The Oklahoma Today Podcast

The far northwest corner of Oklahoma is known for being open and desolate, which makes for incredible night sky conditions for star-gazing. This is no secret to the astronomy enthusiasts who have been gathering for the Okie-Tex Star Party since its first year in 1984. Star lovers of all experience levels are invited to come for a day or several days at this overnight camp in Kenton, which features a variety of educational talks, activities, and meal options to keep you occupied while waiting for the main event at night. Oklahoma City Astronomy Club vice president and Okie-Star Party organizer Danny MacDonald joins the show this week to tell us all about this annual event in the Panhandle.

Also on this week's show, the editors make their pick for which Oklahoma person or institution deserves a place as a constellation in the night sky, and podvents gets a little cheesy. You won't want to miss it!

Do you love supporting Oklahoma artists? Well, it doesn't get much bigger than the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition's annual 12x12 show. This annual fundraising event returns October 3, bringing works from 175 artists into one space at the Dunlap Codding building on Oklahoma City's Film Row. Attending the event not only helps support local artists, but it helps prop up the organization that spends 365 days a year supporting local visual artists. We stopped by the OVAC offices at Dunlap Codding to learn more about their event from their administrative and artist relations manager Ariana Weir-Temoshok and also heard from two of this year's featured artists, Katie Graham and Todd E. Clark.

Also on this week's show, the editors share some of their favorite local arts destinations, and podvents lets us know where the nation's best Indian tacos are duking it out for a championship title. You won't want to miss it!

Oklahoma can go toe to toe with any state in terms of musical talent and star power, making the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in Muskogee a cultural heritage site for fans across the country and around the world. After such much-needed renovations, the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame is set for a grand reopening this Saturday. Executive Director Tony Corbell joins the show to talk about all the work that went into reopening the Hall, what awaits those who go to their celebration this Saturday, and what makes Oklahoma a special place for music.

Also on this week's show, the editors share their favorite songs with an Oklahoma tie, and podvents pays some respect to the Wu. You won't want to miss it!

It's back! The Oklahoma Today Show loves the Theatre Crude fringe festival, and we're continuing our preview coverage for another year. Theatre Crude is Oklahoma City's only fringe theatre festival, bringing a variety or unique, original, and sometimes one-off small productions through the city. Check their schedule because there truly is something for everyone. This year's performance venues for Theatre Crude are Project 3810 and Perpetual Motion Dance. Theatre Crude co-founder Adam Brand joins the show from Perpetual Dance to give us a taste of this year's event.

Also on this week's show, the editors discuss what activities they are looking forward to in the coming fall season, and podvents steers you toward the best place for arts this week in southwestern Oklahoma. You won't want to miss it!

Football is back in Oklahoma! High school teams across the state recently kicked off the 2026 season. Who are the teams to watch for? Who are the future stars on the field now? And what are the gameday environments you have to see for yourself? Oklahoma television and radio personality Mark Rodgers, also the longtime publisher of the Oklahoma Pigskin Preview magazine, joins the Oklahoma Today Show to break down what to expect for the 2026 season.

Also on this week's show, the editors reminisce on their own Oklahoma high school sports traditions, and podvents has your plans for Labor Day weekend. You won't want to miss it!

Since 2022, Boom Town Creamery has been churning out some of the best small-batch frozen confections in Oklahoma City. And in a summer this hot, it’s never been a better time to visit. Boom Town founder Angela Muir is this week’s guest on the Oklahoma Today Show, talking about her inspiration for the business and all the thought behind their popular gourmet flavors. She even tries to teach Ben how to scoop like a Boom Town pro, although we’re not sure he’s ready for the big-time just yet . . .

 

Also on this week’s show, the editors imagine their own dream sundaes over a scoop of Boom Town’s award-winning Madagascar Vanilla, and podvents is as good as gold—black gold! You won’t want to miss it!

Have you tried escargot before? Our host Ben hadn't . . . until he came to visit Alain Jeu at his new Oklahoma City restaurant Le Parisien. The iconic French snail dish stands out on the menu, but it is just one item on a long list of rich and cheesy creations right off the cobblestone streets of Paris. Ben gives it a taste test and learns more about what brought Jeu, a Los Angeles-based Frechman, to Oklahoma to start a restaurant. 

Also on this week's episode, the editors share some of their other favorite international eats across the state, and podvents takes us to Rush Springs in honor of the state vegetable (fruit?). You won't want to miss it!

Fans of the 2022 installment of the Predator film franchise Prey will not want to miss this year's Holba' Pisachi' Native Film Festival in Sulphur. The festival, now in its eleventh year at the Chickasaw Cultural Center, brings both producer Jhane Myers and lead actress Amber Midthunder to southern Oklahoma for the screening of the film. In addition to Prey, the film festival will present a variety of documentary, short, and feature film screenings August 7-8 inside the Anoli' Theater. Film professional panels and mixers will also make the event valuable to those interested in learning more about the film industry. Fran Parchcorn, the Chickasaw Cultural Center's director of special events, joins this week's show to give more details on this must-see Oklahoma film event.

Also on this week's episode, the editors discuss the ways they seek refreshment on a hot summer day, and podvents is off to see the Wizard. You won't want to miss it!

The drive-thru sushi, hibachi, and bento box options at Oishii Express in The Village in northwest Oklahoma City is unlike most other roadside options diners have come to expect. The concept by Chef Ling Chi Wong (who also started Takaramono in OKC's Plaza District) opened earlier this year and has been greeted by great fanfare. Particularly popular are their sushi push pops—a clever contraption that features a sushi in a tube with a thin cylinder containing a wasabi-soy sauce mixture. Chef Chi joins this week's show to talk about his inventive new concept and where he plans on taking it in the future.

Also on this week's show, the editors give their own million dollar Oklahoma business ideas (Braums, if you're watching, take notes). And podvents tells us where to celebrate the National Day of the Cowboy this year. You won't want to miss it!

With the Summer of Route 66 in full swing, Gathering Place in Tulsa is celebrating the centennial with a different kind of kicks. The Get Your Kicks shoe art competition pits more than twenty local area artists against each other to see who can create the most appealing work of art from a blank white tennis shoe. The results are quite impressive, and currently on display at Gathering Place's boathouse where viewers can vote on their favorite to win a prize for a lucky artist. The shoes will remain on display through July 18, when the large community park will hold its Route 66 Centennial Celebration. Cheryl Christensen, vice president of operations at Gathering Place, joins the Oklahoma Today Show this week to tell us about how the shoe art competition came together and what we have to look forward to at the park's Route 66 celebration this weekend.

Also on this week's show, the editors discuss the best places for families to check out during summer vacation, and podvents tells us about not one, but two Oklahoma peach festivals to visit this week. You won't want to miss it!