Kansas is home to a lot of fun museums, and it has been a while since we featured one on the podcast. So, today, we are going to learn about the Motorcycle Museum in St Francis. For those of you with an Uncovering Kansas Travel Journal, you’ll find it on page 188. And you can follow along across Highway 36, documenting the things you see, people yo…

What would it be like to integrate the arts into a thriving and sustainable rural community? This is the question that drove my guest today to create the School for Rural Culture and Creativity in Mattfield Green. I’m talking with Matthew Regier, an artist, homesteader, and co-founder of the School. Our conversation is wide ranging – talking art, r…

Kansas is full of very interesting people and my guest today is probably at the top of the list. I’m talking with Vincent Rodiguez, a coffee roaster, chocolate maker, and bicycle manufacture based in Lenexa. I’m taking you to coffee and chocolate school with Vincent. One of the things I took away from my conversation with Vincent is that when we ar…

Today, I’m talking with Joseph Shephard from Lead for America, a national organization founded by a Kansan and headquartered in Wichita. Lead for America’s tag line is Start Where You Live – and of course I have to learn more about any organization that is trying to keep Kansans in Kansas. I thought this episode was going to be about Lead for Ameri…

You may have noticed that this month’s episode is a little shorter than normal. That’s because it didn’t start out as an episode. The Kansas Turnpike Authority contacted us about doing a public service announcement about a change they are making in July. They want to get the word out and thought our podcast would be a good avenue for that. So, the …

In today’s episode, I’m talking with Conner Hampton, Executive Director of Flagship Kansas Tech, an organization who’s mission is to propel the tech sector within the state through continuous efforts in awareness, education, and the workforce. Flagship Kansas website Ad Astra Summit website Episode: Goodland Tech Dare to do Dirt - podcast with Rolf…

In my day job, I’ve been working in the software industry for going on 10 years, and so when I hear business incubator, my mind immediately pictures a room full of developers in hoodies with headphones on typing away in the dark at a computer. But today, you and I are going to learn about a different type of business incubator in Kansas - a busines…

We’ve interviewed several authors over the years on Uncovering Kansas. And, through that process I met my guests today, Tracy Million Simmons owner and publisher of Meadowlark books and Cheryl Unruh (un roo) a well known, prolific writer who is also the editor of the 105 Meadowlark Reader, a Kansas Journal of Creative Nonfiction. When I first heard…

In this episode, I’m going to take you behind the scenes to see what it is like to be responsible for the travel and tourism bureau for a city in Kansas. My guest is Julie Roller Weeks, the Director of Abilene Convention and Visitor's Bureau. What You’ll Learn in this Episode A behind the scenes look at the role of a Director of Tourism and Vistors…

Par Uncovering Kansas

Par Uncovering Kansas

There are 1,200 Master Gardeners in the State of Kansas. But in June, there will be Master Gardeners from across the country coming to Kansas for their conference. Ever wonder what the best tomatoes are to grow in Kansas? Or how to manage Japanese Beetles. Well all of these things have one thing in common: the K-State Extension office. One of the t…

If you are a cyclist, you already know what Unbound Gravel is. If not, today, I’m going to take you into the world of cyclists and how Emporia Kansas has created an event that draws people from 45 different countries. I love to highlight how Kansans make their visions come true. Today’s episode is a great example of a small group of people who came…

Setting Kansas up to succeed in the future means diversifying into industries that have not traditionally been associated with our state. In today’s episode, you are going to learn about a Goodland company that is doing just that. I like to highlight Kansas companies that are having an impact outside of Kansas. Today’s guest is not only doing that,…

We are going to time travel in today’s episode. My guest, Ann Anderson is the author of Posts of a Mid-Century Kid, a memoir about 1950s and 60s Kansas. Today’s episode is as much about our ability to be present and appreciate what we have - in all aspects of life - as it is an episode about Kansas. There are so many quotes from Ann in this episode…

I’m trying to help the Kansas Office of Broadband get the word out about the Federal Communications Commission broadband funding deadline that is January 13 2023. It requires that you take action by the 13th to help ensure that Kansas get the appropriate allocation of Federal funding to invest in high-speed internet. The funding will be based on a …

We’ve reached the last episode of the year, and today I’m talking with Branden Dross, the City Manager for the city of Herington Kansas. I have been interested for a while in better understanding what the role of a city manager is, and so I took the opportunity to learn more for myself while sharing what I learn with you. That is the best part of h…

My guest today, Joe Summers describes Guerilla Art like this - you make a thing and put it out into the world for people to find. Joe works with his students and children to create robot sculptures that they then take to different locations around the state and leave behind for someone to find. This episode is about Joe and his robot art program, b…

