Ask A Kansan

Spinning and Serving with DJ Carbon | Vibin' Kansan

What happens when a kidney stone saves your life and challenges you to chase your dreams? That's exactly what happened to James Bobetsky — known to most of Wichita as DJ Carbon. After 21 years in the corporate world, a cancer diagnosis, a surprise reconnection with his biological family, and a pandemic, Carbon made the leap to full-time DJ at 40. And he hasn't looked back since. Highlights * Oak Grove Radio 98.5 out of Minneapolis now airs Ask a Kansan every Sunday at 9 AM — a shoutout to the station for helping expand the show's reach beyond the podcast world * DJ Carbon (James Mlavsky) has been a full-time DJ for seven years, based in Wichita — doing events, weddings, corporate gigs, and deeply embedding himself in the city's cultural scene * Carbon grew up on Long Island, NY, immersed in vinyl records, hip-hop, punk, and ska before moving to Wichita his senior year of high school — a move he initially hated and now wouldn't trade for anything * He breaks down what it really means to "know your audience" and "read the room" — and why a DJ who shows up with a pre-planned set isn't really DJing * A kidney stone led to a cancer diagnosis in 2018 — and while waiting for surgery, he discovered his biological family through 23andMe. Within six months: cancer surgery, meeting blood relatives for the first time, and getting married * He went full-time as a DJ in November 2019 — right before COVID — and pivoted to selling robot lamps to survive the shutdown * Carbon has donated his time to dozens of nonprofits including Tallgrass Film Festival, American Cancer Society, Blood Cancers United (Wine About Cancer), Wichita's Littlest Heroes, Wichita Animal Action League, and the Humane Society * Five days after kidney surgery — gauze, scars and all — he showed up to DJ a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society because he personally needed to be there * His "DJ 101" social media series shares life and business lessons under the guise of DJ wisdom, and has generated more response than almost anything else he's posted * He names Carry Nation & The Speakeasy, Rudy Love Sr. and Jr., and the late Jenny Wood as the soundtrack of Kansas Chapters * 0:03 – Radio Shoutout: Oak Grove Radio 98.5 airs the podcast * 1:27 – Show Intro & Tease: Introducing DJ Carbon * 2:44 – Meet DJ Carbon * 4:03 – Life as a Full-Time DJ * 5:35 – Music Roots and Influences * 8:39 – New York to Wichita * 11:14 – Keeping Up With Music * 16:04 – Know Your Audience * 21:39 – Going Full-Time After Cancer * 26:35 – Origin of DJ Carbon * 27:58 – Aux Cord Versus DJ * 29:47 – Nonprofit DJ Impact * 31:54 – Surgery Gig Dedication * 35:50 – Branding and Visibility * 38:37 – Family Life Balance * 37:57 – Consistency and Corporate Bookings * 38:37 – DJ 101 Mentorship * 41:09 – Kansas Soundtrack Picks * 44:32 – Where to Find DJ Carbon * 46:06 – Hosts Reflect on DJs * 47:40 – Where in the Rectangle? (State Parks Edition) * 48:05 – Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park * 50:38 – Mushroom Rock State Park * 52:15 – Elk City State Park * 54:38 – Final Wrap Resources Mentioned * Oak Grove Radio 98.5 (Minneapolis) – oakgroveradio.com [http://oakgroveradio.com/] (airs Ask a Kansan every Sunday at 9 AM) * DJ Carbon – Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/djcarbon/], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/carbondj/] and  https://djcarbon.com/ [https://djcarbon.com/] * Wichita River Festival – https://wichitariverfestival.com/https://wichitariverfest.com/ [https://wichitariverfest.com/] * Tallgrass Film Festival – tallgrassfilm.org [https://tallgrassfilm.org/] * Wichita's Littlest Heroes – wichitaslittlestheroes.com [https://www.wichitaslittlestheroes.com/] * Wichita Animal Action League – https://waal.org/https://waalrescue.org/ [https://waalrescue.org/] * Humane Society of the United States – https://humanesociety.org/https://kshumane.org/ [https://kshumane.org/] * Carrie Nation & The Speakeasy – https://carrynationandthespeakeasy.com/https://www.cnsict.com/ [https://www.cnsict.com/] * Rudy Love Sr. & Rudy Love Jr. – https://rudylove.com/ [https://rudylove.com/] * Jenny Wood – https://jennywoodmusic.com/ [https://jennywoodmusic.com/] Learn more about the podcast at askakansan.com [https://www.askakansan.com/]! This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net [http://ictpod.net]

