On this episode I chatted to return guest Jabee. Jabee has a huge voice in the community and does more good things for OKC than there are words to express. But, on this episode we caught up since our previous podcast last May. ( Episode #59 ) We talk about his new album which he choose not to wait and to release it during the covid pandemic. Jabee recently worked with Tower Theater to put together and perform in a covid safe environment. Which sold out and was a huge success.

But not everything has been great in 2020 as for many of us. Jabee is a huge voice in the community and has been protesting through artistic expression this year. Most notably the “Stop Killing Us” marque lights.

Jabee has a love for food and started his own morning brunch meet up called “Jabee Likes Food” Which pre covid was a huge success. Jabee said its been a great opportunity to meet friends, fans and get together with the community. His new pizza concept coming in Jan to the East side of OKC, super excited. The other mentions on the podcast is a movie called Finding Carlos ( out now at deadcenterfilm.org ) and what’s planned for the future.

Follow Jabee here www.instagram.com/mynameisjabee

FULL EPISODE HERE https://youtu.be/XDGOjHf42s0

This episode is presented by the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. Telling Oklahoma’s story through its people since 1927. Follow them on instagram here www.instagram.com/oklahomahof and their website www.oklahomahof.com

#thisisoklahoma

On this episode I chatted with Sabah Khan. Friend, fellow podcaster and all around trailblazer. Born in Pakistan, the youngest of three siblings. At aged 4 Sabah’s Dad moved the family to America so that the women in the family could have a better life. ( What a gentleman! ) They moved to West Virginia before making down to Oklahoma. Sabah grew up in Edmond went to OU before finishing up at UCO. While in college Sabah worked at Apple. After 5 years there, she left and launched her own tech company called FRIENDLiTECH.

This is the start of a journey for Sabah, discovering who she is, what she likes and where she’s ultimately supposed to be. Starting a tech company, working for an interior designer, being on a TV show… all of these leads to taking some well earned time off and traveling to faraway destinations. Visiting New Zealand, Australia and then a family vacation to Italy and Turkey. Discovery is happening. Sabah gets a call from her now boss with an opportunity to manage their store. This is the opportunity, calling, the sign she’s been looking for.

If anyone reading this knows immigrant culture, being an immigrant child you will know that education is extremely important. So as you can imagine Sabah managing a dispensary and being in the cannabis industry for her parents is a bit of a no no. As the youngest child, she is the free spirit and has since turned her parents and families views around. Educating them and others on the cannabis industry, the good it’s doing for her, them and many others around the world. Sabah has found her calling and its great to listen to her talk with passion about her career.

Sabah has a podcast with cohost Branna Bell called The Cannabis Hangout found here www.cannabishangout.com where they talk with industry leaders and break the stigma around cannabis use.

This episode is presented by the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. Telling Oklahoma’s story through its people since 1927. Follow them on instagram here www.instagram.com/oklahomahof and their website www.oklahomahof.com

#thisisoklahoma

On this weeks Oklahoma Hall of Fame episode I sat with Kevin DeShazo

Kevin has spend the last decade helping athletes, coaches and administrators to be better on social media. He founded Fieldhouse Media to help leaders and teams create championship culture with Culture Wins, a division of GiANT Worldwide. He’s presented and spoken on more than 250 college campuses and national conventions over the past 9 years. He’s been quoted by the likes of ESPN, The New York Times and USA Today. He’s fueled by coffee, mostly Eote coffee as his office sits directly above it. He likes to read a lot of books and run a lot of miles. His new book “Keep Chopping Wood” is available on his website here

Kevin lives in OKC with his wife Megan, and three boys Gabe, Noah and Asher.

This episode was a really interesting look into the world of social media and what is can and can’t do for student athletes, coaches and administrators. In the beginning coaches and admins asked Kevin to come to campus and convince their athletes to stay off social media. 9 years later they are pushing their athletes, helming them build their social media footprints, their brand to increase views, eyes, and advertising of their institutions. Social media is where we get all of our information. Its where we want to see what the college athletes, coaches and athletic directors engaging. Showing the fans who they are, what they like to do and why we love them as fans.

