Lee's Summit Town Hall

The Rev. Hubert Neth spent more than three decades listening to, comforting and befriending the people of Lee's Summit. In this bonus episode from the archives, recorded at Grace United Methodist Church, he explains why he believed every visit was about helping each other, why salvation is a beginning rather than a transaction and why the best sermons are the ones you actually hear. It's a chance...

Lee's Summit Creates is trying to send a student artist from every Lee's Summit high school into a creative career, and the Arty Party on Oct. 29 is how it pays for that. John Schuler and Jane Bollin share what's planned for the night, including live painting and a cocktail class served over a casket, and how a few hundred dollars keeps local arts groups going.

Superintendent Dr. David Buck and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Chad Hertzog join host Nick Parker to explain how they're navigating a budget squeeze driven by state underfunding and Jackson County's property reassessments, not decisions made in Lee's Summit. They walk through the zero-based budgeting process behind their recommendation to the school board ahead of its Sept. 29 tax levy decision. 

Ten years in, Wings 4 Water is a Lee's Summit institution. Come vote with money at 40-50 local tents cooking wings, and 100% of donations go to clean water efforts globally. Chris Turney and Lori Dame share details about the September 10 event at Paragon Star, plus a preview of a brand-new mac and cheese competition coming to town.

This week, Becca Stabno from Summit Theatre Group stops by to talk about a cabaret event that does something most theaters don't allow: invites the audience to sing along. We dive into the jukebox musical concept, the upcoming production, and the group's larger vision for a dedicated theater space in Lee's Summit that could serve the entire community.

Matt Fast spent 16 years managing a Hy-Vee before launching one of Lee's Summit's most unexpected businesses: a dog waste removal service. Hear why he made the leap from corporate retail, how he built an industry in Kansas City, and why the trade-off in income was worth the gain in time with family.

Host Nick Parker welcomes back columnist John Beaudoin to discuss Beaudoin's recent Q&A with District 4 Councilman Donnie Funk. The two dig into District 4's residential character, the ongoing debate over apartment development, and what's still missing from Lee's Summit's retail and office landscape. They also unpack the city's rocky budget-communication moment — including City Manager Mark Du...

Downtown Days is back, and this year the festival looks different in the best way possible. Events manager Julie Cook and assistant director Jenny Gale from Downtown Lee's Summit Main Street join Nick to preview the move to the new Green Street covered lawn, a Grammy-nominated Saturday headliner in Making Movies, and everything you need to know before heading downtown this Friday through Sunday. A...

A Lee's Summit tutoring organization that has spent a decade closing academic skill gaps for K–12 students is now targeting the other side of the equation — the homes those students return to every night. Host Nick Parker sits down with Tomorrow's Promise Today founder Mike Graham and new Executive Director Marion Marshall to introduce their newly launched nonprofit, Today Promises Tomorrow, and t...

Wings 4 Water is turning 10 — and host Nick Parker is marking the milestone with the man who started it all. Founder Chris Turney joins the Lee's Summit Town Hall Podcast to look back on a decade of clean water fundraising, community building and an absolutely unreasonable number of chicken wings. From a 150-person gathering at a neighborhood community center to an estimated 5,000–6,000 attendees...

It's election week in Lee's Summit, and host Nick Parker and co-host Jason Norbury are back to finish their April 7 municipal election preview — this time focused on the six candidates vying for seats on the Lee's Summit R-7 Board of Education. Nick and Jason break down what the candidate questionnaire responses reveal, why the relative absence of divisive issues in this race might actually be goo...

Justin Bliefnik, owner of Stuey McBrew's, joins Nick Parker to talk about the Do Drop Inn — his tribute to the legendary and beloved downtown bar that served Lee's Summit for 58 years before closing. Justin shares how the project evolved from a Stuey's overflow space into something he'd wanted for a long time: a low-key, vintage-feeling neighborhood bar with cold beer and no pretense. He talks abo...

  Jason Norbury joins Nick Parker for a bonus episode previewing the April 7 Lee's Summit municipal election. They break down all five contested city council races (Districts 2, 3, and 4) and the mayor's race, walking through the topics that have surfaced across nearly every candidate's questionnaire — infrastructure, public safety, housing, growth, and economic development. The bigger conversatio...

