Arts and Culture

Today Paul Pepper welcomes local musician CHRIS STEPHENS. Chris demonstrates four unique lute instruments: the Chinese pipa; the Persian tar; the Egyptian oud; and the Indian sitar. Chris will be appearing at Good Nature this Saturday in Columbia - watch for details! June 13, 2017

Today Paul Pepper visits with DR. RICK FRAUNFELDER, Director, Mason Eye Institute, about keeping your eyes safe during the upcoming solar eclipse. Dr. Fraunfelder encourages everyone to wear special glasses - not sunglasses! - to avoid "thermal burn" during the partial phases of the eclipse. At [4:54] meet Missouri River Regional Library Bookmobile drivers JON KARR and MARK WEGMAN! Their 40 foot bus will be making a "party stop" and "cool stops" throughout the summer - find out what that means and when they'll be in your neighborhood! June 12, 2017

Today Paul Pepper visits with the City of Columbia's BARBARA BUFFALOE, Sustainability Manager, and ERIC HEMPEL, Housing Specialist, about how much insulation you should have in your attic. Eric says your attic is the least expensive and most cost-effective room in your home to insulate. So how much should be up there; should I be able to see my rafters; and what difference does it all make are just some of the questions we get to the bottom of - watch! June 9, 2017

Today Paul Pepper visits with MELANIE KNOCKE about what the Columbia Public Schools' Planetarium is doing to prepare everyone for the solar eclipse that's happening on August 21st! Plus, Melanie brought with her an animation that shows us just how the moon's shadow will move across the United States that day - watch! June 8, 2017

Today Paul Pepper visits with MOLLY McMILLAN, Co-Chair of Serve It Up CoMo 2017, about their mission to "do good," and the three events this summer that will benefit six non-profits in the mid-Missouri area. Your taste buds will thank you for taking part in this charity campaign - watch for details! At [3:57] director TIM THOMAS invites everyone to Columbia Entertainment Company's production of "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels." Come for the comedy, stay for the dancing and other "things" that Tim says has not been seen before on the CEC stage! Curtain goes up tomorrow night. June 7, 2017

Today Paul Pepper visits with "The Foolish Corner" author, and MU finance professor, JOHN HOWE. Personal financial decision making is easy when you know what "traps" to avoid, and that's what this book sets out to do. John says it's written for a "broad audience" with the hope that we can all overcome our own money mistakes. At [4:08] actors MURPHY WARD and RENATA JOHNSON invite everyone to come see Capital City Productions' "Sister Act - The Musical!" If you know the Whoopi Goldberg-led film of the same name, you'll love the stage version featuring music by Alan Menken. June 6, 2017

Today Paul Pepper visits with ED HANSON, Artistic Director, Talking Horse Productions, about "Stage Kiss," a hilarious new show about former-lovers-turned-romantic-co-stars opening this Friday in the North Village Arts District! At [3:53] MARILYN McLEOD invites everyone to a special fundraiser showing of Columbia Entertainment Company's production of "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels." Proceeds benefit the League of Women Voters, Columbia/Boone County Chapter. Watch for details! June 5, 2017

Today Paul Pepper visits with OLEN BROWN, author of the book, "Oxygen, the Breath of Life: Boon and Bane in Human Health, Disease, and Therapy." Olen, a professor emeritus at the Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center at the University of Missouri, wrote this book because, as he says, "my real desire has always been science, but also communication of science. I like to help people understand it." June 2, 2017

Today Paul Pepper visits with LINDSEY KING about "The Blessed Unrest Project." This show introduces students participating in the Stephens College Summer Theatre Institute to the 'devised theatre' concept. As with all STI shows, this one is free and open to the public  - watch for details! At [3:49] JAMES BRYANT and ALIKI BARNSTONE invite everyone to SpoFest, the Spoken Word Festival, June 4th in Knob Noster. Aliki, Missouri's first woman poet laureate, will be reading from her new book of poems. Come for the 'spo', stay for the wine tasting and dancing! June 1, 2017

