West Texas Talk - Interviews from Marfa Public Radio

By Marfa Public Radio

What's West Texas Talk - Interviews from Marfa Public Radio about?

West Texas Talk is an interview program on Marfa Public Radio, broadcast at 6:30 PM each weekday. West Texas Talk features interviews with community members discussing issues that affect the Big Bend region of Texas, along with upcoming local programs and events. You'll also hear from local and visiting, artists, musicians, authors, scientists, and other interesting personalities. Have an idea for a West Texas Talk topic or guest suggestion? Email us at info(at) marfapublicradio(dot) org.

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West Texas Talk - Interviews from Marfa Public Radio episodes:

10.02.2020
Artists and Politics: A Conversation
In this conversation with host Elise Pepple, artists Carlos Motta and José Parlá discuss Donald Judd's writings about art and politics and describe the responsibilities they feel as artists and citizens to engage with politics in their work. Hosted...
05.15.2020
State of the Station: Pandemic Style
The Marfa Public Radio staff pulls back the curtain to show us what it takes to produce content remotely during a pandemic. Elise Pepple, Diana Nguyen, Mitch Borden, Carlos Morales, Jacob Rockey, and Hannah Siegel-Gardner all share stories about working...
05.01.2020
A National Poetry Month Quarantine Check-in
This week's episode features a rebroadcast of an interview with poet Eileen Myles, as well as another installment of 'Pandemic Pantry' with Seth Siegel-Gardner, a conversation between Elise Pepple and Marfa Public Radio DJ 'Lady C,' and a performance by...
04.23.2020
Lou Reed, Boquillas, and Pandemic Pantry
The Kitchen Sisters tell story of the Lou Reed archive in New York. Closer to home, Carlos Morales describes steps being taken to support the town of Boquillas during COVID 19, and Seth Siegel-Gardner introduces a new cooking segment called...
04.16.2020
Pandemic Responses in the Permian Basin
This week's West Texas Talk features the last episode of the pandemic podcast 'Our Show', a conversation between Mitch Borden and Christian Wallace, one interview with Dee Anna Good of Safe Place of the Permian Basin, and another with Guy...
04.09.2020
Small Towns & Essential Businesses
This week's episode of West Texas Talk begins with an episode of 'Our Show' by Erica Heilman. Then we'll hear interviews with Julia Caulfield in Telluride, CO, Sam Stavinoha in Marathon, TX, and Ian Lewis in Marfa, TX, as well...
04.02.2020
Living with Quarantine, At Home and Abroad
On this week's West Texas Talk includes an episode of 'Our Show' by Erica Heilman, interviews with Serah Mead, Lesley Villareal, and Gabriela Carballo, and a 'Tiny Porch' performance from Adam Bork. Hosted by Elise Pepple for KRTS
03.27.2020
Meditation, Isolation And Porch Songs During The Coronavirus Pandemic
On West Texas Talk this week, General Manager Elise Pepple talks to artist Nick Terry about how to meditate and take a deep breath during a crisis. Then, Pepple talks to Laura Thoms about living at the McDonald Observatory. Laura’s...
03.20.2020
West Texas And The New Coronavirus: The Latest Developments, Isolation, And How Locals Are Coping
On this special edition of West Texas Talk, we hear from reporters on the ground, healthcare professionals, a parent learning to homeschool her kids and service industry workers who have found themselves out of a job — all in the...
02.06.2020
Diana Nguyen Says Goodbye; Journalist and Writer Amitava Kumar
Elise Pepple and Sally Beauvais interview Diana Nguyen, the outgoing host and executive producer of West Texas Talk. Later on the show, Ian Lewis speaks to journalist and writer Amitava Kumar. They talk about the state of writing fiction and fake...
01.30.2020
The Healthcare Crisis in Rural TX; Poet Martha Collins
Diana Nguyen speaks to Marfa Public Radio’s Sally Beauvais and Christopher Collins, a reporter for the Texas Observer. They discuss the healthcare crisis in rural Texas. Later on the show, Rachel Monroe speaks with poet Martha Collins. They discuss Collins’...
01.24.2020
Marilu Hastings and Dr. Michael Young on Respect Big Bend; Space Reporter Brendan Byrne on Blue Origin in West TX
