
Becka's Talking
A weekly podcast featuring everyday people with an interesting story to tell.
Episodes
43 episodes
Pulitzer Prize winning journalist discusses ethics in the media
New York Times journalist, John Carreyrou, exposed fraud that eventually led to the conviction of a billionaire technology entrepreneur. He shares about his role in that case as well as his views on journalistic ethics.
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Episode 43
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30:53

The Rose Man of Omaha
Dean Battiato is a familiar face in many bars and restaurants in downtown Omaha where he sells roses. He is also the subject of a recent documentary that won an award at the Omaha Film Festival.
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Episode 42
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24:39

Homelessness in Omaha
Candace Gregory, President and CEO of Omaha’s Open Door Mission, explains that winning the fight against homelessness requires collaboration across the community.
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Episode 41
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38:47

From the Presidential Palace in Afghanistan to Omaha
Former press aid of Hamid Karzai, Feroz Mahmand, shares his take on what went wrong in Afghanistan.
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Episode 40
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50:35

20 Years of the Omaha Film Festival
Marc Longbrake, Executive Director of the Omaha Film Festival, previews this year’s event and explains the impact it has for independent filmmakers.
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Episode 39
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48:45

Long Time Omaha Radio Personality Comes Full Circle on Locally Owned Oldies Station
Dave Wingert’s radio career started in the late 60’s playing popular music on vinyl records. Now he plays digital versions of the music from that same era on local oldies radio in Omaha. Dave shares about the ups and downs of his career and his...
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Episode 38
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37:53

From Small Town Iowa to Big Time Music Production
Kent Hertz grew up in Malvern, Iowa, but knew he would have to leave his hometown to pursue his dream of working in the music business.
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Episode 37
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34:51

Navigating the World of AI
Dr. Lisa McKee, Assistant Professor of Cyber Security at Bellevue University, shares her insights on the benefits and pitfalls of artificial intelligence.
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Episode 36
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41:39

New Transit Options Coming to Omaha
Metro Transit CEO, Lauren Cencic, explains Micro Transit, a new option coming soon to Omaha.
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Episode 35
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27:43

Breaking the Cycle of Domestic Violence
Jaymie Schroeder is a domestic violence survivor who was able to escape from a series of abusive relationships. She recounts her healing journey in her book of poetry in hopes of helping others break the cycle of intimate partner violence.
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Episode 34
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41:28

Preserving Omaha’s Architectural History
Tim Reeder is president of Preserve Omaha, an organization focused on preserving older homes, businesses and neighborhoods in Omaha.
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Episode 33
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32:58

Omaha and the Origins of Boys Town
Local author, Fletcher Reel, uses historical fiction in his new book that looks at Omaha in the Early 20th century and the early days of Boys Town.
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Episode 32
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37:20

Owner and Publisher of Omaha Star Pushing to keep North Omaha Newspaper Relevant
Terri Sanders is only the fifth publisher of the Omaha Star newspaper since its founding in 1938. She took over ownership in 2023. Good news remains the focus of the newspaper while continuing to be a staple in the community.
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Episode 31
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36:01

Give New Life to Leftovers
Leftovers are never as good the next day. But this week's guest on Becka's Talking, Diane Watson, is an expert on turning leftovers into tasty new dishes.
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Episode 30
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27:28

Discovering Iowa's Hidden Gems
What is there to do and see in Iowa? Travel blogger Sara Broers says there are plenty of options in her home state where you can spend an afternoon, a day or a even a weekend exploring.
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Episode 29
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34:30

How Do We Deal with Mental Health Challenges
Dr. Bill Lydiatt with Clarkson Regional Health Services shares insights on recognizing and addressing mental health struggles.
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Episode 28
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38:04

From MMA to Bare Knuckles, Omaha Fighter Focused on Community
Houston Alexander retired from mixed martial arts in 2017, but still competes in bare knuckles boxing. Alexander has also been part of Omaha's hip hop culture for decades and actively promotes hip hip through his own local radio show and educat...
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Episode 27
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39:32

Much More Than a Great Voice
Hall of fame broadcaster, musician, comedian and author, Otis XII reminisces about his years on stage and in the radio booth.
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Episode 26
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42:16

Real Estate Investor Shares His Keys to Success
Jerry G. Banks, an Omaha real estate investor and author, has used his setbacks in life as a springboard for success. He shares his insights with Tom on this week's Becka's Talking.
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Episode 25
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29:36

Turning Print into the Spoken Word
Radio Talking Book Service, based in Omaha, makes visual media available to the blind and visually impaired. Ryan Osentowski is the program director for RTBS and explains some of the challenges he faces as a blind person and how this nonprofit ...
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Episode 24
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34:49

The Face of Omaha Police
Chief Todd Schmaderer has been the head of the Omaha Police Department for the last 12 years. He shares what he has learned while leading his department of 900+ officers through challenging times like the George Floyd riots of 2020.
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Episode 23
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38:15

Omaha's Film Historian
Bruce Crawford started producing classic film events in Omaha in the early 90s. Since then he has created 50 of these events that combine special viewings of classic movies with special appearances by VIPs connected to those films.
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Episode 22
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37:57

University of Nebraska President Jeffrey Gold Shares His Vision
Dr. Jeffrey Gold took over as the ninth president of the University of Nebraska system on July 1st. This week on Becka's Talking, Dr. Gold talks about the latest updates on new projects at UNMC as well as his vision for the entire University of...
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Episode 21
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33:00
