Podcast
Ask A Kansan
Hosted by Ask A Kansan · EN
A podcast focusing on the perspectives, lives, and stories of Kansans to provide greater insight into the state we all call home.
16episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
4 Days in Kansas | Building Community Culture with Brad Anderson
3d ago00:56:30Tap to summarizeHow do you build a city's cultural identity — and why does it matter more than you might think?We sit down with Brad Anderson, Executive Director of Salina Arts and Humanities, the only city department of its kind in Kansas. Brad shares why Salina has been investing in arts and culture since 1966, what's at stake as the city embarks on a new cultural plan called The Big Picture, and why the Smoky Hill River Festival — celebrating its 50th anniversary this year — is so much more than a street fair. Then our producer Alicia joins us to pull back the curtain on Four Days in June, a documentary film five years in the making that captures what the River Festival truly means to the people of Salina.HighlightsSalina is the only city in Kansas with a standalone Department of Arts and Culture — on par with parks, public works, and policeThe new cultural plan "The Big Picture" will produce a 10-year roadmap for Salina's arts and cultural life by end of 202670% of Stiefel Theatre ticket sales come from outside Saline County — the arts are an economic engineThe River Festival turns 50 this year (May 11–14) — admission is $15 in advance, $20 at the gate, and kids 11 and under are FREEThe Festival Families First program provides free four-day wristbands to anyone who identifies as financially limitedFirst Treasures — the program where kids shop for art on their own — has been running for 25 years, and some of those kids are now adult patronsRoughly 2,000 volunteers buy their own wristbands and power the festival — without them, admission would be closer to $75Sculpture Tour Salina is in its 16th year; Boom Salina has brought over 35 murals to the city in just five yearsFour Days in June premieres July 9 with a private screening, then screens at the Salina Art Cinema July 10–15Chapters0:00 — Pre-show: Sydney's dad and his new drone2:16 — Welcome & episode intro: a two-part show3:13 — Meet Brad Anderson: lifelong Kansan, exec director of Salina Arts & Humanities4:00 — What is Arts & Humanities — and what makes Salina unique?10:30 — The Cultural Plan: from the Wolfe Report to The Big Picture17:56 — Private sector arts: Sculpture Tour Salina & Boom Salina20:00 — Art you don't have to love: the value of public sculpture and civil dialogue24:05 — River Festival week is here24:36 — What IS the River Festival? A 50-year origin story27:18 — Pricing, access, Festival Families First & volunteers31:06 — First Treasures: teaching kids to be art patrons40:36 — Post-interview reflections: Brad in the community42:30 — Meet Alicia: producer at Fyli, director of Four Days in June45:39 — Four Days in June: the film's name, form, and philosophy47:50 — How they chose their interview subjects & building a diverse perspective51:00 — Where to see the film, streaming plans & cultural release strategy53:20 — How to get involved & closingResourcesSalina Arts & HumanitiesSmoky Hill Museum Smoky Hill River FestivalSculpture Tour SalinaBoom SalinaStiefel TheatreSalina Art Cinema — Screening Four Days in June4 Days in June — The documentary filmLearn more about the podcast at askakansan.com!This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net
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Keeping Auctions Alive with Lori Rogge | Chanting Kansan
1w ago01:01:04Tap to summarizeWhat does it take to build a life — and a career — that touches nearly every corner of one state? This week we sit down with Lori Rogge, one of a handful of female auctioneers in Kansas, to talk about growing up across the state, learning the chant, and how a 22,000-acre Flint Hills ranch ends up on the internet.HighlightsSydney's grandfather was such a loyal auction customer that the auction house retired his bidder number — and it's now engraved on his gravestoneLori's parents, Gene and Connie Francis, founded Gene Francis & Associates in 1984 and have since built a global auction reach — including clients from Belgium, the UK, and Chihuahua, MexicoLori attended Worldwide College of Auctioneering in Mason City, Iowa — and her very first auction as an auctioneer was a $10,000 paintingThe auction industry has moved