Language, Culture, and Community with LeLan Dains | UnBound Kansan

What happens when a white guy from a small Kansas town becomes the bridge-builder between Spanish-speaking and English-speaking communities — and somehow also changes the global cycling industry along the way? LeLan Dains is one of the most fascinating people we've had on this show, and honestly, we almost undersold him. As the executive director of Kansas Spanish Speakers, LeLan has spent years breaking down barriers, building trust with immigrant communities, and proving that opportunity doesn't leave rural Kansas — it waits there for the right person to claim it. Oh, and he co-founded what is now the world's premier gravel cycling event. From Emporia. On gravel roads. We told you. HIGHLIGHTS * LeLan's motto for Kansas Spanish Speakers: "Sí, cómo no" — yes, of course. Whatever you need, they'll help you get there or find someone who can. * Kansas Spanish Speakers serves both Spanish speakers AND English speakers — because a bridge needs two solid banks. They offer immigration documentation help, health insurance navigation, driver's license assistance, Spanish classes, custom business training, and community workshops. * LeLan's origin story: he froze like a deer in headlights trying to order in Spanish at a Mexican restaurant after six months of studying — and that embarrassing moment sparked an entire nonprofit. * The Kansas Health Foundation invested $1 million over 10 years in Kansas Spanish Speakers through their Building Power and Equity Partnership. Since 2022, Kansas has moved up three consecutive spots in national health rankings. * LeLan addresses the elephant in the room — yes, he's a blue-eyed white guy leading a Latino-serving nonprofit. His answer is honest, thoughtful, and worth hearing. * The issue of children being used as translators for their parents in medical, legal, and financial situations — why it's inappropriate, and what Kansas Spanish Speakers is doing about it. * Emporia became the first certified Welcoming Community in Kansas, with LeLan's organization leading the effort. Dodge City and KCK have since followed. * LeLan co-founded Dirty Kanza — now rebranded as Unbound Gravel — which draws 5,000+ riders from 40+ countries to the Flint Hills every year. The event literally crashed the internet and now runs on a lottery system. * Gravel cycling didn't exist 15 years ago. Unbound Gravel helped create the entire category — and now the Tour de France has a gravel stage. * Kansas has 98,000 miles of gravel roads. That's not a typo. * LeLan's message to rural Kansas kids: a blank canvas isn't empty — it's an opportunity to paint whatever you want. CHAPTERS 0:00 — Ditch Flower Season 0:55 — Numb Fingertips Story 1:36 — Stratica Salt Rock 4:17 — Welcome to Ask a Kansan 5:16 — Meet LeLan Dains 6:31 — What Kansas Spanish Speakers Does 7:20 — Services and Programs 8:36 — How It All Started 10:16 — Going Statewide 13:04 — Partners and Health Impact 16:53 — Imposter Syndrome and Privilege 19:43 — Rebrand and Mission Shift 22:27 — Spanish Dialects and Slang 26:05 — Working With Businesses 32:15 — Kids as Translators 38:24 — How Service Changes You 41:39 — Learning English Together 40:32 — Rural Kansas Roots 42:28 — Recreation Career Path 43:12 — Coming Home to Build 46:35 — Unbound Gravel Explained 48:26 — Why the World Comes 54:49 — Where to Learn More 56:35 — Post Interview Reflections 58:24 — Mystery Knick Knack Game 1:05:50 — Final Wrap and Thanks RESOURCES * Kansas Spanish Speakers [https://www.ksspanishspeakers.org/] * Unbound Gravel [https://www.unboundgravel.com/] * Kansas Health Foundation [https://www.kansashealth.org/] * Building Power and Equity Partnership (Kansas Health Foundation) * Kansas Leadership Center [https://www.kansasleadershipcenter.org/] * Big Brothers Big Sisters * Welcoming America [https://www.welcomingamerica.org/] * Maxwell Wildlife Refuge [https://www.ksoutdoors.com/State-Parks/Locations/Maxwell] * Strataca — Kansas Underground Salt Museum [https://www.strataca.com/] * Emporia State University [https://www.emporia.edu/] * Frost Valley YMCA [https://www.frostvalley.org/] * Carmichael Training Systems [https://trainright.com/] * Curious Kansan Newsletter [https://www.askakansan.com/] * Kansas Spanish Speakers intro video [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0q8X6dSRl1U] * Leading Health Podcast [https://open.spotify.com/show/0IVpYNmuIKEAc4EGinL3ot] - from the Kansas Health Foundation Learn more about the podcast at askakansan.com [https://www.askakansan.com/]! This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net [http://ictpod.net]

