Ask A Kansan

Ask A Kansan
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Documentary
  • Updated Weekly

Ask A Kansan is a podcast where we're amplifying, connecting and uncovering stories across Kansas. Every week, Gus and Sydney sit down with the people who actually make this state run — museum directors and ranchers, founders and historians, zookeepers and woodcarvers. From Kansas City to Kinsley, WaKeeney to Wichita, we go where the story is. You'll leave each episode knowing something you didn't about the state we call home. It's not a history lecture and it's not a business show. It's a real conversation with a Kansan worth knowing. New episodes weekly. askakansan.com

  1. 2d ago

    K-State Past, Present, and Future: A Conversation with President Linton | Powercat Kansan

    Kansas State University touches all 105 counties in this state — training the veterinarians who protect our livestock, the biomanufacturers building tomorrow's jobs, and the students who choose to stay and build their lives right here in Kansas. On this episode of Ask a Kansan, Gus and Sydney sit down with Dr. Richard Linton, president of Kansas State University, to talk about what it really means to lead a land-grant institution built to serve every corner of the state. We get into the mentors who shaped him, the napkin sketch that mapped out his entire career decades before he became a university president, why athletics might matter more in Manhattan, Kansas than almost anywhere else in the country, and the story of how he and his wife once snuck onto campus incognito before he ever took the job. We close out with his hopes for what Kansas and K-State will look like 100 years from now. Highlights Dr. Linton's path from food microbiology at Virginia Tech to university leadership, shaped by mentors like Dr. Merrill Pearson and Randy WoodsonK-State's scale: over 21,000 degree-seeking students, three campuses (Manhattan, Salina, Olathe), and engagement across all 105 Kansas countiesA breakdown of what a university president's week actually looks like — "friend-raising and fundraising"Major initiatives shaping K-State's Next Gen strategic plan: biomanufacturing, water resource management, and nuclear energyThe origin and meaning of "land-grant university," and what "next-generation land-grant" means for K-State todayThe value of a K-State degree, explained through three numbers: 81% financial support, 97% job/grad school placement, 67% above-average starting salariesCommunity college partnerships (Dodge City, Garden City, Manhattan Technical College) and support for first-generation studentsThe "brain drain" challenge — why Kansas keeps roughly 75% of in-state students but only 40–45% of out-of-state studentsWhy athletics matters so much to K-State's economic impact ($2.3 billion total, $486 million from athletics) and student enrollmentThe National Agro and Biodefense Facility (NBAF) and K-State's unique BSL-4 biosecurity capabilitiesThe story behind the $260 million agricultural initiative — raising $84 million in four months after 90% of people called the goal impossibleDr. Linton's own education story and the mentors who shaped his careerHow K-State's campus culture stood out to Dr. Linton and his wife before he even took the jobHis vision for Kansas and K-State 100 years from now Chapters 0:00 – First K-State Game Memories 0:53 – Madeline Meets Purple Pride 1:55 – Welcome to Ask a Kansan 4:44 – Meet President Rich Linton 5:24 – Mentors and Food Science Path 7:32 – From Research to Administration 11:43 – K-State Scale and Reach 14:48 – A Week in the President's Life 18:59 – Community Listening and Initiatives 21:22 – Next-Gen Land-Grant Explained 26:15 – Biomanufacturing Defined 27:39 – Value of a K-State Degree 31:59 – Community College and First-Gen Paths 33:52 – Brain Drain and Keeping Kansans 34:43 – Keeping Grads in Kansas 35:50 – Jobs and Economic Pull 36:50 – Athletics vs Academics 38:04 – Why Sports Matter 41:51 – A President as Fan 43:32 – NBAF and Biosecurity 45:42 – Next Gen K-State Plan 49:11 – Ag Initiative Fundraising 52:18 – Education and Mentorship 55:10 – K-State Culture Story 59:18 – 2126 Vision and Legacy 1:01:13 – Host Wrap and Takeaways 1:02:58 – Subscribe and Support 1:03:59 – Final Thanks and Goodbye Resources Mentioned Kansas State University Learn more about the podcast at askakansan.com! This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net

