There's Just Something About Kansas City

Frank Boal, Sarah McEnerney, Kate Feder, Ben Messner

“There’s just something about Kansas City.”™ It may be the most-heard phrase from those who are from here, those who have come here, & those who have chosen to stay. It’s a sense of pride, of camaraderie, of community and comfort. A sense of small-town, back-patio warmth brimming with growth, innovation and potential. A sense of zero degrees of separation in a city of champions. For each of us, that “something” is a story crafted through years of experiences, big and small, that have planted the Heart of America so deeply in our own. Join legendary Kansas City sports broadcaster Frank Boal each week for deep, down-to-earth conversations with some of this town’s most legendary residents, both natives and transplants, and hear what it is about Kansas City that just keeps calling them home.

  1. 1d ago

    Marilyn Maye: Iconic American Songstress, Cabaret Legend & Kansas City Treasure

    With Marilyn Maye returning to the stage at Kansas City’s historic Folly Theater this Friday, we’re re-releasing our unforgettable conversation with one of the city’s most beloved musical treasures. Marilyn Maye is an American Songbook and showtune legend whose extraordinary career includes a record 76 appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. A true cabaret icon, she has spent decades captivating audiences around the world while proudly carrying Kansas City’s musical legacy with her wherever she performs. In this conversation, Marilyn reflects on her remarkable career, her deep connection to Kansas City’s jazz tradition, and what it means to represent her hometown on stages across the country and around the world. Named Kansas Citian of the Year in 2012, Marilyn continues to perform, teach, and inspire generations of artists. At 98 years young, she’s still “kicking it,” still commanding the stage, and still showing why she has earned a reputation as one of the great voices of cabaret. As Marilyn prepares to take the stage at the Folly, revisit the story, career and Kansas City legacy of this unforgettable American songstress on There’s Just Something About Kansas City.

    Marilyn Maye: Iconic American Songstress, Cabaret Legend & Kansas City Treasure

  2. Sep 14

    Mitch Holthus: The Voice of the Kansas City Chiefs

    As the Kansas City Chiefs kick off a new season, we’re re-releasing our conversation with the legendary voice of Chiefs Kingdom, Mitch Holthus. From growing up in Smith Center, Kansas, to becoming the longtime radio voice of the Kansas City Chiefs and being named the 2024 Kansan of the Year, Mitch takes us inside his remarkable career, his deep connection to Chiefs fans, and what it means to be the voice of one of the NFL’s most passionate fan bases. You’ll also hear the fascinating story of Mitch’s family connection to the iconic Western ballad “Home on the Range.” It’s a Kansas story with a surprising connection to a song known around the world. Join Mitch Holthus as he tells the story of his life, career and Kansas roots like only he can on this re-release of There’s Just Something About Kansas City — and get ready for another Chiefs season!

    Mitch Holthus: The Voice of the Kansas City Chiefs

  3. Sep 8

    Kemet Coleman: Beer, Music & the Rebirth of Kansas City’s 18th & Vine

    What happens when you combine Kansas City beer, music, entrepreneurship, history and creativity? You get Kemet Coleman and Vine Street Brewing Co. In this episode of There’s Just Something About Kansas City, we sit down with Kemet Coleman, Kansas City musician, entrepreneur, creative placemaker, and co-founder of Vine Street Brewing Co., Missouri’s first Black-owned brewery. Located in the historic 18th & Vine Jazz District, Vine Street Brewing has become much more than a place to grab a beer. It’s a gathering place where music, art, culture, history and community come together - and an important part of the ongoing revitalization of one of Kansas City’s most culturally significant neighborhoods. Kemet takes us behind the scenes of his unlikely journey from musician and creative entrepreneur to brewery owner. He shares how his experience working at Boulevard Brewing sparked his passion for craft beer, how he connected with co-founders Woodie Bonds Jr., Elliott Ivory, and Annie McGinnis, and why he was determined to build Vine Street Brewing in the heart of Kansas City’s historic Black community. We talk about the challenges of transforming a long-abandoned historic building into a thriving brewery, the importance of preserving the legacy of 18th & Vine, and Kemet’s vision for the future of Kansas City. He also shares stories from his music career, the creative philosophy behind Vine Street, his belief in the power of businesses to bring neighborhoods and people together - and, yes, his dream of making it to Hollywood as an actor. This is more than a conversation about beer. It’s a story about Kansas City, creativity, perseverance, entrepreneurship, history, and the power of betting on your hometown.