Today I’m joined by Shelley O’Brien and Mary Boller, two Kansans working in the State’s library system. Reading is my primary hobby - I’m currently sitting at 76 books read so far in 2022 - so as you can imagine, this episode is going to be one I remember for a long time. What I’m hoping you take away from today’s episode is what my guest, Mary Bol…

Have you ever dreamed of just taking off and traveling the world? That’s exactly what my guests today did. 1 year, 24 countries, 4 continents…. Their Instagram account says it all: Kansas Meet World. I can’t wait for you to meet this Kansas family and learn about their gap year. This trip was about so many things - seeing the world, learning how to…

From 0 murals to 25 murals in 2 years seems like an impossible task, but that is exactly what they’ve done in Clay Center Kansas. Today I’m talking with Brett Hubka who has been spearheading the effort. I’m no art expert, but I feel like I’ve noticed a resurgence of murals in towns across the country and it is a welcome trend. Coming into a new tow…

Today’s episode came from a trip we made to Sabetha Kansas to have lunch at the Brick Street Furniture Company and Wine Lounge. Friend of the podcast, Kate Miller from Hiawatha recommended that we eat there. And, now I’m recommending it to you too. While we were at Brick Street, Dustin recommended to us that we take a trip 5 miles north of Sabetha …

We have been doing our format of Get To Know a Kansan for a while now, and thought it would be fun to focus an episode on the stories behind the people that have been named when we ask ‘who is your favorite Kansan from history?” So, in this episode, I’m going to talk about the accomplishments of Amelia Earhart, John Stuart Curry, Dwight D Eisenhowe…

Cottonwood Falls is a small town - population about 800 - a nationally and internationally known town for its music. The well known Symphony in the Flint Hills is based in Cottonwood Falls and so is the Opera Workshop in the Flint Hills. When you think of Kansas, opera probably isn’t in the top 10 - or even 100 - things that come to mind. But, than…

Monarch Watch is an internationally reaching education, conservation, and research organization dedicated to the monarch butterfly, its habitat, and its spectacular fall migration based right here in Kansas. Join Rachel in this episode where co-founder Chip Taylor takes Rachel to butterfly school. Monarch Watch website Monarch Watch Facebook page K…

Did you know that Emporia Kansas is considered to be the disc golf capital of the world? I didn’t realize it until I talked with my guests Doug Bjerkaas and Jackie Morris from Dynamic Discs, an Emporia Kansas business that sells discs and other disc golf equipment and operates events for the popular sport disc golf. I like to focus a few episodes e…

My guest today, Wichita native Jennifer Strong McConachie, has traveled around the world competing in global endurance sports. Today, we are going to talk about how she uses the Kansas outdoor landscape and weather to prepare for these competitions around the world. Whether you are sporty or not, you’ll get a lot of ideas from Jennifer for adventur…

Hero worship is a characteristic of American culture. For good and bad, it is something our society lives with. Athletes, music stars, and actors or actresses are visible roles in our modern society. And that constant visibility often encourages people to feel like they know these people and fosters a desire to imitate them. Our kids see these visi…

Uncovering Kansas was founded based on the idea that we frequently overlook the great things that are right in our back yard. As a matter of fact, right on the home page of our website is this quote from Dagobert Runes: People travel to faraway places to watch, in fascination, the kind of people they ignore at home. ​ My guest today, Lisa Stewart i…

The Saturday after Thanksgiving has become Small Business Saturday - a day set aside to encourage people to shop in small businesses. At Uncovering Kansas, we want to encourage you to not only shop small, but to shop local. Shop Kansas! Back in late summer, we asked you to nominate your favorite local business for an upcoming episode. We’ve selecte…

Happy Fall Kansas! And welcome to our October episode. We are carrying through the Halloween theme from the previous episode. When Geoff originally pitched the idea, I was sort of like “Wha? Say it again.” He wanted to focus on spirits. Several meanings contained within the word spirit. Not only the spirits we usually think about when we prepare an…

There is a stereotype about the crotchety old person who watches out their window and when kids step one foot onto their lawn, they run out onto the porch, shaking their fist and yelling ‘get off my lawn you hooligans!’ Well, today we are going to learn about a Kansan who has impacted our culture simply because she wasn’t the kind of person who wou…

This month, Rachel talks with Ryan Biergert, festival co-chair of Svensk Hillingsfest, a festival that celebrates our state’s Swedish Heritage, hosted in Lindsborg. According to the Kansas Historical Society, the first Swede arrived in Kansas in 1864, and he encouraged others to emigrate and file claims for land in what is now Lindsborg Ks. By 1890…

This month, Rachel talks with Tim Bascom, author and Executive Director of the Kansas Book Festival. The Kansas Book Festival is a great opportunity to learn about Kansas - authors who are from Kansas or write about Kansas or topics that are germane to Kansans. Spending a day at the festival will no doubt open your eyes to something new. After cove…

