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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 that I would love to pull out and put on a t-shirt. I am certain that one of them will make an impression on you - leave you with goosebumps. Show Notes Ann’s Website Ann’s Facebook Page Posts of a Mid-Centry Kid - link to Bookshop.org where you can buy the book and support a Kansas bookshop at the same time Topeka Kansas Lake Shawnee What You’ll Learn in this Episode
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We are 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 map that determines what portion of each state has access to broadband. The issue is that the map is not always accurate. What the Kansas Broadband Office is asking all Kansans to do is to make sure you are accurately represented on the map. So - here is what you need to do:
If you find that either of these things is wrong on the map, you’ll want to click on the link for “Location Challenge” or ‘Availability Challenge” depending on what the issue is. I wasn’t sure if I needed to do this because I’m not located in a rural area and I have broadband coverage in my home, Megan assured me that it is important that we all verify that the map is correct. The other way you can help is to get the word out. Please tell your family, friends and neighbors About this and ask them to take action. And, if you have older relatives who that may not feel comfortable using site you can help complete this challenge. Again, the deadline for making challenges to the map is January 12th 2023 so time is of the essence here. Let me tell you the important websites again: https://www.kansascommerce.gov/program/challenge/ Broadbandmap.fcc.gov
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 having a podcast. When I want to know more about something, I can do that, record it, and share it with you.
So, I hope you walk away from this episode with a better understanding about what a city manager is, what its like to run a city, and more about Herington Kansas, a small town on Hwy 56 west of Council Grove and Hwy 77 south of Junction City. Show Notes Herington Kansas Dodge City Distillery episode Bookshop.org What You’ll Learn in this Episode
How to Support the Podcast: Tell a friend about us Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite app Follow us on Instagram or Facebook Buy a Kansas Travel Journal Send us a recommendation for an episode 11/26/2022 0511: Robot Art with Joe Summers
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, but it turns out to be a travel episode as well because Joe covers so many Kansas towns and sites as part of his program. Rules for leaving robot art in the world:
Get to Know a Kansan
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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 Boller says - that libraries have become the hub of the community. If you still think that libraries are just about books, you need to get out to your local branch and see what has changed. Supporting our local Kansas libraries is a great way to support our local communities. So, I’m hoping you find out something you didn’t know, and that we maybe spark something new for you today. Show Notes Northwest Kansas Library System Northeast Kansas Library System 7 regional library systems Golf Course Superintendents Association Talking books program Lawrence Library recording studio STEAM Punk Makerspace Lab Dane G Hansen Foundation Which libraries you can get a state park pass Prairie Dog State Park The School for Rural Culture and Creativity Episode 0407: Kansas Book Festival and Author Tim Bascom Episode 0306: Kelly Yarbrough Artist What You’ll Learn in this Episode
How to Support the Podcast: Tell a friend about us Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite app Follow us on Instagram or Facebook Buy a Kansas Travel Journal Send us a recommendation for an episode 9/25/2022 Episode 0509: Kansas Meet World
Have you ever dreamed of just taking off and traveling the world? That’s exactly what my guests 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 support locals, experiencing other religions, figuring out what you can and can’t live with, and how important it is to live your life connected to those who are most important to you.. It happens to me very often that I’m someplace outside of Kansas and I run into Kansans. For the Lewison family, it happened in places like Zanzibar. We may be a fairly small population, but we show up in a lot of exotic places! What I ultimately take away from my conversation with the Lewisons is that it is important to explore the world AND our home in Kansas. Kansas Meet World Instagram What You’ll Learn in this Episode
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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 town, looking at the murals on the downtown buildings gives you a sense of the history of the town, the things that are important, and an overall sense of what the town is like. Over the years, we’ve interviewed or highlighted artists across the state, and it is really a testament to the people of Kansas that we have such a rich art tradition in our state. So, this episode is about art, and about how a town can come together to accomplish something amazing in as little as 2 years. It is also about how much pride Kansans have in our state and how much life is being lived in our smaller rural communities. Show Notes Mural Movement Facebook Page Mural Movement Instagram - Mural Movement Clay Center Mural Interactive Map Clay Center Kansas 15-24 Brewhouse website Tasty Pastry Bakery - they don’t have a website Little Mill Creek Trail Sept 2018 Get to Know a Kansan Medicine Lodge Peace Treaty Festival Gypsum Hills Episode 0108: Big Kansas Road Trip Bill Snyder Stadium Dwight D Eisenhower Museum Kansas Speedway Learn a little more about Dwight D Eisenhower in this episode: Kansans Favorite Kansans What You’ll Learn in this Episode
How to Support the Podcast: Tell a friend about us Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite app Follow us on Instagram or Facebook Buy a Kansas Travel Journal Send us a recommendation for an episode 7/23/2022 Episode 0507: Sycamore Springs
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 to Sycamore Springs. He mentioned that they were revitalizing the skating rink and we should stop in and see it. We thought - sure - let’s check this place out. You don’t hear about skating rinks much anymore.
