Pop of Culture

S03 E19 - We Tell an Untold Story

arapp@bsu.edu (Indiana Public Radio) — Fri, 15 May 2026 16:00:00 -0000

You've likely never heard of US Marine Oliver Sipple, who saved President Gerald Ford from an assassination attempt in 1975. His complicated story is brought to light in "Arlington, or Your Forgotten American Hero," a new play from American Lives Theatre in Indianapolis. Ahead of the play's world premiere, we welcome back Andrew Kramer (playwright) and Chris Saunders (director) from ALT—joined by Dan Nicoletta, a photographer with first-hand knowledge of Sipple's story.

Also this week, journalist and TED Radio Hour host Manoush Zomorodi jumps on for an electrifying chat about her new book "Body Electric: The Hidden Health Costs of the Digital Age and New Science to Reclaim Your Well-Being." Consider this your sign to listen to the podcast while walking...

S03 E18 - We Insult the French

arapp@bsu.edu (Indiana Public Radio) — Fri, 08 May 2026 16:00:00 -0000

This week, Scott Simon regals us with tales about tails! The NPR legend has a new book "Ulysses S. Cat and Other Animals I Have Known" chronicling a lifetime of remarkable relationships with pets. He even reveals which pet he named after IPR!

Also: We'll sit down with Yaniv Segal, Orchestra Indiana's Artistic Director and Principal Conductor, ahead of the final concert of their current season (Saturday, May 9). That show will open with his original composition “…the light that breathes…” We'll celebrate Mother's Day in the U.S. with "The Inside of Bones"—a Beautiful Thing from Kelly McMasters. And, our usual "WAYWO" and Arts Calendar check-ins!

S03 E17 - We Cross Blades

arapp@bsu.edu (Indiana Public Radio) — Fri, 01 May 2026 16:00:00 -0000

This week, we join a Fencing Club class at Cornerstone Center for the Arts in Muncie! Instructor Christian Achgill (and his intermediate-level students) take Michelle and Jen through the basics—culminating in a back-and-forth bout!

Also in the show: we talk to metal artist Tracy Davidson, who's made sculptures as big as trees and as small as earrings; she explains how she started jewelry-making as a form of pain management. We'll hear three local musicians (Laura Switzer, Cari Cambridge, and Foxxy) go Behind the Song. And, "WAYWO" takes us onto the stage with Zeus Currie!

S03 E16 - We Get the Sensation of Summer

arapp@bsu.edu (Indiana Public Radio) — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 16:00:00 -0000

The Pop team has the week off to nurse our spring allergies, but we're listening back to some of our favorite interviews:

James Edwards (Director of Horticulture at Minnetrista) and Erica Oliver (Environmental Education and Greenhouse Coordinator at the Dr. Joe and Alice Rinard Orchid Greenhouse)
Chris Barnes of gospel soul duo The Sensational Barnes Brothers
Indy 500 wreath-maker Julie Harman Vance

S03 E15 - We Find Joy

arapp@bsu.edu (Indiana Public Radio) — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 16:00:00 -0000

This week, we sit down for a conversation with educator, writer, and editor Jill Christman. Jill's most recent memoir "The Heart Folds Early" took her almost 20 years to write—emerging after multiple different iterations, pushback from publishing houses, and being shelved by the writer herself. Jill tells us why she ignored the advice she gives her writing students, and why now was the right time to finish the book.

Also: we'll speak with Alex Chadsey, bandleader of jazz trio Duende Libre, who will bring their international influences to Pruis Hall on April 23. He explains how the band came to be and what audience members should look forward to. And we once again extend our Arts Calendar to discuss "Art for the People," a weekend-long celebration of public art in Muncie!

S03 E14 - We Do Duos

arapp@bsu.edu (Indiana Public Radio) — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 16:00:00 -0000

This week, we talk to two sets of artists that have teamed up! Jenni and John Marsh just finished directing "The West Wind" at Muncie Civic Theatre. It's the third play they've written together, and they'll take us into their collaborative creative process. And: Ruthie Berkey and Randy Eyestone are both musicians in their own right, but they've teamed up for performances across East Central Indiana—including the Pop studios.

Also in this show, we get driven straight to summer with Candace Angelica Walsh's Beautiful Thing "Playing Hooky," and we'll talk with respected glass artist Brent Cole!

S03 E13 - We Ready Our Tastebuds

arapp@bsu.edu (Indiana Public Radio) — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 16:00:00 -0000

This week, we get a taste of culinary offerings in ECI: Prabhu Krishnan welcomes us into Bayleaf Indian restaurant in Muncie; Jeff Clark and chef Jason Reynolds from the video series "A Taste for Whiskey" banter ahead of their educational appearance at Public Media Pours; and Cheryl Crowder (Muncie Downtown Development) and Lindsay Montgomery (Aerial Annex) preview a different beverage-themed event.