dramatically online; Gavel Roads Online Auctions launched in 2016 and was perfectly positioned when COVID hit in 2020There are only three or four female auctioneers in Kansas outside of Kansas CityThe SNL skit featuring auctioneer-speak went viral — and Lori loved every second of itThe National Auctioneers Association is actually headquartered in Overland Park, KansasJordy Nelson (Green Bay Packers) grew up in Leonardville, and his family's Nelson Family Community Foundation is active in the communityHistoric Lake Scott State Park in western Kansas sits on the only known Native American pueblo in Kansas, dating to the 1600sFlint Hills Trail State Park is the eighth longest rail trail in the entire United StatesChapters0:00 – Grandpa Auction Hoard1:09 – Bomb Shelter Safe2:21 – Welcome / Intro to Lori3:35 – Meet Lori Rogge4:05 – Growing Up Kansas8:25 – Why Leonardville10:40 – Career Path Shift13:58 – Building Online Auctions16:58 – Learning the Chant27:40 – Chant Mechanics35:51 – Reading the Room36:10 – Auctions Going Online (Estate Sales & Collectibles)33:27 – Estate Plans & Loyal Clients36:04 – From Onsite to Online37:00 – Auctioneers in Small Towns40:40 – Why She Gives Back44:16 – Rural Riley County Community Foundation49:19 – Women Grow the Farm52:02 – Hosts Reflect on Auctions52:54 – State Park Guessing Game44:09 – Historic Lake Scott State Park1:00:25 – Final Wrap & Call to ActionResources MentionedGene Francis & Associates – Lori's family real estate and auction company, founded in 1984Gavel Roads Online Auctions – Online auction bidding platform launched by the Francis family in 2016Worldwide College of Auctioneering – Where Lori earned her auctioneer's license; locations in Mason City, Iowa and ColoradoKSU Foundation – Kansas State University Foundation, where Lori worked in gift and estate planning from 2005 to 2015Kansas 4-H Foundation – Lori has consulted for this organizationNelson Family Community Foundation – Founded by the family of Jordy Nelson (K-State and Green Bay Packers), based in LeonardvilleFlint Hills Discovery Center – Manhattan, KS museum with an exhibit on the auctioneer chantNational Auctioneers Association – Headquartered in Overland Park, KansasRails-to-Trails Conservancy – Organization that rail-banked and helped develop the Flint Hills Trail beginning in 1995Learn more about the podcast at askakansan.com!This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net
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Spinning and Serving with DJ Carbon | Vibin' Kansan
2w ago00:55:32Tap to summarizeWhat happens when a kidney stone saves your life and challenges you to chase your dreams? That's exactly what happened to James Bobetsky — known to most of Wichita as DJ Carbon. After 21 years in the corporate world, a cancer diagnosis, a surprise reconnection with his biological family, and a pandemic, Carbon made the leap to full-time DJ at 40. And he hasn't looked back since.HighlightsOak Grove Radio 98.5 out of Minneapolis now airs Ask a Kansan every Sunday at 9 AM — a shoutout to the station for helping expand the show's reach beyond the podcast worldDJ Carbon (James Mlavsky) has been a full-time DJ for seven years, based in Wichita — doing events, weddings, corporate gigs, and deeply embedding himself in the city's cultural sceneCarbon grew up on Long Island, NY, immersed in vinyl records, hip-hop, punk, and ska before moving to Wichita his senior year of high school — a move he initially hated and now wouldn't trade for anythingHe breaks down what it really means to "know your audience" and "read the room" — and why a DJ who shows up with a pre-planned set isn't really DJingA kidney stone led to a cancer diagnosis in 2018 — and while waiting for surgery, he discovered his biological family through 23andMe. Within six months: cancer surgery, meeting blood relatives for the first time, and getting marriedHe went full-time as a DJ in November 2019 — right before COVID — and pivoted to selling robot lamps to survive the shutdownCarbon has donated his time to dozens of nonprofits including Tallgrass Film Festival, American Cancer Society, Blood Cancers United (Wine About Cancer), Wichita's Littlest Heroes, Wichita Animal Action League, and the Humane SocietyFive days after kidney surgery — gauze, scars and all — he showed up to DJ a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society because he personally needed to be thereHis "DJ 101" social media