The OKPOP Radio Hour

It’s another BIG popcast on the ol’ OKPOP Radio Hour featuring a true force to be reckoned with, Teresa Knox. Best known for resurrecting the legacy of Leon Russell’s The Church Studios, and continuing the tradition of the Harwelden Mansion, she talks to us about her journey from a gal with moxie who made her own way as an entrepreneur and has grown to be one of the biggest cheerleaders of Tulsa and it’s rich musical history. Also, The Church will be hosting author Bill Janovitz who will be signing and discussing his remarkable compendium of Leon Russell’s life and career. Janovitz will be our special guest next week on the OKPOP Radio Hour!

Turns out the song was right - Pippi Longstocking REALLY DID come to our town! Actress and all-around adorable human, Tami Erin, stopped by the OKPOP Radio Hour to talk about playing the world’s most beloved precocious red head, Pippi Longstocking. Tami's a proud Oklahoma transplant, with her own perch out at Grand Lake, and she’s cooking up something fun for Memorial Day weekend! Find out all the deets in this week’s pod!

It’s a Valentine’s Day OKPOPcast and this one is for the love birds out there 🥰 Did you know that the Route 66 Blue Whale was a labor of love? Liz Cousins—artist/collector/historian/photographer and former keeper of ol’ Blue—is in the studio to share the beautiful love story behind one of Oklahoma's great Route 66 attractions, the Blue Whale of Catoosa. ❤️🐳❤️ Give us listen and maybe share it with someone you love ❤️ Hugs and kisses from your friendly, local Oklahoma pop culture museum ❤️

How many people do YOU know who are responsible for putting a GIANT SPACE COWBOY on Route 66? One that people come from ALL OVER THE WORLD to see?? We only know of ONE, and her name is Mary Beth Babcock! Now Mary Beth is about to welcome a NEW FRIEND at Buck Atom's Cosmic Curios on 66 - a 19-foot SPACE COWGIRL named Stella Atom! We got ALLLL the info today in our interview with Mary Beth in this new episode of YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST, the OKPOP Radio Hour, available FOR FREE on Apple, Spotify and all other major podcast platforms!

THIS WEEK ON THE OKPOP RADIO HOUR: We've HIT THE JACKPOT with a guest whose face you'll probably recognize if you've spent time in any of Oklahoma's many casinos! Karl Suggs was the inspiration for the Mr. Moneybags character featured on countless slot machines across our state and around the country. The story of how he got the gig is pretty WILD, and we BET you'll love hearing him tell it.

Brian Parton sizzled on the Oklahoma scene as the frontman for the rockabilly trio, Nashville Rebels, which eventually led him to a life performing in Colorado. But he’s back in Tulsa, baby, and this week he’s our special guest on the OKPOP Radio Hour. We talk about his decades-long career, opening for acts like Jerry Lee Lewis, and how his music has changed over the years. Give it a listen, folks, wherever you get your pods.

Our guest today is Bill Courtney, a Tulsa transplant and former NYPD detective who has his own true crime podcast: The Proffer Podcast: True Crime Stories, Hosted by NYPD Detective Bill Courtney. We covered A LOT of ground - from a famous and deadly rap feud, to organized crime's dealings with some of entertainment's biggest names. Bill has a couple of live podcast tapings soon here town. Look for the info in the comments, and check out the OKPOP Radio Hour podcast - available for free on Apple, Spotify and all other major podcast platforms!

For over twenty years, Chase Kerby has been a mainstay of the OKC music scene. He’s fronted a number of bands including The City Lives, Defining Times, and currently 3 piece indie-punk band Big Weather. He’s also played guitar and piano for a number of artists ranging from Graham Colton to Sherree Chamberlain and is currently a long time member of Beau Jennings and the Tigers. In 2015 he appeared on NBC’s The Voice as a member of Gwen Stefani’s team. After his departure from the show he focused on crafting his unique blend of songwriting, ambience, and lyrical poetry for what will be his long overdue debut full length album coming in 2024.

It’s the first OKPOP Radio Hour podcast of 2024, y’all! 🎉 And we are starting off right with OKPOP’s fearless leader, Jake Krumwiede. We talked about his years working in the museum world and the Oklahoma Historical Society, and our shared vision for the labor of love that is the OKPOP Museum.

It’s our last podcast of the year, y’all! And we are putting a big ol’ bow on 2023 with Joey Duffy. Not only does Joey bring the rizz* (“charisma,” don’t ya know?) to the band CLIFFDIVER, he also is part of the OKPOP crew. We were stoked to sit down with him to learn more about his inspirational journey, and why he thinks OKPOP will empower that next generation of Oklahoma rock stars. You can’t help but feel uplifted after sitting down with Joey, so give this episode a listen. It’ll feel like a warm hug, we guarantee it!

Deonna Marie is an amazing singer and storyteller based in OKC. Deonna blends her beautiful voice with poignant stories that inspire. We met her after she shared her personal story recently at The Moth Mainstage event at Cain's Ballroom. This woman is an absolute STAR, and if you're not already a fan, you will be after you hear her interview.

