River Side Chats

Charles Kay Jr. is a first-generation Thai-American visual artist whose work explores assimilation, identity and the American Dream. His exhibition “Unseen: Emerging from the Currents of Assimilation” is on display at Kaneko through Feb. 5, 2023.In this conversation with Maria Corpuz, he shares his experience growing up in Omaha with immigrant parents, the racism he and his family have endured, and his changing relationship with his Asian-American identity.

Aaron Urbanski explains how you can embrace nature starting right in your yard. His business Earth Sculptors converts lawns into food forests, implements sustainable lawn care services, and restores diminishing wildlife habitats via sustainable, local food systems.

Matthew Wurstner is back on the show to give an overview of the student loan program, the attempted relief by the Biden administration, and the likely outcome in legal challenges seeking to stop forgiveness of $10,000 per borrower.

Kurt Andersen does his best to explain America in today's show, talking with Tom about his two-volume history of our culture, "Fantasyland" and "Evil Geniuses," and the possibility of a brighter future.

What is the Nebraska State Board of Education? Who is on it? What do they do? Today, Deborah Neary is in conversation with Tom Knoblauch to tell her story and explain the board's function and her vision for its future if she is reelected to her board seat this November.

Matthew Wurstner is back on the show to discuss the concept of ballot initiatives, Nebraska’s history with them, and what made the cut this year.

Chip Davis joined Tom Knoblauch at the Benson Theatre for a conversation about his life and career. Davis has captivated listeners and audiences since 1974 with neoclassical band Mannheim Steamroller and the label he founded, American Gramaphone, which releases the band's music

Many prominent elected officials in Nebraska are calling for defunding public education in favor of vouchers for charter schools. Today Rachel Gibson and Sarah Smolen of the League of Women Voters of Nebraska discuss the education climate and their work on the Education Policy Action Team, which has just launched Schools 101: an awareness initiative for parents, neighbors, community groups, advocacy groups and anyone impacted by public education in the state. It aims to answer questions like, how schools work in Nebraska, who attends our schools, who teaches at our schools, who makes decisions about our schools, and who funds our schools and how.

Wes Dodge is on the boards for Rank The Vote Nebraska, Common Cause Nebraska, and Nonpartisan Nebraska. On today's show he discusses the possibility of adopting ranked-choice elections and moving toward a nonpartisan vision of governance.