A Wichita Focus on History and Healing: Victor Hogstrom and Grant Overstake on “One on One"

Victor Hogstrom welcomes Grant Overstake on One on One (PBS Kansas). A 30-minute interview program hosted by PBS KANSAS President and CEO Victor Hogstrom. Each week, Hogstrom gets up close and personal with some of Central Kansas’ notable personalities, for a lively, fun and insightful conversation. It’s a chance for viewers to get to know the person behind the public image.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE REAL EDUCATION PROJECT

National award-winning project "The Real Education of TJ Crowley" featured on PBS Kansas

WICHITA, Kan. — Author and executive producer Grant Overstake sits down with PBS Kansas President and CEO Victor Hogstrom this week for a conversation on history, craftsmanship, and the national success of his Wichita-born project, The Real Education of TJ Crowley: Coming of Age on the Redline.

A new era of immersive learning: The 2026 Scriptbook Edition features the complete performance script for a seamless read-and-listen experience. Already an anchor in Wichita classrooms and universities, the Real Education Project is now scaling this award-winning toolkit for nationwide impact.

The 2025 Audie Award for Best Young Adult Audiobook puts TJ Crowley among the lofty ranks of great titles to win the award.

The 30-minute episode of One on One premieres Thursday, February 19th at 7:30 p.m. The interview explores how a narrative rooted in the neighborhoods along Wichita’s historic redline carried local talent to the highest stage in American publishing.

National Recognition

In 2025, the full-cast audio adaptation of the novel earned the industry's top honors, including the Audie Award for Best Young Adult Audiobook—often called the "Oscars of Audiobooks"—as well as an IPPY Gold Medal and AudioFile’s Earphones Award. The win puts TJ Crowley among the loftiest ranks of titles in modern American publishing.

A New Era of Immersive Learning

Beyond the awards, the project is sparking a new era of immersive learning. The newly released 2026 Scriptbook Edition bridges the gap between literature and performance, providing a line-for-line companion to the award-winning audio drama.

Designed to foster deep classroom engagement, this dual-media approach is already transforming history departments at the secondary level and at Wichita State University.

"It was an honor to sit down with Victor Hogstrom to discuss the real people and events that inspired this drama," Overstake said. "This project represents a decade of research, writing, and production dedicated to capturing our city’s story with the care it deserves. Bringing that journey to the national stage is a testament to the power of our local narratives."

History as a Vital Artifact

Set in 1968 Wichita, the story follows a seventh-grader whose worldview is challenged when a Black family moves in next door. Scholars and educators now recognize the project as a vital historical artifact, utilizing it to support critical discussions on redlining, bias, and civic consequence.

The production features a 15-member cast voicing 24 characters, including veteran Wichita broadcaster John Wright and Sheila Brown Kinnard. The "Sound of Wichita" is brought to life by the ARISE Ensemble, whose spirituals and gospel recordings provide the production’s emotional heartbeat.

Scaling the Mission

Our mission now moves to the national stage. Through the Real Education Project, we are scaling this award-winning toolkit for nationwide impact, ensuring educators across the country have the resources to turn complex history into meaningful classroom discovery.

Broadcast Schedule: PBS Kansas / KPTS Channel 8

  • Thursday: 7:30 p.m. (8.1 Cox 8)

  • Saturday: 5:30 p.m. (8.2 Cox 671)

  • Sunday: 4:00 p.m. (8.1 Cox 8)

  • Wednesday: 3:30 p.m. (8.2 Cox 671)

The episode is also available to stream via the PBS App and pbs.org.