This week, we’re delving deeper into Respect Big Bend. Diana Nguyen talks to Marilu Hastings of the Mitchell Foundation and Dr. Michael Young with the Bureau of Economic Geology at UT Austin. They talk about how the Respect Big Bend...
01.16.2020
Billy Tarrant on Respect Big Bend; Producer Rachel Neel of “Ask Me Another”
Diana Nguyen talks to Billy Tarrant of Borderlands Research Institute. They talk about the projections of expanded renewable energy production in the region and the goals of the coalition. Later in the show, Elise Pepple talks to Rachel Neel, the Senior...
01.09.2020
REBROADCAST: What’s It Like To Date in West Texas?; Border Journalists Alfredo Corchado and Angela Kocherga
Elise Pepple talks to Rachel Monroe and Gaby Carballo about a topic on a lot of residents’ minds… the difficulty of dating in rural America. They go over the complications, the highs, and the lows of finding love in West...
01.02.2020
REBROADCAST: Rainer Judd; YACHT on Chain Tripping
Diana Nguyen talks to Rainer Judd, the daughter of the late artist Donald Judd and the president of the Judd Foundation. Later, Jona Bechtolt and Claire L. Evans talk about the YACHT album “Chain Tripping.” They used artificial intelligence to...
12.26.2019
REBROADCAST: Marfa’s BBQ Darlings; Rachel Monroe On “Savage Appetites”
For the next few weeks, we’re re-broadcasting some of our favorite interviews from the past year. Diana Nguyen talks to Mark Scott and Katy Rose Elsasser of Convenience West. Earlier this year, they made Texas Monthly’s cut for Top 25 New...
12.12.2019
Sam Sanders; Choreographer Kim Brandt
Elise Pepple talks to Sam Sanders, a correspondent and host of of the NPR talk show "It’s Been A Minute with Sam Sanders." Sanders talks to journalists, actors, musicians, and listeners to make sense of the world through conversation....
12.05.2019
Mountain Lions of West Texas; Poet Sally Wen Mao
Diana Nguyen speaks Michael Stangl — a graduate student who's been studying the mountain lions of West Texas with the Borderlands Research Institute. They talk about the takeaways from their research on the mysterious creatures. Later on the show, poet Sally...
11.28.2019
Aging and Dying in the Big Bend – Town Hall
We air a portion of the town hall Marfa Public Radio held a week ago in collaboration with The Big Bend Sentinel. On November 21, about a hundred people packed into The Sentinel space to talk about access to resources...
11.21.2019
Station Update with Elise Pepple; Poet James Arthur
Diana Nguyen and Station Manager Elise Pepple update you on everything that’s been happening at Marfa Public Radio. Their conversation includes talk about projects on the horizon, and some BIG announcements. Later in the show, Nguyen talks to Lannan writer-in-residence...
11.14.2019
Big Bend Sentinel Editor Maisie Crow; Helado Negro
Diana Nguyen talks to Maisie Crow, the editor of the Big Bend Sentinel and The International. Later on the show, Nguyen talks to musician Roberto Carlos Lange of Helado Negro. Hosted by Diana Nguyen for KRTS
11.07.2019
Family Crisis Center of the Big Bend; Caitlin Murray on “Donald Judd Interviews”
Diana Nguyen speaks to Annette Minjarez of the Family Crisis Center of the Big Bend. They talk about domestic and sexual violence, and the resources the organization provides for residents of the region. Later in the show, Nguyen talks...
10.31.2019
There’s Something Out There
This week we're breaking format on West Texas Talk and highlighting some spooky stories. We're revisiting "There's Something Out There" — a 2014 series about the strange things that happen in everyday life. Hosted by Diana Nguyen for KRTS
10.24.2019
C.J. Alvarez on “Border Land, Border Water”; Disconapping and Sauvignon Blanca Bring Drag to Marfa
Diana Nguyen speak to CJ Alvarez, the author of “Border Land, Border Water." The book examines the history of construction projects that have shaped the region where the United states and Mexico meet. Later, Nguyen talks to to Paul Chavarria...
10.17.2019
MIT’s Energy Initiative Director Robert Armstrong; Linda Norden on John Wesley