    K-State Past, Present, and Future: A Conversation with President Linton | Powercat Kansan

  2. Aug 17

    Rebuilding Classrooms: Cathy Hopkins on Policy, Teachers & Change | Kansas Education

    What happens when an entire education system hits a moment of collision — new leadership, new laws, and old habits all colliding at once? On this episode, we sit down with Cathy Hopkins, chair of the Kansas State Board of Education, to find out. From accreditation reform to the fight over cell phones in classrooms, Cathy pulls back the curtain on what's really happening inside Kansas schools right now — and why she believes the state is at a genuine turning point. We talk through the science of reading, why cursive handwriting is making a comeback, how one small district's cell phone policy quietly cut discipline problems in half, and what it actually takes for a rural community to rally around its school. Cathy also opens up about her own path — six kids, a stint away from Kansas that only confirmed it was home, and a run for the local school board she lost by just five votes before landing on the state board altogether. Highlights Cathy represents District 5 — 44 counties across western and northern Kansas — and breaks down how Kansas's 10 board districts are drawn around student population, not geography.Kansas has nearly 500,000 K-12 students, with wildly different district sizes — from under 100 students in some rural four-day-school districts to 45,000+ in Wichita's District 8.The "science of reading" and the shift from balanced literacy to structured literacy, including a new state requirement that elementary teachers and reading specialists be trained in structured literacy by July 2028.What the State Board of Education actually does: accreditation, teacher licensure, curriculum standards, and high school graduation requirements — while emphasizing local control.KESA (Kansas Education System of Accreditation) has shifted from a compliance-driven model to a support-driven school improvement model built around four fundamentals: structured literacy, standards alignment, balanced assessments, and quality instruction.The new "bell to bell" cell phone ban law, and Cathy's on-the-ground findings from talking to districts that banned phones early — including a near 50% drop in behavior issues and a surprise uptick in library book checkouts.A "Blue Ribbon Task Force" on screens met for over a year, gathering input from legislators, teachers, parents, and students before issuing recommendations.Cursive handwriting is officially coming back into Kansas standards, tied to research on how handwriting supports reading comprehension and brain development.Community involvement stories, including the Farm to Plate initiative connecting local farmers/ranchers with school lunch programs, and a district that saw a wave of community support after clips of a board meeting went viral on social media.Cathy's call for a "better narrative" around education amid a wave of upcoming leadership changes: a new state commissioner, a new KBOR director, a new governor, and a new speaker of the house.Chapters 0:00 – 1982 Wichita Time Capsule 4:25 – Meet Cathy Hopkins 5:10 – District 5 Explained 6:27 – Kansas School Sizes 8:37 – Cathy's Kansas Roots 11:42 – Leaving and Returning Home 13:27 – Joining the State Board 16:43 – Science of Reading Shift 23:35 – Board Role and KESA 26:59 – Cell Phone Ban Debate 31:35 – Screens Task Force and Local Control 35:53 – Law Enforcement and Certification 37:21 – Four Improvement Fundamentals 38:45 – Quality Instruction vs Tech 39:15 – Handwriting and Cursive Return 41:07 – Collaboration and Action Plans 44:23 – Community Involvement Examples 49:25 – Parents as First Teachers 51:59 – Host Reflection on Education 53:22 – Kansas History: School Gossip 55:54 – 1939 Classes and Film Reels 58:59 – 1900 Gossip Column Highlights 1:03:42 – 1920 Basketball and Saturday School 1:06:27 – Best Bits and Wrap-Up Resources Mentioned Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE)Kansas Association of School Boards (KASB)Newspapers.comLearn more about the podcast at askakansan.com! This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net

    Rebuilding Classrooms: Cathy Hopkins on Policy, Teachers & Change | Kansas Education

