renaissance and only think legendary artists, but it was also a period of social change. Hear me out.
The arts are alive and thriving like never before in Tulsa, and with that comes messages of resiliency and calls for change. Drive anywhere around town and there’s a good chance you’ll see a bright, vibrant mural that tells a story and/or promotes a business, organization, neighborhood or district. And there are some that are just fun.
There are multiple art museums, numerous galleries and exhibits being shown wherever artists can find wall space. Artists are selling paintings, prints and apparel through their Instagram and Pintrest.
There are galleries in Brookside, on Admiral, on Greenwood and inside the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center. Many of the paintings have small stickers on the nameplate indicating they’re sold.
A message painted on Greenwood caused a lot of controversy in the summer of 2020 and was eventually removed by the City. It stated Black lives matter.
Philbrook just launched the new exhibit “From the Limitations of Now,” which spans the museum and officials say “reflects on the important ways art and literature allow us to examine America’s past and picture a future in which, in the words of renowned Oklahoma author Ralph Ellison, “we are able to free ourselves from the limitations of today.”
My guest on this episode is Alexander Tamahn. His work along with many other local artists is on display at Philbrook through September 5. He contributed to a mural titled “Time Travel” with his friends in Black Moon Collective. They also did the BLM mural by the railroad tracks between Archer and First off Greenwood.
Alexander is on a prolific tear right now. He has work showing at ahha and recently contributed to a Gathering Place exhibit. It was a massive beautiful painting he did in a week because he’s that talented and always creating for the next thing.
He’s so busy we had to squeeze in time for this conversation as he was leaving Philbrook and traveling to another destination to discuss another upcoming art show. We talk about his incredible year of art.
If you’ve seen the beautiful faces on the wall outside of Fulton Street Books, that’s Alexander’s work. He also contributed to the mural of Black community leaders on the wall of the Metro by T-Mobile across from McLain. He’s got more work all over the place.
Alexander is also a teacher and an ORU graduate with a background in psychology. I met him a few years ago when he and other Teach for America teachers painted a mural with students through their after school project called Disrupt. We discuss why he enjoys teaching art to young people and more in this chat.
Following my conversation with him, I share an audio excerpt from my recent interview with Casii Stephan about her new single “Here Comes the Light,” which she graciously shared with us to share with you. More on that later.
This episode is produced by Tim Landes and Morgan Phillips.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes.
Annie Ellicott, my guest on this episode, has been singing most of her life. In elementary school she was a member of the Tulsa Youth Opera. Her first solo performance came at 15 as a Central High School student when she performed “Orange Colored Sky” made famous by Nat King Cole. By 16 she was doing paid gigs and has barely slowed down since.
In 2016 she released her first album of original material, Lonesome Goldmine. There was a previous release of jazz standards in 2009 and hundreds of shows in between throughout the US and Europe.
While living on the West Coast, Ellicott landed an appearance in a Jeff Goldblum concert that turned into many more shows. If you weren’t aware, yes, I’m talking about the actor who played The Fly, Jurassic Park’s Dr. Ian Malcolm and hosted a Disney+ show. She shares the story on how it came to be and what it was like in this conversation recorded Feb. 22 on Zoom.
Nowadays when she’s not singing, Ellicott is using her vocal talents in voice acting. She voices the title character of the Soundbooth Theater audio dramedy “Space Buns.” Ellicott does the voice of Ruby Little aka Space Buns and also the voices of a couple of the mice inside Ruby’s head. She also serves as the songwriter for the series that is co-created by her friend Emily Labes.
We feature Ellicott in our March issue, and writer Destiny Lyons has this to say about the show’s premise:
“The dramedy’s main character, Ruby Little, aka Space Buns, is an aspiring comic book writer who struggles to balance reality and fantasy. After a freak accident the night Ruby is supposed to pitch her idea, the distinction between the two blur even more.”
Ellicott discusses how the COVID-19 has impacted her musical career and how it’s opened the door to new opportunities like Space Buns that have forced her to grow as an artist.
If you want to check out episodes of her new series and sign up to be notified when new episodes drop, visit soundbooththeater.com. A note, the artwork for Space Buns was created by Tulsa’s own Jeremy Luther, so be sure to check it out as well.
I really enjoyed getting to know Annie and learning about her creative process. Be sure to check out the song after our conversation. More on that later.
OK, let’s get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks with Annie Ellicott.
In “Space Buns” Annie Ellicott is not only the lead voice actor, but also the series’ songwriter. To close out this episode we’re sharing a song from the first episode. “The Three Visionarily Impaired Mice” was produced by Mark Kuykendall and is available as part of the episode at Soundbooththeater.com.
Here is Annie Ellicott with “The Three Visionarily Impaired Mice.”
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes.
If you’ve gone out to listen to live music at The Colony, Fassler Hall or elsewhere and then bought a Tulsa musician’s album in the last 15 years, there’s a good chance it’s a Horton Records release. Brian Horton, founder of Horton Records is my guest on this episode.
Horton discusses the history of his nonprofit record label and how he’d maybe done things differently after all he’s learned since he started the label around 2005. He also talks about the good and bad of coining the term “New Tulsa Sound,” which has stuck since he released a compilation of Tulsa musicians in 2010.
In this conversation recorded over Zoom on February 8th, Horton discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted bands and live music, plus he talks about the current trends in music, including the comeback of cassette tapes.
Despite the pandemic slowing down shows, Horton Records continues to release new music, including Back to Paradise a Tulsa tribute to Okie music, which dropped in August. On the album 20 Tulsa musicians pay tribute to Oklahoma artists from the past. Recorded at Leon Russell’s former Paradise Studio. They knocked out 17 songs in 4 days. We close this episode with Jesse Aycock’s cover of Gypsy Trips’ Rock n Roll Gypsies. More on that later.
It should be noted this isn’t Horton’s full time job. Just his passion project/side hustle to help keep Tulsa’s music scene alive and thriving.
I had a great time chatting about Tulsa music with Brian Horton. His hard work has helped provide many nights of entertainment for me over the years. There are few things better than enjoying a Sunday night jam session with Paul Benjaman and his friends at the Colony.
I feel like this was just the beginning of our chats about music.
OK, let’s get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks with Brian Horton.
We’re closing this episode with Jesse Aycock’s cover of Rock N Roll Gypsies, which is a part of the Horton Records compilation Back to Paradise: A Tulsa Tribute to Okie Music. Here is what fellow musician Cody Clinton had to say about Jesse Aycock:
Jesse Aycock is one of the people that made this place a music town again. Not city developers. Not music museums. Not restaurant owners. This dude.
I couldn’t say it better myself. Here is Jesse Aycock and friends with Rock N Roll Gypsies.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes.
On the first day of January, YWCA Tulsa CEO Julie Davis stood at the podium of the Centennial Year Launch program for the upcoming 100th commemoration of the Tulsa Race Massacre.
She was there to announce the launch of the nonprofit organization’s Tulsa Triumphs initiative, which is a commitment to eliminate racism through pledges to do things like shop local Black businesses or learn more about our city’s past. The mission of eliminating racism is one of the YWCA’s main goals as a nonprofit organization.
Julie joins me on this episode to talk about Tulsa Triumphs and about the tangible ways she and her staff are investing in the Black community as part of their pledge. She also talks about the other ways the nonprofit are working to empower women and help our community flourish.
She joined YWCA as CEO in 2017 and leads an organization that started locally in 1914. Seven years later, after one of the worst race massacres in U.S. history occurred, the YWCA opened a center in north Tulsa to provide shelter, hot meals and job training for young Black women who were forced into homeless after at least 35 city blocks were burned to the ground.
A decade later they helped women and their families during the Great Depression. They have also focused on helping immigrants who arrive in Tulsa looking for a new start in a new land of opportunity by providing citizenship services, legal services and education like English language classes.
Today, that includes the program Flourish Tulsa, which is a partnership between YWCA, TCC, Workforce Tulsa and the City of Tulsa. We feature an article about the program in our February issue and Julie discussed it and more in this zoom conversation recorded in late January.
Julie’s a native of Missouri but has called Tulsa home since attending TU for her masters. We talk about her time in Tulsa and why she’s devoted her career to working for nonprofits, and how being a mom of two girls impacts her work.
I had a great time getting to know Julie and learning more about her and the important work the YWCA is doing in Tulsa. You can learn more about all their programs, including in health and wellness at YWCATulsa.org.
Following that conversation, a new song from Saugeye, which just released their debut album. More on that later.
OK, let’s get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks with Julie Davis.
Saugeye is a Tulsa band named after avid fisherman and band frontman Jared Tyler’s favorite catch, a hybrid blend of the walleye and sauger. The band members describe their sound as hybrid roots music, and you can hear it here with the single “Keystone Lillie.” On January 29th, Horton Records celebrated the release of Saugeye’s self-titled debut, which is now available at HortonRecords.BandCamp.Com. Sidenote, Brian Horton will be our guest on the next episode of Tulsa Talks.
Here is Saugeye’s “Keystone Lillie.”
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I'm your host Tim Landes.
My guest on this episode had a very busy and productive 2020, and for that we recognized her as one of our Tulsans of the Year in our January issue.
Dr. Tiffany Crutcher helped launch three weeks of protests in response to police brutality, she helped put together a Juneteenth celebration that brought lots of joy to the community the day before Donald Trump visited Tulsa and she helped out her friend Greg Robinson in his mayoral campaign that saw him finish second. She continued her work with the Terence Crutcher Foundation, which she founded and serves as executive director. She helped restore the home of a 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre survivor and in December, Hollywood star Kerry Washington donated $20,000 to the nonprofit, which Crutcher then distributed to 10 local charities.
We covered a lot of topics in a Zoom conversation recorded the second week of January. She recaps her year and what's driving her in 2021 as we approach the 100th commemoration of the Tulsa Race Massacre. She's one of many who feel reparations are owed to the survivors and descendants. While many wonder what that would cost, Crutcher says it's about more than dollar signs.
It's been over four years since her brother Terence was killed by a Tulsa Police officer. She discusses how she continues to fight for criminal justice reform and shares her thoughts on what she wants to see from the City of Tulsa in terms of changes in policing.
Crutcher also reflects on the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol insurrection and how it reminded her of the unspeakable horror of what occurred in Tulsa on May 31 and June 1, 1921.
She also talks about what it means to be featured as one of the many rising Black community leaders in a new mural created by Black Moon Tulsa. It can be seen at the Metro by T-Mobile at 4704 N. Peoria across the street from McClain High School.
It's a powerful conversation that captures Crutcher's passion for social justice and the need for changes to be made in Tulsa to further unify our community.
Following that conversation I'll share a new song from Tulsa rocker's Golden Ones. More on them later.
Let's get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks with Dr. Tiffany Crutcher.
To close out this episode, Golden Ones is sharing their song, "No Plan" off their debut album "Nowhere Fast."
Writer Julie Watson had this to say about the album in our January issue:
"This debut album, released Nov. 27, takes its cues from the best of ’70s rock and roll — plenty of energy, lots of glam and no shortage of infectious melodies. Sarah Frick is perfectly at ease fronting the quartet with her powerful vocals, backed by Sean Fisher on guitar, husband Jesse Frick on bass and Jay Sullivan on drums."
Here is Golden Ones with "No Plan."
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes.
2020 was a doozy of a year. In our January issue we recognize the efforts of many Tulsans in many sectors, who did important and great work. Those are just the representatives for all of you, so thank you.
Last summer, Tulsans re-elected G.T. Bynum to lead the City and its residents for a second term. He too is one of our Tulsans of the Year.
About six months ago he appeared on Tulsa Talks to discuss how 2019’s historic flooding had prepared him for his COVID-19 response.
He and I chatted again on Dec. 21 via Zoom. This time the mayor reflects on the second half of the year, including his thoughts on his re-election victory and the politicizing of masks. He looks back at his first term and also discusses what he hopes to achieve over the next four years.
That work includes responding to demands for criminal justice reform and policing. Bynum discusses the steps he’s taking to make improvements, including the new partnership with Family and Children Service’s that provides police officers the opportunity to take people dealing with mental health issues to the CrisisCare Center.
Following that conversation, City Editor Morgan Phillips shares her interview with Tulsa Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Deborah Gist.
Since March, students have spent most the year distance learning or on extended breaks. As part of our Tulsan of the Year coverage, Morgan wrote about the tireless efforts of parents, teachers and school officials throughout 2020.
One of those people is Gist. Since we didn’t get to share everything she had to say about the year in the magazine article, we wanted to share the full conversation with you here.
She talks about how the evolution of findings in science and data has impacted the school district’s decisions throughout the year. The superintendent shares what has impressed her about TPS teachers and talks about the need for substitute teachers to ensure classes continue when students return to classrooms this month. She also reflects on the passionate positions of those on all sides of all the issues and more in this important conversation.
Following that interview, we close with new music from Tulsa’s own Freak Juice. You’ll definitely want to listen to “Hole in the Wall.” More on that later.
OK let’s get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks
In our January issue, writer Julie Watson has this to say about Freak Juice’s new album “They Call Us Juice,” which includes the song “Hole in the Wall” you’ll soon hear:
"This funky, R&B infused album released Nov. 13 by guitarist and composer Tori Ruffin rocks as hard as it grooves. Ruffin, who has toured and recorded with names like Prince and Morris Day, doesn’t shy away from hard topics, including politics (“Hypocrite”) and the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre (“Dirty Little Secret”), wrapping his message in some seriously great musicianship."
For more updates about the band visit facebook.com/freakjuice
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I'm your host Tim Landes.
Anybody who loves going to the movies has a story about the first time they sat in front of the big screen and enjoyed a show. That buttery popcorn. The sticky floor. First come first serve on seating.
Maggie Brown, director of exhibits at Tulsa Historical Society and Museum, is my guest on this episode. She too is interested in people's Tulsa. movie theater memories. Maggie is co-writing with Steve Clem the book titled "Tulsa Movie Theaters." They've been collecting those memories to share the stories of long lost theaters with fancy names like the Dreamland, the Orpheum, the Majestic, The Ritz. Well before the time of the AMCs and Cinemarks.
My earliest movie theater memories, as you'll hear in this conversation recorded over Zoom, go back to the days of Eastland Mall, when the movie theater was the main attraction of the lower level. Flanked on either side by Cheese on a Stick, the arcade and the pizza shop. Now that area is the host of the Oklahoma Dept of Public Safety. There is no popcorn, but often long lines to get in.
My Tulsa movie theater memories only go back a few decades, so not nearly as far as Maggie and Steve are going in their book that shares stories dating back a century ago.
It was fun to chat with Maggie and hear about all the fun stuff they're discovering along the way. There are some mysteries still out there like how the Ritz was able to have moving clouds swirling near the ceiling? If you know the answer to how they made it happen or want to share any of your movie memories, there is a form to fill out through the new year at TulsaHistory.org.
We close our conversation with what else is happening at the history center and what's to come. If you have a history buff in your family, a membership to their museum is a great gift idea as are the selection of gifts in their shop.
Following my conversation with Maggie, I share the song "This Ol' Town" by Scott Aycock. It's a good one. More on that later.
OK let's get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks with Maggie Brown.
Scott Aycock preview:
When offering up his song "This Ol' Town" Scott Aycock had this to say:
“The song I am choosing is one of my personal favorites, this week at least. It changes from week to week so I guess that's a good thing. It is called "This Ol' Town."
The story behind the song according to him is this:
“I grew up in a small town in Northeast Arkansas, in the delta. This song, though could be about any small town, America. We drove from one teen hangout to the next, it became a familiar pattern. I got to thinking about how when your young your caught between wanting to grow up and wanting to stay young. Thus this song.”
You can find more of his music at
https://scottaycock.bandcamp.com/releases
Here is "This Ol' Town" by Scott Aycock.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes.
We are now in the giving season. It’s the time of year when we give local businesses money in exchange for gifts that we then give to someone else… or we enjoy ourselves.
