Graham Zusi is a Kansas City soccer legend and a former U.S. Men’s National Team star who competed in the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. But what’s he doing now—and what does he think about the World Cup coming to Kansas City in 2026? In this episode of There's Just Something About Kansas City , Zeus himself sits down to talk about his journey from youth soccer to NCAA championships at Maryland, his incredible MLS career with Sporting KC, and his role in one of the most exciting eras of American...
Jul 01, 2025•55 min
Before comedy clubs came to Kansas City, David Naster was already making people laugh on street corners. In this episode of There’s Just Something About Kansas City , we sit down with one of KC’s first stand-up comedians—who went from performing in the streets to opening for Celine Dion and headlining cruise ships around the world. Naster shares behind-the-scenes stories from LA’s legendary Comedy Store, how he convinced Stan Glazier to launch Stanford and Sons in Westport, and why he returned h...
Jun 24, 2025•1 hr 2 min
Kansas City is the sports architecture capital of the world. But how did we get there? In today’s episode of There’s Just Something About Kansas City , we're talking with the man who literally wrote the book on the subject, “Designed in Kansas City” — sports architect, author, and historian Tom Waggoner. Tom takes us all the way from the Roman Colosseum to today's stadium debate, diving into how the Chiefs’ Arrowhead Stadium, Royals’ Kauffman Stadium, and the Truman Sports Complex as a whole cha...
Jun 17, 2025•53 min
What happens when a wild idea on a river float turns into one of Kansas City’s most ambitious development projects? In this episode of There’s Just Something About Kansas City , we sit down with Mike Zeller — entrepreneur, visionary, and CEO of Flying Truss — to talk about his bold plan to transform the historic Rock Island Bridge into America’s first trailhead and entertainment district on a bridge. What started as a joke — “Chicken on a Bridge!” — is now a massive revitalization effort connect...
Jun 10, 2025•37 min
Bryan Truta is the Senior Director of Radio Operations at KCUR’s 90.9 The Bridge , a KC native, and a 30-year veteran of the Kansas City music and media scene. If there's a radio station in town, chances are Bryan's worked there. In this episode of There’s Just Something About Kansas City , Frank and Bryan sit down for a wide-ranging, often hilarious conversation between longtime friends. Bryan shares his unforgettable first encounter with Frank, plus wild stories from his early days at 1510: th...
Jun 03, 2025•1 hr 4 min
Justin Gardner serves on the family board of Big Slick KC , a KC celeb-packed weekend of events raising money to support Children's Mercy KC. We're re-dropping this insightful episode in celebration of 2025's Big Slick weekend! During an internship and short stint at WDAF-TV, Justin Gardner, a University of Missouri Journalism School grad, found out editing the evening news content wasn’t the life for him. I’m sure all the shouting, cursing and swearing coming from the sports department didn’t h...
May 30, 2025•52 min
In this episode of There's Just Something About Kansas City , we sit down with Adam Hamilton , bestselling author and senior pastor of Church of the Resurrection , the largest Methodist congregation in the U.S. But this conversation isn’t just for the religious. Adam shares his personal journey from skepticism to purpose, and how anyone, regardless of belief, can find meaning, healing, and direction through connection and compassion. We explore how to navigate life’s challenges, why reaching out...
May 25, 2025•45 min
In this episode of There’s Just Something About Kansas City, we sit down with Buddy Biancalana , former Kansas City Royals shortstop and unsung 1985 World Series hero. At just five years old, Buddy told his mom he’d make it to the Major Leagues—and he did. Drafted in the first round, he played a pivotal role in the Royals’ unforgettable 1985 World Series run. But Buddy’s journey to baseball glory wasn’t without hardship. After suffering childhood head trauma, long before concussions were properl...
May 20, 2025•55 min
In this powerful episode of There’s Just Something About Kansas City , we sit down with legendary civil rights leader and lifelong Kansas City advocate Alvin Brooks. At 93 years old, Brooks shares firsthand stories from nearly a century of public service, community activism, and leadership. Recognized nationally by President George H. W. Bush as one of the "1,000 Points of Light," and honored locally as Kansas Citian of the Year and recipient of the Harry S. Truman Public Service Award, Brooks r...
May 13, 2025•1 hr 22 min
Trent Green, the former NFL quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, and his wife Julie Green, have become one of the most beloved power couples in Kansas City. After 15 seasons in the NFL, with time in San Diego, Washington D.C., and St. Louis, Trent and Julie chose to raise their family and give back to the community in Kansas City. In this episode of There’s Just Something About Kansas City , we dive into their personal story—how they met, married, and raised three athletic children while livi...