  3. Aug 10

    Guiding Kansas Kids' Futures with Hanna Mick

    What does a school counselor actually do all day — and why does it matter more now than ever? Hanna Mick is an elementary school counselor in Topeka and a part-time consultant with the Kansas State Department of Education, and she's proof that the role goes far beyond what you see on TV. From launching a peer conflict-resolution program at recess to using AI for career exploration with kids as young as third grade, Hannah is redefining what it means to support students. She's also the Kansas School Counselor of the Year and a finalist for the national title — not that she got into education for the awards. This conversation will make you wish you'd had a counselor like her growing up. Highlights The difference between a "guidance counselor" and a school counselor — and why it mattersHanna's unexpected path from advertising to education (a soul-searching pivot she's never regretted)The Junior Coaches program: how sixth graders helping second graders at recess reduced office discipline referrals by 71–77% for some studentsWhy by third grade, kids have already begun limiting their career ambitions based on race, gender, and socioeconomic status — and what counselors can do about itUsing a school-approved AI tool to help students discover careers they never knew existed (e-sports manager, anyone?)Road Trip Nation: a free AI-informed platform that helps students cut through the "noise" and find their pathThe "two I's" framework for thinking about AI in schools: intention and impactWhy teaching kids what cheating actually is in the age of AI is harder than it soundsPiper the therapy dog, the Paws and Claws project-based learning group, and a Humane Society partnership built by third gradersDartography debuts! Gus introduces a new segment using a dart and a cork-board Kansas map Chapters 0:00 – Stadium Renderings 2:06 – Podcast Intro: Education Month 2:42 – Meet Hanna Mick 4:09 – Kansas Roots and K-State 4:49 – From Advertising to Counseling 8:16 – What School Counselors Do 11:04 – Junior Coaches Recess Program 15:53 – Counselor of the Year Mindset 18:13 – AI in Schools: Basics 21:25 – Teaching AI Literacy and Cheating 28:08 – Therapy Dogs: Piper and Pickles 29:35 – Paws and Claws Project Learning 30:45 – Frontloading Expectations 31:20 – Piper Costume Project 32:00 – Humane Society Partnership 33:35 – Career Bias by Third Grade 36:15 – AI Career Discovery 40:41 – Road Trip Nation Tool 41:58 – Counselor of the Year (National) 46:08 – Post-Interview Reflections 46:58 – Dartography Segment Begins 50:05 – Cimarron County Seat Gunfight 51:33 – Sewell's Folly Canal 53:02 – Ingalls Name Connections & Laura Ingalls Wilder 55:57 – Dart Throw Results 57:53 – Episode Wrap-Up Resources Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) Conscious Discipline – Dr. Becky Bailey's podcast Character Strong Hanna Mick's websiteRoad Trip Nation Learn more about the podcast at askakansan.com! This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net

