Topeka Insider

We sit down with professional Supercross racer Kevin Moranz to unpack how he landed on Netflix’s Million Dollar Secret and what the game feels like when you do not know who has the money or what anyone’s secret agenda is. We talk through “Backpack Gate,” kill shots, clue strategy, and the behind-the-scenes reality TV rules that make paranoia feel logical. 

• How Kevin gets connected to reality TV casting through social media work for sponsors 
• How Million Dollar Secret works with boxes, a hidden million dollars, votes, and shifting power 
• Why Season 1 knowledge can mislead you when Season 2 twists change the rules 
• “Backpack Gate” and the 15-feet agenda that turns strategy into frustration 
• Trophy room access, clue control, and how small behaviors snowball into house-wide suspicion 
• Kill shots, double eliminations, and the pressure of being targeted early 
• Filming logistics including a three-week shoot, sequestering, and no technology 
• What Kevin would do differently and why staying open can be smarter than pulling away 
• What Kevin hopes Netflix exposure leads to next and which competition shows he wants 

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0:00 - Cold Open Competition Switch
0:17 - Sponsor Choose Topeka Relocation
0:41 - Meet Kevin Moran And The Show
1:08 - From Supercross To Netflix Casting
2:26 - The Mansion Game And The Million
4:21 - Spoiler Caleb Follows Him
10:32 - Clues Kill Shots And House Paranoia
20:05 - Money Moves And Game Powers
21:20 - Three-Week Shoot Sequester No Tech
23:33 - Editing Choices Lying Strategy And Aftermath
33:38 -Lessons Favorite Moments And Closing

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Beyond the Podcast: 🎙️
Be sure to follow our Topeka Insider Socials below and check out our website for additional stories and articles pertaining to Topeka, KS

Website -- https://topekainsider.com/
Facebook -- https://www.facebook.com/topekainsider 
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Follow Your Hosts: 📱
Follow both Justin & Jon on their personal socials to get connected. They would love to connect and answer any questions about the show or their day to day.

Jon Griffith's Instagram -- https://www.instagram.com/thejongriffith/
Justin Armbruster's Instagram -- https://www.instagram.com/armbruster_jd

For Any Inquiries, please DM @TopekaInsider on Instagram! 

We sit down with Chris Stemler of Trident Homes to hear how a giant concrete 3D printer is being used to build a real home in Topeka. We dig into why attainable housing is disappearing, how infill lots could help, and what it takes to earn trust with a construction method most people have never touched. 
• Chris’s Topeka roots and the career path from consulting to real estate investing 
• The Beacon renovation and how historic projects exposed the pace problem 
• The moment concrete 3D printing clicked and the step-by-step path to permits 
• How the wall system works with conduits, insulation, and closed cell foam 
• Why ADA-friendly design gets easier when walls move in the code 
• The real driver of housing costs: supply, inventory turnover, and missing mid-price new builds 
• Infill housing, land banks, and public-private tools like down payment assistance grants 
• Common objections like renovations and wall texture plus options for finishes 
• Production goals per print crew and what scaling looks like in developments 
“Trident Homes is just Trident Homes on Facebook” and “3Dhomebuilder.com is the website” 
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0:00 - Cold Open Sponsor And Introductions
1:51 - Chris’s Path Into Real Estate
4:56 - The Beacon And A Housing Bottleneck
6:06 - Discovering Concrete 3D Printing
10:40 - First 3D Home How It Works
14:49 - Why Housing Supply Is Broken
22:47 - Infill Lots Land Banks And Grants
29:27 - Objections Codes And Cost To Scale
37:58 - Curiosity Led Entrepreneurship And Impact
47:30 - Rapid Fire And Where To Follow
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Beyond the Podcast: 🎙️
Be sure to follow our Topeka Insider Socials below and check out our website for additional stories and articles pertaining to Topeka, KS

Website -- https://topekainsider.com/
Facebook -- https://www.facebook.com/topekainsider 
Instagram -- https://www.instagram.com/topekainsider/

Follow Your Hosts: 📱
Follow both Justin & Jon on their personal socials to get connected. They would love to connect and answer any questions about the show or their day to day.

Jon Griffith's Instagram -- https://www.instagram.com/thejongriffith/
Justin Armbruster's Instagram -- https://www.instagram.com/armbruster_jd

For Any Inquiries, please DM @TopekaInsider on Instagram! 

We talk with Austin Robertson about why people sit on great ideas, what it really takes to build a startup, and how pain tolerance shows up as a practical skill. We also dig into how ClassKid survived COVID, a lawsuit, and a full code restart, then how AI is changing SaaS while still requiring real product thinking.

