Gangsters, speakeasies, the birth of Kansas City barbecue, and the forgotten genius who put KC on the map. Historian Bill Nicks of HistoryKC takes us on a tour of Kansas City history you didn't learn in school.

Bill Nicks is a self-proclaimed historian, first-person reenactor, and Kansas City tour guide with five characters in his closet: Octave Chanute, Wilbur Wright, Dr. James Naismith, President (and General) Eisenhower, and political boss Tom Pendergast. He says that means he never eats alone. Bill leads six-hour bus tours of Kansas City in character, from the wagon swales at Minor Park to Kaw Point, where Lewis and Clark camped, with lunch at the City Market along the way.

In this episode we dig into the man Bill says "made Kansas City": Octave Chanute. He designed the Hannibal Bridge, the first railroad bridge over the Missouri River, laid out the original town of Lenexa, designed the stockyards, and mentored the Wright brothers. Then we get into the wide-open days of the Pendergast machine: vote fraud, Johnny Lazia, the Union Station Massacre, and a very convenient street-widening right before Prohibition. Bill also traces KC barbecue from Henry Perry's pushcart in the Garment District to Gates and Arthur Bryant's, and explains how a New Yorker writer and the old Kansas City A's helped make us the Barbecue Capital of the World.

Along the way we bust a Union Station myth, tell the story behind Charlie Parker's "Yardbird" nickname, find out how the Country Club Plaza fountains got their start, and hear why Bill's favorite Kansas City spots are Kaw Point and the 8th Street Tunnel. And yes, there are bloopers, including the night a whole room of Riley County firefighters walked out on General Ike.

Whether you're a lifelong Kansas Citian, a KU (University of Kansas) fan, a true crime buff, or planning your first trip to KC, this one belongs on your Kansas City bucket list.

Key topics: - Octave Chanute, the Hannibal Bridge, and how Kansas City beat Leavenworth and St. Joe - Chanute's role in the Wright brothers' first flight - Bill's five historical characters and how he got started - His Kansas City and Lawrence (Dr. Naismith) bus tours - Tom Pendergast, Johnny Lazia, and KC's "wide open town" era - Prohibition, speakeasies, and the Union Station Massacre - The Kansas City Stockyards - The history of Kansas City barbecue: Henry Perry, Gates, Arthur Bryant's, Q39 - The World Cup, Fan Fest, and the Lenexa Barbecue Contest - Myth-busting the Union Station bullet holes - The Garment District and the Nelly Don kidnapping - 18th and Vine and Charlie Parker - The Country Club Plaza, J.C. Nichols, and the fountains - Walt Disney and Ernest Hemingway in Kansas City - Kaw Point and the 8th Street Tunnel - Why everyone should have a "20-minute Rotary talk" about their hobby

Guest: Bill Nicks, HistoryKC Email: [email protected] Website: www.historykc.com

LISTEN ON:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/18f1RGwssjqJLKK6Qk3SxW?si=qfjwisvkQNSEst3Nd36CHw

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kansas-city-bucket-list-podcast/id1867855646

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kansascitybucketlist

Love this episode? Follow the Kansas City Bucket List Podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts so you never miss a new KC adventure. Leave a rating and review, and share this episode with the history buff, barbecue lover, or KU fan in your life. It helps more Kansas City stories reach more listeners.

CHAPTERS

0:00 – Welcome Bill Nicks, historian and first-person reenactor 0:40 – Octave Chanute and the Hannibal Bridge 1:46 – Chanute, gliders, and the Wright brothers 4:32 – Chanute, Kansas, and laying out Lenexa 6:19 – How Bill became a first-person historian 7:44 – Bill's five characters: Wright, Naismith, Ike, and Pendergast 10:14 – Inside Bill's six-hour Kansas City history tour 12:39 – The Border War and Quantrill's raid on Lawrence 13:45 – Edutainment: "every town has interesting history" 15:21 – The world's largest sunflower collection 17:09 – From Lenexa Parks & Rec to 50 events a year 20:01 – The Dr. Naismith tour of Lawrence and Allen Fieldhouse 23:23 – Bloopers: firefighters walk out on General Ike 26:01 – Tom Pendergast, Johnny Lazia, and the Union Station Massacre 30:53 – KC's reputation as a "wide open town" 33:25 – Prohibition, speakeasies, and the Jefferson Hotel 36:07 – The Kansas City Stockyards 37:13 – Why isn't anything in KC named after Chanute? 41:23 – The history of Kansas City barbecue 45:49 – The World Cup, Fan Fest, and the Lenexa Barbecue Contest 49:05 – Q39 and competition barbecue 51:41 – Myth-busting the Union Station bullet holes 53:57 – The Garment District and the Nelly Don kidnapping 55:42 – Haunted and gangster tours 57:19 – 18th and Vine and Charlie Parker's "Yardbird" nickname 59:56 – The Country Club Plaza, J.C. Nichols, and the fountains 1:02:08 – A favorite tour memory 1:04:05 – Why first person? Plus Pendergast and Felix Payne 1:06:30 – Walt Disney and Hemingway in Kansas City 1:08:52 – Bill's favorite spots: Kaw Point and the 8th Street Tunnel 1:11:24 – How the KC Current got its name 1:12:27 – How to book Bill 1:13:31 – Why everyone needs a "20-minute Rotary talk" 1:18:41 – Western Kansas and Bill's ideal day in KC 1:20:44 – Wrap-up

Thank you to our podcast host, sponsor and media partner, Real Media! Visit RealMediaKC.com to learn more about their full service audio and video services!