series shares life and business lessons under the guise of DJ wisdom, and has generated more response than almost anything else he's postedHe names Carry Nation & The Speakeasy, Rudy Love Sr. and Jr., and the late Jenny Wood as the soundtrack of KansasChapters0:03 – Radio Shoutout: Oak Grove Radio 98.5 airs the podcast1:27 – Show Intro & Tease: Introducing DJ Carbon2:44 – Meet DJ Carbon4:03 – Life as a Full-Time DJ5:35 – Music Roots and Influences8:39 – New York to Wichita11:14 – Keeping Up With Music16:04 – Know Your Audience21:39 – Going Full-Time After Cancer26:35 – Origin of DJ Carbon27:58 – Aux Cord Versus DJ29:47 – Nonprofit DJ Impact31:54 – Surgery Gig Dedication35:50 – Branding and Visibility38:37 – Family Life Balance37:57 – Consistency and Corporate Bookings38:37 – DJ 101 Mentorship41:09 – Kansas Soundtrack Picks44:32 – Where to Find DJ Carbon46:06 – Hosts Reflect on DJs47:40 – Where in the Rectangle? (State Parks Edition)48:05 – Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park50:38 – Mushroom Rock State Park52:15 – Elk City State Park54:38 – Final WrapResources MentionedOak Grove Radio 98.5 (Minneapolis) – oakgroveradio.com (airs Ask a Kansan every Sunday at 9 AM)DJ Carbon – Facebook, Instagram and https://djcarbon.com/Wichita River Festival – https://wichitariverfest.com/Tallgrass Film Festival – tallgrassfilm.orgWichita's Littlest Heroes – wichitaslittlestheroes.comWichita Animal Action League – https://waalrescue.org/Humane Society of the United States – https://kshumane.org/Carrie Nation & The Speakeasy – https://www.cnsict.com/Rudy Love Sr. & Rudy Love Jr. – https://rudylove.com/Jenny Wood – https://jennywoodmusic.com/Learn more about the podcast at askakansan.com!This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net
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Language, Culture, and Community with LeLan Dains | UnBound Kansan
3w ago01:06:18Tap to summarizeWhat happens when a white guy from a small Kansas town becomes the bridge-builder between Spanish-speaking and English-speaking communities — and somehow also changes the global cycling industry along the way? LeLan Dains is one of the most fascinating people we've had on this show, and honestly, we almost undersold him. As the executive director of Kansas Spanish Speakers, LeLan has spent years breaking down barriers, building trust with immigrant communities, and proving that opportunity doesn't leave rural Kansas — it waits there for the right person to claim it. Oh, and he co-founded what is now the world's premier gravel cycling event. From Emporia. On gravel roads. We told you.HIGHLIGHTSLeLan's motto for Kansas Spanish Speakers: "Sí, cómo no" — yes, of course. Whatever you need, they'll help you get there or find someone who can.Kansas Spanish Speakers serves both Spanish speakers AND English speakers — because a bridge needs two solid banks. They offer immigration documentation help, health insurance navigation, driver's license assistance, Spanish classes, custom business training, and community workshops.LeLan's origin story: he froze like a deer in headlights trying to order in Spanish at a Mexican restaurant after six months of studying — and that embarrassing moment sparked an entire nonprofit.The Kansas Health Foundation invested $1 million over 10 years in Kansas Spanish Speakers through their Building Power and Equity Partnership. Since 2022, Kansas has moved up three consecutive spots in national health rankings.LeLan addresses the elephant in the room — yes, he's a blue-eyed white guy leading a Latino-serving nonprofit. His answer is honest, thoughtful, and worth hearing.The issue of children being used as translators for their parents in medical, legal, and financial situations — why it's inappropriate, and what Kansas Spanish Speakers is doing about it.Emporia became the first certified Welcoming Community in Kansas, with LeLan's organization leading the effort. Dodge City and KCK have since followed.LeLan co-founded Dirty Kanza — now rebranded as Unbound Gravel — which draws 5,000+ riders from 40+ countries to the Flint Hills every year. The event literally crashed the internet and now runs on a lottery system.Gravel cycling didn't exist 15 years ago. Unbound Gravel helped create the entire category — and now the Tour de France has a gravel stage.Kansas has 98,000 miles of gravel roads. That's not a typo.LeLan's message to rural Kansas kids: a blank canvas isn't empty — it's an opportunity to paint whatever you want.CHAPTERS0:00 — Ditch Flower Season0:55 — Numb Fingertips Story1:36 — Stratica Salt Rock4:17 — Welcome to Ask a Kansan5:16 — Meet LeLan Dains6:31 — What Kansas Spanish Speakers Does7:20 — Services and Programs8:36 — How It All Started10:16 — Going Statewide13:04 — Partners and Health Impact16:53 — Imposter Syndrome and Privilege19:43 — Rebrand and Mission Shift22:27 — Spanish Dialects and Slang26:05 — Working With Businesses32:15 — Kids as Translators38:24 — How Service Changes You41:39 — Learning English Together40:32 — Rural Kansas Roots42:28 — Recreation Career Path43:12 — Coming Home to Build46:35 — Unbound Gravel Explained48:26 — Why the World Comes54:49 — Where to Learn More56:35 — Post Interview Reflections58:24 — Mystery Knick Knack Game1:05:50 — Final Wrap and ThanksRESOURCESKansas Spanish SpeakersUnbound GravelKansas Health FoundationBuilding Power and Equity Partnership (Kansas Health Foundation)Kansas Leadership CenterBig Brothers Big SistersWelcoming AmericaMaxwell Wildlife RefugeStrataca — Kansas Underground Salt MuseumEmporia State UniversityFrost Valley YMCACarmichael Training SystemsCurious Kansan NewsletterKansas Spanish Speakers intro videoLeading Health Podcast - from the Kansas Health FoundationLearn more about the podcast at askakansan.com!This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net
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Arts Advocacy with Sarah VanLanduyt | Creative Kansan
May 400:51:49Tap to summarizeWhat does it really take to keep the arts alive in Kansas — and why does it matter more than you might think?Sarah VanLanduyt wears a lot of hats. As Executive Director of the Arts Council of Johnson County, a Kansas Arts Commissioner, and Board Chair of the Kansas Arts Network, she's one of the people quietly fighting to make sure the creative industries across the state have the funding, infrastructure, and advocacy they need to thrive. In this conversation, we unpack how arts funding actually works at the state level, why artists need advocates in their corner, and how the Kansas Arts Network has built something remarkable in just a few years.HIGHLIGHTSSarah's winding path from history and museum management into the arts world — and why the two have more in common than you'd thinkHow the Arts Council of Johnson County operates between the nonprofit and government worlds with just a team of twoThe Kansas Arts Commission's grant funding model and why it's a dollar-for-dollar match with local communitiesHow Sarah helped grow the Kansas Arts Commission budget from roughly $100,000 to significantly more through grassroots advocacyThe Kansas Arts Network annual conference and the culture of openness and collaboration it's built across the stateWhy the arts are more than aesthetic — they support mental health, workforce development, veteran transition, and community identityThe importance of artists and policy thinkers working together to communicate a compelling storyKansas outlaws: the Dalton Gang, John Wesley Hardin, Henry Newton Brown, William Quantrill, the Bloody Benders, and Mysterious Dave Mather — plus two truths and a lie for eachCHAPTERS0:00 – Intro: The Pale Blue Dot Pin & Carl Sagan1:50 – Welcome & Guest Tease3:30 – Meet Sarah VanLanduyt4:07 – Sarah's Kansas Roots & Journey5:20 – Why the Arts? Her Unexpected Path7:57 – The Arts Council of Johnson County: Mission & Work10:12 – The Kansas Arts Commission: Funding & Sarah's Role15:03 – The Kansas Arts Network & Statewide Collaboration23:36 – Avoiding Burnout & Refueling the Tank25:52 – Hope for the Future of Arts in Kansas27:01 – Making the Case for Arts to Legislators29:26 – How Art Sparks Community Connection34:08 – Where in the Rectangle: Outlaws of the Old West34:48 – The Dalton Gang & Coffeyville37:21 – John Wesley Hardin in Abilene39:18 – Henry Newton Brown: Marshall Turned Outlaw41:37 – William Quantrill & the Lawrence Raid44:25 – The Bloody Benders: Kansas' Frontier Horror Story46:23 – Mysterious Dave Mather of Dodge City50:39 – Outro & How to Bring Ask a Kansan to Your OrganizationRESOURCESArts Council of Johnson County: https://www.artsjoco.orgKansas Arts Commission: https://www.kansascommerce.gov/program/kansas-creative-arts-and-industries-commission-kcaic/Kansas Arts Network: https://kansasartsnetwork.orgSalina Arts & Humanities: https://www.salinaarts.comLearn more about the podcast at askakansan.com!This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net
