StoryCorps Oklahoma

Despite a valiant effort by KOSU listeners and public media supporters nationwide, Congress has voted to rescind $1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. This money had already been promised and budgeted for at KOSU and public media stations across the country. Losing it is devastating, and one NPR estimate shows that roughly 18% of the country’s public radio stations will close imminently, and nearly a third of listeners would lose access to NPR programming. The rescission package is expected to be signed by President Trump soon, as he initially requested the move from Congress. To be clear, this does not mean KOSU is going away. Thanks to you, KOSU is set up well for the future. However, this loss of foundational funding will likely result in a reduction of programming or local news without additional support. What can I do to help? Support KOSU directly by making a donation, or increasing your existing monthly or annual gift.Sign up for email alerts from KOSUYou can do that hereSpread the word. Share this page Still have questions about how you can help? Please reach out to us at director@kosu.org.

In the next few days, the U.S. Senate will consider a package that would devastate many public radio stations by clawing back two years of previously approved funding. At KOSU, it would significantly impact our ability to provide emergency alerts and Oklahoma news. You can help by calling Senator Lankford and Senator Mullin to ask them to resist the rescission because of the impact it would have on Oklahoma. Here is a sample script. Sen. James Lankford: 202-224-5754 Sen. Markwayne Mullin: 202-224-4721 Don't live in Oklahoma? Check this listing for your Senator's contact information. Find out more on how you can make a difference at kosu.org/cuts.

KOSU has been hosting conversations between people of differing political beliefs and backgrounds as part of StoryCorps' One Small Step project. This conversation is between Terri Angier and Emily Friedman. They discuss how their mothers were influential to them. And Emily asks Terri about being away from her parents in Iran during the Iranian Revolution.

Oklahoma City became one of four StoryCorps anchoring their One Small Step initiative for 2022. In this episode of StoryCorps Oklahoma, KOSU's 2021 One Small Step facilitators Matthew Viriyapah and Kateleigh Mills speak with StoryCorps field manager Bess Ser about what that means and how Oklahomans can participate.

KOSU has been hosting conversations between people of differing political beliefs and backgrounds as part of StoryCorps' One Small Step project. This conversation is between Kristi Koures- a high school teacher - and Tristen Lee- a PhD student. Koures and Lee were KOSU's first in-person One Small Step conversation to be recorded. In their conversation, they talked at length about education, individualism, grief and loss of a loved one - and their separate political journeys.

KOSU's 2021 One Small Step facilitators Matthew Viriyapah and Kateleigh Mills walk you through the conversation ground rules that participants read before the conversation begins.

KOSU has been hosting conversations between people of differing political beliefs and backgrounds as part of StoryCorps' One Small Step project. This conversation features Kristin McAtee, an associate pastor who describes herself as moderate, but typically left leaning, and Marc Dreyer, a former Baptist pastor of 39 years, who describes himself as conservative with some moderate tendencies. The two met virtually to discuss if they think churches should do a better job of healing political divides.

KOSU has been hosting conversations between people of differing political beliefs and backgrounds as part of StoryCorps' One Small Step project. In this conversation, Kelli Dickerson and Carol Hilborn talk about the lessons they've learned from children and how they view themselves as voters.

KOSU has been hosting personal conversations between people of differing political beliefs and backgrounds. In this StoryCorps One Small Step conversation, John - a Libertarian from Stillwater, and Olive, a Democratic trans-woman from OKC, discuss her fears coming out and John’s feelings as a parent.

One Small Step participants Nick Zoller and Karen McBee were not only one of the first sign-ups here in Oklahoma in 2021, but were also the first conversation KOSU recorded. Both Nick and Karen have experiences as educators in higher education. We paired them not only because of their similarities in careers, but because both of them were looking to gain understanding from someone they knew was politically different from them. Some of their differences included their views on economics and their relationship and journeys with religion. In the audio above, you'll hear just a snippet of their conversation about what led Karen to identify with agnosticism and what Nick's journey has been like, too.

Meeting a stranger can be difficult for some people. Meeting a stranger with opposing beliefs can be even more difficult. But this year, Oklahomans have signed up to do it — to talk to someone they know ahead of time thinks differently than they do. The goal for One Small Step conversations is to get to know one another - learn about the stories and people that influenced them and their beliefs, in an effort to try to understand someone you might not have a chance to meet otherwise. Take a listen to what we've heard people say on why they wanted to do this, what lessons they've learned from people in their lives, and what they hope for in their future discussions about politics.

Meeting a stranger can be difficult for some people. Meeting a stranger with opposing beliefs can be even more difficult. But this year, Oklahomans have signed up to do it — to talk to someone they know ahead of time thinks differently than they do. The goal for One Small Step conversations is to get to know one another - learn about the stories and people that influenced them and their beliefs, in an effort to try to understand someone you might not have a chance to meet otherwise. So far, KOSU has been able to host 20 One Small Step Conversations. KOSU facilitators Kateleigh Mills and Matthew Viriyapah have paired nearly 40 Oklahomans with differing viewpoints for a personal, 50-minute conversation. "My observations from a facilitator's standpoint is that people want to work together," Mills said. "We've been told by several participants how happy they've been to participate in a project like this, that they've felt they did something meaningful towards healing the divisions within our society — even if it is just a small step."

