Central Standard

Some see memoir writing as a shameless act of navel-gazing. Fair enough . . . But a great memoir is about more than the person who wrote it. It's about what it means to be human. KCUR's 'Bibliofiles' join us to recommend their favorite memoirs. Guests: Jeffrey Ann Goudie, freelance book critic, Kansas City Star ​ Mark Luce , The Barstow School Kaite Stover , Kansas City Public Library

Julián Zugazagoitia runs a classic Kansas City institution, but his own story is international. His grandparents fled fascism in Europe, and he grew up in Mexico as the son of a renowned actress. Hear more of his story. Guest: Julián Zugazagoitia, Director and CEO, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

A local college student talks about the contested future of DACA ( Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) and how it's shaping her life; an exhibit at the Kemper Museum raises questions about identity politics and art; the tacos of KCK. Guests: Lisandra Garcia Erin Dziedzic, curator, Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art Shinique Smith, artist Alex Contreras, Don Antonio's

A local writer and playwright tells us about her irreverent grandma, who she calls an "R-rated black Yoda." Then: Dolores Huerta co-founded the National Farmworkers Association with Cesar Chavez, but she may be one of the least-known activists in American history. In light of a new documentary coming out this month, we hear more about Huerta from her great-niece, who lives in KC. Guests: Michelle Tyrene Johnson, author of Cliff(ie) Notes: Lessons from a Badass Grandma Jacquie Fernandez-Lenati

Take me out to the ball game . . . or not? Salina, Kansas is home to one of the worst professional baseball teams in the country . Why the Salina Stockade team is still proud. Plus, the Buck O'Neil Bridge is reaching the end of its projected lifespan. What does the future hold? Guests: Brian Kidwell , district engineer, Kansas City MoDOT Daniel Serda , city planner, inSITE planning Daniel Aldrich , player, former manager, Salina Stockade

Meet the creative forces behind some of the exciting art stuff going on in September. We talk to the director of a play where ten manly explorers are played by women. Then, the dance troupe that choreographs shows off the sides of buildings. Finally, a KC musician who activates local dance floors and local politics. Guests: Missy Koonce, director, " Men on Boats " Anthony Magliano, founder and creative director, Quixotic Cirque Nouveau Kemet Coleman , The Phantastics

In Kansas City, there are so many vacant properties that the city tried to sell some of them for a dollar. We take a look at the stories of abandoned homes — why are they empty and how do they affect communities, both urban and rural? Guests: Ryan McMaken, economist, author, " America's Urban Rural 'Divide' Doesn't Really Exist " John Hachmeister, owner of a house in rural Kansas Margaret May, Executive Director, Ivanhoe Neighborhood Association Dale Fugate, McCoy Park Neighbors Shirley Taylor,

Hungry kids need good food. Seems simple enough, right? Wrong. According to a Huffington Post article from February , school lunch programs are one of the most regulated nutritional programs. In this encore presentation, we'll get to know a few local "lunch ladies" and check in on school lunch programs in our area. Guests: Jane Black , Huffington Post Highline writer, " Revenge of the Lunch Lady " Leah Schmidt , nutrition services director, St. Joseph School District

In the wake of Charlottesville, and growing visibility of extremist groups like white supremacists and neo-Nazis, we ask, what does it mean to be white? Plus, with unprecedented flooding in Houston, we take a moment to see how prepared Kansas City is for heavy rainfall. Guests: Nell Irvin Painter , historian, author, The History of White People Don Haider-Markel ​, professor, chair, KU Political Science Frank Morris , KCUR reporter

The racial divide in Kansas City and across the U.S. is not just the result of individual prejudice, and developers like J.C. Nichols. We'll discuss this and more, with author Richard Rothstein, who's coming to Kansas City soon to talk about his new book, The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America . Plus, is Kansas City's art scene homogenous? One outgoing artist weighs in. Guests: Richard Rothstein , author, researcher, Economic Policy Institute Lynnette