QC, THAT'S WHERE!

Visit Quad Cities
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Leisure

The QC has some really unique stories to tell. Our new QC, THAT'S WHERE podcast (formerly QC Current), brings those stories to life. This bi-weekly half-hour show focuses on telling the untold stories of this must-experience riverfront destination. Through in-depth interviews with Quad Citizens, listeners will learn more about little-known local history, innovations, and unexpected entrepreneurs who capture the energy, culture, and spirit of the Quad Cities. Whether you're a long-time Quad Citizen, a recent transplant, or a visitor to the QC, you'll learn something new.

  1. Aug 31

    Do transplants have the best view of the QC?

    Send us Fan Mail Join sisters Alexey Knudsen and Katrina Keuning for a laugh-out-loud, nostalgic conversation as they reminisce about experiencing the Quad Cities as children and watching the place they once knew as kids evolve over the last 40 years. From childhood trips to Rock Island that somehow felt like a full-blown theme park weekend (including an inexplicable love for Rock Island water) to discovering the QC all over again as adults, this is a conversation about how a place becomes part of who you are. They talk about the family-friendly places that made the QC special then and still do today, from Whitewater Junction, Jungle Bungle and the Family Museum to the Putnam, Figge, John Deere Pavilion and the Botanical Center. But they also get into the little things that make life here work: easy parking, walkable downtowns, local restaurants, live music, and having enough variety to keep saying, “What should we do tonight?” Together, they look at how the Quad Cities has grown, changed and raised the bar while still holding onto the things that make it feel like home. The connected communities, the Mississippi River, creative energy and that rare combination of small-town ease with big-city variety. Whether you grew up here, transplanted here, left and came back, or are just curious about what makes the QC feel different, come reminisce with us. You might even find yourself thinking about your own QC core memories. Subscribe for more Quad Cities stories and leave a review with your favorite QC “core memory” to keep the conversation going. Show notes: In April of 2026, the City of Moline earned a Gold Level Water Ambassador designation through the Illinois Section American Water Works Association, meaning the city's proved commitment to protecting and promoting safe, reliable drinking water through its water system management, public education and community engagement.  In 2018, the city won national recognition as having the third best-tasting water in all of North America.  It also earned statewide recognition in 2016 and 2019.  The restaurant the podcasters were trying to remember is called Maldon.  QC, That's Where is a podcast powered by Visit Quad Cities. Through the people, partnerships, and personalities woven throughout the Quad Cities region, you'll meet real Quad Citizens and hear the untold stories of the region. Follow Visit Quad Cities on social media and never miss an episode of #QCThatsWhere. Facebook Instagram LinkedIn X

  2. Aug 17

    QC That’s Where Service Starts with Showing Up

    Send us Fan Mail Jerry Jones has built a life around service. Not just to the Quad Cities, but to the people who call it home. In this conversation, we get to know the man behind that commitment, from growing up in the Chicago suburbs to finding his way to Augustana College and eventually making the Quad Cities a place he didn’t just work, but chose to stay. Today, Jerry leads the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, where his work is rooted in a simple idea: investing in people strengthens an entire community. He shares how his early experiences working with young people shaped his career and why he believes deeply in creating opportunities for the next generation. We talk about the King Center from his perspective. This includes the after-school programs, summer day camp, murals, STEAM lab and community events that give young people a place to learn, create and belong. Jerry also takes us behind the scenes of the Center’s unique relationship with the City of Rock Island and how that structure has helped make its work sustainable for generations. The King Center is also responsible for an annual celebration called Soul of the City, which brings together community members to enjoy food, music, games, vendors, and much more! That event will be held September 5, 2026. If you’ve ever wondered what makes someone choose the Quad Cities and stay, this conversation with Jerry Jones is worth a listen. QC, That's Where is a podcast powered by Visit Quad Cities. Through the people, partnerships, and personalities woven throughout the Quad Cities region, you'll meet real Quad Citizens and hear the untold stories of the region. Follow Visit Quad Cities on social media and never miss an episode of #QCThatsWhere. Facebook Instagram LinkedIn X