Sasha Malchi, my guest on this episode, has been in the retail business for nearly a decade. She like every other small business owner in Tulsa needs you to shop local this month more than ever before. Not only does your purchases support them, but it supports their employees, and it supports our city’s efforts to do everything because we rely heavily on sales tax in this city and state.
If you’re a regular listener of this podcast, you’ve heard Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell, Mayor G.T. Bynum, Visit Tulsa’s Ray Hoyt, Magic City Book’s Jeff Martin, Buck Atom’s Mary Beth Babcock and more talk about the importance of spending money in our community. You can add Sasha to the list.
In this conversation Sasha discusses how challenging this year has been to run a small business retail operation during a pandemic. Her business Shoppe Sasha is located in Brookside to the north of Pei Wei and just to the east of Ribbons at 35th and South Peoria.
As you’ll hear, running a small business wasn’t easy when the world is normal and it’s only become way more challenging in 2020, but Sasha still loves what she does.
She takes us behind the scenes and shares insights into how they manage inventory and plan for the holiday months as soon as the holidays end. She talks about her philosophy on how small businesses should work as a community, but still be independent by being unique in what they carry.
Sasha has been in Brookside long enough she’s witnessed lots of changes, including her own business location. Her store used to be located in the area where Trader Joe’s now exists. She talks about how the district has evolved and what she hopes to see in the future.
In our December issue and at TulsaPeople.com we feature Sasha and some of the home interiors, as well as items for the kitchen, entertaining, jewelry, baby and giftables she has for sale in her shop.
This is an important conversation that many Tulsans can relate to. If you know a small business owner, reach out and check on them and more importantly spend money at their store or restaurant.
If you haven’t subscribed to this podcast, please do. We are already making plans for our 2021 winter and spring lineup. Let us know on our social media channels if there’s someone you’d like to hear from next year.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes.
My guest on this episode is Branjae Jackson, commonly referred to as Branjae or the Count Tutu singer who has a lot of energy and has a lot of fun.
She’s a force to be reckoned with on the stage and is growing into being one in the activism world.
Earlier this year, the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd launched the biggest protest movement in global history, and Branjae took part locally and at the national stage.
She’s featured in our November issue in a story about her trip to Washington D.C. to celebrate the 57th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. It was a speech that preceded the civil rights act by two years.
As you’ll hear in this conversation, she hasn’t always been politically charged to make change. She didn’t always think about using a microphone as a bullhorn to call for racial justice and criminal justice reform, but she’s embraced the opportunity and is charging forward. We discuss when and how she realized she needed to learn more and do more.
The pandemic postponed live music in Tulsa, but Branjae has continued to work hard on career. She talks about how the shutdown forced her to explore new avenues like acting and dancing in the new movie “Finding Carlos” which is a family friendly adaptation of the Nutcracker. She discovered she could reach a much larger audience online and could have fun playing small shows on people’s porches.
Branjae earned the 2020 Black Wall Street Music Award for Best Female Artist and has had four nominations for Tulsa Music Awards, as well as a nomination for Best Social Justice Video in the Independent Music Awards, which honor Indie music projects from around the world.
In addition to fighting for racial justice, Branjae also speaks out against domestic violence, something we talk about in this conversation. In 2019, she co-directed the music video for her song “Street Light,” which tells the story of surviving domestic violence and highlights community support for victims. Billboard Magazine premiered the project, and Branjae published an op-ed on Afropunk — a national arts and culture website dedicated to promoting social awareness — about how “Street Light” came to be. We have included that song at the end of this episode.
I really enjoyed having this conversation with Branjae and getting to know her better. I’ve long admired her musical talents and the way she can lure in the audience with her performance, and now I have even more respect for her as a strong voice in our community wanting to make Tulsa an even better place.
OK, let’s get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks with Branjae.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes.
When many people think of Native Americans in the movies and television, they think of savages who are the sworn enemy of the white hat cowboy. Or maybe they take in a lost white man and show them their ways. There’s always face paint and teepees. If it deals with modern issues, it’s often the FBI or the government coming in to help the tribe solve a crime.
My guest on this episode is doing all he can to change all that. Sterlin Harjo is a Seminole and Muscogee Creek filmmaker, who calls Tulsa home.
He recently wrapped production on the pilot for his FX show “Reservation Dogs.” It’s a semi-autobiographical story about being a teen on a reservation. He’s working on the project with his friend and mentor, Oscar winner Taika Waititi, who collected an Academy Award earlier this year making him the first indigenous winner ever... in 2020.
I’ve known Sterlin for many years. In our past I worked for Cherokee Nation Businesses when he co-created Osiyo, Voices of the Cherokee People, which shares the stories and history about my tribe.
He’s made three feature films and multiple documentaries, directed TV shows and has more projects in the works, including with my favorite actor Ethan Hawke. You’ll be able to hear my excitement when he talks some about that project.
We discuss native representation in Hollywood, and how he’s serving as a trailblazer to end Hollywood stereotypes and create stories today’s native population can relate to while educating others. We also discuss his work with the popular Native comedy troupe The 1491s, which continues to find ways to create comedy during the pandemic.
It’d been a while since Sterlin and I got to have a lengthy chat, so we had lots to talk about when we recorded this conversation by phone a couple weeks ago.
This is a fun one, and also an important conversation. After you’ve listened to it give us a rating and subscribe to ensure you’re alerted when our next episode drops.
Ok, let’s get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks with Sterlin Harjo.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes.
In a normal year, we would have recently celebrated Oktoberfest. We also would have enthusiastically taken part in Tulsa Tough weekend, and watched as super humans competed in the Iron Man competition. There would have been sold out shows at concert venues and the hotels would have been at capacity many nights.
According to Tulsa Regional Tourism, more than 9 million people visit Tulsa a year and spend more than a billion dollars in the community in a normal year.
As we all know 2020 has been far from anywhere remotely close to normal.
My guest on this episode is Ray Hoyt, president of Tulsa Regional Tourism. If there’s anybody in Tulsa who has a grasp on the impacts the COVID-19 pandemic has had on Tulsa’s tourism business, it’s Ray.
When he came to Tulsa in September 2010, the BOK Center was a couple years old and Oneok Field was in its first year. Guthrie Green was still a parking lot and there were a lot less attractions in the Arts District.
As you’ll hear in this conversation, he wasn’t sold on Tulsa when first asked about the job opportunity, but that obviously changed.
Over the last decade has overseen our city’s tourism efforts as the city has grown to welcome the millions of visitors who aren’t just driving through or connecting flights at Tulsa international Airport.
The recent addition of the Gathering Place and it’s national coverage in USA Today, the New York Times and more helped make Ray’s job a little easier. There’s also the resurgence of Route 66. We talk about both.
Tulsa Tough and its Cry Baby Hill will return. Iron Man is rescheduled for 2021. There are new museums being built and older ones going through renovations. We discuss all those great things still to come.
For Ray, his attention is currently on helping safely reopen Tulsa because the city needs to have hotels, restaurants, museums and stores open for visitors to return. He shares the importance of the Tulsa Safely program as we progress toward the holidays and new year.
In this conversation we recorded on Sept. 28, Ray discusses how tourism is slowly coming back seven months after the pandemic shut down our city.
In a city and state where the budget is largely funded from tax dollars, it’s vitally important our city’s leaders find ways to help our local businesses generate revenues.
As you’ll hear, Ray is passionate about his job and he and his team are working hard to help Tulsa recover and then resume its mission to become a major tourist draw in the middle in the of the U.S. And if there’s one thing we have going for us, it’s that the Mother Road runs right through the middle of town.
I enjoyed chatting with Ray and learning from him. We’re in good hands.
Following my conversation, The Voice digital editor and music writer Kyra Bruce shares the new song “Together” from Tulsa hip-hop artist Benzo. More on him later.
OK, let’s get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks with Ray Hoyt.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes.
It wasn’t that long ago that Tulsa and Oklahoma were living in the dark ages. It was a time when we were a land of 3.2 Bud heavies and Bud Lights, so people had to travel long distances to get certain strong beers. Some may have even died from dysentery on the trail. The year was 2007.
It was then Eric Marshall, my guest on this episode, returned to his hometown after studying the art of brewing in Munich, Germany. There he was awarded the prestigious International Diploma in Brewing Technology from the World Brewing Academy.
Within a year Marshall Brewing Company became Tulsa’s first production craft microbrewery.
It was the dawn of a new age in Tulsa.
As Marshall six packs of Sundown Wheat flew off the liquor store shelves and McNellie's Pub Ale flowed out of McNellie's taps, other Tulsans began brewing their own beers and launching their own companies. Soon beer options were all over the spectrum from super hoppy to sour beers featuring artistic labels.
In less than a decade a brewery district had formed just east of downtown and to the west of the Marshall Brewery located on 6th St about midway between Utica and Lewis.
In this conversation, Eric looks back at those early days of brewing and the revolution his company started in Tulsa. He also talks about how his work went beyond the brewery and to help modernize Oklahoma’s alcohol laws.
When voters approved State Question 792 in Nov. 2016, it opened the doors to taprooms statewide and created the opportunity for brewers to enter grocery store distribution without reducing the alcohol content of their beers.
Eric is a proud Tulsan, who graduated from the University of Tulsa. We discuss how much has changed for the better in Tulsa in this phone conversation that occurred on the first day of Fall.
We start this conversation with how things have been going since the COVID-19 pandemic hit Tulsa. There’s been bumps, but there’s also been some fun like the Marshall beer collaboration with Brian Horton for the release of “Back to Paradise: A Tulsa Tribute to Okie Music.”
I had a great time chatting with Eric and getting to hear his perspective on the industry and enjoyed hearing him talk about his love for Tulsa.
Following that conversation, Voice digital editor and music writer Kyra Bruce shares the song “Spit (You Out)” by Rainbeaux. More on that later.
Ok let’s get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks with Eric Marshall.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes. My guest on this episode hasn’t let anything slow her down. Not even a pandemic. Premadonna Braddick is the founder and director of Soaring Eagle’s Youth and Family Services, which engages, educates and empowers at-risk youth families. Premadonna is a mentor to several young women through her Girls Teen Summit. She’s an actress and an ordained minister. A life coach. And she’s a radio show host on KBOB 89.9 FM.
Premadonna is among the 12 Tulsa women leaders who shared lessons they’ve learned in our September cover story. Two things to know about her: she’s faced tremendous challenges in her life and overcome them all to not only become successful, but to pass on the lessons learned to several girls, who have grown up to attend Ivy League Schools.
Second thing is she’s a reluctant Tulsan, who is still getting used to being here after more than a decade living here. (But she loves it here.)
Premadonna shares her story that starts in East Oakland, California, where she was raised in the foster care system from two to 18. She was a victim of abuse, had a severe speech impediment and a learning disability. At 15 she started working long shifts in fast food restaurants to save money to go to college. As a teenager she also attended church alone. Not only did she find a church home, but she became close with her pastor, Bishop Ernestine Cleveland Reems, who also served on the board of Oral Roberts University.
Premadonna has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication with a Minor in Theatre of Arts from San Jose State University. She is also an alumna of Oral Roberts University, where she earned two Masters of Arts Degrees in Marriage/Family Therapy and Christian Counseling.
She discusses her life and the incredible things she’s been able to accomplish in this conversation we recorded on September 8th.
I really enjoyed getting to know her and learn from her. Even if she still questions why she’s in Tulsa sometimes, you’ll hear in this conversation the many reasons why she’s stayed and how important it is for her to continue to her work here.
Following that conversation, Voice digital editor and music writer Kyra Bruce shares Jacob Tovar’s cover of the Cliff Beasley classic “I’m Gonna Get to Tulsa,” which is featured on the new Horton Records compilation, “Back to Paradise: A Tulsa Tribute to Okie Music.” More on that later.
OK, let’s get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes. The week this episode debuts is also the one Restaurant Week occurs for the 14th year. Each year diners visit restaurants across the city to enjoy a great meal and help support the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma.
There’s never been as important a time to support local restaurants and the food bank. This year there are 40 local restaurants taking part and all the menus can be found at TulsaPeople.com/RestaurantWeek.
One of the participating restaurants is The Chalkboard owned by siblings Josh and Shannon Ozaras, who are my guests on this episode. They have taken part in Restaurant Week every year, and as you’ll hear they are excited to do it again.
It’s been an incredibly challenging year for those who work in the restaurant industry. For The Chalkboard, located inside the Ambassador Hotel, it’s been extremely tough with most the downtown businesses working from home, no events to attend at BOK Center or the other venues and travel being down. Josh and Shannon kick off this episode talking about how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted their business and how they’re working to bounce back in a world of the unknown. It’s a topic that weaves in and out of this conversation recorded by phone on Aug. 28.
As much pandemic talk as there is, there is just as much or more talk about family, because it is after all a family business.
Josh and Shannon have spent most their lives inside restaurants. Their father owned popular spots The Green Onion, Garlic Rose and more. Josh started in the dish pit then worked in kitchens before switching to serving in his 20s while attending TCC.
Shannon actually went off to college to become a teacher, but she found herself back in the restaurant game helping run the family business shortly after graduation. She waited, bartended and worked back of house as she learned the business. They reflect on those early days in this conversation.
Nearly a decade ago, the siblings bought the Chalkboard and made it their own. They’ve built a staff that’s like family, which is discussed in the second half of the episode after a sponsor break. Today, Josh helps oversee the day-to-day operations and Shannon focuses on bookkeeping and financials when she’s not loving on her newborn son.
I enjoyed learning more about the Ozaras siblings and how they operate their business. I recently enjoyed a wonderful dining experience on their new covered patio. My advice, make sure you save room for the bread pudding.
Following my conversation with Josh and Shannon, Voice music writer Kyra Bruce pops in to share her the new single “Hey Get Your Purse off My Girlfriend’s Barstool” by Solbakk. More on that later.
OK let’s get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes. My guest on this episode is Nehemiah Frank, publisher of The Black Wall Street Times.
Nehemiah started the digital news site as a side hustle three years ago while working as a middle school educator. Due to the success of his media business, Nehemiah stepped away from the classroom, but I was still interested to hear his thoughts on how the school year is starting in various ways across the city and area.
From there, we discuss in a phone interview recorded on Aug. 11, why he got into journalism as he reflects on the growth of Black Wall Street Times and how he’s still learning how to be a journalist. With his rise comes the haters. He’s received racist messages, including a recent threatening voicemail. He shares what he felt when he listened to the message.
Nehemiah was one of the organizers of this summer’s Juneteenth celebration. It occurred the weekend of President Donald Trump’s controversial campaign rally at the BOK Center, and it capped weeks of major protesting in Tulsa. We discuss the impacts of protesting and the special moments it created for him, like publishing an inaugural issue of Black Wall Street Times.
In less than a week, on Aug. 25, Tulsans will go to the polls to vote for mayor. Nehemiah shares his thoughts on contender Greg Robinson, who was one of the major figures to rise out of the protests and take the next step. Nehemiah also reflects on the last four years under incumbent G.T. Bynum, and what he hopes to see no matter who wins the election.
We bring it all full circle toward the end of the conversation when we discuss the importance of educating children about race, starting an early age.
Then we close on a lighter note as he shares what he loves and misses about Tulsa.
Following my conversation with Nehemiah, our music writer/Voice digital editor Kyra Bruce shares the single “Wash Behind Your Ears” from Noah Beal, who is branching out on his own after his time with popular band The Lukewarm.
Let’s get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes, and I really miss going to the movies. I’ve been going to the movies most my life. Sometimes it was multiple times a week. The smell of popcorn. The faint rumbles of a movie playing in a screening room. The half hour of previews and then the show.
My guest on this episode is Clark Wiens, co-founder of Circle Cinema. He misses the movies, too. Maybe more so than me.
Circle Cinema is one of my favorite places to visit in Tulsa. It’s a nonprofit theater that has withstood the test of time, and now hopes to withstand the pandemic.
The Circle was built in 1928. It was built near Route 66 in a thriving neighborhood. It was among the more than two dozen theaters in Tulsa. It is the only one still operating today.
