Voices of OKC

Jed Chappell
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Documentary

Voices of OKC is a podcast born in the heart of Oklahoma City, recorded inside the brand-new studio at City Center, a space created to amplify the voices and stories shaping our community. Hosted by Jed Chappell, whose own journey of redemption and transformation fuels his passion for service, Voices of OKC shines a light on the people and stories that bring hope, healing, and change to our city. From community leaders to everyday heroes, each episode is an authentic conversation about resilience, faith, and the power of second chances. City Center, located in the heart of OKC, is more than just a building; it’s a hub of hope where families and youth find resources, mentorship, and support. The Voices of OKC studio extends that mission, giving our community a platform to share stories that inspire and connect. Join us as we celebrate Oklahoma City through the lens of hope, one voice at a time.

  1. 2d ago

    Open Vessels Oklahoma City: Joey Chappell on Practical Care

    Joey Chappell of Open Vessels Oklahoma City talks about practical care—and why helping a neighbor cannot depend on being thanked. A home repair may look like a small job from the street. For the person living there, it can change daily life. Joey Chappell joins his brother Jed to talk about the people behind those needs and the work of Open Vessels. Their conversation moves from family and personal responsibility to recovery, faith and the limits of a small nonprofit. Joey describes what it takes to keep showing up, including the moments when gratitude arrives much later than expected. Content note: Discussion of addiction, incarceration and family hardship; non-graphic accounts of neighbors experiencing disability and financial need. What you’ll hear - Taking responsibility without losing the possibility of change - What recovery volunteers taught Joey about serving without applause - Faith expressed through repairs, relationships and practical care - The needs a small nonprofit can meet—and the resources it still needs Chapters 00:00 Opening 01:42 Brothers and a St. Louis childhood 05:34 Owning personal choices 07:14 The Order of the Towel 10:30 A daughter who still calls him Daddy 14:03 Recovery volunteers and hands-on service 19:35 Faith and different gifts 22:40 What Open Vessels does 30:12 Repair partners and a home after a fire 32:49 Donor trust and accountability 37:18 What Joey hopes to build next 42:52 Being part of a larger community Links & resources - Open Vessels: openvessels.org spoken at segment 417; recorded URL, not live-verified - Joey Chappell: [Link needed] individual profile - Old Man’s Potter Field [verify]: [Link needed] local place name - David Rogers [verify spelling]: [Link needed] - Victory Church / Order of the Towel: [Link needed] church and service ministry - Edie [verify spelling]: [Link needed] family mention; no public profile needed - Johnny [verify spelling]: [Link needed] family mention - Dennis: [Link needed] family mention - Julie: [Link needed] family mention - Community House [verify exact organization name]: [Link needed] recovery/treatment organization - Home Makeover [verify exact show]: [Link needed] television comparison - City Center: https://okcitycenter.org/ — standing asset - Mitzi [verify spelling]: [Link needed] family mention - Thanksgiving / Christmas assistance: [Link needed] current Open Vessels availability - Neighbor to Neighbor [verify organization]: [Link needed] - Eric Ploplano [verify] / Memorial Lowe’s: [Link needed] spelling and store location - Chickasha / Chris: [Link needed] project information; beneficiary privacy - Open Vessels on Facebook: [Link needed] exact page URL not spoken - Cash App / $OpenVessels: Handle spoken; verify independently before publishing payment instructions - Open Vessels on Instagram: [Link needed] handle not stated - Open Vessels website, spoken: https://openvessels.org/ (confirm destination before publishing). VOICES episode hub: https://www.voicesofokc.com/episodes Watch + Listen: https://www.voicesofokc.com/watch-listen/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@voicesofokc Instagram: https://instagram.com/voicesofokc Podbean: https://voicesofokc.podbean.com/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/voices-of-okc/id1847725322 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3nUpFLOsHGVtrN8tZz6nlM Jed on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jed-chappell-7a745332/ VOICES on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/voices-of-okc/ City Center: https://okcitycenter.org/ Contact: info@voicesofokc.com Subscribe for more conversations with the people shaping Oklahoma City. Stories that help us see Oklahoma City more clearly. VOICES of OKC is a conversation platform from City Center. Through long-form interviews with local leaders, builders, artists, advocates, and neighbors, the show explores the stories shaping Oklahoma City through service, creativity, courage, restoration, and hope. City Center champions youth and families in under-resourced communities by creating empowered pathways to relief and restoration. #VoicesOfOKC #OKC #CommunityCare