  3. Apr 8

    QC That’s Where We CT Scan Mummies

    Send us Fan Mail A Conestoga wagon that doubles as a kaleidoscope, Holocaust survivor violins that still fill a concert hall, and a triceratops headed for Iowa. That’s not a movie plot, it’s what’s happening across the Quad Cities museum world right now. We’re joined by Kelly Lau, Vice President of Museum Experiences at the Putnam Museum and Science Center in Davenport, Iowa. Kelly walks us through what her job really touches, from education and field trips to curatorial work and exhibit planning. We talk about the Kaleidoscope special exhibit with local artist Tom Chateau and why this kind of hands-on art, optics, and design is one of the best examples of STEAM learning you can bring a family to. From there, we zoom out to the bigger visitor experience: summer camps for every age, the new Family Discovery Center built for pre-K kids and sensory-friendly exploration, and what it looks like when a museum takes accessibility seriously. Kelly shares how Spanish language interpretation and other changes are helping more visitors feel welcome. Then we spend time with one of the most moving cultural projects in the state, Violins of Hope, and why hearing these instruments played makes history feel immediate. We close with the kind of museum stories you never forget, including CT scans of Egyptian mummies and the behind-the-scenes journey toward unveiling a triceratops for the Putnam’s 160th birthday in 2027. Subscribe, share the episode with a friend who loves the Quad Cities, and leave a review, then tell us: what exhibit would you drive across Iowa to see? QC, That's Where is a podcast powered by Visit Quad Cities. Through the people, partnerships, and personalities woven throughout the Quad Cities region, you'll meet real Quad Citizens and hear the untold stories of the region. Follow Visit Quad Cities on social media and never miss an episode of #QCThatsWhere. Facebook Instagram LinkedIn X

  4. Mar 6

    Quad Cities, Where Sports Tourism Grows

    Send us Fan Mail We sit down with John David of Sports ETA to unpack the surge in sports tourism, the rise of women’s athletics, and how smart facilities turn weekend tournaments into lasting economic impact. Stories, data, and practical plays show how authentic moments become lifelong memories. • sports eta’s four pillars and national view • data on female participation and leadership links • facility development as economic infrastructure • spectator versus participatory tourism dynamics • how youth events seed future leisure travel • authentic local touches that elevate events • examples from Spokane and Central Florida • practical ways hotels and partners can lean in • bmx origins, olympic pathway, and facility playbook • quad cities momentum and community pride Thank you, John. Visit sportsquadcities.com for planners, fans, and upcoming events. It all starts with Visit — explore more at VisitQuadCities.com QC, That's Where is a podcast powered by Visit Quad Cities. Through the people, partnerships, and personalities woven throughout the Quad Cities region, you'll meet real Quad Citizens and hear the untold stories of the region. Follow Visit Quad Cities on social media and never miss an episode of #QCThatsWhere. Facebook Instagram LinkedIn X

  5. Feb 7

    How The Quad Cities Wins Big On Group Tourism And Local Pride

    Send us Fan Mail A train rumbles past our new Union Station studio as we kick off a candid, future-facing look at what makes the Quad Cities move: river, road, rail and a visitor economy ready to surge in 2026. We walk through the marquee wins already on the books and the quiet engine behind them: high-impact group tourism that fills weeknights, fuels local businesses, and lifts community pride. From multi-week bowling tournament and the nation’s largest D3 women’s wrestling invitational to the LBAA women’s bass fishing tournament on the Mississippi, we unpack how sports tourism transforms venues and storefronts across the region. Then we stack championship golf, NAIA Men’s at TPC Deere Run, MVC Women’s, and the new NJCAA D1 Women’s at Oakwood, creating a rare doubleheader that cements the Quad Cities as a championship-ready destination. The spotlight widens with SAFECON, the collegiate aviation finals hosted with the Quad Cities International Airport, drawing top talent and industry leaders for weeks of competition while commercial service keeps humming. We pull back the curtain on how these wins actually happen: relentless sales, trade shows, RFP strategy, and partner alignment in a fiercely competitive market. That’s why a facilities and venues master plan is next. This is an honest audit of event space to modernize aging assets, close gaps, and prevent the costly drip of lost business. Along the way, we tap the power of digital trails to convert meetings into longer stays: the John Deere Trail for heritage lovers and the upcoming Rock Island Arsenal Trail to unlock America 250 stories with tours, events, and self-guided discovery. Visitor trends show fewer trips but longer stays; we’re ready with authentic experiences, QC-style pizza, local makers, and a vibe that’s world-class yet hassle-free. International travelers find the real Midwest here, supported by partners like Travel Iowa, Enjoy Illinois, and Brand USA. Resident sentiment tells us pride is rising and tourism’s benefits are clear: more tax revenue, better amenities, and a stronger brand. Help us keep the momentum: share the show, rate and review, subscribe for more stories, and Bring It QC—what event or association will you help us host next? QC, That's Where is a podcast powered by Visit Quad Cities. Through the people, partnerships, and personalities woven throughout the Quad Cities region, you'll meet real Quad Citizens and hear the untold stories of the region. Follow Visit Quad Cities on social media and never miss an episode of #QCThatsWhere. Facebook Instagram LinkedIn X

