So THIS Happened...

Jen Cole and Rachel Chappelle

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Personal Journals
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“So THIS Happened…” is the podcast version of catching up with your most unfiltered friend over wine. Each week, Jen and Rachel dive into personal mishaps, past memories, local happenings, weird habits, and whatever else pops up — including the occasional celebrity headline we just have to talk about. It’s casual, it’s chaotic, and it’s all real.

6d ago · Video

Episode 61 : Fair Words

Send us Fan Mail Episode 61 Show Notes — Fair Words Featuring Katy Munden Hays of Alegria Fair — recorded live at GROW Plant Bar So THIS Happened, Wichita's podcast for real talk and local culture, welcomed Katy Munden Hays of Alegria Fair to the mic for a live Sip Squad Session at GROW Plant Bar in downtown Wichita. Hosted by Jen Cole and Rachel Chappelle, this episode covers Katy's rebrand — bringing her fair trade business and her cause-marketing, ethical storytelling work together under one name — and what it looks like to build a more intentional life right here in Wichita, Kansas. LIVE AT GROW: A SIP SQUAD SESSION This one was recorded live in front of a Sip Squad audience at GROW Plant Bar's beautiful lounge space in downtown Wichita. Big thanks to everyone who came out to sip, cheer, and be part of the conversation in person — and to everyone tuning in from home. MEET KATY MUNDEN HAYS OF ALEGRIA FAIR Katy Munden Hays has spent the last year rebranding, bringing her fair trade business and her marketing-for-good work together under one name: Alegria Fair — Global Goods + Cause Marketing. Here's what that means: - Fair trade global goods: ethically sourced home goods and gifts, including pieces made from upcycled sari fabric, sold through regular pop-ups and market booths around Wichita - Marketing, branding, and content writing for nonprofits and good causes - Ethical Storytelling Labs — teaching trauma-informed, dignity-centered storytelling to nonprofits and organizations around Wichita - Marketing for Good, a conference she hosted in April bringing together people doing similar work in the community - Event planning including the Women Empowered Market (March) and a Nonprofit Party in the spring On the personal side, Katy talked about what intentional living looks like day to day — purposeful spending, food choices, getting outside, and biking with her husband Rob on Wichita's trails and new Douglas Avenue bike lanes. FAIR WORDS: THE BIG IDEA The episode's title comes straight from the conversation: fair trade means people are treated and paid fairly — so Katy believes we owe people fair words too. That's the thread connecting her fair trade work and her push for ethical, dignity-centered storytelling in Wichita's nonprofit and cause-marketing spaces. WHERE TO FIND ALEGRIA FAIR Instagram & Facebook: @alegriafair Katy's personal account: @katymundenhays Website: https://www.createalegria.com/ Old Town Farm and Art Market — Saturdays, 8:00 AM–1:00 PM (10:00 AM–1:00 PM in November & December) Paramount Marketplace — Franklin & Woodlawn The Workroom — Ballroom Collective (upstairs) Alternative Gift Market — November 14 JOIN US FOR THE NEXT SIP SQUAD SESSION! Sip Squad Sessions: Featuring Jovana & Tony of Vu Events Bubbles Champagne Bar | November 30 | 6:30 PM | Free — just show up! Come sip with us! Our next Sip Squad Session heads to Bubbles Champagne Bar to sit down with Jovana and Tony of Vu Events, our longtime Sip Squad sponsor. Wichita, mark your calendars. THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS This episode's Sip Squad Session was brought to you by Vu Events (it had to be Vu!), Colour Thairapy Salon, and Backspace Media — with a huge thank-you to GROW Plant Bar for hosting us in downtown Wichita. So THIS Happened is Wichita's podcast for real talk, local culture, and the occasional Taylor Swift spiral. Hosted by Jen Cole and Rachel Chappelle. New episodes drop weekly — find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. Support the show
Sep 17 · Video

