SlackChat

Jake interviews Adam Rohlke, resident of Columbia, MO., and explores his career as a sound engineer for live musical performances at the Blue Note and ultimately for musical groups going on tour such as Wilco.  Listen to his story as he describes how he learned his craft from local sound experts and how that evolved into an opportunity to work with Wilco while on tour in the United States and Euro...

Jake interviews Steve Sweitzer, a former resident of Columbia, Missouri, now living in Laguna Beach, California.  Listen to his story as he describes growing up in Audrain County, Missouri, on a farm where his interest in art started at a young age.  He describes studying art and ultimately establishing a career in marketing production and working around the United States and London.  Later he and...

Jake interviews Jina Yoo, owner of Jina Yoo's Asian Bistro and Le Bao Asian Eatery in Columbia, Missouri.  She tells us about growing up in South Korea, studying music in college and graduate school in the United States, and ultimately opening her successful restaurants.  It's a fascinating story - check it out.

Our next interview is with Tony Lotven.  He's a long time musician originally from Springfield, Missouri.  He tells us about his musical path to Columbia and various groups and players he met along the way.  Plus he describes various businesses he was part of at the same time.  Check it out!

Jake interviews Will West, owner of Will West Music and Sound in Jefferson City, Missouri, which is an outstanding music store serving mid-Missouri and beyond. Listen to his story as he discusses growing up in Eastern Arkansas where his interest in music started at an early age with his parents' influence.  His path led him to serve in the military and then to Nashville where he continued his musi...

Our next interview is with Matt Marshall, owner of Bluescentric, which produces quality soul, rock n roll, jazz, bluegrass, and blues music themed t-shirts and other related merch.  He also owns B Side Records, which sells vintage vinyl records.  Listen to his story as he describes growing up in Columbia, Missouri, and his path that led him to create a business that combines design, art, and his l...

Jake talks with Lisa Bartlett, artist and owner of Artlandish Gallery in Columbia, Missouri.  She's been around Columbia, Missouri since the 80's and has a lot to say about the Columbia art scene.  Check it out!

Jake talks with Tracy Lane, co-owner and producer of the Treeline Music Fest (f/k/a Roots N Blues), about her love of music and the serious challenges women face working in the music industry.  After heading to LA straight outta her rural Missouri high school, she eventually made her way back to Columbia where she worked for Richard King at the Blue Note.  After a stint in Oklahoma City, she retur...

Jake talks to Dr. Adam Beckett, a physician in Emergency Medicine and creator of Global First Reponder, which provides crucial aid throughout the world.  Adam graduated from MU before spending four years in the Marines.  He then attended medical school in Kansas City.  After a residency in Chicago, he returned to Columbia where he works for the University of Missouri Hospital and the Truman VA Hos...

Jake interviews his friend Lenore Danziger about her adventurous life meeting Jimi Hendrix, living in California and Mexico and her association with amazing structures of poet and surrealist Edward James near Xilitla, Mexico.  Avery Danziger's documentary, "Edward James: Builder or Dreams," can be found at https/vimeo.com/164786264.  Check it all out!

SlackChat is honored to get to interview the godfather of the Columbia, Missouri music scene, Richard King!  Hear about how he came to Columbia and his establishment of the "old" Blue Note, the move to the "new" Blue Note, acquiring Mojo's and selling it all and taking over Cooper's Landing.  We all owe Richard King and his long time partner in crime, Phil Costello, a debt of gratitude for all a g...

Part III of the Chump Change trilogy (listen to James "Smitty" Smith and Kenneth Brantley for Parts I and II).  Jake talks to Pete Szkolka about his time playing in Chump Change and other bands in Columbia, Missouri, his recording studio, his education in music and growing up on the south side of Chicago.  Please excuse the cat created minor recording issues for about ten minutes near the beginnin...

Part II of the Chump Change trilogy (or more), Kenneth Brantley takes us through an enthusiastic, and, at times, surreal portrait of growing up in St. Louis, moving to Columbia, and the music scene throughout the midwest. Buckle in for this roller coaster ride through a bizarro funhouse.  More great history of St. Louis, Columbia, and Jefferson City from the 50s through the present that shouldn't...

Gary Pinkel was head football coach at the University of Toledo from 1991 to 2000 and the University of Missouri from 2001 to 2015. Coach Pinkel has the most wins of any head coach in the history of both the University of Toledo football program and the University of Missouri football program.  Coach Pinkel led the 1995 Toledo team to a Mid-American Conference championship. Gary Pinkel was inducte...

Jake interviews Myron Wang about succeeding his father at the helm of Alaskan Fur Company, a family retail fur fashion business founded in 1926.  Myron is also a scuba diver and world class underwater photographer who has met Jacques Cousteau and whose photos have appeared in Cousteau's books.  His amazing photos have been sold all over the world.  Check out his fascinating decades-long journey in...

Longtime bass player for the legendary Columbia, Missouri based Chump Change Band, James "Smitty" Smith, Jr., lays down the knowledge about Babe Martin and the numerous blues legends the Chump Change band played with all over the Midwest and beyond.  Smitty has lived his whole life in Columbia, so he's a treasure trove of Columbia history, too. We changed our music for this one to feature Chump Ch...

Jake saw Xavier Charles carrying his skateboard on the MKT Trail in Columbia, Missouri, and convinced him to sit down with Jake at Three Story Coffee and tell his story.  This one was recorded outside on the upper deck of Three Story, so please excuse the noise.

Check out Jake's interview with the inimitable Carl "Zig" Zigler.  Outstanding stuff!

Jake talks with Pam Newman about her life with, of course, a large helping of Columbia, Missouri history.  Check it out!

Kevin Walsh arrived in Columbia, MO in the 70s from Scranton, PA. For Kevin, like a Scranton party, a COMO party don't stop.  KW drops some serious knowledge about Columbia.  Try to hold on.

Jake interviews Amir Ziv from Columbia, MO about living in Israel working in the art scene and other entrepreneurial ventures.

Ron Newman, who sold Jake his house, attempts to summarize seven decades into an hour with Jake.  Ron talks about growing up in St. Louis, the draft, teaching ESL during the Vietnam war and getting into the liquor distribution business.  

Doug Schwandt talks about hockey, the zen of pickleball, and his experiences as a police officer for the Columbia Police Department and as Chief of the University of Missouri Police Department. SlackChat apologizes for the meandering intro but you all know how to skip to the interview.

Melissa Kinkade talks to SlackChat about her journey from college softball player and radio DJ to becoming a hair stylist, cosmetic tattoo artist and more.  She followed her passion and now has a thriving business.  Check it out!  

Itinerant artist Jai Love talks about surviving on the road with his dog Nugget in his art bus "Royale with Cheese."  He describes his adventures with the Rainbow Gathering, hanging out and giving back at Burning Man and who he's getting back to.  He's following his passion and making it work.  Stick around to the end to hear his heartfelt song for his daughter that ties it all together.   This po...