It went through bumps and bruises along the way and was once even an adult theater. In 1983 it appeared in the beginning of “The Outsiders” when Pony Boy visits a movie house to watch Paul Newman in “Hud.”
By the 1990’s it was shuttered and facing demolition.
In December 2002, the nonprofit Circle Cinema Foundation was formed to purchase the Circle Theater and turn back the clock to make it a must-visit cinematic destination for Tulsans. Clark and business partner George Kravis oversaw the revitalization. In 2003, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Since then it has become the place to see independent films and documentaries in Tulsa. It’s also often the place to see classic throwbacks. It was really cool to see some of my favorites like Texas Chainsaw Massacre, True Romance and Point Break on the Circle big screen.
Nobody knows what the future holds for cinema, but Clark shares what he envisions.
In this phone conversation, Clark and I discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted Circle Cinema and how they plan to bounce back, hopefully in September.
Clark shares the story of how he fell in love with movies in a very unique way during a very unique time, and how he’s been able to bring it all full circle at the Tulsa theater.
We also talk about why he and George launched the nonprofit and what it was like to inherit a longtime Tulsa business that had been closed for some time.
This was my first time to have a conversation with Clark. It was great getting to know him and felt good to talk about going to the movies, even if we must a while longer to return to those seats, popcorn and drink in hand as the lights go down and the movie previews begin.
Following my conversation with Clark, our music writer Kyra Bruce shares the song “Regret & Sweat” from Girls Club. More on that later.
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This is Tulsa Talks.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes.
Back in November, I started working on a feature about the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Task Force that is now available in our July issue and online at TulsaPeople.com.
The task force was created in 2016 after Vic Regalado was elected sheriff. He turned to his old boss Mike Huff, a retired Tulsa PD homicide detective turned PI, to help him get the property room in order. Huff saw opportunities to solve cases, so he told the Sheriff he’d form a team of volunteers and get to work. All they needed was a supervisor. That would be Sgt. Tressi Mizell, who is my guest on this episode of Tulsa Talks.
I spent a lot of time talking to Tressi. Whether it was at their downtown office or at the site of past murders, so by the time we sat down to talk last week, it felt like a conversation with someone I knew well. Turns out there was still stuff for me to learn, like how she decorates her home with bones and pictures of crime scenes.
This conversation is an expansion of the article, so if you haven’t read it, I’d suggest maybe pausing this and reading it first, but you don’t have to.
A brief primer before we get this going: Tressi was raised in South Tulsa in the 70s. In 2004, she joined the Sheriff’s Office. Three weeks into the job, Tressi’s sister, Amber Rogers, was a bank teller who was murdered during a bank robbery. She discusses how that impacted her work in the story and expands on it in this conversation.
The first part of our talk is about what drove Tressi to become a homicide investigator and more on the early days of the task force. Following a sponsor message, she and I discuss what it takes to investigate cold cases dating back decades and the numerous challenges she and the team faces.
The Cold Case Task Force investigates murders that occur in Tulsa County outside of Tulsa city limits. So far the team has closed a handful of cases and recently made their first arrest. Tressi discusses those successes and how they’re working to do the same for the 26 other investigations.
Mike Huff said about Tressi leading the task force, “You can teach people how to investigate a case, but you can’t teach people how to care. They either do or they don’t. Caring is such a big part of what we do, she’s perfect for it.”
I couldn’t agree more, and you’ll hear in this conversation what Huff was talking about. I really enjoyed another opportunity to talk with Tressi about her work.
Following that discussion, music writer Kyra Bruce pops in to share a single from Ramona and the Phantoms. It’s great stuff. More on that later.
Let’s get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes.
On May 30, I snapped photos as Rev. Robert Turner stood in the street of the Brookside commercial district as he led a “We Can’t Breathe” protest. It was the first of three weeks of protests in Tulsa in what became global response to the killing of George Floyd. For many Tulsans, it was a reminder of the recent officer involved killings of Black Tulsans Terence Crutcher, Joshua Barre, Joshua Harvey and others. Throughout the protests, Rev. Turner was among those saying their names as he led the call for police reform. We lead this discussion with his reaction to the Floyd killing and how it spurred a local response.
Following the May 30 and 31 protests, it led to a sitdown with Mayor G.T. Bynum to discuss the changes Turner and other Black leaders want to see occur in the City of Tulsa. Turner is a vocal critic of the mayor. On June 8, I took photos as Turner stood near the City Hall entrance and pointed his megaphone up toward the mayor’s office as he continued to call out his demands for change. Turner discusses his issues with the mayor, policing and the justice system and how it’s connected to the Tulsa Race Massacre, which occurred 99 years ago the weekend the protests started.
In the second half of our conversation we discuss why Dr. Turner came to Tulsa to lead the congregation at the historic Vernon AME Church, which is the lone building on Black Wall Street to survive the destruction of the Race Massacre. He also shares what it means to him to lead the historic church as we near the 100th anniversary of the most horrific event in our city’s history.
Dr. Turner’s roots are in Alabama. Born and raised in Tuskegee, he went to school at the University of Alabama where before graduating with honors he helped lead a movement, which caused the university to recognize the presence of two slaves, Jack and Boysie, who were buried on the college campus. He led congregations in Mobile and Selma before relocating to Tulsa in 2017, where he immediately got to work.
Rev Turner sits on the National African American Reparations Commission, Board of Trustees for the American Village, the 1921 Race Massacre Centennial Commission, Tulsa Mass Graves Oversight Commission, the Board of Directors for the Terence Crutcher Foundation, North Tulsa Task Force, Demanding a Just Tulsa, and the Advisory Board of the Blackburn Institute of the University of Alabama and the chairperson of the board for the Turner Ministry Association 501(c)3. He is also an Academic Dean for Jackson Theological Seminary, in Little Rock Arkansas.
This conversation occurred by phone on June 23. It was a few days after the Juneteenth weekend and President Donald Trump’s Tulsa rally. It had been a long three weeks before our talk. I spent many days in front of the marches and close to megaphones snapping hundreds of photos as Rev. Turner and others led protests. You can see those galleries on TulsaPeople.com.
It’s an important time in our city, and this was an important conversation that I’m thankful to share with you.
Following my conversation with Rev. Turner, our music writer Kyra Bruce shares a new single from Tulsa artist Natalie Lauren. More on that later.
Let’s get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks with Rev. Robert Turner.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes. I’m really excited to share this conversation with you. For over 50 years, Bell’s Amusement Park was the spot for fun for many Oklahoma kids, including myself. Growing up in Claremore, the trips to Bell’s were among the biggest highlights of my summer for many summers. There was the Zingo and the Wildcat. The Himalaya and Phantasmagoria. The log ride and the arcade. And lots more.
The story of Bell’s Amusement Park is an example of the classic American dream. A family builds a business, the people come and the business grows. It’s also a story of fathers and sons, which is perfect for this week as we celebrate the fathers in our lives on Father’s Day.
I sat down with Bob and Robby Bell on a recent Saturday morning and they recounted the history of the park and their family’s story that spans over 100 years in Tulsa.
We start this conversation with Bob, who is now 80, reflecting on how Bell’s came to be and his many roles in helping his father’s dream become a reality. Bob’s father, Robert Kiwanis Bell, opened a kiddie park post World War 2 with the help of his young son. Bob grew up and took over operations as he raised his own family in the business. Robby, 55, chimes in from time to time to help his father share their story and then he shares his own story about what it was like to be the next generation of the Bells to help his father run the park before taking it over. Did you know the Bell’s founders lived in an apartment in the middle of Zingo?
It was amazing to sit with both of them as they recounted the long, unique history of the family business and what it was like to be sons and then fathers of Bell’s employees. There were a whole lot of laughs and some tears.
It’s been 14 years since Bell’s closed. It remains a sensitive subject for the Bell family. Bob and Robby discuss what happened in 2006 that forced them to shutdown the park and how it brought them even closer as family. They also discuss their plans to open a new Bell’s in the near future. They’ve heard your angst and complaints about it taking too long. They explain why the wait has been long, and how it will hopefully be over soon. More on that later.
This episode is broken down into three sections. The origins of Bell’s is the first 25 minutes, Bob and Robby’s time at the park is the second part and at about the 50 minute mark is the third part, which covers the closure and the future.
Bell’s Amusement Park played an important role in our city and county’s history. It created lifelong memories for lots of people. I’m thrilled to share Bob and Robby’s story with you. As you’ll hear, they are two characters who far from finished having a fun time together.
Let’s get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks with Bob and Robby Bell.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes.
My guest on this episode is Mary Beth Babcock of Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios on 66. It’s a quirky, fun little retail operation based out of an old 1950s gas station on 11th near Peoria. You’ve maybe seen Buck Atom. He’s hard to miss. Buck is a space cowboy and a big fan of Route 66. He’s also a big statue based on the classic muffler man model. Nearby is a brand new neon sign that is part of a going trend to bring neon back to the Mother Road.
Mary Beth is passionate about everything she does. It started with helping revitalize downtown Tulsa’s Blue Dome District with her retail shop Dwelling Spaces. There she had fun with yetis and coffee robots. Two years ago she opened Buck Atom’s. We discuss why she moved to Rt 66 and what it means to be able to help support the famous Mother Road as global tourists cruise through Tulsa.
A few months back tourism came to a stop as did most of Tulsa due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We start this conversation about how she’s been able to continue operating despite having to lock the doors to her shop and how she had to alter her scheduled celebrations, but still had lots of fun.
Despite those setbacks, Mary Beth just kept on trucking. That’s her in a nutshell. Always looking forward and moving ahead to accomplish whatever it is she envisions. I’ve known her for nearly a decade, and she’s always inspired me to pursue my own creative endeavors just by watching her lead by example. She’s full of life and her excitement for things is contagious. I don’t think it’s possible to spend time talking to her without laughing and also getting fired up to go do something.
We recorded this conversation by phone on Tuesday, June 2. I had been covering the protests the past few days and was exhausted, but chatting with Mary Beth gave me new life. That’s what she does. We both really love Tulsa, so we talked about what makes the city great, which includes a lot of creative people doing great things.
Mary Beth also talks about her friendship with friend of the pod, Danny Boy O’Connor, and she shares some tips on the places to eat and places to see on Oklahoma’s portion of Route 66. In our June issue we’ve highlighted fun things to do in all our neighboring states as well as in our state. So make sure you check it out at TulsaPeople.com.
OK, here we go.
This is Tulsa Talks.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes.
It has been two months since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down most of Tulsa. It’s been one year since historic flooding created an ongoing crisis in Tulsa.
On this episode Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum discusses how last May’s flooding prepared him to lead the City’s response to the pandemic. He also reflects on the past two months and where he sees us headed.
We kick off our conversation discussing G.T. Bynum the family man. Like many other Tulsans, he’s a partner and a parent, which meant home schooling and everything else that comes with quarantine. As you’ll hear, it’s created some wonderful lifelong memories for the Bynums.
The Mayor also discusses the mental and physical health impact the early days of the pandemic had on him and what he found works for him to improve both aspects of his life.
We did not discuss Tesla. Our 20-minute phone conversation on May 19 occurred hours before the golden driller became giant Elon Musk. Bynum has also previously stated he cannot comment on potential projects.
Following my chat with the mayor, my second guest on this episode is Tulsa Chief of Police Wendell Franklin on policing during a pandemic. More on that later.
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This is Tulsa Talks.
Wendell Franklin is a 23-year veteran of the Tulsa Police Department. He knows the department well. During his career he led all three TPD divisions.
On Feb. 1 he became the new chief of police. He did not get much time to adjust to his new role before the pandemic forced a shutdown and changed the responsibilities of the department.
Franklin discusses policing during a pandemic and how fortunate he and others were to have a Tulsa pandemic playbook sitting on the shelf. He also talks about what it’s been like to closely work with this episode’s first guest.
There were 10 murders in April. That’s the most in that month dating back to 1989 according to the Tulsa World. Franklin shares his thoughts on why there was a spike in homicide.
On May 11 Tulsa Police made an arrest in connection to the 2011 murder of Peggy Gaytan. Franklin reflects on the importance of closing the 9-year-old case.
Franklin is a lifelong Tulsan, who graduated from Booker T. Washington. He’s a reader and enjoys studying World War 2. The 46-year-old shares how this led him to better understand and appreciate what Tulsa has overcome the last two months and how proud he is of his fellow citizens for how they have responded to the pandemic.
Here is my conversation with Police Chief Wendell Franklin.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes. Tulsa and most of Oklahoma is reopening. For some it’s as if COVID-19 is a thing of the past and they’re ready to move on.
For others, it’s too soon. They have found safety in their homes and developed a routine. They could be working from home, seeing coworkers faces on a screen. Having virtual hangouts when not building that puzzle that was backordered a couple weeks. Watching Dr. Fauci and reading the news.
Then there are those who are scared. There are those who are alone. We don’t know what future holds and that creates anxiety. Maybe they are one of the 200,000 unemployed Oklahomans. Some who’s business dreams have been abruptly stopped, but the landlord and the bank expects them to keep paying. There are those who had to furlough their employees, who felt like family, without a promise they’d have a job again.
Some of those folks feel they are being forced to reopen too soon to pay debts while risking lives. Then what if there’s another shutdown or the business fails?
There are those who have lost a loved one to COVID-19. There have been 253 deaths in Oklahoma as of May 6. Any time is a tough time to lose a loved one, but when it's during a pandemic, the normal grieving process is gone.
With a major crisis or disaster comes the quiet tsunami that is the negative mental health impacts on society.
Zack Stoycoff, Dr. Jim Zahniser and the others at the Tulsa-based Healthy Minds Policy Initiative, examined economic data, emerging national research and historical events to create projections and effects on mental health and addiction in Oklahoma.
According to their research. It is projected more than 34,000 additional Oklahomans may experience suicidal thoughts and more than 9,400 additional Oklahomans may attempt suicide. If unemployment reaches as high as some experts project, these numbers could be as high as 100,000 and 30,000, respectively.
Healthy Minds projects 14,000 additional Oklahomans may develop a drug use disorder, and an additional 4,500 may develop alcohol use disorder. There could be 260 additional deaths from opioid overdoses.
Childhood mental health needs will increase substantially with as many as 30% of children involved in quarantines may experience post-traumatic stress disorder.
Zack and Dr. Zahniser they reflect on those numbers and how they did the research to make the projections. They share their thoughts on mental health care policies that impact all of us, plus they discuss ways to take care of ourselves without turning to substances and the importance for parents in helping their children navigate the challenges they are facing during the pandemic.
Following that conversation, I share my interview with Meals on Wheels of Metro Tulsa CEO and President Calvin Moore on how the nonprofit overhauled its system to feed more people.
Let’s get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks.
When the COVID-19 pandemic reached Tulsa, for Meals on Wheels it meant most their volunteer base of 2,300 could no longer deliver meals because they too are part of the vulnerable population. So Meals on Wheels got creative and completely revamped their system. They no longer solely focused on feeding the elderly population. They wanted to help make sure everyone got a meal. Meals on Wheels expanded services to the outlying communities as well as Tulsa’s Hispanic population. They found new and important ways to utilize those volunteers. CEO Calvin Moore spoke with me on April 29 about these changes. At TulsaPeople.com, you can read parts of this interview and see photos from a May First meal distribution at Tulsa Dream Center, where volunteers loaded boxes into two lanes of cars that flowed through the parking lot nonstop for hours.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes. Our April issue features some local environmental heroes. We share five stories of Tulsans working to make a positive difference. Among those is Nathan Pickard, and his wife Kristin, who have been hard at work creating The Joinery. It’s a regenerative building located in the Heights, just north of downtown. It’s the first building in the state to seek the Living Building Challenge certification from the International Living Future Institute. There are only two dozen fully-certified living buildings in the world. To achieve that status, the Pickards and team, led architect Molly Jones, have to meet 20 stringent requirements to reach their goal. That includes things like solar power, an independent water source, a garden and much more.
