West Texas Talk

West Texas Talk — Marfa Public Radio’s flagship program — made its debut when the station launched and is now a repository of hundreds of local profiles.

The show is hosted by Diana Nguyen and other contributors. The program is also produced by Diana Nguyen. 

The program features discussions about regional issues and topics with residents and experts. Whether looking at immigration on the border, delving into West Texas history, or having conversations about the Big Bend’s changing towns — we hope to explore the topics that matter most to residents.

The show also celebrates the creative spirit of Far West Texas and features conversations with writers, musicians, filmmakers, and artists who both live here and pass through the region. 

Subscribe to the West Texas Talk podcast on Apple Podcasts.

West Texas Talk broadcasts on Thursday at 6 pm and rebroadcasts Friday at 9 am.

The show’s theme music was composed by Andy Stack.

Recently on West Texas Talk:

Tuesday, Aug 12, 2014:
Texas Land Commissioner’s Race: John Cook

Election day is a mere three months away and with current incumbent Jerry Patterson hoping to be the Lieutenant Governor, the Land Commissioner’s seat is up for grabs.

The Democratic candidate for Texas Land Commissioner John Cook sat down for an interview when he came into town in July. The former two-term mayor of El Paso spoke with Marfa Public Radio’s Jefferson Yen about his campaign.

Tuesday, Aug 12, 2014:
Texas Land Commissioner’s Race: Republican Candidate George P. Bush

Election day is a mere three months away and with current incumbent Jerry Patterson hoping to be the Lieutenant Governor, the Land Commissioner’s seat is up for grabs.

George P. Bush spoke with Marfa Public Radio’s Jefferson Yen over the phone about his campaign to win the seat for Texas Land Commissioner.

Monday, Aug 11, 2014:
This Guy is Walking Halfway Across The World; He Stopped in Marfa TX

On our morning interview show, Talk At Ten, we visit with Mats Andren. The Swede is going around the world…by foot. Well, almost. He says he’s walking “halfway” across the globe. He began in Sweden and will conclude in Australia.

Andren is developing a “minimal life,” and his only possession are in the cart he pushes while he walks. His three-year journey by foot takes him through West Texas. He stopped in the KRTS studios on the invitation of Josh Edwards, who recently walked across Texas and who also joined us for the interview.

 

Friday, Aug 8, 2014:
Big Bend Ranch Rodeo in Alpine. TX

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Tate McMullen talks about the Big Bend Ranch Rodeo in Alpine, TX. The rodeo is scheduled for August 8th and 9th.

Thursday, Aug 7, 2014:
Fieldwork Marfa Artist in Residence: Marta Riniker Radich

Swiss artist Marta Riniker Radich joins our host K. Yoland to discuss her artistic practice, conceptual themes and her research in West Texas for future work. She will be presenting her previous projects, as well as a film screening, on Tuesday the 19th of July at 7 pm at Fieldwork Marfa, 212 E San Antonio Street, where she is completing an artist in residence.

Currently working and living in Geneva, Marta’s drawings, installations, photography and text have been exhibited internationally and she was part of the artist run space Hard Hat in Geneva until 2014. Recent exhibitions include solo shows at Galerie Francesca Pia, Zürich, and at Kunsthaus Langenthal, as well as group exhibitions at Kunsthaus Glarus and Centre d’art contemporain, Geneva.

Marta is represented by Francesca Pia Gallery in Zürich. Examples of the artist’s work can be viewed on our provided slide show and the mentioned book project with Studio Rubic can be seen here: The Gleaming Eye.

Wednesday, Aug 6, 2014:
Chase Gassaway to Play at El Cosmico

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Chase Gassaway is a Texas native who will be playing El Cosmico August 8th at 9 PM. He sat down with host Sara Melancon to talk about his current album and tour, as well as play a few songs.

 

Tuesday, Aug 5, 2014:
Greg McLeod Talks Short Film 365

Greg McLeod

Greg McLeod

English animator and illustrator Greg McLeod speaks with host K. Yoland about his short film, 365, that premiered at Marfa Film Festival at the beginning of July.

365 consists of one second of animation every day for the 365 days of the year 2013. No storyline, script or storyboard. The ideas come from things read, seen or experienced on the day, with a little artistic license for good measure.

To look at the Brother McLeod website please click here.

 

Monday, Aug 4, 2014:
Tom Jacobs Talks Appraisals

Host Tom Michael speaks with Tom Jacobs, author of What’s Behind the Numbers?: A Guide to Exposing Financial Chicanery and Avoiding Huge Losses in Your Portfolio.  Jacobs, who lives in Marfa, will be discussing the recent property appraisals.

Friday, Aug 1, 2014:
Lannan Foundation Poet Roger Reeves

Lannan Foundation poet Roger Reeves is our guest today, hosted by Cory Lovell. Reeves’s poems have appeared in journals such as Poetry, Ploughshares, American Poetry Review, Boston Review, and Tin House, among others. His poem “Kletic of Walt Whitman” was selected for the Best New Poets 2009 anthology. He was awarded a 2013 NEA Fellowship, a Ruth Lilly Fellowship by the Poetry Foundation in 2008, two Bread Loaf Scholarships, an Alberta H. Walker Scholarship from the Provincetown Fine Arts Work Center, and two Cave Canem Fellowships. He earned his Ph.D from the University of Texas-Austin and is currently an assistant professor of poetry at the University of Illinois, Chicago. His first book is King Me (Copper Canyon Press, 2013).

Friday, Aug 1, 2014:
Chinati Placed on World Monuments Fund’s 2014 Watchlist

On Saturday August 2, the Chinati Foundation will hold a special sunrise viewing of Donald Judd’s “100 untitled works in mill aluminum” to celebrate being placed on the World Monuments Fund‘s 2014 watch list. This is followed by a panel discussion at 3pm at the Crowley Theater.

The Fund’s mission is to preserve the world’s architectural heritage of significant monuments, buildings, and sites. Currently celebrating their 50th anniversary of advocacy and preservation, they have completed 603 projects in 120 countries. Alongside Chinati Foundation, 2014 Watch sites include the church of Yemrehanna Kristos in Ethiopia, the historic cityscapes of Sawara and Kesennuma in Japan and various heritage sites in Syria.

We speak today to Chinati’s Executive Director Jenny Moore and the World Monuments Fund’s U.S Program Director, Frank Sanchis, about the importance of the Fund and why Chinati Foundation was chosen.