    Open Vessels Oklahoma City: Joey Chappell on Practical Care

  2. Sep 24

    Kristina Mills on grief, laughter and life after Survivor

    Kristina Mills, an educator and Survivor contestant, talks about living with grief while making room for laughter, family and new challenges. She joins Jed Chappell to explore what supportive friendship can look like, how the game changed her sense of identity, and why moving forward does not mean leaving the person you miss behind. What this conversation explores - Laughter and ordinary family life after loss - How to share good news with a grieving friend - Meals, practical help and messages that need no reply - Identity beyond being a wife, mother, daughter and educator - An unexpected moment on a Survivor challenge beam Chapters 00:00 Opening and guest introduction 00:50 Life after Survivor 03:07 Finding laughter inside grief 13:14 Faith after loss 14:49 Why sharing a story matters 21:33 Making room for good news 23:11 Grief in the passenger seat 24:13 Supporting a grieving friend 27:27 Identity beyond familiar roles 29:23 The challenge on the beam 37:16 What comes next and connecting with Kristina Guest bio Kristina Mills is an educator and Survivor season 49 contestant. She describes herself as a wife and mother and discusses speaking to school audiences about her experiences. Links and resources Kristina Mills on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krismills64/ Kristina’s website: None stated; she says building one is the next step. Survivor: https://www.cbs.com/shows/survivor/ (official series page, verified separately) The Price Is Right: [Link needed] Unnamed grief platform and its New York creator: [Link needed; creator not named] Unnamed Survivor alumni events, school speaking appearance and New York play: [Link needed; no specific event, school, play title or actor named] Other named references: ChatGPT [Link needed]; Eeyore [Link needed]. No books, studies, sponsor or named guest employer mentioned. Watch + Listen: https://www.voicesofokc.com/watch-listen/ Episode hub: https://www.voicesofokc.com/episodes YouTube: https://youtube.com/@voicesofokc Instagram: https://instagram.com/voicesofokc Podbean: https://voicesofokc.podbean.com/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/voices-of-okc/id1847725322 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3nUpFLOsHGVtrN8tZz6nlM Jed Chappell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jed-chappell-7a745332/ VOICES of OKC on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/voices-of-okc/ City Center: https://okcitycenter.org/ City Center on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OKCityCenter Contact: info@voicesofokc.com Content note: Bereavement, parental addiction, postpartum depression, anxiety and a non-graphic discussion of police violence. Personal experiences are not clinical guidance. Follow VOICES of OKC in your podcast app for future conversations.