If you haven’t listened to our September 2020 episode which was an interview with public officials from Pittsburg Kansas about how they were managing the pandemic, I’d encourage you to go back and listen to it. This episode is a follow-up to see how things have changed since that interview. We’ve all been through this shared experience, and althoug…

Our topic today is a very important, very heavy one: mental health. I’m going to introduce you to a very important and innovative program in Kansas that is working to make the stigma that surrounds talking about mental health issues a thing of the past. Zero Reasons Why is a program that is teaching teens the skills they need to be able to make men…

Built in 1877, the Oak Grove Schoolhouse has been a gathering place for the community of Lincoln Township for generations. In this episode, Rachel talks with Cary Pruitt and Roger Pruitt from the Oak Grove Schoolhouse Historical Society. Part Family history, part Kansas history, partly a story about family legacy, we think you'll find this episode …

This month, Rachel talks with Connie Blanke about Prairiesta, a festival that happens every 10 years in Russell, Kansas. Whether you are able to make it out to the festival or not, you'll learn a lot about community spirit, the importance of honoring our history, and what it takes to put together a festival. Prairiesta website Deines Cultural Cente…

In this episode of Uncovering Kansas, Rachel interviews guest Kirk Sharp of the Gordon Parks Museum. For many the name Gordon Parks will be familiar. To others, only a vague recollection. And for some the name will be unknown entirely. No matter which group you are in, come along for the ride and join in and listen as Rachel learns about Gordon Par…

In this episode, Rachel chats with Kansas resident and fellow podcaster Landon Huslig of Wichita Life ICT. They discuss cultural aspects and details of Wichita and create from the specific a backdrop for a broader, more personal, discussion about their passion and support of Kansas, generally, including a similar objective each has for their respec…

In this month’s episode of Uncovering Kansas Rach talks with Grammy-nominated musical artist Jan Kraybill. If y’all could have seen Rachel’s eyes when she slotted this interview. She doesn’t geek out over too many things. Rachel is pretty level-headed. But she does enjoy a classical music concert, there’s no denying that. When Geoff, our co-produce…

In this month’s episode, Rachel talks with Deb Kohn and Cheryl Germann, Co-Coordinators of the Poetry Out Loud program in Kansas. They uncover the way that Kansas students can compete while also learning about poetry and performance. Kansas Poetry Loud website Watch Sarah Katsiyiannis, Khadija Ceesay, and Santiago Vasquez Poetry Out Loud Kansas Fac…

In this month’s episode, Rachel talks with Tony Helfrich, Director of Adventure Programs at McPherson College. They uncover the way that a passion for Kansas outdoors can add to the richness of experience for students at McPherson, while also teaching them life skills along the way. McPherson College Bulldog Adventures - @mcbulldogadv (instagram & …

In this month’s episode, Rachel talks with Stephen Bridenstine of the Flint Hills Discovery Center. Rachel uncovers the draw of the place. Hint: it sounds as though it caters to all ages, nature lovers and science lovers. The center is located in Manhattan, KS and so it can be both a destination in its own right as well as temporary exploratory sto…

Hello, Kansas! Uncovering Kansas Podcast co-producer Geoff here, with this month’s show notes. I pitched the idea for this month’s episode to Rach back in late May and, paraphrasing now, it went a little something like this: “Not now,” I had said. “I understand things are still in a fragile state. But when we start to come out of the pandemic, I th…

Rachel sits down with kristopher swanson from The Neighboring Movement, a Wichita based community development organization to talk about how to uncover the unique assets you have in your own neighborhood. There is a parallel between the mission of Uncovering Kansas: to inspire Kansans to learn more about the gifts we have within our state, and the …

Your co-producer, Geoffrey, here with show notes for the latest episode of Uncovering Kansas. Rachel talks with the hosts of the WORST COMIC PODCAST EVER. A fabulous episode of nerdom and the sharing of shared passions. If I were writing a comic book script for these guys and their show it would begin like this: Summary Three longtime friends have …

Greetings Uncovering Kansas listeners and supporters. June 2020's episode is about art and science and connections. Rachel sits down and talks with Kelly Yarbrough, an artist and a Kansan by choice. Of course, Kelly discusses her artistic process. She also talks about how the seasons and science of Kansas influences her creative effort. What become…

There is no ‘they’ that fixes what needs fixing, or improves what needs improving. There is ‘us.’ You. And me. Kansans understand this. In this month’s episode Rachel talks with Lisse Regehr of Thrive Allen County, an organization convening, coordinating, and championing the ideas and efforts of Allen County residents. Listen to examples of a commu…

In April 2020’s episode of Uncovering Kansas, Rachel talks with Kansan Sage Scott, a travel blogger. They talk about travel vs vacation; of inspiring someone to travel and explore rather than attempting to influence visiting a specific spot or locale; and they give shout-outs and share BIG love for Abilene and Nicodemus Kansas. Sage Scott arrived i…