He turned a college summer job at Applebee's into a 12-concept Kansas City restaurant empire, then planted his own vineyard in Sonoma Valley. Meet Whitney VinZant, Founder and CEO of W. VinZant Restaurant Group, on this episode of the Kansas City Bucket List Podcast!

Whitney sits down with Mindy to trace the whole wild ride: growing up in Wichita, playing sports through high school and Wake Forest, and stumbling into restaurants almost by accident. He and his business partner Corey Gonzalez got their start franchising Old Chicago restaurants in Oklahoma, where a regression model on sales data led them to a surprising discovery, their best-performing locations were all near military bases. From there, Whitney and his wife opened their first original concept, Louie's Wine Dive, in Des Moines, Iowa, before bringing it home to Kansas City's Waldo neighborhood, then Overland Park, and soon Lee's Summit.

From that first neighborhood wine bar, the group has grown into a true Kansas City restaurant family: Louie's Wine Dive, Gram & Dun (including a hidden-gem location and sushi bar inside Argosy Casino), Heritage on the Plaza, Taco Republic and its food truck, BRGR, Waldo Pizza, ViBenet, the historic Latin King (founded in Des Moines back in 1942), and Bemiston Cocktail Club in St. Louis. Whitney also opens up about the recent acquisition of Cafe Trio, which is being reimagined and relaunched this year under a brand-new name — Emerald Bistro — with a grand opening event benefiting Children's Mercy Kansas City. He also teases what's next for the long-vacant former Houlihan's building in Fairway.

The conversation digs into how the Kansas City dining scene has changed since Whitney arrived in 2011, why supporting local restaurants keeps dollars circulating in your own community, how the group engineers menus to deliver value through inflation, and the story behind Whitney's biggest personal passion project: a 63-acre vineyard in Sonoma Valley with roots dating back to an 1834 property deed. He walks through starting VinZant Wines, joining the wine club, where to buy the bottles locally, and why he's now a licensed vineyard chemical applicator instead of a certified sommelier.

Whether you're planning your next night out in Kansas City, curious about the business behind your favorite local restaurant group, or just love a good wine story, this episode is packed with Kansas City restaurant recommendations, behind-the-scenes stories, and a few can't-miss dishes to add to your list.

Key topics covered: Whitney VinZant's path from Wichita to Kansas City restaurant owner Building W. VinZant Restaurant Group from Louie's Wine Dive to 12 concepts The Cafe Trio to Emerald Bistro transformation and Children's Mercy partnership Gram & Dun inside Argosy Casino and the group's other original concepts The future of the former Houlihan's building in Fairway Why eating and drinking local matters for Kansas City's economy How the W. VinZant team handles inflation and menu value The story behind VinZant Wines, the Sonoma Valley vineyard, and the wine club Whitney's favorite dishes, restaurants, and perfect day in Kansas City Kansas City hosting the World Cup

W. VinZant Restaurants

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Whitney VinZant on LinkedIn

Loved this episode? Follow the Kansas City Bucket List Podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode, and if you're enjoying the show, leave us a rating and review — it helps more Kansas Citians discover the people and places making this city amazing.

CHAPTERS

0:00 – Welcome Whitney VinZant to the Show 1:58 – Growing Up in Wichita and Finding the Restaurant Bug 6:24 – Franchising Old Chicago and the Military Base Discovery 8:32 – Launching Louie's Wine Dive in Des Moines 10:16 – Bringing Louie's Wine Dive to Kansas City 13:24 – The Cafe Trio Acquisition 16:04 – Unveiling the New Name: Emerald Bistro 18:24 – Partnering with Children's Mercy for the Grand Opening 20:23 – Why They Officially Formed W. VinZant Restaurant Group 22:52 – New Concepts vs. Taking Over Existing Restaurants 23:12 – Acquiring Gram & Dun During COVID 24:24 – The Hidden Gem Patio Inside Argosy Casino 26:57 – The Story Behind BRGR, Taco Republic and Chicken Mary's 27:53 – Fresco in Des Moines and Merchants in Lawrence 28:36 – What's Coming to the Former Houlihan's in Fairway 30:27 – Why You Should Still Get Out and Support Local Restaurants 32:16 – Fighting Inflation and Engineering Menus for Value 34:12 – Social Media Trends and Menu Experimentation 34:44 – A Tour of the Full W. VinZant Restaurant Lineup 36:00 – From Dinner Parties to Heritage on the Plaza 39:00 – What Whitney Loves Most: His Team 41:13 – How the Kansas City Food Scene Has Evolved 45:43 – The Real Impact of Eating Local 50:07 – How Whitney Became a Sonoma Valley Vineyard Owner 53:28 – The 1834 Property Deed and Rare Grape Clones 54:11 – Family Adventures at the Vineyard 57:22 – Sourcing Grapes Beyond Sonoma 58:25 – Inside the VinZant Wines Wine Club 1:00:53 – Where to Buy VinZant Wines 1:02:24 – The Story Behind the Wit's End Cabernet 1:03:28 – Rapid Fire: Favorite KC Restaurants 1:07:26 – Must-Try Dishes Across the Restaurant Group 1:09:13 – Whitney's Perfect Kansas City Day 1:11:09 – World Cup Fever and Kansas City's Global Moment 1:12:44 – Thinking About Legacy 1:13:39 – What's Missing From Kansas City's Food Scene 1:14:07 – Who Whitney Wants to Hear on the Podcast Next 1:14:45 – Closing Thoughts and Thank You