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Discover the Flint Hills with Stephen Bridenstine
Apr 2700:52:11Tap to summarizeWhat do fire, bison, and star bonds have in common? They're all part of this week's conversation about the Flint Hills — and honestly, it's one of those episodes that makes you want to book a trip to Manhattan, Kansas immediately. We sat down with Stephen Bridenstine, Director of the Flint Hills Discovery Center, to talk about what it really takes to understand one of the most unique — and misunderstood — landscapes in America. Stephen came to Kansas by choice (his words), and 12 years later, he's still here and still learning. HighlightsA young sports broadcaster from Quinter, Kansas is going viral for taking audience-submitted phrases and slipping them seamlessly into live play-by-play — and it is absolutely worth your timeStephen Bridenstine moved to Manhattan, Kansas sight unseen, driving a moving van down Highway 177 with everything he owned — and the first thing he saw was the Flint Hills Discovery CenterThe Flint Hills Discovery Center isn't just a history museum or a nature center — it intentionally tells an interconnected story spanning 13,500 years of human and natural historyRanching in the Flint Hills actually mimics what bison did for thousands of years — and it's essential to the health of the tallgrass prairie ecosystemFire isn't a threat to the Flint Hills. It's a tool. Stephen once had to explain this live on the Weather Channel.The Discovery Center's star bond project was so successful, the bonds were paid off years ahead of schedule — which funded a second museum right across the streetThe Flint Hills Festival draws over 9,000 attendees and is the one day per year the Discovery Center is free to the publicThe Flint Hills covers 4 million acres — roughly the size of New Jersey — stretching from the Nebraska border to OklahomaSydney went to boarding school in Missouri, where a third of her class was international students. Gus's claim to fame was "most likely to do something sciencey."Chapters0:00 – Hilarious Sports Broadcaster from Quinter2:42 – Podcast Intro & Guest Tease3:15 – Meet Stephen Bridenstine3:48 – Kansan by Choice: Stephen's Story5:34 – Life in a College Town8:15 – From the Park Service to Museum Work11:13 – Inside the Flint Hills Discovery Center11:49 – Exhibits and Visitor Flow15:42 – From Educator to Director19:33 – Learning the Flint Hills22:35 – Flint Hills Festival Highlights25:55 – How the Discovery Center Was Built28:29 – Downtown Redevelopment Wins30:22 – Planning a Flint Hills Trip31:33 – Public Prairie Access Tips33:43 – Stay Overnight and Explore34:36 – Ranching Mimics Bison37:13 – Fire as a Tool38:14 – Discovery Center Events40:07 – Kid-Friendly Highlights at the Center41:10 – Celebrity Guessing Game (Kansas Edition)49:20 – Scholars Bowl Deep Cuts51:38 – Final Thanks and PlugsResources MentionedFlint Hills Discovery Center — Manhattan, KansasTallgrass Prairie National Preserve — Strong City, Kansas (National Park Service & The Nature Conservancy)From the Land of Kansas — Kansas-made products program (featured in Episode 53)SB Mowing — Spencer, Kansas-based viral mowing content creatorBlank.in.a.ship — TikTok account of the Quinter sports broadcaster featured at the top of the episodeJim Richardson on Episode 20 of Ask A KansanLearn more about the podcast at askakansan.com!This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net
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Made Right Here with Sammy Gleason | From the Land of Kansas
Apr 2000:48:39Tap to summarizeWhat's actually in that "Made in Kansas" gift box — and why it matters more than you think.Kansas has been growing, raising, and producing world-class products for nearly 50 years under one of the most underrated state trademark programs in the country. Sammy Gleason from the From the Land of Kansas program joins us to unbox the special Kansas 250 gift box — and what comes out of it tells a surprisingly complete story about who we are as a state. From kettle corn and sandhill plum jelly to red wine chocolate sauce and freeze-dried space ice cream, we explore the hidden gems that Kansans are making right in our own backyard. Then we get into something a little more contentious: the Kansas state flag. We share flag designs from our team and from our listeners — and make the case for why the flag