Follow Kevin on all platforms @kevindeshazo

This podcast is presented by the

Oklahoma Hall of Fame at the Gaylord-Pickens Museum

Telling Oklahoma’s Story Through Its People Since 1927. Follow them on all social media platforms @oklahomahof and online for more information about the museums events www.oklahomahof.com

#thisisoklahoma

Despite some suspect early winter weather. This week myself and Brandon’s patio feature is The Press in the

Plaza District

Mike’s thoughts:

This patio is tucked away in the Plaza district, its not out on the main street and I quite like it that way. Well lit, vacation feeling patio. If that makes any sense. Its not too pretentious. Basic tables, chairs and benches fit right in. There’s a subtle color scheme to the patio which isn’t over powering. The food, oh the food. I consider myself as a bit of a chicken Cesar salad connoisseur. Only because I’m still on my diet / fitness kick and I’ve pretty much eaten every Cesar salad in the entire OKC metro. This one was up there. Its not my favorite but it definitely hit the spot. Plenty of food on the plate, good chicken to salad ratio and not too much dressing. Side note, another killer music selection played in the background added to a great experience and definitley worth returning. The BEST thing about The Press is their all day brunch menu! You HAVE to order the toast! I’ll leave it at that.

Brandon’s thoughts:

I love The Press and have loved it since they opened. Their whole menu is a play on comfort food and they have a unique version of many of the foods we all know and love. The food here all feels definitively Oklahoman — like a dressed up version of something you might order in a country diner. If you like salad, you have to try the Press Cobb. I have a reputation for loving large salads and I’ve long been obsessed with this one. it has a perfect balance of toppings to lettuce, plus they’ve done away with the blue cheese. You also need to try the sleeper of the menu, the Sweet Cream Cheese Toast. You really don’t see this one coming, but it’s completely magical and perfect for brunch. The cocktails here are great. I tend to keep things pretty simple when it comes to alcohol and their Club Special hit the spot. The staff and ownership are genuinely friendly and the overall vibe here is cool and casual. Everything about this place is comfortable in its own skin and that’s what makes it so charming.

Dwelling Table

Menu items:

Sweet Cream Cheese Toast, Grilled Caesar with Chicken, and Press Cobb

The cocktails

Club Special, Cheap Sunglasses, and Happy Happy Joy Joy.

On this episode I was fortunate enough to chat with Legendary voice of the OU Sooners Mr Toby Rowland. Toby and I both graduated from SNU. As a Nazarene pastors kid it was written on the wall that he would attend SNU in Bethany Oklahoma.

We talked a lot about his time at SNU learning about sports broadcasting under the watchful eye and guidance of another SNU legend Dr Larry Mills. Toby was a basketball player but the coach at the time gave him his opportunity to develop SNU’s sports broadcasting program in a nice way of saying “I need your scholarship for someone who’s going to do more than sit on the bench” The best thing that could have happen to young T. Rowland at the time.

This opportunity lit his fire and he began his long childhood dream of calling games. Through the help of some SNU faculty Toby moved to intern at Channel 9 where he worked after college for a decade until the OU job came available.

Toby talks about the interview process, the dream, getting through each round and then meeting with President Boren for over an hour talking life. He got the call and his dream became a reality. Toby would be the new voice of Sooner football, basketball and baseball. He hasn’t looked back and has had the incredible opportunity to call some of the best sooner games in the last 9 almost 10 years. Follow Toby on all platforms @soonervoice and buy his new children’s book. Unhitch the Wagon, The Story of Boomer and Sooner is the rhyming tale of Bennie and Bud, two ponies who have a big dream to one day become Boomer and Sooner, the greatest ponies in all of Oklahoma.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734463775/...

This podcast is presented by the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. Telling Oklahoma’s Story Through Its People Since 1927. Follow them on all social media platforms @oklahomahof and online for more information about the museums events www.oklahomahof.com #thisisoklahoma

On this weeks Oklahoma Hall of Fame at the Gaylord-Pickens Museum episode I sat with Water4 CEO Matt Hangen.

Matt has almost given his life for Water4. Thankfully with the help of some amazing US Doctors he is still here today. A phenomenal story and one that will make you question yourself. “Are you doing enough, are you living life to your full potential” I can say with confidence that Matt has made that switch and is working towards living life to the fullest every single day. Matt lives in Guthrie right now. But he grew up in Alabama in a poor community. Not a successful world beater from day one. He was kicked out of school after being sent home for the 7th time and was not asked to return. At this time Matt’s grandfather had passed and had left his parents some money, that money sent Matt and his sister to a private Christian school.

