Kansas City MomCast

On Friday, August 2, 2019, Erin Langhofer was attending a First Friday event in the Crossroads District with her boyfriend and friends in Kansas City when she was struck and killed by a stray bullet.

Erin had graduated from the University of Kansas in 2016 with a BS and an MS in 2017. As an undergrad, Erin received the Margo Award, the top prize in the School of Social Welfare. Erin was a counselor and therapist at Rose Brooks Center and helped domestic violence survivors. Honoring her giving nature, Erin had registered as an organ donor; her decision will give new life to at least 50 people.

In this episode, we have the honor of visiting with Erin's parents, Tom and Marcy. They vulnerably share their grief experience and about the incredible foundation created in honor of their daughter.

Meet Marcy and Tom Langhofer

Marcy and Tom have been married for 38 years and have two girls, Kathryn and Erin. Marcy has worked for Northwestern Mutual and Tim Moyer for the past 15 years in financial services. She is passionate about helping others though Do Good for Erin. Tom serves as the Recovery Ministries Pastor for Resurrection Church. 

What We’re Loving In Kansas City

Holiday Reflections at Union Station

Held in the Grand Plaza, Holiday Reflections is a feast for the eyes. This spectacular themed experience is a walk-through holiday village featuring floor to ceiling lights, a multitude of decorated trees, forest friends, floating mirrored ornaments and a bigger-than-ever Winter Wonderland where kids can ride the historic Jones Store Train, for an additional $5 per child. Check out our everything you need to know guide here.

Morning at the North Pole

Join us for Kansas City Mom Collective's annual Morning at the North Pole on Saturday, Dec. 7, at The Mint in Lenexa! Holiday fun is the name of the game when you take part in this awesome and stress-free morning full of games, crafts, treats and of course a visit with Santa! Be sure to snap an adorable holiday picture of your little ones at our photo stop sponsored by Fry Orthodontics. The event will finish with a reading of “Dr. Seuss’s How The Grinch Lost Christmas!” read by Alastair Heim, author of the book. We would love to see you there and meet you in person so come say hi!

Connect with Megan and Sarah

We would love to hear from you! Send us an e-mail or find us on Instagram or Facebook!

We all know Kansas City is THE BEST. Our guest is Kyle Talbot; you may recognize him from his social media channels, Moving to KC, where he covers all things Kansas City and real estate. He was recently crowned the hype man of KC by mayor Quinton Lucas so he is obviously the real deal. We discuss KC's rise in popularity, why it's such a great place to raise a family, the Royals stadium debate, and how Kansas City is having its moment!

Meet Kyle Talbot

Kyle grew up in Kansas City and moved to Denver for nine years. He and his wife moved back to live in Kansas City, Missouri with their three boys, Siberian husky and cat. Kyle is a residential realtor with Moving to KC and loves all things Kansas City. He runs a great YouTube channel and was named the "official hype man of KC" by Mayor Quinton Lucas!

 

What We’re Loving In Kansas City

Bergmann Bakes

Megan recently used Amanda Bergmann with Bergmann Bakes of Overland Park to make her daughter's Harry Potter themed birthday cake. It was truly the most beautiful cake ever. Amanda runs an in-home bakery using organic/non-GMO ingredients. She does custom cakes, cupcakes and with the use of more natural dyes. She is a perfect source for families with allergies, as she specializes in gluten free, dairy free, vegan and paleo options. 

Lunch at McLain's Bakery

Sarah has been hitting up locally owned McLain's Bakery for the Fox Hill salad, tomato soup, and grilled cheese. Head there to try them — you will not regret! Also a drive-thru option at a few of the locations.

 

Connect with Megan and Sarah

We would love to hear from you! Send us an e-mail or find us on Instagram or Facebook!

The pain of miscarriage and infant loss is one that often leaves mom wondering how to process her grief, and sometimes her support network isn't sure what to do or say. Our guest today, Amy Balentine, is a local mom who started the organization You Made Me Mom after the loss of her own children. This online and in person group serves mothers who have lost babies during pregnancy or infancy through one year of breathing life. Amy is passionate about authentic and vulnerable living done in community and that passion is evident in our interview with her today. 

Meet Amy Balentine

Amy Balentine is a wife to Adam and mother to their eight children. Four children are living and four are in heaven. Out of the loss of her children, Amy created the support group called You Made Me Mom headquartered in Kansas City. The group serves mothers who have lost babies during pregnancy or infancy through one year of breathing life. The support group gathers on the third Thursday monthly. Amy is a 2005 graduate of the University of Kansas and currently resides in Kansas City, Missouri and attends Christ Community Church – Brookside Campus. Amy is a lover of hospitality, fine food and a well-organized home which all stem from her nearly ten years as a wedding and event planner before her calling to work in the home as a mom. Authentic, vulnerable living in community with one another is a great passion of Amy’s. She is learning that a life lived in eucharisteo (Greek for thanksgiving) is one lived well.

