Topeka Insider

The Truth About Startups Nobody Talks About in Topeka, KS | Austin Roberson

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 ________________________________________  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 ________________________________________ 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!

From Professor to President: Leading Washburn Forward | Dr. Mazachek

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. ________________________________________ 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 ________________________________________ 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!

How Raising Cane’s Turns First-Time Guests Into Caniacs In Topeka, KS | Kansas Leadership Team

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  ________________________________________ 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 ________________________________________ 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!

Inside Trash Mountain Project: Topeka Leaders, Global Impact | Dave Henry

We sit down with Dave Henry, executive director of  ⁨@Trashmountain⁩ [https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UC3fruDgjB6Ls_fhBaE67hBA], 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 ________________________________________ 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 ________________________________________ 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!

How Unified Leadership Across The City Is Transforming Topeka | Molly Howey

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 ________________________________________ 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 ________________________________________ 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!