Thank you to our podcast host, sponsor and media partner, Real Media! Visit RealMediaKC.com to learn more about their full service audio and video services!

He played alongside Kobe Bryant and Shaq on the Lakers — now Kansas City native and former NBA first-round pick Kareem Rush is back home building a university-themed bourbon, coffee, and menswear empire.

In this episode of the Kansas City Bucket List Podcast, Mindy sits down with Kareem Rush — Kansas City native, Pembroke Hill grad, Mizzou Athletics Hall of Famer, and seven-season NBA veteran who played alongside Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal on the Los Angeles Lakers. Kareem shares what it was really like coming up in the inner city with his basketball-phenom brothers Jaron and Brandon Rush, choosing Mizzou over KU on principle, getting drafted in the first round, and getting traded to the Lakers on draft night. He opens up about the ACL injury that ended his career at 29, his pivot into music as a Billboard Top 40 R&B recording artist, and how he channeled all of it into founding University Heritage Group — the company behind Club 1839, Club 1919, and a growing lineup of university-themed bourbon, coffee, cigar, and custom menswear brands built for college alumni everywhere. Kareem also breaks down his membership clubs, private dinner experiences, an upcoming mobile shipping-container lounge, his new podcast with brother Brandon, and his big vision for bringing back a professional alumni basketball league. Plus: behind-the-scenes Kobe and Shaq stories, his favorite KC spots, and what's still on his own Kansas City bucket list.

Key topics covered: growing up in Kansas City, the Rush basketball brothers, Pembroke Hill and Mizzou basketball, getting drafted and traded to the Lakers, playing with Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal, the Mizzou Athletics Hall of Fame, life after a career-ending injury, becoming an R&B recording artist, University Heritage Group, Club 1839 and Club 1919 bourbon, NIL support for student athletes, the Alumni Basketball League, custom suits with the Gentleman Brand, cigars, coffee, and Kareem's Kansas City favorites.

University Heritage Group: universityheritage.club Kareem Rush: www.linkedin.com/in/kareem-rush

If you loved this episode, hit follow or subscribe so you never miss one, leave a rating and review, and share it with a friend who needs to hear it — it helps these Kansas City voices reach even more listeners.

CHAPTERS:

0:00 – Welcome & Intro 1:44 – Growing Up in Kansas City: The Rush Basketball Brothers 6:05 – Choosing Mizzou Over KU 7:20 – Mizzou Career & Getting Drafted to the NBA 10:55 – Traded to the Lakers: Playing With Kobe Bryant & Shaquille O'Neal 15:06 – Getting Inducted Into the Mizzou Athletics Hall of Fame 16:59 – The Injury That Ended His NBA Career 19:41 – Reinventing Himself as an R&B Recording Artist 21:30 – Founding the Alumni Basketball League 23:09 – Building University Heritage Group & the Bourbon Clubs 26:20 – Membership Tiers, Perks & Supporting NIL Funds 33:48 – Private Dinners, Mobile Lounges & VIP Experiences 36:04 – Merch, Letterman Jackets & the PT's Coffee Partnership 40:03 – Launching the Gentleman Brand Custom Suit Line 42:42 – Cigars With Compadres and Cigador 43:31 – Launching the Spirit of the Game Podcast With Brandon Rush 44:55 – NBA Lessons That Built His Business Mindset 54:34 – The Billion-Dollar Vision for a New Pro Alumni League 56:11 – Mentors, Role Models & Behind-the-Scenes Shaq Stories 1:00:03 – Why Kansas City Will Always Be Home 1:03:02 – The Story Behind His Lakers Timeout Jingle Song 1:03:53 – New Project: Music 1:07:09 – Kareem's Kansas City Bucket List 1:07:47 – Where to Follow Kareem Rush & University Heritage Group

Thank you to our podcast host, sponsor and media partner, Real Media! Visit RealMediaKC.com to learn more about their full service audio and video services!

Ever wonder what actually happens on the couch during therapy, or why EMDR has become the buzziest word in mental health?

On this episode of Kansas City Bucket List, Mindy sits down with Katie Montgomery, a licensed professional counselor and the owner of Emerald Counseling Services right here in Kansas City, for a wide-ranging, refreshingly honest conversation about trauma, healing, and what it really takes to feel better. Katie, a Kansas City native who grew up in Olathe and now practices out of Corporate Woods, pulls back the curtain on her own path into therapy, why she's built a practice around helping men, high achievers, and women navigating life transitions (hello, perimenopause), and why she believes therapy isn't just for "when something is really wrong."

