Best Metropolitan Library Podcasts (2025)

1
Poetry Month Author Interview with Betty Blanks 16:20

16d ago16:20

16:20

April is poetry month, so on this month's podcast we talked to Betty Blanks, author of Pick Up Your Name and Write: The Life of Wilma Elizabeth McDaniel. Miss McDaniel was an Oklahoma born poet that moved to California during the Great Depression, but never stopped writing about her home in Oklahoma. Betty Blanks was kind enough to talk to us about…

1
Jen and the Plaza Walls 20:01

24d ago20:01

20:01

Jen gives us the scoop on the Plaza Walls, a public art piece reinvented each year by talented artists.By Jen Day; Meg Nance-Coker

1
Mini Episode: OK Museum of Telephone History 2:52

24d ago2:52

2:52

The last of the museum mini-sodes. I'm excited to hear other people talk, aren't you?By Meg Nance-Coker

1
Mini Episode: The Harn Homestead 2:22

24d ago2:22

2:22

Turns out time flies whether or not you're having fun. Back after a lull to wrap up the local museum series and begin our usual content.By Meg Nance-Coker

1
Beyond the Buzzword: Practical Applications of AI in the Classroom 21:17

28d ago21:17

21:17

On this episode of “The Conversation”, Rachel and Christina, sit down with Jake Miller, a Personalized Learning and EdTech Specialist at Summit ESC and the ESC of the Western Reserve. Together, they explore the real-world impact of AI in education, discussing how both students and teachers can leverage this technology for learning, creativity, and …

1
Crafts! 21:17

2M ago21:17

21:17

Did you know that March is craft month, or that the library offers lots of programs teaching different crafts? On this month's podcast we talk about some of the resources you can use through the library to help learn how to do a wide variety of crafts.By Metropolitan Library System

1
The Future of Ohio - Trends & Predictions 33:12

2M ago33:12

33:12

On this episode of “The Conversation”, John and Rachel chat with Dr. David Staley, a history professor at The Ohio State University and a futurist. Together, they’ll learn about rapid technology advancements and the impacts they’re having on our local industries, our economy and our daily lives. Let’s dive in! This episode of “The Conversation” is …

1
Black History Month: A.C. Hamlin and Green Currin 34:48

3M ago34:48

34:48

Erin Brown from the Oklahoma Territorial Museum tells us the stories of Oklahoma's first African-American territorial legislator Green Currin, and Oklahoma's first State Legistlator A.C. Hamlin.By Metropolitan Library System

1
The Evolution of the Columbus Metropolitan Library 22:45

3M ago22:45

22:45

On this episode of “The Conversation”, John and Rachel chat with the new CEO of the Columbus Metropolitan Library, Lauren Hagan, and their Chief Community Engagement Officer, Donna Zuiderweg. Together, they discuss the library's upcoming goals, explore some of their current programming, and highlight the vital role partnerships play in its continue…

1
New Year, New Books 19:08

4M ago19:08

19:08

Kristine from the library's Collection Development department talks about some of the new books we'll be getting in 2025.By Metropolitan Library System

1
Partnering with Metro Parks 18:54

4M ago18:54

18:54

On this episode of “The Conversation”, John and Rachel chat with Jill Snyder, the Visitor Engagement Manager and Public Information Officer at Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks. Together, they’ll explore the exciting array of current park activities, discuss upcoming events, and learn about a new facility designed with accessibility and incl…

1
CCMEP: One of Ohio’s Best Kept Secrets 21:56

5M ago21:56

21:56

On this episode of The Conversation, John and Christina (filling in for Rachel) have an insightful conversation about the wide range of resources the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services offers. They chat with Gerrie Cotter, Manager of the Comprehensive Case Management and Employment Program, and Dalen Hill, a former student whose career has …

1
Holiday Horror and Mystery 27:37

5M ago27:37

27:37

Looking for something interesting and different to read during the upcoming holiday season? Librarians Lindsay, Maddie, Reagan, and Tyler share some recommendations from the library's collection of Christmas and winter related horror and mystery novels, graphic novels, and novellas.By Metropolitan Library System

1
Food, Friendship & Belonging: The Heart of Kitchen of Life 15:36

5M ago15:36

15:36

On this episode of “The Conversation”, John and Rachel sit down with Shea Kaltmann, the Director of Kitchen of Life, to explore how the organization is transforming lives through the culinary arts. Discover how Kitchen of Life fosters resilience and strengthens interpersonal skills by bringing people together in the kitchen. Join us for an inspirin…

1
Voices and Votes 16:30

6M ago16:30

16:30

Did you know that Bethany has a traveling exhibit from the Smithsonian coming soon? Librarian Anna from the Bethany Library tells us all about the Smithsonian's exhibit "Voices and Votes: Democracy in America" coming to the library, the upcoming festivities surrounding the exhibit, and a few interesting facts about the history of voting and democra…

