OKI Wanna Know

Perhaps the most hyper-local and Cincinnati-specific of NPR radio station WVXU’s original podcasts, OKI Wanna Know is a write-in show which directly engages with its listeners, answering their nagging questions about stubbornly unexplained things in the Greater Cincinnati area. No other NPR podcasts can tell you as much about your backyard in Ohio, in Indiana or in Northern Kentucky!

OKI Wanna Know: What's on the ceiling of Music Hall's Springer Auditorium?

A listener looked up before a concert at Music Hall and what he saw sparked this week's question.

11-29
04:29

OKI Wanna Know: What is Parkdale and where did it come from?

There are plenty of neighborhoods in Hamilton County that aren't officially recognized. Parkdale is one of them.

11-08
04:24

OKI Wanna Know: What happens if there's an election but no candidates?

The process for filling a vacant seat due to a lack of candidates varies from state to state, and in some cases, from political subdivision to subdivision.

10-25
04:37

OKI Wanna Know: Why does Cincinnati own a railroad?

As Cincinnati voters ponder whether to keep or sell the city's Southern Railway, some wonder why a municipality owns a railroad in the first place.

10-11
04:25

OKI Wanna Know: How many Winhold Reiss murals are there around Cincinnati?

A German-born painter made his name in the American West, and his work helped change America's impression of Cincinnati.

09-27
04:15

OKI Wanna Know: Who wanted to honor Confederates in Ohio?

This week's question is about the John Hunt Morgan Trail from Indiana across Ohio.

09-13
04:33

OKI Wanna Know: What are the pipes jutting out of the levee?

The pipes were installed in the 1950s, but the reason they're there is because of what happened in 1937.

08-16
03:56

OKI Wanna Know: Why does Cincinnati have so many streets named 'Kemper'?

We take another dive into Cincinnati history in our feature OKI Wanna Know.

07-26
04:54

OKI Wanna Know: Why do some Cincinnati neighborhoods have randomly numbered streets?

Street names are the most popular of all the questions asked of OKI Wanna Know.

07-12
04:28

OKI Wanna Know: What are the dents in the ground in the forest?

A listener wants to know if the pits in Miami Whitewater Forest are Civil War foxholes or something else.

06-28
04:39

OKI Wanna Know: What is that castle along the Ohio River?

You have questions about the Greater Cincinnati area and we answer them. This week: a castle on the river.

06-14
04:11

OKI Wanna Know: What lies beneath downtown Cincinnati?

Cincinnati has all kinds of interesting things underground, from subway tunnels to a bus station/discotheque.

05-17
04:45

OKI Wanna Know: What happened to Northern Kentucky's streetcars?

Much has been written about Cincinnati's streetcar, but what about Northern Kentucky's?

05-03
04:26

OKI Wanna Know: Why does Cincinnati have so many public stairways?

A listener wants to know about Cincinnati's public stairways, connecting low points with hilltops.

04-19
04:48

OKI Wanna Know: Are running tutus unique to Cincinnati?

People have been running marathons and other races while wearing tutus for years. But where the tradition started is up for debate.

04-05
03:38

OKI Wanna Know: Why can't I get wine delivered in Ky.? And about those school building oddities...

Sometimes finding the answer is the easy part. The hard part is finding someone willing to be interviewed about it.

03-22
03:36

OKI Wanna Know: Are opera creams a Cincinnati original?

If you want opera creams outside of Southwest Ohio or Northern Kentucky, be prepared to search hard. Few candy makers outside the area offer them.

03-01
04:33

OKI Wanna Know: Why are so many Cincinnati buildings made of yellow brick?

It comes down to two things: supply and fashion.

02-15
04:31

OKI Wanna Know: Why is Vine Street Cincinnati's main street?

A listener asks why Main Street isn't Cincinnati's, well, main street.

02-01
04:23

OKI Wanna Know: What's in that shaft on the Roebling Suspension Bridge?

A concrete shaft on the side of the Roebling Suspension Bridge holds an important tool for river safety.

01-11
04:15

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