What does it take to fall in love with a place that isn't even yours — and then dedicate your life to making sure everyone else loves it too? That's exactly what happened to journalist, historian, filmmaker, and storyteller Deb Goodrich. From covering crime courts in the Blue Ridge Mountains at age 21, to living inside a Topeka cemetery, to championing the forgotten legacy of America's first vice president of color, Deb has spent decades proving that Kansas history is anything but boring. And somehow, she made drinking water funny in the process. Highlights Deb Goodrich was inspired to become a journalist by watching Lois Lane on Superman at age fourShe began writing for her local paper in Stuart, Virginia at age 15 and worked across radio, TV, newspaper, and magazineDeb became a history major at Washburn University after a political science professor told her that's what she was — she had no ideaShe lived as historian-in-residence inside a historic home at Topeka Cemetery, where she first learned about Charles CurtisCharles Curtis was Vice President of the United States under Herbert Hoover (1929–1933), enrolled in the Kaw tribe, and is the first person of color to serve as VP — a story most Kansans don't knowDeb is working on a book, From the Reservation to Washington, about Charles Curtis, as well as a screenplayShe's collaborated extensively with filmmaker Ken Spurgeon, including on Touched by Fire (Bleeding Kansas) and The Moccasin Speaks (currently on PBS)Her upcoming film Under the Painted Sky tells the story of the German Family Massacre in Western KansasShe serves as Garvey Texas Foundation Historian-in-Residence at the Fort Wallace Museum in OakleyDeb's next book idea: Killers I Have KnownKansas's biggest export, according to Deb, is talent — and that needs to changeGus introduces a segment called "Less Fun With Flags," analyzing the Kansas state flag against the five rules of good flag design from the North American Vexicological AssociationKansas scored 3.01 out of 10 (a D-minus), ranking 69th out of 72 US state and Canadian provincial flagsThe Wichita city flag scored 8.41 out of 10 in 2004, ranking 6th best among 150 American cities — proof Kansans can do better Chapters 0:00 – Australia Pin Giveaway 2:23 – Podcast Intro / Meet Deb Goodrich 3:28 – Meet Deb Goodrich 6:00 – Journalism Origins: Lois Lane 7:35 – History Bug: Cemetery Lessons 9:34 – The Charlie Curtis Story 12:26 – Topeka Cemetery Adventures 17:29 – Film Work With Ken Spurgeon 21:11 – Fort Wallace and Many Hats 26:52 – The Oakley / Annie Oakley Myth 28:33 – How Deb Got to Kansas 28:45 – Mayberry Roots 29:29 – Topeka and Washburn 30:19 – Media Ethics Wake-Up 31:09 – Switching to History 32:29 – Court Reporting Lessons 35:21 – Journalism Meets Film 37:10 – Kansas Pride Problem 40:20 – Fort Wallace Plug 42:24 – Post-Interview Wrap 43:45 – Less Fun With Flags 45:33 – The Five Rules of Good Flag Design 47:02 – Kansas Flag Fails 52:38 – Wichita Flag Wins 55:10 – Redesign Ideas and Outro Resources From the Reservation to Washington by Deb Goodrich (book on Charles Curtis) — available on AmazonThe Moccasin Speaks — documentary on the German Family Massacre, currently airing on PBSUnder the Painted Sky — upcoming film by Ken Spurgeon and Deb GoodrichTouched by Fire — film about Bleeding Kansas by Ken SpurgeonBloody Dawn by Tom Goodrich — book on the Lawrence MassacreFort Wallace Museum — Oakley, Kansas; 2025 theme: "From Wallace to the Little Big Horn" https://ftwallace.com/ Learn more about the podcast at askakansan.com! This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net