What We’re Loving In Kansas City

Electric Glow at the OP Arboretum

Enjoy a low-key version of the Luminary Walk where only the electric lights are on. No Santa, no candlelit woods, no musicians, no free cider, no trains running, and NO CROWDS. Capacity will be significantly limited on these nights, making them ideal for wandering through the lighted gardens and studying the intricate gnome and fairy houses. Cafe Celeste will be open in LongHouse, selling hot beverages and snacks, as well as adult beverages. Click here for more information!

Roasterie Coffee Holiday Blend

Sarah loves the Roasterie's Holiday Blend for a special treat as we enter the holiday season! The flavor is cinnamon, hazelnut and vanilla. Pick it up at the factory, Roasterie locations or most local grocery stores.

Connect with Megan and Sarah

We would love to hear from you! Send us an e-mail or find us on Instagram or Facebook!

This episode is sponsored by AdventHealth Cancer Institute.

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, we're honored to have Dr. Simy Elder on the show. Dr. Elder is a board-certified medical oncologist and hematologist at AdventHealth Medical Group Hematology Oncology at Shawnee Mission. We discuss the latest breast cancer statistics, the importance of mammograms, and what to do if you're breastfeeding when your mammogram is due.

Meet Dr. Simy Elder

Dr. Simran Elder, MD, is a Board-certified medical oncologist and hematologist at AdventHealth Medical Group Hematology Oncology at Shawnee Mission. She also serves as the medical director for the AdventHealth High Risk Breast Clinic.

Dr. Elder earned her medical degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine. She also completed her residency in internal medicine and pediatrics at UMKC, during which time she was twice named Internal Medicine Consultant of the Year. She then went on to complete a fellowship in medical oncology-hematology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Dr. Elder has lectured and published extensively on various topics related to oncology, internal medicine and pediatrics, with a research focus on breast cancer. She has earned a number of professional honors, including being selected for the Arnold P. Gold Humanism Honor Society, a peer-nominated honor bestowed on physicians who display exceptionally compassionate care to patients.

A native of the Kansas City area, Dr. Elder is happy to be able to care for patients right here in her hometown. When she's not at the office, she enjoys spending time with her husband, two children and two German shepherds.

Connect with Megan and Sarah

We would love to hear from you! Send us an e-mail or find us on Instagram or Facebook!

Fall is here! There is so much to do in fall in Kansas City that sometimes it's hard to know where to begin. All of the events and ideas discussed on our episode today can be found in our fall guide. Be sure to check out our sensory-friendly fall guide, as well! Tag us at @kansascitymomcollective and tell us what fall things you're up to!

Thank you to our episode sponsor, Evergy!

Did you know? Evergy employees proudly live right here in Kanas City. So, in addition to sharing the same Zip Codes as all of us, they also share the same energy company—which means they’re Evergy customers, too. ​And that’s one reason why they’re working so hard to keep energy costs low for all of us.

Learn more about Evergy’s commitment to affordable energy at Evergy.com/KCmoms.

Connect with Megan and Sarah

We would love to hear from you! Send us an e-mail or find us on Instagram or Facebook!

This episode is sponsored by Children's Mercy.

Join us as we talk with Laura Kemerling of Children's Mercy about the Top 10 hazards to be aware of in our homes! Keeping kids safe starts with all of us and there are countless opportunities to prevent injuries in your own home. That’s why Children’s Mercy Kansas City created the Center for Childhood Safety. Here, you can find educational resources in our community to promote the safety in the home, in the community and on the go. Visit childrensmercy.org/safety to learn more today.

Meet Laura Kemerling

Laura Kemerling is passionate about caring for pediatric patients and their families, as well as her fellow staff and healthcare providers. Currently leading the Injury Prevention Program at Children’s Mercy, Laura has been the manager of The Center for Childhood Safety for the past year. Laura has worked as a registered nurse for over 20 years, obtaining her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Missouri Western State University in 2003 and her Master of Science in Nursing Education from Benedictine University in 2018. Her background includes providing care in the pediatric operating room setting, adult intensive care unit, neonatal and pediatric critical care transport, providing nursing education, and leadership. Laura takes pride in having served on a list of local, regional, and national boards, committees, and coalitions over the years. Most recently, she has focused her attention on advocating for, and collaborating to, create safer environments for babies, children, and adolescents.

Connect with Megan and Sarah

We would love to hear from you! Send us an e-mail or find us on Instagram or Facebook!

How has organized religion changed since we were kids? And how do those shifts impact its role in family life and society as a whole? To help us unpack all of this is Pastor Scott Chrostek. Rev. Scott Chrostek is the Executive Pastor of Ministries and Programs at Resurrection, a United Methodist Church with six locations in the Kansas City area. We discuss the difference between faith and religion, statistical trends of organized religion and why people have left over the past decade, and what needs to change for these groups to continue to exist. 