Arts Advocacy with Sarah VanLanduyt | Creative Kansan

What does it really take to keep the arts alive in Kansas — and why does it matter more than you might think? Sarah VanLanduyt wears a lot of hats. As Executive Director of the Arts Council of Johnson County, a Kansas Arts Commissioner, and Board Chair of the Kansas Arts Network, she's one of the people quietly fighting to make sure the creative industries across the state have the funding, infrastructure, and advocacy they need to thrive. In this conversation, we unpack how arts funding actually works at the state level, why artists need advocates in their corner, and how the Kansas Arts Network has built something remarkable in just a few years. HIGHLIGHTS * Sarah's winding path from history and museum management into the arts world — and why the two have more in common than you'd think * How the Arts Council of Johnson County operates between the nonprofit and government worlds with just a team of two * The Kansas Arts Commission's grant funding model and why it's a dollar-for-dollar match with local communities * How Sarah helped grow the Kansas Arts Commission budget from roughly $100,000 to significantly more through grassroots advocacy * The Kansas Arts Network annual conference and the culture of openness and collaboration it's built across the state * Why the arts are more than aesthetic — they support mental health, workforce development, veteran transition, and community identity * The importance of artists and policy thinkers working together to communicate a compelling story * Kansas outlaws: the Dalton Gang, John Wesley Hardin, Henry Newton Brown, William Quantrill, the Bloody Benders, and Mysterious Dave Mather — plus two truths and a lie for each CHAPTERS 0:00 – Intro: The Pale Blue Dot Pin & Carl Sagan 1:50 – Welcome & Guest Tease 3:30 – Meet Sarah VanLanduyt 4:07 – Sarah's Kansas Roots & Journey 5:20 – Why the Arts? Her Unexpected Path 7:57 – The Arts Council of Johnson County: Mission & Work 10:12 – The Kansas Arts Commission: Funding & Sarah's Role 15:03 – The Kansas Arts Network & Statewide Collaboration 23:36 – Avoiding Burnout & Refueling the Tank 25:52 – Hope for the Future of Arts in Kansas 27:01 – Making the Case for Arts to Legislators 29:26 – How Art Sparks Community Connection 34:08 – Where in the Rectangle: Outlaws of the Old West 34:48 – The Dalton Gang & Coffeyville 37:21 – John Wesley Hardin in Abilene 39:18 – Henry Newton Brown: Marshall Turned Outlaw 41:37 – William Quantrill & the Lawrence Raid 44:25 – The Bloody Benders: Kansas' Frontier Horror Story 46:23 – Mysterious Dave Mather of Dodge City 50:39 – Outro & How to Bring Ask a Kansan to Your Organization RESOURCES * Arts Council of Johnson County: https://www.artsjoco.org [https://www.artsjoco.org/] * Kansas Arts Commission: https://arts.ks.gov/https://www.kansascommerce.gov/program/kansas-creative-arts-and-industries-commission-kcaic/ [https://www.kansascommerce.gov/program/kansas-creative-arts-and-industries-commission-kcaic/] * Kansas Arts Network: https://kansasartsnetwork.org [https://kansasartsnetwork.org/] * Salina Arts & Humanities: https://www.salinaarts.com [https://www.salinaarts.com/] Learn more about the podcast at askakansan.com [https://www.askakansan.com/]! This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net [http://ictpod.net]