    Guiding Kansas Kids' Futures with Hanna Mick

  4. Aug 3

    Strumming Success with Matt Gerry | Rocking Kansas

    Do kids even want to learn a skill like playing the guitar? This week we sit down with Matt Gerry, the guitar and music teacher at South Middle School in Salina, whose 24-year journey has taken him everywhere from a Weezer-sponsored trip to Chicago to a Radio Disney commercial — and even a Grammy Music Educator Award nomination. Before we get to Matt, Sydney shares a heartwarming (and a little ironic) story about a Kansan TikToker helping out a fellow Kansan stranded far from home, and Gus reminisces about the Hanks and Joshes of the world who keep our cars running. Then Matt takes us through how he fell in love with guitar via his dad's old Gibson, built a guitar program from scratch against school-system red tape, won contests with Weezer and Mozart-inspired performances, got his students backstage with Collective Soul, and shared the stage with his own wife and daughter in Theatre Salina's School of Rock.  Highlights: A Kansan TikToker (Weston, from Winfield) pulls over to help a stranded fellow Kansan in Colorado — without realizing it at firstMatt Gerry shares how he fell in love with guitar playing his dad's Gibson from Kalamazoo, Michigan while performing in a school production of GreaseThe step-by-step story of building South Middle School's guitar program — from a grant-funded classroom set of guitars in 2003 to a dedicated guitar class in 2010, now serving 250 students a yearWinning a Weezer video contest that led to a trip to Chicago and new classroom instrumentsWinning the Midwest region of a Mozart-themed contest, earning $7,500 for new guitars, followed by a Radio Disney Channel visit and commercial shootMatt's involvement with the Stiefel Theatre's School of Music and getting students backstage with bands like Collective SoulSharing the stage with his wife and daughter in Theatre Salina's production of School of RockBeing nominated for the Grammy Music Educator Award and making the quarterfinalsWhy Matt believes learning guitar in a group setting beats learning solo from YouTubeMatt's big goal: becoming a clinician who trains other guitar teachersA nostalgic tangent about Salina radio stations, Weird Al Yankovic fan mail, and shared music memories from middle school Chapters: 0:00 – Scrolling TikTok Finds Weston 0:45 – Kansans Helping Kansans 2:32 – Brake Pads and Hank Stories 3:23 – Ask a Kansan Intro 4:52 – Meet Music Teacher Matt 6:04 – How Matt Found Guitar 7:42 – Choosing Music Education 9:04 – First Classroom Memories 11:47 – Building a Guitar Program 14:07 – Why Guitar Hooks Students 18:06 – Weezer Contest Goes Viral 19:30 – Fame and Disney Tease 20:16 – Mozart Contest Win 20:51 – Disney Channel Visit 21:42 – Family Support Grounding 22:18 – Stiefel Music School 24:03 – School of Rock Family 25:01 – Awards and Humility 25:52 – Church Music and Benefits 27:40 – Middle School Mindset 28:47 – Guitar Program Expansion 31:38 – Big Goals and Training 34:01 – Radio Nostalgia Tangent 35:41 – Teaching Dream Job 37:31 – Stories from a Hat Twist 42:22 – Episode Wrap and Merch Resources Mentioned: Salina Education Foundation: https://www.salinaeducationfoundation.com/ Teaching Guitar Workshops: https://teachingguitarworkshops.org/Stiefel Theatre: https://www.stiefeltheatre.org/KMEA (Kansas Music Educators Association): https://ksmea.org/ Learn more about the podcast at askakansan.com! This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net

    Strumming Success with Matt Gerry | Rocking Kansas

  5. Jul 27

    Banking on Kansas with Jeremy Hill

    What if the Federal Reserve wasn't just a boring government agency setting monetary policy, but a mission-driven storyteller trying to make sense of your household budget? On this episode, Julie and Sydney sit down with Jeremy Hill, regional executive for the Kansas City Federal Reserve, to unpack what the Fed actually does, why manufacturing is quietly booming across Kansas, and how inflation is hitting some households harder than others. Jeremy breaks down the Fed's three core functions, explains the K-shaped economy squeezing lower and middle-income families, and shares surprising stories from the Kansas City Fed's money museum, the shredded-cash vault, and the fly-fishing origins of the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium. Plus, stick around for a fun round of Kansas Penny Pinchers, where Sydney and Julie swap money-saving confessions. Highlights The Federal Reserve has three main functions: monetary policy, bank supervision/regulation, and managing how cash physically moves through the economy.The K-shaped economy is splitting households into two groups — some doing better every year, others falling further behind due to inflation eating into fixed costs like rent, insurance, and car payments.Kansas's GDP is currently growing faster than the national average, driven largely by a manufacturing boom (aerospace, machinery, fabricated metals).Agriculture and energy sectors in Kansas are struggling, while manufacturing is picking up steam and creating wage pressure as firms compete for labor.The Kansas City Fed operates a free, public money museum where visitors can see the history of currency and even watch cash being shredded.The Jackson Hole Economic Symposium, which draws central bank leaders from around the world, originated because a former Fed chair loved fly-fishing in Wyoming.The Fed is a semi-private organization with a public mission — it doesn't receive funding from Congress and instead earns revenue through banking services and its asset holdings.Jeremy describes economics as more art than math — piecing together abstract, nebulous signals to tell a bigger story about where the economy is heading. Chapters 0:00 – Kids Freezer Obsession 0:39 – Frozen Fruit Cup Logic 1:51 – Do Your Kids Do This 2:47 – Podcast Intro & New Co-Host 3:24 – Meet Jeremy Hill 4:20 – Jeremy's Role at the Fed 5:37 – Why Economics Clicked 6:41 – The Fed Explained Simply 7:36 – How Banks View the Fed 9:07 – Which Businesses He Visits 10:49 – Backbone Industries in Towns 12:08 – K-Shaped Household Strain 14:27 – Where the Data Comes From 16:29 – Money Museum and Cash Vault 18:18 – Why Money Gets Shredded 18:57 – Counterfeits and Secret Service 19:41 – Back to the Third Bucket 19:51 – Fed Mandate Explained 20:15 – Rates: Buyers vs. Savers 21:05 – Kansas Bootstrap Spirit 22:43 – Inside the Fed Culture 23:53 – How the Fed Funds Itself 25:10 – Kansas Roots and Career Path 27:26 – Economics as Art 28:34 – Kansas Economy Snapshot 30:52 – How Manufacturers Adapt 31:33 – Jackson Hole Symposium Story 33:23 – Where to Learn More 34:14 – Post-Interview Takeaways 34:51 – Kansas Penny Pinchers Game 40:25 – Wrap Up and Next Month Resources Mentioned Kansas City Federal ReserveKansas City Federal Reserve's Money Museum — a free, public museum highlighting the history of currencyFetch app — a receipt-scanning app for earning points/gift cards Learn more about the podcast at askakansan.com! This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net

