Edmond Voices

The intrepid Edmond Voices team sits down and pulls topics of conversation from their old friend the red solo cup. Topics chosen and discussed this month include: 1) What's Coming to Edmond This Summer/Fall; 2) What Retail Do You Want To See Come To Edmond; and 3) Do You Think We Should Slow Down Residential Growth In Edmond.

AJ Krieger was hired as Edmond's City Manager in November of 2025. After four months on the job, the Edmond Voices team sat down with AJ and listened to his personal and professional history, and heard about both his challenges, and surprises in making the move to Edmond.

In spite of a few technical difficulties with our microphones this month, the team was able to sit down with the superintendent of the Edmond Public Schools, Dr. Josh Delich. Join us as we visit to learn about Dr. Delich's first nine months in the position.

City Council member Barry Moore, from Ward 2, joins us this month as we look back on the past year and discuss of few things coming our way in 2026. Listen in on the lively discussion between Barry and the Edmond Voices team.

This month we jump into the holiday season with Rev. Chris Shorow from First Christian Church Edmond. First Christian has been a wonderful sponsor of the podcast since the beginning, allowing us to record numerous sessions at the church when we needed to meet our guests closer to downtown Edmond. So join us as we discuss what all this vibrant church in downtown is doing for our community.

Vote YES on both propositions on the ballot on November 18th! That simple statement sums up the teams discussion of the upcoming sales tax vote. This vote will renew the 1 cent general fund tax that expires in 2027, as well as renewing the 1/2 cent Capital Improvement sales tax that also expires in 2027. Listen in as the team explains why this vote is so important.

We've finally made it through to the last new city council member, as Phil Fraim from Ward 4 joins our team this month to talk about his vision and goals for Edmond, as well as answering a few other questions of ours.

As we wind down our summer, the team visits with Ward 3 city councilman Preston Watterson. Preston shares his vision, what all he has been involved in, and a few surprises since being sworn in on May 5th.

Maggie Murdock Nichols was appointed to the City Council in December of 2024.  Our team finally sits down with Murdock Nichols to discuss her vision and goals for being on the council, as well as listening to her story about growing up in Edmond and around city government. 

What do you do when one o the podcast team gets elected mayor of Edmond? You interview him of course. Mark Nash, already an Edmond Voices mainstay discusses the first six weeks of his term and what we can expect in the next year.

The Edmond Voices team sits down with recently "retired" mayor Darrell Davis to discuss his retirement from public service, and the future of Edmond from his perspective. After more than two decades of service, Mayor Davis is putting his gavel on the shelf. Is the mayor done, or will he still be involved in Edmond's fast paced growth in the years to come. Tune in this month to find out the answer.

The Edmond Voices team sits down with Michelle Schaefer, the chairperson for the 2025 Downtown Edmond Arts Festival. Michelle fills the team in on the dates, May 2-4, as well as what artists, musicians, and food you can find at this year's festival.

This Month our team flips the table on our usual host Mark Nash. Keith Weber and the team interview Nash, a mayoral candidate, on the upcoming city council election. Mark's opponent in the race, declined an invitation to meet with the Edmond Voices team on the podcast or in an unrecorded interview.

This month our team visits with Marcus Jones, a candidate for the EPS district seat 5. His opponent, Jim Putnam was unavailable due to a scheduling error made by his campaign team; but the answers to the same questions asked of Mr. Jones will be available in an article in The Edmond Way.NOTE: Editorial Board Chairman, Mark Nash, has excused himself from participating in this episode due to his Edmond mayoral race.

The Edmond Voices team discusses the recent forced resignation of Edmond's City Manager. What's next? How soon will a new manager be hired? And most importantly, what does Edmond need in a new manager's skills, experience, and community-knowledge?

While celebrating the Christmas season, the Edmond Voices editorial board reflects back on 2024 and several major events in Edmond. Then to round out the episode our team looks ahead at several significant events coming up in 2025.

This month's episode has the team back in the garden at Studio 46B pulling topics out of the old faithful red solo cup. Join us as we discuss once more the GO Bond Issue, the Senate District 47 race, next year's City Council election and more.

The Edmond City Council has decided to place a General Obligation Bond issue on the November 5th election ballot. This controversial issue has created quite the stir in the city. Listen in as our team visits with County Assessor Larry Stein about the merits of the GO Bond.

