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Field Notes Uncategorized

The Current: The Future of Vidwest

Since 2019, Columbia’s non-profit Vidwest Studios has “worked to advance the art of cinematic storytelling in Missouri and to serve Columbia’s growing grassroots media community.” For all of those years, funding for the community media center was provided by the City of Columbia. That funding is not guaranteed for next year.

Vidwest co-founder and studio manager Matt Schacht was a guest on The Current recently. He talked about the services Vidwest provides to a community full of creatives. With City funding for the media center proposed to end this fiscal year, Matt made the case for public funding via a City of Columbia contract for community media services.

The show also featured writings from participants at the Missouri Writers Project Summer Camp. Thanks to teacher Alicia Flavin for sharing the audio.

This program originally aired on Wednesday, July 29, 2026 on KOPN 89.5fm. New episodes of The Current air live each Wednesday from 5:00 to 6:00pm on 89.5fm in mid-Missouri and online at KOPN.org.

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Field Notes

The Current: The Center Project looks ahead and Boone County’s Clerk talks elections

The Center Project The Center Project provides safe, affirming space, programs and resources for LGBTQIA+ people in Mid-Missouri. On a recent episode of ‘The Current’, the Project’s new Executive Director Mel Constantine Miseo discussed their work and plans for the future of the Columbia-based non-profit.

Also on the show, Boone County Clerk Brianna Lennon previewed the August 4 election including shifting congressional maps. She also talked about the myriad challenges facing election professionals across these United States and in Missouri.

This program originally aired on Wednesday, July 22, 2026 on KOPN 89.5fm. New episodes of The Current air live each Wednesday from 5:00 to 6:00pm on 89.5fm in mid-Missouri and online at KOPN.org

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Field Notes

The Current: Live in-studio with The Onions

Local Columbia, Missouri pop band The Onions stopped by KOPN recently. Heather and Trevor visited with Taylor Bacon and John Galbrith about their musical histories, their friendship, and how success looks to them. The show featured a few live performances from the band’s latest albums.

This program originally aired on Wednesday, May 27, 2026 on KOPN 89.5fm. New episodes of The Current air live each Wednesday from 5:00 to 6:00pm on 89.5fm in mid-Missouri and online at KOPN.org.

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Mo-Curious

Mo’ Curious: Keeping Time with the BoCoMo Medicine Show

Back in the summer of 1979, Neal Miller got together six bands for a mammoth recording session in Columbia. About 25 of his musician friends performed at the Road Apple Party Palace. The private event space was already known as concert venue and now it was playing host to full house enjoying a who’s who of local musicians. When the night was through, there were enough recordings for an album. You could buy a ticket just for the show. For a few extra dollars you could get to see the show and a copy of the eventual live LP.

I’ve always been interested in Columbia’s alternative history. Settlement history interests me, but so do the stories of the freaks, the protesters, the local expressions of various power and pride movements. When I got to town in 1989, there were still some fumes in the air from the heady and tumultuous 1970s. When I heard the Mid-Summer Night 1979 album I knew this was an audio portal into a long-gone time. Jennifer Wright also saw the album as an opportunity to use this podcast as a way to understand a time that is suddenly starting to get hazy in the rear-view mirror.

This podcast draws on oral histories to tell the story of that 1979 recording session and the forces behind it. In late 1025 and early 2026, Jennifer and I interviewed BoCoMo Medicine Show participants Neal Miller, Daryl Wright and Roberta Weir about what brought them to the Road Apple Party Palace that summer night back in 1979, finding a work-family balance and on making good music.

Thanks to Neal Miller, Daryl Wright and Roberta Weir for sharing their stories.

Thanks to Mark Johnson for production assistance.

Thanks to Jennifer Wright for being an inspired co-producer on this episode.

A version of this episode had its world premiere on KOPN community radio on June 10, 2026.

More episodes of the Mo’ Curious podcast are available at MoCurious.com and wherever you get your podcasts.

Jennifer Wright interviewing Roberta Weir at KOPN in Columbia.

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Field Notes Uncategorized

The Current: True/False Preview

This weekend, the True/False Film Festival returns to Columbia. Heather O’Connor and Trevor Harris interviewed three members of the fest team with a look ahead to some of the films and concerts happening this weekend.

This interview originally aired March 4, 2026 on ‘The Current’ on 89.5fm KOPN, Columbia.

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Field Notes

The Current: Mick Brewer on the Power in Communication

Dr. Mick Brewer is an Associate Professor of Communication Studies at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri.

Our communications are what we say and what we don’t say. Some people say what they want, when they want. Others monitor what you say in order to seem more like members of the dominant group. Communications scholar Dr. Mick Brewer talked with Trevor Harris in advance of a lecture Brewer gave on how we adjust what we say and who we represent based on the setting.

This segment originally aired on February 4, 2026 on 89.5fm KOPN, Columbia, Missouri’s community radio station.

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Field Notes Uncategorized

The Current: No Mo’ Income Tax?

Among the major issues that the Missouri General Assembly is considering during its 103rd session is a proposal to eliminate the state’s income tax. Trevor Harris visited with The Missouri Independent‘s Deputy Editor Rudi Keller about the what such a move could mean for those who work and shop in Missouri.

This segment originally aired on KOPN, Columbia, Missouri’s community radio station on Weds., January 28, 2026.

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Field Notes

The Current: Community Radio Returns to St. Louis

After decades on the air, St. Louis community radio station KDHX went off the air last year. A group of station alumni and new volunteers have formed a new non-profit to continue creating radio of and from their place.

LOVE of Community Radio members Jean Ponzi and Rich Reese joined Heather O’Connor and Trevor Harris for a discussion of the past, present and future of non-commercial radio in St. Louis.

This segment originally aired on KOPN 89.5fm on January 21, 2026.

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Field Notes Uncategorized

Remembering Celia’s Story: Pamela Westbrooks Hodge and Tom Clapp

Born into slavery around 1846, Celia was sold in 1850 to Robert Newsom, a widowed Callaway County farmer. Celia bore Newsom two children. After five years of sexual assault from Newsom, Celia defended herself. Newsom died in the interaction. Celia was tried, found guilty and hung for murder.

Since last year, the Celia Newsom Legacy Foundation has been working towards recognition and justice for Celia. On a recent episode of ‘The Current’ on KOPN, Trevor Harris and Heather O’Connor aired an interview with the Foundation’s founding president Pamela Westbrooks Hodge and Fulton Human Rights Commissioner Tom Clapp. They talked about Celia’s legacy and an upcoming event commemorating her life and celebrating her recent pardon.

This interview originally aired on Columbia, Missouri community radio station KOPN 89.5fm on December 17, 2025.

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Field Notes

The Impact of AI on Education: An Interview with Sai Nuguri

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) seems to taking over our world. The myriad benefits of AI are often touted, but there are growing ethical and environmental concerns.

One face of the future of AI is that of Sai Nuguri. She is pursuing a PhD at the University of Missouri in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Her work uses virtual reality (VR) and AI in learning environments that benefit neuro-diverse students.

Trevor Harris and Heather O’Connor talked to Nuguri recently about her research and the future of VR and AI. This is an excerpt of that interview.

This interview originally aired on December 3, 2025 on KOPN 89.5fm.