It was Love Supreme Friday on the set of 1st Sky Omaha in the Morning, and hosts Paul B. and Buddy the God were determined to keep the energy exactly that — supreme. “We have to make a decision,” Paul B. told viewers as the show got underway. “It’s going to be Love Supreme Friday today. And we’re going to change our mindsets over to something else.” With that, the duo dove into a morning packed with community news, civic conversation, and one of the most compelling guest interviews the show has seen in some time.
The show opened with a look at local primary election results and a broader conversation about civic participation. Buddy the God didn’t mince words about the stakes of staying engaged. “In the long run, we got to figure this out as far as a nation, as far as this political structure,” he said. “Whether you want to be engaged in it or not, you’re a part of it. Don’t pay taxes and see what happens.” Viewer Sean McCarthy chimed in from the chat to note that Douglas County’s average primary voter turnout came in around 35% — a number that sparked reflection from both hosts. McCarthy also raised a structural concern worth sitting with: “One huge problem is so many of these positions don’t pay a living wage, so only those who can afford to hold those positions run.” Viewer Kimber Snipes added a ground-level perspective, writing that in her conversations with people between the ages of 20 and 35, “what I hear the most is most of them don’t really know what to do and know nothing about the candidates,” and suggesting the community needs more education and deep-dive discussions rather than blame.
The show also celebrated some bright spots closer to home — including a shoutout to Charell Shelton’s new diagnostic lab and the exciting news that Heart Ministry Center has an upcoming grocery store in the works for the community. Good things are growing in Omaha.
The heart of the morning, though, belonged to guest Dana Murray, director and founder of the North Omaha Music Academy (NMA), located right on North 24th Street. Originally from South Omaha, Murray spent eleven years in New York City honing his craft as a musician before returning home with a vision — and a plan. What was once known as Love’s Jazz has evolved into something far bigger: a youth music academy, a performance space, and, Murray hopes, an economic engine for North Omaha on the scale of what Omaha Performing Arts means to downtown.
“If you think of Omaha Performing Arts and what it means to downtown — not only as a cultural and music entertainment entity but as an economic vehicle that brings in $40 to $50 million in revenue every year — that’s what we’re trying to build for North Omaha,” Murray said. His ambitions don’t stop at music lessons. NMA teaches young people live sound production, broadcasting, podcasting, and how to interview professional artists. “It’s not just telling them they can be something — no, you can be this right now,” he said.
Murray was candid about what it will take to truly revitalize the North 24th Street corridor — a stretch Paul B. has long called “the most important black corner in Nebraska.” Murray laid out a clear-eyed framework: any thriving district needs the basics — housing, eateries, parking, services — but also destinations that draw people in. He floated the idea of a hotel as a game-changer, one that could support larger festivals and conferences right in the heart of the community. “A lot of stuff on North 24th Street hasn’t been sustainable,” he acknowledged. “The X’s and O’s have to make sense.”
On the question of culture as currency, Murray delivered one of the morning’s most quotable moments. “The sooner we understand that our culture is equity, that our brilliance, our artistic genius is equity, the better off we’re going to be,” he said. “Every music in America has been built off of our experience. From the hardest rock music to the jazziest jazz to the poppiest pop music — you trace it all the way back to the music that was brought over from Africa. And that’s equity.” Viewer Pops connected the thought beautifully, recalling that artists like Fats Domino once stayed at Paul B.’s grandfather’s home when coming to town to perform — a reminder that the infrastructure Murray is building has deep, personal roots in Omaha’s story.
All of this sets the stage for NMA Fest, the academy’s upcoming four-night live music celebration. Paul B. was effusive: “If I was going to put a festival together, it would look like this. Four nights of live music — this is the one.” NMA is also actively seeking music instructors who can do more than teach scales. “Unless you’re able to inspire a young person, they don’t really have the attention span for the X’s and O’s of music,” Murray said. Interested educators can reach him at dmurray@northomahmusic.org or his assistant Andrew Bailey at abailey@northomahmusic.org.
The show closed on a reflective note, with Paul B. unpacking what he called the “secondary matrix” — the idea that everything meaningful operates on a deeper level than what’s visible on the surface. “Everything that we do has a secondary meaning, a deeper meaning,” he said. “If you look at what we do right here, First Sky Omaha — on the surface, we’re a couple of talking heads that talk about some news with the community. But what we’re really trying to do is build community, build some coalition.” It was a fitting capstone to an episode that did exactly that — weaving together music, civic life, economic vision, and the quiet power of showing up for your neighbors.
Viewer Pops said it well as the weekend signed on: “Thanks for another great week of shows. You and the Chat Chimers have made First Sky a true pillar in the community.”
We couldn’t agree more. Tune in Monday morning and bring a neighbor — 1st Sky Omaha in the Morning is where Omaha shows up for itself.