It turns out, a pandemic creates a good test of the building’s purpose in providing basic needs in a time of crisis. Some call the Pickards doomsday preppers and others call them hippies. In a conversation we did by phone, Nathan discusses where they fall on the spectrum and how he’s excited about the massive amount of sweet potatoes they have stocked up from their garden. He also reflects on what led he and his friends to start the project and how he hopes it catches on their neighborhood.
We also discuss his involvement with Up With Trees, which includes creating the Tisdale Food Forest along the LL Tisdale Parkway that provides the community with fruits and nuts, while also serving as a natural sound barrier for the neighborhood.
In a time when we’re re-examining how we operate in our daily lives, this conversation provides insight on how we can work with our natural resources to be better prepared in challenging times like the one we find ourselves in during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Following that conversation, I’m sharing my interview with Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma’s new CEO Lori Long. When we talked by phone late last week, she was just 10 days into the job.
It’s an unprecedented time for the food bank. They provide food to folks in 24 counties. It used to be about 463,000 meals a week. As of last week, they were up to about 750,000 meals a week and that number is going up as unemployment rises.
The nonprofit is low on inventory with corporate food drives ending as people are forced to work from home. There’s a growing budget deficit as they purchase food and expand operations, while losing out on the opportunity for traditional fundraising.
But according to Lori, the staff of nearly 80 continues to have good spirits as they work hard to ensure Oklahomans have food to feed themselves and their families in these challenging days.
You can visit OKFoodbank.org to learn how to get assistance or provide help as they continue to work hard to meet the growing needs.
This is Tulsa Talks with Nathan Pickard and Lori Long.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes. Oh boy was I excited to do this interview. My guest on this episode is Chad Rodgers, who co-owns and operates the legendary Cain’s Ballroom. It’s a place I consider a second home. I’ve seen hundreds of concerts at Cain’s over the years, yet I’d never talked to Chad until we sat down for this conversation the second week of March.
At the time it was coincidentally one of the quietist months for the venue since the Rodgers family took over ownership in 2003. Of course now there won’t be any shows in for the next month or two as we deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Before the world suddenly changed, Cain’s Ballroom was rockin’ n rollin’. In late January, LA Times writer Christopher Reynolds published his list of the 12 best places for best live music in America. Cain’s ranked No. 4. The only places ahead of it are New Orleans’ Royal Street, NYC’s Carnegie Hall and Nashville’s Station Inn.
Less than a week later, Rolling Stone named Tulsa as one of the eight best cities to see live music and highlighted the relationship Cain’s has with modern music legend Jack White.
Of course Chad and I discuss how the White Stripes frontman came to fall in love with Cain’s and what it’s meant for business.
We also look back at the early days of the Rodgers family operation, when they inherited the historic ballroom that at the time had no air conditioning, a leaking roof and a mythical wood floor that needed replaced. We also discuss the urban legend that is the spring-loaded floor.
It was also suddenly a family business where nobody in the family had any experience in running a concert venue. Chad talks about the bumps and bruises and when things turned around it became the Cain’s Ballroom we all love today.
This was a fun conversation diving into why Cain’s is so special to me and many other music fans that stretch well beyond Tulsa.
This conversation is an expansion of a story about the ballroom that is featured in our April issue. Our intern, Ethan Veenker, did a great job writing about what makes Cain’s special. With distribution of physical copies extremely limited right now, I’d encourage you to visit TulsaPeople.com and check out the story, plus all the other great stuff in the magazine. If you want to read it like a magazine, we also have the digital issue linked on the homepage.
Following my conversation with Chad, Tulsa Voice music writer Kyra Bruce checks in from home to share an excerpt of her interview with Tulsa singer/songwriter Lex followed by the song “Skin Off My Back” to close out the episode. Make sure to also check out her People to Wave To series on Youtube and The Voice’s facebook page.
OK, let’s get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks with Chad Rodgers of the legendary Cain’s Ballroom.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes. My guest on this episode is Rustic Cuff founder and CEO Jill Donovan.
Jill was an attorney and adjunct professor at TU when she started making bracelets as a side hustle. That quickly turned into a full-time operation, which allowed Jill to grow as a business leader, an author, a podcast host of CEO-ish and gave her an even better ability to share her love of doing random acts of kindness, which she appropriately calls “The Kindness Effect.”
When we recorded this episode in February, we all lived in a different world. It was business as usual. Rustic Cuff had just opened a store at Disney World. That’s a big deal as you’ll hear. It joined six other retail shops in Texas and Oklahoma. Today they’re all temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but online shopping at RusticCuff.com is still available.
It’s disrupted all of our lives. It’s severely hurt many small businesses that have dreams to achieve the levels of success Jill has had for nearly a decade. At TulsaPeople.com, we feature a continually updated list of ways you can continue to support small businesses and nonprofits of all kinds as we all deal with this pandemic.
Jill and I had a wide-ranging conversation that touched on everything from bracelets, books, movies and a whole lot more.
The most important part comes in the final 10 minutes when we discuss what it means to be kind and the ripple effect it can have on others. It’s an important topic that I think we can all take something away from, especially in these tough days.
I had a lot of fun getting to know Jill. People told me before the interview that she’s authentic, full of energy and a lot of fun. They weren’t lying.
There is a lot of laughter in this episode. There were also a couple of technical gaffs that sometimes happen when I record these interviews at my desk. Instead of editing them out, I left those couple moments in because I think they’re funny, and the more laughter the better, right?
Hang in there, Tulsa. We’re going to get through this.
So for now, take a break from the world and enjoy this conversation.
This is Tulsa Talks with Jill Donovan.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes. My guest is Case Morton, co-founder of Clean Hands Army.
Nearly a decade ago, a group of artistic friends decided to launch a business. One of their early projects was painting a couple of murals in downtown, including the Woody Guthrie Center.
Today they have more than 35 murals across Tulsa. Their work sparked a public art revolution in the city and now there are paintings on business walls all over the metro with more popping up every week.
Clean Hands launched the Habit Mural Festival that will host its fifth annual event in April. There are Clean Hands stickers, shirts and hats. They’ve promoted musicians and are now partners in the long-running Easter Island Music Festival.
Case grew up in Tulsa and graduated from East Central High School, where he says he was a “greaser.” He reflects on how those years shaped who he is today. He then went on to gradute from Northeastern State University and returned to Tulsa. He realized he wasn’t happy with the corporate lifestyle he found himself in, so he bolted to Hawaii where he lived for months without spending a dollar.
As you’ll hear in this conversation, even though he boomeranged back to Tulsa, he’s rarely here for an extended period of time. He splits his time between here and his home in Vancouver, Canada, when he’s not traveling the globe. Wait till you hear how many countries around the world have a Clean Hands sticker displayed on a wall or light post.
I’ve been a fan of Clean Hands since I learned about them in 2012, yet I knew very little about how they operate as a business. So I was excited to sit down and learn more from Case. As you’ll hear, they operate the business like it’s a hobby. Case says they are not driven by money or profit. Everyone involved in Clean Hands has other business ventures that allows them to have fun with this operation.
They continue to do murals for companies and private commissions. They continue to experiment and have fun, and we all get to enjoy the fruits of their labor. Great stuff.
Following that discussion, The Voice’s Kyra Bruce shares a conversation with Allison Ward of the band Tom Boil. They discuss the its formation and why every song on their album is named after a dinosaur, including the single “Pterodactyl” that closes out this episode.
Let’s get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes. I’m thrilled to share this conversation with you. The voice you heard kicking this off is my guest, Onikah Asamoa-Caesar. She’s the founder of soon-to-open Fulton Street Books and Coffee located in the Heights, which is just northwest of downtown Tulsa. Onikah’s story is incredible. We shared it in our February issue in a great feature written by Jessica Brent. If you haven’t read it, visit TulsaPeople.com and search Fulton Street.
After reading the article, I wanted to dig deeper and Onikah was down to reflect more on the first 30 years of her life and how it led to her opening the bookstore this spring. She was born in New Jersey, moved to California and entered the foster care system. That took her to Mississippi before she returned to California for college. From there she traveled the globe and then attended John Hopkins. She joined Teach for America and chose to come to Tulsa. It was not a great initial experience. As you’ll hear, it took her leaving Tulsa to realize she missed it and wanted to come back and make some change.
Now she’s close to becoming a first-time mother and opening her first business, as her husband Kojo Asamoa-Caesar makes a run at representing Oklahoma’s First Congressional District.
I’m thankful for Onikah being so open about her experiences and the challenges she’s faced along the way. I have no doubt she’ll find success in creating a space for community and conversation for Tulsans.
A note, it was a very busy day in our offices when we recorded our conversation, so at times you might hear some faint background chatter from a big project happening nearby during our chat.
Following that story, city editor Morgan Phillips shares her experience adopting a new family companion through the Pet Adoption League. It’s been nearly eight years since I adopted my best friend from the organization, and it’s great to hear they are still creating furever homes in Tulsa.
Closing out the episode, The Voice’s Kyra Bruce shares a song from the indie-psych rock trio, Zunis.
Alright let’s get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes. There’s been a lot of news lately about legendary director Martin Scorsese coming to northeast Oklahoma to film Leonardo DiCaprio in Killers of the Flower Moon. It’s just one of many movie and television productions to film in our area in recent years, and there are more to come. The voice you just heard a moment ago is Abby Kurin. Abby plays a significant role in bringing movies like Killers of the Flower Moon to our area. She’s the executive director of the Tulsa Office of Film, Music, Arts and Culture or FMAC for short. In this conversation she explains how her office helps bring Hollywood to Tulsa.
We recorded this conversation a couple days before she headed off to Sundance to take part in one of the biggest film festivals to occur in America. It’s where small independent films and documentaries are screened for movie distributors and critics to get the process going toward showing it them on big screens across the country. The hope is a movie will start there and finish at the Oscars.
Abby went to support the city and state’s efforts to recruit more projects, but also to cheer on a movie called Minari, directed by Lee Isaac Chung. It’s a 1980s set tale about a Korean-American family struggling with their new life in rural Arkansas. It was filmed here, last year. Minari took top honors winning Sundance’s Grand Jury Prize. That’s a big boost as it begins its campaign toward next year’s Academy Awards, and it’s a big win for Tulsa and FMAC.
Abby and I discuss many more victories her office has had and what they’re hoping to achieve as they continue to recruit more blockbuster productions to our city and state.
I had a great time getting to know Abby and chatting with her about movies and pop culture. She’s passionate about her work and that can only mean good things for all of us, who love movies, music and the rest the arts.
Following that conversation, The Voice’s Kyra Bruce shares some insight on local punk band Soaker and their new song, “Rat Face.”
Let’s get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes. You just heard Lisa Becklund. She’s a chef turned farmer back to chef. Friends have told me she offers one of the best dining experiences they’ve ever had. I have yet to enjoy it for myself. It’s like trying to land a seat at a Saturday Night Live taping. Nearly impossible. We talk about the sudden and continual success of her farm to table dinners she describes as agricultural cuisine of Oklahoma. Her operation is Living Kitchen Farm and Dairy located in Depew. That’s about 45 minutes from Tulsa headed down the turnpike to Oklahoma City. The good news for us Tulsans is she’s bringing that experience to 18th and Boston when she and her business partner, Linda Ford, expand their operations to a restaurant setting with FarmBar. The only thing missing will be live goats.
Lisa was born and raised in Seattle. She started working in restaurants as a teen and in early adulthood found success of her own. That success plus her ambition led to failure as she attempted to grow her business. She fled the Emerald City in search of a safe haven on Oklahoma farmlands in the early 2000s. A sort of John Steinbeck story in reverse.
As she turned dirt and grew produce, Lisa learned a lot about herself. She accepted her past and kept pushing forward. She’s had tough days along the way, but she continues to grow. To be a farmer it takes grit. As you’ll hear in this conversation, Lisa has a lot of it.
I didn’t know Lisa before she sat down across from me, but as soon as we started the conversation, I knew I’d really enjoy our time together. She dove right in and talked about her successes and failures that put her on the path she finds herself today. She was open and honest about how her experiences impacted her mental health and how aging has impacted her work. I admire her candidness. After having a long chat with her, it’s no surprise she’s once again finding success. She’s driven. She’s passionate about what she does. She’s authentic.
This is a good one. I’m extremely thankful for her sharing her story and have to say, I’m extremely excited to soon enjoy a dinner at FarmBar.
Following that conversation, city editor Morgan Phillips calls on Tulsa fashion consultant Kelly Mize Holley to find out what the what can be done in her closet to help her start 2020 better organized and more fashionable.
Closing out the episode The Voice’s Kyra Bruce is back to share a favorite track from The Lukewarm’s 2019 album “Cycles.” More on them later.
Let’s get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes. The voice you just heard is our TulsaPeople Tulsan of the Year, Jeff Martin. I’m a huge fan of Jeff and the work he does for our city. At the end of our conversation we recorded in early December, I mentioned to Jeff that his work has helped keep me in Tulsa, and that’s definitely true. I’m a bookworm and a regular audience member at author talks hosted by Booksmart Tulsa, which was launched by Jeff in 2009. It started as a monthly pub book club held at McNellies and has grown into the Tulsa Literary Coalition that has brought more than 1,000 authors to Tulsa, including nearly 200 in 2019. That’s an event every other day. And Jeff works most of them for free. It’s those events that educate and inspire me and help shape me as a writer.
Two years ago, Jeff and his business partner (the late Cindy Hulsey) opened Magic City Books at the corner of Archer St and Detroit Ave in downtown Tulsa’s arts district. Jeff and Tulsa Literary Coalition’s efforts have help reinvigorate Tulsa’s longtime love for books and we’re now seeing an explosion of independent bookstores opening in Tulsa. In our conversation, Jeff discusses why it’s so important to see those literary allies appearing across the metro.
Connie Cronley wrote an excellent piece on Jeff in our January issue, and I’m thrilled I had the opportunity to expand on her work in our chat. He and I discussed his childhood and how his early work in a video store and a national chain bookstore helped mold him into who he is today. It turns out not being scared of the word “no” and asking for forgiveness instead of permission can take someone a long way toward their dreams.
We also briefly talk about his work as the communications manager for Philbrook. It’s a dream job he wouldn’t have had it not been for hosting a book talk at the museum. If you’ve listened to Philbrook’s Museum Confidential podcast, you’ll already be familiar with Jeff. For those who haven’t checked it out, I suggest once you’re finished listening all our episodes, you dive into their archive. It’s really great stuff.
A few days before we recorded, Jeff gave me the opportunity to moderate a book talk with author Paul Hendrickson. I can tell you, it’s not easy work filling Jeff’s shoes for an evening. I had fun, and I look forward to doing more in the future to help give the man a break every now and then. He’s earned them.
Following that conversation, The Voice music writer and People To Wave To host Kyra Bruce shares highlights from her interview with Tulsa rapper First Verse, who also shares a new single with you to close out the episode.
Alright let’s get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks with Jeff Martin.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes. The voice you just heard is Maggie Hoey. For the past few years, she’s served as the executive director of TYPROS, one of the largest, most organized young professional organizations in the nation. In that role, she she’s worked to provide young professionals from all professions with opportunities to build relationships with community, business and government leaders and give a voice and outlet for creating change. We dive right into the initiatives and tactics TYPROS is using to recruit and retain young professionals as the organization enters its 15th year.
Maggie does a great job explaining how the organization uses data-driven strategies and how TYPROs has evolved and adapted much like our city has over the same timespan.
A couple weeks after our interview Maggie announced she had changed roles. Starting in January, she will be the assistant director of the Downtown Coordinating Council. She will be responsible for developing and executing an annual programming and activation plan for Downtown and will oversee communications and outreach initiatives. She will also support strategic and organizational planning initiatives for Downtown and the DCC.
As you’ll hear in our conversation, we talk about the importance of downtown’s continued revitalization and the role it plays in creating a successful future for Tulsa. It just goes to show why she’s the perfect fit for her new role. We’re lucky to have her working as hard as she does to make Tulsa a better place.