    Kristina Mills on grief, laughter and life after Survivor

  3. Sep 17

    Generational Curses: Naming the Pattern with Paula Brown

    Dr. Paula Brown, an author and Oklahoma City parent, examines generational curses and the family patterns people can mistake for normal. Drawing from her Trinidad and Tobago roots, motherhood, faith, education, and lived experience, she and Jed Chappell consider how honest recognition, safe adults, counseling, and practical choices can help interrupt a cycle without reducing a family to its hardest chapter. What this conversation explores - The difference between inherited biology and repeated family behavior - Why the “ham in the pan” story explains unquestioned habits so well - Addiction, secrecy, and the importance of naming patterns without shame - Safe, trustworthy relationships for young people - Education, mental-health support, reentry, and second chances - The sacrifices Paula made while earning degrees and raising four children Chapter markers - 00:00 Welcome and introduction - 01:22 Trinidad, family, and starting again - 03:23 The book and its five-generation cover - 04:47 The ham in the pan - 08:21 Recognizing addiction patterns - 10:41 Family secrecy and isolation - 13:59 Safe adults for young people - 16:51 Dignity beyond curriculum - 20:33 The cost of education - 30:35 Civic responsibility and reentry - 33:38 Education and poverty - 41:22 Hope for family healing Guest bio Dr. Paula Brown is the author of *Generational Curses and How They Can Be Broken*. In the conversation, she describes growing up in Trinidad and Tobago, raising four children through military moves and deployments, and earning associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees while caring for her family. Her comments connect family healing with faith, education, counseling, trustworthy relationships, and civic responsibility in Oklahoma City. Links and resources - *Generational Curses and How They Can Be Broken*: https://www.amazon.com/ — exact direct listing [verify] - Paula Brown Ryan on Facebook: [Link needed] - Millwood Public Schools: https://www.millwoodps.org/ - City Center: https://okcitycenter.org/ - Watch and listen: https://www.voicesofokc.com/watch-listen/ - Episode hub: https://www.voicesofokc.com/episodes Content note: Non-graphic discussion of addiction, family abuse, depression, incarceration, and mental health. Follow VOICES of OKC on your preferred podcast app and share this episode with a trusted adult who makes honest conversation possible.

    Generational Curses: Naming the Pattern with Paula Brown

  4. Sep 9

    Oklahoma Kickboxing's Road to the World Stage | Scott Jones

    Scott Jones, CEO of Husky Fat Promotions, is building a path for Oklahoma kickboxing from local gyms toward the international stage. He talks with Jed about turning a memorial show into a growing fight promotion, the discipline that separates trained fighters from bravado, and the pressure of building something ambitious with a small team. What this conversation explores: - The origin and growth of Husky Fat Promotions - Oklahoma's opportunity in kickboxing and striking sports - The structure of an eight-person, one-night tournament - Fear, control, and the mental side of fighting - Parenting, education, and letting children choose their own path Chapter markers: - 00:00 Welcome and Scott Jones - 00:41 From fighter and coach to promoter - 02:53 A memorial show becomes a business - 05:08 K-1 and Road to Tokyo: Part 2 - 06:12 Bricktown, Norman, and growth - 11:06 What comes next for Husky Fat - 15:35 The mental discipline of fighting - 22:01 Family and finding your own path - 27:57 What college taught Scott - 30:30 Event details and where to follow Guest bio: Scott Jones is CEO of Husky Fat Promotions, an Oklahoma City-based organization producing professional and amateur kickboxing events. K-1 identifies Husky Fat as a U.S. partner working to create opportunities for American fighters, while Husky Fat's Oklahoma events have connected local athletes with national and international competition. Links and resources: - Husky Fat Promotions: https://huskyfat.com/ - Road to Tokyo: Part 2 tickets and current event details: https://www.stubwire.com/e/39056/theroadtotokyopart2/youngfamilyathelticcenter/ - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/huskyfatpromotions/ - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@huskyfatpromotions1882 - K-1: https://www.k-1.world/ - Young Family Athletic Center: https://www.yfac.com/ - Swerve Combat: https://swerve.tv/combat/ - Pancreatic cancer foundation named by Scott: `[Link needed — exact organization not stated]` Content note: Brief discussion of pancreatic cancer, bereavement, and bar/street violence. Follow VOICES of OKC wherever you listen, and find every watch-and-listen option at https://www.voicesofokc.com/watch-listen/.

