The Current

09/02/2026

Let there be poetry! The State of Missouri's poet laureate was a guest recently on KOPN 89.5 FM. Here's what Justin Hamm had to say about writing, performing, creating poetry trading cards and more. https://www.mixcloud.com/KOPN/the-current-missouri-poet-laureate-justin-hamm/

08/27/2026

Thanks to Ruth Joffre and Cristina Mislan for visiting on KOPN 89.5 FM recently about the exciting work they are doing to build literary community at Columbia's Nightjar Arts Collective.

Nightjar Arts Collective is a communal third place that supports and cultivates local artists, writers, and activists. Co-founders Ruth Joffre and Cristina Mislan were guests on The Current on August 26, 2026. They talked about their backgrounds, and how they are collaborating on their literary s**c...

08/12/2026

What happens to Vidwest Studios later this year when the City of Columbia ends its longtime funding for the beloved community media center? Co-founder Matt Schacht has a vision for a path forward to help sustain Vidwest. Matt laid it all out on a the July 29, 2026 episode of 'The Current'. It sounded a lot like this...https://www.mixcloud.com/KOPN/the-current-vidwests-future-and-missouri-writers-project-summer-camp/

06/04/2026

The Onions are a local band made up of long time friends Taylor Bacon and John Galbrith. They recently shared an hour with Heather O'Connor and Trevor Harris on KOPN 89.5 FM where the musicians talked about their love of pop music, enduring friendships and what success is to them. In case you missed it (that's okay most folks did) here's that show...

Local Columbia, Missouri pop band The Onions stopped by KOPN recently. Heather and Trevor visited with Taylor Bacon and John Galbrith about their musical histories, friendship, success. The show al…

05/12/2026

On a recent episode of 'The Current' activist Mark Haim talked about Trump's war on Iran and looked ahead to Earth Day. Also, The Missouri Folk Arts Program's Lisa Higgins visited with The Creek Rocks in advance of the Springfield area folk duos visit to Columbia.
https://www.mixcloud.com/KOPN/the-current-4222026-activist-mark-haim-and-lisa-higgins-wthe-creek-rocks/

05/05/2026

Author Greg Olson was a guest on the April 8 show. He talked with Heather and Trevor about his new book on Missouri River trapper and enslaved Missourian Jeffrey Deroine.

Also, staff from the State Historical Society of Missouri and the MU Historic Textile Collection previewed the new show at the SHSMO - W[a]rn and Transformed - that runs now through August 15 in Columbia.

Author Greg Olson was a guest on the show talking with Heather and Trevor about his new book on Missouri River trapper and enslaved Missourian Jeffrey Deroine. Also, staff from the State Historical Society of Missouri and the MU Historic Textile Collection previewed a new show, W[a]rn and Transforme...

04/22/2026

Mark Haim has organized around peace and justice issues in Columbia for over 50 years. Join Heather and Trevor on 'The Current' this afternoon at five when they visit with the Peaceworks director and longtime KOPN programmer about how he keeps his activist fires burning and look ahead to Earth Day this Sunday in Peace Park on the MU campus.

Also on today's show, we'll talk with members of the band 'The Creek Rocks'. Banjoist Cindy Woolf and guitarist Mark Bilyeu are coming to Columbia for a May 1 noontime concert at the State Historical Society of Missouri.

Tune in to 89.5FM this and every Wednesday afternoon at five for 'The Current'. Only on KOPN, Columbia. https://shsmo.org/events/2026/creek-rocks