People In The Know

Pioneer News Anchor Linda Cavanaugh

Linda Cavanaugh recently retired from KFOR-TV.  She is one of my most admired journalists.  We worked together for six years as she and Pam Henry broke the glass ceiling of television news in Oklahoma City.  She won her job in a male dominated era and kept her anchor job until retirement.
Linda has seen it all and done it all.  She talks about the people who were the first generation of television journalists and news directors.  We discuss journalistic ethics and the basics of being a good reporter.  She is sharp, frank and open.
There are some old home week stories and some moments where she recounts her journalistic work in very challenging circumstances. She pays homage to the leaders in TV news and I talk to her about the "shards in her hair" as she gave women the opportunity to do anything they set their mind to do.
 

Hearing Is A Gift

Since my first memories, my father had a significant hearing loss.  As a little boy, I learned to speak loudly and distinctly while looking at him.  That may be why I was suited to be a broadcaster.  In my youth, I drove tractors and worked in loud environments, as a result, I damaged my hearing.  For the past fifteen years, I have worn hearing aids.  This podcast is about being hearing impaired in a world that doesn't care. 
My guest is Taylor Parker, President of Concept Hearing.  This is not a commercial message but he answers my questions and expresses his expertise about hearing instruments.  If you have a hearing loss, you can identify with my stories.  If you have a hearing impaired friend or family member, you will be sensitized and relate to our challenges.  Hearing is precious.  Take care of yours.

A Reporter Doing the Lord’s Work

In the early years of this new century, my life went through an upheaval: I lost my job at WHO Radio.  But at the same time, I was experiencing great emotional fulfillment.  I had converted to the Catholic Faith.  I became a Knight of Columbus and my reporting switched from farm news to coverage of people who were living their faith in a battle for life.
The timing of this episode has nothing to do with the news that the US Supreme Court may overturn a long standing ruling on abortion rights.  But it parallels, as the events and people I reported on from 2009 to 2013 were the vanguard of a non-denominational effort to offer love, hope and help to women with a crisis pregnancy.  My guest, Steve Cashman, a Des Moines businessman tells his story.

Agriculture in Ukraine and Russia 1986 Many Parallels to Today

In the mid-1980's the Soviet Union was softening its stance against foreign journalists in the Glasnost and Perestroika period under Mikhail Gorbachev..  But it was still the cold war and neither side trusted the other.  A group of twenty-five farm broadcasters and agricultural specialists headed for the agricultural lands of Ukraine and the big cities of Russia just months after the Chernobyl Nuclear Accident.  
We were the first western farm journalists who were able to see the people and farming operations in Ukraine.  The comparisons we made to U.S. farming were shocking.  We also were watched and controlled like spies as we toured the Soviet monuments and exhibitions in Moscow. 
Two weeks of having each other's backs and reporting on a country that was our competitor on many fronts, yet with people who just wanted to live their lives without conflict.
In a few weeks, I'll add to this story by talking with Jeffrey Hardeman, my videographer on this trip and recount our challenges to shoot video and get it home to the U.S. 

Fertilizer Politics - High Prices - Short Supply

This is Breaking News (intense music)
I am curious about the politics of Phosphate Shortages and price that is THREE TIMES HIGHER THAN LAST YEAR.  I talk to Kevin Kimm, an Iowan who works for OCP North America.  He represents a Moroccan based fertilizer producer.  He answers several questions but you have to read between the lines to get the dynamics of why some North American companies are exporting fertilizer while the U.S. government is imposing import duties on products coming in from foreign producers.  If you want to get involved, there is a call to arms a couple of times during the interview.  Runs 12 minutes  

Farm Aid 1985 Ken and Steve Bessemer KWCH TV

The farm crisis of the 1980's was near its peak when Willie Nelson and Friends announced they would host a concert to highlight the plight of the American Farmer.  Bands from all over came to Champaign, IL for a twelve hour performance that was called a Country Woodstock.  
Ken Root and photographer, Steve Bessemer, spent three days in the area along side colleagues from CBS News.  Their stories give perspective to the first Farm Aid Concert and the amazing stretch of years that Willie Nelson and Friends have continued to salute farmers and the working people of America.

Rural Customs and Values Circa 1960

America's modernization and change in my lifetime has been breathtaking.  Rural America, in the mid 20th century, was very different than today.  The social structure was strong and the values were engrained or applied with a switch!  The communities kept watch on each other and social norms were expected to be followed.  "At any time everybody knew where I was," stated my guest, Gene Millard.  How was that possible with a black phone that hung on the wall? Gene's family and mine paralleled each other in how we behaved in our homes, schools and churches.  We talk about life and death in a time that many say was much more accountable and moral than today.

Building a Bridge to America from Albania

Shefqet Meko grew up and was educated under the communist regime of Albania.  He was told everything to do but held in his heart the hope that one day he could make the world a better place.  That world became "America" when he was able to bring his family here in the late 1990's.  A veterinarian by training, a lover of literature and a student of democracy, Shefqet (Chef - Chet) will melt your heart.  Few native born Americans are as zealous about freedom as he.  His message is clear but his accent is strong.  I hope you are inspired by his vision for our shared country.

Two Freshmen at OSU

In 1967, our worlds expanded as farm boys from across Oklahoma went to college.  Charlie Freeman was a classmate who has become a lifelong friend.  We cannot be more different in our approaches to life.  Charlie was a God fearing young man.  He was determined to succeed and not disappoint his family or veer away from religious teachings.  Me, not so much.  
Charles became a veterinarian and I became a farm news broadcaster.  He focused narrowly and rose to the top of his profession.  Me, not so much.
Note the cost of Charlie attending college our freshman year.

Farm Broadcasters Reporting Worldwide

Gary Truitt and Ken Root compare notes on their careers in radio farm broadcasting. Truitt owns the Hoosier Ag Network in Indiana but he started out as just a kid who liked to play Rock and Roll music in the 1970's.  He found his niche in radio and became one of the most known agricultural reporters in the Midwest.  He and Ken Root began following the trade missions of John Block, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, in the Reagan administration.  They traveled to Asia, Europe and South America to see customers and competitors.  Block was an Illinois farmer and marathoner and globe trotted for six years with both men in hot pursuit.