The heart of this episode is a deep dive into EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), what it is, how it was discovered, and how Katie actually uses it in session with real Kansas City clients. She breaks down big-picture brain science (the amygdala vs. the frontal lobe), the four trauma responses (fight, flight, freeze, and fawn), the difference between "Big T" and "little t" trauma, and why nobody is immune to a stress response, whether it's from combat, a car accident, or a really bad boss. Katie also gets candid about imposter syndrome, core beliefs around worthiness, the pressure of social media and beauty standards, and the real risks of turning to AI chatbots for "therapy." Plus, she shares client transformation stories, tips for anyone too scared to walk through a therapist's door for the first time, and why the relationship with your therapist matters more than any specific technique.

And because this is Kansas City Bucket List, the conversation wraps with a fun, local flavor -> Katie's go-to Kansas City restaurants (Rudy's Tenampa, Bella Napoli, and Carmen's in Brookside all make the list), what she's watching and reading to decompress, and some good old-fashioned Kansas City World Cup excitement.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What EMDR actually is, who created it, and why it's considered the "gold standard" for trauma processing
• How the brain stores trauma in the amygdala, and how the frontal lobe (which doesn't fully develop until your mid-20s) factors in
• The difference between fight, flight, freeze, and fawn stress responses
• "Big T" trauma vs. "little t" trauma, and why both matter
• PTSD vs. Complex PTSD, explained in plain English
• What a real EMDR session looks like, step by step, including the "buzzies" and light bar
• Why core beliefs like "I have to be perfect" or "I'm not worthy" show up again and again in therapy
• The dangers of relying on social media influencers or AI for mental health advice
• Why the therapeutic relationship matters more than the specific modality
• How Katie built and grows her Kansas City private practice, including the local therapist referral network
• Katie's favorite Kansas City restaurants, books, shows, and how she unwinds

Links & Resources Mentioned:

• Emerald Counseling Services: emeraldcounselingkc.com
• Instagram: emeraldcounselingserviceskc
• Kansas City Bucket List on Instagram: instagram.com/kansascitybucketlist
• Kansas City Bucket List Website: kansascitybucketlist.com/

Keywords: Kansas City therapist, Kansas City counseling, EMDR therapy Kansas City, trauma therapy, mental health podcast, Emerald Counseling Services, Prairie Village therapist, Corporate Woods counseling, KC mental health, anxiety and trauma, Kansas City bucket list podcast, Kansas City wellness, therapy stigma, high achiever therapy, perimenopause and mental health

Enjoyed this episode? Hit subscribe so you never miss a Kansas City story, leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and share this episode with a friend who could use a little EMDR education (or just a new Brookside sandwich spot). Follow Kansas City Bucket List on Instagram for more local recommendations, and let us know your favorite KC therapy or wellness spot!

Chapters Timestamp Chapter 0:00 Welcome & meet Katie Montgomery of Emerald Counseling Services 0:32 Who Katie helps: men, high achievers & women in life transitions 2:07 Breaking the stigma around therapy 3:13 Generational trauma & why life feels harder as we age 5:32 The story behind the name "Emerald Counseling" 6:23 Katie's Kansas City roots & her own therapy journey 8:09 Career pivot: nonprofit life to becoming a therapist 10:21 Grad school at UMKC & falling in love with counseling 12:35 A day in the life of a Kansas City therapist 15:33 What is EMDR? The origin story (Francine Shapiro, 1987) 17:59 How EMDR works: buzzers, light bars & bilateral stimulation 21:00 Brain 101: the frontal lobe vs. the amygdala 25:41 Fight, flight, freeze & fawn explained 27:27 "Big T" vs. "little t" trauma 35:24 PTSD vs. Complex PTSD 37:24 Core beliefs, self-worth & imposter syndrome 39:10 Social media, beauty standards & patriarchy 41:15 Inside an EMDR session: what to expect 49:58 The EMDR process, step by step 54:54 Veterans, fireworks & the "window of tolerance" 57:45 Fast relief: critical incident desensitization 1:01:15 Social media & AI "therapy": buyer beware 1:04:32 EMDR for kids & teens — and who shouldn't try it 1:06:53 Client transformation stories 1:09:58 Why the therapist relationship matters more than the method 1:11:19 Inside Kansas City's therapist community 1:13:52 Advice if you're scared to start therapy 1:19:12 How Katie recharges: family, friends & travel 1:22:01 Katie's Kansas City bucket list: favorite local spots 1:27:56 World Cup fever in Kansas City 1:29:02 Gratitude journaling & the power of positive psychology 1:30:48 Wrap-up & where to find Katie

Thank you to our podcast host, sponsor and media partner, Real Media! Visit RealMediaKC.com to learn more about their full service audio and video services!

Right outside Kansas City sits one of the most notorious buildings in American history, and almost nobody knows its real story. In this episode of Kansas City Bucket List Podcast, Mindy sits down with Kenneth LaMaster, a 31-year correctional officer and official historian of FCI Leavenworth, to pull back the curtain on the flagship of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Kenneth spent three decades behind those 40-foot walls and has since become a go-to expert for documentaries, books, and true crime podcasts, and he brings receipts, wild stories, and zero filter.

