Good History

Keeping it Reel: Michael Johnson on Music Archiving

> Join Doug Miller as he sits down with Mike Johnson, archivist and reissue producer at Rhino-Warner Records. From a childhood transistor radio sparking a Beatles obsession to working on iconic projects for The Grateful Dead, Ray Charles, Fleetwood Mac, and Curtis Mayfield, Johnson reflects on his part in preserving music history — as well as bigger questions about what music gets preserved for future generations and what doesn't.

Chimes of History: Steve Jenkins on the Bob Dylan Center

In this second episode of Good History's fall 2025 special series on music and history, OSU History professor Doug Miller speaks with Steve Jenkins, Senior Director of the Bob Dylan Center, about music as a historical medium and the work of curating Bob Dylan’s archive in Tulsa. From a childhood in Los Angeles filled with the Beatles and Bob Dylan to teenage punk-club discoveries to a professional career creating exhibitions about Dylan's social and political impact, Jenkins explores how music makes history. Tune in!

Sanctuary of Sound: Teresa Knox on Preserving Tulsa's Musical History

In this episode of Good History, OSU History professor Doug Miller speaks with entrepreneur and preservationist Teresa Knox about music, memory, and place. From her roots in West Tulsa to owning Leon Russell’s famed Church Studio, Knox shares how community pride, creative labor, and the Tulsa Sound shape her mission to preserve Oklahoma unique history for future generations.

Bonus Episode! What Liberal Arts Actually Means, with Nick Romeo

In spring 2025, the OSU Department of History was lucky to host the writer Nick Romeo, who visited campus to speak about the history and future of capitalism. Those themes are also the subject of his recent book, The Alternative: How to Build a Just Economy [https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/nick-romeo/the-alternative/9781541701595/?lens=publicaffairs]. Join guest host Dr. Greg Kosc for a wide-ranging conversation with Romeo about everything from ancient Greek philosophy and Virginia Woolf to economic inequality and the current challenges facing both journalism and higher education

"History is a Lesson in Leadership," with Dr. Jim Hess

Dr. Jim Hess is the president of Oklahoma State University and a seasoned leader with over forty years of experience in healthcare and higher education. He is also an enthusiast of the study of history and a champion of the land-grant mission. To quote President Hess: “Of all the things you could do in life, working for a land-grant university, it’s like a moral calling.” Join us for a wide-ranging conversation with OSU's 20th president about leadership of a land-grant institution, the study of history, and the study of history as a lesson in leadership.