KWGS NewsRoom

Wells Tower and "Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned"

Tulsa, Oklahoma (2010-02-09) On this edition of our show, we hear from the journalist and fiction writer Wells Tower, whose debut collection of short stories, "Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned," was one of the most acclaimed books published in America last year. Tower will appear in Tulsa tomorrow night (Wednesday the 10th) at a reading-and-signing event at the Hotel Ambassador. This event begins at 7pm, and it's co-presented by Book Smart Tulsa and the University of Tulsa's Nimrod International Literary Journal.

A New Lecture Series at OU-Tulsa Explores Media Effects on Teen Self-Perception

Tulsa, Oklahoma (2010-02-08) On today's StudioTulsa, we chat with Erin Walsh, an expert on how today's media affects young people, their families, and their communities. She's speaking in Tulsa tomorrow night (Tuesday the 9th) at 6:30pm in the Perkins Auditorium at the OU-Tulsa Schusterman Learning Center. Walsh will give a talk entitled "Jolts and Tricks: Unpacking the Power of the Media;" her lecture will be the first in a three-part, free-to-the-public lecture series at OU-Tulsa.

"The Quants: How a New Breed of Math Whizzes Conquered Wall Street and Nearly Destroyed It"

Tulsa, Oklahoma (2010-02-05) On today's StudioTulsa, we speak with Wall Street Journal staff reporter Scott Patterson, whose new book is "The Quants: How a New Breed of Math Whizzes Conquered Wall Street and Nearly Destroyed It." In this book, Patterson tells the story of Peter Muller, Ken Griffin, Cliff Asness, and Boaz Weinstein, four young men with genius-level IQ numbers who all felt that differential calculus, quantum physics, and advanced geometry held the key to reaping riches from the world's financial markets.

"Modern Materials: The Art of the Quilt" at Living Arts of Tulsa

Tulsa, Oklahoma (2010-02-04) On today's StudioTulsa, an engaging conversation with the Wichita-based artist Jill Rumoshosky Werner. She's the curator for a new show called "Modern Materials: The Art of the Quilt," which opens tomorrow night (Friday the 5th) at 5pm at the Living Arts Gallery in downtown Tulsa. It's a wide-ranging, interesting-looking exhibit that brings together some 30 works by 24 different fiber artists from across the country.

"A Better Way of Dying: How to Make the Best Choices at the End of Life"

Tulsa, Oklahoma (2010-02-03) On this edition of our program, we speak by phone with Dr. Jeanne Fitzpatrick, an ER physician who lives and works in a small town in Oregon. Along with her sister, an attorney named Eileen M. Fitzpatrick, she has written a new book called "A Better Way of Dying: How to Make the Best Choices at the End of Life" (Penguin Paperbacks).

Public Art in Tulsa: A New Controversy

Tulsa, Oklahoma (2010-02-02) On today's show, we look at the emerging controversy regarding a certain forthcoming work of public art here in Tulsa. It all started last week, when several members of the City Council made unfavorable remarks about a proposed piece that the Tulsa Arts Commission had recommended for the recently refurbished Tulsa Convention Center. Our guest on today's show is Ken Busby, past chairman of the Tulsa Arts Commission and current executive director of the Arts and Humanities Council of Tulsa.

Remembering the Great Social Historian Howard Zinn

Tulsa, Oklahoma (2010-02-01) On today's show, we remember Howard Zinn, the celebrated historian, activist, and intellectual, who died on Wednesday of last week. Known mainly for his pioneering (and eventually bestselling) work of alternative --- or "bottom-up" --- history, "A People's History of the United States" (1980), Zinn (1922-2010) had a far-reaching career in American letters and culture. Our guest is Davis Joyce, a retired Tulsa-area historian and the author of "Howard Zinn: A Radical American Vision" (2003).

TU Dance Presents "Momentum: A Body in Motion"

Tulsa, Oklahoma (2010-01-29) On this edition of StudioTulsa, we check in with Jessica Vokoun, who teaches dance here at the University of Tulsa, and Jerry McCoy who's a professor of physics. They have collaborated --- along with several TU dance students, as well as a noted Chicago-based choreographer --- on an interesting new theatrical piece called "Momentum: A Body in Motion." The piece will be staged this weekend.

The Realities and Consequences of China's Vast Appetite for Energy

Tulsa, Oklahoma (2010-01-28) On today's show, we feature a conversation with Dr. Jean A. Garrison, Director of International Studies and Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Wyoming. Dr. Garrison was a guest earlier this week of the Tulsa Committee on Foreign Relations, where she delivered a talk on "China's Quest for Energy Security: Implications for U.S. Foreign Policy." While she was in Tulsa, Dr. Garrison came by our studios for an interview.

"First Presidential Messages"

Tulsa, Oklahoma (2010-01-27) On today's show, with President Obama's first State of the Union address scheduled to happen this evening (at 8pm local time), we're talking about the history of American presidential speech-making. Our guest is George Otey, a Tulsa-based attorney and instructor who's taught at both the University of Tulsa and Tulsa Community College. Otey has complied and edited a new book, "First Presidential Messages."