Episode 60 : Say Yes to Yourself First

Send us Fan Mail So THIS Happened is Wichita's podcast for real talk, real stories, and the occasional glass of wine — and this week Jen Cole and Rachel Chappelle sat down with Kelly, owner of Bridely Boutique, a bridal boutique in Wichita, Kansas, built on one simple idea: buying your wedding dress should feel like an experience, not a transaction. 💍 Meet Kelly of Bridely Boutique After more than 30 years working in MRI and X-ray, Kelly took the leap and opened Bridely Boutique five years ago. Today it's one of Wichita's most beloved bridal boutiques, tucked into the historic Dockum Building at the corner of Douglas and Hillside — and it's picked up a Best of Wichita win nearly every year it's been open. ✨ The Leap Kelly spent months quietly researching the bridal industry before she told a single soul — not her husband, not her best friends, not her kids. What started as an idea she couldn't shake turned into a full business plan, a spreadsheet of every dress line in town, and eventually, the leap itself. She talks candidly about what it actually took to trust that instinct and go all in on an industry she'd never worked in. 👗 Say Yes to Yourself First The heart of this episode is the philosophy Kelly built Bridely around: the bride's opinion comes first. Literally — there are no mirrors in her dressing rooms, so a bride sees her own reaction to a dress before anyone else's opinion can shape it. Kelly, Jen, and Rachel dig into how that one small design choice changed everything about the shopping experience, and why 'how does this dress make you feel?' is the only question that really matters. 🥂 This or That Highlights Champagne while you shop, or besties-only opinions? Kelly's answer: champagne, every time (no liquor license required — mimosas beforehand work too) Classic and timeless, or trend of the moment? Kelly's a little bit of both — and yes, the basque waist is having a major moment right now Big group opinions or a tight, trusted circle? Kelly's take on managing dress-shopping entourages, big feelings, and second looks. 💼 Five Years, Real Talk Five years of hiring, inventory, and marketing have taught Kelly a lot about herself as a business owner — including the hardest lesson of all: kindness is not the same thing as weakness. She and the hosts get into the mistakes that felt awful in the moment (looking at you, two identical dresses from two different companies), the ones that turned into blessings, and why summers — not what you'd think — are actually the hardest season in bridal. 📣 Before You Go Find Bridely Boutique at bridelybrides.com or @bridelyboutique on Instagram and Facebook — 3200 East Douglas Avenue, at the corner of Douglas and Hillside in Wichita, Kansas Merch is live — Uncorked and Slightly Unhinged & Messy Is My Polished (10% of profits go to Ballet Wichita) This episode is brought to you by Vu Events (it had to be Vu!), Colour Thairapy, and Backspace Media — go show them some love Follow and subscribe on Spotify and YouTube so you never miss an episode So THIS happened. 🥂 So THIS Happened is Wichita's podcast for real talk, local culture, and the occasional Taylor Swift spiral. Hosted by Jen Cole and Rachel Chappelle. New episodes drop weekly — find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. Support the show
Sep 10 · Video