This is where Matt’s life takes a turn. For the first time he has teachers who actually care about him, care about his future and he starts to excel. He graduates and accepts a scholarship to university for engineering. Growing up in the country Matt was naturally good with his hands and could practically fix anything. But something happened and Matt decided not to go to college for engineering but to attend a college to become a minister. Fast forward Matt raises $8000 for a charity to provide clean water in Africa and is sent with that money on a mission trip to Africa. This is where the story gets really interesting and honestly I’m going to skim the details because

Matt does a far better job of telling the story on the podcast. But in short, after a young boy dies in the village that Matt and his wife are living in because of dirty water. He builds a well, and another and then in lists the help of Water4. He stays in Africa building wells across the country for years!! Only to be crippled by the same dirty water that killed the young boy.

He is rushed to the hospital, eventually sent back to the states for medical attention and spends months recovering. The drug that saves him is over $3000 a month! Matt’s journey kicks on again from this point, after thinking he was done, thinking his life was over he has a new perspective on the opportunity we call life. He is over weight at 300+ lbs and decides that he is going to run a half marathon. He starts by running to the end of his driveway and back. Then that year he runs a half marathon, then a marathon and then runs an ultra marathon.

This year Matt was supposed to complete his first half iron man. Due to Covid19 the event was cancelled. That didnt stop him, he did it solo with the help of his wife and kids, rode, ran and swam it all in Guthrie. Matt has also ran the rim to rim to rim in the Grand Canyon. Thats one end, down into the valley, up the other end and then back.

Matt is a true inspiration and now is the CEO of Water4 impacting lives all across Africa building wells and providing clean water for thousands.

For more information about the WALK FOR WATER click here

https://water4.org/walk4water2020/

Follow Water4 on all social media platforms

This podcast is presented by the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. Telling Oklahoma’s Story Through Its People Since 1927. Follow them on social media @oklahomahof and online www.oklahomahof.com#thisisoklahoma

PODCAST LINK

https://linktr.ee/thisisoklahoma

This weeks Oklahoma Hall of Fame episode is with OSU alumni, Sec Blayne Arthur. Arthur is a cowgirl through and through. Growing up in the ag community at her parents home in Chickasha. Agriculture was in her blood. Her family raised horses, shorthorn cattle, wheat, alfalfa and soybeans. Authur is one of three sisters and all have a passion for agriculture in some form. Showing cattle every weekend, life really did revolve around the industry.

So as you can imagine there’s only one place Arthur was going to attend university. Thats right the home of America’s brightest orange. Oklahoma State. Although Arthur wasn’t the sorority type her father suggested strongly that she find one and dive into it. Which she did and definitely had a great time her four years at OSU. Her vehicle of choice in college was a Dodge Dually, a giant red truck which fit right in in the town of Stillwater but turned some heads as Arthur stepped down out of the cab.

Upon graduating from Oklahoma State University in 2004, with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics, Sec. Arthur took a role in small-business financing for Rural Enterprises, Inc. Where she helped small businesses in the ag industry finance their businesses. Her territory was everything north of i40 so you can bet she’s seen a lot of small towns in the northern half of the state.

In 2009, the then-Secretary of Agriculture, Terry Peach hired her as the department’s social media coordinator. When Secretary Jim Reese was elected in 2011, he offered her the position as the Deputy Commissioner of Agriculture, where she stayed from 2011 to 2016.

In 2016, she served as the Executive Director for the Oklahoma 4-H Foundation until her appointment by Governor Stitt.

She is the 2016 Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association Distinguished Service Award Recipient; remains active in Oklahoma Farm Bureau, Diamond Hats, American Quarter Horse Association, Oklahoma Beef Council, and Ponies of the Americas; and selected for multiple honors including Oklahoma Agricultural Leadership Program Class XV, a Journal Record 2011 Achievers Under 40 honoree, and the 2014 Oklahoma Agricultural Woman of the Year.

On January 14, 2019, Blayne Arthur was sworn in by Governor Kevin Stitt as the Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture — the state’s first female to hold the position. She acts as Governor Stitt’s chief advisor on policy development and implementation related to agriculture, food and forestry, and holds the titles of Oklahoma Commissioner of Agriculture and the President of the Oklahoma State Board of Agriculture.

