West Texas Talk

West Texas Talk airs Thursday at 6 pm and rebroadcasts Friday at 9 am. The locally produced program made its debut when the station launched, and as a result, has become a repository of hundreds of local profiles.

The show is hosted by Diana Nguyen, General Manager Elise Pepple, and rotating community members. The program is also produced by Diana Nguyen. The theme music was composed by Andy Stack.

In May 2019, West Texas Talk transitioned from a thirty-minute program into an hour-long show.

The first half of 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 of West Texas.

The second half of the program 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. Interviews with Lannan writing residents are featured in this half of the show.

We invite you to join in on the conversation by telling us who you think we should interview and the issues you would like to hear about by emailing diana@marfapublicradio.org.

Subscribe to the West Texas Talk podcast on iTunes.

Recently on West Texas Talk:

Tuesday, Jul 1, 2014:
Fort Davis’ 4th of July Celebration

KRTS host K. Yoland speaks with Robert Alvarez, Executive Director of the Fort Davis Chamber of Commerce.

This weekend Jeff Davis County will be celebrating it’s “Coolest” 4th of July Celebration. It will be a weekend full of events for the family such as a fireworks display, street dance, vendors booths around the historic courthouse, a parade down main street and much more.

The weekend schedule is as follows:
Friday, July 4th: 5K Fun Run! and dance under the stars with Jody Nix.
Saturday, July 5th: Parade, Food Pantry annual baking contest, Gunfight, Battle of the Bands, fireworks!
Sunday, July 6th: Battle of the Bands Finals!

Monday, Jun 30, 2014:
KRTS Astronomy Series: HETDEX, Dark Energy at the McDonald Observatory

On the last Monday of each month, KRTS’s Talk at Ten features a conversation with an astronomer from The McDonald Observatory. In this episode, host K. Yoland goes on a tour with Dr. Thomas Barnes, the superintendent and Senior Research Scientist at the McDonald Observatory in Fort Davis.

Though much ground was covered on the tour, the focus of this interview is on HETDEX and the HETDEX experiment. This is the first experiment on this scale to search for dark energy. Using the 3rd biggest telescope in the world and an array of spectrographs the experiment will map the three-dimensional position of approximately one million galaxies in the next 3 to 4 years.

The aim of this experiment is to tell us what constitutes almost three-quarters of all the matter and energy in our universe. It will test our supposed laws of gravity and shed light on the Big Bang and thus how our universe was born.

This experiment can reveal such wonders due to its exploration of dark energy. Reflected in the name, dark energy is a mysterious force that contrary top our assumptions, is causing the universe to expand faster as it ages.  HETDEX will make observations which should narrow the possible explanations for dark energy.

Friday, Jun 27, 2014:
Iraqi Author and Poet Sinan Antoon

Rachel Monroe sat down with Lannan resident Sinan Antoon, Iraqi author and poet born in Baghdad to an Iraqi father and American mother. Antoon graduated with a M.A. in Arab Studies from Georgetown University and a PhD from Harvard in Arabic and Islamic Studies. His co-translation of Unfortunately, it was Paradise, a selection of Mahmoud Darwish’s poems, was nominated for the PEN Prize for translation in 2004. His translation of Toni Morrison’s Home is forthcoming in Arabic in 2014. Mr. Antoon is also the co-founder and co-editor of the e-zine Jadaliyya.

Lannan Resident Sinan Antoon

Lannan Resident Sinan Antoon

Friday, Jun 27, 2014:
Kalweit and the Spokes, MULCH in America Tour

Kalweit and the Spokes join us in the studio today for Talk at Ten.  The Millan based band visits Marfa as part of their Mulch in America Tour.  With Georgeanne Kalweit on vocals, Giovanni Calella on guitar, Mauro Sansone on drums and Nicola Masciullo on guitar and bass clarinet, Kalweit and the Spokes have been compared to PJ Harvey, Patti Smith, Calexico and Gun Club.  Come to Padre’s tonight (Friday June 27th) to hear them live.  The free show is at 10 p.m. (after opening band FEA) and is a production of Marfa Live Arts.