Episode 59 : Cool Girls Have Cool Jobs

Send us Fan Mail So THIS Happened is Wichita's podcast for real talk, local culture, and the occasional Taylor Swift spiral — and this week hosts Jen Cole and Rachel Chappelle are back in the Wichita studio for the first time in Season 2 with an episode that starts silly and ends up somewhere real. It's a just-us episode built around a theme they're calling “The Leap” — and a Trend Decoder comeback that turns into one of the most personal conversations this Wichita podcast has had all season. 🎲 Trend Decoder Is Back! A fan-favorite segment returns from retirement: Jen feeds Rachel current Instagram/TikTok trends cold, and Rachel guesses what they actually mean before the reveal. “And for the lady…” — Rachel nails it on the first try (pampering, luscious experiences, treat-yourself energy) for a perfect score “Cool girls have cool jobs” — sends Rachel into an unforgettable teenage flashback involving a Domino's visor, an oversized T-shirt, and a pizza delivery to an ex-boyfriend's house that did not go smoothly. Bonus points awarded (a first!) for the tangent alone. 💼 The Leap Here's the real news: Jen involuntarily left the job she'd held for the last couple of years — and, in the same stretch, relaunched her own company, Backspace Media. Backspace Media isn't new. Jen originally launched it in 2016 as a solo Wichita social media agency, with early clients that included a block car service and pre-launch social media support for Jenny Dawn Sellers' now-beloved urban winery and tasting room. She even ran a weekly Facebook Live show, Backspace Live Happy Hour, out of the back of the Hopping Gnome. The original run wound down when Jen went back to a stable 9-to-5 during her divorce — a story she says is common for women business owners who lose benefits tied to a spouse. Now she's building it back, on her own terms, with real clients already on the books. Jen and Rachel get honest about what it actually feels like to lose the security of a steady paycheck — the fear of perception, the pull toward “stability” that's really just cultural conditioning, and why alignment (not just a paycheck) matters more than either of them expected. A huge piece of what's carried Jen through the last month: community. Shoutout to Sophii Jones and Marissa of Jupiter House, Hannah Crickman, Sherieka, and Jovana Vu of Vu Events for some of the most motivating conversations of the year. Also featured: Amy of Elijah's Baby Bucket List, who challenged Jen to pitch a brand every single day and now checks in weekly asking how many rejections she racked up — tough love, Wichita-style. 💇 Hair Dates 👉 Colour Thairapy Jen and Rachel both have appointments with Jennifer Short of Colour Thairapy this Friday — expect content. And the timing is perfect, because the very next day is Tea Fest at Napster with their friend Nicola, just across the street from the salon. 🍷 Small Sip: VinZant Wines A quick shoutout to VinZant Wines' rosé, picked up during a recent Bubbles run — filed away as an early, very cute idea for a future Valentine's Day gift. 🤝 The First (Almost) Disagreement A very low-stakes moment of confusion over the date of Rocky Horror on the Rocks becomes this week's proof that Jen and Rachel really can survive anything — spoiler, it did not, in fact, ruin the friendship. 🎶 Hits Different: “Ruin the Friendship” — Taylor Swift This week's pick is “Ruin the Friendship” from Life of a Showgirl — a song Rachel initially refused to even look up once she heard the title (“No, I won't do it”). Turns out it's not about them. Rachel's honest take: acoustic or full version, it's one of her least favorites on a pure listen — no shade, just not her vibe alone in the car. The conversation goes deeper from there: what it means to miss a moment with someone, the tension of loving someone who's already someone else's, and a real-life parallel from Jen's own middle school years. The song's actual backstory carries more weight than either of them expected going in — a story about loss, timing, and things left unsaid that reframes the whole episode's theme. The takeaway they land on: always answer the question. Do it anyway. Which, as it turns out, is exactly what Jen's been doing all along. 📣 Before You Go Merch is live — Messy Is My Polished & Pairs Well with Champagne and Caviar Bumps (10% of profits go to Ballet Wichita) Sip Squad Session — September 21 at GROW, featuring Katy Munden Hayes of Alegria Rocky Horror on the Rocks — September 27 at B-29 Doc Hangar, in partnership with Rocky Horror Wichita. Tickets on Eventbrite, ~$23 This episode is proudly supported by our Sip Squad sponsors: Vu Events, Colour Thairapy, and Backspace Media — we love you guys Follow and subscribe — Spotify & YouTube, so you never miss a moment So THIS Happened is Wichita's podcast for real talk, local culture, and the occasional Taylor Swift spiral. Hosted by Jen Cole and Rachel Chappelle. New episodes drop weekly — find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. Support the show
Sep 3 · Video