• buying domains and why ideas stall for years 
• the fear of failure and reputation risk that blocks action 
• building ClassKid for kids’ activities and after-school programs 
• surviving COVID churn by giving value first and adding Zoom tools 
• handling a trademark lawsuit and rebranding fast 
• rebuilding software after technical due diligence and a failed audit 
• building to sell and what a private equity consolidator wants 
• pain tolerance, tenacity, burnout, and the loneliness trap 
• AI in software development, no-code tools, and why prompting matters 
• MVP focus using small niche, painful problem, frequent trigger 
• product-led growth, customer obsession, and avoiding bloated features 
• rapid-fire Topeka favorites and local life

Hey, quick heads up. If you've been thinking about relocating, Topeka might actually pay you to move. Seriously. You can get up to$15,000 to live and work in Shawnee County. Check it out ChooseTopeka.com
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0:00 - Cold Open And Banter
0:18 - Choose Topeka Relocation Sponsor Spot
0:38 - Meet Austin And His Mission
3:23 - Why We Sit On Ideas
7:21 - The Fear Behind Not Starting
12:01 - ClassKid Origin Story And Early Career
18:07 - COVID Shock And Finding Investors
20:31 - Trademark Lawsuit And Rebrand Sprint
23:48 - Code Audit Forces A Rebuild
27:16 - Selling The Company And PE Flywheels
35:42 - Pain Tolerance And Tenacity
40:16 - AI Changes SaaS And MVP Building
48:58 - Choosing Claude And Product Decisions
1:04:52 - Rapid Fire Topeka Favorites And Wrap
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Beyond the Podcast: 🎙️
Be sure to follow our Topeka Insider Socials below and check out our website for additional stories and articles pertaining to Topeka, KS

Website -- https://topekainsider.com/
Facebook -- https://www.facebook.com/topekainsider 
Instagram -- https://www.instagram.com/topekainsider/

Follow Your Hosts: 📱
Follow both Justin & Jon on their personal socials to get connected. They would love to connect and answer any questions about the show or their day to day.

Jon Griffith's Instagram -- https://www.instagram.com/thejongriffith/
Justin Armbruster's Instagram -- https://www.instagram.com/armbruster_jd

For Any Inquiries, please DM @TopekaInsider on Instagram! 

We sit down with Washburn University President Dr. JuliAnn Mazachek to trace her path from professor to president and what she refuses to lose as Washburn grows. We dig into affordability, campus expansion, and why real connection still beats a purely online future. 

• Her backstory from Topeka roots to engineering to business and an accounting PhD 
• What a PhD in accounting really trains you to do 
• Why internal leadership growth is rare and why it helps Washburn 
• How planning shifts when technology and AI move fast 
• Campus space limits with housing as the biggest constraint 
• Parking tradeoffs including surface lots vs a future garage 
• Enrollment growth at Washburn and Washburn Tech 
• Scholarships, donors, and why finances still block college decisions 
• The Advisors Excel Hall renovation timeline and what moves in 
• Washburn Law’s new building impact and rising student credentials 
• The “magic” of small classes and faculty who know students 
• Why Topeka works for students, jobs, and quality of life 
• What it means to be a municipal university and how funding works 
• Rapid-fire local picks from restaurants to coffee shops to date night 
• How to connect with Dr. Mazachek and Washburn online 
Learn more at washburn.edu.
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0:00 - Cold Open On Student-Focused Faculty
0:16 - Washburn Snapshot And Benefits
0:41 - Meeting President Julian Mazachek
3:03 - From Engineering To Accounting Research
3:56 - Leading From Within At Washburn
7:35 - Space Housing And Parking Realities
14:38 - Growth Scholarships And Low Student Debt
18:36 - New Buildings And Law School Boom
24:09 - The Magic Of Small Classes
28:21 - Why Topeka Works For Students
32:16 - What A Municipal University Means
35:06 - Rapid-Fire Favorites And How To Connect
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Beyond the Podcast: 🎙️
Be sure to follow our Topeka Insider Socials below and check out our website for additional stories and articles pertaining to Topeka, KS

Website -- https://topekainsider.com/
Facebook -- https://www.facebook.com/topekainsider 
Instagram -- https://www.instagram.com/topekainsider/

Follow Your Hosts: 📱
Follow both Justin & Jon on their personal socials to get connected. They would love to connect and answer any questions about the show or their day to day.

