Ask A Kansan


What makes a place feel like home, and how do the stories of a state connect us all?
From the warmth of a “grandma basement” to the wild adventures across Kansas, this conversation celebrates the people, places, and moments that have shaped a year of discovery. Join us as we reflect on favorite guests, behind-the-scenes stories, and the lessons learned from building a podcast rooted in community.

Highlights
  • The meaning and Midwest origins of the “grandma basement”
  • How the podcast began and the team behind the scenes
  • Favorite guest moments and what made them memorable
  • Lessons learned from Kansas historians, artists, journalists, and community leaders
  • Tanner’s photojournalist adventures across the state
  • Unique Kansas events: rodeos, peace treaties, and Swedish festivals
  • The importance of parks, wildlife, and green spaces in Kansas
  • A look at the “guest book” and fun awards for standout guests
  • Hopes and plans for the next season, including new regions and stories
Chapters

00:00 – Understanding the “Grandma Basement” Concept
03:22 – Reflecting on Past Episodes
04:11 – The Origin Story of the Podcast
07:19 – Highlighting Memorable Guests
13:24 – Discussing the Podcast’s Reach and Team
21:55 – Capturing Kansas: Rodeos, Peace Treaties, and Wildlife
29:57 – Whooping Cranes: A Remarkable Comeback
32:04 – Exploring Kansas Wildlife
32:31 – Lindsborg’s Biannual Ings Fest
33:30 – Traditional Swedish Costumes
35:27 – Lakewood Park: A Kansas Gem
36:56 – Looking Forward to 2026
41:40 – Reflecting on 2025 Guests
53:27 – Closing Thoughts and Thank Yous

Resources Mentioned
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend and help us continue amplifying Kansas voices!

This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net


What is Ask A Kansan?

A podcast focusing on the perspectives, lives, and stories of Kansans to provide greater insight into the state we all call home.

AAK_Ep37
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[00:00:00]

Understanding the 'Grandma Basement' Concept
---

Sydney Collins: I was talking to my mom the other day and I realized that there is a term that people don't understand and it's a very Midwest thing,

Gus Applequist: huh? Okay.

Sydney Collins: And so I wanna see, I wanna test this theory. Do you know what a grandma basement is?

Gus Applequist: I have no idea what a grandma basement is. Oh,

Sydney Collins: maybe it's just my family thing then.

So a grandma basement is a grandma who has converted her whole house into nothing but like guest rooms and places for her kids. So, for instance, my grandmother has a grandma basement, but she's in Cheyenne, Wyoming. But every room in her basement has like one or two beds or a pullout or a hide a bed. Okay.

Or, and then it has like toys and stuff for all the grandkids to come, like it's the grandma basement.

Gus Applequist: Yeah. Our, I would say our family. Yeah, I know what you mean now. Okay.

Sydney Collins: Yeah. But maybe I'm, we're just coining a term that we didn't really have a word [00:01:00] for.

Gus Applequist: So like for the holidays and stuff, you go there and like there's a whole bunch of you all in set.

The basement whole together, whole, you play games. Mm-hmm. You watch TV and movies

Sydney Collins: to give, to give context. So my alma mater, From Missouri, they, their choir does a tour every year. Mm-hmm. Um, every spring break ish. And so the choir is coming to Salina and so my mom is in charge 'cause I'm an alum, so the church kind of voluntold her, like, Hey, your daughter's an alum, which rubs me in.

Gus Applequist: You are responsible.

Sydney Collins: You are responsible for finding homes for all of these kids. And so she's, she was talking to a lady and she goes, yeah, I have a grandma basement. And my mom instantly knew what that was and I instantly knew what that was. But apparently. People don't know what that is. Yeah. I would

Gus Applequist: not have known.

Sydney Collins: Yeah.

Gus Applequist: Yeah. Interesting.

[00:02:00] Welcome to

Sydney Collins: askan,

Gus Applequist: a podcast amplifying, uncovering, and connecting Kansas.

Sydney Collins: And I am Sydney.

Gus Applequist: And I'm Gus. And if this is your first episode, uh, this might be a weird one for you because we're doing, we're kind of breaking our formula here instead of having a guest on today. We're kind of reminiscing on, uh, our first 30 or so episodes here in 2025.

Sydney Collins: So it's the end of the year. the new year is around the corner. And so we're, we wanted to kind of. Pay homage to the guests that have, come to us and, and been open to chatting with us. So you kind of get some fun behind the scenes things. We're going to, uh, kinda give you some facts and statistics of like.

What areas of Kansas that we've been able to cover or talk to, or

Gus Applequist: we're gonna chat with Tanner a little bit about, places he's been

Sydney Collins: Yeah.

Gus Applequist: And then, and we're give some you you [00:03:00] say it.

Sydney Collins: Yeah. And then you have to stick around for the end because of course though the best bits are at the end. we have what we've determined the guest book, and so we're gonna give some, awards, prizes.

Gus Applequist: Yeah.

Sydney Collins: Yeah. We don't know away. That's a weird way to put it. But yeah, we're gonna recognize our guests. Recognize a couple, a few of them.

Gus Applequist: Yeah. For, for various contributions they've made. Mm-hmm. So

Reflecting on Past Episodes
---

Sydney Collins: yeah, this first, this first segment, I kind of wanna chat about my, like, top three that really like, stand out, not necessarily my favorite because like, there's been a ton.

We've done 37 episodes. This is number 37. So we've done 36. Yeah. Somewhere around in the 30 ish five range. And these are the kinda the ones that stand out. My, the first one, is Adrian Zink. And so Adrian was like episode number three or four, and Adrian is, works for the Federal Archive in Kansas City.

He has authored two books. And so he was coming to the Smokey Hill Museum to do a talk. [00:04:00] And so we're like, Hey, this would be a really cool person to have on the podcast. And so he was gracious enough to be like. Guinea pig number three in this whole, in this whole format, which is awesome. Great.

The Origin Story of the Podcast
---

Sydney Collins: and I guess before I go into why I love Adrian, we really need to talk about like how we got here.

Oh, sure. I kind of jumped the gun a little bit.

Gus Applequist: It's true. I don't, I don't know that we've ever really told this story of How this all came to be.

Sydney Collins: So for those who don't know, we work for a video production company, Fili Creative. So that's the powered by Fili creative that you see in our name. And we were working with a friend, he was kind of helping us.

Kind of find a, a focus or a vision and, and for some different projects. And one of he goes, you know, you should start a podcast. And we're like, oh.

Gus Applequist: We're like, okay, sure.

Sydney Collins: We'll do it. Sure. Me and my, I need to do this right here, right now, type of mentality was like, oh yeah. And, you know, two, three months, we'll be fine.