Episode 58 : Cultivate Wichita

Send us Fan Mail Cultivating Wichita So THIS Happened — Wichita's local culture and personal growth podcast, hosted by Jen Cole and Rachel Chappelle — traded wine glasses for teacups this episode. Recorded live at Mulberry Gallery inside Revolutsia (the shipping-container creative hub on Central Ave), Jen and Rachel sat down with Naquela of Planted Tea Shop, a Wichita-based tea and herbal education business, to talk tea culture, community, and how to build a life around slowing down. 🍵 Meet Naquela of Planted Tea Shop Naquela moved back to Wichita from Thailand about five and a half years ago looking for a place to sit with a good cup of tea and get some work done — and couldn't find one. So she built it herself, starting with blending her own herbs and sharing them with curious friends. What started as pop-ups grew into educational workshops, a clinical herbalism education, and now Tea Fest — her biggest event yet. 🎲 This or That: Tea & Herbal Ritual Edition Herbally and tea-themed for the first time ever on the show. A few highlights: Loose leaf vs. tea bag — loose leaf won in a landslide (fewer chemicals, more surface area, and it's just prettier)Morning ritual vs. afternoon wind-down — Naquela leans morning, with something that has "a little bit of perk" in itHot brew vs. cold brew — depends entirely on the herb: roots need heat, mucilaginous herbs like slippery elm need coldJen may have been quietly outed as a bag-tea girl. We're not naming names. (We're naming names.) 🌱 Building Tea & Herbal Knowledge in Wichita Naquela's mission has always been education first — not just selling tea, but teaching people what it actually does. Her favorite surprising fact: lavender isn't just for aromatherapy, it's a genuine pain reliever, especially for cramps. Her biggest myth-buster for beginners: you don't need a 10-herb blend to get started. Pick one herb, learn how it makes you feel, and build from there. 🫖 Communi-Tea, Not Just Customers Naquela's newsletter is called Communi-tea (yes, the pun is fully intended), and it's where she shares behind-the-scenes stories — like the stack of herbal books passed down from her grandfather. It's part of a bigger philosophy: tea education as something shared and passed down, not gatekept. She remembers regulars by name and by what they came in looking for — real community, not just transactions. 🔥 Workshops & Fire Cider Season Naquela's next workshop is a Fire Cider make-and-take — an herbal oxymel of roots, herbs, and vegetables infused in vinegar over several weeks, perfect for immune support heading into cold season. Sessions are September 13 and October 3 at Old Espresso To GoGo, across from Naftzger Park at St. Francis and Douglas. Everything's provided — just show up. Register on her website or social media. 🍃 Tea Fest — Saturday, September 12 Free and open to the whole community, 11 AM–3 PM at Naftzger Park. What to expect: ~25 vendors — tea and herbal makers on one side, wellness and artisan makers on the otherA community art installation, "Leaves of Wichita" — paint a leaf and leave some encouragement for the cityA kids' painting station, live music at 1 PM, and food trucksFirst 50 visitors to the Planted Tea Shop booth get a Tea Fest passport — collect stamps around the park for a shot at prizesPresented with support from Downtown Wichita, the Wichita Area Arts Council, and Festive ICT. 🥕 Old Town Farm & Art Market This is Naquela's first season as a vendor at the Old Town Farm and Art Market — Saturdays, 8 AM to noon, in Old Town Square. She calls it one of the most wholesome small-business communities she's found in Wichita, and yes, she leaves with something every single week. 🌿 Easy Ways to Start Naquela's advice for anyone intimidated by tea or herbs: don't overthink it. Pick one moment in your day — a morning routine, a wind-down before bed — and build one simple ritual around it. Start with a single herb before you jump into a blend, so you actually know what's working for you. 📣 Before You Go Find Naquela and Planted Tea Shop on Instagram and Facebook @plantedteashop, or at plantedteashop.comCatch Naquela's blends in person at Mulberry Gallery and at Sunflower Cafe and Collective on the west sideMark your calendar for Tea Fest — Saturday, September 12, 11 AM–3 PM, free to the communityThank you to Mulberry Gallery at Revolutsia for hosting us this episodeWant to be a guest on the pod? We're always open — reach out! So THIS Happened is a lifestyle and personal growth podcast hosted by Jen Cole and Rachel Chappelle, based in Wichita, Kansas. Each episode explores the moments, people, and ideas that shape how we live — from local Wichita stories to conversations about identity, community, and becoming. New episodes drop weekly. Find us everywhere you listen. Our podcast is proudly sponsored by Vu Events, Colour Thairapy and Backspace Media. Support the show
Aug 27 · Video