    Banking on Kansas with Jeremy Hill

  6. Jul 20

    Wildlife and Conservation with Ryan VanZant of the Rolling Hills Zoo | Wild Kansas

    Why do the animals you fall in love with sometimes have to leave the zoo? This week we sit down with Ryan VanZant, executive director of Rolling Hills Zoo in Salina, and trace his winding path from a childhood obsessed with parakeets and parrots to falconry, movie animal training, and eventually leading one of the youngest zoos in the country. We get the real story behind the zoo's famous museum, hear about the massive new Tiger Falls habitat on the way, talk through the tough calls zoo staff make about animal welfare, and dig into why Kansas prairie ecosystems deserve just as much attention as the savannas of Africa. Plus, we've got some big personal news of our own, and we close things out with a new round of Stories from the Hat. Highlights Ryan VanZant shares his journey from breeding parakeets and parrots as a kid to training animals for movies to running zoos in Hutchinson and now SalinaThe real history of the Rolling Hills Zoo museum and its taxidermy collection — plus a rumor finally debunkedDetails on Tiger Falls, a major new habitat expansion for Amur tigers, snow leopards, and incoming red pandasThe story behind Creed the baby rhino, named after Chiefs player Creed Humphrey, and how that story went viralAn honest look at how zoos make difficult animal welfare and relocation decisionsWhy Kansas's native prairie ecosystems are disappearing faster than any other ecosystem type, and why that mattersA rundown of upcoming Rolling Hills Zoo events like Zoo Brew, Safari Breakfasts, Silent Sundays, and Taste of AdventureA new round of "Stories from the Hat" with random prompts about hometown landmarks, guilty pleasure gas station snacks, and more Chapters 0:00 — Sydney's Big News 0:48 — Podcast Plans Ahead 1:30 — Meet Rolling Hills Zoo 2:39 — Ryan's Kansas Path 3:41 — Why This Zoo Location 4:39 — Childhood Animal Obsession 5:57 — Parakeets to Parrots 8:12 — Peregrines and DDT 10:24 — Falconry Life Explained 12:48 — Becoming Zoo Director 17:56 — Leading People Like Animals 19:15 — Rolling Hills Origin Story 24:10 — Funding and Conservation Work 26:29 — Inside the Museum 29:26 — Christmas Lights Feedback 30:19 — Holiday Lights Highlights 30:59 — Tiger Falls Expansion 34:37 — Viral Zoo Babies 36:44 — Animal Welfare Decisions 42:15 — Future of Modern Zoos 45:22 — Saving the Prairie 50:36 — Events and Visiting Tips 55:37 — Stories from the Hat 59:56 — Podcast Wrap and Thanks Resources Mentioned Sunflower Summer app - https://sunflowersummer.org/Rolling Hills Zoo — https://www.rollinghillszoo.org/H Is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald Learn more about the podcast at askakansan.com! This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net

