Pop of Culture

Welcome to Season 3! Lots to get to... We'll start with two different takes on the medium of glass: documentarian Chris Flook tells us what surprised him during his new documentary about collecting Ball jars ("The Hobby"); artist Jessica Calderwood takes us through the process for her new metal and glass series honoring textile patterns from diverse communities across East Central Indiana ("Thread...

The Pop of Culture team is readying Season 3! As we celebrate the new year, we picked some of our favorite segments from last season, like our visit to the Ball State Studio Band, our delightful chat with comedian and cartoonist Dan Wright, the times we've ended up recording in the dark (which has somehow happened twice), and many more!

Surprise! It's our last episode of the year, so we're gifting it to you a little early! This week, we're speaking with Meg Crane, the inventor of the home pregnancy test. Playwright (and Pop of Culture cohost) Jennifer Blackmer wrote a play about her story that's been produced across the nation—and now it's headed Off-Broadway. Also in this episode, NPR's Andrew Limbong joins us to break down the...

This week, we sit down with the multi- multi -talented Anwar Frazier. He recently won the 2025 Muncie Mayor's Arts Awards People's Choice, and he'll tell us how he's made a living drawing, painting, tattooing, candle-making, designing custom clothes... the list goes on. Then, we'll visit the Ball State Opera Theatre program as they prepare to present "The Elixir of Love" November 22 - 23. We talk...

This week, we have an extended conversation with Kyren Monteiro. Kyren is an audio engineer and hip-hop artist with an audio production company in Marion. Before the release of his new album "Visionary," he joins us to talk about his creative process, the (accidentally) illicit record label he started at 16, and why he chooses to stay in East Central Indiana. We'll also hear " Reason Enough ," our...

This week, we speak to artists with work that reflect their communities: Henrik Söderström is a professor at Indiana Wesleyan University who has an exhibit at the Kennedy Art Center in Marion that required "a game of telephone" across the community. Aaron McDermott is an artist and the Vice President of the Pendleton Artists Society; he tell us about his new mural in downtown Pendleton and why hav...

The Pop of Culture team is off this week—and it's Halloween! So, we're listening back to some of our favorite spooky interviews, including: Brian Blair of Pumpkin Pulp (a masks and prop business in Muncie), Tommy Miller and Jason Kindred of the band Void King (purveyors of doom metal), and Riley McDermott (a young farmer). Join us... if you dare!

Where do electronic music artists go in Muncie? IPR's Ransom True takes us to a studio where the mixing decks are open for experimentation and collaboration. Also in this episode: Christina Diaz Gonzalez pivoted from a career as an attorney to write middle grade fiction and graphic novels. We'll speak with her and Ball State professor Jill Christman ahead of the 2025 Writer-in-Residence (events op...

This week, we continue our Beautiful Things series with Joseph Gross's " Jumping in Leaves ," a short essay about the author and his son in autumn. Then, we'll visit with Robin Phelps-Ward and Kat Stephens-Peace about their artistic careers—and about Hue House, their art studio and community space for local creatives in the Murray building in Muncie. Also packed into this episode: all the details...

This week: how two fine arts organizations in East Central Indiana are adapting to attract audiences. We'll speak to Daniel Wiley with the Anderson Symphony Orchestra and Debra Lynn from "Opera Today!" in Fort Wayne. Also in the show: an audio postcard from muralists who gathered in Muncie to paint a bus (yes, really), and the return of "WAYWO" artist Maya Doss as a host!

Inside this episode: The Indiana Clay Conference is held every two years, and this year it's in Muncie! Organizer (and Ball State professor) Ted Neal talks about what goes into planning the event. We continue our Conversations Between the Coast with Christopher and Justin Swader, professional set designers who work across the country. And, we ask teacher and artist Sun-Young Gullery about "Indy In...

This week, during IPR's fall pledge drive, we're listening back to some of our favorite recent pieces, including: a trip into the faux woodlands created for "Good Night Forest" at Minnetrista Museum & Gardens, an extended conversation with longtime local potter John Peterson, and glimpse into the constantly creative world of Stephen M Millben II.

This week, we're all over the map! Our first stop is Michael Greer, President and CEO of ArtsFund in Seattle. He'll explain how arts are essential for communities—and democracy—ahead of his presentation on Ball State's campus. Then, we'll talk fall book releases in our semi-regular Book Club with Jay County Public Library librarian Hannah Elliott. And, a new romantic comedy was shot on location in...