Maggie is a native of Sand Springs and now lives in midtown Tulsa. She graduated with a bachelor’s of science from Oklahoma State University and earned her master’s in public administration at OU-Tulsa. Prior to her time with TYPROs Maggie worked in development and marketing for local nonprofits, including the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, Tulsa Habitat for Humanity and Iron Gate. We discuss her career and her hobbies, which includes her passion for reading. I had a great time getting to know Maggie and learning from her. The future is bright for her.
Following that conversation, I’m excited to bring on Tulsa Voice editor Blayklee Freed and Voice Digital Editor Kyra Bruce to talk about the changes occurring in the new year. Starting in January, The Voice will merge with TulsaPeople Magazine to create an expanded magazine with even more arts and entertainment coverage plus an even stronger presence online at TulsaPeople.com. As part of those changes, I’m excited to be bringing Kyra on to curate the songs we share at the end of each episode.
Speaking of music, closing out this final episode of 2019 is the excellent new song “Rattlesnake Kate” by the Carter Sampson Trio. You’ll definitely want to give it a listen. More on them later.
It’s been a great year, and I really appreciate you listening. We’re already deep into planning next year’s episodes and will get it going on New Year’s Day.
Alright, let’s get this going. This is Tulsa Talks.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes. The person you just heard is Matt Pinnell, the Lt. Governor of Oklahoma. Since he announced his 2018 campaign to run for office, Matt has been going nonstop. It’s like he took a brief break to be sworn in and then kept on bouncing around the state. It seems like every day he’s in a different Oklahoma community, celebrating a reason for people to visit. In early November he stopped by our office to chat about his job that is more than turning dirt and cutting ribbons as a dignitary.
Matt is the Secretary of Tourism and Branding. It’s a new cabinet position created by Gov. Kevin Stitt to allow Matt to do what he does best, sales and marketing. Our state is extremely dependent on sales tax dollars and tourism creates tremendous opportunities for Oklahoma. As you’ll hear when the conversation kicks off, Matt and his team started working in January and have already seen returns on investments. We discuss the new TravelOK phone app, the new fishing trail and how important Route 66 is to Tulsa and our state’s economy.
From there we discuss how he’s working to help make our state the Hollywood of the central US. Following those topics we chat about his career and how he got to where he is today. At 29, the Republican was the youngest state party chair in the country and helped transform Oklahoma’s political landscape. He then worked for the Republican National Committee during the 2014 and 2016 election cycles before returning home and running for office. He reflects on that work and how it’s led him to where he and we are today. Matt shares what he considers the most pressing issues for the administration going into 2020, and we chat about his good friend Mayor G.T. Bynum. Turns out they go way back.
Over the past few months, I’ve spent a lot of time following Matt around to groundbreakings, grand openings and chatted with him in his office at the state Capitol. He is full of energy, loves his hometown and the state he resides in and is confident we’ll continue to see the positive results of his work in changing our state’s image. If you’d like to learn more, I wrote about he and Stitt’s first year in office for the December issue that is now available across Tulsa and online at TulsaPeople.com.
Following my conversation with the Lt. Governor, City Editor Morgan Phillips reflects on her experience taking part in Black Friday shopping at a major retailer and how it contrasts to doing more shopping at Amaranth Collection on Small Business Saturday.
For more on Amaranth:
Follow Amaranth Collection on Facebook (facebook.com/amaranthcollection) and Instagram @shopamaranth
Sign up for emails about new arrivals and exclusive sales: amaranthcollection.com
Join the shop’s weekly flash sales: facebook.com/groups/myacstyleinnercircle
Sign up to receive additional coupons through its text program: Text ACSTYLE to 57838
Closing out the episode is new music from Jacob Dement.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes.
The voice you just heard is Ben Alexander, Vice President of Culinary Operations for the McNellie’s Group. You know how crazy the kitchen gets at your family holiday gatherings? Just imagine that times 20 in nearly 20 kitchens serving different styles of food every single day. As you heard in the intro, it can get crazy. I love the description of it being like a chaotic ballet. Having worked in some restaurant kitchens, I can attest to that. There are times you actually find yourself doing a pirouette, but with a hot dish in your hand and a coworker flying past and just barely missing you.
We discuss what it’s like to oversee so many different kitchens in many different locations and how they are continuing to look at ways to evolve. That includes their latest endeavor, Howdy Burger, which recently opened in Mother Road Market.
Ben talks about the McNellies Group culture and how the company looks takes care of their hundreds of employees as they make a huge impact on the Tulsa food scene.
Ben has lived all over the country, working in various restaurants, and he shares how that shaped him as a chef by the time he joined the McNellies Group in 2014. We also discuss Tulsa’s food culture, how working in a kitchen has changed over his 20 years in the business and what he’s looking forward to in the coming year.
Outside of work, Ben and his wife, Natalie, dealt with a son nearly dying due to be being born with a congenital heart defect. Ben discusses what it was like to go through such a scary situation and how it resulted in he and his wife launching a non-profit to assist children and their families dealing with similar situations. We didn’t discuss it in this conversation, but Ben is also the head of McNellies Group’s philanthropy catering and hosts complimentary cooking classes for local children.
He’s truly a special person, and we’re lucky to have him here in Tulsa. I really enjoyed our conversation even if we’re on opposite sides of the pineapple on pizza debate. There’s a lot to take away from this one.
Following that conversation, Woody Guthrie Center’s Jerry Wofford stops by to share a fun story about Woody and the holidays, and we chat about the amazing new merchandise they have in stock that make a perfect holiday gifts for music lovers. I really need to go pick up one of those new hats.
Closing out the episode is a song from one of my favorites in the local music scene. If you haven’t listened to Jake Flint yet, you’ll want to stick around to the end to hear a track from his release “Live and Not OK at Cain’s Ballroom” which was recorded in 2018 at the legendary concert hall. More on him later.
Ok let’s do this.
This is Tulsa Talks.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I'm your host Tim Landes. The voice you just heard belongs to Jennifer Loren. She's a co-creator, producer, director, and the host of the Emmy winning series, "Osiyo, Voices of the Cherokee People." It's a weekly documentary style program airing nationwide and online. Currently in its fifth season, OsiyoTV allows Cherokee Nation citizens to share their stories with you.
For many years, Jennifer worked as an investigative reporter for NewsOn6 and their sister station News9 in Oklahoma City, where she reported on environmental issues, government corruption and more. In 2014, she left news to go to work for her tribe and launch OsiyoTV. In less than two decades of work. Jennifer has earned 26 Emmy nominations and won six, including one for her investigative news coverage in 2012.
I've long admired Jennifer. For many years, I was just a fan of her journalism work. Then for a few years, we were coworkers at Cherokee Nation Businesses, where I got to see how her hard work comes to fruition and results in stellar storytelling. She's one of the hardest workers I've been around. Fueled by an endless curiosity, Jennifer is a tenacious, gritty, dedicated journalist whose passion shows in the outstanding work she continues to produce.
As if that wasn't enough, Jennifer is also now leading the charge in the tribe's efforts to get into the movie business. We discuss the importance of her show in spotlighting the diverse people who make up the largest tribe in the country, and why launching a film office is not only important for the tribe, but also for the state of Oklahoma.
During our conversation, she reflects on her time and news and shares her thoughts on the evolution of the industry at the local and national level. We also talk about the importance of her work as a woman, mother and the Cherokee Nation citizen.
Following that conversation, city editor Morgan Phillips takes her What the What segment to Tulsa Glassblowing School to check out the nonprofit's new studio space in McClure Park and learn what it takes to make glass art. As a former board member for the glass blowing school, I have to say their new digs are incredible. I'm really happy and excited for the staff, artists and for everyone who gets to take advantage of the enhanced opportunities the new studio creates.
Closing out this episode is new music from graveyard Party, which is sharing their new song "Bloom." It's featured on the EP of the same name that you can find on your favorite streaming site. It's a good one. Okay, let's get this going. This is Tulsa talks.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes. The person you just heard is Regina Goodwin. Her family instilled in her the philosophy that “Service is the rent we pay for our room and board on earth.” In 2015, Goodwin became the state representative for District 73, which covers downtown and north Tulsa. It’s the area where Goodwin was born and raised and now represents. She reflects on growing up on the historic Greenwood Ave and where we are today as the city approaches the 100th commemoration of the Tulsa Race Massacre. We also discuss recent statistics released about police use of excessive force within her district.
Goodwin is a proud graduate of Booker T. Washington High School. She then embarked on an education in art that took her to Lawrence, Kansas and then Chicago before she returned home, where she has worked as an artist.
Today, she’s one of only 24 Democrats filling the 101 seats in the state House of Representatives. Goodwin is the assistant minority floor leader and is the chair of the Oklahoma Legislative Black Caucus. Every day she goes to work, she faces major challenges, which we discuss later in the conversation. She concedes it’s a tough position to be in when you don’t have enough people to pass a bill, but she also makes clear she’s a fighter ready to go 12 rounds.
Guided by “The Power of We,” Goodwin has earned many victories, including helping caregivers and pregnant inmates. She was a leader in increasing teacher pay and clarifying the voting rights of felons. She also helped lead efforts to create a Black Wallstreet Commemorative License Plate with the proceeds going to the annual Juneteenth Festival.
I was thrilled to finally sit down and learn from her when we recorded this conversation in September. I found her to be extremely intelligent, compassionate, tenacious and honest. There’s no PR talk with her. She came ready to get down to it. There’s a lot to take in from our chat.
Also on this episode, Tulsa Foundation for Architecture Executive Director Amanda DeCort stopped by to talk about the history of downtown’s Blue Dome District and share info about the nonprofit’s monthly history tours.
Closing out the episode, boy do we have a treat for you. Count Tutu is one of the most popular bands in town and they offered to share with you their new single “Slammer Song.” More on that later. Let’s get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber. I’m your host Tim Landes.
The voice that just kicked this is off is Jeff Stava. Jeff is the chief operating officer for Tulsa Community Foundation and the executive director of Tulsa’s Gathering Place, which just celebrated its first birthday after a phenomenal opening year. Park officials expected around 1 million visitors, but it was a little more popular than anticipated with nearly 3 million people visiting Gathering Place.
There have been glowing write-ups in the New York Times. In September, Urban Land Institute named it among its 11 Global Awards for Excellence. In August Time Magazine named it one of the 100 World’s Greatest Places to Experience. It was named USA Today’s Best New Attraction and the list goes on.
Jeff and I spent a lot of time talking about Gathering Place. We talked about the parks many successes in the first year and how it weathered the historic flooding six months after it opened. We talk about what’s to come for the park, because as amazing as it is, there is still another phase of construction that includes the Children's Museum.
Jeff talks about the ways they are dealing with heavy traffic and the new ways visitors can access the park without trying to find parking in the nearby neighborhoods.
He’s been a Tulsan most his life, so we talk about his previous work in the fishing and tackle industry and what the husband and father of two’s hobbies are outside of work.
I had a great time getting to know Jeff and having a chat. He’s a great ambassador for Gathering Place and Tulsa. His energy and excitement when talking about both is infectious.
Following that conversation, city editor Morgan Phillips heads to the Tulsa State Fair to figure out What the What (48:40) it takes for a mama pig give birth in a room full of spectators enjoying bacon treats and hot dogs. The star of the segment is Sadie, who was forced to carry around 15 babies for days at the fair. Somebody get her a megaride pass and a funnel cake.
Closing out this episode of Tulsa Talks is CliffDiver, which is sharing their new single “Cameron Diaz” (52:50). It’s the first single from the six-piece pop punk band’s follow-up to their 2018 EP Small Hours, which is available on Spotify.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber, I’m your host Tim Landes.
That voice belongs to Corey Atchison. On July 16, Corey became a free man for the first time in nearly three decades. Judge Sharon Holmes said he was “actually innocent” of the 1990 killing of James Warren Lane. During our conversation, Corey revisits the night of the murder.
He was found guilty on June 14 1991.
Two days before the verdict, Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls won their first championship.
People who listened to the radio or a cassette tape while driving to Eastland Mall or Casa Bonita likely heard Paula Abdul’s No. 1 single Rush Rush or maybe Color Me Badd’s I Wanna Sex You Up from the New Jack City soundtrack.
That year the notebook computer (what we commonly call a laptop) was just going mainstream. The only mouse most people had in their homes was the furry rodent.
Today you can stream a song instantaneously, in 1991 it took 9 minutes 15 seconds to download 1 megabite. It took 154 hours and 19 minutes to download a gig.
That was the world Corey left.
Once Corey entered the prison system with a life sentence, the world he knew was over. When he walked out of the Tulsa County Courthouse a couple of months ago, he entered a world unlike what he knew. It was as if he had time traveled.
As you’ll hear, Corey always believed he would be exonerated. To bide his time he spent a lot of it cooking for other inmates, like Carl Fontenot (known for John Grisham’s book and the new Netflix docuseries “The Innocent Man”) and Corey’s brother Malcom Scott, who was wrongfully convicted of a separate murder and spent 22 years in prison before being released in 2016.
That’s right two brothers, both wrongfully convicted murder.
Corey went in as 20-year-old father of a baby girl. He re-enters society a 48-year-old grandfather of a 10-year-old boy. Mention his grandson and a smile erupts from his face.
During our conversation, Corey talks about some of the struggles that come with re-entering the world and Tulsa after a 28-year absence. We discuss what life in prison was like for him, and his views on the prison system.
We did not talk about his likely lawsuit against the state or about Tulsa County DA Steve Kunzweiler saying the state will appeal the release.
Corey is a soft spoken man, who opened up and talked a lot about his experiences. I’m thankful for our conversation.
Following that, we lighten things up with the newest installment of What the What with city editor Morgan Phillips. Morgan lived out a life-long dream of becoming a princess, specifically the fairest maiden of them all. It turns out being a princess is more than singing and talking to woodland animals.
Closing out the episode is Hanna Roso’s new single, “Mars” off their debut release “Feed the Hungry” which was released on September 6th.
Alright, let’s get this going.
This is Tulsa Talks.
Johnna Hayes has devoted her career to working her way up through the Tulsa restaurant scene over the last two decades. Four years ago, she was a bartender. Today, she's one of three women who run 3 Sirens Restaurant Group, which operates two Bramble locations, Bird and Bottle, and the newly acquired Celebrity Club Restaurant. Plus there's more on the way.
Hayes discusses growing up in Tulsa's service industry and how it's evolved. She talks about what it's like to run a restaurant business that provides jobs to nearly 150 Tulsans and feeds thousands of people.
In this wide-ranging conversation, Hayes also talks about workplace mental health and how women are treated in the industry.
This episode also features a rundown of the annual Restaurant Week, which involves more than 50 local restaurants participating in a fundraiser for the Community Foodbank of Eastern Oklahoma.
Closing out the episode is a new single, "Street Light" from local R&B/Pop artist Branjae.
Welcome to Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber.
On this episode, a conversation with Dr. Deborah Gist, superintendent of Tulsa Public Schools.
We all heard about the teacher salary increases, but where are they on teacher hiring (11:20)? State funding for education remains among the lowest in the nation, so what needs to change (12:50)?
Dr. Gist looks back at her 30-year career (18:00) that started, like many other Oklahoma teaching grads, in a Texas classroom. She discusses what's happening in the classroom (24:20) and how low funding hinders the students education. She also discusses why people with no kids or children who have grown up should be paying attention to what's happening with TPS (32:45).
All that and much more.
Following that conversation, I check in with friend of the podcast, Jerry Wofford, to talk music (42:30). Jerry is the education and public programs manager for the Woody Guthrie Center, so he discussed all the cool stuff happening there this fall, like the new Arlo Guthrie exhibit.
Weston Horn and the Hush just released their new album “Vol. 2 Don’t Give Up” and they’re sharing with you the title track from that album (52:40)
Welcome to the third season of Tulsa Talks presented by Tulsa Regional Chamber.
