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 19, 2014:
Back to School: Speaking With Marfa International School Instructors

School reopens on August 25th for kids attending Marfa International School, so Paige Phelps speaks with MIS instructors, David Sudderth, head of school, Faith Gay, head teacher, and Chris Hillen, outdoor education coordinator, about the upcoming school year.

Monday, Aug 18, 2014:
Norwegian Reporters Birgit Solhaug & Hanna Stoltenberg

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On Talk At Ten today, we speak with two Norwegian reporters, Birgit Solhaug and Hanna Stoltenberg, who visited and wrote about Marfa earlier this summer in the magazine Aftenposten K.

They spoke with KRTS about their impressions of the town, the culture of Norway, and even tried mimicking a Texas accent. Stoltenberg had previously interviewed the Norwegian artists Elmgreen & Dragset, who created Prada Marfa for Ballroom Marfa.

Friday, Aug 15, 2014:
Kehinde Wiley: An Economy of Grace

 

K. Yoland speaks with producer Jessica Chermayeff  whose documentary follows the artist Kehinde Wiley.

Famous for his vibrant reinterpretations of classical portraits featuring African-American men, the documentary Kehinde Wiley: An Economy of Grace follows the New York based artist as he steps out of his comfort zone to create a series of paintings of women for the first time. Kehinde finds his models on the streets of New York and enlists Riccardo Tisci of Givenchy to create couture gowns for each woman. The film traces the artist’s process from concept to canvas as he reveals to us another side of black femininity.

 

Thursday, Aug 14, 2014:
Science Studio: Carlos Murillo

In cooperation with our friends at KTEP in El Paso, in today’s Talk at Ten Keith Pannell talks with Carlos Murillo, Associate Program Manager and Program Director, Division of Chemistry, National Science Foundation (NSF).  Murillo is a native of Costa Rica and he talks about the journey from his home country to the US…and back. He also talks about how the NSF evaluates scientific research for funding approval.

 

(This segment of Science Studio originally aired on September 8, 2013 on KTEP.)

Wednesday, Aug 13, 2014:
Marfa Live Arts Presents 24 Hour Plays

(Image via Marfa Live Arts Facebook page)

(Image via Marfa Live Arts Facebook page)

Host Tom Michael speaks with Jennie Lyn Hamilton and Rebecca McGivney of Marfa Live Arts about the 11th annual presentation of 24 Hour Plays.

Actors, writers, directors, and technical volunteers will write, act, and stage 6 original plays in 24 hours. Plays will show at the Crowley Theater beginning at 8 PM on Saturday, August 16.

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.