There's Just Something About Kansas City

Frank Boal, Sarah McEnerney, Kate Feder, Ben Messner
  • 4.9 (37)
  • HISTORY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

“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. Joe Reardon: Former KCK Mayor on Leadership, Economic Development & the Future of Kansas City

    3D AGO

    Joe Reardon: Former KCK Mayor on Leadership, Economic Development & the Future of Kansas City

    Former Kansas City, Kansas mayor Joe Reardon has spent much of his career working at the intersection of public service, economic development, and regional collaboration. Today, he serves as President and CEO of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, where he plays a key role in shaping the future of the Kansas City region. In this episode, Reardon reflects on his time leading Kansas City, Kansas, sharing lessons learned while navigating major civic challenges and working to grow the community. He discusses why cooperation across the state line between Kansas and Missouri is essential to the region’s long-term success. Reardon also talks about the Chamber’s priorities for strengthening the regional economy, supporting businesses of all sizes, and elevating Kansas City’s national reputation as a place to live, work, and build a business. From city hall to the boardroom, Reardon shares his perspective on leadership, regional partnerships, and what it will take for Kansas City to compete—and thrive—in the years ahead.

    52 min
  2. Brie Morgan Bauer: Motherhood, Survival, and Hope

    MAR 3

    Brie Morgan Bauer: Motherhood, Survival, and Hope

    This one is personal. Brie Morgan Bauer is someone I’ve known since she was three years old — my youngest daughter’s closest friend and someone our family loves dearly. But Brie’s story is now known far beyond Kansas City. If you follow @BeauandBrie on social media, you may already know that Brie survived a devastating case of Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome (STSS) — a rare and life-threatening bacterial infection. What makes her story even more extraordinary is that both she and her newborn son, Beau, survived. It was, in every sense, a double miracle. The infection led to the loss of all four of Brie’s limbs. But this episode is not just about survival — it’s about resilience. It’s about refusing to let trauma define you. It’s about motherhood, identity, and finding purpose in unimaginable circumstances. Today, Brie channels that purpose into advocacy through Brie’s Hope, the foundation she created dedicated to saving lives through sepsis awareness, early detection, and compassionate support for those navigating life after limb loss. Through Brie’s Hope, she is building community, offering encouragement, and helping others navigate their own recovery journeys with dignity and strength. In this deeply moving conversation, Brie shares what happened, how she fought to recover, and why she is committed to turning her experience into hope for others. This is a story about resilience, faith, family, and the extraordinary ways people can rise above their circumstances and help others do the same.

    1h 15m
  3. Chad Boeger: How 810 WHB Became Kansas City’s First All-Sports Radio Station

    FEB 24

    Chad Boeger: How 810 WHB Became Kansas City’s First All-Sports Radio Station

    Before he became President of Union Broadcasting, Chad Boeger was already an entrepreneur. In kindergarten, he was buying Jolly Ranchers for two cents and selling them for five. By junior high and high school, he was running a thriving lawn care business. In college at the University of Kansas, he hustled any way he could to make ends meet, fully expecting to use his business degree to become an investment banker. But a passion for sports changed everything. In this episode of There’s Just Something About Kansas City, Chad shares how he went from earning $6.50 an hour selling ad space in a weekly newspaper to helping launch Kansas City’s first all-sports radio station, 810 WHB, and eventually becoming President of Union Broadcasting. We go behind the scenes of building a sports media brand from the ground up: navigating risk, betting on a format no one knew would work, and helping shape Kansas City’s sports conversation for decades. It’s a story about hustle, timing, entrepreneurship, and the power of following your passion, even when it leads somewhere completely unexpected. 🎧 A must-listen for sports fans, aspiring entrepreneurs, and anyone curious how great media companies get built.

    1h 26m
  4. Ken Morrow: Olympic Golds,, Stanley Cups, & Kansas City

    FEB 17

    Ken Morrow: Olympic Golds,, Stanley Cups, & Kansas City

    As the world tunes in to the Winter Olympics, we revisit one of the most iconic moments in sports history — the 1980 “Miracle on Ice.” In February 1980, the United States was emerging from a decade marked by recession, gas shortages, and national uncertainty. Then, in Lake Placid, New York, a group of young American hockey players stunned the world by defeating the dominant Soviet Union team, the feared Red Army, in what many still consider the greatest upset in sports history. Our guest, Ken Morrow, was a defenseman on that gold medal-winning U.S. Men’s National Hockey Team. He shares what it felt like that night, the mindset of legendary coach Herb Brooks, and even reads a powerful letter Brooks wrote to the team months later explaining why he pushed them so relentlessly. After the Olympics, Morrow went on to win four Stanley Cups with the New York Islanders, cementing an extraordinary professional career. But this conversation also hits close to home. Ken has lived in Kansas City for more than 20 years and currently serves as President of KCIce, helping grow the sport at the grassroots level. We talk about what brought him to Kansas City, the state of hockey in the Midwest, and what makes this city such a special place to build a life and legacy. This is more than a hockey story:  it’s about leadership, belief, community, and the places we choose to call home. 🎧 A timely and inspiring listen during the Winter Games, and just one more reason Kansas City can call itself a city of champions.