In our 40th episode we have a little surprise for our followers. This month we have included a visual appearance to the podcast. After all, this episode features Shannon Price, Executive Director of the Edmond Fine Arts Institute. Shannon brings us a brief history of the Institute, an explanation of the Fine Arts Institute new capital campaign, and how it all ties in to the Uncommon Ground art park. Listen in to learn more about EFAI and the future of art in Edmond.

Public education in Oklahoma seems to be in the news daily right now. Edmond's public school district superintendent Dr. Angela Grunewald is our guest this month, bringing our team up to date on the district's successful lawsuit against the state, what the district is doing in regards to the bible in the classroom controversy, and the district's thoughts about the city's proposed general obligation bond issue. Additionally, we got to hear about other initiatives and news within the Edmond schools.

In this episode, District 41 Sen. Adam Pugh joins the team to discuss the legislative session that ended in May. We talk education, the appropriations process, paper license tags on cars months after they expire, and several other interesting tidbits. This is a an episode you don't want to miss if you are interested in what goes on at the state capitol.

In an episode that every student that attends UCO must hear, university president Todd Lamb sits down with the Edmond Voices team and discusses his first year at the university. Endearing stories, and the secret to getting a free cup of coffee out of the president, are just some of the things covered this month.

Listen in this month for a fun-filled, food-focused episode of frivolity discussing new ownership and a new menu for a pizzeria in Edmond. Bret Kappus, who is no stranger to Edmond, has purchased Campfire Pizza & Gelato on Bryant Ave south of East 33rd Street. The podcast team discusses (and samples) the new menu, future drink options, and what else is planned for this sister restaurant to the highly successful Flower Shop Winery & Pizzeria in Yukon and Chickasha.

In this month's episode of Edmond Voices, we find the podcast team pulling an old friend off the shelf; the Ed Solo Cup.  Choosing from multiple hot topics from the Edmond community, the topic picked from the cup was "Potpourri for $1,000 Alex"; a fast spin across three items of interest: 1) The OYO / New Life Village condemnation, 2) The special election on the Edmond hotel/motel tax, 3) The repeal of the state grocery tax.  Join us as the team debates all three topics in 30 short minutes.

Episode 34 finds the Voices of Edmond team visiting with Stephanie Carel, co-owner of Silver Leaf Gems and executive director of the Downtown Edmond Business Association (DEBA). Stephanie tells the story Silver Leaf Gems; its origin and evolution over time. Then in a roundtable discussion Stephanie brings the team up to date on what is happening in downtown this year.

Deanna Boston, the CEO of the Edmond Public Schools Foundation joins the team this episode to discuss the upcoming EDIIE Awards, the growth of support given to Edmond Public Schools, and the needs of the foundation and the school district.

The Edmond Voices team recaps 2023 in Edmond this episode during our Christmas reception at Studio 46B in east Edmond. In rapid-fire succession, the team covers "what's happening at 2nd & Coltrane", "the dirt" at I-35 & Covell, how many attorneys are there in the state legislature, the retirement of our city attorney, a quick restaurants update, and a few other projects going on around town. The team closes with a few thoughts on The Edmond Way and the bright future for our community newspaper.

In this month's episode, the team discusses 7 of the 10 candidates running to fill the House of Representatives District 39 seat in the special election with primaries being held on December 12, 2023. The team interviews each candidate and includes responses from them in this episode. The purpose and intent of the episode is to give voters some insight and knowledge about the candidates. The editorial board will provide an editorial with possible endorsements in the printed edition of The Edmond Way before the December 12th election. For our Republican listeners, be sure and respond to the poll on our Spotify page.

In this episode the Edmond Voices team visits with Ward 1 City Councilman Tom Robins; elected in April 2023. Tom discusses his approach to the position of city councilman, as well as addressing multiple topics within the Edmond City government. Listen to this episode to learn about Councilman Robins' approach, the new maternity/paternity leave plan for city employees, the proposed residential overlay district, the gap in effective communications by city staff, and more.

Bob Weiss, owner of Othello's and Around The Corner restaurants joins the podcast this month to discuss downtown Edmond. Want to know how downtown Edmond has changed in the last 25 years? What are the current challenges for downtown? What's coming next? Listen to this month's episode to find out.

In Studio 46B this month, Edmond Voices visits with Ward 2 Councilman Barry Moore. Councilman Moore provides insight into his goals and vision as a city council member. Mr. Moore also discusses the recent development application on Rt. 66 that was withdrawn prior to the Planning Commission meeting, and citizens' input to him, as a new council member, about the Uncommon Grounds park issue.