We'll also take a detour Up North to hear about "Trout Lilies" with writer Ginny MacDonald.

S03 E12 - We're on the Floor

arapp@bsu.edu (Indiana Public Radio) — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 16:00:00 -0000

This week... we're still recovering from celebrating our 100th episode! So we're listening back to some of favorite trips in past seasons: we find local artists on the floor of the 2025 Indiana Artisan Marketplace, we look to the skies with members of the Academy of Model Aeronautics, and The Ball State Studio Band brings us into their rehearsal. We'll also have a brand new arts calendar!

S03 E11 - We're Live!

arapp@bsu.edu (Indiana Public Radio) — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 21:53:00 -0000

This week, we're celebrating our 100th episode by doing the show live! We'll be joined by NPR's Stephen Thompson for a national perspective on pop culture right now. We'll chat with filmmaker and local history expert Chris Flook about the history of arts and culture in East Central Indiana. We'll also check in with some of our favorite "WAYWO" guests, do our Arts Calendar live, and laugh at some of the audio that didn't make it into our previous 99 episodes. Join us!

Pop of Culture - Live! Tomorrow

arapp@bsu.edu (Indiana Public Radio) — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 15:00:00 -0000

The Pop of Culture podcast is going to be a little late this week... because we're doing the show live to celebrate our 100th episode!

Join us Friday, March 20th at 12:00 p.m. on IPR's airwaves, via the Ball State Public Media App, or on indianapublicradio.org.

If you can't listen live, we'll have the show up as soon as possible—and we still like you just as much!

S03 E10 - We Get All C's

arapp@bsu.edu (Indiana Public Radio) — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 16:00:00 -0000

We first heard from Indiana's Poet Laureate Curtis L. Crisler after he had been selected for the role in 2024. This week, he joins us in-studio to share how he's moving now that he's been selected for a second term. We'll learn about the "Chitlin Circuit," how Motown influences his work, and the new poetry form he's pioneering.

Also in this show: Ball State University's Department of Theatre and Dance is bringing the classic musical "Cats" to Emens Auditorium for one weekend only March 20 - 22; we cat-ch up with Avery Nienhuis (Rum Tum Tugger) and Vivian VerHulst (Grizabella) to learn about the show! We'll also discover our latest Story Behind the Song with Annette Miller.

S03 E09 - We Survive the Wintering

arapp@bsu.edu (Indiana Public Radio) — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 17:00:00 -0000

This week, we meet writer and poet Mark B. Hamilton. He has a new book of poems inspired by Captain William Clark's (of Lewis & Clark) journal entries as they voyaged west. He also took the 8,000-mile journey himself, so we have to ask him about that incredible experience.

We also immerse ourselves in the the David Owsley Museum of Art's visiting exhibition of "Nora Krug: Belonging," which details the author and illustrator's work on their memoir grappling with their German heritage, and their illustrations for Timothy Snyder's "On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century." Nora Krug will give a talk on Ball State's campus Wednesday, March 11. We'll bring in film and television awards expert (and professor) Monica Sandler for a preview of the Academy Awards. And finally, we'll sit down with Stephanie Michaels (Cornerstone Center for the Arts) and Karen Fisher (Muncie Artists Guild) to learn about two exhibitions for young artists.

S03 E08 - We Have "Balls Balls Balls"

arapp@bsu.edu (Indiana Public Radio) — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 17:00:00 -0000

This week, award-winning playwright Alice Tuan steps into our studios to have a Conversation Between the Coasts. She was on Ball State's campus after being commissioned to write a play and workshop that play with students; she tells us about that experience, why sitting in discomfort is important, and creating art in the age of constant feedback.

Also on the show: Melody A. Lynch is the COO of a not-for-profit utility co-op—a job that brings a lot of stress. She picked up painting during the COVID-19 pandemic and shares how it's a source of calm away from her day job. And speaking of painters, we've been doing Paint Month for "What Are You Working On?" in February, and today is our last exhibit!

S03 E07 - We Put Ourselves on the Map

arapp@bsu.edu (Indiana Public Radio) — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 17:00:00 -0000

This week, Sara McKinley (Carnegie Library Manager and Archivist) and Melissa Gentry (Supervisor of the Map Collection at Ball State University Libraries) give us a sneak peek of their panel event "Women of Whitely: At the Heart of Muncie’s Black History" happening Thursday, February 26 at the historic Shaffer Chapel Museum in Muncie. They'll use archival material and "story maps" to tell the stories of significant women in Muncie's history!

