There's Just Something About Kansas City

This one is personal.

Brie Morgan Bauer is someone I’ve known since she was three years old — my youngest daughter’s closest friend and someone our family loves dearly. But Brie’s story is now known far beyond Kansas City.

If you follow @BeauandBrie on social media, you may already know that Brie survived a devastating case of Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome (STSS) — a rare and life-threatening bacterial infection. What makes her ...

Before he became President of Union Broadcasting, Chad Boeger was already an entrepreneur.

In kindergarten, he was buying Jolly Ranchers for two cents and selling them for five. By junior high and high school, he was running a thriving lawn care business. In college at the University of Kansas, he hustled any way he could to make ends meet, fully expecting to use his business degree to become an investment banker.

But a passion for s...

As the world tunes in to the Winter Olympics, we revisit one of the most iconic moments in sports history — the 1980 “Miracle on Ice.”

In February 1980, the United States was emerging from a decade marked by recession, gas shortages, and national uncertainty. Then, in Lake Placid, New York, a group of young American hockey players stunned the world by defeating the dominant Soviet Union team, the feared Red Army, in what many still ...

Almost erased from mainstream history, Sarah Rector was a young Black girl whose life defied every expectation of her time.

In 1907, through the Dawes Allotment Act, Sarah — a descendant of formerly enslaved people — was granted 160 acres of land in Oklahoma. The land was considered undesirable and difficult to farm. But beneath it lay oil. When a well struck crude, Sarah became one of the richest Black children in American history,...

In this episode of There’s Just Something About Kansas City, the longtime Kansas City and Oklahoma City TV meteorologist shares behind-the-scenes stories from the unpredictable world of live television weather — unforgettable storms, on-air surprises, and the moments viewers never see.

After years in broadcast meteorology, Gary channeled his experience into launching Weather 20/20, an innovative long-range forecasting system designe...

Dan Meers might be one of the most recognizable people in the city — but you wouldn’t know him from Adam without his giant head, crazy eyes, and 85 inch waist. For more than 35 years, Dan Meers brought energy, humor, and heart to Kansas City as the legendary KC Wolf, the mascot of the Kansas City Chiefs.

In this episode of There’s Just Something About Kansas City, Dan takes us behind the mask and into one of the most unique careers ...

If you’ve spent any time listening to Kansas City radio since the 1980s, you already know the voices, and the names, Mike Kennedy and Nycki Pace.

In this episode of There’s Just Something About Kansas City, we sit down with two true KC radio icons who lived, shaped, and survived the Golden Age of radio. Nycki made her mark behind the microphone, becoming one of the most recognizable voices on the Kansas City airwaves, while Mike hel...

When Kansas City celebrates, chances are Keli O’Neill Wenzel is behind it. 

As President and CEO of O’Neill Events, Keli has helped shape some of the biggest moments in Kansas City history, from World Series and Super Bowl parades to the NFL Draft and the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026. She and her team have also been the “wonder engineers” behind the KC Irish Fest, Boulevardia, the streetcar expansion, the WWI Centennial, and many, m...

As we kick off the New Year, we’re revisiting one of our most compelling conversations — a Best Of episode featuring Peter Mallouk, President and CEO of Creative Planning, one of the fastest-growing independent wealth management firms in the United States with more than $370 billion in assets under management.

Before becoming a nationally recognized leader in finance, Peter’s story began right here in Kansas City. The son of Egyptia...

As we ring in the New Year, we’re revisiting one of our most inspiring conversations — a Best Of episode featuring Danny O’Neill, founder of Kansas City’s iconic The Roasterie Coffee Company.

Born one of ten children in Denison, Iowa, Danny always knew he wanted to build something meaningful. That spark turned into a calling during a high school exchange semester in Costa Rica, where he picked coffee beans by hand — an experience th...

This Christmas week, we’re revisiting one of our all-time favorite conversations — a Best Of episode celebrating the legendary Denny Matthews, the longtime radio voice of the Kansas City Royals.

Denny Matthews has been behind the mic since the Royals’ very first game in 1969, making him one of the longest-tenured broadcasters in Major League Baseball history. From mailing his résumé and demo tape to the Royals on a Schlitz beer tray...

Marilyn Maye is an American treasure and one of the greatest American Songbook and showtune singers of all time. A true cabaret legend, she made history with a record 76 appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and has spent decades captivating audiences around the world.

In this episode, Marilyn reflects on her extraordinary career, her deep connection to Kansas City’s jazz legacy, and what it means to represent her h...

Mary Don Beachy has devoted her life to inspiring others, first as a beloved Kansas City schoolteacher, and now as an author whose stories, humor, and heart continue to make an impact. She’s published five books, including two Kansas City–themed cookbooks: Step Up to the Plate, KC and Step Up for Seconds, KC.

In this episode, Mary Don reflects on her years in education, the lessons that shaped her, and the unexpected path that led h...

In this special episode of There’s Just Something About Kansas City, the tables are turned as Executive Director—and Frank’s wife—Sarah McEnerney-Boal steps into the host chair to interview the man behind the mic.

Frank opens up about his remarkable journey before Kansas City ever entered the picture: the unlikely and hilarious story of his recruitment to Villanova, the tough decision that broke his mother’s heart when he turned dow...

In this episode, Frank Boal sits down with Jonathan Thomas, President & CEO of American Century Investments, to explore how one of Kansas City’s most influential financial firms has woven purpose directly into its business model.

Jonathan breaks down the company’s unique ownership structure, where over 40% of profits support life-changing medical discoveries at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research. He shares how this missi...

Step into The Rabbit hOle, the world’s first immersive storybook museum right here in North Kansas City.

In this episode, co-founder Pete Cowdin shares how he and Deb Pettit pulled from their experience at Reading Reptile, Kansas City’s beloved children’s bookstore, to create a groundbreaking cultural landmark where classic characters leap off the page and into real life.

Pete takes us behind the scenes of the creativity, grit, imag...

Meet Richard Harper, better known as Teal Man: the ultimate Kansas City Current superfan who brings unstoppable energy and love to every match. From the first whistle to the final minute, Richard’s passion for KC Current soccer is contagious.

In this episode, he shares how it all started, why he dedicates so much of himself to supporting the team, and what being part of th...

Every city has one legendary bar. The kind of place where stories start, friendships grow, and the night never really ends. In Kansas City, that place is Kelly’s Westport Inn. 

Standing tall in its original 1800s building, once owned by Daniel Boone’s grandson, Kelly’s isn’t just a bar - it’s a living piece of Kansas City history. Wagon trains once stopped here before heading west, and today, locals still pack the place for cold bee...

Buckle up, Kansas City—this one’s a wild ride. He’s loud, he’s funny, and he’s been shaking up the airwaves for over three decades. In this episode, we sit down with Johnny Dare, the legendary host of The Johnny Dare Morning Show on 98.9 The Rock, to talk about his journey from high school dropout to one of the most recognizable voices in Midwest radio.

Johnny opens up about 34 years of radio mayhem, the sidekicks and skits that mad...