We'll just get it up [00:05:00] and running. We'll build this whole set. It was not like that.

Gus Applequist: We had done podcasts, uh, before here at Feely. Mm-hmm. And they were not focused on Kansas, they were focused on other things. Mm-hmm. And so the, this space that we're in, that we record in, was set up totally differently.

So there was about a how long eight month window at least, where we kind of dreamt up this thing and, and here we are. Mm-hmm.

Sydney Collins: And that was, kind of a feat in itself. 'cause we all have our day jobs. We are not, interior designers by any feat. So thank you, Gus's wife, Hannah, for putting all the crazy pieces that we gave her together.

Mm-hmm.

Gus Applequist: and we kind of like, as we were building out the studio, we were trying to figure out what the podcast was. Yes. We knew it was gonna be focused on Kansas. Um, we chose the name Ask a Kansan because, uh, we, we wanted to talk to Kansans about. Who they are and what they do in this state. And um, and, you know, it's been a, a journey of kind of self discovery.

Yes. And, and honestly [00:06:00] learning so much about the state that we, we didn't already know

Sydney Collins: very much so.

Gus Applequist: Yeah.

Sydney Collins: and with that we've expanded kind of the crew. So a lot, what a lot of people don't know is that we have what, five, six people that work on this podcast at a time. Yeah. We'll,

Gus Applequist: we'll roll through 'em real fast.

So you, you probably already know Tanner, who's our photojournalist and story producer. behind the scenes we have Julie, who is, she's. Sitting right here. Uh, Julie is, uh, also a producer for us. Back in the studio today is Merlin, who's our technical director. Mm-hmm. Um, we also work with Brian, who's actually from Wichita and Brian is our editor and manages distribution for us.

And then finally based outta Manhattan is OS and who's our graphic designer. Mm-hmm. And, uh, these folks all work really hard to put this thing together and make it look so clean and, and hopefully, uh, you know, build an audience around it. So, yeah.

Sydney Collins: And I, and I also wanna recognize the other kind of part of Feely too.

So when we got all this up and running, um, Devin, who is our executive producer, Alicia, [00:07:00] our producer, and Tim, our editor, really, kind of kept the ball rolling on the video production side and would help us with any technical stuff or color grading or editing expertise. Like they were a huge help in getting this started.

so I wanna give them a little shout out to. If they're listening, they probably aren't. Yeah.

Highlighting Memorable Guests
---

Gus Applequist: Like my three things that I'm gonna focus on, I'm gonna, I'm gonna do some lessons learned from, from mine. and so the, the first interview I want to just focus on briefly is Dr. Andrew Orr.

Mm-hmm. who is the chair of the history department at Kansas State University. Um, some things I feel like I learned from him. Uh, one pictures can be deceiving. Don't judge the book by its cover. Yep. Or don't judge the interviewee by their, uh, headshot. I was like, I was so intimidated going into that interview.

Like he, he looked like. You know, like a very met business. Yeah. Like a professorial type person. And he was, but, but I didn't expect just his wonderful personality and, uh, just the passion behind, uh,

Sydney Collins: and the [00:08:00] empathy.

Gus Applequist: Yes.

Sydney Collins: That just poured out of him while he was talking.

Gus Applequist: Oh, no, I agree. another lesson I learned, which is, I mean, we've kinda already said this, but tap into somebody's passion and get ready to be surprised about mm-hmm.

What energizes them. Um, sometimes history can be complex, dark, and overwhelming, and people who lived in those times want us to remember and do what we can to prevent that from happening again.

Sydney Collins: Yeah.

Gus Applequist: So those are my lessons from Dr. Andrew.

Sydney Collins: And I'm gonna go back to Adrian. So, um, I mentioned Adrian Zink is kind of one that stands out to me.

And the biggest reason is, is, so we were talking, in his episode about, a segment in his, in his book in history of, of Kansas, and there's a story that he covered about. A guy who wanted to build a utopia in Kansas and they brought over all these suck worms and started this whole farmstead of in community, um, [00:09:00] out in dream, I think Eastern Kansas.

And that conversation was what? March, April of this year when we went to the Kansas Tourism Conference. to cover obviously Kansas. 'cause what better place to talk to Kans than the Kansas Tourism Conference. We met a gal who is, and she was just running registration to help run the conference.

And she came over and started talking to us. She goes, yeah, you know, my dad owns, um, a, uh, butcher, um, in Kansas City, but we also have, you know, this family farm. And the cool thing about the family farm is. This guy came over and he wanted, started this utopia and I just was like, we have talked about this on the podcast.

And I kind, and I did scream at her. I was, I was like, this is what it's about. Like her family owns the land that we talked about. With Adrian. I'm like, and I, I did yell at her. I probably caught her off guard. I was like, I know exactly what you're talking about. You, but it's [00:10:00] that connectivity that you're like, this gal who we have no idea.

I wish I could remember her name, um, that we chatted with like. I just, uh, yeah. Anyway, it still gets me excited.

Gus Applequist: You, you sometimes think that like, I think 2.8 million people in Kansas. Yep. You think, you know, I mean, that is a big number. So you, you don't realize the very few degrees of separation we all have from each other.

And we have learned that lesson repeatedly from the podcast. Oh, so much.

Sydney Collins: Yeah.

Gus Applequist: another one of our interviews that stood out to me was Erica Nelson. Uh, we titled that episode Big Little, big Kansan. Yes. Because of, of, of a unique art installation she has. That's similarly titled, I think from Erica. I learned that creativity doesn't just exist in rural places, but it can thrive in rural places.

and that roadside attractions can seem silly, but they really do help create. This sense of community and identity in places, which I think is kind of funny. like, like we're that place that has the [00:11:00] big ball of twine.

Sydney Collins: Yep.

Gus Applequist: but it does, it gives, it gives people something that they can share with others.

Another thing we learned was that art, can capture a moment, event thing people, in a way that preserves it and celebrates it. And, like in a way that photo, not that there's anything wrong with photography, but like, Ingrained in art is interpretation.

And so when an artist interprets something, they're, they're preserving things that may not be as obvious.

Um, and then one, one last lesson I jotted down was that we talked a little bit about some of the, um, the attractions that are complicated mm-hmm. And yeah. And like now are viewed differently. And, and so I think that for me, I, I kinda learned that. Difficult topics in changing political correctness. We need to be talking about these.

Mm-hmm. Um, even though it's uncomfortable because that's, that's how we understand what it all means.

Sydney Collins: Mm-hmm. My [00:12:00] next person was Abby Ray. So, um, that was the first time that I had to do an interview without you. I think 'cause you had like original dental thing going on, I think.