You'll hear the real history behind Leavenworth's construction (yes, inmates built it themselves), the brutal early days of American corrections, and how the prison's rotunda ended up modeled after the U.S. Capitol. Then things get dark fast: Kenneth breaks down the true story of Carl Panzram, one of the most disturbing serial killers in U.S. history; separates fact from Hollywood fiction on Robert Stroud, the "Birdman of Alcatraz"; and traces the surprising Leavenworth connection to boxing legend Jack Johnson, Chuck Berry, and Iceberg Slim. Along the way, Kenneth shares first-person stories from the job - a foiled prison break plot, a knife attack in his first month on the job, mafia confessions about Jimmy Hoffa, and an eerie CPR call he'll never forget.

Whether you're a Kansas City local who's driven past those walls a hundred times, a true crime junkie, or just love a good "you can't make this up" story, this episode is one of the wildest deep dives Kansas City Bucket List has ever done.

In this episode:

• The real history of Leavenworth Penitentiary and how it became the "flagship" of federal prisons
• Life as a correctional officer at one of the most dangerous facilities in the country
• The true story of serial killer Carl Panzram
• Fact vs. fiction on Robert Stroud, the "Birdman of Alcatraz"
• Iceberg Slim, Jack Johnson, and Leavenworth's surprising pop culture ties
• Notorious inmates: the Aryan Brotherhood, the mafia, cartel leaders, and more
• Close calls, CPR saves, and life-or-death moments from a 31-year career

Links & Resources:

• Kenneth LaMaster's books:
  • Killer: A Journal of Murder (Carl Panzram documentary/film)
  • The Spirit of Hatred and Vengeance (John Borowski documentary)
• Follow Kansas City Bucket List

Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Kansas City Bucket List on Spotify and Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode, and leave us a rating and review — it helps more Kansas City locals (and curious minds everywhere) find the show. Got a story, guest, or Kansas City legend you think we should cover? Send us a message — we'd love to hear it.

Chapters

• 0:00 – Intro: Meet Kenneth LaMaster, Leavenworth's official historian
• 0:27 – Why FCI Leavenworth changed names in 2005
• 2:50 – Brutal early prison punishments and torture
• 4:59 – The Three Prisons Act: why Leavenworth was chosen
• 7:49 – Leavenworth's new facility and the closing of the old penitentiary
• 10:18 – Kenneth's path from the Army to a 31-year corrections career
• 17:50 – How he became the institution's official historian
• 20:09 – Warden Thomas Bruce White and the Osage Murders (Killers of the Flower Moon)
• 21:45 – The birth of fingerprinting at Leavenworth
• 27:14 – Carl Panzram: the meanest man who ever lived
• 35:53 – Iceberg Slim: from Leavenworth inmate to literary icon
• 40:26 – Jack Johnson, Chuck Berry, and the Man Act
• 42:51 – Robert Stroud: the truth behind the "Birdman of Alcatraz"
• 56:04 – Leavenworth in movies, TV shows, and songs
• 58:17 – The Aryan Brotherhood, cartel leaders, and a foiled prison break plot
• 1:01:47 – Mafia stories: Russell Buffalino and the Jimmy Hoffa confession
• 1:03:16 – Prison hierarchy and the story of white supremacist group The Order
• 1:09:08 – Inside a cell house: overcrowding and daily danger
• 1:13:06 – How 31 years in corrections changed him
• 1:17:09 – Witnessing homicides on the job
• 1:22:07 – The knife attack in his first month
• 1:27:23 – A CPR save with an eerie coincidence
• 1:34:47 – Cell fires and being a true first responder
• 1:37:04 – Who's incarcerated at Leavenworth today
• 1:39:17 – The most notorious inmates of his career

Thank you to our podcast host, sponsor and media partner, Real Media! Visit RealMediaKC.com to learn more about their full service audio and video services!

Wendy Doyle, CEO of United WE, sits down on Kansas City Bucket List to unpack why Kansas City — and the country — still has systemic barriers holding women back from the workforce, entrepreneurship, and civic leadership. From the sky-high cost of childcare in Missouri and Kansas to outdated occupational licensing laws that make it harder for women to work, Wendy breaks down the research behind United WE's 35 years of impact in Kansas City and beyond.

We also go behind the scenes of United WE's Champions for Change event at CPKC Stadium — the first stadium in the world built for a women's professional sports team — including the inaugural Champion for Change Award presented to KC Current owner Brittany Holmes.

In this episode, we cover:

• What United WE does as a nonpartisan "think and do tank" based in Kansas City
• Why childcare costs in Missouri and Kansas now rival in-state college tuition
• The economic case for women's workforce participation (and why it's not just a social issue)
• Occupational licensing reform happening in Kansas and Missouri
• The "invisible work" women carry at home — and emerging policy fixes like caregiving tax credits
• Inside look at the Champions for Change event at CPKC Stadium
• Why it could take 150 years to reach gender economic equity in the U.S.
• Advice for women considering entrepreneurship, and how to raise confident daughters
• How Kansas Citians can get involved with United WE

This conversation is a must-watch for anyone interested in Kansas City nonprofits, women in business, local economic development, and the future of Kansas City women's sports and leadership.

