The Oklahoma Today Podcast

Medicine Park in the Wichita Mountains is known first and foremost for hiking and biking trails that spin out of a charming cobblestone village. But near the top of any Medicine Park itinerary is a trip to their aquarium and natural sciences center, which is also the largest year-round employer in the town. From river otters to giant catfish, there are many critters there waiting for a photo op with visiting families. Executive Director Rainette Rowland joins the podcast this week as guest. She talks about all the unique behind the scenes work that goes into running an aquarium in a small town, including their animal rescue efforts.

Also on the show, the editors share their personal favorite aquatic animals, and podvents helps us make our weekend plans. We hope you enjoy!

Troy Aikman: Dallas Cowboys legend, television icon, and . . . brewmaster? Well, close enough, it turns out. Henryetta's own joins the Oklahoma Today Podcast to talk about his company EIGHT Brewing, which has now brought its Elite Light Lager to Oklahoma markets after debuting in Texas. As it turns out, Troy has a long history with brewing that goes back to his days at OU with Coach Barry Switzer. Aikman talks to hosts Ben Luschen and Nathan Gunter about the work that went into developing the 90 calorie beer, the Oklahomans he'd most want to share a beer with, and his opinion on how some quarterbacks with Oklahoma ties are doing in the NFL. You won't want to miss it. 

No one is going to mistake the group of five Oklahoma Today editors for the varsity basketball team anytime soon, but like a lot of Oklahomans we enjoy watching a good ball game. One of the best tickets in the state to grab right now is for a seat at a Potawatomi Fire game. This professional basketball team based in Shawnee's FireLake Arena and owned by the Citizen Potawatomi Nation had a stranglehold on their league last season and ultimately walked away with the national championship. The Fire tips off their title defense season March 1 at home against the Enid Outlaws. Fire coach Mark Dannhoff joins the podcast to share what the team needs to do to be the first team in their league ever to repeat as champs. 

These podcasts are makin' me thirsty! Good thing we brought the perfect antidote into the studio with us this go-around: the new Afropop soda, a new, locally made soft drink now on shelves in the Oklahoma City and Tulsa metro areas. The editors sample all three unique flavors on the air and try not to make a mess in the process. Afropop is the brainchild of founder Jamel Stephens, who partially developed his product as a way of supporting local artists and marginalized communities. Stephens joins the show to talk about how he came up with Afropop's three original flavors, where people can find the product, and the brand's special launch party at Factory Obscura in Oklahoma City. 

In addition to all the fizz, the editors share some of their other favorite drinks during Question of the Week, and new cast member Kiersten Stone shines in her podvent debut. We hope you enjoy! 

If a little gardening is in your 2024 plans, the best place for Okies to turn is to the OSU Extension program's Master Gardeners, who are here to turn meager growing plots into amazing outdoor spaces. There might not be a better way to kickstart your garden than through the Tulsa County Master Gardeners annual plant sale, which is already underway online. Browse from an inventory of more than two hundred annuals, perennials, native plants, vegetables, and more. Master Gardener and sale organizer Terri Cain joins the podcast to talk about what's available, preview upcoming classes and programming, and tips for garden prep heading into the new season. 

This year for Valentine's Day, skip the corner store bouquets and mass-produced cards and make a plan to head out to Lawton and pick from a selection of lovely, original art and jewelry from Native makers. The Valentine's Day Extravaganza this Saturday at the Comanche Nation Complex promises dozens of vendor booths and an array of delicious food options. The event's organizer, Martha Negron, joins the podcast to talk about what will be available for purchase, the work it takes to pull off an event like this, and her own Wild Spirit's Native Boutique label (which will have a booth present on that day). 

Also on this week's podcast, the editors share some of their favorite Oklahoma date destinations, podvents crush it, and a special surprise at the very end. You don't want to miss it! 

Going on 54 years, the SWOSU Jazz Festival has made a tradition out of bringing top musical talent and the area's top bands to Weatherford February 15 and 16. Music professor Dr. Richard Tirk is the festival's current organizer and he joins the show to talk about this year's event. Acclaimed trumpeter Terell Stafford is this year's featured musical guest. Dr. Tirk talks about Stafford, the annual battle of the bands, and the two days of musical events in Weatherford.

Also this week, the editors discuss some of their favorite live music destinations in the state, and podvents sing off the page. We hope you enjoy!

If you're not a fan of Reeder's Auto and Tire in Tulsa it's probably just because you haven't been there yet. Oklahoma is a state filled with plenty of gas station brand loyalists, but the local, family-owned Reeder's is a non-chain alternative with a focus on quality that blows much of the competition away. If gourmet pepperoni pizza pockets, French toast bread pudding, or smoked Gouda and bacon pimento cheese sound good to you, you need to check out the rest of Reeder's chef-driven food offerings. Owner Cheryl Reeder joins the show with her daughter Mary Hatheway to talk about the family business and share the secret to their viral social media marketing.

Mushrooms: We see them in our grocery stores, on our pizzas, and out in our yards. On one hand they're commonplace, but on the other hand they can be quite mysterious. How do you grow them, how do you find them, and what are the varieties Oklahomans are most likely to find in the great outdoors? There might be no one better equipped to answer these questions than this week's podcast guest Jacob DeVecchio. As the founder of Oklahoma Fungi, DeVecchio leads educational tours across Oklahoma to educate the curious on the different varieties of mushroom that can be found all around them and perhaps spark some interest in the hobby of foraging. DeVecchio joins the show to talk foraging, safety, and home-growing for all the aspirational mushroom lovers out there.

From farm life in small-town Okarche to beatification in the Catholic church, the martyr Blessed Stanley Rother lived a fascinating life dedicated to helping others. Miguel Mireles, executive director of the Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine in south Oklahoma City, joins the podcast as this week's featured guest. Editor-in-chief Nathan Gunter talks with Mireles about Rother's amazing life journey, his work in Guatemala, and why the church and pilgrimage center is a destination for all, not just Catholics.