Yeah. And so, sorry Abby and, and it, I sat down the chair, I was fine. I did prep work, all that. And then I realized, oh no, I'm about to interview someone who interviews people for a living and I was terrified and. We, we made it through. the, and the, the thing that I really learned about our Kuhn through our conversation with Abby was journalism is not just making sure the story gets out there anymore.

It's so many other facets. Because these journalists have to know how to do media. They have to know how to work a camera. They have to edit all their own things. They have to figure out what a package is. They have to, you know, create. Thumbnails and all these different things by a certain amount of time, and that's their job.

It's not just finding a story and reporting on it anymore. [00:13:00] It's everything else that you have to put with it. For social media, for the website, for tv, for all these different things and all these different facets. It was really kind of an eye-opener.

Gus Applequist: We took a few members of the team down to the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson.

Oh yeah. And we saw Abby, I think two or three times as she was Yeah. Hauling her giant things across the, this fairgrounds there. Doing exactly what you just described.

Sydney Collins: Yeah.

Discussing the Podcast's Reach and Team
---

Gus Applequist: My last, like one of three to focus on, uh, was Rex Buchanan, who his episode was titled, grounded Kansas. Um, and I, I don't spend a lot of time looking at our show notes.

Yeah. Because we're here when the episode is recorded, but I, I, this caught my attention. What if some of the biggest challenges facing Kansans aren't immediately visible on the surface? Um, and so. I, I, this is kind of zooming out a little bit, honestly, from Rex's conversation. Mm-hmm. But in his conversation we talked about kind of the geographic things that face Kansas, or the geologic maybe is a better word, like [00:14:00] earthquakes and water scarcity.

Um, and in other interviews we've talked about more human scale things like interpersonal relationships and mental health issues. We've talked about community. Kind of level issues like education, childcare, and healthcare. And I think, the public like discourse often focuses on political and all of these things have political elements to them.

Mm-hmm. But I think we sometimes lose sight of all of the different levels of issues that we face as a state, and we have to try to, our best to mm-hmm. Keep them all in mind. okay. Other lessons I picked up from Rex? Uh, take a moment to just sit. And witness this state. Like, um, like how often do we do that?

Do we just absorb what's around us? And he also, I don't know that he actually said this, but I think it is a lesson ingrained in, in what his story was. And that's a. You have to go out there and find Kansas, you know, some Kansas is right outside your doorstep, but it's also [00:15:00] halfway across the state. And um, you have to be kinda willing to, to find it where it is.

And we talked, one of our most popular social media videos of the year was about the Cimarron.

Sydney Collins: Yeah. National, national Grassland Grasslands.

Gus Applequist: And that is a place that's not easy to get to. Mm-hmm. Um, but if you take the time to go there and discover it, uh, it has something for you.

Sydney Collins: my, uh, last person is, uh, if you're a listener, you should probably already know this.

Frank Trace. So, Dr. Frank Trace, director of Bands for K State. Uh, he retired this year and I grew up going to K State games because of the band. He is the reason I joined band, like he is the reason I became a percussionist That was just more of a bucket list thing for me out of anything is just being able to talk to him.

There's nothing philosoph Yes, he is, he has some great philosophy around band and community and, and all that, but I'm like, ugh. I was just fangirling the entire time.

Gus Applequist: I hesitate to [00:16:00] even in estimate how many people he's worked with and affected Oh, yeah. Through his, his time. So that was, that was a treat for sure.

Yeah. Yeah. Well that's just a, a little, you know, six of our favorite episodes over. And honestly, there's far more to discover mm-hmm. In each of those episodes than in all the others. So if any of those you haven't seen and, and might wanna go back and Okay. Go check 'em out.

Sydney Collins: one of the thing that I wanna hit on is, um, probably what a lot of people don't know is, can you tell us where our entry music comes from?

Yeah. For those who dunno.

Gus Applequist: I have a habit of. There's some legalities when we use music, and so I, I often, Resort to using music that I'm involved in, because then I can get permission to use it. And so, yeah, the music comes from our band, everyday Lights. and it, the, that song is called Horse Thief Canyon.

Mm-hmm. And yeah, it's, it's about, at some point along the line, college professor, that I had, John Burchill wrote a [00:17:00] book about all the different horse thief canyons in Kansas. And there's

like a dozen

or something. Of these, these kind of gulches or whatever where horse thieves hung out back in the day.

And so yeah, the song is just, is meant to rep, you know, represent that kind of

Sydney Collins: mm-hmm.

Gus Applequist: high energy, you know, Kansas thing. Yep.

Tanner's Adventures Across Kansas
---

Sydney Collins: All right, well, um, we're gonna bring Tanner on and we're gonna see kind of where Tanner has, hit part of the states. Um, we're gonna show you a visual of kind of where we've been.

Gus Applequist: Perfect.

Gus Applequist: Welcome back. Uh, obviously we have Tanner with us in the studio. If you haven't met Tanner. Tanner is our photo journalist and our story producer. Thanks for being here with us today. Yeah,

Tanner Colvin: thanks. [00:18:00]

Gus Applequist: Yeah. So we just wanted to talk a little bit about the, the breadth of the work that we've done over the year and where all we've been.

Sydney Collins: to put kind of in perspective. So we started the podcast if you're very new. We were doing once a month and then we went biweekly, and then we went weekly. So we have really only been going weekly since ju June, I think June or July. So our first episode was in February. Then we did one in March and I think we did two in April and two in May.

And that's kind of how we started. So if you really think about when, when we look at this map of how much we've been able, able to cover really in like seven months, if you really kind of need to put a number on it, it's amazing. So the map here represents. People that we've interviewed and where they're from.

And it also represents all the [00:19:00] places that Tanner has been able, um, to visit. And we'll talk about those here in a minute. But for people the may we, we kind of, how do I put this, let me step back here. For those who don't know, the reason Tanner exists is because we realized that. As a podcast, we have a studio.

It's in central Kansas. Sometimes people aren't going to be able to come here and there's gonna be stories that we're, we're not able to cover. And Tanner One naturally loves Kansas. He, he was already traveling in his free times, getting stories. And doing this work. And so we asked him, I said, Hey, do you want to, do you wanna get paid for doing the thing you love?

And so Tanner thankfully said yes. and so that's kind of what this map represents is all the things that we've been able to cover just in seven months and 37 episodes. So we've been [00:20:00] able to cover how many, I forgot the statistics, like 30, 27. 20, 27 counties. I think that's what it's out of. 105.

Gus Applequist: Yeah.

