The Current

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

03/28/2026

For almost 50 years, The Missouri Review has provided a source for new writing. Heather O'Connor and Trevor Harris talked with TMR staff Ellen Orner and Kristine Somerville about the journal, what keeps it fresh, those compelling covers and plans for the 50th anniversary next year.

Ellen Orner and Kristen Somerville were guests on the show. The Missouri Review staff talked about that long-running literary journal based in Columbia. The show also featured excerpts authors on TMR's Miller Series including Jericho Brown and Rachel Yoder. A segment from Lee Ruth's 2023 oral histor...

03/28/2026

On the March 11, 2026 episode of 'The Current' we visited with Columbia, Missouri's City Manager and his assistant. They previewed the City's March 14 Community Summit. Photographer Stephen Bybee was also a guest on the show talking about his passion for architectural photography.

It's okay if you missed it. Most people did. There is good news though... you can hear that show right here and now.

Photographer Stephen Bybee discussed his current photography show at Orr Street Studios. Also on the show Columbia City Manager De'Carlon Seewood and his assistant Stacey Wiedemann previewed the March 14, 2026 Community Summit

03/05/2026

With the True/False Film Festival happening this weekend in Columbia, it helps to have a guide to what are the can't-miss films and concerts. On this week's show, Heather O'Connor and Trevor Harris interviewed a trio of fest staff about the highlights.

This weekend, the True/False Film Festival returns to Columbia. Heather O’Connor and Trevor Harris interviewed three members of the fest team with a look ahead to some of the films and concer…

03/05/2026

Here is the final life story from our visit last September to the Boonville Correctional Center. Thanks again to Stephanie Brooks and the important work she is doing to prepare men in prison for successful reentry.

Rayshawn is a man who is incarcerated at the Boonville Correctional Center. He is a participant in the Alternatives to Violence program. On September 16, 2025, Rayshawn shared his life story with AVP coordinator Stephanie Brooks and Trevor Harris.

02/17/2026

Do you change what you say and how you say it based on the audience? Of course you do. What if the audience is white and male and you aren't those things? It turns out that people will often hide who they really are to fit in with the dominant group. In advance of a public lecture, Lincoln University's Mick Brewer talked on a recent episode of 'The Current' about the inherent power in communication .

Our communications are what we say and what we don't say. Some people say what they want, when they want. Others monitor what you say in order to seem more like members of the dominant group. Communications scholar Dr. Mick Brewer talked with Trevor Harris in advance of a lecture Brewer gave on how....

02/16/2026

A recent episode of 'The Current' 1) explored those things you should do to prepare for end-of-life (both yours and your loved ones) with Death Doulas Monica Corba and Terry Wilson; and 2) discussed affordable housing with Columbia, Planning and Zoning Commissioner Anthony Stanton who talked about our local housing needs and what the Columbia Community Land Trust is doing to ease the housing shortage. Thanks for listening.

Death Doulas Monica Corba and Terry Wilson talked about making plans for end-of-life. Then, Columbia Planning and Zoning Commissioner Anthony Stanton discussed the Columbia Community Land Trust and other local efforts to create local affordable housing. Resources: https://serenitypassage.net/ https:...