Prairie Journal
Prairie Journal is an opportunity to showcase high-profile, thought-provoking lectures, discussions and dialogues recorded throughout the region. There are so many fascinating people who come to this area, everyone from Supreme Court Justice Sonya Sotomayor to syndicated columnist Leonard Pitts. KPR Presents is a great way to share some of those lectures with our listeners. We have also been able to expand the program to cover a broad range of topics, including the Kansas Sesquicentennial, the National Day of Listening and the Kansas Reads program sponsored by the State Library of Kansas, just to name a few. Subscribe via your favorite podcast platforms.
Latest Episodes
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In connection with America 250 and Kansas 250, we visit Topeka's Free State Capitol, home to the 1855 Topeka Constitutional Convention and the Free State legislature, almost demolished in the 1990s, now renovated and restored to its original glory. -
What does it mean to be a Kansan today? Tom Averill and Leslie VonHolten gather the writings of 35 authors in their new anthology, "Kansas Matters: 21st Century Writers on the Sunflower State." -
Celebrate America 250 with a Kansas Notable Book! Ray Walling and Valarie Lamoreaux of the State Library of Kansas join us to talk about the Kansas 250 Bookshelf. -
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly gave her eighth and final State of the State address last week. We'll hear the speech in its entirety, plus analysis from Bob Beatty, Michael Smith, Tim Carpenter, and Rebekah Chung -
What's happening at the Dole Institute of Politics? DIOP Director Audrey Coleman stops by to preview this spring's offerings, including an upcoming "America 250" exhibit, marking 250 years since the Declaration of Independence. -
Is a tomato a fruit or vegetable? Award-winning author Lindsay Metcalf explores the legal food fight in her children's book, Tomatoes on Trial: The Fruit v. Vegetable Showdown. Also, two penpals learn about two very different ways to grow food in her picture book, Outdoor Farm, Indoor Farm. -
We revisit one of our most popular shows of the year, as journalist Bill Kurtis retraces his career from his early days at KANU to his current gig as Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me scorekeeper. This episode was recorded at a September 18th, 2025, book launch event for Kurtis' new memoir, Whirlwind: My Life Reporting the News. -
Celebrate the season with the KPR staff on A Very Merry Prairie Journal! With songs of the season, holiday stories, and Christmas memories, from your favorite announcers as well as folks behind the scenes. -
From Kansas Governors Bob Bennett to Laura Kelly, political scientists Michael Smith and Ed Flentje look at the push and pull of state politics in "Reform and Reaction: The Arc of Kansas Politics." -
We talk to the Kansas City author behind the new Netflix series "Death by Lightning." Candice Millard is the award-winning author of "Destiny of the Republic," which tells the story of the assassination of President James Garfield.