Buckle up, Oklahoma! It’s another 🔥HOT NEW EPISODE🔥 of the OKPOP Radio Hour! This week, we speak to the great Tulsa musician, Randy Ess. From a hit that landed his band, The Rogues Five, on the charts alongside the Beatles, to opening for The Doors here in Tulsa, to recording with Leon Russell and getting signed to Shelter Records - y’all! Randy's story is truly incredible, you won’t wanna miss a second. So give us a listen, why don’t ya? (Photo Credit: Richard Galbraith, 1979, Cain’s Ballroom)

THIS WEEK ON THE OKPOP RADIO HOUR: Tulsa Ballet Director Marcello Angelini and the beautiful Tulsa tradition that is The Nutcracker! Our conversation touched on many more topics, too, including Tulsa’s world famous reputation for excellence in ballet, and the importance of evolution and risk-taking in creative endeavors. Marcello is a really funny guy, so lots of laughs were had by all. Give us a listen and be sure to get your tickets now for The Nutcracker - a magical show that brings Christmas dreams to life on stage!

THIS WEEK ON THE OKPOP RADIO HOUR: TEAM GALAXY & THE DIABOLICAL DAVIT SOUDERS! Davit (yes - DaviT with a T!) is a true Tulsa treasure, and our second returning guest here on the OKPOP Radio Hour! As owner of Diabolical Productions, and through his work at venues like Cain's Ballroom, he's been responsible for some of Tulsa's biggest concerts of the last few decades. Davit is also a massive cheerleader for local music, helping boost Oklahoma artists through his radio and podcast shows Home Groan and Hometown Heroes. Davit's back this week to talk about his ever-evolving all-star holiday band, Team Galaxy, which has become something of a Tulsa tradition. Watch for them December 9th in the annual Tulsa Christmas Parade. Davit will be the one windmilling the microphone around like “The Who's Roger Daltrey!

THIS WEEK ON THE OKPOP RADIO HOUR PODCAST... A major milestone! Our first returning guest, Chef Nico, is back to RIP THE LID OFF of a pretty amazing story she's been keeping quiet about for some time now: she was Leonardo DiCaprio's personal chef for six months during the filming of Killers of the Flower Moon, right here in Oklahoma! Nico joins us to spill the proverbial beans about her (at the time) TOP SECRET gig, and shares some of Leo's favorite foods. You also HAVE TO hear her story sad and hilarious story about the "GOODBYE PIE" she made for him when the film wrapped. Give us a listen, friends, and be sure to follow Chef Nico and her non-profit, Burning Cedar Sovereign Wellness! https://www.burningcedar.org/

THIS WEEK ON THE OKPOP RADIO HOUR PODCAST:Eric Himan is a man of many talents. Not only is he a gifted singer/songwriter/performer, he's also responsible for putting on some of Oklahoma's coolest events. We chat with him about how he came to meet and tour with his musical hero, Ani DiFranco. We also talk creativity, and what makes Oklahoma such a special place for artists and fans alike. As always, give us a follow and listen to the OKPOP Radio Hour wherever you get your podcasts!

THIS WEEK ON THE OKPOP RADIO HOUR: THE MOTH & THE ART OF STORYTELLING! If you like a good story, you'll love The Moth. For more than 25 years, The New York City-based non-profit has shone a spotlight on the craft of storytelling through their weekly podcast, publications, and live events. One of those events, The Moth MainStage, is coming to Tulsa's historic Cain's Ballroom on November 8. In this week's episode of the OKPOP Radio Hour podcast, Michelle Jalowski, a director and producer at The Moth, gives us a preview and discusses the important role of storytelling in pop culture. Click and give us a listen! Follow us wherever you get your podcasts!

THIS WEEK ON THE OKPOP RADIO HOUR: TULSA TERRORS! Our guests Bryan Crain and John Wooley are two excellent storytellers who’ve teamed up again for a new documentary called TULSA TERRORS! In the mid-1980s, Tulsa was ground zero for the direct-to-home-video movie explosion, and for the next 20 years area filmmakers aimed a variety of horror, fantasy, and science-fiction features right at the heart of that market. Some made it. Some fell short. But all of them were created with an earnestness and passion that belied their budgets. TULSA TERRORS tells the story of those movies, in the words of the moviemakers themselves and others who were on the scene for a revolution that will never be repeated. Don’t miss the television premiere of TULSA TERRORS Halloween night, October 31, on RSU-TV KRSU!

This week on the OKPOP Radio Hour - a man putting a new shine on a true Tulsa gem. Our guest John Beasley is leading the charge to restore the city’s historic Spotlight Theater. For more than half a century, the Bruce Goff-designed building at 13th and Riverside has been the home of The Drunkard, America’s longest-running play. A major effort is now underway to restore the building. We talk with John about that project, the theater’s history, and what makes it such an important part of Oklahoma’s pop culture landscape. Give us a listen, and click the link below to find out how you can help ensure the Spotlight Theater is around for many more generations to enjoy! https://www.tulsaspotlighttheater.com/

THIS WEEK ON THE OKPOP RADIO HOUR: TULSA'S OWN GRASS CRACK! This spirited band has delighted audiences near and far with their unorthodox take on bluegrass music. Their new release “The Hits” is the group’s first album in more than a decade. In this episode, band members Nate Gray and Dan Riffe join Meg & Garrett to discuss the album, the band’s history, Tulsa’s ever-evolving music scene, and the city’s early-’00s late night comedy show “Beef Baloney”. Be sure to check out Grass Crack’s new album “The Hits” - available at the link below! https://grasscrack.bandcamp.com/album/the-hits?fbclid=IwAR3OA0wnP350lkCA1COfThTC6kbpYI_HIWs6Oy0VSSDqyMuTijcCB93aWZg