4 Days in Kansas | Building Community Culture with Brad Anderson

4 Days in Kansas | Building Community Culture with Brad Anderson

How do you build a city's cultural identity — and why does it matter more than you might think? We sit down with Brad Anderson, Executive Director of Salina Arts and Humanities, the only city department of its kind in Kansas. Brad shares why Salina has been investing in arts and culture since 1966, what's at stake as the city embarks on a new cultural plan called The Big Picture, and why the Smoky Hill River Festival — celebrating its 50th anniversary this year — is so much more than a street fair. Then our producer Alicia joins us to pull back the curtain on Four Days in June, a documentary film five years in the making that captures what the River Festival truly means to the people of Salina. Highlights * Salina is the only city in Kansas with a standalone Department of Arts and Culture — on par with parks, public works, and police * The new cultural plan "The Big Picture" will produce a 10-year roadmap for Salina's arts and cultural life by end of 2026 * 70% of Stiefel Theatre ticket sales come from outside Saline County — the arts are an economic engine * The River Festival turns 50 this year (May 11–14) — admission is $15 in advance, $20 at the gate, and kids 11 and under are FREE * The Festival Families First program provides free four-day wristbands to anyone who identifies as financially limited * First Treasures — the program where kids shop for art on their own — has been running for 25 years, and some of those kids are now adult patrons * Roughly 2,000 volunteers buy their own wristbands and power the festival — without them, admission would be closer to $75 * Sculpture Tour Salina is in its 16th year; Boom Salina has brought over 35 murals to the city in just five years * Four Days in June premieres July 9 with a private screening, then screens at the Salina Art Cinema July 10–15 Chapters 0:00 — Pre-show: Sydney's dad and his new drone 2:16 — Welcome & episode intro: a two-part show 3:13 — Meet Brad Anderson: lifelong Kansan, exec director of Salina Arts & Humanities 4:00 — What is Arts & Humanities — and what makes Salina unique? 10:30 — The Cultural Plan: from the Wolfe Report to The Big Picture 17:56 — Private sector arts: Sculpture Tour Salina & Boom Salina 20:00 — Art you don't have to love: the value of public sculpture and civil dialogue 24:05 — River Festival week is here 24:36 — What IS the River Festival? A 50-year origin story 27:18 — Pricing, access, Festival Families First & volunteers 31:06 — First Treasures: teaching kids to be art patrons 40:36 — Post-interview reflections: Brad in the community 42:30 — Meet Alicia: producer at Fyli, director of Four Days in June 45:39 — Four Days in June: the film's name, form, and philosophy 47:50 — How they chose their interview subjects & building a diverse perspective 51:00 — Where to see the film, streaming plans & cultural release strategy 53:20 — How to get involved & closing Resources * Salina Arts & Humanities [https://www.salinaarts.com/] * Smoky Hill Museum [https://www.smokyhillmuseum.org/]  * Smoky Hill River Festival [https://www.riverfestival.com/] * Sculpture Tour Salina [https://www.sculpturetoursalina.org/] * Boom Salina [https://www.boomsalina.art/] * Stiefel Theatre [https://www.stiefeltheatre.org/] * Salina Art Cinema [https://www.salinaartcenter.org/] — Screening Four Days in June * 4 Days in June [https://4daysinjune.com/] — The documentary film 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]

Keeping Auctions Alive with Lori Rogge | Chanting Kansan

What does it take to build a life — and a career — that touches nearly every corner of one state? This week we sit down with Lori Rogge, one of a handful of female auctioneers in Kansas, to talk about growing up across the state, learning the chant, and how a 22,000-acre Flint Hills ranch ends up on the internet. Highlights * Sydney's grandfather was such a loyal auction customer that the auction house retired his bidder number — and it's now engraved on his gravestone * Lori's parents, Gene and Connie Francis, founded Gene Francis & Associates in 1984 and have since built a global auction reach — including clients from Belgium, the UK, and Chihuahua, Mexico * Lori attended Worldwide College of Auctioneering in Mason City, Iowa — and her very first auction as an auctioneer was a $10,000 painting * The auction industry has moved dramatically online; Gavel Roads Online Auctions launched in 2016 and was perfectly positioned when COVID hit in 2020 * There are only three or four female auctioneers in Kansas outside of Kansas City * The SNL skit featuring auctioneer-speak went viral — and Lori loved every second of it * The National Auctioneers Association is actually headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas * Jordy Nelson (Green Bay Packers) grew up in Leonardville, and his family's Nelson Family Community Foundation is active in the community * Historic Lake Scott State Park in western Kansas sits on the only known Native American pueblo in Kansas, dating to the 1600s * Flint Hills Trail State Park is the eighth longest rail trail in the entire United States Chapters * 0:00 – Grandpa Auction Hoard * 1:09 – Bomb Shelter Safe * 2:21 – Welcome / Intro to Lori * 3:35 – Meet Lori Rogge * 4:05 – Growing Up Kansas * 8:25 – Why Leonardville * 10:40 – Career Path Shift * 13:58 – Building Online Auctions * 16:58 – Learning the Chant * 27:40 – Chant Mechanics * 35:51 – Reading the Room * 36:10 – Auctions Going Online (Estate Sales & Collectibles) * 33:27 – Estate Plans & Loyal Clients * 36:04 – From Onsite to Online * 37:00 – Auctioneers in Small Towns * 40:40 – Why She Gives Back * 44:16 – Rural Riley County Community Foundation * 49:19 – Women Grow the Farm * 52:02 – Hosts Reflect on Auctions * 52:54 – State Park Guessing Game * 44:09 – Historic Lake Scott State Park * 1:00:25 – Final Wrap & Call to Action Resources Mentioned * Gene Francis & Associates [https://www.genefrancis.com/] – Lori's family real estate and auction company, founded in 1984 * Gavel Roads Online Auctions [https://www.gavelroads.com/] – Online auction bidding platform launched by the Francis family in 2016 * Worldwide College of Auctioneering [https://www.worldwidecollegeofauctioneering.com/] – Where Lori earned her auctioneer's license; locations in Mason City, Iowa and Colorado * KSU Foundation [https://www.ksufoundation.org/] – Kansas State University Foundation, where Lori worked in gift and estate planning from 2005 to 2015 * Kansas 4-H Foundation [https://www.kansas4hfoundation.org/] – Lori has consulted for this organization * Nelson Family Community Foundation [https://www.nelsonfamilyfoundation.org/] – Founded by the family of Jordy Nelson (K-State and Green Bay Packers), based in Leonardville * Flint Hills Discovery Center [https://www.flinthillsdiscovery.org/] – Manhattan, KS museum with an exhibit on the auctioneer chant * National Auctioneers Association [https://www.auctioneers.org/] – Headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas * Rails-to-Trails Conservancy [https://www.railstotrails.org/] – Organization that rail-banked and helped develop the Flint Hills Trail beginning in 1995 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]

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]