Arts and Culture

In 2021, ANDREW GRABAU says Heart of Missouri United Way will "make investments around making sure our kids are ready for kindergarten, to make sure that our third-graders are reading at a proficient level, to make sure that our kids can begin middle school (and successfully complete middle school), and then graduate from high school." But how? March 10, 2021

March is National Nutrition Month, and so CARY SKELTON, RDN, LD, is putting us to the test with a little game of 'fact or fiction'. How much do you really know about your food and/or your body - find out! March 9, 2021

Columbia Foster and Adoption Project president KATHRYN O'HAGAN is asking for your help in filling their "I Belong" baskets with supplies, both comfort items and essentials (for the kiddos) are needed. These baskets are then given to new foster families to help them get started. Also, an optimistic ROB CROUSE tells us about the planned spring and summer season at Capital City Productions! Did somebody say 'Oliver!'? (3:43) March 8, 2021

NASA's mission control center may be full of human beings, but what they're witnessing in outer space wouldn't be possible without the help of artificial intelligence. For instance, did you know 2 gigabytes of data is received here on earth every 10 minutes? SCOTT CHRISTIANSON says it's up to AI to "comb through all that data" because it's something that a human "can't process." March 5, 2021

What happens to our kidneys if we're overweight, obese or morbidly obese? The answer is two-fold, according to DR. SMRITA DORAIRAJAN, nephrology specialist at Truman Veterans' Hospital. Directly-speaking, it means your kidneys have to work "overtime" to clear out the body's toxins; indirectly-speaking, it means your kidneys are on clean-up duty from any number of problems that may occur from having a high BMI. March 4, 2021

TRYPS executive artistic director JILL WOMACK is crossing her fingers that only good news comes her way this summer! For one thing, there's the move to the new location at Columbia Mall; and then there's the hope of returning to in-person classes in July. Also, League of Women Voters president MARILYN McLEOD is gearing up for the April election and wants you to do so as well! Find out what's on the ballot and get details about an online school board candidate forum later this month. (3:58) March 3, 2021

The City of Columbia's annual Climate Action and Adaptation Report is out, and the news is pretty good! Office of Sustainability manager BARBARA BUFFALOE tells us that, according to the report, "we have reduced - since we started measuring - closer to 6% of our [global] greenhouse gas emissions." March 2, 2021

Joining us for the first time from her home in Holts Summit, Missouri, DR. MAR DOERING, DVM, All Paws Medical and Behavioral Center, shares some easy ways we can keep our pet's dental health in check. (Hint: it does NOT involve using toothpaste meant for a human!) March 1, 2021

"We got 130 'Littles' on the waiting list, and of those, about 70% are little boys, so we really need male mentors." -- ANN MERRIFIELD, executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Missouri

Instead of 'Bowl for Kids' Sake', this year's fundraiser is going to be 'Trivia for Kids' Sake', with two chances to play. Watch for details! February 26, 2021

It's almost too simple. Remove those unsightly fine scratches from your vinyl plank flooring with the help of a Tibet Almond Stick - check out the demo! Guest: SCOTT BRADLEY, Carpet One Floor & Home | Also, Services for Independent Living outreach coordinator KATHLEEN McKINNEY is seeking volunteers to do a little yard work, or in this case, snow shoveling, for those who cannot do it themselves. (4:30) February 25, 2021

To commemorate what would normally be the weekend that True/False comes to town, the popular film festival is playing host to something it's calling the "Rites of Spring." STACIE POTTINGER has details on this three-part, one-day pre-celebration event! Also, February may be coming to a close, but STEPHEN GRAVES, PhD, says there are still plenty of ways - cooking! trivia! - to celebrate Black History Month thanks to MU's Department of Black Studies. (3:46) February 24, 2021

Financial tip of the day: pay attention to the global cannabis market (legal and otherwise). While it's not advised that you make it the centerpiece of your portfolio, it is something to keep an eye on as significant growth is expected to continue for the next 15 years. Guest: ALEX LaBRUNERIE, financial advisor at LaBrunerie Financial February 22, 2021

Looking to plant a small tree or shrub in your yard? Lincoln University's native plant specialist NADIA NAVARRETE-TINDALL suggests, for example, deciduous holly, wahoo and wild plum. Find out why! February 19, 2021

Onetime chaplain (at Boone Hospital in Columbia) and current end-of-life doula, MICKEY HAVENER, shares with us what she shares with someone who's facing the end of their life and wonders, 'what lies ahead?' February 18, 2021

Daniel Boone Regional Library's 'Human Library' event kicks off with 'books' by people with a disability, like RENE POWELL [3:07]. What is a 'human library'? It's a person's story told by that person. Community services manager LAUREN WILLIAMS describes the event as "bringing people together to have a conversation in small groups with someone who has an identity that has been maybe stereotyped or pre-judged." February 17, 2021

Not interested in taking medication to improve your bone health? DAYNA GLANZ recommends giving OsteoStrong a try! "It works for all ages, 9-90." Also, KEVIN TOSIE invites everyone to the 2021 Wild & Scenic Film Festival, an online experience happening February 21. Kevin highlights a few of the featured flicks, including 'Trash to Treasure' by Dr. Mark Morgan, a professor at MU's School of Natural Resources. (5:19) February 16, 2021

Today is Presidents' Day! Since no one has yet written a classic folk song about our current leader, singer LARRY BROWN takes a different approach: the executive order, a power given to all presidents to implement policy changes at-will. One such policy often tackled by executive order is immigration, specifically at the Mexican border; it's on that topic that Larry tells the story behind (and then performs) Woody Guthrie's song 'Deportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos)' at [4:08]. February 15, 2021

Sara Olshansky -- An Embrace, Of Sorts
Artist Sara Olshansky was born in Louisville, Kentucky. She graduated from the Hite Art Institute at the University of Louisville in 2018 with a BFA in 2D Studio Art and a BA in Art History. In this drawing, Olshansky explores addition and erasure of imagery on a single picture plane, with interest in how this technique might mirror lived experience, especially with respect to time. By condensing past, present, and future to one, monoscenic picture plane, she makes the components interdependent, emphasizing their relativity. Instead of representing a space, as a drawing traditionally would, this composition conveys interactions and movements over time.

Two years ago, DR. ANAND CHOCKALINGAM, MU professor and cardiologist at Truman Veterans' Hospital, appeared on our show to talk about his firm belief in the power of fasting. 187K+ views (of that episode) later, Dr. Chockalingam is answering some of your questions about what he calls "one of the most effective tools to help his patients." February 12, 2021

Every five years there's an update to the dietary guidelines we all follow, guidelines that determine policy, research and recommendations. Registered dietitian KRISTEN EIFFERT talks about those changes, now in effect until at least 2025. Also, KELLY HILL says Heart of Missouri CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) is always looking for more volunteers. At this time, all training is being done online. (4:45) February 11, 2021

The Common Ingredient co-founder CATHY SALTER invites everyone to check out the latest feature on their website: Youth Cook! At this time, there's only one recipe available - a youngster from Kansas City has shared a recipe for air fryer ravioli - but the hope is to add many, many more. Find out how! February 10, 2021

"In speaking with board members...I absolutely believe that 2020 was the most challenging year that we have had in our [40] year history." -- LINDSAY LOPEZ, The Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri executive director, on her agency's takeaway on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. February 9, 2021