Episode 57 : Do It Scared

Send us Fan Mail This week's Sip Squad Session brings So THIS Happened — Jen Cole and Rachel Chappelle's Wichita podcast for real talk, local culture, and the occasional Taylor Swift spiral — live to Tor Brewing for a night with Sophii Jones, founder of Jupiter House Marketing right here in Wichita, Kansas. It's a story about a promise made at 24, a decade of learning marketing the hard way, and what it actually takes to do the scary thing anyway. 🍻 Live at Tor Brewing The Sip Squad Session crowd packed into Tor Brewing for this one, and it did not disappoint. Merch was up for grabs all night — $10 badges reading "pairs well with champagne and caviar bumps" made by Happy Camper Hat Company (find them upstairs in the Ballroom Collective at The Workroom, thank you Kari!), plus gorgeous $15 silk scrunchies designed by Stella Hankins of Bella Bonita Designs. Huge thanks to Tor Brewing for hosting us, and to Tony Vu — aka DJ Panda — for running the show's audio and hype duties live. 🎲 This or That: Fandom Meets Real Life Sophii jumped right into This or That with the crowd, and a few highlights: Capsule wardrobe over cosplay closet — though she'll always love the chaos of a closet full of costumesDream collab: a toss-up between Taylor Swift and Pokémon (with a serious soft spot for the Kansas City Chiefs' marketing team too)Say yes to the chaos, then organize it before you execute — or as the Sip Squad already knows it: messy is our polish🪐 Do It Scared: Sophii Jones' Ten-Year Promise At 24, Sophii made herself a promise: pursue professional cosplay first, then build a marketing business by 35. Wichita's cosplay and content creation scene barely existed in 2014, so she taught herself marketing from scratch — audience building, community, brand voice — and fell in love with the craft along the way. That self-taught foundation carried her into nearly five years as Marketing Director for Misty Mountain Gaming, where her role kept expanding into product development, international manufacturing, and full business growth — including bringing the brand home to Wichita and collaborating with local creators. Then, in the same stretch of time, her marriage ended and she left Misty Mountain unexpectedly. Sophii calls herself "a blind leaper," and she leaned into that identity here too — describing the decade-old promise to herself as something that had simply been waiting to be unburied in the rubble. After years of traveling two to four weekends a month, landing back in Wichita gave her something travel never could: stillness, family, and the clarity to finally honor that promise. That promise became Jupiter House Marketing — named for the planet of expansion, wisdom, and financial abundance. Sophii built the name and the business around that symbolism on purpose: a daily reminder that marketing, done well, is about psychology, culture, and genuine human connection, not just tactics. 📣 What's Next for the Sip Squad A ticketed live collab event for the local production of Richard O'Brien's Rocky Horror Show is coming the last weekend of October at Doc's Hangar, presented with Vu Events and Douglas Production Group — more details dropping soonThe next Sip Squad Session lands at GROW on September 21 at 6:30 PM, featuring Katy Munden Hays of AlegriaUpcoming guests on the show: Niquela of Planted Tea Shop and Kelly of Bridely Boutique🥂 Before You Go Merch is live — Uncorked and Slightly Unhinged, and Pairs Well with Champagne & Caviar Bumps (10% of profits go to Ballet Wichita)Follow Sophii and Jupiter House Marketing on Facebook and Instagram, and find her personally at @sophiijayyyFollow along and never miss an episode — Spotify, YouTube, wherever you listen A huge thank you to our Season 2 partners for making nights like this one possible: Vu Events (it had to be Vu!), Colour Thairapy, and Backspace Media — Jen's own marketing company, putting her money where her mouth is this season. So THIS Happened is a lifestyle and personal growth podcast hosted by Jen Cole and Rachel Chappelle, based in Wichita, Kansas. Each episode explores the moments, people, and ideas that shape how we live — from local Wichita stories to conversations about identity, community, and becoming. New episodes drop weekly. Find us everywhere you listen. Support the show
Aug 20 · Video

