Épisodes

  • S2E2 Lucas Ross pt 1

    S2E2 Lucas Ross pt 1
    Jan 7 2026
    He’s visible on TV and films in a variety of roles: morning show co-host, doofus Donnie in car spots, and even as a banjo player in “Killers of the Flower Moon.” And you’ve probably heard his banjo playing without realizing who was behind the amphibious performer. Lucas Ross now supplies the music when Kermit the Frog plays. It’s a fascinating story how it came to be from a youngster first hearing the Rainbow Connection on TV to actually playing onstage with Willie Nelson. The kid from Minco, OK did good!

    This podcast is a little longer than usual, and we didn’t even get to how our two careers have crossed. That will have to come later. Please stand by.

    Post-production by Fred O. Bishop
    Sponsored by Carpenter Square Theatre
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    1 h et 15 min
  • S2E1 Shoshana Wasserman

    S2E1 Shoshana Wasserman
    Jan 2 2026
    If anyone was ever destined for their career, it’s Shoshana Wasserman, Deputy Director of the First Americans Museum. Her degrees and early professional life running a Native American dance company that traveled the world, with a couple important stops along the way, prepared her well for her current position. As did her personal connection to Enoch Kelly Haney who was instrumental in creating the FAM.

    The saga of how the FAM grew from an idea to a world-class cultural institution exemplifies how much perseverance is required when one chooses to “dream big.”

    Post-production by Fred O. Bishop
    Sponsored by Carpenter Square Theatre
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    50 min
  • S1E19 Jackson Gifford

    S1E19 Jackson Gifford
    Dec 12 2025
    Normally, This Town OKC highlights the people with decades of experience behind the cultures. This guest, however, barely has two decades of existence on Earth. He’s here because of his potential to enhance the culture of This Town.

    Jackson Gifford is one of those people who knew at an early age what they wanted to do with their life, and that is running a professional theatre. Precocious and audacious, his personal drive took him to prestigious schools where he grew as an artist while facing the challenge of the Covid-19 pandemic. In fact, the first production of his fledgling professional theatre company (while still in college!) was mounted during the time of outdoor-only performances, and to a disastrous result. Undeterred, however, his Southern Plains Productions has flourished and is now in its sixth season.

    Sponsored by Carpenter Square Theatre
    Post-production by Fred O. Bishop
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    47 min
  • S1E18 Shannon Rich

    S1E18 Shannon Rich
    Nov 24 2025
    As the President & CEO of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame for the past two decades, Shannon Rich has overseen the creation of the Gaylord-Pickens Museum, the formation of programs to involve high school students and young adults, as well the production the annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Before that, she started her career in hospitality by talking herself into a postion at the Renaissance Hotel where she worked hand-in-hand with developer John Q. Hammons in opening up several hotels in other states. Her story of why she took up golf is inspriational. Admittedly not a great golfer, she has combined her love of the game with her desire to create a women's business network and founded LeadHERboard.
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    50 min
  • S1E17 Mike Knopp

    S1E17 Mike Knopp
    Nov 3 2025
    It’s safe to say that one man is responsible for bringing international recognition to This Town’s river sports, and that man is Mike Knopp. Of course, he had help along the way, but from first seeing the U.S. Navy rowing team on Chesapeake Bay to finding a crew at Oklahoma State University to starting rowing teams at both Oklahoma City University and the University of Oklahoma, Mike has had a vision. Considered by many people for many years as fanatical, his vision, and persistence, has resulted in making Oklahoma City a true Olympic city.

    Softball notwithstanding, the whitewater Canoe and Kayak events of the LA28 Games will be held in This Town thanks to a guy who staged some rather wild stunts to bring awareness to the unique opportunity for the Oklahoma River.

    Post-production by Fred O. Bishop
    Sponsored by Carpenter Square Theatre
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    46 min
  • S1E16 Roberta Sloan

    S1E16 Roberta Sloan
    Oct 20 2025
    In theatre, the story is told in terms of acts. Legacy plays were all mostly written using the three-act structure; today’s plays have two at best. If one were writing the story of Roberta Sloan’s life, it would take at least five, if not six, acts.

    Known locally these days as the founding artistic director of Jewish Theatre of Oklahoma, Roberta was raised and educated in Chicago and eventually earned her PhD. in Theatre from the University of Michigan. Following a year in Israel and a stateside sabbatical in San Francisco, Roberta became the first female professor of Drama at the University of Oklahoma. It didn’t go well except for meeting and marrying Steven Sloan.

    The television portion of her career began at OETA, the statewide PBS station, as the cultural coordinator, host of Arts Encounters, and eventually the production director. That led to advertising agency work and an adjunct teaching job at the University of Central Oklahoma which led to a full-time professorship in Theatre where she grew a program from 7 to 165 students in 16 years.

    Chairmanships followed at the University of Central Florida and Temple University before she and Steve hit the high seas as lecturers on cruise ships. After 18 cruises to 80 countries over 6 years, she found on-camera film work in L.A. Back in This Town, Roberta helped Oklahoma City University transition to a new dean before starting Jewish Theatre of Oklahoma.

    Post-production by Fred O. Bishop
    Sponsored by Carpenter Square Theatre
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    49 min
  • S1E15 Peter Dolese

    S1E15 Peter Dolese
    Sep 30 2025
    Very few people in This Town have been so integral in the arts culture as Peter Dolese. Since the 1970s, he's been immersed in music, art, poetry, and food. He was in arts administration before he knew what that was, even showing obscure films for a while. Working with the CETA grant program, he made his way to volunteering with the Arts Council of Oklahoma City (1976-1989) before joining the staff and eventually retiring in 2022. During that time, Peter coordinated the Arts Commandoes and directed the Festival of the Arts before becoming the executive director. All along the way, he blew his harmonica with multiple bands. He's performed with the OKC Philharmonic and continues to play in area churches.

    In this interview, Peter expresses why the arts are essential, and he tells of his current endeavors before addressing the challenges the ACOKC faced in the wake of the Murrah Building bombing in 1995 and the challenges of moving the Festival back to Bicentennial Park.

    Post-production by Fred O. Bishop
    Sponsored by Carpenter Square Theatre
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    42 min
  • S1E14-pt 2 Rhonda Clark

    S1E14-pt 2 Rhonda Clark
    Sep 19 2025
    In this second part of the interview, Carpenter Square Theatre executive artistic director Rhonda Clark tells of her early days with CST, starting with the first season, and takes us through all of the moves she and the theater endured and the challenges she overcame. Rhonda also recalls many her favorite roles as an actor and her directorial highlights.

    Edited by Fred O. Bishop
    Sponsored by Carpenter Square Theatre
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    50 min