And just one brief comment is we see you southeast and southwest Kansas. Uh, north Central, like further north. Like, uh, there are gaps in this map. Yeah. And we know that and we'll work to fill them, but yeah, I

Tanner Colvin: think one thing I'll also add to Sydney's comments is part of my job is to go out and photograph or tell the stories of, of.

Things that wouldn't be very good to just come in and talk about. Right. It'd be better to show a county fair or something like that. Um, that, you know, we could have somebody come in and talk about the county fair, but then we'd have to have the other 104 counties come in and talk about their county fair.

And that's not physically possible. Yeah. So if I can start visiting some of those places and, and, and telling 'em vis telling their story visually, um, then that's kind of where the, the idea is that I try to formulate are those kind of places.

Gus Applequist: Um, so if you're interested in that, the way you find out about it.

Is we we're [00:21:00] titling these, these packages, Tanner's making, uh, the Curious Kansan newsletter. Mm-hmm.

Sydney Collins: You can find all of those stories and all those photos on our website. If you go to, uh, ask a kansan.com, you click on Curious Kansan and it will bring up those new stories. So you have some photos that you would like to chat about of all your adventures.

So

Tanner Colvin: I picked, I told Gus I'd pick five. I ended up picking seven. Uh, two of 'em. There's two extras on, on two stories. So, these, uh, photos, um, represent just kind of, uh, my highlights. Um, I started traveling, I think in. Late August. Mm-hmm. Um, so, there's, there's plenty of other places, uh, some around national grassland, uh, Mount Sunflower, places like that, that I'm gonna wait till the spring to go to.

'cause

Sydney Collins: yeah,

Tanner Colvin: Kansas right now is a little brown and, um, it is beautiful. But, uh, I think those places, uh, uh, Southeast Kansas, um, places like that are, are gonna be better represented in the spring and summertime. So, um,

Capturing Kansas: Rodeos, Peace Treaties, and Wildlife
---

Gus Applequist: um, well, Tanner, tell us about this first photo.

Tanner Colvin: So this is from, uh, one of my [00:22:00] first travels back in August, um, from the Smokey Valley Saddle Club in Marquette.

Um, they have an annual rodeo that was going on for 50 plus years, I think, or Wow. Getting close to 50. Um, and this was from, uh, towards the end of the night, top of the shoot. They were doing the bull riding and just kind of a, the photojournalist in me needed a. Uh, a shot that, um, was maybe a little more technical than, than the next one is, is, is kind of a fun shot.

So then this one is. Is, uh, just kind of a fun shot. Um, the, uh, mutton busting and there was, um, I forget how many kids they had. They had a line of kids. Oh, sure. And, um, I didn't put this one in, but if you go to our website, there's a, there's a second photo. Right after this one that, that I didn't include in here, but it's of a little girl and she looks terrified and these two shots next to each other, this boy is just, it's just so funny.

He's loving it. He's thrilled. And she was like, just, you know, head buried in the, in the, in the sheep, and just, uh, freaking out a little bit. Um, so, [00:23:00] uh, the, the event was really cool. Um, just the, a good Kansas rodeo, um, they did. Just lose that this year. Um, one of their founding members and they paid tribute to him.

And, um, so it was, it was really cool, uh, to be there for that and, and for the rodeo and just, I mean, you know, there's, there's rodeos all across Kansas, but this one was pretty special

Gus Applequist: for our audio audience. Uh, I just wanna describe these briefly for you. So the first photo we saw was of a, uh, bull rider.

Um. There's some I really like, there's some cool things going on with the dust coming off of the feet of the bowl. And then the second photo is of a kid. I mean, how old do you think this kid is? Oh,

Sydney Collins: he is at least four or five. Four or five, yeah. Yeah.

Gus Applequist: Yeah. Little tiny kid wearing a bicycle helmet on top of a sheep.

Uh, yeah. And and the expression of the kid's face is very

Sydney Collins: calm and collected. Yeah. He's like, like, this is a great time, guys. Yeah. Um, and if, um, and if. You wanna learn more about, uh, kind of the rodeo realm? [00:24:00] We do have an episode with Brooke Terrapin. Um, she was episode five, um, and she talks about kind of what her tasks were and when she was Miss Kansas Rodeo and Miss, um, uh, USA rodeo.

And so, um, check that episode out. If you wanna learn more about the rodeo realm.

Tanner Colvin: I think rodeos are great in Kansas 'cause. It brings the rural and community folks together. Oh, I love it. Um, you know, so they're, they're always fun to go to. And

Sydney Collins: there, there is a rodeo in Pretty Prairie. Mm-hmm. Where Pretty Prairie, I think the population is like maybe 400 people.

Yep. If I would love to see a drone top-down view of Rodeo Night because literally every single street is a parking lot. Wow. Of just people from all over. Coming to just this rodeo in Pretty Prairie, pretty Prairie

Gus Applequist: has one of those town names that's up there in my top two. Oh yeah. Kansas Town names. I just love that name.

That's great. Alright, let's see our next picture.

Tanner Colvin: So this next one Oh yeah. Is um, from Medicine Lodge and the Peace Treaty. Um, and it, uh, [00:25:00] was an incredible experience. I'd heard about it and being able to go down there and, and photograph that for, for Curious Kansan, um, and just to be a part of that, um, was really cool.

Uh, that for audio listeners, um, it's a, uh,

a war dancer, um, and he. Um, he's doing his dance. And then, uh, it was during, I believe, and I'm gonna call me out if I'm wrong on this. It was during an intertribal dance and so the little girl was out there with him, um, and just this moment of her looking up to him.

She's, she's got her back to us and he's kind of facing us. So, um, the whole night was, was incredible. Um, the, the new, uh, peace treaty grounds that they have there, um, outside of Medicine Lodge are kind of sunk down in this valley, um, surrounded by Cedars. Um, they've got a large, um, replica of a tp. Um, they're in everything.

And then the, the sacred grounds where they're dancing and to learn a little bit more about their culture, um, and. And, uh, and how, um, they, they hold a powwow, um, was really [00:26:00] cool. Um, can still hear that drum beat mm-hmm. Um, and them singing. Um, so definitely encourage, um, in September for folks to go down and check that out.

Gus Applequist: One of the things I love about this photo, is. If you have a mental image of what a Native American dancer looks like, it's probably not this. Yeah. and like a lot of our preconceived notions of what Native American, regalia looks like it's, it, it's probably more the, European. Art. Yeah.

Interpretation of it. And so go check out this photo because in some ways, like the, the things that this, this man is wearing is like, reminds me almost more of like eastern European Yeah. Kind of style.

Tanner Colvin: Yeah. There was, um, only two, uh, I went on Friday and there was only two dancers there that night.

