Press Release
August 24, 2021
Contact: Larry O’Dell
Oklahoma Historical Society
405-522-6676
lodell@okhistory.org
“A Very OK Podcast” + “Brain Box” Live Podcast Crossover Event at the Oklahoma History Center
OKLAHOMA CITY — Join the Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) and Oklahoma Humanities (OH) on Wednesday, September 22, at 6 p.m. at the Oklahoma History Center for a live podcast crossover event. OHS Executive Director Trait Thompson and Dr. Bob Blackburn of the OHS’s “A Very OK Podcast” and Dr. Sunu Kodumthara of OH’s “Brain Box” will lead a conversation about growing up in Oklahoma from multiple cultural perspectives, featuring guests Kelli Brooke Haney and Javier Hernandez. This crossover event will be recorded in front of a live audience.
Prior to the program, DJ Tangerine will perform and a bar will be available with complimentary beer and wine, sponsored by Coop Ale Works. Registration is $15 for OHS members and $25 for non-members. A charcuterie box can be purchased for an additional $7. The panelists will be available before the recording, as will related OHS resources. Registration is required, and attendees must be 21 years old or older. Please visit www.okhistory.org/crossover to register.
On the Oklahoma Humanities “Brainbox” podcast, Dr. Sunu Kodumthara and her cohost, Dr. Ben Alpers, use the humanities to discuss issues affecting American society and culture. On the OHS “A Very OK Podcast” Trait Thompson and Bob Blackburn explore the interesting stories and fascinating personalities that make up Oklahoma’s unique history.
Kelli Brooke Haney is the sixth child out of seven siblings. She was raised in Seminole and later Tahlequah. Haney graduated from the School of Fine Arts at the University of Oklahoma. In the 2000s she toured regionally with her Rockabilly band the “Oh Johnny! Girls” and worked in the photography, video and art industries. Haney is the daughter of retired Choctaw Native American tribal attorney L. Susan Work, who worked diligently on the McGirt v. Oklahoma case. Her father is Enoch Kelly Haney, the first full-blood Seminole and Creek Native American state legislator in Oklahoma and an artist of monumental sculptures such as “The Guardian,” which sits atop the Oklahoma State Capitol.
Born in Mexico City, Javier Hernandez’s mother moved the family to Oklahoma when he was two years old. Hernandez earned his bachelor’s degree from Mid-America Christian University and graduated from Oklahoma City University School of Law. He has been part of the US Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, and practices law with the firm Dunn and Hernandez. He has served as president of the Hispanic Law Student Association, president of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Group and vice president of the Immigration Legal Society.
Danny Eagle (DJ Tangerine) is an Oklahoma City open format DJ who performs regularly at Fassler Hall. He has been a mainstay in the area since 2016. He also performs in direct support of touring artists.
Oklahoma Humanities is an independent, nonprofit organization whose mission is to strengthen communities by helping Oklahomans learn about the human experience, understand new perspectives, and participate knowledgeably in civic life through humanities disciplines such as history, literature, film studies, art criticism and philosophy. As the state partner for the National Endowment for the Humanities, OH provides a free educational magazine, Smithsonian Institution exhibits, reading and discussion groups, and other cultural opportunities for Oklahomans of all ages. OH engages people in their own communities, stimulating discussion and helping them explore the wider world of human experience.
The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information about the OHS, please visit www.okhistory.org.
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