    Wildlife and Conservation with Ryan VanZant of the Rolling Hills Zoo | Wild Kansas

  7. Jul 13

    Baseball Traditions with Katie Woods | Playball Kansas

    What if the hottest summer ticket in Kansas sports has been hiding in plain sight for 92 years? We sat down with Katie Woods, director of the National Baseball Congress in Wichita, and walked away completely obsessed with bobbleheads, Bananaball, and a baseball tournament with more history than you'd ever guess. From a 3 AM game under the lights to a decade-before-Jackie-Robinson integrated championship team, this conversation covers just about everything that makes baseball in Kansas special. Highlights Katie Woods introduces herself as director of the National Baseball Congress (NBC), founded in Wichita in the 1930s by Hap DumontThe story behind the brand-new Ozzie Smith backflip bobblehead giveawayHow NBC teams work today: summer collegiate players (ages 18-22) from colleges across the countryWhy Katie fell into baseball via an internship with the Houston Astros, then the Frisco RoughRiders and Everett AquaSoxThe wild history behind minor league team names and mascotsHap Dumont's decades of innovation: pitch clocks 60 years early, glow-in-the-dark baseball, mic'd-up umpires, and even early attempts at instant replay and an automatic ball-strike system"Baseball Around the Clock" — 11 games in 33 hours, complete with tent camping, RVs, and survivor t-shirtsThe emotional and communal side of directing an all-night tournamentTrophy and prize money: the historic Cessna Cup and an $18,000 winner's pursePlans for the NBC's upcoming 100th anniversary/centennial celebrationDigitizing decades of NBC archives with Wichita State's Special CollectionsThe incredible true story of the 1935 Bismarck Churchills — the first integrated team to win a national title in any sport, a decade before Jackie Robinson broke the color barrierThe growing role of women in baseball, including Katie being the NBC's first female tournament director in 90 yearsA rousing round of Stories from a Hat, covering white lies, favorite chairs, and nostalgic Wichita hangouts Chapters 0:00 — Studio Backdrop Reveal 0:27 — Wood Carving Nerd Out 1:42 — Show Intro & Baseball Tease 2:15 — Meet Katie Woods 2:51 — Ozzie Smith Bobblehead 4:42 — What Is the NBC? 5:53 — How Teams Work Today 7:05 — Why Katie Chose Baseball 9:37 — Career Path to Kansas 11:30 — Why the NBC Matters 12:27 — Tournament Venues & Logistics 14:39 — Minor League Name Madness 16:07 — Banana Ball and Innovation 20:45 — Wichita NBC Community 22:04 — Offseason Planning Pipeline 22:56 — Baseball Around the Clock 23:57 — Camping at the Ballpark 25:03 — Director All Night 26:00 — Sunrise and Sacrifice 27:32 — Trophy and Prize Money 28:05 — Kansas Community Baseball 29:29 — Centennial Plans 30:43 — Digitizing the Archives 32:09 — Hap Dumont's Vision 33:45 — How to Watch & Support 34:46 — Colorblind: Origin Story 37:28 — Women in Baseball 40:01 — Host Wrap and the Organ 41:33 — Stories from a Hat 46:00 — Closing and Merch Resources Mentioned NBCBaseball.comNBC Baseball on Facebook, Instagram and YouTubeColorblind by Tom Dunkel Learn more about the podcast at askakansan.com! This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net

