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The Oklahoma Today Podcast is your definitive audio guide to all the best of Oklahoma's travel destinations, food, culture, events, and history. Published weekly by the staff of Oklahoma Today magazine, the podcast is your best bet for planning your next road trip, dinner with friends, or unexpected adventure in the Sooner State. Learn more at oklahomatoday.com.
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Celebrating its twenty-fifth year, the annual Momentum art exhibition by the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition showcases the work and talents of artists under thirty. Attending is always the best opportunity to learn about up-and-coming artists and add to your personal art collection. This year's Momentum is March 27-28 at Yale Theatre in Oklahoma City's Calle Dos Cinco Historic Capitol Hill district. On this week's episode of The Oklahoma Today Show, we spoke with two of the show's three spotlight artists—Kayla Marie Anley and Mack Brim—about their work in this year's event.
Also on this week's show, the editors discuss their favorite works of public art in Oklahoma, and podvents is here for the arrival of the spring season. You won't want to miss it!
Ever visit the zoo and think, "Wow, I wish I could stay here the whole day." Well now you really can! Just book a stay at OKC Zoo's new Baobab Lodge, a fabulous new glamping overnight in the heart of the Exhibition Africa area. Wake up to the sound of lion roars and giraffes greeting the morning sun. Best of all, those who stay get exclusive access to the zoo grounds for a few hours before and after close. It's the kind of stay the builds the memories of a lifetime.
Also on this week's episode, the editors share which other Oklahoma overnights they think include an amazing view, and podvents provides us with Paddy's Day plans. You won't want to miss it!
There's not much like Oklahoma's Big Meat Run. Thousands of growling ATVS and off-roading vehicles descend upon Disney, Oklahoma, and the South Grand Lake Recreation Area for a truly one of a kind event. Organizer JT Taylor joins the show to set the scene for this weekend of rock scaling, mud flinging, and outdoor community fun to celebrate Oklahoma springtime.
Also on this week's episode, the editors discuss what they are looking forward to this spring season and podvents gives some serious shine to a tasty mollusk. You won't want to miss it!
It's a great time to visit the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City! On this week's episode of the Oklahoma Today Show we caught up with David Davis, chief curatorial officer at the museum, to hear about their new exhibition Route 66: From Trails to Truck Stops, on display now through May 3. This beloved hub of culture and history actually sits on Route 66 itself, and a good amount of the Western story is tied up with the Mother Road. In addition to the Route 66 exhibit, guests can also stop in to see The Cowboy: An Immersive Journey, a 360 treat for the senses developed by the team responsible for the Immersive Van Gogh experiences.
Also on this week's episode, the editors discuss some of their favorite places in Oklahoma to get a steak (there are a lot to choose from) and podvents keeps the coals burning with a cool Dutch oven event. You won't want to miss it!
Beverly Whitcomb has long had a fascination with antique and vintage dolls, but has not always had a place to display them. Then she got a job at the historic Fred and Addie Drummond Home in Hominy, and now she has a place to display her antique German, French, and American Girl dolls dating as far back to the U.S. Civil War. Ben travelled out to Hominy to see Beverly's collection firsthand—even making a few new friends in the process.
Also on this week's episode, the editors share what other old things they really admire. And in podvents is touching me, touching you! You won't want to miss it!
The timeless and action-packed love story of Romeo & Juliet by OKC Ballet will grace the stage at Oklahoma City's Civic Center Music Hall February 20-22, making tickets a great gift to surprise that special someone on Valentine's Day. With music from Sergei Prokofiev and choreography from Devon Carney, this production brings the classic play from William Shakespeare into vibrant kinetic life. OKC Ballet Director of Communications and Development Whitney Cross tells Ben all about this production and what else is in store for the ballet company in 2026.
Also on this week's show, the editors give their best date night tips for this Valentine's Week, and podvents gives us all sorts of ideas for where Cupid might make an appearance. You won't want to miss it!
Tulsa-based visual artist Ebony Iman Dallas is releasing her memoir Through Abahay's Eyes this spring—but it's a work that has been decades in the making, if not over the course of her entire life. Dallas grew up without knowing her birth father, or even the true story behind his death. Through a series of unlikely events, she was eventually able to connect with her father's family and embark on a new journey of cultural- and self-discovery. Dallas joins the Oklahoma Today Show this week to talk more about her milestone new literary work and how readers can snag a copy for themselves.
