Metropolitan Library System Podcast

Have you noticed all the construction around the Oklahoma state capitol lately and wondered what's going on? On this month's podcast we talk Oklahoma Capitol history and future with State Capitol Restoration Project manager Trait Thompson, and Director of the Sate Arts Council Amber Sharples

Ever wonder how Oklahoma got a Broadway song as its state song? Our team of experts tell the story of Oklahoma's state songs from the prairies of Oklahoma to the stages of New York theater.

One July night in 1933 George "Machine Gun" Kelly came to Oklahoma City and kidnapped a wealthy oilman named Charles Urschel in a caper that would ultimately be Kelly's ticket to Alcatraz. Kent Frates, writer, historian, and the nephew of Charles Urschel sat down with us to tell the tale of one Depression era gangster, and the oilman that lead the FBI to his capture.

Ward 2 city councilman James Cooper, the first openly LGBT member of Oklahoma City's city council, talks about the history and struggles of the LGBT+ community in OKC.

Join us on a journey down the Oklahoma River from the frequently flooded pre-statehood zoo at Wheeler Park to the Olympic training facility there today.

New York Times writer Sam Anderson, came by the library recently to talk about his book Boom Town: The Fantastical Saga of Oklahoma City, Its Chaotic Founding, Its Apocalyptic Weather, Its Purloined Basketball Team, and the Dream of Becoming a World-Class Metropolis. Guest interviewer Claire Donnelly drove around OKC with Sam to talk OKC, it's neighborhoods, and their history, and librarian Sheldo...

In celebration of poetry month, we talked with Todd Fuller about the history of poetry in Oklahoma and interviewed Oklahoma Poet Laureate Jeanetta Calhoun Mish. 

In honor of Women's History Month, Reagan, a.k.a. Suzy Heartbreaker, takes us on a journey through the history of the roller derby in Oklahoma City from the founding to the breakups, and make ups that have made the sport what it is today.

George Henderson is a professor at the University of Oklahoma, civil rights activist, and founder of OU's Human Relations program. He told us the story of his life in Oklahoma from unknowingly accepting a job in a sundown town, to founding the university's Human Relations program, and his hopes for the future.

Oklahoma author Kim Ventrella talked to us about her upcoming book, Bone Hollow, along with other projects she's been working on.

This episode looks at the Metropolitan Library System's annual Friends of the Library Book Sale.

In part 2 of our exploration of Oklahoma politics we talked with Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt and Village Mayor Sonny Wilkinson about what it's like being the mayor of a city in the state of Oklahoma. 

Ever wonder what it takes to run for public office in Oklahoma? In part one of our two-part series about politics in Oklahoma we talked to one candidate running for Congress, one running for State House of Representatives, and one from the Oklahoma State Election Board to find out what it takes to run for office, and what it's like to be a first time candidate in the Sooner state.

Did you know that central Oklahoma has its own Christmas music courtesy of a local jeweler? On this podcast we explore the phenomenon that is the BC Clark Christmas Jingle. 

In part three of our series on Oklahoma's liquor laws from prohibition to present, we spoke with several area brewers about the current state of craft beer in Oklahoma, and we talked to state senator Stephanie Bice about the new laws that have allowed those brewers to open their own tap rooms, and to sell their beer in grocery stores.

In part two of our history of Oklahoma's liquor laws from prohibition to present, we talked to historian Kent Frates and liquor store owner Byron Gambulos about bootleggers, the end of prohibition in Oklahoma, and the early days of life in the legal liquor business.

With the recent changes in Oklahoma's alcohol laws, we decided for our inaugural podcast that we would examine the history of our state from prohibition to present. In part 1 historian Buddy Johnson talks about pre-statehood and early Oklahoma leading up to the 18th Amendment.