This week, we sit down with Nicole Etcheson, a Civil War and Reconstruction Era scholar, ahead of her public lecture for Constitution Week—where she'll speak on the Reconstruction Amendments (13th, 14th, and 15th) and their relevance to the present day. Also in this episode: board members from the MuncieArts & Culture Council, we hear a collegiate Beautiful Thing, and "What Are You Working On?...

This week, Jenni Werner joins us for Conversations Between the Coasts. Jenni is Executive Artistic Director of The New Harmony Project, an arts organization that has been fostering new works for stage and screen in Indiana for nearly 40 years. In May of this year, the organization had a $40,000 grant terminated by the National Endowment for the Arts. We'll talk with Jenni about what the Project do...

The Pop Team is off this week, so we're listening back to some of our favorite parts from Season 2, including: Stevie Hahn (AKA "Ray Toffer") on how he creates his viral videos exploring "Beautiful, Luxurious Muncie™." Tracy Burns is a rug hooker; she fills our studio with her artwork to help explain her craft. Jarrod Case and Jason Cooper from local band White Lies & The Half Truth share trac...

This week is all about live music: Muncie Civic Theatre is in the middle of its run of "Hairspray," director Terry Whitt Bailey and Muncie Civic Artistic & Executive Director (and cast member) Laura Williamson crash through our doors to tell us about the musical! Local musician Dave Carter talks about the long journey to his new album (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE: Dave performs two original songs live),...

This week, we're listening back to some of our favorite interviews from Season 2 (so far): longtime Muncie artist and businesswoman Ann Johnson tells us about how she created  F.B. Fogg—and what she thinks is the future of the arts business in Muncie; librarian and Pop of Culture book club president Hannah Elliott runs down her top picks for summer reading; and artist Sara Collas tells us what she...

This week, we take a trip to the forest... indoors! We get an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of Minnetrista Museum and Gardens' latest exhibit "Good Night Forest." We'll also speak to PBS host Steven Raichlen ahead of a special event in Fort Wayne, hear about an award-winning stop-motion video, and listen to a Beautiful Thing with imaginary animals (" Things Not Always Seen ").

Pop of Culture is back for the second half of Season 2! This week, we chat with Jarrod Case and Jason Cooper of local band White Lies & The Half Truth. They'll share tracks from their album "The Ghosts We Carry" and explain why now was the right time to form a band. We'll also hear our latest Beautiful Thing from writer Jill Currie (" He Comes Back for the Curtains "), catch up with Pop favori...

It's Pop of Culture's 70th episode! To celebrate, we're listening back to some of our favorite answers to our favorite question: "What Are You Working On?" We first asked Levi Rinker in February 2024... he talks about his work to bring more art into the community of Anderson. We'll also hear from Aimee Maychack (linocuts), Rose & Kate Elliott (sewing very special pillows), and Lynette Whitesel...

This week, we discuss upcoming outdoor events in ECI... from the climate-controlled safety of the Pop of Culture Studios. Tracy Manning (Executive and Artistic Director of the Hoosier Shakespeare Festival)—and actors Grace Bogue and Selah Grannis—discuss the Festival's tenth year and what it’s like to perform Shakespeare in the open air. Shaun Dingwerth (Executive Director of the Richmond Art Muse...

This week: comedian, cartoonist, writer, musician... the list goes on! Dan Wright entertains us with the stories behind his multifaceted career—including how his syndicated cartoon started with rejection from all four major syndicates. Also in this episode: writer H.K. Hummel shares her Beautiful Things essay " It Seemed Like Everything Was Still Before Us ."

This week, we sit down with local pottery legend John Peterson. In a podcast-exclusive extended conversation, he tells us how he came to Muncie, how he started Bethel Pike Pottery studios, and what's still inspiring him today as he looks back on his career in the arts. Also in this show: we preview The Harlem Gospel Travelers' Muncie Three Trails Music Series performance with trio member Ifedayo G...

Pop of Culture is off this week, so we're listening back to some of our favorite summer adventures: Charles W. Brown Planetarium Director Dayna Thompson takes us on a tour of the night sky (kind of), writer Lindsey Pharr takes us to an alligator-teeming river in Mississippi, and art quilter Daren Redman takes us through her creative process.