Episode 56 : Do it Lady, A Season 1 Throwback

Send us Fan Mail This week, life happened — Rachel was in a car accident and is resting up (she's okay, just needs some downtime), so Jen hopped on solo for a quick check-in before rewinding the clock to one of our earliest episodes for a nostalgic replay: Episode 7, from exactly a year ago. THE SOLO CHECK-IN - Rachel is resting up after a car accident last week — she's okay, just needs the recovery time. Sending her all the love, Sip Squad. - Backspace Media officially launched last Friday — Jen's marketing company is live! - Jen attended her first Ballet Wichita board meeting and got the scoop on the upcoming Sparkling Social, September 3rd at Goldfinch. - Nick officially moved into Kansas State this week — cue the tears. - Join us for our next Sip Squad Session at Tor Brewing, upstairs in the loft, featuring Sophie Jones of Jupiter House Marketing and PR — doors around 6:00, kickoff at 6:30. Free to attend, with our hype man Tony Vu (DJ Panda) on the ones and twos. THE THROWBACK: EPISODE 7 A favorite from the vault! This week's rerun brings back one of our most-loved episodes — full of chaos, heart, and a story you have to hear to believe. - The infamous toe story — a driveway, a chunk of toe, and a neighbor who really did not sign up for that. - Jen's brush with an influencer scam — a brand collab that seemed way too good to be true (because it was). - This or That: pickles vs. olives, extra ice vs. no ice, over vs. under, voice memo vs. long text, air dry vs. Dyson, candle vs. diffuser, binge vs. weekly, and morning person vs. "don't talk to me till 10." BEFORE YOU GO - Sip Squad Session — Sunday at Tor Brewing with Sophie Jones of Jupiter House Marketing and PR - Merch is live — Uncorked & Slightly Unhinged, plus Bella Bonita scrunchies and Happy Camper patches (Pairs Well with Champagne & Caviar Bumps line, 10% of profits to Ballet Wichita) - Got a question, guest idea, or local suggestion? Send it our way — DM us or email sothishappenedpodcast@gmail.com This episode is proudly sponsored by Vu Events — It had to be Vu! — along with our Season Partners, Colour Thairapy and Backspace Media. So THIS Happened is a lifestyle and personal growth podcast hosted by Jen Cole and Rachel Chappelle, based in Wichita, Kansas. Each episode explores the moments, people, and ideas that shape how we live — from local Wichita stories to conversations about identity, community, and becoming. New episodes drop weekly. Find us everywhere you listen. Support the show
Aug 13 · Video