    Oklahoma Kickboxing's Road to the World Stage | Scott Jones

  5. Sep 2

    Artie Brylev on Work, Family and Battison Honda

    Artie Brylev left Russia to escape religious persecution and built a career at Battison Honda. He talks work, family, reputation and making opportunity intentional in Oklahoma City. Artie grew up in the former Soviet Union, where his religious family practiced under a system that restricted public faith. In New York, $20 in spending money gave him an early reality check. Later, a busboy job at Junior’s gave him a picture of the family life he wanted, while years of work taught him that success without character or trusted relationships does not hold. With Jed Chappell, Artie talks about leading a family-owned dealership, protecting a reputation, putting family before the office, and why Oklahoma City needs intentional places where young people can encounter mentors and real opportunity. Content note: Brief, non-graphic references to religious restriction, incarceration, addiction, and youthful legal trouble. What you’ll hear - What $20 in spending money taught Artie about expectations - Why reputation outlasts a single transaction - How family became a priority rather than an afterthought - The moment bussing tables changed the life Artie wanted - Why opportunity for young people should not be left to chance Chapters - 00:00 Welcome and Artie Brylev - 02:55 Growing up under communism - 06:09 Arriving in New York with $20 - 15:35 The illusion of instant success - 22:18 Family before the office - 25:21 Making opportunity intentional - 29:40 Building a family-owned business - 41:23 The other side of the table - 48:20 Investing in young people - 51:03 Transparency in the car business Links and Resources - Artie Brylev / Battison Honda team: https://www.battisonhonda.com/team-battison-honda-in-oklahoma-city-ok - Battison Honda: https://www.battisonhonda.com/ - City Center: https://okcitycenter.org/ - Junior’s of Oklahoma City: https://juniorsokc.com/ - Putnam City Schools Foundation: https://www.putnamcityfoundation.org/ - Eskridge Auto Group: https://www.eskridgeautomotive.com/ - Jim Norton Toyota of Oklahoma City: https://www.jimnortontoyotaokc.com/ [verify this is the location meant] - CARFAX: https://www.carfax.com/ - Victory Church: https://victory.church/ [verify this is the congregation meant] Watch and listen to VOICES of OKC: https://www.voicesofokc.com/watch-listen/   Episode hub: https://www.voicesofokc.com/episodes   YouTube: https://youtube.com/@voicesofokc   Instagram: https://instagram.com/voicesofokc   Podbean: https://voicesofokc.podbean.com/   Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/voices-of-okc/id1847725322   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3nUpFLOsHGVtrN8tZz6nlM   VOICES of OKC on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/voices-of-okc/   Jed Chappell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jed-chappell-7a745332/   Show email: info@voicesofokc.com Watch the full conversation, then share it with someone thinking seriously about leadership, family, or mentorship. Subscribe for more Oklahoma City stories. VOICES of OKC is a conversation platform from City Center. Through long-form interviews with local leaders, builders, artists, advocates, and neighbors, the show explores the stories shaping Oklahoma City through service, creativity, courage, restoration, and hope. City Center champions youth and families in under-resourced communities by creating empowered pathways to relief and restoration.

    Artie Brylev on Work, Family and Battison Honda

  6. Aug 26

    Chris Crook | The Opportunity He Wasn’t Ready For

    Chris Crook, founder of the Chris Crook Foundation and an Oklahoma City youth mentor, uses basketball mentorship to meet middle school boys on common ground. He traces the path from Millwood and McPherson College to an Oklahoma City Blue workout opportunity, then speaks candidly about entitlement, gratitude, faith, and the work of rebuilding authentically. In this conversation: - The childhood camps that shaped Chris’s sense of possibility - How the Chris Crook Foundation grew from a basketball-camp invitation - Why the mentoring relationship matters more than the drill - What the Oklahoma City Blue opportunity revealed - How faith and self-awareness changed his approach to rebuilding Chapters - 00:00 Intro - 00:23 Meet Chris Crook - 01:14 The camps that shaped him - 02:13 From Millwood to McPherson - 02:29 The Oklahoma City Blue opportunity - 02:52 How the Foundation began - 04:28 Mentoring matters more than money - 04:58 Basketball as common ground - 07:16 Impact after camp - 09:20 Not ready for the opportunity - 12:04 Rebuilding authentically - 14:28 Look up and be patient Guest bio Chris Crook is an Oklahoma City-raised former McPherson College guard, youth mentor, and founder of the Chris Crook Foundation. McPherson College athletics lists him as an Oklahoma City native and Millwood graduate and documents his collegiate play. A public 2025 profile describes his youth mentoring and basketball-training work and says he trained with the Oklahoma City Blue. Resources - Chris Crook Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/c_crook1/ `[confirm official/current]` - McPherson College athletics profile: https://macbulldogs.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/2016-17 - Oklahoma City Blue: https://oklahomacity.gleague.nba.com/ - Santa Fe Family Life Center: https://mail.sfflc.com/about/ - Kids Across America: https://kaakamps.org/ - VOICES of OKC: https://www.voicesofokc.com/watch-listen/ - City Center: https://okcitycenter.org/ Content note: Brief references to housing instability and professional disappointment. Listen to the full conversation, then share it with a coach, mentor, or parent who is helping a young person grow.