Our season premiere features a conversation with Dr. Leigh Goodson, president and CEO of Tulsa Community College.
We begin the discussion by talking about TCC’s 50th anniversary, which is also featured in the August issue of TulsaPeople. She talks about the school as it is today, what it means to her to be the first female president of the school (4:10), a bit about her background and then checking in on the Tulsa Achieves program (10:48).
We pause that conversation about midway through to check in with our city editor, Morgan Phillips, who recently spent time on the Broken Arrow High School football field to find out “What the What” it takes to begin defending the 6A state football championship (15:20). That’s right, Morgan went through summer conditioning with the boys.
Following Morgan’s story, we resume the conversation with Dr. Goodson (19:49). It begins with a discussion about the classroom and technology followed by what the student body looks like today (22:00). Goodson talks about TCC’s partnership with the Southern California Center for Urban Education to create an equity scorecard (23:42) then discusses being an Aspen Fellow and what that means for her five-year plan for TCC and who they measure themselves against (28:12). She shares her thoughts on the national conversation regarding student loans (33:12), discusses why college is still an important pathway for success (35:45) and why a local high school student should continue education at TCC (38:05).
We conclude the season premiere with the new song “No Dress Rehearsal” (42:18) from the Brad James Band. Their new album “Brad James Band Live at Fellowship Hall” is being released by Horton Records on Aug. 9.
More on Goodson:
Goodson was named the fourth president and chief executive officer of Tulsa Community College in May 2014.
A Tulsa native, Goodson has worked in higher education most of her professional career. Goodson previously served in numerous roles at Oklahoma State University.
Goodson has strong ties to education, having served previously as a university faculty member, university administrator and school board member for Tulsa Public Schools. She is passionate about student success.
She serves on the board of directors for the YMCA of Greater Tulsa and the Oklahoma Innovation Institute. She is a graduate of Leadership Oklahoma class XXIII and Leadership Tulsa Class 35. She serves as chair of the Education Task Force for the Tulsa Regional Chamber One Voice initiative as well as on its Board of Directors. She has a special interest in creating a pipeline for students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).
Goodson is an Aspen Presidential Fellow and under her leadership, TCC was selected as one of 30 institutions nationwide to participate in the AACC Pathways Project.
Goodson earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Education Research and Evaluation from OSU, a Master of Science in Organizational Communication from Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kan., and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from OSU.
Goodson, her husband, Mark, and two children live in Tulsa.
Today, a conversation with Danny Boy O’Connor, who went from 90s hip hop star to passionate preservationist, transforming The Outsiders House into a museum, and a point of pride for Tulsa.
Then, City Editor Morgan Phillips steps up to the plate for an extra-sporty edition of What the What?
So let’s talk, Tulsa.
That’s the voice of Danny Boy O’Connor, savior of the now-revered “Outsiders” house once destined for demolition. He’s turning it into a pop culture museum centered on the 1983 film filmed here in Tulsa, as well as its inspiration: the book written by Tulsan S.E. Hinton when she was a 15-year-old student at Will Rogers High School.
To Danny Boy (and now, to many others) the Outsiders house was always more than a movie set; the home, like the film, represented a simpler time, like the childhood summers he spent traveling from his home in Los Angeles to his native New Jersey.
The hip-hop group House of Pain was comprised of Danny Boy and rappers Everlast and DJ Lethal. They released three albums in the 90s; their first, “Fine Malt Lyrics,” went multi-platinum. Fast-forward many years and several world tours later, and eventually House of Pain split up; Danny Boy later reunited with Everlast and DJ Lethal to form the group La Coka Nostra. And that brought Danny Boy to Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 2009.
That moment sparked something in Danny. It eventually led him to create the Delta Bravo Urban Exploration, a team that finds and documents culturally relevant sites such as the shooting locations for films, TV, music videos and album covers.
But his first love, his labor of love, is the Outsiders House, a representation of the film that so strongly affected him all those years ago. Danny Boy bought the house for $15,000 in 2015 and began the process of restoring the dilapidated property back to the iteration seen in “The Outsiders” film.
Thanks so much for Listening to Tulsa Talks!
If you enjoyed this episode, tell a friend about the show, and leave us a rating or review on iTunes, Google Play and Spotify.
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, @TulsaPeople, or head to our home on the web, TulsaPeople.com/podcast. There, you’ll find show notes and more info about our guests and topics.
On a personal note, I wanted to thank you for all the support you’ve shown this podcast. It’s been a labor of love for both myself and Morgan Phillips, the show’s producer. Morgan is already working on season 3, which is going to sound a little different.
That’s right, TulsaPeople’s new digital editor, Tim Landes, will be your host, and the new voice of all TulsaPeople’s digital endeavors. Meanwhile, I’m on to the next chapter of my life with a move to Chicago. I’m super excited, but very sad to be leaving TulsaPeople. My work here has meant a lot, and has really shaped me as a person. But, I know I’m leaving y’all in capable hands, and I can’t wait to see what Tim does with the podcast and our social media — as a follower and a listener from afar!
Every episode, we play you out with some local music. This is Annie Ellicott's "Shadows Live" from her album "Lonesome Goldmine."
Annie is currently touring with actor and jazz musician Jeff Goldblum in the US and Europe. Visit annieellicott.com for more music from this local artist.
Today, a conversation with Sherry Gamble Smith on Tulsa’s Juneteenth celebration, and how we as a city can continue to move toward reconciliation.
Then, editor Anne Brockman offers her top picnic tips for that perfect summer meal.
This episode of Tulsa Talks is brought to you by the Tulsa Regional Chamber.
So let’s talk, Tulsa.
Topics in this episode
- Juneteenth: its significance/history nationally and here in Tulsa. How Sherry and her committee helped reinvent Tulsa Juneteenth. What Tulsans can look forward to at the 2019 festival June 13-16 on Greenwood Avenue.
- Her 2018 reinvention of Tulsa’s black Chamber, called the Black Wall Street Chamber.
That’s the voice of Sherry Gamble Smith, president and CEO of the Black Wall Street Chamber of Commerce, a group she and other community organizers created in 2018 to educate, create and inspire economic vitality in Tulsa’s African-American community. Founding the Black Wall Street Chamber was a reinvention for Sherry, who had formerly served as executive director of another group, the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce.
Beyond helping African-American businesses and professionals, the Black Wall Street Chamber advocates for other important changes identified by the black community.
Summer is in full swing, and Tulsans will soon be planning Fourth of July cookouts and fireworks shows. But before that holiday, there's another Independence Day to be celebrated.
Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, the day that the abolition of slavery was announced in Texas, the last U.S. state to free its slaves — nearly three years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed.
Juneteenth celebrations take place in many cities across the nation, including here in Tulsa for more than 20 years. This year’s celebration is June 13th-16th in the historic Greenwood District. The festival is a multi-arts experience that recognizes and celebrates the rich heritage of African Americans.
Sherry Gamble Smith discusses the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921. This month marks the 98th anniversary of the horrific event that likely killed hundreds and decimated Tulsa’s Black Wall Street on Greenwood Avenue.
For more information on the Black Wall Street Chamber of Commerce, visit bwschamber.com. And for a full schedule of Tulsa Juneteenth activities, go to tulsajuneteenth.org.
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, @TulsaPeople, or head to our home on the web, TulsaPeople.com/podcast. There, you’ll find show notes and more info about our guests and topics.
Every episode, we play you out with some local music. Here is Desi and Cody's new single, "Dandelion Wine."
For more music by the Tulsa folk duo, visit desiandcody.com.
That’s Taylor Hanson, and if you live in Tulsa or if you’re a fan of eponymous band Hanson, he needs no introduction. The band is comprised of brothers Isaac (guitar, bass, piano, vocals), Taylor (keyboards, piano, guitar, drums, vocals), and Zac (drums, piano, guitar, vocals). They started the band in 1992 when they were 11, 9 and 6, and skyrocketed to fame with MMMBop in 1997. Now, 27 years after the band’s founding, they are still making music.
Part of the reason these brothers are so beloved in their hometown is that despite their massive international following, they remain deeply rooted here in Tulsa, working to make the community stronger.
Taylor Hanson started Food on the Move in 2014 inspired by the community-focused work of Edward Perkins, a former U.S. ambassador to South Africa. The mobile food project brings food trucks, fresh produce, cooking demonstrations, music, and health and social services to food deserts — economically strapped areas with limited access to nutritious food options.
From a Tulsa Voice article that focuses on FOTM: “Food On The Move is visionary because it deals with the problem of food access in a way that both meets an immediate need and asks anyone who’s paying attention to re-think the way our community lives, works and eats.”
This episode of Tulsa Talks is brought to you by the Tulsa Regional Chamber.
Taylor Hanson knows a thing or two about success. And one thing he’s learned? What hits and what fades is often unpredictable, and your ability to be flexible — to be willing to reinvent — is crucial.
So in case you’ve been living under a rock, the 6th annual Hop Jam Beer and Music Festival is this Saturday, May 19. The festival has grown immensely since it began in 2014, and has evolved alongside Hanson Day (which, by the way, is now several days) as a destination for Hanson fans to gather from all over the world here in Tulsa.
Up next, Taylor shares what it was like to reinvent some old hits for Hanson’s newest album “String Theory.” But first, a special guest segment from the hosts of The Middle of Everything Podcast. Working moms Claire and Sarah are up next with their top tips for summer camp survival.
You’re listening to Tulsa Talks, a TulsaPeople podcast, episode 2.9. I’m Anna Bennett.
This episode of Tulsa Talks is brought to you by the Tulsa Regional Chamber.
Today, a conversation with Kuma Roberts, the Chamber’s self-described renaissance woman.
Then, Morgan Phillips tries her hand at figure drawing in a fully-clothed installment of What the What?!
So let’s talk, Tulsa.
That’s Kuma Roberts, Executive Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Tulsa Regional Chamber — and former subscriptions manager for a little publication called TulsaPeople magazine.
Kuma has been a fixture at the Tulsa Regional Chamber since 2011, but her current position is a new one — and one that’s uniquely suited to her experiences across fields like education, workforce development and communications. This culminated into a single nexus that gets her out of bed every morning, energized and focused. Because to understand and advocate for diversity and inclusion both within the Tulsa Regional Chamber and across industries in Tulsa, one must understand the multifaceted ways that economics, race, education, history, gender, politics and so many other elements intersect. And Kumo is clearly ready to take on this role with gusto.
And yes, the Tulsa Regional Chamber is a sponsor of this podcast. But this conversation is authentic and unguarded, and I know you’ll come away with some reactions and thoughts. So let’s dive in.
We’ll be back with more Tulsa Talks but first, a quick word from our sponsors.
When we left off, Kuma Roberts was explaining the way her position at the Tulsa Regional Chamber represents an internal reinvention, an acknowledgment by the Chamber that diversity and inclusion has not always been a priority — but now, it is an integral part of the organization and its continuing relevance in the modern world.
But apart from being the right thing to do, fostering an inclusive environment is just good business. Kuma explains why all businesses should be reinventing their approach to diversity during our interview.
We’ll be back with more Tulsa Talks, but first, sharpen your pencils — Morgan Phillips is headed to ahha to draw a live model during What the What?!
Kuma Roberts is a champion for having difficult conversations about race, gender, age and more as it relates to the workplace. But her personal life is also a fascinating intersection of these very elements. She’s also proof that having earnest discussions and reinventing old presumptions that no longer serve is just as invigorating within a family as it is within a business.
Thanks so much for Listening to Tulsa Talks! If you enjoyed this episode, tell a friend about the show, and leave us a rating or review on iTunes, Google Play and Spotify.
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, @TulsaPeople, or head to our home on the web, TulsaPeople.com/podcast. There, you’ll find show notes and more info about our guests and topics.
Every episode, we play you out with some local music. Today we play you out with music from Zunis. The song is “Power Be,” off the band’s latest release, the “Earth to Self EP.” Zunis recently released a music video for the song.
Zunis is one of 9 musical acts to perform at “Tribute to Tulsa” this Saturday, May 4, at Gathering Place. Check out more from the band at zunis.net.
Few people have created art across as many disciplines as Joy Harjo. Even fewer have achieved her level of success.
The Tulsa native and member of the Muscogee Creek Nation is best known for her poetry, which she writes as "a voice of the indigenous people." Since the 1970s, she has published 12 books of poetry, which have won her myriad awards: the prestigious Ruth Lilly Prize, a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Josephine Miles Poetry Award, the William Carlos Williams Award, the American Indian Distinguished Achievement in the Arts Award, the American Library Association’s Notable Book of the Year, to name just a few. Her memoir, “CrazyBrave,” which details her troubling childhood and her journey to becoming a poet, won the PEN USA Literary Award for Creative Non-Fiction. She reflects on that memoir — and the personal history it forced her to confront — during our interview.
Joy Harjo first studied visual art — and absolutely loved it. But there was a moment in college where her focus shifted, transforming her from an artist into a poet.
This episode of Tulsa Talks is brought to you by the Tulsa Regional Chamber.
Most recently, Joy was the Chair of Excellence in the Department of English at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Prior to that, she was a professor of English in the American Indian Studies department at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. She has also taught at the Institute of American Indian Arts, Arizona State University, and the universities of Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico.
Harjo also is an accomplished vocalist and instrumental musician, playing a menagerie that includes the guitar, ukulele, bass, flute and saxophone. Her music often incorporates the spoken word. She has produced 5 award-winning albums and is a recipient of the Native American Music Award for Best Female Artist of the Year. She performs extensively nationally and internationally with her band, Arrow Dynamics.
Jerry Wofford from the Woody Guthrie Center dropped by to talk about the musical line-up for the center’s Sixth Anniversary Celebration April 26-28.
Be sure to check out these great musicians performing at Guthrie Green, for free, April 26-28. More information can be found at woodyguthriecenter.org.
Joy Harjo’s poetry has diverse themes as complex as the artist herself: her ancestry, indigenous values, feminism, politics, individual struggle, what it means to be human. Now, at age 67, her work continues to evolve. In January she began a Tulsa Artist Fellowship to continue her exploration of poetry and music.
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, @TulsaPeople, or head to our home on the web, TulsaPeople.com/podcast. There, you’ll find show notes and more info about our guests and topics.
Every episode, we play you out with s
This episode of Tulsa Talks is brought to you by the Tulsa Regional Chamber.
Today, Majeste Pearson is in the studio to talk about the many ups and downs of a career in music — even at the tender age of 22.
Then, city editor Morgan Phillips discovers the next best thing to owning a time machine in a positively medieval edition of What the What?!
So let’s talk, Tulsa.
That’s musician Majeste Pearson, or Majeste Amour, as she’s known on social media. The singing sensation appeared on TV screens nationally last summer as a competitor on the Fox reality series “The Four: Battle for Stardom.” During Season two of the show, singers challenging each other for a recording deal and the right to be mentored by celebrity panelists Sean “Diddy” Combs, Meghan Trainor and DJ Khaled. And though she was eliminated before the finale, the powerhouse of a performer gained national attention.
Here in Tulsa, though, we also know Majeste as the daughter of Bishop Carlton Pearson, the prominent evangelist turned divisive spiritual leader. Later, I talk with Majeste about what it’s like to have a Netflix film made about your family. But first, Majeste shares the unexpected lessons she learned during her stint on reality TV.
Majeste Pearson grew up in the church, which was an early experience that forever connected her with music. Her father Carlton Pearson was the influential leader of the 5,000-member Higher Dimensions church, an evangelist whose spiritual mentor was Oral Roberts himself. But in 2006, Pearson has a theological transformation. He was deemed a heretic for his new belief in universal salvation and he lost his church. It’s dramatic stuff, but for Majeste’s family, that’s just life.
Majeste’s next musical performance is actually this weekend — here she is, discussing Tulsa Sings!, during which she and three other finalists will sing with the Signature Symphony. It’s basically The Four: Tulsa Edition.
When we come back, Majeste talks about what’s next. But now, Morgan Phillips takes up arms and swears her fealty for the Barony of Northkeep.