1
Voices in Conflict 21:07

6M ago21:07

21:07

*Please note: the introduction of this podcast incorrectly refers to the high school as "Village Springs". The correct name of the school is "Village High School". On this episode of The Conversation, John and Rachel sit down with Village High School teachers Susan Nolan and Dan Takacs. Together, they dive into the teacher’s thought-provoking cours…

1
Haunted Oklahoma with Jeff Provine 36:18

7M ago36:18

36:18

Local author and expert in all things haunted in the state of Oklahoma Jeff Provine talks with us about his top five favorite haunted places around the state. If you'd like to learn more about Jeff's books or take one of his ghost tours, you can find him at http://www.jeffprovine.com/By Metropolitan Library System

1
Oklahoma Author Oscar Hokeah 32:08

8M ago32:08

32:08

In this month's podcast Oscar Hokeah talks with us about his PEN/Hemingway Award winning novel, Calling For A Blanket Dance.By Metropolitan Library System

1
American Political Thought and Radicalism – Part 2 14:37

8M ago14:37

14:37

Tune in to the exciting conclusion of Episode 1 of The Conversation! In this episode, John and Rachel dive deeper into David Strausbaugh’s thought-provoking American Political Thought and Radicalism course at Worthington Kilbourne High School. Hear firsthand how this unique class has shaped the values and civic engagement of a former student. This …

1
American Political Thought and Radicalism – Part 1 22:23

9M ago22:23

22:23

Season 2 of The Conversation is here! This two-part episode is a part of our Democracy Starts in the Classroom series which will cover civic engagement topics to keep you informed and engaged this voting season. On this episode of The Conversation, John and Rachel chat with David Strausbaugh, a Social Studies teacher at Worthington Kilbourne High S…

1
OKC Hidden Gems: Interesting Museums in Oklahoma City 35:42

9M ago35:42

35:42

Did you know there's a Museum of Telephone History in Oklahoma City? What about the Pigeon Museum? In this month's podcast, self-proclaimed museum nerd Meg from the library's Special Collections Departments tells us about some of the many interesting and unique museums in Oklahoma City that she's visited. If you'd like to hear more about interestin…

1
Parks and Recreation 26:36

10M ago26:36

26:36

July is Parks and Recreation month, so we thought it might be fun to make book recommendations based on some of our favorite characters from the show Parks and Recreation. As always, if you want to check out any of our recommendations, you can find them on the library's catalog. https://catalog.metrolibrary.org/?browseCategory=staff_picks And if yo…

1
Mini Episode: The American Pigeon Museum & Library 5:15

10M ago5:15

5:15

By Meg Nance Coker

1
Mini Episode: OKC National Memorial and Museum 7:29

10M ago7:29

7:29

Our mini series on local museums continues with a visit to the OKC National Memorial and Museum.By Meg Nance Coker

1
Mini Episode: Oklahoma Firefighters Museum 3:52

10M ago3:52

3:52

Today's mini episode features the Oklahoma Firefighters Museum.By Meg Nance Coker

1
Oklahomans in Space 25:52

11M ago25:52

25:52

Did you know that many of the people involved in getting Americans into outer space were from Oklahoma? In this month's episode Special Collections librarian Jennifer Green talks with us about some of the many Oklahomans involved in the early days of the space race, both behind the scenes and in the shuttle.…

1
Mini Episode: 99s Museum of Women Pilots 6:08

11M ago6:08

6:08

Our series on local museums continues with a visit to the 99s Museum of Women Pilots.By Meg Nance Coker

1
Emerging Talent & Workforce Engagement 19:15

11M ago19:15

19:15

The final episode of Season 1 of "The Conversation, is here! Tune in as John chats with Opal Brant from One Columbus about their groundbreaking efforts to support and engage businesses with our region’s K-12 pipeline. Learn how they’re shaping the future workforce and creating opportunities for our youth. Don’t miss this inspiring discussion! Make …

1
Special Episode: TJ Klune Book Discussion 40:02

11M ago40:02

40:02

In honor of the library's upcoming author visit on June 23, librarians Meg and Scott discuss the works of award winning author TJ Klune. Klune's works include the best seller, The House In The Cerulean Sea, The Greencreek series, The Extraordinaries series, and many more. If you'd like to listen to more of Scott's book reviews, you can find them on…

1
Mini Episode: The 45th Infantry Division Museum 6:24

11M ago6:24

6:24

A mini episode starting off a new series looking at local museums

1
Judge a Book By Its Cover 22:28

12M ago22:28

22:28

In this month's episode we talk about what makes us pick up a book in the first place, some of our favorite book covers, and the books behind those covers.By Metropolitan Library System

1
A District’s Focus on Service Learning 15:31

12M ago15:31

15:31

Service based learning experiences are crucial to connecting with and understanding the needs of your school community. On this episode of The Conversation, John and Rachel chat with Angela Ullum, Chief Academic Officer at Grandview Heights Schools. Angela shares how a services learning simulation impacted and created change in their school communi…