Discover the Flint Hills with Stephen Bridenstine

What do fire, bison, and star bonds have in common?   They're all part of this week's conversation about the Flint Hills — and honestly, it's one of those episodes that makes you want to book a trip to Manhattan, Kansas immediately. We sat down with Stephen Bridenstine, Director of the Flint Hills Discovery Center, to talk about what it really takes to understand one of the most unique — and misunderstood — landscapes in America. Stephen came to Kansas by choice (his words), and 12 years later, he's still here and still learning.  Highlights * A young sports broadcaster from Quinter, Kansas is going viral for taking audience-submitted phrases and slipping them seamlessly into live play-by-play — and it is absolutely worth your time * Stephen Bridenstine moved to Manhattan, Kansas sight unseen, driving a moving van down Highway 177 with everything he owned — and the first thing he saw was the Flint Hills Discovery Center * The Flint Hills Discovery Center isn't just a history museum or a nature center — it intentionally tells an interconnected story spanning 13,500 years of human and natural history * Ranching in the Flint Hills actually mimics what bison did for thousands of years — and it's essential to the health of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem * Fire isn't a threat to the Flint Hills. It's a tool. Stephen once had to explain this live on the Weather Channel. * The Discovery Center's star bond project was so successful, the bonds were paid off years ahead of schedule — which funded a second museum right across the street * The Flint Hills Festival draws over 9,000 attendees and is the one day per year the Discovery Center is free to the public * The Flint Hills covers 4 million acres — roughly the size of New Jersey — stretching from the Nebraska border to Oklahoma * Sydney went to boarding school in Missouri, where a third of her class was international students. Gus's claim to fame was "most likely to do something sciencey." Chapters * 0:00 – Hilarious Sports Broadcaster from Quinter * 2:42 – Podcast Intro & Guest Tease * 3:15 – Meet Stephen Bridenstine * 3:48 – Kansan by Choice: Stephen's Story * 5:34 – Life in a College Town * 8:15 – From the Park Service to Museum Work * 11:13 – Inside the Flint Hills Discovery Center * 11:49 – Exhibits and Visitor Flow * 15:42 – From Educator to Director * 19:33 – Learning the Flint Hills * 22:35 – Flint Hills Festival Highlights * 25:55 – How the Discovery Center Was Built * 28:29 – Downtown Redevelopment Wins * 30:22 – Planning a Flint Hills Trip * 31:33 – Public Prairie Access Tips * 33:43 – Stay Overnight and Explore * 34:36 – Ranching Mimics Bison * 37:13 – Fire as a Tool * 38:14 – Discovery Center Events * 40:07 – Kid-Friendly Highlights at the Center * 41:10 – Celebrity Guessing Game (Kansas Edition) * 49:20 – Scholars Bowl Deep Cuts * 51:38 – Final Thanks and Plugs Resources Mentioned * Flint Hills Discovery Center [https://www.flinthillsdiscovery.org/] — Manhattan, Kansas * Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve [https://www.nps.gov/tapr] — Strong City, Kansas (National Park Service & The Nature Conservancy) * From the Land of Kansas [https://www.fromthelandofkansas.com/] — Kansas-made products program (featured in Episode 53 [https://share.transistor.fm/s/885b8075]) * SB Mowing [https://www.youtube.com/@SBMowing] — Spencer, Kansas-based viral mowing content creator * Blank.in.a.ship [https://www.tiktok.com/@blank.in.a.ship] — TikTok account of the Quinter sports broadcaster featured at the top of the episode * Jim Richardson on Episode 20 [https://share.transistor.fm/s/4879fcda] of Ask A Kansan Learn more about the podcast at askakansan.com [https://www.askakansan.com/]! This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net [http://ictpod.net]