  6. 10/13/2025

    Travels with Darley: Discovering the QC’s Hidden Gems with a Travel Trailblazer

    Send us Fan Mail A city can whisper its story before anyone speaks—the curve of a bridge, the hum of a market, the glow of a fourth‑generation soda fountain. We sit down with PBS host and producer Darley Newman of 'Travels with Darley' to explore how travel becomes a public service when it lifts up people, preserves memory, and invites visitors to feel at home in places they’ve never been. From goat trekking in Galena and hand‑built treehouses off the Great River Road to the living history of Rock Island Arsenal, Darley shows how the Midwest’s quiet details reveal big character. We also pull back the curtain on building a modern travel brand across PBS, Amazon Prime, YouTube, iHeart, and more. Darlie shares practical storytelling tactics—why you don’t need to be everywhere, how to pick the platform your audience actually uses, and how to craft tight, emotional reels that say more in 60 seconds than a brochure says in ten pages. Her lens on makers and small businesses—think Dot’s Pots, Navarro Canoe, Boetje's Mustard—highlights why hands‑on experiences anchor destination marketing: they turn curiosity into connection and visitors into champions. The conversation stretches beyond leisure to moments that stay with you. Filming along Alabama’s Civil Rights Trail, Darley met women who lived the movement as children—stories that command attention and humility. In Santa Fe, a quiet session with horses reshaped what presence can feel like. Those experiences, and simple plans for Darley’s return to the Quad Cities—walking the bridge, meeting more entrepreneurs, tasting Quad City style pizza—underline a core belief: design for memory, not just metrics. If you care about authentic travel, community storytelling, and finding hidden gems along the Mississippi River and beyond, you’ll feel right at home here. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves regional road trips, and leave a review with your favorite local maker we should feature next. QC, That's Where is a podcast powered by Visit Quad Cities. Through the people, partnerships, and personalities woven throughout the Quad Cities region, you'll meet real Quad Citizens and hear the untold stories of the region. Follow Visit Quad Cities on social media and never miss an episode of #QCThatsWhere. Facebook Instagram LinkedIn X