Robert “Bob” Armstrong Diana Nguyen speaks Robert Armstrong, the director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Energy Initiative which “links science, technology, and policy to transform the world’s energy system.” They discuss transitions happening in the world’s energy landscape due...
10.10.2019
Big Bend’s 75th Birthday; Chinati Artist In Residence Leeza Meksin
Diana Nguyen speaks to Superintendent Bob Krumenaker and Chief of Interpretation Tom VandenBerg about the history of the beloved parks founding and about what’s on the horizon. Later, Nguyen talks to Chinati Artist in Residence Leeza Meksin. She's a New York-based...
10.03.2019
Marfa’s BBQ Darlings; Writer NoViolet Bulawayo
Katy Rose Elsasser and Mark Scott of Convenience West Far West Texas is often described as desolate. And for a long time, in terms of barbecue, it was. But the recent arrival of a couple of restaurants like Convenience West...
09.26.2019
Best Of: David Keller On The History Of Pinto Canyon; Luchador Cassandro el Exótico
David Keller On this episode, we highlight some of our favorite 2019 interviews for a special Fall Membership Drive edition of West Texas Talk. First, Diana Nguyen talks to archaeologist David Keller about his book, In The Shadow Of The...
09.19.2019
Luis Armendariz; Musician Molly Rodriguez
Luis Armendariz For today’s show, we’re highlighting voices from Presidio to celebrate of the launch our newest broadcast frequency —KOJP 95.3 FM. Diana Nguyen talks to Luis Armendariz, a 75-year-old Presidio resident who’s spent the majority of his life...
09.12.2019
The Odessa Shooting
Mitch Borden and Carlos Morales Diana Nguyen talks to Marfa Public Radio reporters Mitch Borden and Carlos Morales about the shooting that began in Midland County and continued into the City of Odessa over Labor Day Weekend. On August 31st,...
09.05.2019
Marfa Garden; Andy Stack of Joyero
(Trinity University Press) Jim Martinez and Mary Lou Saxon on "Marfa Garden" Diana Nguyen speaks to Jim Martinez and Mary Lou Saxon about the book Marfa Garden. The project is a collaboration with their friends, Jim Fissell, and Martha Hughes, that...
08.29.2019
Rainer Judd; YACHT on Chain Tripping
Diana Nguyen talks to Rainer Judd, the daughter of the late artist Donald Judd and the president of the Judd Foundation. Later, Jona Bechtolt and Claire L. Evans talk about the YACHT album “Chain Tripping.” They used artificial intelligence to...
08.22.2019
The Permian Basin Prepares for the Future; Luchador Cassandro el Exótico
(Mitch Borden / Marfa Public Radio) Mitch Borden Diana Nguyen speaks to Marfa Public Radio reporter Mitch Borden about how the Permian Basin is trying to change how people view the nation's largest oil patch. Leaders say the oil industry has stabilized...
08.15.2019
Bill Wren, The Godfather of Dark Skies; Writer Rachel Monroe Discusses “Savage Appetites”
Bill Wren is considered the godfather of the Texas dark skies movement. (Courtesy of McDonald Observatory) Bill Wren Diana Nguyen speaks to Bill Wren of McDonald Observatory, whose job is to keep the skies of Far West Texas dark. They discuss Wren’s...
08.08.2019
The El Paso Shooting; Writer Jamel Brinkley
Friends embrace one another during a vigil for Javier Amir Rodriguez, the youngest victim killed in the El Paso shootings. (Carlos Morales / Marfa Public Radio) El Paso Shooting On West Texas Talk, Diana Nguyen and Carlos Morales talk about the shooting...
08.01.2019
Jason Sabo On Texas Politics; Fashion Designer Carla Fernández
Jason Sabo (Courtesy of) Jason Sabo Diana Nguyen talks to lobbyist Jason Sabo, the founder of Frontera Strategy. His work focuses on helping nonprofits and philanthropists reach their public policy goals. He is back in the Big Bend for West Texas Rural...
07.25.2019
Sally Beauvais On “West Texas Wonders”; Artist Pete Schulte
Sally Beauvais We're celebrating the one year anniversary of "West Texas Wonders"— a series that's driven by listener curiosity. Diana Nguyen and reporter Sally Beauvais talk about the project and look back at some of the favorites from the series. ...
07.18.2019
Reporter Carlos Morales On Immigration In The Big Bend; Poet Carl Adamshick