May 06, 2025•1 hr 3 min
In this episode, we welcome back Kyle Talbot — popular Kansas City YouTube influencer , local personality, real estate agent, and the honorary “Mayor of Waldo.” Known for spotlighting KC’s culture, neighborhoods, and growth, Kyle returns to share fresh insights on what's happening across the city in 2025. We talk about: The future of Kansas City’s riverfront development Expansion of the Kansas City streetcar The best neighborhoods in KC for young homebuyers How KC is evolving and gaining attenti...
Apr 29, 2025•46 min
The Regnier name is woven into the fabric of Kansas City. In this inspiring episode, Bob Regnier shares the powerful story of his family’s legacy of philanthropy and business—from his parents, Vic and Helen Regnier, to the charitable work he and his wife Ann continue today. Bob reflects on how his father’s relentless work ethic and commitment to community shaped his own path—from helping build the iconic Ranchmart Shopping Center to founding a community-focused bank, Bank of Blue Valley. Through...
Apr 22, 2025•43 min
Madi Lamb is a Kansas City native & the founder of Quarter Life Club , a social club for helping twentysomethings “in the mood to meet people” connect in a meaningful way. At 25, Madi hit the dreaded “quarter life crisis”. She was having trouble meeting people, and she quickly discovered she wasn’t the only one. Thanks in part to the distance that stemmed from covid and remote work, many in her generation seemed to be struggling to build community. Madi decided to do something about it. Both...
Apr 15, 2025•53 min
Len Dawson Jr. has had quite the life. Sure, it hasn’t always been easy being the son of Chiefs icon Lenny Dawson, but being on the sidelines and in the locker room while his famous father was quarterbacking the Chiefs had a lot of perks. Len shares his life story, from his wild teenage years to the decisions that brought him back to calling Kansas City home. We know all the stats — Len Jr tells the stories that helped build the legend of “Lenny the Cool!!”...
Apr 08, 2025•58 min
Jim Cosgrove, aka "Mr. Stinky Feet", is a Kansas City musician, journalist, and author who has been entertaining children and adults for over 25 years. He’s produced 10 albums, written 3 children’s books, an essay collection from his years as a parenting columnist with the Kansas City Star, and a true-crime memoir, and performed over 5,000 times all over the world — including a couple of Easter Egg Rolls on the front lawn of the White House! His message to the young and the young at heart? See l...
Apr 01, 2025•49 min
Danny O’Neill, founder of Kansas City’s iconic The Roasterie Coffee Company , is one of a kind. One of ten children born and raised in tiny Denison, Iowa, Danny was always looking for a way to make a mark. Little did he know that a semester as a high school exchange student in Costa Rica picking coffee beans would forever change his life. He eventually saved up $17,000 dollars, bought a coffee roaster, lined his basement with corrugated tin, blue tarps and fluorescent lighting and went to work a...
Mar 25, 2025•1 hr 14 min
Deliece Hofen is the founder of Braden’s Hope for Childhood Cancer, a Kansas City nonprofit working to raise awareness & funds for childhood cancer research to advance cures for children. Deliece’s son Braden was diagnosed with Stage IV Neuroblastoma when he was just three and given little chance to live. When Deliece faced her own simultaneous breast cancer diagnosis, she saw firsthand how stark the difference was between her clear path forward and the question marks faced by those fighting...
Mar 18, 2025•45 min
Kerry Browne and her husband John McClain are 4th generation owners of the historic Browne’s Irish Marketplace, the oldest Irish business in the world outside of Ireland & the oldest retail business in Kansas City. Located in Midtown, Browne’s is known for its warm hospitality, curated Irish imports and authentic Irish food and drink. Only ½ of 1% of all businesses last for 100 years. We sit down with Kerry and John to talk about how Browne’s has thrived for nearly a century and a half: thro...
Mar 11, 2025•47 min
Kelly Tastove is the Operations Manager & Donor Relations Manager of the Symphony in the Flint Hills, a 20 year tradition bringing the Kansas City Symphony to various ranches across Kansas’s tallgrass prairie for a celebration of music, art, and the unique ecology of the Flint Hills. The signature event is at the top of every Kansan’s bucket list. For attendees, the event is idyllic. But behind the scenes, Kelly and her team, their volunteers, and the ranchers offering up their land have nav...
Mar 04, 2025•47 min
Dana Wright and Scott Parks have been covering news in Kansas City for a combined 60 years, and their award-winning talk show, “Dana & Parks”, has been running on 98.1 KMBZ for going-on 15 years. In today’s episode, the talk show duo explain how they originally connected and why they feel listeners can relate to what they hear every weekday from 2-6pm. Anxiety, diet yoyo, even Scott’s battle with alcoholism — they go deep into their relationship, their life stories, and why they'd never leav...