    Kemet Coleman: Beer, Music & the Rebirth of Kansas City’s 18th & Vine

  4. Sep 1

    Herb Kohn: Holocaust Survivor, Civic Leader & the Fight to Save Kansas City’s Union Station

    How does a Holocaust survivor become one of the people who helped save one of Kansas City’s most iconic landmarks? Herb Kohn is a lawyer, mediator, Holocaust survivor, and civic leader whose remarkable life has been deeply intertwined with the story of Kansas City. In this episode of There’s Just Something About Kansas City, Kohn shares his family's journey through the Holocaust, the experiences that shaped his life, and how those lessons ultimately fueled a lifelong commitment to civic responsibility and community service. He also takes us behind the scenes of one of Kansas City's most important preservation efforts: the fight to save historic Union Station from demolition. Kohn explains how his legal expertise, relationships, persistence, and behind-the-scenes work helped preserve the landmark and give it a new future in Kansas City. Kohn also reflects on the impact of Missouri Boys State and Girls State, programs he credits with helping shape his own life and that he continues to champion for future generations. From surviving one of history's darkest chapters to helping preserve an iconic piece of Kansas City history, Herb Kohn's story is one of resilience, perseverance, civic responsibility, and the power of people working behind the scenes to make a difference. This is a conversation about the lessons we carry forward—and what we can do with them.

    Herb Kohn: Holocaust Survivor, Civic Leader & the Fight to Save Kansas City’s Union Station

  5. Aug 25

    Mike Welsh: The Boys of ’76 - 50 Years Later, Center’s Undefeated Championship Season Lives On

    Fifty years later, the legend of the Boys of '76 still lives on. In 1976, the Center High School Yellowjackets put together one of the most remarkable seasons in Kansas City high school basketball history: an undefeated season that ended with a Missouri State Basketball Championship. In this episode of There’s Just Something About Kansas City, we revisit that extraordinary team with author Mike Welsh, who was writing for the Center High School newspaper during the historic season and later chronicled the story in his book, The Boys of ’76. Mike takes us back to a special era of high school basketball and introduces us to the players, coaches, personalities, rivalries, and chemistry that made Center nearly impossible to beat. What was it like to carry the pressure of an undefeated season? How did a group of young athletes develop the trust and teamwork that carried them all the way to a state championship? And why does that team still mean so much to the Center community 50 years later? We revisit the games, the personalities, the pressure, and the memories that have stayed with players and fans for five decades. This is more than a story about basketball. It's a story about friendship, teamwork, hometown pride, and what can happen when a group of young people discovers just how special they can be together.

    Mike Welsh: The Boys of ’76 - 50 Years Later, Center’s Undefeated Championship Season Lives On

  6. Aug 18

    How Kansas City Won the World Cup: Interview with Pam Kramer, Kathy Nelson, and Cliff Illig

    Kansas City just experienced something we had been dreaming about for decades. Now, for the first time, the people who helped make it happen are sitting down together to tell the story. In this special KC2026 World Cup wrap-up, Kathy Nelson, President and CEO of the Kansas City Sports Commission and Foundation; Pam Kramer, CEO of FIFA World Cup 26™ Kansas City; and Cliff Illig, co-founder and co-owner of Sporting Kansas City, come together for a conversation you haven't heard before. They take us behind the scenes of Kansas City's World Cup journey: from the decade-long effort to land a coveted host city designation to the moments the public never saw and the decisions that helped turn KC2026 into an unforgettable success. They also reflect on what the World Cup meant for Kansas City and the region, and the economic, cultural, and community impact that will continue long after the final whistle. Throughout the story is the legacy of Lamar Hunt, whose passion for soccer and belief in Kansas City helped lay the foundation for this moment decades ago. This isn't just a recap of the matches. It's the inside story of how Kansas City became a World Cup city - and what happens next.