you fly says more about a state than the seal printed on it.HighlightsThe Kansas 250 special edition gift box and everything packed inside it — including who packed it and why that mattersFrom the Land of Kansas is a 48-year-old state trademark program that's free to join for any Kansas farm, ranch, or small businessProducts need an agriculture tie to qualify — even candles have to contain lavender or soyThe online marketplace at fromthelandofkansas.com ships Kansas products to 46–47 states during the holiday seasonRetail stores carrying 3 or more From the Land of Kansas products can become members — including Prairie Land Market in Salina and Wilkins Acres in AbileneProduct gaps the program is looking to fill: sunflower seeds and crackersKansas wine is growing — a wine trail is in the works in the Manhattan/Alma areaThe program's gift boxes were a first among state branded programs — and other states followed their lead50th anniversary of the program is coming up in about 2 yearsThe North American Vexillological Association's five rules of good flag design — and how the Kansas state flag stacks upHighlights from Manhattan, Kingman, and Park City's flag designs — and why they workFlag redesign submissions from the Ask a Kansan team and listenersChapters0:00 – Cold Open: Funny Socks1:16 – Episode Intro & Made in Kansas Preview2:10 – Sammy Gleason Joins the Show2:37 – Kansas 250 Gift Box Unboxing6:53 – What Is From the Land of Kansas?7:30 – Sammy's Career Path to the Program9:25 – Kansas Roots and How She Got Into Marketing12:45 – Membership Process and the Online Marketplace14:56 – Road Trips and Small Town Cafes21:08 – Beyond Food: Non-Food Products and Other State Programs22:01 – How the Trademark Sticker Works24:08 – What Products Are Missing25:10 – Shelf Stable and Pop-Up Considerations26:13 – Flint Hills Pints & Freeze-Dried Space Ice Cream27:21 – Making Kansas Products Stand Out28:40 – Kansas Wine Tour Ideas31:30 – Retail Partners Across Kansas28:48 – Shipping Gift Boxes Nationwide30:11 – Next Big Program Goals31:05 – What Kansas Producers Are Like32:52 – Post-Show Product Curiosities33:36 – How to Be a Podcast Guest34:23 – Flag Design Rules Recap36:06 – Best Kansas City Flags39:31 – Team Flag Redesigns44:22 – Viewer Flag Submissions48:13 – Why Flags Matter50:03 – Submit Your Flag Design51:20 – Final Wrap & ThanksResourcesFrom the Land of Kansas — state trademark program for Kansas-grown, raised, and produced productsSchlaegel's Popcorn — kettle corn featured in the Kansas 250 gift boxCocoavino — red wine chocolate sauce, Overland ParkFlint Hills Pints — Kansas ice cream, including new freeze-dried space ice creamPrairie Land Market — local Kansas products retailer in Salina, From the Land of Kansas memberWilkins Acres — Kansas products store in Abilene, From the Land of Kansas memberBoot Hill Distillery — value-added Kansas grain products, Dodge CityLearn more about the podcast at askakansan.com!This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net
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Wild Prairie with Matt Bain | Conserving Kansas
Apr 1301:03:55Tap to summarizeWhat if the prairie — that "flat, boring" stretch you drive through on I-70 — is actually one of the most critical and disappearing ecosystems on the planet?Matt Bain, Director of Conservation for The Nature Conservancy in Kansas, makes a compelling case that the Kansas prairie isn't just beautiful — it's the foundation of clean water, healthy soil, thriving wildlife, and the ranching culture that holds it all together. A born-and-raised Kansan who grew up farming in Ness County, Matt brings 22 years of professional conservation experience and a deep personal land ethic to this conversation. From the dancing mating rituals of the Greater and Lesser Prairie Chicken to a 10,000-year-old kill site hiding in plain sight on the Smoky Valley Ranch, this episode is packed with the kind of stories that make you see Kansas differently.HighlightsConservation isn't non-use — it's wise use, and Kansas farmers and ranchers have been living that land ethic for generations62% of all North American grasslands are gone; Kansas has only 20% of its native prairie remainingThe three ecological drivers that created and maintain Kansas prairie: grazing, drought, and fireTwo-thirds of all Lesser Prairie Chickens on Earth now exist in a narrow strip of land between Hays and the Colorado borderPrairie Chickens are a "canary