More about the Society for Creative Anachronism and the Barony of Northkeep.
After her experience in the national spotlight, Majeste Pearson has her musical goals set on new priorities and horizons. Let’s finish that conversation.
You can follow Majeste on Instagram, @majesteamour, or by visiting majesteamour.com. Majeste will join the other Tulsa Sings! Finalists Samuel Briggs, Dennis Crookedacre and Molly Crookedacre in concerts on Friday, April 5 and Saturday, April 6, at the VanTrease PACE. Visit signaturesymphony.org for more information.
Thanks so much for Listening to Tulsa Talks! If you enjoyed this episode, tell a friend about the show, and leave us a rating or review on iTunes, Google Play and Spotify.
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, @TulsaPeople, or head to our home on the web, TulsaPeople.com/podcast. There, you’ll find show notes and more info about our guests and topics.
Every episode, we play you out with some local music. And we’re double Majestic, because this is Majeste Pearson’s single, “Passion.”
Mayor G.T. Bynum on how data analysis can reinvent civic decision-making, and how social media can reconnect elected officials to the people.
Happy First Day of Spring, Tulsa! Editor Anne Brockman shares what’s on the menu this season across town.
So let’s talk, Tulsa.
This episode of Tulsa Talks is brought to you by the Tulsa Regional Chamber.
"People in Tulsa aren't sitting back and saying, Hey, aren't we great for doing these things? They're saying, Yeah, this is great. What are we going to do next? What's next? What more can we do?"
That’s the mayor of Tulsa, G.T. Bynum. Though he’s only been in office for 2 years, the city has already seen major changes and exciting prospects under his bespectacled watch. And even though he probably still gets carded at the liquor store, Bynum comes from an impressive political lineage.
Robert J. LaFortune, the mayor of Tulsa from 1970-1978, is Bynum's grandfather. Bynum's uncle, Bill LaFortune, served as mayor from 2002 to 2006. Bynum is a descendant of R. N. Bynum, who served as mayor from 1899 to 1900. G.T. still has R.N.’s shotgun from his days as mayor. Different times at city hall.
In this interview, Bynum talks candidly about his relationship with his grandfather and how much city governance — and Tulsa itself — has transformed. And how something as seemingly unsexy as piles and piles of data might be the key to reinventing not just Tulsa, but how all cities run.
In just a minute, we’ll find out what the Data Pioneers discovered to be the strongest link to increased income. But first, a quick word from our sponsors.
When we left off, Mayor Bynum was explaining how data analysts found the one thing that has the greatest correlation to increased per-capita income in Tulsa. The Urban Data Pioneers came back with a clear answer: advanced graduate degrees.
When we come back, Mayor Bynum divulges what’s on his current reading list, and why he focuses so much on the big picture. But first, Anne Brockman is here with some foodie news.
You can follow the Mayor on Twitter, @gtbynum. Just search G.T. Bynum on Facebook. If you reach out with a comment or an idea, he’ll probably respond, too.
Thanks so much for Listening to Tulsa Talks! If you enjoyed this episode, tell a friend about the show, and leave us a rating or review on iTunes, Google Play and Spotify.
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, @TulsaPeople, or head to our home on the web, TulsaPeople.com/podcast. There, you’ll find show notes and more info about our guests and topics.
Every episode, we play you out with some local music. This is “Otherside” by Roots of Thought off of the EP Familiar Feelings.
Learn more about this band, who recently represented Tulsa at SXSW, at rootsofthought.com. You can find their music on Spotify, iTunes, Soundcloud and Bandcamp.
This episode of Tulsa Talks is brought to you by the Tulsa Regional Chamber.
Today, Amazing Emeka talks about finding his path — and his surprise appearance on the Ellen Show.
Then, city editor Morgan Phillips takes the bus — with an adorable sidekick in tow, during What the What?!
So let’s talk, Tulsa.
Emeka Nnaka is synonymous with resilience, optimism and service. Today, he’s a motivational speaker, the face of the United Way, an ambassador for The Center for Individuals with Physical Challenges, and an advocate with Youth Services of Tulsa and Operation Aware.
He was even named one of the Tulsa World’s People to Watch in 2019.
But Emeka would not be “the hair in the chair” that we know and love today had it not been one event that forever altered his life. Emeka picks up the story from our studio.
After a devastating injury on the football field, Emeka Nnaka had no choice but to totally reinvent his identity. He began mentoring high school students, and about 2 years after his injury, an interaction with these kids offered a moment of clarity.
When we come back, Emeka dishes on on what it was like end up on the Ellen Show. But our next stop? A Tulsa transit adventure with first-time riders Morgan and Haven Phillips.
Tulsans have loved Emeka Nnaka for years, but Amazing Emeka was recently in the national spotlight, thanks to a surprise appearance on the Ellen Show. “I thought I was visiting the ‘Ellen’ studio to record a series for her YouTube channel,” he says. Instead, he was taken before a live audience and given $100,000 as part of Ellen DeGeneres’ and Cheerios’ “One Million Acts of Good” campaign partnership. You may have seen the video from November 2018 — it’s been watched nearly 2 million times on Facebook.
You can follow Emeka Nnaka on Twitter and Instagram, @emekannaka, or by visiting his website, emekannaka.com. You’ll want to keep an eye out, since Emeka is working on his first book. In December, Emeka returned to “The Ellen Show” and received another surprise from DeGeneres: $20,000 for Youth Services of Tulsa.
You’ll may see Emeka out and about in his new, customized van — Fittingly, named Ellen.
Thanks so much for Listening to Tulsa Talks! If you enjoyed this episode, tell a friend about the show, and leave us a rating or review on iTunes, Google Play and Spotify.
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, @TulsaPeople, or head to our home on the web, TulsaPeople.com/podcast. There, you’ll find show notes and more info about our guests and topics.
Every episode, we play you out with some local music. This is “Got Life” by Tulsa’s own Jennifer Marriott Band. The album is called “Digging Up My Roots.”
Check out this band’s upcoming shows at facebook.com/jennifermarriottband. The band’s music can be found on all the digital outlets and on CD Baby.
Anna America took the helm at Tulsa’s Parks and Recreation department in the fall of 2018. Despite being relatively new at this position, Anna is certainly no stranger to life in the public eye.
This episode of Tulsa Talks is brought to you by Celebrate LIFE, March 7 at the Cox Business Center, a gala benefiting LIFE Senior Services.
You’re listening to Tulsa Talks, a TulsaPeople podcast, episode 2.4. I’m Anna Bennett.
Today, it’s "thought for your thoughts" with the director of Parks & Rec, Anna America.
Then detective Ian Swart is on the case, investigating a local hill turned literary landmark: Holmes Hill.
That’s Anna America, who took the helm at Tulsa’s Parks and Recreation department in the fall of 2018. Despite being relatively new at this position, Anna is certainly no stranger to life in the public eye. Most recently, Anna was executive director of the Child Abuse Network, and has also been the executive director for Up With Trees and Tulsa’s Communities in Schools.
She also sat on the City Council from 2014-2018, resigning in order to take the position as parks director. So yeah. Anna America is definitely Tulsa’s own Leslie Knope.
Your average Tulsan thinks of every park, greenspace and playground as part of a monolithic “public space.” But the reality of Tulsa’s parks is a little more complicated.
Plus, a segment on obscure Tulsa history that’s even nerdier than playing Cones of Dunshire. Ian Swart, the resident Sherlockian of the Tulsa Historical Society, is here with the story.
Thanks so much for Listening to Tulsa Talks! If you enjoyed this episode, tell a friend about the show, and leave us a rating or review on iTunes, Google Play and Spotify.
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, @TulsaPeople, or head to our home on the web, TulsaPeople.com/podcast. There, you’ll find show notes and more info about our guests and topics.
Every episode, we play you out with some local music. Today’s selection is “I’ve Been Wrong Before” by Dane Arnold and The Soup.
Check out the new music video for this song, now on YouTube. Visit daneandthesoup.com to learn more about this artist and this song.
Today, a conversation with dueling piano phenom Tom Basler about his many reinventions, both personal and professional.
Then, City Editor Morgan Phillips plays with hammers and hot metal during What the What?! So let’s talk, Tulsa.
That’s the voice of Tom Basler, talking about why he decided to stay in Tulsa — even after his son left for the Navy and his long-time gig at Full Moon Cafe came to an end.
Tom Basler has had a storied career as a dueling piano player — Excuse me, Singalong Piano Player. And the local fixture is no stranger to personal and professional reinvention. During our conversation, we talked about his early transition from classical music to top 40 hits, the seismic shift caused by the iPod, and going from a life on the road to being a single dad rooted in Tulsa. But Tom’s most visible change to date? He’s lost a lot of weight thanks to bariatric surgery back in April. We’ll get back to that. But first, a lesson in Dueling Piano Shows, or as those in the industry prefer to call them, Singalongs.
Today, Tom has been doing this work for so long, that he doesn’t even have to be near a piano to learn a song.
To find out when you can catch Tom live, visit facebook.com/tombaslermusic, or tombaslermusic.com**. His band, Bad Decisions, frequently plays at The Stumbling Monkey. You can follow them on Facebook too.
Thanks so much for Listening to Tulsa Talks! If you enjoyed this episode, tell a friend about the show, and leave us a rating or review on iTunes*, Google Play and* Spotify**
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, @TulsaPeople, or head to our home on the web, TulsaPeople.com/podcast. There, you’ll find show notes and more info about our guests and topics.
And don’t forget! Morgan is giving away the cuff she made during What the What on Instagram, so follow @whatthewhattulsa to enter.
Every episode, we play you out with some local music. Today’s selection is “Fool’s Heartbreak” from Kalyn Fay’s upcoming record “Good Company,” which releases Feb. 16.
Find the single and album on iTunes or a streaming service. For more about this artist, visit Kalynfay.com.
Today’s guest left Tulsa with dreams of stardom. Now, Ana Berry is a champion for the city, with a new perspective on life.
Then, Langston Hughes Academy senior Adilene Peru delivers Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
So let’s talk, Tulsa.
That’s the voice of Ana Berry, a media personality and yoga teacher.
Even if you don’t know her name, you probably know Ana.
Ana is the daughter of Beth Rengel, the longtime Tulsa news anchor and reporter turned real estate agent, and the actor Milton Berry. With a beauty queen mother, an actor father, and an impressive education — American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, a BFA in acting from DePaul in Chicago Ana’s path seemed clear: Move to LA, become a famous, happy and successful actress.
Spoiler alert, that’s not quite how it went down. Anna Bennett sat down with Ana Berry in the studio for the whole story.
**We’ll be back with more Anna and Ana, but first, Tulsa Talks is proud to present the winner of Martin Luther King Oratorical contest, Adilene Peru of Langston Academy.
You can follow Ana Berry at anaberry.com*, or on social media* @iamanaberry**.
And if something in your life breaks, listener, I hope you mend it with gold.
Thanks so much for Listening to Tulsa Talks! If you enjoyed this episode, tell a friend about the show, and leave us a rating or review on iTunes, Google Play and Spotify.
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, @TulsaPeople, or head to our home on the web, TulsaPeople.com/podcast. There, you’ll find show notes and more info about our guests and topics.
Every episode, we play you out with some local music. Today’s selection is “New Years Day” by the band Nightingale.
To learn more about this artist, visit nightingaleband.com.
Season 2 is all about reinvention, and you could say that today’s guest, Meg Myers Morgan, wrote the book on how to do it — through negotiation and self-reflection.
Then, City Editor Morgan Phillips takes fitness resolutions to new heights on today’s edition of What the What?!
So let’s talk, Tulsa.
Today's episode is brought to you by CVCaudit.com, presenting the 2019 TulsaPeople Readership Survey.
That’s the voice of Meg Myers Morgan, assistant professor at OU-Tulsa and coordinator of the school’s Master of Public Administration program, talking about her new book, “Everything is Negotiable: The Five Tactics to Get What You Want in Life, Love and Work.”
A New Year brings with it promises of new beginnings. Of a new you. And while we all want 2019 to be the year when we become richer, prettier, skinnier, more organized versions of ourselves, statistically very few of us will stick with our goals. If we even turned our amorphous wishes into concrete goals in the first place. And maybe that’s because we’re all so focused on the end goal, how wonderful our lives will be once we achieve this one thing, that we lose sight of the process it takes to get there. But that’s what I love about Meg’s new book, “Everything is Negotiable,” which might be the one book you need to negotiate your way to a better life. The book represents a reinvention or Meg’s writing career, as she shifted from the humorous, slice-of-life essays in her first book “Harebrained,” to the more prescriptive approach of her follow-up.
The five tactics in Meg’s book are: choosing, wanting, owning, giving and getting. I sat down with her in the studio to figure out how to use these tactics to make — and keep — New Year’s resolutions.
You can purchase “Everything is Negotiable” at Magic City Books, and be sure to follow Meg at megmyersmorgan.com, and across social media using the handle @megmyersmorgan.
May 2019 bring you many happy pivots, Tulsa.
Thanks so much for Listening to Tulsa Talks! If you enjoyed this episode, tell a friend about the show, and leave us a rating or review on iTunes, Google Play and Spotify.
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, @TulsaPeople, or head to our home on the web, TulsaPeople.com/podcast. There, you’ll find show notes and more info about our guests and topics.
Every episode, we play you out with some local music. Today’s selection is “Another,” from the album Contenders by Eric Himan.
To learn more about this artist, visit erichiman.com.
Today's episode is brought to you by CVCaudit.com, presenting the 2019 TulsaPeople Readership Survey.
Coming to your podcast feed on January 2...
It’s Tulsa Talks 2.0.
The second season of Tulsa Talks is all about reinvention.
The good...
The bad...
And the unexpected...
Featuring guests like Meg Myers Morgan, Ana Berry, Emeka Nnaka, G.T. Bynum, Tom Basler, Anna America and more.
But city editor Morgan Phillips hasn’t changed one bit. She’ll be trying something new every month on What the What?!
Start the New Year with a new season of Tulsa Talks, available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify and TulsaPeople.com/podcast. Listen in, and maybe you’ll be inspired to do a little reinventing yourself. So let’s talk, Tulsa.
You’re listening to Tulsa Talks, a TulsaPeople Podcast, episode 10. I’m your host, Anna Bennett.
This episode is brought to you by Gilcrease Museum, presenting the exhibit Americans All!
On this season one finale, I talk with Mazen Abufadil, an artist, educator and immigrant, whose work is currently featured at the Gilcrease Museum.
Plus, Jerry Wofford takes a look back at the best musical moments of 2018.
There are two things I notice immediately about Mazen Abufadil — he’s got a quiet voice, and a curious mind.
After finishing the interview and leaving the office, he was back moments later to share an observation he’d has while looking at a nearby sycamore tree, just to make sure I knew his updated viewpoint; event though the mics were off.
But that’s just who Mazen is — an educator, as much as an artist, one who’s generous with his time and knowledge. His unflappable patience, no doubt a boon in the classroom at Holland Hall, is honed by raising four children of his own.
Mazen was born in Lebanon, and spent his earliest years in Beirut. But life changed forever for Mazen and his family in the late 1970s. The Lebanese Civil war broke out, bringing with it years of violent conflict. Mazen’s family fled to the United States. He shared his recollections of arriving in Tulsa during our interview.
Thanks for listening to Tulsa Talks! We’ve had a blast bringing you Season One; it’s been an adventure and a labor of love for all of us. And, I’m thrilled to announce that Season Two begins on January 2nd, and we’ve got some super awesome guests on the roster that I can’t tell you about yet, but that you’re going to love.
If you’ve enjoyed this podcast, then all we want for Christmas is a rating, review, subscription or share — we’d love to find some positive feedback in our stockings.
Every episode, we play you out with some local music. In the spirit of the season, today’s selection is “Hey Skinny Santa” from JD McPherson’s new Christmas album, “Socks.”
To purchase and find upcoming tour dates, visit JDMcPherson.com.
