This One's About. . .

This One's About... Bradley Poos

In this episode of This One’s About…, we sit down with Bradley Poos, author of Urban Education: Kansas City’s Central High School and the Enduring Legacy of Racism. Bradley explores the remarkable and complex history of Central High School—the oldest public school west of the Mississippi River and once one of the nation’s premier segregated White high schools. Our conversation examines how the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision reshaped Central High School, leading to one of the most dramatic demographic shifts in American educational history. As the school transitioned from an all-White student body to an all-Black student body between 1955 and 1962, the enduring effects of segregation, race, and educational policy became impossible to ignore. Tune in for a compelling discussion about history, education, and the lasting legacy of racism in American schools.

This One's About... Ann Goethals

In this episode of This One’s About…, we sit down with Ann Goethals to discuss her novel, The Doublewide — a heartfelt, funny, and deeply relatable story about learning to take up space in the world. Candy Schein has spent most of her life keeping her head down and avoiding attention. But when she falls in love with a discounted mystic blue doublewide, she’s suddenly forced to navigate mortgages, contractors, permits, debt, and human connection itself. What begins as a quest for the perfect home becomes a moving story about self-acceptance, vulnerability, and unexpected love. Join us as Ann shares the inspiration behind Candy’s journey, the emotional truths woven through the novel, and why stories about ordinary people building meaningful lives matter so much.

This One's About... Marie Schmidt

We're chatting with Marie Schmidt, author of Eddy's Day Out, about a curious dog with a nose for adventure! Children will delight in Eddie as he befriends a group of children waiting to board a school bus destined for the Detroit Institute of Arts, plays follow-the-leader, enjoys a class of figure drawing, discovers great paintings, and heads home to find himself on a “lost dog” poster.

This One's About... Dan Ellens

In this episode of “This One’s About…,” we sit down with Dan Ellens, author of Forest Legend: The Tale of Ol’ Split Toe. Through the eyes of a remarkable deer traveling across centuries, Ellens explores the evolving relationship between humans and the natural world—from ancient forests and Indigenous hunters to modern industry and future science. It’s a thoughtful, imaginative conversation about environmental balance, history, and the enduring question: can humanity learn to live in harmony with nature?

This One's About... Cary Vajda

Cary Vajda discusses The Ghost in Tower Room, a haunting and heartfelt novel set in coastal Maine, and book two of the Ghosts of Casco Bay series. The story follows Scarlett as she inherits her grandmother’s seaside mansion and encounters the ghost of a long-lost sea captain, forcing her to navigate love, legacy, and the ties between past and present. Visit caryvajda.com for more details.