About six miles outside of Presidio, the Rio Grande is reduced to a sliver about 5 feet across. (Carlos Morales / Marfa Public Radio) Carlos Morales Diana Nguyen talks to Marfa Public Radio reporter Carlos Morales about immigration. They discuss national policies...
07.11.2019
Fire In The Big Bend; Lance Scott Walker On Houston Rap
Gary Mitschke and Joe Pasqua (Diana Nguyen / Marfa Public Radio) Gary Mitschke and Joe Pasqua Gary Mitschke, Marfa’s Volunteer Fire Department Chief and Joe Pasqua, the Coordinator for the Alpine Region of the Texas AandM Forest Service talk to Diana Nguyen...
07.04.2019
Remembering Lonn Taylor; Filmmaker Ben Masters
Lonn Taylor at Marfa Public Radio (Sarah Vasquez) Lonn Taylor On this episode, we're remembering the late historian Lonn Taylor. Tom Michael, the founder of Marfa Public Radio, talks about the magic the Rambling Boy brought to the airwaves. Then, you'll hear an...
06.27.2019
Marfa Public Radio Update; Chinati Artist-In-Residence Nicolas Shake
(Sara Melancon / Marfa Public Radio) Station Update Diana Nguyen and Elise Pepple update listeners on what's been happening at Marfa Public Radio. They talk about the station's national awards for journalism, challenges with the KXWT signal in Midland-Odessa, give an update...
06.20.2019
Drew Stuart of Nature Notes; Musician Steve Gunn
Drew Stuart (Bob Anderson) Drew Stuart For the first half of the show, Diana Nguyen speaks to Drew Stuart. Stuart is the producer for the Marfa Public Radio series "Nature Notes" and was one of the first employees at the...
06.13.2019
Border Journalists Alfredo Corchado And Angela Kocherga; Writer Toni Jensen On Gun Violence, Fracking, And Sex Trafficking
Alfredo Corchado (David Spuro), Angela Kocherga (Patty Aleman) Alfredo Corchado and Angela Kocherga Carlos Morales talks to journalists Alfredo Corchado and Angela Kocherga. They’ve both spent their life’s work covering the U.S.-Mexico border. Alfredo Corchado is the border correspondent for...
06.06.2019
Challenges To Dying In The Big Bend; David Shook On Translation
On this episode, reporter Sally Beauvais talks to Marfa resident Suzanne Dungan and Marvie Burton, the former director of Hospice of the Big Bend. They discuss the lack of access to end-of-life care in the region and the challenges of...
05.30.2019
David Keller On The History Of Pinto Canyon; Josh T. Franco On La Virgen De Guadalupe’s Appearance In Marfa
On this episode, Diana Nguyen talks to archaeologist David Keller about his latest book, In The Shadow Of The Chinatis: A History of Pinto Canyon in the Big Bend. Keller dives into the history of the early ranchers who settled...
05.23.2019
Borderland Collective Collaborates With Blackwell School Alliance; Emily Esfahani Smith On Living a Meaningful Life
Elise Pepple talks to Borderland Collective's Jason Reed and Mark Menjivar. The organization is a long-term art and education project that utilizes collaborations between artists, educators, youth, and community members to engage complex issues and build space for diverse perspectives,...
05.16.2019
Remembering Wile Quintana & Natalie Diaz On Poetry, Love, and Language
On this episode, we wanted to celebrate former co-host of "Una Hora Con Primo," Wile Quintana, who died earlier this month at 78. We're featuring a conversation he had with former Marfa Public Radio intern Mia Warren in 2015. They...
05.09.2019
Filmmakers Joe Cashiola and David Fenster On “A Texas Myth,” Poet Kaveh Akbar
For the first half of the episode, Diana Nguyen talks to filmmakers Joe Cashiola and David Fenster about A Texas Myth. The documentary looks at the resistance that sprung up in 2016 at the Two Rivers camp against the Trans-Pecos...
05.02.2019
Carolyn Pfeiffer and Eileen Myles
This is the first episode of the new hour-long format of West Texas Talk! The first half hour will feature conversations with interesting West Texas Personalities and discussions about regional issues. The second half of the show will focus on arts...
04.25.2019
Turning The Pages Of Texas With Lonn Taylor
On this episode, Diana Nguyen talks to historian Lonn Taylor. The Rambling Boy published Turning the Pages of Texas earlier this year through TCU Press — a collection of essays about some of his favorite Texas authors. They discuss the book, his...