Episode 55 : Don't Give a Chic

Send us Fan Mail It's the dead center of August in Wichita, and So THIS Happened hosts Jen Cole and Rachel Chappelle are living squarely in "the in-between" — still sweating through summer, already reaching for pumpkin spice. Grab the last pour of a good rosé and settle in, because this one's got Trend Decoder history, a big event announcement, and a Taylor Swift deep-dive that gets surprisingly tender. TREND DECODER: A PERSONAL BEST Rachel went in blind, as always, and walked away with a perfect score — 4 out of 4, her best Trend Decoder performance yet (up from 3.5 out of 4 last time). - "Things More Damaging Than..." — Rachel nailed the format on the first guess, riffing on things more damaging than a glass of wine before landing squarely on the real trend - "Extra Services I Offer That No One Ever Books..." — another direct hit, complete with a pitch for a So THIS Happened version (therapist, hydrator, on-call Band-Aid dispenser) - Bonus round: "Kinda Chic" — didn't count toward the score, but gave us the line of the night and, fittingly, this episode's title ONE LAST POUR: VINZANT WINES' EVIE & ROSE The girls poured the final bottle of the rosé VinZant Wines sent home with Jen from Kansas City — Evie & Rose, a classically fermented rosé with wild strawberry and citrus notes. Verdict: smooth, well-balanced, and worth seeking out. You can find VinZant pours locally at Bubbles Champagne Bar. THE IN-BETWEEN This week's episode theme, and it showed up everywhere: still summer by the calendar, already fall in spirit. The proof was in the details — a Pumpkin Spice Espresso Martini at this week's Coffee Break session at GROW, back-to-school for Nathan (Jen's youngest, starting his senior year) the same week Jen's oldest, Nick, heads off to Kansas State. Two very different kinds of goodbye, landing in the same seven days. Also very "in-between": Jen's marketing company, Backspace Media, is relaunching — new site landing at backspacewichita.com this week, with personal branding, podcast coaching, and event content creation services now open for booking. SOMETHING'S BREWING: A RICHARD O'BRIEN'S ROCKY HORROR SHOW NIGHT So THIS Happened is teaming up with Vu Events, Douglas Production Group, and the Rocky Horror Show team for a ticketed, dress-up event at Doc's Hangar at the end of October. Expect a live podcast recording, special guests, and full themed energy — ticket price and date are still being finalized, so watch the socials for the Facebook event drop. HITS DIFFERENT: "CRUEL SUMMER" — TAYLOR SWIFT This week's pick, from Taylor Swift's Lover album, chosen for obvious August-shaped reasons. - Rachel's read: a song about fleeting summer relationships and the nostalgia that lingers — loving something fully while already knowing it won't last - Jen connected it to her own "church camp boyfriend" summers, and the bittersweet summer she started dating her daughter Macy's dad right before leaving for college - The two agreed the song isn't just about romance — seasonal friendships and "ladies room best friend" moments carry the same fleeting, worth-it feeling - Bonus tangent: Jen's infamous Eastborough speeding ticket (22 in a 20, on the way to buy fox ears for a Halloween costume) — filed permanently under fall nostalgia BEFORE YOU GO - Merch is live — Pairs Well with Champagne and Caviar Bumps, plus scrunchies from Bella Bonita Designs and patches from Happy Camper Hat Company - Next Sip Squad Session: Sunday, August 23rd, 6:30 PM at Tor Brewing, featuring Sophii Jones of Jupiter House Marketing & PR - Come hungry — Tor's Cajun fries and chicken sandwich came up more than once - Backspace Media is officially relaunching — follow along at backspacewichita.com Thank you to our Season 2 partners: Vu Events, Colour Thairapy, and Backspace Media — Jen's own marketing company. (Yes, Backspace Media is Jen's business — consider this our disclosure!) So THIS Happened is Wichita's podcast for real talk, local culture, and the occasional Taylor Swift spiral. Hosted by Jen Cole and Rachel Chappelle. New episodes drop weekly — find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. Support the show
Aug 6 · Video