Also on this week's episode, the editors think of other Oklahomans with fascinating life stories, and podvents let's us know the best music to play when raising a virtual turnip. You won't want to miss it!
Are you the very model of a modern major general? Probably not, but guests are welcome to pretend for a moment when they go to see Tulsa Opera's production of The Pirates of Penzance at the University of Tulsa's Lorton Performance Center this Friday and Sunday. Sung in English with musical accompaniment from the Tulsa Opera Orchestra, this classic swashbuckling romance and slapstick comedy from Gilbert & Sullivan tells the story of a love-struck former pirate trying to evade his past. Jason Zacher, who portrays the Pirate King in Tulsa Opera's production, joins the show to talk about this can't miss show and how he gets into character as a bureaucratic buccaneer.
Also on this week's show, the editors discuss their favorite Mexican and Tex-Mex food options in the state, and podvents tells a tale as old as time. You won't want to miss it!
Historic Route 66 celebrates its hundredth birthday in 2026! This is big news for Oklahoma tourism, as the state hosts more drivable miles of the Mother Road than any other state. It likely won't be the last time you hear about the centennial celebration on our show this year, but we need someone to set us up for the year's long international observance. The perfect person for that job is Rhys Martin, president of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association. Martin joins us in the studio this week to talk about the historical significance of the highway, how and when to celebrate this year, and what we can expect from Route 66 in the future.
Also on this week's show, the editors give some advice for those who are trying to stick to their healthy eating goals in the New Year while still supporting local business, and podvents challenges viewers to find Ben out in public. You won't want to miss it!
Pigeons and humans have been in close contact for thousands of years. In fact, pigeons are among the very first birds to be domesticated. There is no doubt that people have formed a special relationship with these birds, and that is especially apparent to anyone who goes to visit the American Pigeon Museum & Library in Oklahoma City. That's exactly what Ben did for this episode, meeting with museum employee Ashlee Mikesell for a quick tour and meet-and-greet with some special live birds.
Also on this week's episode, the editors discuss their own favorite museums and educational centers across the state, and podvents wishes a happy eightieth birthday to a music icon. You won't want to miss it!
Ladies and gentlemen, we present to you our inaugural Okie Awards show in its entirety. In lieu of our regular program, here is an event the whole Oklahoma Today team put a lot of hard work into making possible. Held December 11 at the Chicken Shack on Route 66 in Arcadia, this was our award show honoring some of the most Oklahoma things of the year. It was also a good time to look back at some of the things we had done on the show in 2025. If you couldn't make it, you missed a great party, but you can at least enjoy the event virtually on YouTube. Keep an eye out for the Faux-kies—awards that aren't quite official but are a lot of fun!
As the new year approaches, many are thinking about curbing all the holiday excess and starting 2026 off on the right foot. Well, the best way to do just that is with a visit to an Oklahoma State Park for a traditional First Day Hike. Dozens of state parks will be participating—Roman Nose, Great Plains, Lake Murray, and more! Oklahoma State Parks head naturalist Torie Thompson tells us where to go to start the year with activity in nature.
Also on this week's show, the editors discuss their New Year's resolutions for 2026, and podvents tells us about Bingo with a twist. You won't want to miss it!
Oklahoma cities and towns large and small go all out for Christmas, and Chickasha takes special pride in its own holiday celebration. This week on the Oklahoma Today Podcast, Ben ventures out to the Chickasha Festival of Light to see one of the top light displays in the nation. More than three-and-a-half million twinkling lights dazzle drive- and walk-through spectators in this winter carnival atmosphere throughout Shannon Springs Park. We meet with Festival of Light coordinator Matthew Stockman to learn all about this winter wonderland.
Also on this week's episode, the editors discuss the most memorable gifts they recall receiving, and podvents lets us know where to bring your Wranglers this holiday. You won't want to miss it!
This week we're honored to have the one and only Cowboy Kent Rollins, the famed chuckwagon chef, author of Amazon bestselling cookbook A Taste of Cowboy, and the larger-than-life personality behind one of the most beloved food channels on YouTube, as well as the Food Network and Outdoor Channel. Known for cooking over open fires, telling unforgettable stories, and keeping cowboy traditions alive, Kent has built a massive following by blending practical cooking, humor, and heart. We talk about his journey from southwest Oklahoma to national fame, what tips he has for new outdoor cooks, and why it's OK for cowboys to love sushi too.