in the coal mine" for ecosystem health — when they disappear, so does clean water, healthy forage, and soilThe Flint Hills alone loses 2.2 million acre-feet of water annually to encroaching trees and shrubsThe 12 Mile Creek site on Smoky Valley Ranch rewrote North American history — a spear point embedded in a 10,000-year-old bison skeleton proved humans were here far earlier than anyone believedEcotourists from 20+ countries visit Smoky Valley Ranch annually for Lesser Prairie Chicken viewing toursKansas was the first state to ban sport hunting of feral hogs — a counterintuitive move that actually workedHow to support conservation: become a member of The Nature Conservancy, buy a duck stamp, or purchase a hunting or fishing licenseChapters0:00 — Cold Open: Prairie Chickens doing their thing1:56 — Meet Matt Bain4:37 — What Conservation Actually Means5:52 — Why Matt Chose This Path8:38 — Grasslands Are Disappearing Fast10:25 — Misconceptions About Conservation12:37 — Cattle, Fire, and Prairie Balance17:46 — Raising Kids with a Land Ethic20:49 — Why Prairie Chickens Matter28:32 — From Kansas Wildlife & Parks to The Nature Conservancy32:49 — Ecotourism and the Wonders of the Prairie37:11 — Smoky Valley Ranch: History Beneath Your Feet41:56 — Tracing Spring Water Back to Its Source43:38 — The Audio Tour at Smoky Valley Ranch44:11 — How to Support the Nature Conservancy46:14 — Hosts Wrap Up & Key Terms Defined48:25 — Segment: Name That Kansas Even-Toed Ungulate50:15 — Bison & Whitetail Deer53:35 — Mule Deer & Elk56:18 — Pronghorn & Feral Hogs1:02:28 — Wrap Up & Credits1:03:17 — Subscribe, Merch & NewsletterResourcesThe Nature Conservancy in Kansas — nature.orgKansas Mammal Atlas — Sternberg Museum of Natural History, Fort Hays State UniversitySmoky Valley Ranch — Nature Conservancy property and Lesser Prairie Chicken strongholdConservation Reserve Program (CRP) — USDA Farm Service AgencyDuck Stamps — Purchase at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife ServiceAsk a Kansan Episode 29 on the Ogallala Aquifer featuring Rex BuchananLearn more about the podcast at askakansan.com!This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net
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Space Odyssey at the Kansas Cosmosphere with Claire Ludes | Ad Astra Kansas
Apr 601:07:46Tap to summarizeDid you know the best space museum in the world is right in your Kansas backyard?The Cosmosphere in Hutchinson, Kansas, is far more than a place to see old rockets. It holds the most U.S. space artifacts outside the Smithsonian and the most Soviet artifacts outside of Moscow — and right now, with humanity heading back to the moon, there's never been a more exciting time to pay attention. Claire Ludes, Senior VP and Chief Development Officer, pulls back the curtain on the institution's remarkable history, its world-class restoration shop, its summer camps that build the next generation of aerospace workers, and what's coming next as private spaceflight rewrites the rules.HighlightsTanner got exclusive footage of baby rhino Creed (named after Chiefs center Creed Humphrey) at Rolling Hills RefugeClaire's path to the Cosmosphere ran through OCCK, district retail management, and the Salina Area United Way — before a recruiter convinced her she didn't need to move to HutchinsonThe Cosmosphere holds the most U.S. space artifacts outside the Smithsonian and the most Soviet artifacts outside MoscowFounder Patty Carey started with a stargazing ball in a chicken coop at the Hutchinson Fairgrounds in 1962SpaceWorks, the Cosmosphere's fabrication and restoration division, did approximately 90% of props for the film Apollo 13 and has worked on the Apple TV+ series For All MankindThe Cosmosphere restored Liberty Bell 7 — Gus Grissom's Mercury capsule — after it was recovered from the ocean floor where it had sat for decadesJeff Bezos's dive team recovered Saturn V engines from the ocean; the Cosmosphere's SpaceWorks division did the F-1 engine restorationThe Cosmosphere received a flown Merlin engine donated by SpaceX and is getting a SpaceX parachute that visitors can touchArtemis II astronauts have called the Cosmosphere the best space museum in the worldSummer camps run from 3rd grade through 12th grade; in 2025 the Cosmosphere celebrated 40 years of camps with an alumni reunionA brand new drone camp is launching in summer 2025 in partnership with K-State SalinaA Cosmosphere alum who works at JPL