Elise Pepple speaks to Professor Jason Lagapa about UT PB's project "to help promote understanding Permian Basin’s energy and economic resources from a humanistic perspective." This project is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, and includes a speaker series, writing workshops and book clubs. In this program, you hear personal essays from Kristen Figgins, Daniella Garcia, Emily Weinberg, and Jessica Terrell.

More information can be found here. Hosted by Elise Pepple for KRTS

Scott Carrier produces the podcast "Home of the Brave," and has contributed to several radio and print outlets like "This American Life." He came to our station as our first producer in residence, a new program we initiated to encourage mentorship of young producers and coverage of the region. In this episode, Elise Pepple talks to Carrier about how he got started in radio, and the story he worked on during his time spent in the Big Bend. You'll also hear a snippet from Carrier's first radio story, "The Hitchhiker." Scott's story about the border will be available on his podcast, "Home of the Brave." Hosted by Elise Pepple for KRTS

For this edition of West Texas Talk, we take you back to January.

On a cold and rainy Saturday after the inauguration of President Donald Trump, this radio station sent seven reporters across west Texas (Marfa, Alpine, Fort Davis, Balmorhea, Presidio, Midland, Odessa, Fort Stockton, and Coyanosa) to hear from the listeners of this station to hear the wide range of how everyone was feeling about our new president.

The voices and opinions we gathered were as diverse as the people who call west Texas home.

Things like the inauguration road trip are only possible through the support of our listeners.

We're asking for your help now for our Spring Membership Drive, so if you enjoy hea... Hosted by for KRTS

On this edition of West Texas Talk - Jackson Wisdorf sits down with Buttercup, a San Antonio based band, which NPR Music once called "Jangly pop for the left side of the brain".

In-between in-studio performances recorded in Studio A at Marfa Public Radio, Jackson and the band talk about musical style, inspirations, and the band's latest album Battle of Flowers. 

Hosted by Jackson Wisdorf for KRTS

For this episode of West Texas Talk, Diana Nguyen spoke to the Austin-based Selena tribute band Bidi Bidi Banda. They discuss the importance of Selena, and perform a few songs in-studio. Bidi Bidi Banda will be playing at the Hotel Saint George on Saturday, April 1. Hosted by Diana Nguyen for KRTS

Ned Van Zandt is an actor and writer originally from Texas. His great-grandfather was one of the founders of the city of Fort Worth. His second cousin was singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt. He has appeared in films, television, and on Broadway ("The Iceman Cometh" with Kevin Spacey). His first job in Hollywood was playing a teenage alcoholic on "The Young in the Restless." His first film role was playing a soldier in a scene with Gregory Peck in "MacArthur." (He also played a soldier in Hal Ashby's "Coming Home" with Jane Fonda). Recent work includes guest star appearances on "The Blacklist," HBO's "All The Way," "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt," "Hawaii Five 0," "Person of Interest," "Nurse... Hosted by Diana Nguyen for KRTS

The Permian Basin has for quite some time been an integral location in U.S. oil and gas exploration and production, and after a peak in 2014 where we saw oil at prices over one-hundred dollars per barrel a massive downturn occurred - greatly affecting the economies of cities like Milan and Odessa who both rely heavily on the oil and gas industry to grow and thrive.

A recent increase in activity is occurring in the basin, with the Permian now being the field with the most rigs in the U.S. - leading many to believe another boom is either inevitable or already happening.

Steve Pruett, President and Chief Executive Officer of Elevation Resources, a Midland-based oil exploration and produc... Hosted by Jackson Wisdorf for KRTS

On this episode of West Texas Talk, Dona Roman, professor and director of Theater at Sul Ross, discusses the theater department's latest production, Cabaret. Roman tells us why she chose Cabaret and why she believes it's an important play to mount right now.

Cabaret will be running at Sul Ross University in Alpine from three weekends from March 25-April 9 in Marshall Auditorium. Performances begin at 8:15 p.m. Friday and Saturday (March 25, March 31, April 1, 7-8) and 2 p.m. Sundays (March 26, April 2 and 9). Hosted by Zoe Kurland for KRTS

When the legislature meets every two years, the only thing they're constitutionally required to pass is a state budget. This year, they've got a little less money on hand than during previous sessions.

Why? A couple reasons -- including the downturn in the price of oil. The recent downturn meant that the state collected less money from oil and gas taxes, and therefore has less money to work with for the upcoming budget.

That has state lawmakers looking for places to trim, and funding for higher education is one of the many things on the chopping block.

Until the House and Senate agree on a final budget at the end of May, we won't know for sure just how much funding -- if any -- hig... Hosted by Travis Lux for KRTS

On tonight's episode of West Texas Talk, we are joined in the studio by conservation botanist Michael Eason. After getting his degree in botany, Eason worked at the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center and then for the Millenium Seedbank project sponsored by Kew Gardens. He has recently completed a book about Herbaceous Plants and is now spearheading a seed collection effort in West Texas. He talks about the various plants he has encountered, the importance of seed collection, and the role of seedbanks if something crazy goes down. 

Eason will be speaking about all of this and more in the Warnock Science Building at Sul Ross University on Thursday, March 23rd.  Hosted by Zoe Kurland for KRTS