City of McAlester Podside Chats

No Joke! We Have Bonus Episodes

If you missed a recent radio interview about the City of McAlester, don’t worry — we’re bringing them straight to Podside Chats and that's no joke! We appreciate McAlester Radio for helping us spread the word about what’s happening in our city and for letting us share the good word here with supplemental episodes we're calling Radioside Chats.

Return Of The Doug — Doug’s Aquatic Empire

In the grand saga of McAlester’s public pools, one man stands between order and chaos—Doug Basinger. Dave and Adrian dive into the legend of his aquatic empire, complete with tales of fishing for picnic tables, rogue splash pad rebels, and lifeguard employment diplomacy.

One Does Not Simply Walk Into a TIF District

Setting up a TIF district is a lot like entering Mordor—difficult, dangerous, and filled with mysterious forms that no one seems to quite understand.You can’t just stroll in; it requires careful planning, negotiation, and making sure the budget doesn't explode like Mount Doom. This week, Mayor Justin Few and former mayor John Browne return to talk TIFs.

One Man, 17 Parks, And Too Many Ducks: The Chronicles of Doug

Running 17 parks sounds peaceful, until you're the one fixing mysteriously broken playgrounds, battling never-ending vandalism and questioning what exactly people do in public restrooms. In this episode, Community Services Director Doug Basinger takes us behind the scenes of McAlester’s Parks and Rec, from unexplainable maintenance disasters to the occasional McDonald’s-fueled mutant duck disturbances.

Wait…I’m The Guest?! Mayor Few Flips The Script

This week, City Manager Dave Andren breaks down his job into four core functions: man, train, equip, and execute…fueled by excessive amounts of coffee and a passion for right.

Two Mayors Walk Into a Podcast…

What happens when McAlester’s current and former mayors sit down for a chat? City Manager Dave Andren and PIO Adrian O’Hanlon III host Mayor Justin Few and former Mayor John Browne to talk about vision and the future of McAlester.

Welcome to Podside Chats

Welcome to Podside Chats, the official podcast of the City of McAlester! In this debut episode, we introduce what Podside Chats is all about—bringing you conversations with city leaders, community partners, and local experts to keep you informed about the issues that matter most. Whether it’s city projects, upcoming events, or behind-the-scenes insights, we’re here to keep you connected. Tune in and stay engaged with your city!