Jon Griffith's Instagram -- https://www.instagram.com/thejongriffith/
Justin Armbruster's Instagram -- https://www.instagram.com/armbruster_jd

For Any Inquiries, please DM @TopekaInsider on Instagram! 

We sit down with the Raising Cane’s Kansas leadership team to unpack how “one love” turns chicken fingers into a loyal fanbase in Topeka and beyond. We talk training, culture, community work, and the small operational choices that make the experience feel identical every single time. 

• leadership starting in the restaurant as fry cook and cashier 
• earning collars and building credibility through hands-on training 
• pandemic lessons and respect for restaurant operations 
• what “one love” means and why fans call themselves Caniacs 
• the origin of the Raising Cane’s name and the Cane mascot story 
• why Topeka was on the expansion list and how markets get chosen 
• opening new restaurants by developing leaders instead of filling roles 
• handling Google reviews and unrealistic complaints without losing focus 
• why the menu stays intentionally small and why ranch is never coming 
• Todd Graves’ business plan story and the one-thing-done-right gamble 
• Plush Puppies campaigns and partnering with local pet welfare groups 
• people-first culture and supporting short-staffed restaurants 
• toast strategy, “the Bob,” and off-menu honey mustard 
• why only managers make Cane’s sauce and how often it’s made 
• catering large orders and showing up for community events 
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0:00 - Cold Open And Choose Topeka
0:38 - Meet The Cane’s Kansas Leadership
3:39 - One Love And Caniac Loyalty
7:46 - Why Topeka Got A Cane’s
10:17 - Training And Promotion From Within
12:44 - Google Reviews And Guest Expectations
15:52 - Focused Menu And Founder’s Gamble
19:33 - Plush Puppies Charity And Topeka Build
23:04 - Work Hard Have Fun Culture
30:10 - Toast Tricks Off-Menu Custom Orders
33:36 - Sauce Secrets And Catering Stories
37:11 - Rapid Fire Favorites And Farewell
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Beyond the Podcast: 🎙️
Be sure to follow our Topeka Insider Socials below and check out our website for additional stories and articles pertaining to Topeka, KS

Website -- https://topekainsider.com/
Facebook -- https://www.facebook.com/topekainsider 
Instagram -- https://www.instagram.com/topekainsider/

Follow Your Hosts: 📱
Follow both Justin & Jon on their personal socials to get connected. They would love to connect and answer any questions about the show or their day to day.

Jon Griffith's Instagram -- https://www.instagram.com/thejongriffith/
Justin Armbruster's Instagram -- https://www.instagram.com/armbruster_jd

For Any Inquiries, please DM @TopekaInsider on Instagram! 

We sit down with Dave Henry, executive director of  ⁨@Trashmountain⁩ , to unpack how local-led partnerships transform communities living on the edges of trash dumps. We trace his path from pastor and professor to nonprofit leader, and why education is the non-negotiable engine of long-term change.

• scale of dump communities worldwide and daily survival work
• why TMP partners with local Christian leaders instead of sending staff abroad
• countries served and how language access and culture shape impact
• core supports such as nutrition, medical access and education
• education protected through funding cuts and its long-term outcomes
• alumni returning as professionals to rebuild safer homes and systems
• community transformation over relocation as a guiding value
• executive director role, fundraising, donor communication and accountability
• growing the donor base beyond Topeka through personal networks
• how to attend the Spoken fundraiser and get involved
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0:00 - The Global Reality Of Dump Communities
2:45 - Dave’s Path From Pastor To TNP
6:48 - What Trash Mountain Project Actually Does
10:45 - Why Partner With Local Leaders
13:50 - Countries, Language, And On-The-Ground Networks
18:35 - Nutrition, Medical Access, And Education
23:05 - Education As The Non-Negotiable
27:20 - Community Transformation Over Relocation
31:10 - Executive Director Role And Fundraising
36:00 - Highs, Lows, And Partner Accountability
41:00 - Growing The Donor Base Beyond Topeka
47:20 - Theology Teaching And Practical Faith
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Beyond the Podcast: 🎙️
Be sure to follow our Topeka Insider Socials below and check out our website for additional stories and articles pertaining to Topeka, KS

Website -- https://topekainsider.com/
Facebook -- https://www.facebook.com/topekainsider 
Instagram -- https://www.instagram.com/topekainsider/

Follow Your Hosts: 📱
Follow both Justin & Jon on their personal socials to get connected. They would love to connect and answer any questions about the show or their day to day.

Jon Griffith's Instagram -- https://www.instagram.com/thejongriffith/
Justin Armbruster's Instagram -- https://www.instagram.com/armbruster_jd

For Any Inquiries, please DM @TopekaInsider on Instagram! 

