Oklahoma Memo

Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey has reignited interest in one of history's most influential stories.

Ryan Welton sits down with ancient world expert (and his Bedlam Buds college football partner) Dr. Jeremy Cook to separate myth from history, discussing the historical evidence behind Troy, the morality lessons woven into Homer's epic, why Odysseus was far more flawed than modern audiences realize, and how Greek mythology shaped Western culture.

Along the way, they explore whether the Trojan War really happened, the origins of the Cyclops legend, why ancient Greeks feared angering the gods, and why stories that are nearly 3,000 years old continue to resonate today.

In this episode:

Ryan Welton and Grant Hermes break down the week in politics.

This week's conversation includes:

Follow and subscribe to Grant's work at https://www.youtube.com/@mimsnewspod and https://mimsnewspod.substack.com

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Communities across Oklahoma are debating massive data center projects, raising questions about electricity, water, jobs and transparency.

In this episode, Oklahoma Memo founder Ryan Welton sits down with Hart Brown, Director of AI and Transformation at Saxum, to examine what's real—and what's misunderstood—about AI infrastructure.

They discuss:

Government transparency, artificial intelligence and privacy take center stage in this week's Oklahoma Memo Podcast.

Ryan Welton sits down with Democratic Congressional District 1 candidate John Croisant to discuss why AI data centers have become one of Oklahoma's biggest political issues. The conversation explores the proposed Fluidstack project in Okmulgee, concerns over government transparency, the role of non-disclosure agreements, privacy questions surrounding Flock license plate cameras, and whether Congress should establish national rules for AI infrastructure.

They also discuss the impact of the conflict with Iran, rising gas prices, veterans issues and how national policy is affecting Oklahoma.

In this episode

Subscribe to Oklahoma Memo for Oklahoma's daily local news briefing, investigative reporting and in-depth conversations. Sign up at https://www.oklahomamemo.com/subscribe

And connect with John at https://www.croisantforcongress.com

Is President Trump's immigration agenda changing? Is Sen. Markwayne Mullin losing influence inside the administration? And what does Mitch McConnell's mysterious absence mean for Congress?

Ryan Welton is joined by Grant Hermes from Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes to unpack another busy week in politics.

In this episode:

Follow Grant on Substack at https://mimsnewspod.substack.com or on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@mimsnewspod

And sign up for Oklahoma Memo at https://www.oklahomamemo.com/subscribe

A single quote from Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer became one of the biggest talking points coming out of SEC Media Days—but was it presented fairly?

Ryan Welton and Clay Horning examine the full context behind Mateer's comments, discuss how today's fast-paced sports media can sometimes sacrifice context for clicks, and explain why accuracy still matters.

Later, they dive into Georgia coach Kirby Smart's revealing comments about how NIL, the transfer portal and front-office style general managers are transforming the job of a college football head coach.

Topics include:

Be sure and subscribe to Clay Horning at https://www.oklahomacolumnist.com

And sign up for the Oklahoma Memo newsletter at https://www.oklahomamemo.com/subscribe

Democratic attorney general candidate Nick Coffey joins Oklahoma Memo founder Ryan Welton for a wide-ranging conversation about his campaign and his vision for Oklahoma's top law enforcement office.

A former federal prosecutor, Coffey discusses:

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Follow along with Nick at https://www.coffeyforok.com/

OU football is officially back.

Ryan Welton and Clay Horning react to Day 1 of SEC Media Days after Brent Venables, John Mateer, Taylor Wien and Eddie Pierre-Louis met with reporters in Tampa.

The conversation covers why Venables believes this is the strongest leadership group of his tenure, what Mateer revealed about the evolving offense, why the offensive line may finally be ready to take a major step forward, and why Clay believes offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle enters the season under enormous pressure.

They also discuss:

Big 12 Media Days are in the books, and Ryan Welton and Jeremy Cook have plenty to unpack.

The conversation begins with the controversy surrounding Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby, Brett Yormark's handling of repeated questions from reporters, and why the Big 12 found itself at the center of one of the week's biggest stories.

From there, the focus shifts to Oklahoma State.

Jeremy explains why Eric Morris' approach to rebuilding the Cowboys goes far beyond X's and O's, including the team-building exercises that are already changing the program's culture. Ryan makes the case that Oklahoma State may be one of the most underrated teams in the conference—and perhaps even a sleeper for the expanded College Football Playoff.

In this episode

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Social Security is projected to become insolvent in 2032, potentially triggering an automatic 24% reduction in benefits unless Congress acts.

Ryan Welton sits down with congressional candidate John Croisant for a wide-ranging discussion about what that deadline means, possible bipartisan solutions, and why the issue deserves far more attention than it's getting.

They also cover:

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Follow John's congressional journey at https://www.CroisantForCongress.com