Secretary Arthur married Jerrod Arthur in 2006 and they have two children, Kelton and Kennedy, who both enjoy showing cattle and horses. The Arthur family lives east of Stillwater and raise show cattle for 4-H and FFA members.

This podcast is presented by the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. Telling Oklahoma’s Story Through Its People Since 1927. Follow them online www.oklahomahof.com and on social media @oklahomahof

#thisisoklahoma

Bio:

In 1967, Dr. George Henderson became the University of Oklahoma’s third full-time African American faculty member at the Norman campus. In 1969, he became the first African American in Oklahoma universities to be a distinguished professor when he was appointed the Sylvan N. Goldman Professor of Human Relations, Education and Sociology. Later, he was appointed to three other distinguished professorships: David Ross Boyd Professor, Regents’ Professor, and Kerr-McGee Presidential Professor. After he became the Goldman Professor, he founded the Human Relations Department, which he chaired for 20 years. From 1996 to 2000, he was dean of the College of Liberal Studies. Thus, he was the first African American at the University of Oklahoma to create a degree-granting department; and the first African American dean of a degree-granting college on the Norman campus. Although he retired from the University in 2006, he still teaches on a part-time basis. A civil rights pioneer in higher education in Oklahoma, George Henderson has achieved many other notable accomplishments. His awards and honors include being the recipient of the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence Medal for the Outstanding College and University Professor in 2000; State of Oklahoma Black Heritage Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003; induction into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame in 2003 and also induction into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2003. The Henderson Scholars Program and the Henderson-Tolson Cultural Center on the Norman campus bear his name. The University of Oklahoma awarded him an honorary doctorate (Doctor of Humane Letters) at the May 2011 Commencement. In 2015, Oklahoma Today Magazine named Dr. Henderson one of the forty-five most influential African American Oklahomans. A race relations and civil rights scholar, George Henderson has taught university courses and spoken at conferences and workshops throughout the United States and internationally. In addition, he has written 34 books and 50 articles. In 2011, the Oklahoma Historical Society selected Race and the University as the Outstanding Book on Oklahoma History published in 2010. Also in 2011, Dr. Henderson and his wife Barbara were recipients of the Xenia Institute’s Sam Mathews Social Justice Award. They were the first African American property owners in Norman. Dr. Henderson’s master’s degree in sociology and Ph.D. in educational sociology are from Wayne State University in Detroit.

I learned a lot from my time with Dr Henderson, so much wizdom. He’s the most loved by the students at OU but I get the sense he’s had his fair few runs ins with faculty at OU. He speaks his mind, he doesn't hold back and he will tell you his pros and cons. Unwaivering confidence, telling stories about his athletic career, being the 2nd fastest runner in East Chicago. The how he convinced Barbara to go on a second date with him. Coffee and a donut.

From a young age he’s had to graft like no other person I know. His family had been run out of town by the KKK. The KKK!

He admitted the wrongs he’s done in his life which in his life has been some significant things. He’s lived his life and impacted so many its hard to put into words all the accolades, awards, recognition he and his wife Barbara have. But thats not what gets him going, thats not his purpose. His purpose came to him after an experience with Dr Martin Luther King.

Dr King would always play and fuss with the younger generation when coming to meetings. He would go out of his way to acknoelwdge the kids because that is what hes working towards and for. It was at this moment that Dr Henderson realized his purpose. He wasn’t working for himself or his family, he was working for the kids of tomorrow, the future leaders.

Dr Henderson turned down an offer to go help Malcom X because he had already accepted a postion somewhere else. How hard must that have been.

This episode was the first time I had asked the first question and then not spoke again until we closed. Incredible story teller and if for some reason the story doesnt hold you down his voice helps you stay engaged.