Today Paul Pepper and DR. MAR DOERING, All Paws Medical and Behavioral Clinic, talk about taking your pet on vacation. If leaving Fluffy or Fido behind is out of the question, Mar says, "preparation is important." First of all, make sure your pet wants to go on a trip; if they don't and you take them anyway, your relaxing vacation may turn into one big headache! May 31, 2017

Today Paul Pepper visits with DIANA MOXON, Executive Director, Columbia Art League, about the return of 'Art in the Park'. This family-friendly tradition is back in Stephens Lake Park this weekend only. Come for the art, stay for ambiance - and maybe take home a print, sculpture, painting or that unique find. Everything you need to know in 8 short minutes - watch! May 30, 2017

Today Paul Pepper welcomes back local folk musicians CATHY BARTON and DAVE PARA! They perform John Hartford's "Skippin' in the Mississippi Dew" on the banjo and jaw harp at [3:23]. May 29, 2017

Today Paul Pepper and ANGELA SPECK, Professor, Director of Astronomy, MU, break down the science behind the upcoming total solar eclipse! If you have questions, odds are we have answers. In this interview, Angela takes us step by step from "first contact" at 11:45 a.m. through the "total phase" beginning at 1:12 p.m. | May 26, 2017

Today Paul Pepper and MEL ZELENAK talk about the best ways to enjoy a cruise vacation. From selecting the right ship to booking to packing to onboard gambling, Mel's got easy tips and tricks for even the most novice of travelers. May 25, 2017

Today Paul Pepper visits with MICHAEL PORTER about the many different classes being offered during the Osher@Mizzou summer session. If you're 50+ and want to learn more about George Caleb Bingham or William Blake's poetry or the American presidents (just to name a few), you're in luck. Register today! At [3:34] DAN WRIGHT and JONATHAN TALLMAGE invite everyone to come see "Pump Boys and Dinettes" at Maplewood Barn Theatre in Columbia! This popular show opens tomorrow night and runs for three weekends. Jonathan performs an abbreviated version of "Mamaw" at [5:17]. May 24, 2017

Today Paul Pepper visits with NADIA NAVARRETE-TINDALL about edible plants here in Missouri. The Lincoln University Native Plants program is hosting a free food tasting event this week featuring recipes that include (edible) native plants. Watch for details! At [4:25] MAKENZIE MABRY and JESS KANSMAN invite everyone to the next Science on Tap CoMo event tomorrow night at Craft Beer Cellar in downtown Columbia! Jess is one of two featured speakers; she'll be talking about how plants defend themselves against insect attacks. (Did you know that plants can call for help?!) May 23, 2017

Today Paul Pepper visits with TAMI HARRIS, RN, about the warning signs and symptoms of a stroke. May is 'Stroke Awareness Month,' and so MU Health Care wants us all to know what it means to think 'FAST' - it could save your life. At [3:28] actress LACEY WILLIAMS and director BRIAN HARPER invite everyone to come see "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" at The Little Theatre of Jefferson City. In describing this fun, family-friendly show, Brian says that there's "no serious message; it's the cartoon strips on the stage." The curtain goes up on June 8th in the Capital city! May 22, 2017

Today Paul Pepper and JACK SCHULTZ, Director of the Bond Life Sciences Center, talk about a recent scientific study done at the University of Missouri that, once and for all, determines what some might consider obvious: dressing up when going out to dinner leads to better service. Why? It has to do with a common "fundamental attribution error." As usual, it's a fascinating conversation - watch! May 19, 2017

Today Paul Pepper and KRISTEN EIFFERT talk about the next 'Kids in the Kitchen' event, happening this Saturday at the Daniel Boone Regional Library. Registration is encouraged - watch for details! At [2:35] CINDY MUSTARD and ED HANSON invite everyone to a special event at the historic Columbia Cemetery on Memorial Day. Local actors will be "bringing the cemetery alive" by way of 3-4 minute vignettes based on the person whose grave they stand. For instance, Ed will portray University of Missouri president John Lathrop. Other notables include 'Blind' Boone and Jane Froman. It really will be fun for the whole family! May 18, 2017