Episode 54 : Well-Rounded & Brain Sounded

Send us Fan Mail So THIS Happened, the Wichita, Kansas podcast hosted by Jen Cole and Rachel Chappelle, is back with something new: for the first time all of Season 2, it's just the two of them. Episode 54 covers a lot of ground — a Season 2 recap, a big announcement from Jen, new board news, the first taste of a wine that's been waiting since the Fourth of July, and Taylor Swift's “Anti-Hero” as this week's Hits Different pick. 🎲 Trend Decoder: Brain Sounds & How to Summon Me Trend Decoder makes its Season 2 debut, and Rachel comes out swinging. “How My Brain Sounds” — creators soundtrack the chaos of juggling everything at once. Rachel's guesses (amusement park noise, a parenting mystery, Disturbed's “Down With the Sickness” playing over a work meltdown) landed close enough to earn serious points.“How to Summon Me” — Rachel nailed this one instantly: coffee, wine, and a favorite band are apparently all it takes.The line “well-rounded and brain sounded” came out of this segment — and yes, it's officially T-shirt material. It's also this episode's name. 📋 Season 2 So Far Three episodes into Season 2 and there's already a lot to recap: The Dr. Shareika Fisher episode — the “bet on yourself” conversation that turned into an impromptu girls' night around Wichita, closing down Greater Grounds and Morts along the way.The first-ever live Sip Squad Session with Stella Hankins of Bella Bonita Designs — a packed house, new faces, and a night neither host wanted to end. 📣 Breaking the 4th Wall: Backspace Media Is Back You've heard “Backspace Media, my own marketing company” as a sponsor mention for weeks — here's what it actually means. Jen is relaunching Backspace Media, offering podcast consulting, personal branding consulting, content creation and UGC, and social media coaching. If that sounds like something you need, reach out — Jen would love to talk. 🍷 Finally Sipping Vinzant Wines A full month after Jen's Fourth of July trip to Kansas City, the Vinzant Wines finally get poured on mic — starting with what might be Jen's new favorite Cabernet Sauvignon. A rosé from the same haul is still waiting in the wings for episode 55. 🩰 Ballet Wichita Board News Jen has officially been voted onto the board of Ballet Wichita — a full-circle moment for a partnership the show has loved from day one. Ballet Wichita's new season includes The Spirit Bride (Oct 9–10 at Newman University), The Nutcracker (Dec 18–20 at DOC), and The Ice Queen (summer 2027). 🎃 Sponsoring Rocky Horror So THIS Happened is officially a sponsor of this fall's Rocky Horror — a separate production from Ballet Wichita, though the two share some familiar faces. The show is directed by Ryan Schafer and runs two weekends at Docs Hangar, including a Halloween night midnight performance. 🎶 Hits Different: “Anti-Hero” — Taylor Swift This week's pick comes from the Midnights album. Rachel and Jen dig into the self-doubt, self-sabotage, and “everyone's judging me” anxiety at the heart of the song — and land on a theory about why “I stare directly at the sun, but never in the mirror” hits as hard as it does. 📣 Before You Go Merch is live — Uncorked and Slightly Unhinged & Pairs Well with Champagne and Caviar Bumps (10% of profits go to Ballet Wichita)The next Sip Squad Session is August 23 at Tor Brewing with guest Sophii JonesThere's a new event in the works outside of Sip Squad Sessions — more details soonGot thoughts on this episode? Drop them in the comments — the Sip Squad always shows upSo THIS Happened is proudly sponsored by Vu Events, Colour Thairapy, and Backspace Media. 🥂 Cheers to being well-rounded (and a little brain sounded) So THIS happened. So THIS Happened is Wichita's podcast for real talk, local culture, and the occasional Taylor Swift spiral. Hosted by Jen Cole and Rachel Chappelle. New episodes drop weekly — find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. Support the show

“So THIS Happened…” is the podcast version of catching up with your most unfiltered friend over wine. Each week, Jen and Rachel dive into personal mishaps, past memories, local happenings, weird habits, and whatever else pops up — including the occasional celebrity headline we just have to talk about. It’s casual, it’s chaotic, and it’s all real.

Creator

Jen Cole and Rachel Chappelle
Years Active

2025 - 2026
Episodes

61
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© 2026 So THIS Happened...
Show Website

So THIS Happened...