What's West Texas Talk - Interviews from Marfa Public Radio about?

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West Texas Talk - Interviews from Marfa Public Radio episodes:

Artists and Politics: A Conversation

State of the Station: Pandemic Style

A National Poetry Month Quarantine Check-in

Lou Reed, Boquillas, and Pandemic Pantry

Pandemic Responses in the Permian Basin

Small Towns & Essential Businesses

Living with Quarantine, At Home and Abroad

Meditation, Isolation And Porch Songs During The Coronavirus Pandemic

West Texas And The New Coronavirus: The Latest Developments, Isolation, And How Locals Are Coping

Diana Nguyen Says Goodbye; Journalist and Writer Amitava Kumar

The Healthcare Crisis in Rural TX; Poet Martha Collins

Marilu Hastings and Dr. Michael Young on Respect Big Bend; Space Reporter Brendan Byrne on Blue Origin in West TX

Billy Tarrant on Respect Big Bend; Producer Rachel Neel of “Ask Me Another”

REBROADCAST: What’s It Like To Date in West Texas?; Border Journalists Alfredo Corchado and Angela Kocherga

REBROADCAST: Rainer Judd; YACHT on Chain Tripping

REBROADCAST: Marfa’s BBQ Darlings; Rachel Monroe On “Savage Appetites”

Sam Sanders; Choreographer Kim Brandt

Mountain Lions of West Texas; Poet Sally Wen Mao

Aging and Dying in the Big Bend – Town Hall

Station Update with Elise Pepple; Poet James Arthur

Big Bend Sentinel Editor Maisie Crow; Helado Negro

Family Crisis Center of the Big Bend; Caitlin Murray on “Donald Judd Interviews”

There’s Something Out There

C.J. Alvarez on “Border Land, Border Water”; Disconapping and Sauvignon Blanca Bring Drag to Marfa

MIT’s Energy Initiative Director Robert Armstrong; Linda Norden on John Wesley

Big Bend’s 75th Birthday; Chinati Artist In Residence Leeza Meksin

Marfa’s BBQ Darlings; Writer NoViolet Bulawayo

Best Of: David Keller On The History Of Pinto Canyon; Luchador Cassandro el Exótico

Luis Armendariz; Musician Molly Rodriguez

The Odessa Shooting

Marfa Garden; Andy Stack of Joyero

Rainer Judd; YACHT on Chain Tripping

The Permian Basin Prepares for the Future; Luchador Cassandro el Exótico

Bill Wren, The Godfather of Dark Skies; Writer Rachel Monroe Discusses “Savage Appetites”

The El Paso Shooting; Writer Jamel Brinkley

Jason Sabo On Texas Politics; Fashion Designer Carla Fernández

Sally Beauvais On “West Texas Wonders”; Artist Pete Schulte

Reporter Carlos Morales On Immigration In The Big Bend; Poet Carl Adamshick

Fire In The Big Bend; Lance Scott Walker On Houston Rap

Remembering Lonn Taylor; Filmmaker Ben Masters

Marfa Public Radio Update; Chinati Artist-In-Residence Nicolas Shake

Drew Stuart of Nature Notes; Musician Steve Gunn

Border Journalists Alfredo Corchado And Angela Kocherga; Writer Toni Jensen On Gun Violence, Fracking, And Sex Trafficking

Challenges To Dying In The Big Bend; David Shook On Translation

David Keller On The History Of Pinto Canyon; Josh T. Franco On La Virgen De Guadalupe’s Appearance In Marfa

Borderland Collective Collaborates With Blackwell School Alliance; Emily Esfahani Smith On Living a Meaningful Life

Remembering Wile Quintana & Natalie Diaz On Poetry, Love, and Language

Filmmakers Joe Cashiola and David Fenster On “A Texas Myth,” Poet Kaveh Akbar

Carolyn Pfeiffer and Eileen Myles

Turning The Pages Of Texas With Lonn Taylor