    1h 23m
  5. Diane Euston: Kansas City Historian on Sarah Rector, The Richest Black Child in America

    FEB 10

    Diane Euston: Kansas City Historian on Sarah Rector, The Richest Black Child in America

    Almost erased from mainstream history, Sarah Rector was a young Black girl whose life defied every expectation of her time. In 1907, through the Dawes Allotment Act, Sarah — a descendant of formerly enslaved people — was granted 160 acres of land in Oklahoma. The land was considered undesirable and difficult to farm. But beneath it lay oil. When a well struck crude, Sarah became one of the richest Black children in American history, and that well is still producing today. In this episode of There’s Just Something About Kansas City, historian and educator Diane Euston brings Sarah Rector’s remarkable story to life — far beyond what’s portrayed in the film Sarah’s Oil, which focuses only on her early years. Diane shares how national leaders like Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois advocated for Sarah’s education at the Tuskegee Institute, why she eventually moved to Kansas City, and how she became one of the most prominent socialites in KC history — Black or white. We explore her marriage at 18, her children, and the Kansas City home that still stands today — where she hosted icons such as Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Joe Louis, Jack Johnson, Josh Gibson, and the Kansas City Monarchs. It’s a powerful story of wealth, resilience, race, education, and legacy — and a vital chapter of Kansas City history that deserves to be remembered. 🎧 A must-listen for history lovers, KC locals, and anyone inspired by untold American stories.

    55 min
  6. Gary Lezak: Kansas City Weather to Weather 20/20

    FEB 3

    Gary Lezak: Kansas City Weather to Weather 20/20

    In this episode of There’s Just Something About Kansas City, the longtime Kansas City and Oklahoma City TV meteorologist shares behind-the-scenes stories from the unpredictable world of live television weather — unforgettable storms, on-air surprises, and the moments viewers never see. After years in broadcast meteorology, Gary channeled his experience into launching Weather 20/20, an innovative long-range forecasting system designed to help individuals, businesses, and communities better prepare for what’s ahead. But this conversation goes beyond the forecast. Gary also offers an honest and personal reflection on growing up knowing he was gay, what that meant in earlier decades of broadcast television, and why he chooses to speak openly about it today. Smart, candid, and full of insight, this episode blends Kansas City media history, weather science, entrepreneurship, and personal resilience — all in one unforgettable conversation. 🎧 A must-listen for weather watchers, media fans, and anyone who’s ever waited out a Midwest storm.

    1h 7m
  7. Dan Meers: KC Wolf on Life as the Kansas City Chiefs Mascot

    JAN 27

    Dan Meers: KC Wolf on Life as the Kansas City Chiefs Mascot

    Dan Meers might be one of the most recognizable people in the city — but you wouldn’t know him from Adam without his giant head, crazy eyes, and 85 inch waist. For more than 35 years, Dan Meers brought energy, humor, and heart to Kansas City as the legendary KC Wolf, the mascot of the Kansas City Chiefs. In this episode of There’s Just Something About Kansas City, Dan takes us behind the mask and into one of the most unique careers in professional sports. He shares how he got his start as Truman the Tiger at Mizzou, became Fredbird with the St. Louis Cardinals, and eventually found his calling as KC Wolf, one of the most beloved mascots in the NFL. But this conversation goes far beyond sports. Dan reflects on how he’s used his platform to share a message centered on family, faith, and encouragement, and he opens up about his wife Cam’s courageous battle with cancer. With grace and honesty, Dan speaks directly to those facing similar struggles, and wants them to know they are not alone. It’s a powerful, heartfelt, and unforgettable story about purpose, perseverance, and finding light in even the hardest moments. 🎧 An episode that will inspire Chiefs fans — and anyone in need of hope.

    1 hr
  8. Mike Kennedy & Nycki Pace: Inside Kansas City Radio’s Golden Age

    JAN 20

    Mike Kennedy & Nycki Pace: Inside Kansas City Radio’s Golden Age

    If you’ve spent any time listening to Kansas City radio since the 1980s, you already know the voices, and the names, Mike Kennedy and Nycki Pace. In this episode of There’s Just Something About Kansas City, we sit down with two true KC radio icons who lived, shaped, and survived the Golden Age of radio. Nycki made her mark behind the microphone, becoming one of the most recognizable voices on the Kansas City airwaves, while Mike helped steer stations and formats from the programming side during some of the most competitive and transformative years in local radio history. Together, they share what it was really like inside the studios during the era of format wars, shifting audiences, and rapid changes in how people consumed music and media. We talk about radio then and now — what’s changed, what hasn’t, and what still matters most when it comes to connecting with listeners. Along the way, Nycki and Mike weave in unforgettable stories, behind-the-scenes moments, and reflections on why Kansas City radio has always been something special. 🎧 A must-listen for media lovers, longtime KC radio fans, and anyone curious about how the airwaves helped shape the city.

    1h 4m
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4.9
out of 5
37 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
    138
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Frank Boal, Sarah McEnerney, Kate Feder, Ben Messner
  • Show Website
    There's Just Something About Kansas City

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