On Saturday, um, is the day, is the day to go. Um, and there was quite a few more there. Um, but, uh, very interesting, very intricate and, and, [00:27:00] um, you know, all of the, all of the native, uh, American, uh, dancers that were there. Wanted to share their culture and want, you know, it's, it's proper to ask permission first.

Um, so, but once you got that permission to take photos, um, you know, it was, it was tough to one gentleman, it was tough to, uh, not tough, but he wanted, he just kept sharing and kept sharing and kept sharing. After I finally kind of broke that barrier and asked that question, then it was, so, it was really cool to see.

So, yeah.

Sydney Collins: Um, and for those who wanna see this in the future, so. It's every other year that, um, it changes. And so this year, um, is the pageant. So, um, it's in September, um, in Medicine Lodge. Um, I'm sure you can find something on there. Um, Facebook page, it's

Tanner Colvin: Peace treaty do org. I want, I wanna say, I think, but yeah.

Sydney Collins: And rumor has it, Then this is only rumor has it, this is breaking news because this is, well, [00:28:00] you'd notice that a lot of stuff comes from my mom. So my mom is from Medicine Lodge, and uh, there's a famous Kansas singer, um, that oh, frequents, the pageant every year. because that's where she's from.

So she would like come on the show. Yeah. While she's in Kansas, where she's from. Uh, that would be awesome. So, uh, yeah.

Gus Applequist: Cool. Yeah. Let's go onto our next, uh, picture, please. Oh, wow.

Tanner Colvin: So this one is in Stafford County at, uh, Cora National Wildlife Refuge. Um, technically, probably not, uh, my best photo I've ever taken.

Um, it's, it's cropped, uh, pretty heavily and, and they're out in the, out in the marsh there. But it's a family group of, of whooping cranes out at Vera National Wildlife Refuge. Um, uh, I've been going up to Nebraska for 10 plus years, um, photographing the Sandhill Crane migration, um, and wanting to capture, capture a glimpse of, of whipping cranes.

So, um, I had heard they were out at Vera, uh, one of their very [00:29:00] important stops on the, on the central Flyway, um, from Canada down to Texas, the Gulf Coast of Texas, and I'd heard that there was some out there. So packed up one morning and um, this was shortly after Sunrise. Um, was able to see a family group.

So, um, it's three cranes standing out in the marsh. The middle one, um, would be a juvenile that was just born, um, earlier this summer, um, in the, probably the tar sands regions or up in, up in northern Canada. Um, kind of in the marshy areas up there. Um, and mom and dad are taking it back down to, um, to the Gulf Coast region where they, uh, they over winter, um, uh, down there and.

Just kind of teaching it these spots, these important spots that they stop. And cua, national Wildlife Refuge is a, is a vital stop for many birds. But, um, these birds were, um, hunted to near extinction. I think they got down into the, not the single digits, but pretty darn close.

Whooping Cranes: A Remarkable Comeback
---

Tanner Colvin: Um, and they're making an incredible [00:30:00] comeback.

Um, but places like Cora are, uh, just essential for them. So really cool to see 'em, but really cool to see 'em with a juvenile. So.

Gus Applequist: The juvenile is the same size. Yeah. As a parent. Can you imagine if when we had babies, if they were adult size in a few months,

Tanner Colvin: and that's, I mean, it was born in, you know, in, in the summertime.

So, um, you know, it's what, six months old or something like that? Oh my gosh. Has a beautiful,

Sydney Collins: seriously

Gus Applequist: brown, uh, head. I don't know how else to describe it. Yeah, the brown head and, and

Tanner Colvin: then the black wings and, um,

Sydney Collins: oh wait, the middle one is the juvenile. The middle one is the juvenile.

Tanner Colvin: Yep. Yep. So, and then they'll, they'll, um, I thought that was

Sydney Collins: the male.

Tanner Colvin: They'll leave, um, uh, the, the juvenile probably on the way back up, um, might go with mom and dad again, but it might also go by itself. I mean, they call those bobs. I don't know why, but if you see a single, uh, whooping crane by itself, they call 'em Bobs. Bobs, yeah. So is this kind

Flyaway Home and Bird Photography
---

Sydney Collins: of like a flyaway home like instance?

Like have you guys ever seen that? [00:31:00] Nevermind. So there's this movie that came out in the nineties, maybe early two thousands, called Flyaway Home. This little girl finds this big nest of geese and she raises them and her and her dad fi fly in, uh, gliders to help the geese go south for the winter. Okay.

Tanner Colvin: What he's talking about now. Yeah. The interesting thing on, on the Flyway, um, uh, Michael Forsberg is a leading photographer in. Shooting these, uh, photographing these, um, birds. Um, he's from Nebraska, but um, does a lot, comes down to Vera, does a lot of education around them. And, um, they flew a plane from, uh, Pohto Arenas, Texas, all the way up to the tar sands region at the same flight level that these birds do, and he just photographed.

Their territory from their side. So it's a book called End Whooper Land, if you're interested in any birders out there. Um, end Whooper Land, uh, by Michael Forsberg. And it's, um, it's an incredible book and, and his work, uh, he's not a Kansan so [00:32:00] we're shouting out in Nebraskan here, but, um, it's problem. Yeah.

We'll forgive you. Yeah, yeah. Yeah.

Exploring Kansas Wildlife
---

Tanner Colvin: So, uh, incredible, incredible journey for these birds. Um, and I think the day, if you go on our website, uh, there's photos of coyotes and deer and, um, you like

Sydney Collins: hit the gold mine that day. Yeah. It was of

Tanner Colvin: wildlife. A morning tour through there. Just self-guided, kind of drive yourself through there.

Um, right at daybreak, you're guaranteed to see the number of species, bit of everything,

Sydney Collins: so,

Gus Applequist: yep. Alright, our next one. Oh yeah.

Lindsborg's Biannual Ings Fest
---

Tanner Colvin: So, uh, ings Fest in, uh, Lindsburg is a biannual celebration. Yep, yep, yep. Okay. Make sure I get that one right. In Lindborg, is that right? Is it

Gus Applequist: every three years? I think it's every two years.

It's every two, two years. Okay.

Tanner Colvin: So the, the, um, the students, uh, spend a significant amount of their. School time, uh, learning, uh, traditional Swedish dances. Um, and no matter how, uh, this is credit to, um, the teachers that, that are right outside of these photos, um, [00:33:00] no matter how well they prepare these kids.

Something happens, something will always go wrong. I was surprised at the amount of shoes that came off when they were dancing. Um, they would just toss 'em off. It's some vigorous dance. Yes, it is. It's, um, but this little girl, um, her, her, um, flower crown dropped below her eyes and she didn't miss a beat.

