Topeka Insider

We sit down with Raul and Ariana from the Fiesta Topeka planning committee to talk about how Topeka’s biggest summer tradition runs and what it funds. We dig into the history, the food, what’s new this year, and why volunteers are the reason a 93-year festival still works.  • Fiesta Topeka as a Mexican cultural celebration and Holy Family Catholic School fundraiser  • What first timers can expect,...

We sit down with Kevin Moranz again and get a clear, beginner-friendly tour of Supercross from stadium tracks to the points system that decides a season. We also dig into how he funds a pro career as a privateer by building KMR into a real team, turning sponsors into partners, and balancing racing with business and content.  • what Supercross is and how it differs from outdoor motocross  • how qua...

We sit down with professional Supercross racer Kevin Moranz to unpack how he landed on Netflix’s Million Dollar Secret and what the game feels like when you do not know who has the money or what anyone’s secret agenda is. We talk through “Backpack Gate,” kill shots, clue strategy, and the behind-the-scenes reality TV rules that make paranoia feel logical.  • How Kevin gets connected to reality TV...

We sit down with Chris Stemler of Trident Homes to hear how a giant concrete 3D printer is being used to build a real home in Topeka. We dig into why attainable housing is disappearing, how infill lots could help, and what it takes to earn trust with a construction method most people have never touched.  • Chris’s Topeka roots and the career path from consulting to real estate investing  • The Bea...

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 reputati...

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...

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 throug...

We sit down with Dave Henry, executive director of  ⁨@Trashmountain⁩ , 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...

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 immigra...

A fast start meets a firm identity as Coach Brett Ballard shares how Washburn rebuilt around culture, clarity, and community support. We dig into Lee Arena’s $8M renovation, recruiting with purpose, and why process beats outcomes on the path to March. • returners setting standards and new players buying in • high expectations after Elite Eight and forging a new identity • Lee Arena renovation and...

We trace Andy McKee’s path from Topeka guitar classes to a 61 million view breakout, touring the world while keeping family first. He plays Drifting and Africa live, explains fingerstyle, alternate tunings, and shares advice for learners and working musicians. • switching from electric riffs to solo acoustic fingerstyle • discovering altered tunings and percussive guitar • the YouTube front-page m...

We talk with head coach Lora Westling about building a program on high standards and real care, recruiting with intention in the portal era, and why joy and discipline can live side by side. Stories span Wyoming winters to Washburn wins and the energy of a campus that shows up. • Path from Wyoming to Washburn and coaching roots • People-first coaching and teaching the college athlete • Defining su...

We sit down with Coach Damon Parker to trace how a girls’ wrestling experiment became the largest team in the world and why a funeral changed his path toward founding the Jones Project. The conversation moves from culture and leadership to mental health, ownership, and hope. • Building a program that prioritized family, voice, and belonging • Why girls’ wrestling exploded and how leadership sustai...

We trace Paul Wagner’s path from a shared professorship at Washburn to leading the Sunflower Striders and unpack how Topeka’s running scene grew from race-first to community-first. Practical training tips, trail highlights, and the real costs of putting on local races round out a lively, useful conversation. • why a shared teaching role made space for family and service • how running clubs shifted...

We trace Tara Dimick’s path from Washburn to TK Business Magazine and Compass, exploring how a premium print brand thrives alongside a full-service agency that acts like an embedded marketing team. Along the way we unpack entrepreneurial mindset, hiring creatives, and why Topeka’s underdog energy fuels real growth. • TK Business Magazine acquisition story and evolution • Why print still works when...

We sat down with Cynthia McCarvel, Strategic Partnerships Director at the Topeka Zoo, to unpack how Zoo Lights grew from a winter idea into a citywide tradition. From 28 miles of LEDs to volunteer crews, soundscapes, igloos, and access programs, we trace the people and plans behind the glow. • role of strategic partnerships and community ties • why a small zoo is a strength for families • membersh...

We trace Pilar’s path from Columbia to Topeka and explore how language, culture, and community shape learning. Dual language classrooms, the seal of biliteracy, and the difference between language needs and disabilities take center stage with practical tips for families and curious adults. ________________________________________ 0:35 - Meet Dr. Pilar Mejía And Her Journey 3:25 - From Fashion To E...

We talk with Dan Garrett, Director of Communications and Media Relations for the City of Topeka, about how a modern city communicates through storms, potholes, rumor mills, and the daily work that rarely makes headlines. He shares practical tools residents can use, why tone matters online, and where Topeka is quietly moving forward. • path from TV reporter to city communications lead • what city P...

We sit down with Hazel Hill’s Nick Xidis to explore award-winning bean-to-bar chocolate, the craft behind single origins, and why serving people is the true business model. From sensory tasting tips to cocoa market shocks, we dig into flavor, process, and community. • family heritage from Greek immigrant chocolatier to Topeka maker • where to buy Hazel Hill and seasonal gifting cycles • single-ori...

We talk with Marsha Pope about how the Topeka Community Foundation grew from a $10,000 idea to a $120 million engine for local change and why the team moved from quick fixes to upstream solutions. We explore impact investing, mental health, housing, and the power of data to guide funding. • Origin story of the Topeka Community Foundation and Junior League roots • How donor-advised funds stay local...

We sit down with Cody Foster, cofounder of Advisors Excel, to unpack how a back-office platform grew to support hundreds of advisers, why he’s betting on West Ridge Mall, and what it takes to lead through scrutiny and slow timelines. The conversation moves from annuities to anchor tenants to the quiet rituals that keep leaders grounded. • AE’s model as the back office for independent advisers • Si...

The Topeka Insider podcast celebrates its one-year anniversary with a special episode featuring hosts Justin and Jon being interviewed by their behind-the-scenes producer, Gabriel from Butel Media Group. • Justin and Jon share the origin story of how Topeka Insider came to be, including Justin purchasing the domain five years before they started • The podcast began as a mission to change Topeka&ap...

Molly Howey, newly appointed CEO of the Greater Topeka Partnership, shares her vision for economic development and community growth in Topeka. With 14 years of experience in the organization, Howey brings both institutional knowledge and fresh perspective to continue the momentum building in Shawnee County. • Born and raised in Overbrook, Howey graduated from Washburn University and now lives nort...

Lindsay Lebahn, Director of Plug and Play Topeka, shares how global innovation is thriving in America's heartland by connecting entrepreneurs, corporations, and investors through their unique accelerator program.  • Plug and Play operates 62 locations globally with Topeka focusing on animal health and ag tech • The accelerator connects startups with MVPs to corporate partners, mentors, and un...

Zach Watkins shares his journey from Washburn walk-on linebacker to head coach, revealing how his 20-year connection to the program shapes his coaching philosophy and vision for the future. • Coming full circle from player to head coach at Washburn University • Building a program on five pillars: family, accountability, discipline, toughness, and respect • Completing over 2,000 hours of community...