© 2024 University of Missouri - KBIA
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Seg. 1: Understanding Slang. Seg. 2: Women In Power.

Segment 1: An expert panel on slang today.

"Extra." "Mood." "We live in a society." "Fell off." Or, per one recent high-profile Twitter feud, "dog-walk" (verb, transitive). These are phrases you either get or you don't. But some of them aren't even new. We define them while also discussing where they come from, why we call them slang (and not just language) and how they spread to eventually become part of standard English. 

  • Peter Sokolowski, editor-at-large, Merriam-Webster
  • Natasha El-Scari, poet
  • Gigi Wildman, Twitter-sourced youth, Overland Park native, user of slang
  • AY, Kansas City rapper and entrepreneur


Segment 2 (beginning at 40:55): The first woman in Missouri to become a journeyman lineworker tells her story.

Susan Blaser loves linework. She loves the comraderie and the pride she takes in having built something. And now, she runs a community college program helping younger women learn the tools of the trade.

  • Susan Blaser, lineman program coordinator, Metropolitan Community College

Copyright 2021 KCUR 89.3. To see more, visit KCUR 89.3.

Gina’s background combines print and broadcast journalism, live event hosting and production, creative nonfiction writing and involvement in the arts. Early in her career, she followed a cultural beat for The Pitch, where she served as an editor and art writer in the early 2000s.
Melody Rowell
Coy began his radio career in 2016, after a close friend suggested that he should take an internship with KCUR over a similar offer from a local TV station. His pal's sage reasoning? Because Coy has "a voice for radio. And a face to match.” A producer, announcer, and all-around audiophile, Coy's favorite talk shows and news stories are the ones that explore the rich culture of Kansas City, the town he was raised in. Coy is also a fan of digital painting due to a deep-rooted aversion for paint stains. He lives on Kansas City's east side and knows how to properly pronounce "Sni-A-Bar" a feat few Kansas Citians can boast.
Celisa Calacal