🔗 Links & Resources:

• United WE
• Follow Kansas City Bucket List: instagram.com/kansascitybucketlist/
• Follow United WE on social media: instagram.com/unitedwe__/

👉 If you loved this episode, hit subscribe so you never miss a Kansas City story, and leave a rating and review — it helps more Kansas Citians find the show. Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it!

#KansasCity #UnitedWE #WomenInBusiness #KCBucketList

Thank you to our podcast host, sponsor and media partner, Real Media! Visit RealMediaKC.com to learn more about their full service audio and video services!

Kansas City Mavericks COO James Arkell talks playoff hockey, family, and the ultra-accessible "city within a city" he's building in Kansas City for son Michael.

James Arkell wears a lot of hats around Kansas City — COO of the Kansas City Mavericks hockey team, founder of Halo Care Collective, and the driving force behind Michael's WonderWorld, a first-of-its-kind ultra-accessible theme park, arena, and hotel complex coming to Johnson County. In this episode, James and Mindy dig into what makes Mavericks games one of the best-kept secrets in Kansas City sports — affordable tickets, free parking, the chase for the Kelly Cup, and why hockey fights are 100% organic. Then the conversation turns personal: James opens up about his son Michael's ultra-rare genetic diagnosis, the family's years-long fight with insurance, and how that experience sparked Halo Care Collective — a first-in-the-nation hub bringing 18+ clinical partners and 60+ community organizations under one roof, opening January 2027.

In this episode, we cover:

• What to expect at a Kansas City Mavericks hockey game (and why it's one of the most affordable nights out in KC)
• The Mavericks' affiliation with the Seattle Kraken and their push for the Kelly Cup
• James's road to sobriety and finding home in Kansas City
• Raising a son with a one-in-a-million rare genetic diagnosis
• The insurance fight that changed everything for their family
• Building Michael's WonderWorld — an ultra-accessible amusement park, arena, and hotel
• Inside the Halo Care Collective, opening January 2027 in Johnson County

Links & Resources:

• Kansas City Mavericks
• Halo Care Collective
• Michael's WonderWorld
• Kansas City Bucket List

Loved this episode? Share it with a Kansas City family who could use a little extra inspiration — and follow Kansas City Bucket List for more local stories, hidden gems, and can't-miss KC experiences.

Chapters

0:00 – Intro 1:02 – Meet James Arkell: From Wichita to Kansas City 7:00 – How James Met His Wife Sarah & His Sobriety Story 8:22 – The History of the Kansas City Mavericks 13:57 – Gameday Traditions & the Mavericks Fan Experience 19:10 – ECHL vs. AHL vs. NHL & the Seattle Kraken Affiliation 25:13 – Why Mavericks Tickets Stay Affordable for Families 30:44 – Chasing the Kelly Cup & Team Culture 36:14 – Giving Back: Mavericks Community Partnerships 38:04 – Meeting Michael: A One-in-a-Million Diagnosis 44:02 – The Insurance Fight No Family Should Face 48:47 – The Idea Behind Michael's WonderWorld 54:44 – Building a "City Within a City" in Johnson County 1:00:05 – Inside the Halo Care Collective (Opening Jan 2027) 1:07:02 – Reinventing the Philanthropy Model 1:09:20 – Vision for the Future & Final Thoughts

Thank you to our podcast host, sponsor and media partner, Real Media! Visit RealMediaKC.com to learn more about their full service audio and video services!

Grab your headphones, Kansas City — this episode is a wild ride from the Northeast side all the way to Hollywood. Mindy sits down with Courtney "Big Court" Richardson II, a Kansas City, Missouri native who went from mailing handwritten demo tapes to record labels in the '90s to landing a record deal with Master P's No Limit Records, becoming the first Kansas City rapper to bring home a gold plaque, and building one of the most respected podcasts in the game, Holdin' Court, with Revolt TV. Big Court opens up about his childhood on the Kansas City streets, his journey to LA, his 30-year friendship with Master P, and how a phone call to Ice-T turned into The OG Network — a fast-growing streaming platform built to champion independent creators the way big platforms never did.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• Growing up in Kansas City's Northeast neighborhood and catching his big break with No Limit Records in 1995
• What it was really like coming up alongside Kansas City hip hop names like Tech N9ne, Vel Bacardi, and Rich DeFactor
• The origin story of Holding Court Podcast and how a pandemic phone call with a friend turned into a media career
• Launching The OG Network with Ice-T — now streaming in 186 countries with a brand-new production studio right here in Missouri, in St. Louis
• Real talk on relationships, reputation, purpose over paychasing, and what it means to live your bucket list before you turn 50
• What Kansas City looks like today through the eyes of someone who left, and why he still calls it home

Whether you're into Kansas City hip hop history, entrepreneurship, streaming media, or just love a great local-boy-does-big story, this conversation has something for you.