    How Kansas City Won the World Cup: Interview with Pam Kramer, Kathy Nelson, and Cliff Illig

  7. Aug 11

    Donnie Campbell: The Real Coach Behind Jason Sudeikis’ Ted Lasso (Re-Release)

    With Season 4 of Ted Lasso now streaming, we're revisiting the story behind the character—and the Kansas coach who helped inspire him. Meet Donnie Campbell, the longtime Kansas high school basketball coach whose leadership, optimism, and ability to build relationships had a lasting impact on a young Jason Sudeikis. Years before Sudeikis became an Emmy Award-winning star, he experienced Coach Campbell's unique approach to coaching and mentorship firsthand. In this encore episode of There’s Just Something About Kansas City, Donnie talks about his coaching philosophy, the importance of building confidence and relationships, and what it feels like to see elements of his approach brought to life through one of television's most beloved characters. From the basketball court to the small screen, Coach Campbell's influence reaches far beyond wins and losses. We talk about mentorship, leadership, the lessons coaches teach their players, and the remarkable connection between a Kansas high school basketball coach and Ted Lasso, the relentlessly optimistic character played by Sudeikis. With Ted Lasso Season 4 now live, there's never been a better time to hear the story of the real-life coach behind the character. 🎧 This is an encore presentation of our conversation with Donnie Campbell.

    Donnie Campbell: The Real Coach Behind Jason Sudeikis’ Ted Lasso (Re-Release)

  8. Jul 28

    Kansas City Stadiums: Revisit the History with Tom Waggoner (re-release)

    As Kansas City looks toward the future of professional sports, with new stadium plans dominating headlines and the Kansas City Chiefs unveiling renderings for their proposed stadium project, it's the perfect time to revisit this fascinating conversation. In this encore release, we sit down with sports architect, author, and historian Tom Waggoner, whose book Designed in Kansas City chronicles how Kansas City became the Sports Architecture Capital of the World. Tom takes us from the Colosseum to today's stadium debate, explaining how Kansas City Chiefs' Arrowhead Stadium, the Kansas City Royals' Kauffman Stadium, and the Truman Sports Complex revolutionized stadium design in the 1970s and influenced sports venues around the world. We also discuss the future of stadium architecture, what makes a venue truly great, and what Tom would tell today's Chiefs and Royals ownership as they help shape the next chapter of Kansas City sports. Whether you're following the latest stadium proposals, passionate about sports history, or simply curious how Kansas City became a global leader in sports architecture, this episode provides the historical context behind one of the region's biggest conversations.

    Kansas City Stadiums: Revisit the History with Tom Waggoner (re-release)
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4.9
out of 5
41 Ratings

About

“There’s just something about Kansas City.”™ It may be the most-heard phrase from those who are from here, those who have come here, & those who have chosen to stay. It’s a sense of pride, of camaraderie, of community and comfort. A sense of small-town, back-patio warmth brimming with growth, innovation and potential. A sense of zero degrees of separation in a city of champions. For each of us, that “something” is a story crafted through years of experiences, big and small, that have planted the Heart of America so deeply in our own. Join legendary Kansas City sports broadcaster Frank Boal each week for deep, down-to-earth conversations with some of this town’s most legendary residents, both natives and transplants, and hear what it is about Kansas City that just keeps calling them home.

Information

  • Creator
    Frank Boal, Sarah McEnerney, Kate Feder, Ben Messner
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    165
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Frank Boal, Sarah McEnerney, Kate Feder, Ben Messner
  • Show Website
    There's Just Something About Kansas City

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