We share how a unified partnership model accelerates real wins for Topeka, from downtown housing to an aviation jobs strategy at Forbes Field. We also dig into Washburn’s rapid growth, youth sports momentum, and how small signals turn visitors into residents and founders.

• How the Chamber, tourism, economic development, and downtown teams work as one
• Visitor-to-resident pipeline and new immigrant-founded businesses
• Housing demand across affordable, market-rate, and executive segments
• Six-year downtown apartments deal with modern amenities
• Shift to holistic economic development focused on place
• MRO hangar strategy at Forbes Field and job creation
• Downtown plateau and the push to a new level
• Youth sports facilities and tournament potential
• Washburn’s expansion, indoor track, and program agility
• Developers attracted by historic buildings and value near the Capitol
• Where to follow Greater Topeka Partnership updates

Apply now at ChooseTopeka.com
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0:00 - What The Partnership Includes
2:07 - Why Unifying Groups Works
3:16 - From Visitor To Resident To Founder
4:18 - Housing Surge And Market Gaps
6:00 - Six-Year Downtown Lofts Deal
8:10 - Amenities, Location, And Local Impact
9:01 - Stepping Into The CEO Role
11:18 - Rethinking Economic Development
13:30 - Wins, Realism, And Civic Pride
15:05 - Airport Bet On MRO Jobs
17:20 - Downtown Plateau And Next Level
19:00 - Youth Sports As Growth Engine
20:44 - Washburn’s Expansion And Reach
23:10 - City-University Synergy
25:05 - Rapid Fire: Local Favorites
27:15 - Developers, Unity, And What’s Next
29:00 - Where To Plug Into GTP
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Beyond the Podcast: 🎙️
Be sure to follow our Topeka Insider Socials below and check out our website for additional stories and articles pertaining to Topeka, KS

Website -- https://topekainsider.com/
Facebook -- https://www.facebook.com/topekainsider 
Instagram -- https://www.instagram.com/topekainsider/

Follow Your Hosts: 📱
Follow both Justin & Jon on their personal socials to get connected. They would love to connect and answer any questions about the show or their day to day.

Jon Griffith's Instagram -- https://www.instagram.com/thejongriffith/
Justin Armbruster's Instagram -- https://www.instagram.com/armbruster_jd

For Any Inquiries, please DM @TopekaInsider on Instagram! 

A fast start meets a firm identity as Coach Brett Ballard shares how Washburn rebuilt around culture, clarity, and community support. We dig into Lee Arena’s $8M renovation, recruiting with purpose, and why process beats outcomes on the path to March.

• returners setting standards and new players buying in
• high expectations after Elite Eight and forging a new identity
• Lee Arena renovation and game-night atmosphere
• campus facility upgrades and practice quality
• coaching highs, stress, and teaching life through sport
• process over outcomes and daily controllables
• recruiting pitch built on people, resources, and conference strength
• MJ vs LeBron, Space Jam, and light locker-room banter
• Topeka picks for food, coffee, and golf
• where to follow schedules, content, and updates

Learn more at washburn.edu 
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0:00 - Welcome And Season Momentum
2:20 - Rebuilding The Roster After Elite Eight
3:40 - Culture, Identity, And Standards
4:55 - Lee Arena’s $8M Renovation
7:40 - Campus Upgrades And Facilities Impact
10:20 - Coaching Joys, Stress, And Philosophy
12:40 - Best D2 Job And Recruiting Edge
15:20 - Generational Gaps And Trust
17:00 - Process Over Outcomes And Confidence
19:10 - One-On-One Trash Talk And Old-School Rules
21:10 - MJ vs LeBron And Space Jam
23:00 - The 30-Second Washburn Pitch
24:40 - Topeka Rapid Fire: Eats, Coffee, Golf
27:05 - Where To Follow Washburn Hoops
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Beyond the Podcast: 🎙️
Be sure to follow our Topeka Insider Socials below and check out our website for additional stories and articles pertaining to Topeka, KS

Website -- https://topekainsider.com/
Facebook -- https://www.facebook.com/topekainsider 
Instagram -- https://www.instagram.com/topekainsider/

Follow Your Hosts: 📱
Follow both Justin & Jon on their personal socials to get connected. They would love to connect and answer any questions about the show or their day to day.

Jon Griffith's Instagram -- https://www.instagram.com/thejongriffith/
Justin Armbruster's Instagram -- https://www.instagram.com/armbruster_jd

For Any Inquiries, please DM @TopekaInsider on Instagram! 