Also on this week's episode, the editors share which gifts are perfect for any Okie, and podvents makes a suggestion for where Hallmark should film their next Christmas movie. You won't want to miss it!
Mary Eddy's Italian Grill in downtown Oklahoma City has long been known for exquisite dining, but have you ever sampled their brunch menu? If not, there has never been a better time to try, because the eatery located inside the Fordson Hotel is unveiling several seasonal creations to accompany their already stellar lineup of indulgent morning fare. Mary Eddy's executive chef Ryan Kolk joins Ben from inside the restaurant to talk about their 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday brunch offerings.
Also. on this week's show, the editors discuss their favorite baked goods in the state, and podvents lets us know what happens when Christmas lights get . . . creepy. You won't want to miss it!
Oklahoma is now heading full throttle into the holiday season, and for many in the state that means it's time for the famous holiday jingle from B.C. Clark Jewelers to ring on the radio, TV, and just about everywhere else—including endlessly inside our own heads. Many are familiar with the song, which became a quick hit for the iconic Oklahoma City family jeweler when it debuted in the 1950s. But why, exactly, did this particular jingle go down in history? Where did it succeed where others did not? Is there something going on musically that has helped etch it into the Oklahoma holiday canon? On this week's show we're joined by Mitchell Clark, president of B.C. Clark Jewelers and great-grandson of B.C. Clark himself, and Patrick Conlon, associate director of the Academy of Contemporary Music at the University of Central Oklahoma in Oklahoma City. Together, we will attempt to get to the bottom of what has made the jingle an endearing holiday hit on par with any other classic Christmas song.
Also on this week's show, the editors share what signals the start of the holiday season in their eyes, and podvents lets us know where to go to get our chocolate fix. You won't want to miss it!
Welcome back, dear followers of the Oklahoma Today Podcast! Happy Thanksgiving Week for those watching on the week this episode debuts. We like to think of Oklahoma Today as a family, so for this special holiday episode we are giving you a tour of our "home" at the Oklahoma State Tourism and Recreation Department offices in downtown Oklahoma City. See all the familiar and behind-the-scenes faces behind the magazine and get a sense of our day-to-day activities while the staff shares what they're thankful for.
Also on this week's show, the editors share their favorite non-traditional Thanksgiving side dishes, and in podvents life . . . finds a way. You won't want to miss it!
Experience the thrill of A Christmas Carol without all the paranormal encounters with a visit to Dickens on the Boulevard, November 22-23 in downtown Claremore. Charles Dickens penned the holiday classic in 1843, years before the modern town of Claremore was even founded. That doesn't stop the downtown from transforming into a wintertime Victorian wonderland for a celebration that will includes street dancing, nineteenth century wardrobe and food, historic tours, carriage rides, and more. Ben investigates this unique Oklahoma tradition this week on the show.
Also on this episode, the editors discuss their personal favorite literary classics, and podvents includes an event that rocks in more way than one. You won't want to miss it!
Woolaroc Museum & Wildlife Preserve near Bartlesville is an Oklahoma institution. Once the private ranch and retreat of legendary oilman Frank Phillips, the 3,700-acre property now houses a world-class museum of Western and international art with a wild-life preserve including bison, elk, ostriches, and more. This year marks 100 years since the ranch's founding, and Woolaroc is celebrating with an amazing art exhibition and sale featuring some of the world's most high-profile contemporary artists, including Thomas Blackshear II, Bob Kuhn, William Alther, Mian Situ, William Acheff, and many more. Frank Phillips Foundation CEO and Woolaroc operating officer Kevin Hoch joins the show this week to talk about the incredible exhibition on display through December 31.
Also on this week's episode, the editors ponder how they'd celebrate their hundredth birthdays, and podvents points us to one of the biggest Veterans Day parades in the state. You won't want to miss it!
We needed to give our inaugural Okie Awards winners something special to take home, and we think Yukon Trophy & Awards did the trick! On this week's episode of the Oklahoma Today Podcast we visit with Bea Johnson, who leads the business which has been family owned and operated since 1971. Yukon Trophy & Awards has gone from a garage business to a trophy maker that has touched the lives of thousands in its history, we get an inside look at this local treasure.
Also on this week's show, WE'VE GOT AN ALL-NEW SET! See it for yourself on video on the Oklahoma Today Magazine YouTube channel. The editors also share some of their own personal favorite keepsakes. Plus podvents gives us the best place to find baklava this week. You won't want to miss it!
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