Superintendent Dr. David Buck and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Chad Hertzog visit the studio to explain Proposition C ahead of the April 7 municipal election. They walk through what the Prop C rollback waiver means for LSR7's budget, how a $300,000 home would be affected, and why teacher salaries have slipped in the metro rankings. They also detail the district's grow-your-own teacher pipeline and...

Pro Deo Youth Center Executive Director Elaine Metcalf and board member Kent Ruehter join host Nick Parker to talk about Twisted Trivia, Pro Deo's annual fundraising night, coming Saturday, March 21, to the Green Street Market in downtown Lee's Summit. The trio covers what makes this year's event different — a new venue, a Saturday time slot, and a jukebox auction — while digging into what Pro Deo...

In this special bonus episode, we hosted a live mayoral candidate forum at BridgeSpace with more than 100 Lee's Summit residents in attendance. Councilmembers Beto Lopez and Cynda Rader answered tough questions on the issues that matter most to your neighborhood. In this episode: The apartment vs. attainable housing debate: are we building the right things? The single-hauler trash question heading...

In the final days of Black History Month, host Nick Parker had an opportunity to sit down in The Vault with Bob Kendrick, President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum for a wide-ranging conversation about why the story of the Negro Leagues isn't just a baseball story, but the story of America. The conversation covers the economic legacy of segregation, why Jackie Robinson's Signing my have spark...

Host Nick Parker sits down with Nigel Woodberry to explore the origins and mission of their podcast Beers with Nigel. In this Black History Month conversation, they discuss how beer became a gateway to telling untold stories of Black-owned breweries, diversity in the beer industry, and building unexpected communities. From discovering Fresh Fest (now Barrel & Flow) to highlighting breweries li...

Vanessa Hickman, Chair of Lee's Summit's Human Relations Commission, returns to discuss Take Time to Be Kind Week (February 9-14). Discover how this annual initiative brings the community together through intentional acts of kindness—from pop-up gratitude stations to kindness bingo. Learn about simple ways to participate, share your stories using #LSKindness, and help build stronger relationships...

What does it take to transform a creative vision into a thriving retail destination that an entire community rallies behind? In this episode, host Nick Parker sits down with Lindsey Fliehs, the creative force behind Team Cocktail, one of downtown Lee's Summit's most beloved shops. Lindsey pulls back the curtain on her unique entrepreneurial journey, revealing the real challenges and unexpected win...

Join us for a festive episode of the Lee's Summit Town Hall podcast as Santa Claus himself shares heartwarming stories and holiday cheer. From reading letters from children to discussing the true spirit of Christmas, this episode is filled with joy, laughter, and a touch of magic. Don't miss Santa's special message on the importance of giving and community spirit. 

Bridge Space Community Manager Colin Brich and KC Communications' John Beaudoin join host Nick Parker to discuss the upcoming "Food 4 Food" drive supporting Lee's Summit Social Services. Learn how you can help your neighbors this holiday season while enjoying free tacos from El Plato on December 9th. In this episode, we explore the growing need at the local food pantry, hear stories of community r...

Megan Mercer and Pearl McDonald from Pretty Funny preview their annual holiday comedy show "It's the Prettiest Funniest Time of the Year" (Dec 13 at Unity Village). The duo shares stories from 17 years performing with their all-women troupe, discusses their unique blend of improv and scripted sketches, and reveals how real holiday moments become comedy gold. Featuring talk of reindeer drama, spoof...

Host Nick Parker sits down with Matt Baird, President of the Lee's Summit Chamber of Commerce and military veteran, for a meaningful Veterans Day conversation about service, sacrifice, and community connection. Matt opens up about his military journey — from being a history-loving kid who dreamed of service to his time in ROTC and active duty. He candidly discusses both the rewards and challenges...

The need has never been greater. In this episode, host Nick Parker talks with David Fritz and Ben Martin from the Lee's Summit Rotary Clubs and Monica Humbard about the growing food crisis in our community and an annual event designed to support local nonprofit efforts to ease the burden of those in need. Learn about nearly 4,500 students on free or reduced lunch in Lee's Summit, about local food...