Made Right Here with Sammy Gleason | From the Land of Kansas

What's actually in that "Made in Kansas" gift box — and why it matters more than you think. Kansas has been growing, raising, and producing world-class products for nearly 50 years under one of the most underrated state trademark programs in the country. Sammy Gleason from the From the Land of Kansas program joins us to unbox the special Kansas 250 gift box — and what comes out of it tells a surprisingly complete story about who we are as a state. From kettle corn and sandhill plum jelly to red wine chocolate sauce and freeze-dried space ice cream, we explore the hidden gems that Kansans are making right in our own backyard. Then we get into something a little more contentious: the Kansas state flag. We share flag designs from our team and from our listeners — and make the case for why the flag you fly says more about a state than the seal printed on it. Highlights * The Kansas 250 special edition gift box and everything packed inside it — including who packed it and why that matters * From the Land of Kansas is a 48-year-old state trademark program that's free to join for any Kansas farm, ranch, or small business * Products need an agriculture tie to qualify — even candles have to contain lavender or soy * The online marketplace at fromthelandofkansas.com ships Kansas products to 46–47 states during the holiday season * Retail stores carrying 3 or more From the Land of Kansas products can become members — including Prairie Land Market in Salina and Wilkins Acres in Abilene * Product gaps the program is looking to fill: sunflower seeds and crackers * Kansas wine is growing — a wine trail is in the works in the Manhattan/Alma area * The program's gift boxes were a first among state branded programs — and other states followed their lead * 50th anniversary of the program is coming up in about 2 years * The North American Vexillological Association's five rules of good flag design — and how the Kansas state flag stacks up * Highlights from Manhattan, Kingman, and Park City's flag designs — and why they work * Flag redesign submissions from the Ask a Kansan team and listeners Chapters * 0:00 – Cold Open: Funny Socks * 1:16 – Episode Intro & Made in Kansas Preview * 2:10 – Sammy Gleason Joins the Show * 2:37 – Kansas 250 Gift Box Unboxing * 6:53 – What Is From the Land of Kansas? * 7:30 – Sammy's Career Path to the Program * 9:25 – Kansas Roots and How She Got Into Marketing * 12:45 – Membership Process and the Online Marketplace * 14:56 – Road Trips and Small Town Cafes * 21:08 – Beyond Food: Non-Food Products and Other State Programs * 22:01 – How the Trademark Sticker Works * 24:08 – What Products Are Missing * 25:10 – Shelf Stable and Pop-Up Considerations * 26:13 – Flint Hills Pints & Freeze-Dried Space Ice Cream * 27:21 – Making Kansas Products Stand Out * 28:40 – Kansas Wine Tour Ideas * 31:30 – Retail Partners Across Kansas * 28:48 – Shipping Gift Boxes Nationwide * 30:11 – Next Big Program Goals * 31:05 – What Kansas Producers Are Like * 32:52 – Post-Show Product Curiosities * 33:36 – How to Be a Podcast Guest * 34:23 – Flag Design Rules Recap * 36:06 – Best Kansas City Flags * 39:31 – Team Flag Redesigns * 44:22 – Viewer Flag Submissions * 48:13 – Why Flags Matter * 50:03 – Submit Your Flag Design * 51:20 – Final Wrap & Thanks Resources * From the Land of Kansas [https://www.fromthelandofkansas.com/] — state trademark program for Kansas-grown, raised, and produced products * Schlaegel's Popcorn [https://popcorngifts.net/] — kettle corn featured in the Kansas 250 gift box * Cocoavino [https://www.cocoavino.co/] — red wine chocolate sauce, Overland Park * Flint Hills Pints [https://www.flinthillspints.com/] — Kansas ice cream, including new freeze-dried space ice cream * Prairie Land Market [https://prairielandmarket.org/] — local Kansas products retailer in Salina, From the Land of Kansas member * Wilkins Acres [https://abilenekansas.org/eat-stay-shop/shop/wilkens-acres-general-store] — Kansas products store in Abilene, From the Land of Kansas member * Boot Hill Distillery [https://www.boothilldistillery.com/] — value-added Kansas grain products, Dodge City Learn more about the podcast at askakansan.com [https://www.askakansan.com/]! This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net [http://ictpod.net]