We'll also take a journey... right back to East Central Indiana! Members of The Barricade Boys join us from Florida and the U.K. before their "Broadway party" bursts into Emens Auditorium. And we'll visit florist Sharon Grubbs at Foister's Flowers & Gifts to learn how they prep for major holidays (hint: Valentine's Day).

S03 E06 - We Take a Dive Into the Archives

arapp@bsu.edu (Indiana Public Radio) — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 17:00:00 -0000

The Pop Team is off this week, so enjoy some relevant favorites:

- Indiana Poet Laureate Curtis L. Crisler

- Fort Wayne band SUN.DYLE

- "Beautiful Things" writer Robert Earle

- Fine artist Anne Maddox

...and we'll pop up with a new episode next week!

S03 E05 - We Build a Bakery

arapp@bsu.edu (Indiana Public Radio) — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 17:00:00 -0000

This week on Pop of Culture, we meet Heather Taylor and Casey Morgan of Cocoa & Cream Collective—a new bakery opening in Yorktown... soon! They take us through the process of opening a new small business and why their team is truly a collective.

We'll also catch up with musician Nick Kendall of Time for Three, a genre-bending trio with a new album based on the works of Emily Dickinson. The tile game Mahjong is having a moment, so we asked local expert Raquel Santoni to give us the basics. And Maya Doss kicks off our first-ever themed month of "WAYWO!"

S03 E04 - We Reflect on the Banks of the Tallahatchie

arapp@bsu.edu (Indiana Public Radio) — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 17:00:00 -0000

This week, we're immersed in the visiting exhibition "Emmett Till & Mamie Till-Mobley: Let the World See." Minnetrista Director of Curation & Exhibition Sebastián Encina explains how their team chooses exhibitions, and why this one was so important to bring to East Central Indiana.

Also in this show: we chat with 2026 NPR Tiny Desk Contest judges Anamaria Sayre and Robin Hilton, "Arts Alive" artist Jeffrey Gibson talks about the changing art world, and we interview Samantha Rowe—a balloon artist!

S03 E03 - We Wreck Your Heart

arapp@bsu.edu (Indiana Public Radio) — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 17:00:00 -0000

This week, we learn about two singer-songwriters—one real, one fictional. Author Lori Rader-Day returns to the show with her new murder mystery "Wreck Your Heart," set in the country music scene of Chicago (yes, really). Later, we hear a performance from multi-genre musician Katie Jo Robinson, recorded live for Pop of Culture.

Also in this episode: A Beautiful Thing set "In the Delivery Room," and sculptor Chet Geiselman shares what he's working on!

S03 E02 - We Hit a Pothole

arapp@bsu.edu (Indiana Public Radio) — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 17:00:00 -0000

This week we're rocking with local band Pothole, who identify their sound as "765 PUNK." Bandmates Carter Minton and Lawson Sanchez take us through the process of their soon-to-be-released "sister" EPs. Also in this episode: artist Tashema Davis takes us into a new exhibition centering women of color in the community at Kennedy Art Center, and we'll get a taste of "Destination: Munchie" from Destination: Muncie.

S03 E01 - We Get Our Glass in Gear

arapp@bsu.edu (Indiana Public Radio) — Fri, 09 Jan 2026 17:00:00 -0000

Welcome to Season 3! Lots to get to...

We'll start with two different takes on the medium of glass: documentarian Chris Flook tells us what surprised him during his new documentary about collecting Ball jars ("The Hobby"); artist Jessica Calderwood takes us through the process for her new metal and glass series honoring textile patterns from diverse communities across East Central Indiana ("Threads of Home).

Also in this episode: a Beautiful Thing from Diane Gottlieb ("Mondegreen") and Maya Doss asks Olivia Willard, "What Are You Working On?"

S02 E44 - We Look Back at the Best of 2025

arapp@bsu.edu (Indiana Public Radio) — Fri, 02 Jan 2026 17:00:00 -0000

The Pop of Culture team is readying Season 3!

As we celebrate the new year, we picked some of our favorite segments from last season, like our visit to the Ball State Studio Band, our delightful chat with comedian and cartoonist Dan Wright, the times we've ended up recording in the dark (which has somehow happened twice), and many more!

Pop of Culture Promo

arapp@bsu.edu (Indiana Public Radio) — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 15:52:29 -0000

Pop of Culture explores the vibrant cultural tapestry of East Central Indiana. Join hosts Jennifer Blackmer, Michelle Kinsey, and Dr. Kara Duquette as they delve into regional arts, showcase local events, and engage in insightful conversations with artists and curators. From small business spotlights to in-depth art analyses, Pop of Culture aims to amplify the voices of Indiana's artistic community, enriching your life with the diverse spirit of our state.