The Career Poet as Contemporary Protagonist --- "The Anthologist: A Novel" by Nicholson Baker. (Encore presentation.)

Tulsa, Oklahoma (2010-01-26) (Note: This program originally aired in September of 2009.) Robert Frost said that writing free verse is like playing tennis with the net down. T.S. Eliot once wrote, "No verse is free for the man who wants to do a good job." But where do you stand on the issue? Is there room for free verse in your own poetic cosmos? On this edition of StudioTulsa, we speak about such with the prolific author Nicholson Baker. Baker's latest book is a poetry-centric novel called "The Anthologist."

"The Empathic Civilization: The Race to Global Consciousness in a World in Crisis"

Tulsa, Oklahoma (2010-01-25) On our show today, we present an interesting chat with the noted social thinker and futurist Jeremy Rifkin, whom the Utne Reader has called "one of the leading big-picture thinkers of our day." Rifkin is the bestselling author of "The European Dream," "The Biotech Century," and other works --- he's also a fellow at the Wharton School and an adviser to several European Union heads of state. He joins us to talk about his new book, "The Empathic Civilization."

Tracy Letts and "August: Osage County"

Tulsa, Oklahoma (2010-01-22) Today, we feature a conversation with playwright, actor, and Oklahoma native Tracy Letts. Letts is the author of "August: Osage County," which recently won both the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Play --- and which will soon be staged at the Tulsa PAC, from January 26th through January 31st. (For more information on this production, including ticket information, please call 596-7111.)

Remembering Charles and Ray Eames: "Design vs. Style" and Other Ideas

Tulsa, Oklahoma (2010-01-21) On today's program, we're discussing Charles and Ray Eames, the husband-and-wife design team whose decidedly modern objects are celebrated for their beauty as well as their utility. Among the most admired practitioners of twentieth-century American design, Charles and Ray Eames were thoughtful, diversely talented individuals who collaborated on everything from furniture and toys to buildings and motion-picture films. Our guest today is Eames Demetrios, their grandson.

From Annie Ellicott and Nathan Fifield: "Something Tells Me"

Tulsa, Oklahoma (2010-01-20) On today's program, a visit with pianist Nathan Fifield and vocalist Annie Ellicott, two outstanding Tulsa-area musicians who recently released a CD called "Something Tells Me: The Songs of Joseph and Nathan Fifield." The duo will be performing the all-original music on this CD at a special appearance at the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame on Sunday the 24th at 5pm.

"Crazy Like Us: The Globalization of the American Psyche"

Tulsa, Oklahoma (2010-01-19) On this edition of our show, we speak with Ethan Watters, an author and freelance journalist whose work has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Discover, Men's Journal, Spin, Details, and Wired. (His earlier books include "Making Monsters" and "Urban Tribes.") Watters now has a timely and compelling --- and often quite alarming --- new book out; it's called "Crazy Like Us: The Globalization of the American Psyche."

The Philbrook Museum of Art Presents "A Passion for the West"

Tulsa, Oklahoma (2010-01-18) On today's edition of StudioTulsa, we discuss a fine exhibit at Philbrook called "A Passion for the West," which is on view through January 31st. This show draws upon the vast Adkins Collection, one of the greatest, most distinguished private collections of Southwestern art ever assembled, which is now jointly housed and managed by Philbrook and the University of Oklahoma's Fred Jones Museum. Our guest on the program is Christina Burke, who curated the show.

The Tulsa Symphony Orchestra Presents "England"

Tulsa, Oklahoma (2010-01-15) On today's show, we speak with Jose-Luis Novo, who'll be the Guest Conductor for the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra on Saturday night, the 16th, when the TSO presents a concert entitled "England." On the program, as you might expect, are classical pieces that strongly echo the British people and character: Haydn's Symphony No. 104 ("London"), Britten's "Four Sea Interludes" from his "Peter Grimes" opera, and Elgar's "Enigma Variations."

The Intriguing Sonic World of Nathaniel Bartlett

Tulsa, Oklahoma (2010-01-14) On today's show, new music and electronic music combine forces with the instrument known as the five-octave marimba as we chat with percussionist Nathaniel Bartlett about his interesting endeavors in both playing and composing music. Basically, his work involves solo marimba performance in combination with three-dimensional, high-definition, PC-generated sound projection. He'll offer a presentation called "Immersive Music" at 8pm on Sunday the 17th at the Living Arts gallery in downtown Tulsa.

The State of Oklahoma's Dire Budget Crisis

Tulsa, Oklahoma (2010-01-13) On this edition of our show, we're discussing the state's very serious budget crisis. Our guest is David Blatt, director of policy at the non-partisan Oklahoma Policy Institute. His organization has closely tracked this crisis, and has offered several proposals to help our state navigate it. (More about Blatt's organization, and its plans and programs, can be found at okpolicy.org.)