She just kept going. She just kept going. Um, so it was just kind of a nice moment, um, at Hellings Fest.

Gus Applequist: It's such a commitment. 'cause all the kids wear traditional costume, uh, yeah. Clothing from Sweden

Traditional Swedish Costumes
---

Sydney Collins: and, and as someone who has had to make that costume, this is my first year of making it for my son. Um, vests I can do really well.

The shirts are very specific in what, in what they would like. I tried my best to do it, but like, you have to have like the puffy sleeve, um, with, um, a. It's a collared shirt, but sometimes you can have 'em tie, there's like different, if merlino's the next photo, it's a photo of [00:34:00]

Tanner Colvin: of, of more of 'em. So you can kind of, kind of get that.

Sydney Collins: The girl, thank goodness I got a boy because, um, I cannot imagine making this girls, the girls get up. 'cause it's the apron, it's the skirt, it's the undershirt, it's the mm-hmm it's the whatever you. Call the dress part that goes over the shirt and,

Tanner Colvin: and it's a wholes whole, it's a whole community thing too, because they have a community closet, um, where kids can donate their, you know.

Yeah. I didn't know about until after I made

Sydney Collins: my sons, but it's fine. So,

Tanner Colvin: but I mean, but it is, it's a whole community thing and the, and the whole community comes together and, um. I'll, I'll give, I'll give credit to, uh, to Bethany. Um, it was really cool during the parade to see, oh yeah. The Bethany students come out.

Um, the soccer team was passing the ball back into kids. Mm-hmm. And the tennis team was throwing tennis balls at people and just, it was chucking 'em. Yeah, chucking 'em. It was a really, it was a really cool, um, atmosphere, just in a small. Town. So this photo, it was just more of a technical kind of cool photo.

Um, you know, the kids, the two blurry parts on either [00:35:00] side of the still kids, they're dancing around them, uh, moving at a pretty good clip motion. Yeah. Yeah. So it's just kind of a motion blur. So I just wanted to, and two

Gus Applequist: kids, uh, a boy and a girl in focus in the middle of the frame with the girl looking, uh, yeah, just over the boy's shoulder, kind of add us with a smile on her face.

Tanner Colvin: So, and they're probably what, second, third grade? Fourth grade, yeah.

Sydney Collins: Yeah. This is probably second grade.

Tanner Colvin: Yep.

Gus Applequist: Let's go on to the last one here. Number seven. So this one, oh, I forgot about this. This, yeah.

Lakewood Park: A Kansas Gem
---

Tanner Colvin: This one was, uh, Lakewood Park. Um, one morning I was driving in, just, just here in sa Yeah, here in Salina.

Sorry. Yep. So Lake Woody Park here in Salina. Um, just, um, not too far away from our studios here. And, uh, uh, I had just. Got the drone certificate. So, uh, grabbed the drone and it was foggy and the fog on the water kind of reminds me of the smoke on the water song. Um, flew over and this was just a few months ago.

Um, so not much of a story here. Lakewood doesn't have any significance really to Solina or to, to, uh, [00:36:00] to Kansas, but just a, just a Kansas shot. So

Sydney Collins: they're really cool.

Tanner Colvin: Yeah.

Sydney Collins: Well, and I'm sure there's like. There's lots of Lakewoods in Kansas. Yep. There's lots of these parks that have these little ponds that kids can fish in.

And I think that the thing that a lot of people don't realize about Lakewood is they have the Discovery Center. Mm-hmm. Um, is it, is it funded by the city? Yeah. Yeah.

Gus Applequist: It's the City Department. City Parks and Rec's. Yeah.

Sydney Collins: City Parks and Rec where you can go in and you can learn about Kansas and nature and you can.

Go on these little tours and they have classes and they'll take the kids canoeing and they'll teach 'em about, you know, all the reptiles and amphibians and all these different things about Kansas. It's very Kansas focused.

Gus Applequist: Kansas is rich in parks. Yeah. Yeah. A lot of green spaces. I don't think we always recognize just how, what a blessing all of that is.

Have cities and towns that that have wonderful parks. Yeah. So, yeah.

Tanner Colvin: Yeah. So that's all I have. Yeah. I'll just kind of.

Gus Applequist: Well, thanks for, uh, for everything you've done this year and we look forward to what's [00:37:00] to come in 2026.

Tanner Colvin: Excited for 2026 and excited for winter to be over and be able to get back out next.

Then Tanner

Sydney Collins: will never be in the office. Get back out and

Tanner Colvin: explore some of the wild spaces. Um, a lot of, a lot of cool places in Kansas. So

Gus Applequist: well stay tuned. We will be, uh, showing our guest book for the year here in a bit. Yep. Um, but, uh, yeah. Thanks Danner. Appreciate it. Yep, thank you.

Sydney Collins: Uh, well obviously thank you Tanner, for coming on. we have some really exciting things for 2026. Plan and Tanner is a big part of that. [00:38:00] Um, for those who don't know, Tanner does a lot of our, um, producing and finding guests and talking with people. Um, if you don't know Tanner, I'm surprised you don't know Tanner.

That's to be quite honest.

Gus Applequist: Yeah. We're gonna brag on Tanner here for a second and that his connections across the state that he brought with him to this job, um, are invaluable. Is wild.

Sydney Collins: Yeah. Like people that I would've never thought to come on. he just texts 'em like, Hey. I'm like, okay,

Gus Applequist: he's not shy either.

So yeah,

Sydney Collins: it helps out. So with that, like, um, as we look forward to 2026, we kind of came up when strategizing and talking about this and like. Yes, we've hit so many different areas of this, of this state, but what are kind of the core pieces? Because if we think about it, we have 52 episodes to talk about Kansas and that each year.

Mm-hmm. Each year. And that seems like a lot, but it's really not. When you consider how [00:39:00] much of this state is amazing and how many people are here. And the stories and the events. And so when, when figuring this out for 2026, we're like, okay, well what are some things that we wanna do? And, and part of that was, okay, well we want to make sure regionally that we're hitting everywhere.

Like we at least have, you know, six, eight stories. However, it needs to be to hit all the regions. So we're representing Kansas. Well, okay, well, demographics, like there are so many different cultures in Kansas. How can we represent that well? So. When, when you start listening and start starting to see, 20, 26 episodes come out, keep in mind like those are the things that we're really hitting.

Um, as much as I would love to just interview all of Salina or all of Wichita or or every farmer or ag person or tourism, like we love those people. We do want to talk to those people, but it doesn't mean that we can get to all those people in one year. [00:40:00]

Gus Applequist: I think we're hoping to, to not just have like the most well-known Kansans on Yeah.