Nearly 35 years ago, a contract welder dropped his torch in a jet maintenance facility at Tinker Air Force Base, sparking one of the largest fires in Air Force history. The fire became a case study for fire prevention processes and building codes for the Air Force. Garry Souders was the chief of safety at the base in 1984. He came to the StoryCorps Mobile Booth in Oklahoma City to tell his son John about that eerie day. This story was produced for KOSU by Rachel Hubbard and Dustin Drew, with interviews recorded at the StoryCorps mobile booth in Oklahoma City in early 2018. Locally recorded stories air Wednesdays during Morning Edition and All Things Considered on KOSU. Thank you to Phillips Murrah law firm for sponsoring StoryCorps' visit to Oklahoma City.

Ariana Ude and her mom, Kelli Ude have an honest relationship and that includes how they became family. They came to the StoryCorps mobile booth to reflect on their relationship and Ariana’s adoption. This story was produced for KOSU by Rachel Hubbard and Dustin Drew, with interviews recorded at the StoryCorps mobile booth in Oklahoma City in early 2018. Locally recorded stories air Wednesdays during Morning Edition and All Things Considered on KOSU. Thank you to Phillips Murrah law firm for sponsoring StoryCorps' visit to Oklahoma City.

New relationships are often awkward, and that could have been exceptionally true for Jessica Wedel and Zac Fowler. They faced an unthinkable challenge just as they started dating but ultimately were able to give each other the gifts of a relationship that had already withstood the tests of time. This story was produced for KOSU by Rachel Hubbard and Dustin Drew, with interviews recorded at the StoryCorps mobile booth in Oklahoma City in early 2018. Locally recorded stories air Wednesdays during Morning Edition and All Things Considered on KOSU. Thank you to Phillips Murrah law firm for sponsoring StoryCorps' visit to Oklahoma City.

The holidays are often a time of family togetherness and thankfulness. The gift of love is something Larry and Linda Sanders and their daughter Laura Holcomb reflected on when they visited the StoryCorps mobile booth in Oklahoma City earlier this year. This story was produced for KOSU by Rachel Hubbard and Dustin Drew, with interviews recorded at the StoryCorps mobile booth in Oklahoma City in early 2018. Locally recorded stories air Wednesdays during Morning Edition and All Things Considered on KOSU. Thank you to Phillips Murrah law firm for sponsoring StoryCorps' visit to Oklahoma City.

The Lebanese Civil War started in 1975 and lasted for 15 years. 120,000 people died and nearly one million people fled the country. Among them was Afeef Hamra, who brought his family to Oklahoma City. His daughter Lauren brought him to the StoryCorps mobile booth to talk about that time and what he wants her to remember about Lebanese culture. This story was produced for KOSU by Rachel Hubbard and Dustin Drew, with interviews recorded at the StoryCorps mobile booth in Oklahoma City in early 2018. Locally recorded stories air Wednesdays during Morning Edition and All Things Considered on KOSU. Thank you to Phillips Murrah law firm for sponsoring StoryCorps' visit to Oklahoma City.

When 96-year-old Annabelle Miller was young, she had to make a decision: go to college or choose another path. She joined a very strict order of nuns, but in her 40s, decided it wasn’t the best path for her and left. Annabelle came to the StoryCorps mobile booth in Oklahoma City to talk to her friend Troy Jones about that decision and the ways that her life has changed. This story was produced for KOSU by Rachel Hubbard and Dustin Drew, with interviews recorded at the StoryCorps mobile booth in Oklahoma City in early 2018. Locally recorded stories air Wednesdays during Morning Edition and All Things Considered on KOSU. Thank you to Phillips Murrah law firm for sponsoring StoryCorps' visit to Oklahoma City.

Linda Schaffel changed many things about her life when her daughter Lisa was born with a disability. They came to the StoryCorps mobile booth in Oklahoma City to talk about the ways Lisa has surprised her along the way. This story was produced for KOSU by Rachel Hubbard and Dustin Drew, with interviews recorded at the StoryCorps mobile booth in Oklahoma City in early 2018. Locally recorded stories air Wednesdays during Morning Edition and All Things Considered on KOSU. Thank you to Phillips Murrah law firm for sponsoring StoryCorps' visit to Oklahoma City.

Tommy Parrish received a debilitating injury at a young age, but he doesn’t see himself as disabled. He and his daughter Kathryn Thomas came to the StoryCorps mobile booth to talk about the lessons they have both learned from Tommy’s injury. This story was produced for KOSU by Rachel Hubbard and Dustin Drew, with interviews recorded at the StoryCorps mobile booth in Oklahoma City in early 2018. Locally recorded stories air Wednesdays during Morning Edition and All Things Considered on KOSU. Thank you to Phillips Murrah law firm for sponsoring StoryCorps' visit to Oklahoma City.