This episode is presented by the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. Telling Oklahoma’s Story Through Its People Since 1927. Follow them on instagram @oklahomahof and online www.oklahomahof.com

Voices of Oklahoma Interview https://www.voicesofoklahoma.com/interview/henderson-george/

Shannon Rich Interview

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-is-shannon-rich/id1387331955?i=1000467234333

#thisisoklahoma

On this weeks Hall of Fame episode myself and Lance McDaniel interviewed famous Edmond movie producer Gray Frederickson. Gray has worked on movies like Apocalypse Now, The Godfather I and II, The GOOD, The BAD and The UGLY with Clint Eastwood. The famous Tulsa movie The Outsiders with famous cast members in their early acting years like Tom Cruise, Rob Lowe and Partrick Swayze. Gray talks a lot about his movie experiences. How his relationship was never the same after turning down Clint Eastwood when Clint asked him to partner up and be his sole producer early in his career. Gray didnt want to take the gamble with a relatively noname at the time and well we all know how that turned out for Clint. They started working together in Italy on the western movies and Gray tells a hilarious story about them blowing up a bridge on set and absolutely zero camera men caught it!

His time in switzerland at school teaching rich kids how to water ski ended up helping him in the future. He build long lasting relationships with friends who would go on to be rich powerful men in Italy and across the world. One of which helped him get a bunch of military helicopters for the beach scenes in Apocalypse now. The famouse beach attach where theire blaring the music as they fire missiles at the beach.

I was really nervous doing this interview because i really dont know much about Gray or the movies he’s made. They were before my time as some might say. Not to mention that we were recording live on a professional style shoot interview type set with directors chairs, lighting, camera’s and overhead microphones. Something that is completely alien to me with my small run and gun approach to podcasting. But thanks to my cohost and Director of DeadCenter Film Festival Lance McDaniel who absolutely saved my bacon many times on the episode, hes just awesome. He knows Gray through and thoguht and helped me so much during this one.

THANK YOU LANCE!

Deadcenter celebrated its 20th anniversary this year and Lance has decided to step down from his position.

It was an honor to sit with two gentlemen who have done so much for The Oklahoma Film Industry and Deadcenter Film Festival.

The full video interview is now live on our YouTube & Facebooks pages.

Special thanks for Deadcenter for hosting us as part of their 20th anniversary film festival.

The episode is presented by the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in partnership with Deadcenter Film Festival. Follow them both online www.oklahomahof.com and www.deadcenterfilm.org @oklahomahof on Instagram and @deadcenterfilm

Gray Fredericksons Oklahoma Hall of Fame Biography. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thU956LKySc

Thanks for listening and if you’d like to watch the full episode it is now live on our Facebook and youtube channels.

www.youtube.com/thisisoklahoma

www.facebook.com/thisisoklahoma

@thisisoklahoma on all platforms.

#thisisoklahoma

Cheers.

On this episode I chatted with OU Football star receiver and retired Detroit Lions NFL player Ryan Broyles. Ryan is born and raised Oklahoman. Born in OKC, attends high school in Moore and accepted a scholarship to OU. But not till late in the year. He received the call late from OU and had many offers to go elsewhere. Especially OSU, as he mentioned in the podcast. OSU had been in touch since high junior year and he’d committed to go there before OU swooped in and stole him away.

Ryan talks about entering OU with a chip on his shoulder, all the naysayers doubting his height, his ability and his size. His first game after a redshirt freshman year he set a freshman record and continued to break records all through college. Ryan broke the all time receiving record in the NCAA in senior year and unfortunately had to sit on the sidelines after a torn ACL cut his season short. He’s currently still the 3rd all time NCAA receiver.

It was at the moment that he realized this could be the end, and that it could end at anytime. Ryan started to plan for his future. Knowing he’s probably going to the NFL he planned to make his signing bonus and contract last for a long time.

Ryan went in the second round to the Detroit Lions and lived off a 60k budget as an NFL player. Putting his money in investments and later real estate.

A friend’s family introduced him to real estate, so he bought his first flip home for 19k. Put 20k into it and rented it out. He refinanced and made double his initial investment. He was hooked. As he continued to play in Detroit he bought properties and then once he retired he and his wife Mary Beth went all in to real estate. Ryan currently has 50 rental properties; they have a college bar in Norman and have just started the selling side of real estate as licensed realtors.

Follow Ryan here @ryanbroyles and his new website www.ryanbroyles.com

This episode is presented by the Oklahoma Hall Of Fame. Telling Oklahoma’s Story Through It’s People Since 1927. Follow them online www.oklahomahof.com and on social media @oklahomahof

#thisisoklahoma