We trace Andy McKee’s path from Topeka guitar classes to a 61 million view breakout, touring the world while keeping family first. He plays Drifting and Africa live, explains fingerstyle, alternate tunings, and shares advice for learners and working musicians.

• switching from electric riffs to solo acoustic fingerstyle
• discovering altered tunings and percussive guitar
• the YouTube front-page moment and CandyRat strategy
• collaborations with Josh Groban, Toto circles, and Prince
• composing by ear and arranging songs for one guitar
• timing, practice habits, and practical learning advice
• touring model, stage presence, and audience connection
• why Topeka still feels like home and local favorites
• signature Greenfield guitar and fan-fret intonation
• where to follow Andy for music, tours, and lessons
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0:00 - Welcome And Origins In Topeka
2:46 - From Electric Riffs To Fingerstyle
6:10 - School Guitar Class And Early Bands
10:45 - Dust In The Wind And Tunings
13:45 - Dadgad, Drifting, And New Tunings
16:27 - YouTube Breakthrough And CandyRat
20:40 - Viral Impact And Big Collaborations
24:15 - Teaching, Timing, And Learning Advice
28:35 - Career Steps, Competitions, And Tours
33:10 - Prince, Josh Groban, And Life Balance
37:05 - Touring Today And Stagecraft
40:35 - Originals Vs Covers And Influences
44:00 - Why Topeka And Local Life
46:53 - Signature Guitar And Fan Frets
50:14 - Performing Drifting Live
56:35 - Technique, Dynamics, And Exploration
59:35 - Arranging Africa And Layering Parts
1:05:20 - Toto, Networking, And Teaching Retreat
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Beyond the Podcast: 🎙️
Be sure to follow our Topeka Insider Socials below and check out our website for additional stories and articles pertaining to Topeka, KS

Website -- https://topekainsider.com/
Facebook -- https://www.facebook.com/topekainsider 
Instagram -- https://www.instagram.com/topekainsider/

Follow Your Hosts: 📱
Follow both Justin & Jon on their personal socials to get connected. They would love to connect and answer any questions about the show or their day to day.

Jon Griffith's Instagram -- https://www.instagram.com/thejongriffith/
Justin Armbruster's Instagram -- https://www.instagram.com/armbruster_jd

For Any Inquiries, please DM @TopekaInsider on Instagram! 

We talk with head coach Lora Westling about building a program on high standards and real care, recruiting with intention in the portal era, and why joy and discipline can live side by side. Stories span Wyoming winters to Washburn wins and the energy of a campus that shows up.

• Path from Wyoming to Washburn and coaching roots
• People-first coaching and teaching the college athlete
• Defining success beyond social media and comparison
• Discipline as care and meeting players where they are
• Recruiting tips, film, camps and playing with energy
• Transfer portal, NIL and shifting roster realities
• Multisport development, injury prevention and burnout
• Women’s sports stereotypes challenged with evidence
• Topeka life, trails, food spots and recruit visits
• New arena, fan experience and campus momentum

Come to a game: “Ichabod WBB on Instagram and X. We hope to get people to games, especially with the new arena… I’m just so proud of the fan experience we have at home games right now.”
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0:00 - Coach Lora’s Journey To Washburn
2:40 - Cold Weather Stories And Laughs
5:00 - Why Coaching Is A People Business
9:30 - Teaching, Generations, And Meeting Players
13:30 - Social Media, Success, And Belonging
17:30 - Expectations, Discipline, And Care
20:00 - Best Parts And Work-Life Integration
24:30 - Coaching Women And Busting Stereotypes
31:00 - New Leagues, Rule Changes, And Fun Ideas
38:00 - Soccer Year, Joy, And Perspective
42:00 - Recruiting Advice And Playing Hard
48:00 - Transfer Portal, NIL, And Retention
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Beyond the Podcast: 🎙️
Be sure to follow our Topeka Insider Socials below and check out our website for additional stories and articles pertaining to Topeka, KS

Website -- https://topekainsider.com/
Facebook -- https://www.facebook.com/topekainsider 
Instagram -- https://www.instagram.com/topekainsider/

Follow Your Hosts: 📱
Follow both Justin & Jon on their personal socials to get connected. They would love to connect and answer any questions about the show or their day to day.

Jon Griffith's Instagram -- https://www.instagram.com/thejongriffith/
Justin Armbruster's Instagram -- https://www.instagram.com/armbruster_jd

For Any Inquiries, please DM @TopekaInsider on Instagram!