Wednesday, Jun 25, 2014:
Multimedia Artist Andrew Hieronymi

Paige Phelps sat down to speak with multimedia artist Andrew Hieronymi about his interactive exhibit “Parking” at the Big Bend Roasters space, 510 W. San Antonio St., on Saturday, June 28 at 10 p.m.

Andrew Hieronymi

Andrew Hieronymi

Monday, Jun 23, 2014:
Jeremy Ambers, Director of “Impossible Light”

The young filmmaker Jeremy Ambers speaks with K. Yoland to discuss his first film Impossible Light.  The film documents Leo Villareal’s light sculpture, which literarily and symbolically illuminates the often overshadowed Bay Bridge connecting San Francisco to Oakland.  Mr. Ambers’ film documents all aspects of the piece ranging from the installation process, its interaction with the environment, and even its critical reception.  This is KRTS’s first interview to kick of our coverage of the 2014 Marfa Film Festival.  Appropriately, the documentary is the second film on the schedule .  Impossible Light screens Wednesday July 2nd at 6:00 PM. Here is more screening information for the Marfa Film Festival

Friday, Jun 20, 2014:
Summer Solstice Celebrated With Sunset Concert

Robert Gungor, Simone Rubi, and Jeremy Harris joined Kate Yoland in the studio to discuss their individual careers and their celebration of the Summer Solstice.

Gungor, who goes by Wilderman, and Harris, creator of Quest Coast Quarterly, carried on Harris’ tradition of solstice and equinox concerts with a candlelit show at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Marfa.

Rubi provided backing vocals at the show, but has plenty of leading lady material. Rubi is in Marfa working on her solo album.

Listen to the podcast to hear more about each of their projects and samples of their work.

Thursday, Jun 19, 2014:
The Ethnic Heritage Ensemble comes to shake up Marfa ISD’s summer

Dr. Kahil El’Zabar, Ernest Khabeer Dawkins, and Corey Wilkes, of the band the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, have been in Marfa teaching local students not only how to make their own instruments but also how to play them as part of Marfa ISD’s Summer Shakeup program. The band has a strong background in musical improvisation and have been teaching the students how to play in three days.

The students will be joined by The Ethnic Heritage Ensemble in concert tonight at 7 p.m. at the Crowley Theater in Marfa. This event is organized by Ballroom Marfa.

Wednesday, Jun 18, 2014:
Into the Woods Premiering at Theatre of the Big Bend

Gregory Schwab, Brett Scott and Johanna Miller joined our host K. Yoland to talk about their take on Tony award winning musical, Into the Woods.

The director and two actors from the latest Sul Ross musical spoke about Theatre of the Big Bend’s 49th season, the nature of musicals, and even give a sample of what to expect from the show.

James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim take everyone’s favorite storybook characters and deliver a fractured fairytale version of ‘Happily Ever After’ in an outdoor environment, the Kokernot Outdoor Theatre in Alpine, TX.

Into the Woods runs June 20 – July 6 with performances Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 8:15 PM.

Friday, Jun 13, 2014:
Sixth grader Colee Charlesworth of Marathon Competes in National Rodeo Competition

12-year-old Colee Charlesworth of Marathon, TX has earned a position on on the Texas National Junior High Rodeo Team and is heading to Des Moines, IA in late June to compete in the sport of Pole Bending.

Pole Bending is a timed event in which a rider weaves their horse in and out of six poles with the goal of having the shortest time.

The 10th Annual National Junior High Finals Rodeo (NJHFR) will be held June 22-28, and it will be Colee’s first time competing in the world’s largest junior high rodeo.

The girl who’s been riding horses before she could walk talks about her love of competition and her excitement for the upcoming challenge.