Original music by The Earslips, recorded and mixed by Mike Gilliland at Auggy Reed Studios.
Today's episode is sponsored by Tulsa Botanic Garden, presenting Festival of Lights through January 6.
On today’s episode, I’m feeling extra festive, because we’ve got Philbrook Museum director Scott Stulen in the studio to talk about the museum’s annual Festival.
Then, Morgan Phillips takes the stage with a dramatic rendition of What the What?!
That’s the voice of Scott Stulen, the now-iconic director of the always-iconic Philbrook Museum. In the past 2 and a half years, Scott has steered the museum in a distinctively modern direction. The Internet Cat Video Festival. The 80s-themed 80th anniversary. The bold, interactive visiting exhibitions featuring the works of Andy Warhol and Mel Bochner. Plus, who can forget the tiny motel from which local musicians played live-streamed mini-concerts.
Philbrook even has a podcast now, Museum Confidential, which — full disclosure — definitely had a hand in inspiring us to start a podcast too.
But, Scott knows that there are some things you just don’t mess with. One of those beloved traditions is Festival, which longtime Tulsans may remember as the Philbrook Festival of Trees, an annual holiday celebration that sees the Italian Villa decked out in full holiday glory, it’s immaculate gardens illuminated and glittering. But in addition to the warm familiarity, Scott promises us new surprises, too.
Scott and I were discussing the new cabin in the Philbrook gardens. Since this conversation, I’ve experienced it for myself — and it’s truly magical.
But the cabin isn’t the only new addition you can expect at Philbrook’s Festival.
We’ll be back with more of this conversation. But first, Morgan Phillips reconnects with her inner drama nerd thanks to the Orbit Initiative on this installment of What the What?!
To get a behind-the-scenes look at this and other adventures, be sure to follow Morgan on Instagram at @whatthewhattulsa.
When we left off, Scott Stulen was discussing the new additions to this year’s Philbrook Festival. But as it turns out, an old tradition is making a comeback this weekend.
Philbrook Museum is at 2727 S. Rockford Avenue.
Remaining festival dates are Fridays, Dec. 7, 14, 21, 28, plus Christmas Eve, Monday, December 24. As a reminder, the Children’s party is this Sunday, December 7.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit philbrook.org/festival. Adult tickets are $5/Philbrook Members, $15/Not-yet Members. Kids are free but require a ticket.
Featured Local Music:
Mark Gibson’s “Blue Eyed Soul” from his 2018 album “Live from Soul City.”
Catch Mark playing various venues this month, including a holiday concert on Dec. 15 at Soul City.
For more information, visit markgibsonmusic.com.
This episode is brought to you by the Tulsa Botanic Garden, presenting the holiday event Garden of Lights through January 6th.
There’s something for everyone at Garden of Lights, which runs through January 6that the Tulsa Botanic Garden, just 8 miles northwest of downtown. Have your photo taken with Botanical Saint Nick on Wednesday nights, or enjoy live music on Thursday evenings through December 20th. You can look forward to the sounds of the Bravo Performing Arts School, the Cascia Hall Singers, Mark Gibson and harpist Lorelei Barton. Plan to linger, since food trucks and a cash bar are available Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 22nd. Or catch a ride around the garden lake on the Holiday Express Train, which runs Fridays and Saturday nights. Speaking of trains, December 7th kicks off Holiday Train Week from 5 to 9 PM. Train lovers old and young can see a large-scale model railroad holiday di
Tulsa has many wonderful programs and initiatives to help those struggling with mental health crises, homelessness and other problems. But a new nonprofit, Pause4Paws, seeks to eliminate an often-unseen barrier to seeking help — by offering short-term emergency pet fostering. I sat down executive Cindy Webb to find out more.
Any pet owner can tell you the positive mental health effects that animals provide. Cindy sees this phenomenon on a much larger scale.
Plus, Anne Brockman offers some delicious Thanksgiving advice, plus plenty of tasty recipes to make the most of leftovers. Visit TulsaPeople.com/Turkey for more.
Today's local music is "More Like Family" by Merton Huff Jr.
Original theme and interstitial music for Tulsa Talks by The Earslips, recorded and mixed by Mike Gilliland at Auggy Reed Studios.
Tulsa Talks is produced by Langdon Publishing.
You're listening to Tulsa Talks, a TulsaPeople podcast. I'm your host Anna Bennett.
Today's episode features a conversation with Elizabeth Frame Ellison, the President and CEO of the Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation, which just celebrated the opening of the Mother Road Market. Then city editor Morgan Philips tries her hand at storytelling in this week's episode of what the what?! So let's talk Tulsa
"I think I'm raising little entrepreneurs because they they're asking me if they can sell things out of the pop up vault. And if I'm going to charge them or not. And I tell them absolutely you can sell something out of the pop up fault. And yes, I’m absolutely charging."
That's the voice of Elizabeth Frame Ellison, President and CEO of LTFF. Now, the Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation just celebrated the opening of the Mother Road Market at 1124 South Lewis Avenue on historic Route 66. This 27,000-square-foot market has a collection of over 20 retail and restaurant concepts ranging from brand-new startups to well-established Tulsa restaurants. Among these are innovative new offerings from local favorites such as Pollo al Carbon, Andolini’s, Lone Wolf Banh Mi, Trenchers and Mr. Nice Guys. In addition to these retail and restaurant concepts Mother Road Market features the WEL bar which is a full-service bar with beer, wine, cocktails, and coffee, a demonstration kitchen which is ideal for special events like cooking classes and workshops, a small pop up space where local entrepreneurs showcase their products, a gigantic patio that features outdoor lounge and dining seating and frequent live music and other events. Out on the patio. You'll also find a nine-hole miniature golf course that features fun landmarks from across the United States.
The market also works in tandem with Kitchen 66, Tulsa’s kickstart kitchen and a program of LTFF which removes barriers for Tulsa food entrepreneurs by offering affordable commercial kitchen space business training programs and sales and distribution opportunities inside the Mother Road Market. Kitchen. 66 has 2800 square feet of commercial kitchen space, as well as the Kitchen 66 takeover cafe featuring a rotating mix of food entrepreneurs and the Kitchen 66 General Store featuring products made by Kitchen 66 entrepreneurs and other Oklahoma makers. A complete list of amenities tenants and events can be found at MotherRoadMarket.com. But now let's dive into our conversation with Elizabeth Frame Ellison, the President and CEO of LTFF, which as you know, just celebrated the opening of the Mother Road Market. So congratulations on that, I know that's a huge deal. And we're all very excited. Can you give us a rundown of what's happening?
EFE: Just coming up this week, we have a pop up vault within the space that's actually original to the building. The building was built in 1939 as a grocery distribution warehouse. So that's appropriate. I know we're really excited that we get to repurpose it for another type of food enterprise. But the original vault of the building is actually a pop up space that anyone can rent just for the day or for the week to try something out. So this week will actually have Fleet Feet doing a pop up. We also have businesses like Magic City Books doing cooking pop ups, jewelry pop ups, pottery pop ups, all sorts of stuff like that. We've also got yoga class going on.
Learn more about the Mother Road Market.
Learn more about the LTFF.
Today’s local music selection is Letters by Casii Stephan. Listen to the track on Spotify here. Visit Casii’s website here.
On today's special Halloween bonus episode of the Tulsa Talks podcast, we sit down with two Tulsans who live in real haunted houses. Listen if you dare...
Today’s episode is sponsored by Care Card, benefiting Family and Children’s Services.
City Councilor Vanessa Hall-Harper gives us a debrief of why civilian oversight might be the next step to mend relations between community and police.
Later on, Ian Swart from the Historical Society shares a spooky true crime story about a serial killer, a correspondence club, and a string of ex-husbands.
So let’s talk, Tulsa.
“I’m married to a cop for 25 years, so I have a unique perspective.”
That’s District 1 City Councilor Vanessa Hall-Harper.
In recent interviews with the Tulsa World, representatives from TPD has emphasized how much the department has changed its academy curriculum in recent years. Capt. Matt McCord, assistant director of training, says that these days, they look for recruits who are as interested in connecting with the community as they are in catching bad guys. McCord explained the department’s revamped training during a meeting of the Mayor’s Police and Community Coalition earlier this month. McCord acknowledges that the military-style “warrior” mentality just isn’t what’s best for Tulsa.
Maj. Ryan Perkins, training director, took over the academy in June 2015 along with McCord. McCord and Perkins say empathy and cultural competency are paramount skills for recruits, and recent changes put a greater emphasis on de-escalation rather than knee-jerk self-defense.
Implicit bias training, rolled out in a process through 2019, will be mandatory for every officer.
But all of that’s to say, there’s still a long way to go, especially when the stakes are so high. And Vanessa Hall-Harper believes that the implementation of civilian oversight would help local law enforcement get even further in improving the relationship with the community.
In the past few years, as police violence against unarmed black men has become a central topic in our national discussion on race and justice, Tulsa has tragically been in the national spotlight. The April 2015 shooting of Eric Harris by TCSO reserve deputy Robert Bates. The September 2016 shooting of Terence Crutcher by TPD officer Betty Shelby. Of course, the history of violence against black Tulsans goes back much further. Nearly 100 years after the Tulsa Race Massacre, Mayor GT Bynum announced earlier in October that the City would reopen an investigation into possible mass grave sites from the event. The announcement put Tulsa in the national spotlight once more, and Hall-Harper found herself fielding calls from international news outlets. All this, happening during her trip to Florida for the NACOLE conference.
Another way to honor those who lost their lives in 1921 might also be to continue fighting for a more equitable city for all Tulsans. And reform of our local systems of justice is surely part of that equation. Vanessa Hall-Harper knows full well that this fight she’s picked is going to be a long and difficult one, but remains optimistic that positive change will be made — and must be made, for the well-being of the community. She remembers one poignant moment from the conference.
https://www.tulsaei.org/
https://www.tulsaei.org/themes/justice/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2018/national/police-shootings-2018/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.9cf931a59583
https://www.vox.com/cards/police-brutality-shootings-us/us-police-racism
You may know her as the Kevin Bacon of Tulsa, the former executive director of TYPros, or as the founder of Zakerion Strategies and Consulting, but title aside, Shagah Zakerion might just be Tulsa’s biggest fan, and the city’s fiercest advocate.
Shagah’s unique resume and passion for the city have made her the perfect booster for Tulsa’s latest up-and-coming development. The Arena District Master Plan is a vision for the 30-block Arena District, located on the western side of Downtown Tulsa, Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad to the north and west, Boulder Avenue to the east, and 11th Street to the south. It contains some of downtown’s largest convening places — the BOK Center, the Cox Business Center, the Paige Belcher building, the Central Library, yet is far less developed than other downtown districts. Over the past eight months, a group of dedicated City Staff, community representatives and a consultant team — including Shagah — have been hard at work developing a strategic plan to reposition and revitalize the Arena District. This re-imagining is supported by Vision Tulsa, an $884 million sales tax renewal package approved by voters in 2016, is making substantial investments in economic development, education, public safety, streets and transportation needs citywide. The final master plan open house was held of September 26, and the official unveiling will be sometime this month. Lucky for us, Shagah is offering a sneak peek at the ambitious vision outlined by the Master Plan.
Follow Shagah on LinkedIn, on Twitter and Instagram.
In this episode’s edition of What the What?!, Morgan Phillips tries brewing her own kombucha. And yes, she touched the SCOBY...
Local music featured in this episode is “Not a Thing” by Faye Moffett. Learn more here.
Original theme and interstitial music for Tulsa Talks by The Earslips, recorded and mixed by Mike Gilliland at Auggy Reed Studios.
Tulsa Talks is produced by Langdon Publishing.
During last week's episode, Jerry Wofford from the Woody Guthrie Center just has too many recommendations to contain in the brief music segment. So, we decided to release the whole interview as a bonus episode. Listen up — you just might discover your new favorite artist.
Featured music in this episode:
Levi Parham,"Heavyweight," from the album "It's All Good." Click here for more info.
Desi and Cody, "Wicked Games" and "It's Our Thing," from the album "Yes, This is Killing Us." Click here for more info.
Annie Oakley, "Pomp and Swell," from the album "Words We Mean." Click here for more info.
Carter Sampson, "Hello Darlin'" and "Tulsa," from the album "Lucky." Click here for more info.
Chris Lee Becker, "Made of Gold," from the album "In and Around Bethlehem, USA." Click here for more info.
When you think of the Tulsa State Fair, the first thing that comes to mind might be livestock exhibitions, fair rides, and more fried food than you can shake a stick at. But amid the 11-day maelstrom of food and fun are some unexpected gems. Did you know that the Oklahoma State Sugar Art Show is considered to be one of the most influential cake events in the world? It was time for me to wake up and smell the fondant when I sat down with Kerry Vincent, the Queen of Cakes herself. Kerry is the founder and director of the show, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. And it turns out, her life story is just as fascinating and complicated as her sugary creations — which have earned her a place in the Sugar Art hall of fame not once, but twice. So how does a girl from the outback end up in Tulsa while becoming a sugar arts sensation?
The show is open to the public on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 29-30, starting at 10 a.m. daily. Give yourself plenty of time to peruse the cake creations on the floor, and to enjoy the presentations throughout the weekend from some of the world’s leading sugar artists. Visit oklahomasugarartists.com for a full schedule. Admission to the show and the demonstrations are free with fair admission.
You can follow the Queen of Cake on Twitter at @kerryvincentart.
Later in the episode, Jerry Wofford shares his favorite recent releases from local bands and artists.
Local music featured in this episode is Heavyweight by Levi Parham. Visit their website for more info.
Original theme and interstitial music for Tulsa Talks by The Earslips, recorded and mixed by Mike Gilliland at Auggy Reed Studios.
Tulsa Talks is produced by Langdon Publishing.
In anticipation of the Sept. 8 opening of the historic park, Anna interviews Kirk Swaby about his work as the Gathering Place's Culinary Executive Chef.
Check out TulsaPeople's coverage of the Gathering Place here.
More on park dining options: here.
Later in the episode, Morgan Phillips tries her hand at indigo shibori during her "What the What?!" segment.
Local music featured this episode: "CP's Blues" by Rachel Bachman. Visit the artist's website for more info: click here. Plus, see Rachel live at MisFEST.
Original theme and interstitial music for Tulsa Talks by The Earslips, recorded and mixed by Mike Gilliland at Auggy Reed Studios.
Tulsa Talks is produced by Langdon Publishing.
As a continuation of our arts education focus this month, Anna interviews Michael Broyles about Tulsa Opera's Raise Your Voice! program, which creates before- and after-school choir opportunities at public schools which no longer offer vocal music during the school day.
More on the program: Tulsa Opera Wins Prestigious 2018 Governor’s Arts in Education Award and Raise Your Voice!
Later in the episode: Anne Brockman catches us up on what's happening in the Tulsa foodie scene, including the arrival of Peacemaker and the impending opening of Mother Road Market.
Sources for info about state funding: Oklahoma Policy Institute and Oklahomans for the Arts.
Local music featured this episode: "Everybody Wants" by Branjae. Visit the artist's website for more info: click here.
Original theme and interstitial music for Tulsa Talks by The Earslips, recorded and mixed by Mike Gilliland at Auggy Reed Studios.
Additional choral recordings courtesy of Tulsa Opera and Raise Your Voice!
Tulsa Talks is produced by Langdon Publishing.
Set against the backdrop of continued state cuts to education, Anna interviews Aleks Kitchens about the Artists in the Schools program operated by ahha Tulsa.
Later in the episode: What the What?! With Morgan Phillips (literally) catches up with several lunch break joggers braving the Tulsa summer heat for training or recreation.
Sources for info about state funding: Oklahoma Policy Institute and Oklahomans for the Arts.
Local music featured this episode: "She Had It All" by Weston Horn and the Hush. Visit the band website for more info: click here.
Original theme and interstitial music for Tulsa Talks by The Earslips, recorded and mixed by Mike Gilliland at Auggy Reed Studios.
Tulsa Talks is produced by Langdon Publishing.