spent an entire day with Ryan Gosling during the making of Project Hail Mary — and the film is currently playing in the Cosmosphere's dome theaterSally Ride and Kansas astronaut Steve Hawley were married in Salina, in the backyard of Hawley's parents' home on Santa Fe AvenueSydney's segment took a wild turn through 1957 newspapers.com rabbit holes — Sputnik coverage, moon tourism satire, vintage marriage advice columns, and grocery ads featuring 63-cent rump roastChapters0:00 – Baby Rhino Surprise2:18 – Podcast Intro / Space Nerds2:58 – Meet Claire Ludes3:31 – Unboxing Cosmosphere Swag5:43 – Claire's Career Journey8:31 – Artemis II Buzz11:10 – Cosmosphere Origin Story15:17 – Iconic Artifacts Spotlight18:09 – Keeping Up With Space21:47 – Museum Renovation Tour25:29 – Camps & Mission Control29:58 – Soft Skills From Space Camp33:02 – Space Inspiration & Spinoffs34:58 – Project Hail Mary Talk35:59 – Cosmosphere Dome Film36:40 – Learning the Museum38:35 – Education Pipeline Impact41:20 – Kansas Partnerships44:46 – Salina Space Trivia48:08 – Museums Shape the Future48:48 – SpaceWorks Restoration Story50:41 – Merch & Stickers53:44 – Sputnik Newspaper Oddities58:23 – Marriage Advice Rabbit Holes1:04:36 – Vintage Grocery Ads1:05:47 – Wrap Up & GoodbyeResources MentionedThe Cosmosphere — Hutchinson, KansasRolling Hills Refuge — Salina, Kansas (home of baby rhino Creed)NASA Artemis ProgramSpaceXLearn more about the podcast at askakansan.com!This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net
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Wichita State’s Rick Muma on Education and Economic Growth | Kansas Shocker
Mar 3000:40:06Tap to summarizeWichita State University has quietly become one of the most innovative applied learning campuses in the country — and most Kansans don't even know it. Sitting down with President Rick Muma on location at WSU, we get the full story: from his roots as a physician assistant on the front lines of the HIV epidemic, to becoming the only PA to ever lead a major university, transforming a former club golf course into a thriving innovation campus where 12,000 students are earning nearly $40 million a year working alongside real industry partners.HighlightsPresident Muma is the only physician assistant to serve as president of any university in the country — and he didn't even know it until the national PA organization called him.WSU's innovation campus was literally a golf course just eight years ago — now it's home to companies like Airbus and Deloitte, with students earning real paychecks from day one.The Shocker Career Accelerator connects students to industry partners from the moment they step on campus — not just junior or senior year — to keep them on track and in Kansas after graduation.WSU's National Institute for Aviation Research has students operating multimillion-dollar robots, doing real work that other universities fly in to study.WSU just surpassed $400 million in research expenditures and $600 million in research awards — and is now partnering with KU on a biomedical campus that is the largest capital investment in downtown Wichita's history.A WSU anthropology professor rediscovered Etzanoa, a lost city of 20,000 people in southern Kansas — one of the largest pre-Columbian settlements in North America — and a local high schooler found the cannonball that proved it.Tours of the Etzanoa site are available through the Cherokee Strip Land Rush Museum in Arkansas City for just $10.Chapters0:00 – Hike With Madeline1:04 – Childlike Presence2:04 – On Location at WSU3:08 – Meet President Muma3:37 – Kansas Roots and Return6:10 – From PA to Professor9:00 – Clinician Mindset in Leadership11:37 – Campus Transformation and Innovation15:14 – Book and Applied Learning17:43 – Shocker Career Accelerator18:55 – NIAR: Real-World Research19:56 – Keeping Talent in Kansas21:23 – Future Vision: Biosciences23:34 – AI's Impact on Campus27:03 – Kansas Support and Research Growth29:23 – Post-Interview Reflections30:23 – Sheriff's Reflection on Ramadan31:46 – Kansas's Lost City Rediscovered38:27 – Tours and Episode WrapResourcesWichita State UniversityWSU Innovation CampusNational Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR)Student Centered, Innovation Driven by Rick MumaEtzanoa Tours WSU TechLearn more about the podcast at askakansan.com!This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net
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