It's almost impossible to pass through Kansas City's suburbs without seeing an office park. They're so commonplace, we almost don't notice them. But, they're a big part of our suburban cityscape, and someone put them there on purpose. So who did this and why? Plus, in the 1940s, a Kansas man made one small town into his scientific laboratory. How Roger Barker founded environmental psychology. Guests: Doug Stockman , principal, Helix Architecture Daniel Serda , inSITE planning Ariel Sabar ,

From hearty loaves of bread to sweets from around the world, local bakeries are doing interesting things. We talk to a local bakery customer about his weekly order for a loaf of challah — and about the tradition and ritual around buying bread. We also visit a bakery that makes treats from around the Americas, then the Food Critics search out the best baked goods in and around Kansas City. Guests: Chuck Cantor, local bakery customer Luis Hernandez, owner, Panaderia de las Americas Charles

The federal government is the largest employer in Kansas City. Who are these employees and what do they do? A talk with federal employees in the Midwest, and what the government looks like from their perspective. Plus, a local artist is reviving the video store. She operates a VHS lending library out of her bedroom, and she'll be going mobile to bring VHS tapes across the plains. Guests: Cindy Blythe, United States Coast Guard civilian employee; National Active and Retired Federal Employees

In food circles, there have been a lot of questions about the idea of authenticity and appropriation. We explore the intersection of food, race and culture. Guests: Zaid Consuegra, owner, Pirate's Bone Pete Dulin , food and beverage writer Josh Eans, chef/owner of Columbus Park Ramen Shop and Happy Gillis Café Bonjwing Lee, food writer and photographer, The Ulterior Epicure

Tomorrow is Independence Day, which makes us think . . . what's more American than voting? Back on Election Day, we took a trip down memory lane to the first elections many of us got to participate in: class elections. From elementary school to college, these early elections were an opportunity to practice being members of a democracy. Join us for this encore episode of Central Standard . Guests: Sylvia Maria Gross , senior producer, KCUR Stu Shafer , ran for president in high school, early

The similarities between Native American and Middle Eastern cultures, as told by poets in a new anthology that was published here. Then, two of the musicians from the local band Making Movies; their new album, I Am Another You, just made it onto the Billboard and Billboard Latin Charts. Guests: Linda Rodriguez , co-editor, The World Is One Place: Native American Poets Visit the Middle East Kim Shuck , contributor, The World Is One Place , and San Francisco Poet Laureate Enrique Chi, vocalist,

What do Kansas Citians expect from higher education? A job that pays well? The chance to learn for the sake of learning ... or something else? As the cost of college goes up, saddling graduates with debt, we explore the point of higher education ... and whether its concepts are in touch with today's reality. Guests: Michelle Maher, Professor of Higher Education Administration, School of Education at UMKC Doug Lederman, Editor and co-founder, Inside Higher Ed Carlos G. Peñaloza, Vice Chancellor

A local fashion designer put out a call to see if people would be interested in sewing lessons. The answer was a resounding yes. In a time when clothes are so cheap that they're practically disposable, we look into why there's a renewed interest in making and mending garments. Plus, the National Storytelling Network 's big annual conference kicks off in KC today. We hear from one of the participants. Guests: Hadley Clark, designer and owner of Hadley Danielle Meister, sewing student, owner of We

What is Midwestern cuisine? Church fare, like Jello salad, or comfort food like mac n' cheese? A local chef and a Food Network chef who brings Midwestern fare to the masses join us to explore what it is and how that's changed. Plus, upon Bill Gilbert's recently passing , we look back at his legacy and the Gilbert/Robinson restaurant empire, which gave us Houlihan's, The Bristol, Plaza III, Fred P. Ott's, Annie's Santa Fe and more. Guests: Charles Ferruzza , local food critic Jonathan Justus ,

As a new Evel Knievel museum opens in Topeka, we look back at the legacy of this all-American daredevil. Plus, a panel of local educators joins us to help make sense of civics and the separation of powers in the American government. Guests: Mike Patterson , The Evel Knievel Museum Frank Morris , KCUR reporter Matt Beat , history teacher, Tonganoxie High School Justin B. Dyer , director, Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy , University of Missouri