Meet Scott Chrostek

Rev. Scott Chrostek is the Executive Pastor of Ministries and Programs at Resurrection, a United Methodist Church with six locations in the Kansas City area.  Before taking on this churchwide leadership role, Scott was responsible for launching the Downtown location in December of 2009 which grew from 9 individuals to over 1000 adults in weekly worship attendance. Resurrection Downtown began as a mobile start-up, and grew to include two sites: one a former bar and concert venue located between a tattoo parlor and strip club and two a city block that gave rise to the first new church building in downtown KC in over 80 years. It continues to grow today as one of the few downtown United Methodist churches growing in an urban area across the country.  

Scott is married to Rev. Wendy Lyons Chrostek, his wife of 19 years and together they have served in ministry in North Carolina, Michigan, Kansas and Missouri.  They are the proud parents of two kids.

What We’re Loving In Kansas City

Tricks and Treats at Worlds of Fun

Check out Worlds of Fun Tricks and Treats Saturdays and Sundays September 14 through October 27! This is their all-new, family friendly Halloween event. Celebrate the season with mischievous tricks, tasty treats, and so much more. Come dressed in your finest Halloween attire for our Halloween costume contest. Enjoy seasonal treats, drinks and, of course, candy.

Johnson Farms

Sarah and her family love going to Johnson Farms for apple picking and more. They opt for the family pass to get the most bang for their buck. The farm is currently offering U-Pick apples and pumpkins, as well as U-Cut sunflowers and zinnias.

Connect with Megan and Sarah

We would love to hear from you! Send us an e-mail or find us on Instagram or Facebook!

This episode is sponsored by HCA Midwest Health.

Going off to college can be an exciting time for students and it can bring on mixed emotions - they may feel happy, sad and stressed. Your child is going to be making big decisions – for some it’s their first introduction to adulthood. Today, we’re chatting with Lauren Pyle, with Research Psychiatric Center – a part of HCA Midwest Health, about the mental health concerns college students face and what you can do to help your child get through the challenges of this new chapter.

If you or a loved one is experiencing emotional distress, we invite you to call the Behavioral Health Crisis Line (844) 207-4511 for information regarding admissions and psychiatric evaluations or to speak with someone about emotional or mental distress. Learn more here.

Meet Lauren Pyle

Lauren is the Clinical Manager of Inpatient Services at Research Psychiatric Center. She manages a team of full time and PRN employees who provide assessment, crisis intervention, & therapeutic services to adolescents, adults and geriatric individuals in the acute psychiatric inpatient setting.

 

Connect with Megan and Sarah

We would love to hear from you! Send us an e-mail or find us on Instagram or Facebook!

Get ready for a discussion on all things gaming — from Minecraft to Fortnite and beyond. Our guest, Cameron Gullotta, is an associate professor and chair of the Games Department at Johnson County Community College. We cover online safety, specific games, determining what games are appropriate based on age and how to evaluate what your kid is ready for.

Meet Cameron Gullotta

Cameron is the chair of the Game Development Department at Johnson County Comunity College and teaches courses in game design and development. He moved to the US from Australia in 2018 to marry his wife!

 

 

 

What We’re Loving In Kansas City

New Golden Scoop in Overland Park

The Golden Scoop is an ice cream and coffee shop with a purpose. They create jobs for very talented individuals who happen to live with developmental disabilities. The grand opening is on August 22nd, 2024 starting at 8 am- be one of the first 100 guests on opening day and you'll get your ice cream FREE!

They offer coffee and ice cream, delicious baked treats served by our talented team of Super Scoopers. This new location also will have drive thru services, merchandise, in house coffee roasting and patio seating.

Giggle Time

Giggle Time, put on by the City of Overland Park, are free and open to the public. Sarah has loved taking her two year old to these! Shows feature interactive music, storytelling, puppet shows, and other children’s performances, and take place at 10 a.m. the first Wednesday of the month at Tomahawk Ridge Community Center. 

Connect with Megan and Sarah

We would love to hear from you! Send us an e-mail or find us on Instagram or Facebook!

This episode is sponsored by Ash Law.

Estate planning might not be the start of a fun conversation, but it's an important one for parents. Our interview with Alyssa Hodges, who you may remember from our episode on divorce, talks about everything moms need to know, including why Taylor Swift needs a trust not a will!

Alyssa wrote an article for us on estate planning. She writes, "We teach our kids to look both ways when crossing the street and to wash their hands (stomach flu fear lives #RentFree in my head). We teach them not to talk to strangers and to be aware of their surroundings. We worry about the immediate dangers. But we have to cover the long-term dangers, too."

Meet Alyssa Hodges

Alyssa Hodges is a KC-based family law and divorce attorney. She earned her law degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law and is pursuing a master's in tax law at Washington University St. Louis School of Law. She has two young children and is a published author.

Ms. Hodges has been on Law Review, the Dean's List, and a competitive negotiations team. She's been an active member of MothersEsquire since 2018 and WealthCounsel since 2020. In 2021, she became a columnist for Above the Law.

Ms. Hodges enjoys preparing for trial and being in the courtroom. However, she believes collaboration is almost always better than leaving a decision up to a judge who doesn't know her client or her client's family dynamics.

Connect with Megan and Sarah

We would love to hear from you! Send us an e-mail or find us on Instagram or Facebook!