Topeka Insider

We sit down with Topeka Fire Chief Chad Longstaff to get a real look at what the job is like, from leadership decisions to the calls that hit hardest. We talk about why most responses are medical, what the department does beyond fires, and the small prevention steps that make the biggest difference at home.  • coming up through the ranks and shifting into department leadership  • EMS making up mos...

We sit down with Nate and Kayla from H&A Sourdough Bakery and get a real look at the work behind naturally fermented bread, from keeping a starter alive to baking hundreds of loaves for big weekends. They share how a COVID-era health focus turned into a farmers market sellout streak and a brand-new storefront in Topeka. • how H&A Sourdough gets its name and how the business starts • what m...

We sit down with Nathan, Dalton, and Trey, the co-founders behind Board and Barrel Wine Bar, to talk about building a small, intimate restaurant with a true scratch kitchen in Topeka. We dig into old world wine, what wine school actually teaches, and how they’re turning a big idea into a repeatable experience for guests and staff.  • How three local founders meet through work, food, and community...

We sit down with Nick Haney from Cider Days to unpack how Topeka’s biggest fall tradition keeps growing and why it still feels like a family reunion with 250+ vendors. We get into the behind-the-scenes work, the “farmers market on steroids” vibe, and the surprises that make people line up before the doors open.  • the origin story and why Cider Days stays a family tradition  • how a small family t...

We sit down with John “The Iron Man” Cantrell and talk about what it costs to always be available, and why he is choosing a new season that puts God and family first. We also dig into mentors, mindset, and endurance, from prison habits to an 18 and 0 boxing career and what it takes to build Topeka without burning out.  • shifting from saying yes to setting family centered boundaries  • the “only b...

We sit down with Topeka Police Chief Chris Vallejo to talk about what the job really looks like, why he believes he was sent to Topeka, and how purpose shapes leadership. We dig into crime trends, community trust, and the real-world tradeoffs behind staffing, budgets, and new policing technology. • organized chaos of leading a police department and setting a clear vision  • faith, purpose, and the...

We sit down with Rick Bean from the Top City Trail Alliance to map out Topeka’s natural surface trails and the volunteer work that keeps them open, safe, and fun. We talk everything from trail etiquette and erosion control to mountain biking gear, ultra-endurance “studs”, and a bigger vision for connecting the city through outdoor recreation. • what the Top City Trail Alliance does and how it’s fu...

We sit down with Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay to unpack what prosecutors really do, how he thinks about fairness, and why leadership in the justice system starts with ethics. We also get candid stories about jury trials, campaigning for an elected role, and the surprising moments when accountability helps people change. • defining the DA’s role as courtroom advocate and elected pros...

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...