The Oklahoma Today Podcast

Season 6, Episode 3: Lil Mike and Funny Bone Got Talent

Whether you first heard about them on America's Got Talent, on the popular FX television series Reservation Dogs, or pushing their CDs and merch around the Oklahoma City metro area, no one can deny the brotherly hip-hop and entertainment duo Lil Mike & Funny Bone (known collectively as MikeBone) were destined for stardom. The local legends and authors of the popular song "Rain Dance" joined us in the studio to reflect on their career journey, including their self-sabotaged AGT experience, how they scored a role on Reservation Dogs, and the duo's undeniable aura which has been said to ward away nefarious spirit energy. As a staff full of MikeBone fans, we're super excited about this one!

Also on this week's show, the editors discuss what other Oklahoma celebrities they'd like to meet, and podvents takes us back to the future with no DeLorean required. You won't want to miss it! 

Season 6, Episode 2: The Duper Deluxe Hamburger Rest-Stop-A-Raunt

Bread. Meat. Cheese. Bread again. There are variations to the formula but this is generally the food structure known as the sandwich. In Oklahoma Today's new January-February issue (out on newsstands now!) our Sandwich Quest feature profiles ten fantastic handheld meals from across the state impressive enough to have convinced the Earl of Sandwich to put down his silly card game. The Sandwich Quest was completed for the magazine by The Martin Duprass: an Oklahoma City-based, husband-wife comedy duo consisting of Jeremy Martin and Lauren Thomas-Martin. They stopped by the show to recount their epic sandwich adventure and propose a new food concept that could change the culinary world forever. Unless we stop them. 

Also on this week's show, the editors discuss their favorite places to get a sandwich in Oklahoma, and podvents settles the debate of what really belongs in a chili bowl. You won't want to miss it!

Season 6, Episode 1: Running Up a Tabb with Tabb Singleton and Phat Tabb's BBQ

New year, new look, same us! This is the launch of our exciting new sixth season of the Oklahoma Today Podcast, and we’re kicking it all off with a very special in-depth interview with James Beard semifinalist chef Tabb Singleton. Tabb is known as the resident pitt genius at Idabel’s Phat Tabb’s BBQ, where the lines are long and the barbecue is the stuff of legends. He will be the chef in residence at The Feast at Stuart Ranch, a now sold-out March 1 dinner event co-hosted by Oklahoma Today in Waurika. Editor-in-chief Nathan Gunter sat down with Tabb to talk about his amazing career that has included run-ins with Emeril Lagase and the Food Network, as well as his plans for the Stuart Ranch beef in March.

Also on this week’s show, the editors discuss the Oklahoma travel destinations they plan on visiting in 2025, and podvents is . . . on a boat! You won’t want to miss it. 

Season 5, Episode 53: Sierra Spirit and the Art of Songwriting

There is a long, long heritage of great songwriters hailing from the Tulsa area and from Oklahoma in general. To close 2024, we're adding Sierra Spirit to that impressive list. Spirit—the Otoe-Missouria and Keetoowah Cherokee recording artist had a fantastic launch to her career the past year, releasing well-crafted singles and a stellar debut EP titled coin toss. For the final show of our fifth season, we caught up with Spirit to talk about her vault into the recording industry, taking inspiration from her family and Indigenous cultural heritage in her music, and why the craft of songwriting is experiencing a resurgence in popular appreciation. 

Also on this week's show, the editors share their favorite Oklahoma travels of the past year, and podvents takes it to the limit one more time for 2024. You won't want to miss it!

Season 5, Episode 52: First Day Hikes with Oklahoma State Parks

Merry Christmas and happy holidays everyone! We have a very merry episode of the Oklahoma Today Podcast in store for this week. We're bringing Torie Thompson from Oklahoma State Parks into the studio to talk about the popular First Day Hike program that will get us all moving in the New Year. That plus plenty more holiday merriment is in store. The editors share their baking plans for the holidays (or lack thereof in Ben's case), and podvents presents music fans with a lot of options. You won't want to miss it!

Season 5, Episode 51: Food Network's Jet Tila Takes Over Pocola

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. 

Also on this week's show, the editors discuss which chef they'd like to prepare their next meal, and podvents finally has Ben using his inside voice. You won't want to miss it!

Season 5, Episode 50: Coach Doug Sauter's Second Wind

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!

Season 5, Episode 49: All Aboard Muskogee's Depot Green Christmas

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.

Also on this week's show, the editors declare when the holiday season officially begins, and podvents revives an old Hee Haw routine. You won't want to miss it!  

Season 5, Episode 48: Remembering the "Washita Love Child" Jesse Ed Davis

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!

Season 5, Episode 47: Hippo Hero Singer Gayla Peevey and the OKC Zoo Safari Lights

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!