1
Poetry in Oklahoma City (featuring Red Dirt Poetry) 24:37

1y ago24:37

24:37

April is poetry month, so on this month's podcast we're joined by poets Durell Carter and Yoko Hill to talk about their organization, Red Dirt Poetry, and the wealth of talented poets currently writing in Oklahoma.By Metropolitan Library System

1
Westerville City School’s Inclusive Approach to Well-Being 14:02

1y ago14:02

14:02

Student and teacher well-being is crucial to the success of your district. On this episode of The Conversation, Rachel and John chat with Tami Cole-Santa, Executive Director of Student Services at Westerville City Schools. They’re also joined by Westerville City Schools’ Director of Student Well-Being, Jessie Martin, to explore the district’s inclu…

1
JoBeth and CommonWealth 46:56

1y ago46:56

46:56

City Councilwoman JoBeth Hamon tells us about CommonWealth and how it builds both literal and metaphorical roots, and the different kinds of growth that happen in the community gardens.

1
Women's History Month 18:08

1y ago18:08

18:08

On this month's episode we talk about some of the books and movies available at the library by and about women, many of them about women with interesting Oklahoma ties.By Metropolitan Library System

1
Ohio Teacher of the Year 14:35

1y ago14:35

14:35

Recognizing Ohio teachers starts with you! Nominations for the 2025 Ohio Teacher of the Year are now open. On this episode of The Conversation, Rachel and John chat with Jonathan Juravich, 2018’s Ohio Teacher of the Year winner. They’re also joined by Angela Dicke, the State Coordinator for the Ohio Teacher of the Year Program, to learn more about …

1
James and the Paseo 42:42

1y ago42:42

42:42

City Councilman James Cooper tells us about The Paseo and the ways in which it has affected his life and philosophy of intentional community building.

1
The Dunning Collection 23:19

1y ago23:19

23:19

In this month's episode, some of the librarians from the Metropolitan Library System's Special Collections team talk to us about the library's John Dunning III Collection, a collection of thousands of Oklahoma City items housed in the library's archive. If you'd like to learn more about what is in the collection, you can contact the Special Collect…

1
Racial Equity Discourse in the Classroom 18:45

1y ago18:45

18:45

Episode 4 of The Conversation has dropped! Filling in for Rachel Daniels, Christina Grady-Watts and John Hambrick chat with Lisa Floyd Jefferson and Schyvonne Ross from Reynoldsburg City Schools. Tune in to learn about their efforts around equity and racial justice in the classroom. Lisa Floyd-Jefferson’s 31 years of experience as a Black Educator,…

1
The Best of 2023 28:45

1+ y ago28:45

28:45

In this episode we talk about some of our favorite things that came to the library in 2023.By Metropolitan Library System

1
Supporting Ukrainian Students in Ohio 29:46

1+ y ago29:46

29:46

As the two-year anniversary of Russia invading Ukraine approaches, The Conversation spoke with US Together, a non-profit organization providing services for immigrants and refugees in Ohio. Filling in for Rachel Daniels, Christina Grady-Watts and John Hambrick learn about US Together’s efforts to provide education and workforce services to Ukrainia…

1
The Red Andrews Christmas Dinner 16:58

1+ y ago16:58

16:58

Over 70 years ago in Oklahoma City a fight promoter/state legislator named Red Andrews started inviting people to an annual Christmas dinner that has gone on every year since, and has grown to a crowd of nearly 6,000 people annually. In this episode of the podcast Mary Blankenship-Pointer from the Red Andrews Christmas Dinner foundation talks with …

1
SproutFive's Innovative Approach to Education 22:44

1+ y ago22:44

22:44

Join us on Episode 2 of The Conversation to learn about SproutFive’s efforts to revolutionize our country’s approach to early childhood education. Don't miss this motivational episode! Colin Page McGinnis, by his own admission, hasn’t had a conventional path through school or career. At 24, he assumed the role of CEO of SproutFive (formerly South S…

1
Cookbooks 16:08

1+ y ago16:08

16:08

On this month's episode we talk about our favorite cookbooks available for check out from the library just in time for all of those family holiday get togethers coming up.By Metropolitan Library System

1
Farm to School to Community: The Journey 21:29

1+ y ago21:29

21:29

Join us on Episode 1 of The Conversation to learn about his remarkable journey and impactful work in food, education and community advocacy. Don't miss this inspiring episode! Meet our guest, Trevor Horn. He's not your typical culinary expert. Trevor, currently the Farm Director at the Mid Ohio Food Collective, began his journey working in kitchens…

1
Banned Books Week 17:18

1+ y ago17:18

17:18

With Banned Books Week coming up, we talked with Janeal and Melissa from the library's Collection Development department about book challenges and how the library handles them.By Metropolitan Library System

1
Where is Oklahoma? 27:26

1+ y ago27:26

27:26

In this month's podcast librarians Sheldon and Juliana discuss what part of America Oklahoma belongs to. Is Oklahoma in the South, the Midwest, the Southwest, or do we need to be made into our own region with Texas? We'll examine history, geography, and of course food to see what area is the Sooner state best represents.…