    Chris Crook | The Opportunity He Wasn’t Ready For

  7. Aug 19

    Les Thomas | The Cost of Becoming the Hype Man of Hope

    Les Thomas Sr., Urban Bridge's Executive Director of Community Engagement and Oklahoma State's Hype Man of Hope, shares what it took to move from anger without a blueprint to a life of mentorship and service. The conversation explores fatherhood, emotional growth, afterschool access, and why Oklahoma City must see potential before problems in its young people. What this conversation explores: - The personal cost behind a public life of joy - Growing up without an active father or a clear blueprint - How fatherhood, military service, and mentorship shaped Les - Urban Bridge's work with young people in Northeast Oklahoma City - Why afterschool opportunity and restorative justice matter - How Oklahoma can invest in its future leaders Chapter markers: 00:00 Meet Les Thomas Sr. 03:21 The cost behind the Hype Man of Hope 07:44 Where Les's anger began 13:38 Choosing fatherhood and the military 17:11 Military life, pressure, and leadership 24:32 Why Les keeps showing up 29:19 Urban Bridge and youth opportunity 36:40 Advocating for afterschool programs 39:32 Becoming Oklahoma State's hype man 54:45 Where Hope Culture began 1:02:43 What Les hopes for Oklahoma City's youth 1:08:11 Closing: We can win together Guest bio: Les Thomas Sr. is the Executive Director of Community Engagement at Urban Bridge and a 2026 Afterschool Ambassador. A native Oklahoman and retired Oklahoma Air National Guard veteran, he is also known as Oklahoma State University's Hype Man of Hope and works across mentoring, youth leadership, speaking, and community engagement. Links and resources: - Les Thomas Sr.: https://www.lesthomassr.com/ - Les on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/les-thomas-sr-hype-man-of-hope-400a70a6 - Urban Bridge: https://www.urbanbridge.org/ - Hope Culture Leadership: https://www.urbanbridge.org/hope-culture - Afterschool Alliance — Oklahoma: https://afterschoolalliance.org/policyStateFacts.cfm?state=OK - Oklahoma State Athletics: https://okstate.com/news/2017/8/27/general-les-thomas-joins-oklahoma-state-gameday-experience - Hope Culture clothing line: No current store or URL was stated. - Heroes In Waiting: https://heroesinwaiting.org/assemblies/ - “Will and Cubis” podcast: `[Name/spelling and link needed]` Content note: Includes non-graphic discussion of neighborhood violence, juvenile court involvement, incarceration, depression, anxiety, and absent fathers. Follow VOICES of OKC wherever you listen, and find every episode at https://www.voicesofokc.com/watch-listen/.

