Jeff Around Town Archive Episodes

What’s the best coffee you’ve ever had? For that matter, what’s the best question a barista has ever asked you? Before you ask, yes, you can hear more about this inquisitive episode of Jeff Around Town.

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Jack Phillips is a poet, nature writer, and founder of The Naturalist School, a nonprofit dedicated to helping people connect more deeply with nature through creativity. He teaches wild poetry workshops and who knows? If you listen to this edition of Jeff Around Town, he may even inspire you to get out into nature and to write about it.

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Just like George Gershwin’s An American in Paris, Bernie Duhaime was an American who easily could have lived in France but instead called Nebraska home. Not only did he help bring French language learning to Omaha, but he was also instrumental in establishing Omaha’s sister city in the Normandy region of France. Hear Jeff Koterba’s tribute to a fellow Francophile who chose Omaha over Paris on this Jeff Around Town.

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How does a spilled vanilla latte on another customer at a popular Omaha coffee shop lead to a discussion about 70 chickens? One of which is named Dolly Parton? Find out the full story on this episode.

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Creativity connects us all and The Hoff Family & Arts Culture Center in Council Bluffs celebrates creativity for the entire community, on both sides of the river. Join Jeff Koterba on this edition for Jeff Around Town as he chats with Danna Kehm, CEO of Pottawattamie Arts, Culture & Entertainment.

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How important is the location of a film, especially if you’re an Oscar-winning filmmaker shooting a film in your hometown? Not to mention the powerful role music plays in movies. To hear all about it, listen to this episode of Jeff Around Town when he’s joined by special guest, Alexander Payne.

Here is of the Alexander Payne print that Jeff drew! The Omaha Symphony presented Payne with a framed copy before the performance.

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A creative powerhouse, Erika Hansen is the Vice President of Commercial Entertainment for Omaha Performing Arts. She’s also the founder of a lifestyle brand, and digital course creator that blends fashion, music, and more to inspire others. Hear why Erika finds Omaha to be a supportive and collaborative community that allows for limitless creativity as she joins Jeff Koterba on this episode of Jeff Around Town.

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Charlene Donaghy is an award-winning playwright based in Connecticut whose work has been staged across the U.S. and beyond. And yet, time and again, she returns to Nebraska to teach at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Find out what it is about Omaha that keeps calling to Charlene.

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What happens when Jeff Koterba gives his time-traveling snow globe a gentle shake? He takes you on a magical—and true—sleigh ride to a Christmas Eve many years ago. And okay, maybe it wasn’t a sleigh but an old Plymouth sedan. Either way, it’s a Jeff Around Town filled with wonder and joy.

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What is your why? The reason you pursue your dream or passion even when you’re filled with doubt? Join Jeff as he shares his “why” for starting a language-learning club in Omaha. You never know, maybe it’ll inspire you to pursue that dream of yours, too.

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When you were in high school, did you have a favorite high school teacher? If so, are you lucky enough to still be in touch with them? Jeff Koterba has been fortunate to have many wonderful teachers, but there’s one in particular, who is extra special. Someone he’s still in touch with.

Did you know there’s a group of volunteers that help make recommendations on the acceptance, placement, and care of artwork in public spaces in Omaha? Hear more about the Omaha Arts Commission on this edition of Jeff Around Town as Jeff Koterba chats with Matt Kalcevich, director of Omaha Parks, Recreation, and Public Property.

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Imagine while waiting in a long line at the post office you notice a postal employee taking extra care to make sure a particular box is properly sealed. Maybe not so unusual, right? Except that the employee is in line with you. And then he tells you what’s inside the box.

What project would you create if you weren’t held down by gravity? Recently, Jeff Koterba posed that very question to sculptor, John Clement, whose work is currently on display at KANEKO. Hear all about it and maybe find some inspiration of your own on this episode Jeff Around Town.

What’s the true meaning of Stonehenge? Or how about those mysterious stone spheres in Costa Rica? Not to mention, closer to home, strange faces and other images painted on rocks that just seem to pop up in random places in Council Bluffs and beyond?

Jeff and Otis recap their evening at the CFAM 20th anniversary celebration.