Like, we want some of those folks, but we also want some of those surprising stories. Um, people that, that need to be known and aren't, um, stories of hope, stories of, um, yeah. Kansans lifting each other up. Mm-hmm. Like there's, there's a lot of different things that I think the name Ask Aans and implies. And so we're doing our best to try to straddle all of that and mm-hmm.

yeah. Stay true to, to you all here in the state.

Sydney Collins: And if anyone knows Spencer from Espy Mowing, I wanna interview him so bad, especially now that he started his nonprofit. But this is a shameless plug I really wanna get him on. Anyway. Who's your go to? Who's your number one?

Gus Applequist: Yeah, I'd, I'd say Jason Sudeikis.

Yeah. I mean, I, I know that that's a stretch for, for anybody in the state, but, um, but yeah, I'd, I'd love to talk to Jason about, um, about, uh, Ted Lasso and about all of the little bits of Kansas he [00:41:00] snuck in there. I know he feels similarly about the state that we do so

Sydney Collins: well, to bring a little bit more humor into this, um, to kind of, uh, tell you about the guest book.

Reflecting on 2025 Guests
---

Sydney Collins: So. We, when planning this last episode, we're like, well, what's a really fun way to. Kind of pay homage to some of the guests that we've had on. Mm-hmm. And so we came up with a guest book. So

Gus Applequist: it's, and Sydnee has done a beautiful design. So if you're listening to this podcast, it may be worth checking out, uh, on

Sydney Collins: YouTube, or [00:42:00] we'll put, um, I think we're gonna post, uh, the slides on, uh, social media too, so you'll be able to find 'em.

So, so guestbook 2025. We've got 10 folks that we would like to highlight. So number one. Would be, um, our best dressed, which is obviously Gragg. Victors, the Wichita Ward dancer. He has episode 26.

Gus Applequist: He arrived two and a two hours, two hours early in order to put on his regalia. Mm-hmm. Um, mad respect.

Sydney Collins: Yeah.

Had to bring his own chair 'cause obviously. These chairs was, were a little compact and so, and

Gus Applequist: the feathers stick out in all different directions and Beautiful. Yeah.

Sydney Collins: Beautiful. So he is best dressed. Um, if you haven't checked out the, um, there's a documentary that he's in or featured in coming out. Um, I'll have to look it up.

Um,

Gus Applequist: that's episode 26. Yeah. We called it Steps of Tradition.

Sydney Collins: Yep.

Gus Applequist: Next up,

Sydney Collins: next up

Gus Applequist: we have, uh.

Sydney Collins: The most shout outs.

Gus Applequist: Oh yeah.

Sydney Collins: So [00:43:00] sometimes we'll have guests on and they'll give a shout out to their team or to their spouse or to their kids. And Abel Frederick gave 18 of those, and that's just from what I could find, um, through saying, Hey, chat.

I need you to go through this transcript.

Gus Applequist: Yeah.

Sydney Collins: Because he did a lot. He knows a lot of people. He is, he, that's what I obviously makes him a great leader is 'cause he knows he can't do it himself. And, and

Gus Applequist: afterwards he was telling us he was afraid of who he missed.

Sydney Collins: Yeah. He's like, wow. He's like, oh man, I hope I didn't miss anybody.

And so like. Um, but he is episode 24, um, giving Kansas, uh, for those who dunno, April, he, uh, uh, Abel, um, he does, um, he is, uh, part of the United Way of the Plains, um mm-hmm. Team. So

Gus Applequist: yeah, that was a joy.

Sydney Collins: Yeah. Um, and then obviously we have to give a best co-host, which is, um, may, so this is Ross [00:44:00] Janssen's episode.

May is Ross Janssen's, doggo. So he brought on, and I may have been really distracted during that whole episode because I just wanted Ma to love me.

Gus Applequist: Oh, it was great. We, that was the first time we'd had a pet in the studio. Yes. First time. And she did great. She's

Sydney Collins: obviously made for tv, doggo. Um, and then we learned a lot about the weather that day from Ross.

Yeah. That's episode

Gus Applequist: 28, forecasting Kansas. Yep.

Sydney Collins: Okay. And then. The gal that got us started so Trailblazer, uh, of the year or of the podcast is Leslie Bishop. Leslie was number one. Um, episode number one. We did not know kind of what we were doing. We were. Just needed to test something out. And Leslie is just a all around amazing person and loves Kansas.

And, um, the, the funny part is the first couple episodes, um, if you go back and watch 'em, if you haven't, please do. 'cause you'll see how much we've grown [00:45:00] since then. And, and that's kind of the best part. Mm-hmm. Um. And this is kind of a fun little behind the scenes tidbit. So when we developed a studio, we were like, okay, well we'll have one person, host, and then one person be off camera as kind of like a, um, what do we call that?

Like an off camera producer or a, I know, a something. But, so there's a whole side in our set, um, that you guys don't usually see where we put the paneling up, it has its own light, and there was gonna be a desk there. And so we started with doing that. And then we were watching the episodes. Don't your mom, so my mom pointed this out too.

She goes, why does Gus just randomly pop up? It's 'cause it would be like. in this first episode, it's, uh, me having a conversation with Leslie and then Gus would just appear on camera and that we've come a long way. That is not like in the studio. It makes sense. 'cause we can see Gus, he's right here.

Mm-hmm. [00:46:00] But when we're thinking like, oh. How does that translate to being on screen? It was a

Gus Applequist: good change. It was a good

Sydney Collins: change. So that's why we added more chairs. We had to order more chairs. Actually,

Gus Applequist: I also wanted just say about Leslie. Leslie is the executive director. I, I believe that's the right title of, um, slimy Downtown.

Mm-hmm. And she's, she's a big proponent of, of main streets, uh, across the state and across the nation, and has been to a lot of conferences and stuff. And, uh, Leslie is one of those cheerleaders that really makes things happen. And you, you get that, uh, through that episode? Yep. So, yeah, that's good time. So that

Sydney Collins: is episode numero uno.

So number one, the Kansas dynamic, the Kansas dynamic. And then another big, this is a good segue for, um, a kind of our biggest supporter, I would say, of asking Kansan, um, is Trisha Smith. So that's why she gets the big biggest supporter, um, title. Tricia is the director of, uh, Maxwell or Friends of Maxwell Wildlife Refuge.

Mm-hmm. Um, it's a [00:47:00] nonprofit that helps run, um, the Maxwell Wildlife Refuge in, in McPherson County. And, Tricia came on again, another someone Tanner knew. And which is funny because after having a conversation with her after, um, the episode we were, um. Showing her to the door is not a great term, but we were, um, letting her out and she and I go, she's talking about her husband.