Links & Where to Watch/Listen:

• Holding Court Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/c/HoldinCourtPodcast
• The OG Network (Roku, Google Play, Fire TV, Apple TV, App Store): https://www.theognetwork.net/
• Follow Courtney "Big Court" Richardson II: https://www.instagram.com/iambigcourt/ + https://www.instagram.com/ognetworklive/

Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Kansas City Bucket List so you never miss a story, leave us a rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and share this episode with a fellow KC native who needs to hear it. Got a bucket list moment or a Kansas City story worth telling? Reach out — we'd love to feature you.

Thank you to our podcast host, sponsor and media partner, Real Media! Visit RealMediaKC.com to learn more about their full service audio and video services!

Chapters

• 0:00 – Intro
• 0:30 – Growing up in Kansas City & catching the hip hop bug
• 0:52 – Getting signed: the Master P and No Limit Records story
• 9:02 – Kansas City's early rap scene, Tech N9ne, and the hometown hustle
• 13:07 – The real origin story of Holding Court Podcast
• 17:55 – The power of relationships, integrity, and building a brand from nothing
• 33:44 – What's next for Holdin' Court — taking it live
• 34:45 – Launching The OG Network with Ice-T
• 41:16 – Why Ice-T (and not Master P) became his business partner
• 45:36 – How The OG Network picks content, and the Tubi problem it was built to solve
• 50:48 – Authentic storytelling and cultural accountability
• 53:37 – Expanding to Missouri: the new OG Network Studios in St. Louis
• 56:46 – New projects, verticals, and Ice-T's upcoming album drop
• 1:01:59 – Behind-the-scenes stories with Master P and Ice-T
• 1:05:04 – Working with his daughter Rachel Renee
• 1:06:30 – Dream podcast guests: Mike Tyson, Magic Johnson, Obama, and more
• 1:08:03 – Favorite memories of growing up in Kansas City
• 1:12:34 – His mom's influence and becoming a father himself
• 1:17:57 – Kansas City today: growth, gentrification, and what still needs work
• 1:22:41 – KC go-to spots and favorite restaurants
• 1:23:36 – Living his bucket list and advice on never being "too old to pivot"
• 1:26:55 – Closing thoughts & where to find The OG Network

Over 110,000 Americans are waiting for a life-saving transplant right now — and about 2,500 of them live right here in Kansas and Missouri. On this episode of the Kansas City Bucket List Podcast, I sat down with Kim Harbur, co-founder of Kansas City non-profit Gift of Life, and Kirsten Finn, the organization's Transplant Mentors Program Director, for a conversation that's equal parts heartbreaking and hopeful.

Kim shares the deeply personal story behind Gift of Life: Her son Luke was born with liver failure and received a life-saving transplant at just 11 months old — an experience that led Kim and her husband to found the organization nearly 30 years ago. What started as two people and a homemade budget has grown into a nationwide nonprofit that has educated over half a million high school students, matched more than 1,200 families with transplant mentors across 28+ states, and helped make Kansas City one of the highest organ-donor-rate cities in the country.

Kirsten opens up about her own family's journey — her son Connor's cord blood transplant — and explains how Gift of Life's Transplant Mentors program pairs patients and caregivers with trained mentors who've walked the same path, offering support no medical professional can replicate.

In this episode, we cover:

• The real stats behind the national transplant waiting list and why Kansas City leads the nation in donor rates
• How to register as an organ donor and why the conversation with your family matters more than the checkbox on your license
• The difference between living donors, deceased donors, and DCD donors
• What you can actually donate (organs, tissue, bone marrow, cord blood — and yes, even part of a lung, while you're alive)
• Common myths about organ donation, religion, and funeral arrangements
• How Gift of Life's Lifesavers program reaches 100+ Kansas City-area high schools
• The Transplant Mentors program and its recent launch of a Living Donor Program
• Upcoming Gift of Life events in Kansas City: Go See Do, Golf for Life, the Lifesavers Rally, and Trivia Night
• Advice for families navigating a child's medical crisis — and how not to forget the siblings along the way

This is a call-to-action episode. Whether you're ready to register as an organ donor, want to volunteer, or are simply looking to start the conversation with your own family, Gift of Life makes it easy to get involved right here in Kansas City — and wherever you're listening from.

Links & Resources:

• Gift of Life website: https://giftdonor.org/
• Register as a donor: https://giftdonor.org/participate/become-an-organ-donor/
• Learn Lifesavers online program: https://giftdonor.org/programs/life-savers/
• Gift of Life upcoming events https://giftdonor.org/category/events-and-news/
• Follow Gift of Life on social media:
  • https://www.instagram.com/giftoflifeks/
  • https://www.facebook.com/GiftofLifeKC
  • https://www.linkedin.com/company/giftdonor/

If this episode moved you, share it with someone who might be waiting for a transplant, considering becoming a donor, or looking for a meaningful way to give back in Kansas City. And don't forget to subscribe to Kansas City Bucket List so you never miss a story worth telling.

Thank you to our podcast host, sponsor and media partner, Real Media! Visit RealMediaKC.com to learn more about their full service audio and video services!