Each Friday on Jeff Around Town, Jeff Koterba stops by to chat with Otis Twelve about an interesting person or place in Omaha. This Friday, however, is a little different as Jeff stops by to chat with Otis about…Otis. Not only has Otis been a friend to Jeff for many years, but a mentor, as well.

When it comes to live theater, Omaha has no shortage of talented actors. But it’s not only on the stage where you’ll find some incredible performances—not to mention, it’s all in the name of medicine. Find out how non-medical Omahans play an important role for future doctors.

Storms, like the one that blew through the Omaha metro Wednesday night, can bring people together. Neighbors and strangers, alike, helping each other clearing trees and debris. And also, as Jeff Koterba experienced, sharing a glass of wine and pastry puffs in the dark at a popular coffee shop.

You’ve no doubt heard the expression, “It’s like riding a bike,” when describing an activity that should come second nature. But is it true? Especially when getting back on a bike after several years? Jeff Koterba learned the answer recently when he unexpectedly came into possession of a new bike.

Everyone has a story to tell and recently, Jeff Koterba met a couple who easily has dozens of incredible stories between them. Katie worked for the Smithsonian and The Kennedy Center, and Craig held a music-related position in the Pentagon.

And even though they moved to Omaha from Washington, D.C., only a few years ago, they’re already touching and impacting lives in their adopted hometown. Hear just a few of their stories and how they’ve fallen in love with Omaha.

As a kid growing up in South Omaha, Jeff Koterba loved venturing downtown. Mostly, because he was fascinated with tall buildings. But it was one building, in particular, that has always held a special place in his heart.
Recently, Jeff had a chance not only to chat with an Omahan who has done so much for our community, but to also gaze out across the city.

Attention coffee lovers! What could be better than that first sip of delicious coffee? How about a coffee sauna? What’s a coffee sauna, you ask?

Decades before the first Super Target in America opened in Omaha in the 1990s, there was a different Omaha store where you could not only buy clothing, appliances, and housewares, but you could also pick up your groceries and have prescriptions filled. Recently, Jeff Koterba took his KVNO colleague, Gabriel Escalera, on a trip down memory lane.

The leaning tower of Pisa is world renowned. But how about Omaha’s very own leaning tower of…Peppi? Although it was leaning for only a short while, you’ve most likely seen it standing upright at one time or another. Jeff spoke with those who know Peppi best to give you and Otis Twelve the full story.

Would you travel 4000 miles to Omaha to help build your son a piece of furniture? In the rain? That’s what one father did recently. But, as it turns out, the rainy weather made father and son feel right at home.

What’s the most beautiful thing that could happen when you’re coming in for a landing over Omaha but suddenly your plane is diverted to Des Moines? Listen to this episode of Jeff Around Town to get the full picture.

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Have you been wanting to learn a new language? Maybe you even donated to the KVNO fund drive and have free access to Babbel, the language learning app—and now you want to practice speaking with others? Where do you start? Jeff Around Town might be your answer.

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Mother’s Day is just around the corner. Instead of just buying flowers, this year Jeff Koterba might also join his mom to wave hands like clouds.

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It’s been incredibly windy lately. But if you want to unplug and transport yourself to a distant land, the answer might be closer than you think. All thanks to the wind.

There’s no question that Mozart was one of the greatest composers of all time. But it wasn’t until the other day in Omaha, when running into an old friend, that Jeff learned one possible theory on why Mozart might also have sometimes been a prankster and impulsive.

For Jeff Koterba, this story launched on Easter Monday, 2010, at the Kennedy Space Center. What Jeff hadn’t expected was for the story to come full circle in Omaha just a few days ago—during a touching tribute for an unsung hero.

Recently, Jeff Koterba stopped by Omaha’s Trader Joe’s for some eggs, garlic, and cheese. What he didn’t expect was to walk out with a fascinating and most unusual story about warding off mosquitoes.

Jeff Koterba with Dana Murray, accomplished musician and director of North Omaha Music and Arts.

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Jeff Koterba speaking with Ted Wheeler on behalf of Alliance Française Omaha at Pottawattamie Arts, Culture & Entertainment.

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Jeff Koterba with KVNO listeners Stella Sideris and Sue Sideris. Taken at Fig Cafe.

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