Prairie Journal

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.

Our 2024 Kansas Notable Book series continues with Nghiem Tran's haunting novella, "We're Safe When We're Alone." Also, a conversation with Cheri Faunce, CEO of the YWCA of Northeast Kansas, KPR's Community Spotlight organization for December.  Finally, an encore presentation of Nikki Giovanni's 2017 presentation at the University of Kansas.  The best-selling poet passed away last week at the age...

Rebecca Ozier Schulte explores the history and tradition of KU's Jayhawk in "The Jayhawk: The Story of the University of Kansas' Beloved Mascot," a 2024 Kansas Notable Book.

It's a preview of the world premiere of SugarPlum, a new Nutcracker-inspired musical created by David Gomez and Julie Danielson.  SugarPlum is playing at Music Theatre Kansas City from December 13-22. 

Join us as we dig into the book behind Hulu's new series, Interior Chinatown.  As part of the annual Read Across Lawrence and the KPR Presents Book Club, Kaye McIntyre visits with Polli Kenn of the Lawrence Public Library and Professor David Mai of the University of Kansas Department of Film and Media Studies. Also, bestselling soprano Sarah Brightman previews her upcoming "Christmas Symphony" con...

Best-selling soprano Sarah Brightman is bringing her "Christmas Symphony" tour to Kansas City's Midland Theater this week.  She previews the Saturday, November 30th, show with KPR's Kaye McIntyre.