    Les Thomas | The Cost of Becoming the Hype Man of Hope

  8. Aug 12

    What Survives the Fire | Sabrina Smith on Loss, Hope, and Building 1155

    An apartment fire can take a home in minutes. Recovery takes much longer. Sabrina Smith joins Jed Chappell to talk about losing her home, business equipment, and irreplaceable family memories in a devastating apartment fire. With her daughters depending on her, Sabrina moved into crisis mode before she had time to process what had happened. She shares the practical and psychological realities that can follow a disaster, including the gap between immediate emergency assistance and the long work of rebuilding a stable life. That experience became part of the vision for 1155, an effort Sabrina is developing to provide temporary housing and basic necessities for people displaced by fire. The conversation also moves through Sabrina's Georgia upbringing, her creative work with Crystal Pink Events, the relationship between style and dignity, her connection to Oklahoma, and the hope she found in the middle of loss. Content note: This episode includes non-graphic discussion of an apartment fire, displacement, loss, and the emotional aftermath of disaster. WHAT YOU'LL HEAR - The night the apartment fire changed Sabrina's family life - Why parents may enter crisis mode before they can grieve - What temporary shelters and short-term assistance can miss - The need for stability, privacy, and practical support after a disaster - Sabrina's vision for 1155 - The grief of losing photographs and family history - How interior design led Sabrina into event planning - The story and creative philosophy behind Crystal Pink Events - Why Sabrina is drawn to Oklahoma City - How family, faith, and purpose helped restore hope CHAPTERS 00:00 Opening 00:23 Meet Sabrina Smith 01:42 Growing up in Georgia 03:55 Family, sports, and early influences 05:40 The fire that changed everything 07:57 Crisis mode and starting over 11:34 Serving other families while displaced 12:11 Building the vision for 1155 15:02 What emergency response can miss 15:48 The psychological side of recovery 18:40 The memories that cannot be replaced 21:57 Crystal Pink Events and Sabrina's creative work 25:45 Style, confidence, and dignity 27:10 Why Sabrina loves Oklahoma 29:20 A new chapter in Oklahoma City 30:26 Supporting others after tragedy 31:58 Finding hope after loss 33:42 Closing thoughts ABOUT SABRINA Sabrina Smith is an event planner and designer with a background in interior design. She is the creative force behind Crystal Pink Events and is developing 1155, a vision for temporary housing and practical support for people displaced by fire. CONNECT WITH SABRINA Crystal Pink Events: https://crystalpinkevents.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Crystalpevents/ Email: sabrina@crystalpinkevents.com FOLLOW VOICES OF OKC Website: https://www.voicesofokc.com/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@voicesofokc Podbean: https://voicesofokc.podbean.com/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3nUpFLOsHGVtrN8tZz6nlM Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/voices-of-okc/id1847725322 Instagram: https://instagram.com/voicesofokc VOICES of OKC is a student-produced podcast from City Center highlighting the leaders, stories, and ideas shaping Oklahoma City. City Center serves youth and families across Oklahoma City through practical support, mentorship, and relationships rooted in dignity. Through VOICES of OKC, students help tell the stories of the people shaping our city while building skills, confidence, and a deeper connection to their community. Learn more about City Center: https://okcitycenter.org/ Support City Center: https://okcitycenter.org/donate/ Follow the show wherever you listen, and share this episode with someone who cares about disaster recovery, family resilience, faith, entrepreneurship, or helping people rebuild after loss.

    What Survives the Fire | Sabrina Smith on Loss, Hope, and Building 1155
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Voices of OKC is a podcast born in the heart of Oklahoma City, recorded inside the brand-new studio at City Center, a space created to amplify the voices and stories shaping our community. Hosted by Jed Chappell, whose own journey of redemption and transformation fuels his passion for service, Voices of OKC shines a light on the people and stories that bring hope, healing, and change to our city. From community leaders to everyday heroes, each episode is an authentic conversation about resilience, faith, and the power of second chances. City Center, located in the heart of OKC, is more than just a building; it’s a hub of hope where families and youth find resources, mentorship, and support. The Voices of OKC studio extends that mission, giving our community a platform to share stories that inspire and connect. Join us as we celebrate Oklahoma City through the lens of hope, one voice at a time.

Information

  • Creator
    Jed Chappell
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    44
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 VOICES of OKC
  • Show Website
    Voices of OKC