The Oklahoma Today Podcast

You might know him from television of for his family's place those responsible for popularizing Thai food in the United States, but for fans who head to Pocola's Choctaw Casino & Resort on December 28 and 29, Jet Tila is the chef behind their next great meal. Tila's visit is the latest installment in a series of celebrity takeover events at the casino—others have included Alex Guarnaschelli and Roco Dispirito. We caught up with Chef Tila recently to talk about his stellar one-off menu planned for Pocola and his experiences as perhaps the most visible ambassador for Thai food in America today. 

His epic mustache alone remains iconic in Oklahoma City, and his Blazers hockey team rocked the old Myriad in an era before the capital city turned major league. Coach Doug Sauter is a sports legend in the state, but what is the Saskatchewan native up to these days? Well, wonder no more. We caught up with him recently—and yes, he's still in Oklahoma. Sauter shows off his prized clydesdales and percherons at the Express Clydesdales Barn in Yukon, then we sit down to catch up with the coach on his own land a few miles away. What's harder, coaching hockey players or coaching horses? And what does he think of the old Myriad site being used for the new Oklahoma City arena? He answers all—and then some.

Also on this week's show, the editors share their favorite breakfast destinations in the state, and podvents gets a visit from Jimmy Stewart (sort of). You won't want to miss it!

We can't fully explain it, but there's something about trains that just goes really well with the Christmas season. The people of Muskogee realize this, which is why those who head to the town's Depot Green Christmas celebration throughout this month can enjoy a ride on the festive Christmas train, taking a tour of the beautiful Garden of Lights set up in Honor Heights Park. Rick Ewing from Muskogee Parks joins this week's show to talk about all the fun to be had in Muskogee this season, plus a few other recent developments in the town.

Those who have been paying attention might have noticed a recent movement in the cultural zeitgeist in remembrance of the great life and career of Norman-born musician Jesse Ed Davis. A good portion of those new attention paid toward a historically under-appreciated talent comes to use due to the work of historian and author Douglas Miller, whose book Washita Love Child: The Rise of Indigenous Rock Star Jesse Ed Davis is available for purchase now. Miller joins this week's episode of the podcast to talk about the immense musical legacy Davis left behind—having worked alongside the likes of Leon Russell, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and more—and the many coming tributes to JED which include tribute concerts, a new archival record of unissued songs, and an exhibition at the Bob Dylan Center curated by Joy Harjo.

Also on this week's episode, the editors discuss their ideal Thanksgiving dessert plate, and podvents lets us know where we can have an extravagant Thanksgiving meal without having to do any dishes afterwards. You won't want to miss it!

If you've already tuned in to one of those Christmas music stations on the radio, there's a good chance you have already heard the holiday classic "I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas" this year. Gayla Peevey, the Oklahoma-born original singer of the 1953 song, joins The Oklahoma Today Podcast this week as our featured guest. The song helped raise money to buy the OKC Zoo's first hippo, Matilda. Now the zoo is planning to build a statue a statue honoring Gayla and Matilda in the next year or two. We talked with Gayla about the honor, her history with the song, and even the Moo Deng sensation. Speaking of the OKC Zoo, Safari Lights is also now open for the season, and we got a sneak peek of that as well.

Also on this week's episode, the editors discuss which exotic animal they'd want to find under their own Christmas tree, and Oklahoma Tourism's Kaitlyn Rivas joins us as a special guest host. You won't want to miss it!

Happy Veterans Day, listeners! To honor the holiday we ventured out to Fort Sill—the 94,000 acre Army post near Lawton—for a visit to the National Field Artillery Museum. Fort Sill has a long history as an artillery school, so it makes sense to of the have artillery museum here. Gordon Blaker, director and curator for the museum, guides us through the collection (which also includes a steel beam segment from the World Trade Center and a fragment of the Berlin Wall) for our guest interview of the week. 

If you've seen the new November-December issue of Oklahoma Today, you've seen country music's newest superstar Zach Bryan on the cover. Bryan, born in Oologah, seems to have taken off on the national scene over night, and he's set for a homecoming victory lap in December headlining three straight nights at Tulsa's BOK Center. How has Bryan been able to climb so high so fast? That's exactly the question writer Preston Jones attempted to answer in his cover story. Jones joins the show to talk about what Bryan's rise might signal about the future of the music industry and what other Oklahoma acts he'd like to see take off in a similar fashion.

On the outside we all look different, but on the inside all of us are propped up by a frame of collagen, calcium, and minerals forming the human skeleton. And it's not just us with the bones—most of the animals we see around us have them too. These graveyard greeters might have a grim reputation that often make them a symbol of Halloween, but Ashley Mason Burns-Meerschaert—director of operations and education at Oklahoma City's Museum of Osteology—joins the show today to explain why they might not be so scary after all, and give us a scoop on how to get involved with their Forensic Nights.

Another season of the Oklahoma City Thunder is upon us, and many are expecting big things from the team this year. Could this be the year the team brings home the state's first major pro sports championship title? Andrew Schlect of The Athletic and the Down to Dunk OKC Thunder Podcast joins the show as guest to tell us where to put our expectations and introduce the new faces in Thunder blue this season.

Also on this week's episode, the editors discuss their dream road trip with Rumble the Bison, and Ben bring The Price Is Right to podvents. You won't want to miss it!

Our double header of podcasts featuring prominent Oklahoma-based musicians continues with Norman's Beau Jennings, who is set to release the new album American Stories and Major Chords with his band The Tigers this Friday. The Tigers have two release shows planned this week, starting at the Blue Door in Oklahoma City on October 18 and then heading up the turnpike to Tulsa's Mercury Lounge on October 19. Jennings also has recently entered the role of interim director of the Prairie House Preservation Society—and he discusses all the above on the show.