Prairie Journal

For National Poetry Month, we explore the work of Antonio Sanchez-Day.  His poetry collection, I've Been Fighting This War Within Myself, was edited by Brian Daldorph, published posthumously by Meadowlark Press, and named a Kansas Notable Book.

We mark Autism Acceptance Month with Jenn Bailey, author of "Henry, Like Always."  The children's book was named a Kansas Notable Book by the State Library of Kansas.

Morels, Devil's Dipsticks, Chicken of the Woods — it's mushroom season! Caleb Morse, Sherry Kay, and Benjamin Sikes are the authors of A New Guide to Kansas Mushrooms, a Kansas Notable Book.

In connection with the Kansas City Public Library's Big Read, it's a conversation with Rebekah Taussig, author of "Sitting Pretty: The View from My Ordinary, Resilient, Disabled Body."

It's a critical look at the push and pull of state politics in Kansas, with Michael Smith of Emporia State University and Ed Flentje of Wichita State University.  Smith and Flentje are co-editors of Reform and Reaction: The Arc of Kansas Politics.

In honor of Women's History Month, it's a look at the often-underestimated political role of America's First Ladies.  Diana Carlin is one of the co-authors of "Remember the First Ladies: The Legacies of America's History-Making Women."

The Dust Bowl, a Prairie Witch that stores people's memories and secrets, and a time-traveling camera -- all come together in Karen Russell's newest book, The Antidote.  She visits with KPR's Laura Lorson in this KPR Presents bonus episode.

From Pawnee Rock to Kansas amber, James Aber guides us through millions of years of Kansas geology in this Kansas Notable Book.  Roadside Geology of Kansas is written by Dr. James Aber, Dr. Susan Aber, and Michael Everhart.  Our Kansas Notable Book series continues with Amanda Elsbury, author of Grief Said "Have a Seat."

It's an hour with husband-and-wife comedy writers Felipe Torres Medina and Taylor Kay Phillips. Medina is a writer for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and the author of America, Let Me In: A Choose-Your-Own-Immigration Story ; Phillips is an Emmy Award-winning writer for Last Week Tonight with John Oliver and the author of A Guide to Midwestern Conversation . 

We celebrate Women's History Month with a basketball trailblazer: former University of Kansas coach and director of women's athletics Marian Washington.  Washington is the author of "Fierce: My Fight for Nothing Less."

Matt Beat (aka Mr. Beat) is an educator, popular YouTuber/podcaster, and host of this spring's discussion series at KU's Dole Institute of Politics looking at the expanding role of the president.

We mark Women's History Month with the story of women who questioned and challenged gender roles within their church.  Dr. Lois Barrett and Dorothy Nickel Friesen are the authors of Proclaiming the Good News: Mennonite Women's Voices , a Kansas Notable Book award for this look. 

Dozens of Kansans protested at the State Capitol on President's Day, demonstrating against many of the sweeping changes President Trump has made in the past month.  We hear from some of them on this week's KPR Presents.  Also, we stop by the Flint Hills Breadbasket, in KPR's Community Spotlight this month.

The Flint Hills Breadbasket is in KPR's Community Spotlight this month.  Executive Director Karla Hagemeister talks with KPR's Kaye McIntyre about this free grocery store fighting food insecurity and hunger in  Manhattan.

Our Kansas Notable Book series continues the first in a new cozy mystery series, Doomed by Blooms, by Anna St. John.

Academy Award-winning filmmaker Kevin Willmott joins us for a sneak peek at the Kevin Willmott Film Festival, taking place February 18-21 at Lawrence's Liberty Hall.

Former Kansas Governors Kathleen Sebelius and Mike Hayden talk about the the shifting balance of power in the Kansas Statehouse.  We'll also hear about the nonprofit organization, SENT Topeka, in KPR's Community Spotlight. 

We celebrate Kansas Day with two Kansas poems, from Peg Nichols of Olathe and Diane Sorensen of Wichita.

We visit with Phyllis Garibay Coon Pease, the artist behind the new mural at the Kansas Capitol honoring Kansas suffragists.  Also, a Kansas road trip with Roxie Yonkey, author of "Historic Kansas Roadsides."  Finally, we celebrate Kansas Day with a couple of Kansas-themed poems. 

A look at the good work that 12 nonprofit organizations are doing in northeast and north central Kansas.  It's KPR's Community Spotlight, with Kaye McIntyre and J. Schafer.

Kansas legislators return to the State Capitol this week for their 2025 session.  We preview the session with Statehouse Bureau Chief Daniel Caudill, and look back at the November elections that got us here with highlights from the Dole Institute of Politics Post-Election Conference.

Kansas Poet Laureate Traci Brimhall challenges listeners to take a walk and write a "Dear Kansas" letter/poem for Kansas Day, January 29th.

Kansas Poet Laureate Traci Brimhall joins us to talk poetry, food, and a challenge to listeners to write their own "Dear Kansas" poem for Kansas Day.

Climate change, economic collapse, religion, coming of age — set in the year 2024.  Join us as we discuss Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler, this year's KU Common Read.  

Celebrate the season with the Ghosts of KPR Staff Past and Present as they read Charles Dickens' classic tale, A Christmas Carol.