So, we thought we were heading to a small little town with a skating rink. What we found was something we could have never imagined. You’ll learn more about it in this episode, where I interview Kent Grimm. As I say at the end of the interview - I set out to tell our listeners about this really cool place that Geoff and I found on a somewhat spare of the moment trip. But, what this episode is really about is someone who has taken on the challenge of saving a piece of history and modernizing it so that it can continue to be relevant into our future. Sycamore Springs White Tails Ranch website What You’ll Learn in this Episode
How to Support the Podcast: Tell a friend about us Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite app Follow us on Instagram or Facebook Buy a Kansas Travel Journal Send us a recommendation for an episode 6/25/2022 0506: Kansan's Favorite Kansans
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 Eisenhower, and William Stafford. Listen to the episode about Gordon Parks Watch the documentary about William Stafford What You’ll Learn in this Episode
How to Support the Podcast: Tell a friend about us Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite app Follow us on Instagram or Facebook Buy a Kansas Travel Journal Send us a recommendation for an episode 5/27/2022 0505: Opera in the Flint Hills
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, thanks to my guest, Martha Sharp, people come from across the country, and even from other countries, each July to attend the Opera Workshop in the Flint Hills. In our conversation, you’ll learn about the workshop, how it is tailored to the attendees, and maybe a little bit about opera along the way. We also talk about Martha’s career in Europe and her move to Kansas, which is a really interesting story as well. Opera Workshop in the Flint Hills website Episode 0110: Chase County Christmas Episode 0503: Dynamic Discs Episode 0212: Publishing in Kansas: Emanuel Haldeman-Julius Chief Theatre in Coldwater Kansas Granada Theatre in Emporia Folly Theater in Kansas City Lyric Opera in Kansas City Disc Golf World Championship website Girard History Museum What You’ll Learn in this Episode
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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 Kansas Eco Regions What You’ll Learn in this Episode
How to Support the Podcast: Tell a friend about us Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite app Follow us on Instagram or Facebook Buy a Kansas Travel Journal Send us a recommendation for an episode 3/26/2022 Episode 0503: Dynamic Discs
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 each season on Kansas businesses that have a national impact. Kansas has a deep history of businesses that grow beyond the state and, in a lot of cases, become a household name. Ever heard of Garmin? What about White Castle? These are just 2 businesses founded in Kansas that fall into the household name category. Dynamic Discs falls into this category. If you know about disc golf, then you know about Dynamic Discs - it is a household name within the sport. I didn’t realize that until earlier this year when something quite unexpected happened to me at my day job - you’ll hear more about it in the episode. This episode made me feel so good about the things we have going on in Kansas. The story about how Dynamic Discs grew from a dorm room start-up to an internationally known business is such an interesting story and then you throw in the community support that Dynamic Discs gives to Emporia and the community support that Emporia gives to Dynamic Discs. It’s just a great all-round story and I’m sure you will enjoy this episode. And, if you do, please tell your friends about it. It is the best way you can support the podcast. Also, you can follow us on Facebook and Instagram. And if you are a LinkedIn user, I’d love to connect with you there. You can find me at Rachel Berbiglia and just mention that you are a listener so I don’t ignore your connection request as spam. Show Notes Dynamic Discs website Halfway to Everywhere music festival What You’ll Learn in this Episode
How to Support the Podcast: Tell a friend about us Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite app Follow us on Instagram or Facebook Buy a Kansas Travel Journal Send us a recommendation for an episode 2/20/2022 0502: Make Your Own Adventure in Kansas
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 adventures you can take in Kansas. Unless you are already into adventure sports, you are going to walk away from this episode with a whole new viewpoint on our state. Links to things we talked about: Go Far: How Endurance Sports Win at Life book website Jennifer’s Instagram Jennifer’s Facebook Lexington State Park Trail Map El Dorado Lake Cheney Lake TallGrass Prairie Nature Preserve TallGrass Prairie Trail Map (Geoff and I took the Scenic Overlook Trail to the Prairie Fire Loop to the Davis Trail) Get To Know A Kansan: Wichita Kansas Toronto Lake Kayaking the Kansas River Laura Ingalls Wilder What You’ll Learn in this Episode