    Baseball Traditions with Katie Woods | Playball Kansas

  8. Jul 6

    The Legacy of Bleeding Kansas with Dr. Kristen Epps | Kansas Shaping America

    There was a time when what happened in Kansas was front page news on the east coast. This week, Sydney and Gus sit down with historian Dr. Kristen Epps, professor at Kansas State University and editor of Kansas History: A Journal of the Central Plains, to dig into Bleeding Kansas, the people slavery's expansion actually affected, and why the messy, complicated version of our state's story matters more than the tidy one. Kristen shares how she stumbled into Kansas history research, what it's really like editing an academic journal, and the wildest things she's found in dusty courthouse archives (John Brown's actual handwriting included). She also gives us a first look at her upcoming narrative history of Kansas, co-written with Jim Leiker, and reflects on resilience, reform movements, and why she finds hope in the next generation as the country marks its 250th anniversary. Plus, Sydney closes it out with an America 250-themed round of obscure Kansas facts covering everything from the Exodusters to ancient camels. Highlights Kristen Epps introduces herself as an "adopted Kansan" and explains her path from the Pacific Northwest and Colorado to becoming a Kansas historian.She edits Kansas History: A Journal of the Central Plains, a peer-reviewed publication jointly run by the Kansas Historical Society and K-State.Her book, Slavery on the Periphery, centers enslaved people's experiences rather than treating slavery as purely a political debate.A breakdown of what Bleeding Kansas actually was, including the Kansas-Nebraska Act, popular sovereignty, and the violence that followed.Confirmation that enslaved people did live in Kansas, including at the Shawnee Methodist Mission, Fort Scott, and Fort Leavenworth.Research stories from the archives, including finding Abraham Lincoln's signature and reading John Brown's surprisingly ordinary letters.A preview of Kristen's upcoming narrative history of Kansas with co-author Jim Leiker, out in early 2027 from the University Press of Kansas.Reflections on resilience through Kansas history, from the Dust Bowl to the decades-long fight for women's suffrage (won in Kansas in 1912).Kristen's thoughts on why history matters heading into America's 250th anniversary, and where she finds hope in today's college students.Sydney's America 250-themed Kansas trivia: the Exoduster migration, prehistoric camel fossils, a Kansas doctor's role in founding modern EMS, and the tiny town of Speed, Kansas hosting a Hot Wheels anniversary event. Chapters 0:00 – Garden Bounty1:44 – Podcast Intro and Guest Tease3:05 – Meet Historian Kristen Epps4:09 – Why Kansas History Matters8:40 – Inside the Kansas History Journal10:49 – Becoming a Historian and Editor11:59 – Slavery on the Periphery12:50 – What Was Bleeding Kansas15:11 – Enslaved People in Kansas16:20 – Researching Hidden Histories19:08 – Archives Not Just Google21:29 – Letters from John Brown and Others23:38 – History Hits Home24:39 – Writing Kansas For Everyone26:26 – From Ancient Seas To Today27:35 – Resilience And Many Kansases31:38 – America 250 And Civic Duty33:17 – Why History Matters35:20 – Finding Hope In Community38:25 – Post Interview Reflections40:00 – Exodusters Black Migration41:41 – Camels And Prehistory42:24 – Kansas And Modern EMS45:39 – Speed Kansas Hot Wheels46:48 – Episode Wrap And Farewell Resources Mentioned Slavery on the Periphery by Kristen EppsKansas History: A Journal of the Central Plains https://www.kansashistory.gov/p/kansas-history/12443Kansas Historical Society: https://www.kansashistory.gov/Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond Learn more about the podcast at askakansan.com! This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net

    The Legacy of Bleeding Kansas with Dr. Kristen Epps | Kansas Shaping America
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Ask A Kansan is a podcast where we're amplifying, connecting and uncovering stories across Kansas. Every week, Gus and Sydney sit down with the people who actually make this state run — museum directors and ranchers, founders and historians, zookeepers and woodcarvers. From Kansas City to Kinsley, WaKeeney to Wichita, we go where the story is. You'll leave each episode knowing something you didn't about the state we call home. It's not a history lecture and it's not a business show. It's a real conversation with a Kansan worth knowing. New episodes weekly. askakansan.com

Information

  • Creator
    Ask A Kansan
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    71
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Ask A Kansan

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