Feb 25, 2025•54 min
Do you need someone to brighten your day? Randy Miller, Kansas City’s original “shock jock”, is just what the doctor ordered. His incredible career has seen more ups and downs than a Worlds of Fun roller coaster and he’s still going strong. His redemption tour includes randymillerradio.com and the National Defense Network on Armed Forces Radio, where he’s interviewed everyone from Tom Hanks and Mark Wahlberg to Eric Stonestreet and Keanu Reeves. He’s even written a book about his days on Kansas ...
Feb 18, 2025•59 min
Jasper “JJ” Mirabile is an Italian chef and owner of the beloved 70 year old Kansas City staple Jasper’s Restaurant. He’s also a cookbook author and the host of Live from Jasper’s Kitchen, a cooking show on KCMO radio. If it’s Italian food, it’s Jasper’s! JJ has been in the kitchen and the dining room of his award-winning Italian restaurant since the 70’s, but his roots go back to 1930 when his grandparents emigrated from Sicily. This episode is an incredible journey filled with the love of food...
Feb 11, 2025•57 min
Dr. Kirk McCullough is a Kansas City Orthopaedic Surgeon who’s been named FIFA Venue Medical Officer for the 2026 World Cup. After suffering several knee injuries during his high school and college careers, his life’s path was set to help injured athletes recover and return to their sport. But Dr. McCullough didn’t stop there. He collaborated with other orthopedic experts and biomechanical engineers to develop better footwear to help prevent sports injuries in the first place. This episode is a ...
Feb 04, 2025•47 min
Pam Kramer is the CEO of KC2026, the nonprofit established to lead the planning and activation of the FIFA World Cup 26™ in Kansas City. She’s also a Jeff City native who spent years mingling the worlds of sports and business at Sprint, the Kansas City Chiefs, KC Current, and the Kansas City Sports Commission. Now, Pam is at the forefront of preparations for soccer fans from all over the world to descend upon Kansas City for the 2026 World Cup. After witnessing the 1994 World Cup while working f...
Jan 28, 2025•46 min
Denny Matthews has been the voice of the Kansas City Royals from their very first game in 1969, and has now broadcast exclusively for the Royals for nearly 50 years. From sending his resume and tape to the Royals on a Schlitz tray to the Pro Baseball Hall of Fame, Denny and I reminisce about his storied career. Denny talks growing up in Illinois listening to iconic broadcasters — like the St. Louis Cardinals Jack Buck and the Chicago Cubs Harry Caray — before placing his own legendary stamp on t...
Jan 21, 2025•1 hr 18 min
Joe Arce is a longtime Kansas City photojournalist and the founder of Kansas City Hispanic News. Frank met Joe in 1981 when we worked together at WDAF-TV. Joe was the original “one man band” of photojournalism; shooting, interviewing and editing stories all by himself. He found a niche reporting on the Hispanic community in the KC metro. Joe knew there was a void in the local Latino community for news that affected their daily lives. So he took a leap of faith and founded KC Hispanic News. Joe’s...
Jan 14, 2025•57 min
You cannot talk about the history of Kansas City Jazz without the name McFadden being mentioned, from the early days with “Smilin’ Jimmy McFadden and the Chocolate Drops with Count Basie at the original Reno Club, to Lonnie and Ronald, “The McFadden Brothers”, at Lonnie’s Reno Club downstairs at the Ambassador Hotel in downtown KC. Lonnie takes us back to the ‘20’s and 30’s and his dad’s influence on the KC Jazz scene and the impact it had on his sons. Lonnie’s road had its ups, downs, detours a...
Jan 07, 2025•1 hr 2 min
Heidi Gardner is an actress, writer, and comedian who's starred on Saturday Night Live since 2017. From Westport, to LA, to NYC, from the Tivoli, to the Groundlings, to 30 Rock, Heidi has done everything from popping popcorn, to cutting hair, to becoming the longest-tenured current female cast member on SNL. Even though Heidi had doubts on the way up, there was always someone there to give her the support she needed to keep on going. The Kansas City native still calls KC home and reps the Chiefs...
Dec 31, 2024•57 min
It's a very Merry Mitchmas! From Smith Center, Kansas to the Chief’s Kingdom to the 2024 Kansan of the Year, Mitch Holthus gives us an inside look at his career and what it means to him to be the voice of the Kansas City Chiefs. You’ll also hear about his family’s deep connection to the Western ballad, “Home on the Range.” It’s quite a story. Join Mitch as he tells the story about his life as only he can on this episode of “There’s Just Something About Kansas City.” See omnystudio.com/listener f...
Dec 24, 2024•50 min
Crosby Kemper III has served as the director of the KC Public Library and the director of the National Institute of Museum and Library Services with both the Trump and Biden administrations. Today, he’s on a mission to make sure children from all segments of our society are given the opportunity to learn to read. From the 1880’s through today, seven generations of the Kempers have been at the forefront of Kansas City’s growth and development, and they’re certain to have a powerful impact on our ...
Dec 17, 2024•1 hr 3 min