How to Support the Podcast: Tell a friend about us Follow us on Instagram or Facebook Buy a Kansas Travel Journal Send us a recommendation for an episode 1/23/2022 0501: Real Men Real Heroes
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 visible people as the definition of success and meaningfulness. Yet as adults we recognize the chances of anyone making a living playing professional sports or performing to a sell-out crowd in an arena is very small. As a result, it is important for kids to be exposed to all of the different ways people make a living and contribute to society and, in so doing, serve as heroes in their own right, albeit through less publicized roles, like banker, graphic designer, plumber, software developer, or entrepreneur. Real Men, Real Heroes based out of Wichita, Kansas is an organization driven by the understanding that it is important for children and young adults to see someone who looks like them engaged in activities that can excite the imaginations and interests of the youth in order to, as shared by Kyle Ellison, Executive Director of Real Men Real Heroes, Open up their minds to new ideas, new thoughts and help with the evolution of who they are becoming. In this episode, Rachel talks with Kyle Ellison and learns about the history of a program and how it has innovated and changed over time to include a broader base of Kansas children and young adults in 3rd through 8th grade opportunities to look behind the curtain and gain firsthand experience to many societal roles and functions that they may be unfamiliar with and that are often not routinely given extraordinary attention to like certain entertainment roles are given. Real Men Real Heroes website Contact <at> realmenrealheroes.org Real Men Real Heroes Instagram Real Men Real Heroes Facebook What You’ll Learn in this Episode
How to Support the Podcast: Tell a friend about us Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite app Follow us on Instagram or Facebook Buy a Kansas Travel Journal Send us a recommendation for an episode 12/11/2021 0412: Get To Know a Kansan: Lisa Stewart
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 is going to tell us about her experience meeting people and exploring Kansas at 4 mph on horseback. It is a good reminder that we all have one fundamental thing in common - we are all Kansans. Whether by birth, by choice, or by circumstance, we are all neighbors. Links from the Show: Lisa Stewart: The Big Quiet website Kansas Book Festival Episode Atwood Kansas Get to Know a Kansan Questions: Prairie Village Kansas Somerset Wine Trail Miami County Farm Tour Robert Day - The Last Cattle Drive What You'll Learn in this episode:
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11/21/2021 0411: Get to Know Kansas Small Business
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 selected 2 of these shops for today’s episode. We’ll be doing our Get to Know a Kansan format - talking to 2 Kansans about their passion - their shops - and then seeing Kansas through their eyes. Links mentioned in the show Modern Cowgirl Boutique website Modern Cowgirl Boutique Instagram Modern Cowgirl Facebook Soul Sister Ceramics website Soul Sister Ceramics Instagram Soul Sister Ceramics Facebook What you’ll learn in this episode:
How to Support the Podcast: Tell a friend about us Follow us onInstagram or Facebook Buy a Kansas Travel Journal Send us a recommendation for an episode 10/23/2021 0410: Kansas Spirits
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 and celebrate Halloween but the holiday spirit and the associated community spirit that often runs alongside the holiday. Halloween is, at least in America, sort of the official kick-off to the longer holiday season. And what do many people choose to celebrate with… other than food? You guessed. Spirits! Liquor, wine and beer. We are going to focus on two of these (liquor and beer) in this episode. Kansas has had an interesting and peculiar history with alcohol and a key figure of historical importance. Carrie Nation. And while we, as Kansans, appreciate that history, our state is arguably still haunted by her ghost. Efforts are underway to exorcise the ghost of Carrie Nation but until the rite of exorcism is completed, artisans and entrepreneurs wanting to operate within the alcohol beverage industry must possess courage and bravery. And we have a panel of three representatives from three different Kansas companies located across the state to discuss and share their company story with you. Links mentioned in the show Kansas Territory Brewing Boot Hill Distillery Boiler Room Brewery Dodge City Episode What you’ll learn in this episode:
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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 would fall into that stereotype. Instead of shaking her fist and yelling at the neighborhood kids, she looked for a way to be more creative and more positive in her approach to keep the kids off her lawn. What exactly did Elizabeth Krebs do to change culture as we know it? Well, find out in my interview with Katie Miller, President of the Hiawatha Chamber and Visitor’s Bureau. One note about the audio in this interview. There are some audio problems that I wasn’t able to fix in editing. I didn’t hear them during the actual recording, so I wasn’t able to address it at that time. My apologies about that. They aren’t going to take away from how much you will learn in the episode, I promise! Links mentioned in the episode: Halloween Frolic facebook page What You’ll Learn in this Episode:
How to Support the Podcast: Tell a friend about us Follow us on Instagram or Facebook Buy a Kansas Travel Journal Send us a recommendation for an episode 8/22/2021 0408: Svensk Hyllningsfest
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, there were 17,000 Swedes in Kansas.
Lindsborg is a town that celebrates its Swedish history, and not just during the festival. Visit any time of the year, and you’ll feel the Swedish culture everywhere you go. There is a lot to see and do in Lindsborg, and I hope you add it to your list, whether you go during the festival or at another time of year. What You'll Learn in this Episode:
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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 covering the festival, Rachel and Tim talk about Tim’s experience spending part of his childhood in Ethiopia. Tim gives us a feel for what it is like to grow up in two very different cultures and how it continues to shape him today. Links to topics discussed in the episode: Book Festival website: Kansas Book Festival Book Festival Facebook page: Kansas Book Festival - Home Tim Bascom’s website: Tim Bascom, Author – Writing my way around the world Troy, Kansas Ethiopian Restaurants on the Kansas side of the state line of the KC metro: Elsa’s - Overland Park Elsa's Ethiopian Restaurant: Home Selamta - Lenexa Selamta Ethiopian Restaurant and Bar - Restaurant in Lenexa What You’ll Learn In This Episode:
7/10/2021 Bonus Episode: Pittsburg Covid Update
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 although it meant something a little different to all of us, being able to follow the story of covid in one specific town gives us an appreciation of how we pull together to get through our toughest challenges. How to Support the Podcast:
6/24/2021 0406: Zero Reasons Why
Our topic today is a very important, very heavy one: mental health. Rachel introduces 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 mental health a normal part of our daily lives. Rachel talks with Kyra Fuchs, who is a teen council member of Zero Reasons Why. Because this is such an important topic, we want to provide some resources in case you, or someone you love is struggling with mental health issues and could use some help:
How to Get in Touch with Zero Reasons Why: Zero Reasons Why website The Playbook referenced in the episode The social media accounts for #ZeroReasonsWhy: How to Support the Podcast:
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 to be informative, entertaining, and important. Oak Grove Schoolhouse website What You’ll Learn In This Episode:
4/25/2021 0404: Prairiesta
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 Center Episode: Big Kansas Road Trip - The Experience 3/24/2021 0403: Gordon Parks: Renaissance Man
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 Parks and uncovers only a fraction of the eventful life of this Kansas-born man.
And if you’re like the Uncovering Kansas production team, then after learning a little of Gordon Parks you’ll quickly begin seeking more information. For example, after recording the interview Rachel devoured one Gordon Parks book and when finding another book by him was not in the library system’s inventory she quickly sent off an email to the library making the case for and requesting its inclusion. Enjoy the episode! And we hope to see you on the road soon as the Kansas climate warms and vaccinations are delivered and bodies and imagination that have likely been more dormant than usual for the better part of twelve months begin again to explore the world around them. Gordon Parks Museum website Books and Films by Gordon Parks Fort Scott Gordon Parks Celebration Gordon Parks Museum Facebook 7 Gordon Parks Images that Changed America - several of the images that we discussed in the episode are here |
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