Rachel describes herself as a self-proclaimed Kansas Ambassador as does this month’s guest, Bryan Lisbona. Bryan is driven by the philosophy #lovewhereyoulive, and he invests in that philosophy and takes daily steps to live his truth. Through our conversation listeners will uncover details of Bryan and his family’s journey into small town life after their decision to leave one of the state’s (sub)urban areas. Listeners uncover the benefits of smaller towns, and why Kansas offers distinctive qualities of life such as knowing your neighbors, the ability - perhaps necessity - to get involved and impact your town in concrete ways, and living in communities whose energy wellspring is generated by the various personalities and characteristics and actions of the town-folk themselves, not by the depth of restaurant reservation wait-lists and number of new openings of entertainment venues.
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We talked and uncovered A LOT, so the ‘links in the show notes” are pretty long!

Iola, KS
DeSoto, KS
Space Station
Nick Hague - Astronaut
Kinfolk Created 
Kinfolk Creative 
Nace Brothers
Garnett
Chanute  
Humboldt 
Thrive Kansas 
Le Harp 
Gas, KS 
Kansas Sampler Foundation 
Uncovering Kansas: Big Kansas Road Trip 2019 episode 
Uncovering Kansas episode (featuring Gypsum Hills) 
Johnathan Adams 
Flint Hills Discovery Center 
​Johnson County Museum

We are sharing a short BONUS episode with listeners about an event our new friends at the Kansas State Historical Society (KSHS) are hosting. Rachel offers listeners a chance to follow along her first steps as she discovers who and what the KSHS is and does by talking with Bethany Falvey and Katrina Ringler. Some focus is directed at special KSHS programming happening in Dodge City, KS in September 2019.
Event registration
Facebook Event

David Hanzlick is a native Kansan who has written a book titled Benevolence, Moral Reform, Equality: Women’s Activism in Kansas City, 1870-1940. Most of us have forgotten that the women’s movement started long before we started burning our bras in the 1960s. In the early days of Kansas City —when we were still a frontier town and a newly forming society— the women of Kansas City had a national voice in the push for equality under the guise of moral reform. This was the generation that brought child labor laws to the mainstream, introduced the concept of public kindergartens, and was successful in getting women seated on school boards for the first time.
We should never take for granted today the hard fought progressive milestones won in the days when Kansas City was beginning to be a railroad hub for the nation. David has brought together the story of how these women fought for equality, with the objective of ensuring a safe and positive home environment for their families.

[Update and disclosure: During the interview of David, Rachel mentions her (then upcoming) plans to climb Mount Sunflower as part of the 2019 Big Kansas Road Trip (BKRT). Due to two serious events affecting two different family members, she and Geoff were unable to attend the 2019 BKRT and they have yet to climb Mount Sunflower. A travel scheme meant to rectify this situation is being developed.]
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Benevolence, Moral Reform, Equality - Women's Activism in Kansas City, 1870-1940
 
Sheffield Place
Belleville Kansas
Belleville High Banks Track
North Central Kansas Free Fair
Works Progress Administration
Jerusalem Park
Mount Sunflower
Worlds Largest Concrete Prairie Dog – now closed, but check out Prairie Dog State Park instead
Sternberg Museum
Fort Larned
Pawnee Indian Museum
Carrie Nation
Carrie Nation Home in Medicine Lodge

Once upon a time…

That’s a classic way to begin a story. And it’s the right way to begin this episode.

We’re certain listeners will uncover something interesting about this Kansas event. Please note that this year’s event is scheduled for April 26 and 27, 2019.
Kansas Storytelling Festival website