There's Just Something About Kansas City

Alejandro Sanchez Alvarado is the President and Chief Scientific Officer of the Stowers Institute. World renowned for his groundbreaking work in regenerative biology, Dr. Sanchez Alvarado is the leader in exploring the mysteries of life and the potential for organisms to regenerate damaged tissues. 

He’ll be the first to tell you none of his work, or that of his scientists and researchers would be possible without the incredible foresight and generosity of Jim and Virginia Stowers. They made sure the institute had a permanent home in Kansas City and that it will continue to attract the next generations of scientists.

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Matt Linski was born in Pennsylvania, migrated to Sedalia, Missouri and with inspiration from his father, set a path that saw him rise to president of Bank of America in this region.

Matt’s work in the community goes well beyond the office, from Big Brothers Big Sisters, to a scholarship at Missouri State in honor of his late father, and countless local philanthropic causes through Bank of America Kansas City. 

Matt shares his life story — how his father inspired his “humble in defeat” approach to life, his commitment to “walking the floor”, how his faith has guided him, and how much relationships mean in building a future. He also talks about becoming an official Kansas Citian and what a difference this city has made for his family.

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Madisen Ward is a Kansas City musician and songwriter. Hailing from Independence, Madisen was raised with a feeling that anything was possible, watching his mother Ruth playing shows at coffee shops and his uncle, actor Isiah Whitlock Jr., on the big screen.

Madisen started writing in high school, and after taking the stage with his mother a few times and writing some originals, the two formed “Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear”. The Americana/roots duo went from the kitchen to Letterman almost overnight, with live videos from their debut album, Skeleton Crew, catching on like wildfire.

Now, Madisen has taken off on his own and lets us inside his creative process as he continues the Ward legacy. Hear the mantras and motivations that have brought him here, what lies ahead, and how Kansas City encourages artists to lean into warmth and their own unique style.

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A family-owned company lasting five generations is almost unheard of. But here in Kansas City, U.S. Engineering has defied the odds.

Tyler Nottberg, the company’s CEO, tells the story of U.S. Engineering’s founding by Gustav Nottberg in 1893, its twists and turns through World Wars, and how the company has helped to shape the Kansas City we know today. Tyler takes us through their colorful family history from Germany to Strawberry Hill, weaving the journey together with the stories of the men and women who built the company and continue to contribute to its success.

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Pasquale Trozzolo is the founder of Kansas City’s Trozzolo Communications — and so, so much more. The entrepreneur turned champion racecar driver turned published poet & budding chef might just have the Dos Equis guy beat for “most interesting man in the world.”

Pasquale is the Chicago-born son of Italian immigrants who found his “coming of age” adventures in Kansas City, from working as a political strategist, to finding success in sales, to following in his uncle’s footsteps by starting his own venture.

Pasquale believes making business work is like making a good ragu: you need the right ingredients. He lives his life by sayings like, “crisis is fun," “always leave a fragrance not an odor," and, “the world is watching — and so is your family.” From encouraging others to give their dreams a shot to philanthropic endeavors, Pasquale Trozzolo is always finding new ways to better himself and the city he loves.

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Claudia Meyer is the first female Latina president of Cristo Rey Kansas City. 

At the age of fifteen, Claudia moved from her native Brazil to the United States and found herself in a new country, with a new culture, and a new lifestyle knowing just one word in the English language: NO! 

But she didn't let that stop her. She quickly learned to say YES to take complete advantage of the opportunities before her. Her story is an inspiration to not just the students, but to everyone who comes in contact with her positive and infectious personality. She lives her life by her motto, “we rise by lifting others,” affectionately known by those around her as “the Meyer Effect”. 

Don't miss this incredible conversation about all the ways the Kansas City community is embracing the Cristo Rey corporate work study model to break down barriers for young people across the metro.

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Heidi Gardner is an actress, writer, and comedian who's starred on Saturday Night Live since 2017. From Westport, to LA, to NYC, from the Tivoli, to the Groundlings, to 30 Rock, Heidi has done everything from popping popcorn, to cutting hair, to becoming the longest-tenured current female cast member on SNL. Even though Heidi had doubts on the way up, there was always someone there to give her the support she needed to keep on going.

The Kansas City native still calls KC home and reps the Chiefs and Royals proudly, and as the only female host of “The Big Slick” she continues to give back to the city she loves. What a journey it’s been, and she shares it all — yes, even the now-classic break in character during the “Beavis and Butt-head” skit from last season. All that and so much more with Heidi Gardner on this episode of “There’s Just Something About Kansas City.” 

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Kansas City Royals Owner John Sherman was born on opening day for the Kansas City Athletics. His first date with Marny, his wife of 40 years, was a Royals game. But while it may seem that his leadership of the boys in blue was fated, in truth, it’s been an incredible and improbable journey.

John was born in Japan while his father served in the Air Force. The family of nine followed his father’s assignments all the way to Colorado Springs before John made his way to Kansas, pursuing a degree from Ottawa University and landing a telecommunications job with AT&T. That was just the beginning for this self-made man. Sherman crossed over to the energy industry where he made his mark, founding and selling his own company that afforded him the opportunity to buy a Major League Baseball franchise and set up the Sherman Family Foundation to fight illiteracy in KC. 

In this can’t miss episode, John shares his story and talks about the 2024 season, including Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez’s leadership of the team and the franchise’s work towards the playoffs for the first time since their 2015 World Series win. He also talks about how his love for Kansas City set him on his path and why he and his wife Marny chose to call it home for their family. 

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Chase McAnulty is the founder & CEO of Charlie Hustle, Kansas City’s signature “vintage made fresh” clothing brand and home of the now-iconic KC heart.

Shortly after graduating from the Kansas City Art Institute and getting a "real job" he didn’t particularly like, the entrepreneurial-minded Chase moved back into his parents basement and emerged as “Charlie Hustle.” No, not that Charlie Hustle — the Charlie Hustle who built the KC proud vintage t-shirt company. From Ebay to brick and mortar, Chase tells the story of the birth of the company, its meteoric rise with help from KC legends like Paul Rudd and Jason Sudeikis, and all that the brand has in store for the future.

Inspired by his late mother, Chase has also made sure the brand’s success benefits the entire community through the 1K for KC foundation, a partnership with Big Slick and other philanthropic causes. It’s the dream story of passion and hard work paying off - not just for Chase, but for our city as a whole.

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Petra Kralickova has been serving as the Executive Director of The National Museum of Toys & Miniatures since 2017. From growing up in Communist Czechoslovakia, to watching the world “fill with color” during its fall, Petra shares her story of following her passion for art to the US and finding her way to Kansas City, the city she and her family now lovingly call home. 

Petra also takes us back to our own childhoods in this on-site conversation surrounded by the toys we grew up with at The National Museum of Toys & Miniatures. This Kansas City treasure houses 93,000 objects that will fascinate you and your entire family. From summer camps, to wine nights, to dementia programming, Petra’s team has worked hard to create magic for guests of all ages and generations. Petra is on a mission to keep the dreams of founders Mary Harris Francis and Barbara Marshall alive in this one of a kind museum - just another incredible “something” about Kansas City.

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