  7. 09/11/2025

    QC, That's Where Community is Stronger Than Cancer

    Send us Fan Mail Discover the remarkable story behind the Mississippi Dragon Boat Festival, a new event coming to the Quad Cities waterfront that blends ancient tradition with a compassionate purpose. At the heart of it is Lexi Doxsee, Communications and Event Manager at Cancer Support Community of Iowa & NW Illinois at Gilda’s Club. She has been instrumental in bringing this vision to life, weaving together cultural celebration and community spirit into an inaugural fundraiser that reflects both her creativity and her passion for helping others. Dragon boat racing is more than just a spectacle. With teams paddling in unison to the beat of a drummer, it’s a powerful metaphor for the strength found in community and the resilience of those facing cancer. One of the most moving parts of the festival will be the inclusion of a boat of cancer survivors among the competing teams—an inspiring symbol of courage and unity. Beyond the races, visitors can expect food vendors, craft booths, and family activities at Westlake on September 20th. It’s an event designed not only to raise support for vital services but also to bring people together in celebration, healing, and hope. Lexi's personal journey in the nonprofit sector reflects her deep love for the Quad Cities and its people. She has seen firsthand how businesses, volunteers, and neighbors consistently step up to ensure no one faces cancer alone. The Mississippi Dragon Boat Festival is the latest example of that spirit in action—and a testament to Lexi's vision and dedication. Join the fun and fundraising on September 20, 2025 at West Lake for this unique celebration of community, courage, and compassion. As Lexi reminds us, the Quad Cities is a place where community is always stronger than cancer. Learn more about the Mississippi Valley Dragon Boat Festival here Connect with CSC on social: Facebook LinkedIn YouTube - CSC YouTube - CSC Iowa & NW IL Instagram QC, That's Where is a podcast powered by Visit Quad Cities. Through the people, partnerships, and personalities woven throughout the Quad Cities region, you'll meet real Quad Citizens and hear the untold stories of the region. Follow Visit Quad Cities on social media and never miss an episode of #QCThatsWhere. Facebook Instagram LinkedIn X

  8. 07/16/2025

    Gary Thrapp: The power of youth sports and the strategies to make the most of the wonder years

    Send us Fan Mail The most profound truth about youth sports might just surprise you. For Gary Thrapp, founder of Beyond the Baseline and veteran coach with 40 years of experience, it's not about trophies or championships—it's about relationships. "I don't remember wins, losses, much of anything," Thrapp reveals, "but I remember the commitment and what's really cool is now my kids, who are parents themselves, remember that and are teaching it to their children." This powerful revelation anchors our conversation with Thrapp, who has witnessed the evolution of youth sports across four decades. Having managed approximately 50,000 games in basketball, volleyball, and wrestling, he brings unparalleled perspective to the challenges facing today's young athletes and their families. His facility, Beyond the Baseline, began with a simple mission: creating local opportunities for kids to compete without extensive travel. That vision has expanded into community-focused programming that ensures sports remain accessible to all children, regardless of financial circumstances. Thrapp's recently published book, "The Wild World of Youth Sports," distills over 150 strategies for parents and coaches navigating this complex landscape. He emphasizes how coaching approaches must adapt to today's digital environment, advocating communication WITH children rather than AT them. "With the power of social media and the pressure our kids are feeling, youth sports is a great way to release from that," Thrapp explains, highlighting the mental health benefits athletics provide. His innovative events—including a free "Give It a Try" program exposing kids to seven different sports in one morning—exemplify his commitment to expanding athletic opportunities for underserved youth. What separates exceptional coaches from merely good ones? According to Thrapp, it's understanding that winning games doesn't necessarily indicate heading in the right direction. This "fool's gold" perspective on victory challenges parents to look deeper at their children's athletic experiences. Whether you're a parent considering sports for your child, a coach seeking to make a meaningful impact, or someone passionate about community development, Thrapp's insights offer a refreshing perspective on what truly matters in youth sports: building relationships that last a lifetime. The Wild World of Youth Sports is available here. Click or tap here to connect with Gary Thrapp on social media, learn more about Beyond the Baseline, or to browse his authored books. QC, That's Where is a podcast powered by Visit Quad Cities. Through the people, partnerships, and personalities woven throughout the Quad Cities region, you'll meet real Quad Citizens and hear the untold stories of the region. Follow Visit Quad Cities on social media and never miss an episode of #QCThatsWhere. Facebook Instagram LinkedIn X

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

The QC has some really unique stories to tell. Our new QC, THAT'S WHERE podcast (formerly QC Current), brings those stories to life. This bi-weekly half-hour show focuses on telling the untold stories of this must-experience riverfront destination. Through in-depth interviews with Quad Citizens, listeners will learn more about little-known local history, innovations, and unexpected entrepreneurs who capture the energy, culture, and spirit of the Quad Cities. Whether you're a long-time Quad Citizen, a recent transplant, or a visitor to the QC, you'll learn something new.

Information

  • Creator
    Visit Quad Cities
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    90
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 QC, THAT'S WHERE!
  • Show Website
    QC, THAT'S WHERE!

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