Chapters

0:00 – Intro & episode preview

1:27 – Meet Kim Harbur & Kirsten Finn of Gift of Life

2:07 – The staggering stats behind the transplant waiting list

3:53 – Kim's story: son Luke's liver failure diagnosis

5:27 – Building a nonprofit from scratch: 28 years of Gift of Life

7:01 – Education, mentoring & advocacy: the three pillars

7:04 – Inside the Lifesavers high school program

8:16 – The Transplant Mentors Program with Kirsten Finn

9:46 – Why Kansas City leads the nation in organ donor rates

12:14 – Going national: how COVID changed everything

13:02 – Busting common organ donation myths

16:26 – What can you actually donate? Organs vs. tissue explained

19:19 – The hardest moments: losing teens who chose to be donors

20:23 – Aaron's story: a direct donation connection

22:31 – Kirsten's son Connor and his cord blood transplant journey

24:14 – The "10 Truths" of organ donation

26:39 – Living donors, deceased donors & DCD donors explained

28:38 – Connecting donor families and recipients

29:39 – What you can donate while you're still living

32:16 – Lessons from nearly three decades running a nonprofit

35:39 – How to get involved: register, volunteer, donate

36:45 – Golf for Life, the Lifesavers Rally & Trivia Night

38:06 – Go See Do: Gift of Life's signature KC fundraiser

39:52 – The future of Transplant Mentors & living donation

43:14 – Why kidney transplants are the most common

44:21 – Advice for families: don't forget the siblings

52:45 – Fighting for organ donation education in Missouri schools

54:22 – Why they love calling Kansas City home

57:20 – Final call to action & how to register as a donor

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Overland Park native and KU nursing school grad Brie Morgan Bauer sat down with me for one of the most powerful conversations I've ever recorded. At 27 weeks pregnant, Brie went into septic shock from an undiagnosed case of strep throat — and in a matter of days, she lost all four limbs, underwent emergency surgery, spent 10 days in a coma, and later received a kidney transplant from her brother. What she didn't lose? Her sense of humor, her belief, or her drive to help others.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Brie's path from K-State to KU nursing school to life in Kansas City
• The terrifying 24 hours that led to septic shock while 27 weeks pregnant
• What sepsis actually is — and why pregnancy makes you more vulnerable
• Making life-or-death decisions about amputation with her husband and mom
• Hallucinations, near-death moments, and finding "a second version of life"
• Rehab and recovery at Ability KC, learning to walk and use prosthetics again
• The kidney transplant journey with her brother George
• Building a 400k+ Instagram following (@beauandbrie) and launching Brie's Hope to raise sepsis awareness and support families across Kansas City and beyond

This is a Kansas City story about resilience, motherhood, nursing, faith, and community — and why listening to your body (and advocating for yourself at the doctor's office) can save your life.

Links & Resources:

• Brie's Hope: https://www.brieshope.org/
• Follow Brie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beauandbrie
• Kansas City Bucket List Podcast: https://www.kansascitybucketlist.com/podcast

Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Kansas City Bucket List on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs it. Got a KC story we should feature? DM us — we'd love to hear it.

Chapters 0:00 – Intro & welcome to the podcast 0:56 – Meet Brie Morgan Bauer 1:53 – From K-State to KU nursing school 2:44 – Career as a research nurse, published in JAMA 3:40 – Moving back to Kansas City 4:05 – Losing her father & a sign from above 5:41 – 27 weeks pregnant and feeling off 6:30 – The moment everything changed at the OB 7:18 – Emergency C-section & Bo's birth 7:43 – Septic shock diagnosis 9:14 – What is sepsis? The strep throat connection 10:43 – Why pregnancy makes sepsis more dangerous 11:16 – Emergency surgery & a 10% survival chance 12:34 – How sepsis spreads through the body (DIC explained) 15:57 – Losing her limbs, hour by hour 16:47 – Getting to KU Med & the road to waking up 17:39 – A "purgatory" experience while unconscious 19:15 – Waking up, hallucinations & the asteroid delusion 22:03 – Advice for talking to someone in a coma 23:28 – Near-death moment #2: hemorrhaging after surgery 24:03 – Deciding on amputation with her husband & mom 26:19 – Dark humor & "I'll say I climbed Mount Everest" 27:38 – Why she started Brie's Hope Foundation 29:20 – The power of self-advocacy in the hospital 30:34 – A dangerous fungus scare 33:53 – Ketamine for pain management, explained 35:50 – Keeping her hand bones as a keepsake 38:57 – Finding a "second version of life" 41:16 – Would you give up your limbs for your baby? 44:48 – What her husband would've done if she hadn't survived 46:49 – How strangers and kids react to her story 50:22 – Building a 400k+ Instagram following 52:36 – Starting Brie's Hope Foundation & the grant process 1:02:51 – Messages from followers around the world 1:08:00 – Rehab at Ability KC — VR, PT & relearning basics 1:11:04 – Learning to use prosthetics (and watching Bo learn to walk at the same time) 1:16:55 – The kidney transplant journey begins 1:20:02 – Advocating for organ & kidney donation 1:22:02 – Her brother George's kidney match reveal 1:24:50 – Two years on dialysis & waiting for a matchThank you to our podcast host, sponsor and media partner, Real Media! Visit RealMediaKC.com to learn more about their full service audio and video services!