And I was like, well, who's your husband? And she goes, oh, Lonnie. And I'm like, oh my gosh. I've known Lonnie since I was like in diapers. Like it's just small again, small Kansas of sws. And so, um, but. If there's one thing on our social media feed, it's always Tricia liking every post. Yeah. And every, and sharing things and coming up and giving us hugs.

And she is probably the, the biggest supporter out of. Yeah, a lot of people, Tricia's

Gus Applequist: episode, she, um, she was, she went really deep with us Yeah. And trusted us and um, and we just really appreciate that her personal story [00:48:00] is a main part of that episode and mm-hmm. And so if you haven't seen that one, check it out.

Episode 2021. And that's, uh, resilient Kansan.

Sydney Collins: Mm-hmm. Um, and we've talked about Rex. Rex came, Rex is obviously retired, so he gets the most relaxed fit. Um, out of any of our guests just coming in with his Hawaiian shirt, his little khaki shorts and, and his sandals just,

Gus Applequist: and no judgment, ready to chill and no judgment.

We're not, we're not here to judge. Um,

Sydney Collins: but it kind of, it honestly set the vibe of what the conversation was and like he is in so, he's so knowledgeable.

Gus Applequist: Yeah.

Sydney Collins: He has seen in everything. Just like

Gus Applequist: everyone who wears Hawaiian shirts. Exactly. They're all so knowledgeable.

Sydney Collins: You just, IM, you just immediately like trust anything he's saying.

You and I have

Gus Applequist: different approaches. I know. I love

Sydney Collins: it. I love a good Hawaiian shirt was maybe we should just have a Hawaiian shirt day.

Gus Applequist: I would love to have like a a a Kansas shirt That's [00:49:00] Hawaiian. Hawaiian themed. Yeah. Buffalos and I don't know what to get your, for your birthday. Yep. So that's episode 29 Grounded Kansan.

Yep. And that was a good.

Sydney Collins: a lot of times when we're talking with people, they'll be like, oh, you shove this person on. Oh, you shove this person on. No,

Gus Applequist: you should have on, yeah.

Sydney Collins: Yeah. And so the most recommended potential guest is Marcy Penner. And Marcy was recommended to us multiple times. And then after, after she was, after, after the, um, episode was released, people still recommended her.

Yeah. Being on, we're like, actually we have it's episode. This, so, I mean,

Gus Applequist: clearly we're gonna have to have her on again just because of all this.

Sydney Collins: And so, um, Marcy, it helps start the Kansas Sampler Foundation. If you don't know what the Kansas, uh, Kansas Sampler Foundation is. They're basically champions for rural Kansas and they put a ton of information together.

They have a, a. Huge [00:50:00] community That's amazing. And a network. Um, but that is episode 18.

Gus Applequist: when we started the podcast, I was frankly not aware of the, the network of people mm-hmm. That already care so deeply about the state and are working hard every day to make it happen. And I, I kind of knew of Marcy, but it wasn't until we got her in the studio that I really started waking up to the fact like, oh, we're not the first ones to think of any of this.

Like we're just the latest kids on the block and we have a lot to learn from these folks that have de dedicated their lives and their careers to, uh, furthering Kansas. Very much so. Yeah. Sampling Kansas.

Sydney Collins: And then we mentioned him before. So the hidden gem, so is Dr. Andrew Orr, and we've mentioned him already, but his episode is episode 11.

Um, the Compassionate Kansan

Gus Applequist: His answer to my question, if one moment in history stands out to you mm-hmm. Like your favorite moment, one of my favorite answers of any question, uh, throughout the whole year. So you have to go listen to it to, to hear that. Yep.

Sydney Collins: Oh yes. So [00:51:00] here's what's funny. You say you see or hear us giggling, it's 'cause this was actually done like a week and a half ago and we haven't seen it. So we've forgotten of, forgot a little bit. Mm-hmm. So the most relatable,

Gus Applequist: we're gonna recognize two. You're

Sydney Collins: gonna recognize two only because they are.

Related, which is why they're most relatable. So we had, the opportunity to have both Carl Bowden and James Bowden on for very different things. Yeah. Um, Carl and James are brother. So Carl was one again, kind of the first 10 episodes, episode six, leading Kansas. Carl is very leadership driven. Um, he wants to help people and teach people.

And connect people, um, through leadership.

Gus Applequist: He's down in Wichita.

Sydney Collins: Mm-hmm. Yep. And then James, his brother, episode 17. James is that person you can't fit in a box. And so that's why his episode is called, called Unbox. Kansan. 'cause you, you just, you can't put him [00:52:00] in a segment. He is a community champion. He is an ag champion.

He is volunteer the arts, food, like. He's just one of those people that has a little, has his hand in everything.

Gus Applequist: Oh, yeah.

Sydney Collins: Mm-hmm.

Gus Applequist: So, most relatable and I, most relatable. I think this does fit in both levels. Both the, yeah. They're clearly relatives, but also, um, yeah, they're, they're just really down to earth guys.

Sydney Collins: Yes, very much so. this is our last one, but, uh, cash don't kill us, but most likely to be mayor. Oh yeah. Is Cash Hollister. And so Cash is a community champion so much, especially for Salina. And so if you don't know cash, you should know cash. He has so much to do with culture. Mm-hmm. And leadership and taking care

Gus Applequist: of youth.

Sydney Collins: Yes. And leading by example. Mm-hmm. And if that is not a great mayor, I dunno who [00:53:00]

Gus Applequist: it's i'd, I'd vote for him. I'd vote for him. Yeah. I don't

Sydney Collins: even live here.

Gus Applequist: Voter fraud.

Sydney Collins: Voter fraud. But his

Gus Applequist: cash, cash is really, um, uh, a, a very valuable member of our community, very much so in Salina. And it was just a joy to have him on.

Yeah.

Sydney Collins: Um, so his episode is number 22, beats Kansas.

Gus Applequist: Yeah. He's, he's really big into the hip hop scene. Yes. And so to learn more, gotta check out that,

Sydney Collins: yeah.

Gus Applequist: That episode. Yeah.

Looking Forward to 2026
---

Gus Applequist: So that kind of brings us to the end of the, uh, of the episode. Episode. Yeah. Thanks for tuning in. Thanks for joining us in this first year.

This first season of Ask A Kansan. Uh, we have, we have big plans for 2026 and season two. Um, and, and, you know, those plans start with you. Uh, we, we really thank you as, as an audience, as a, as a person listening in or watching, um, for, yeah, for tuning in, for giving us a moment of your attention to, to share what, what we're discovering about Kansas.

Sydney Collins: [00:54:00] And as we always say, please like, share, um, subscribe, uh, share with a friend. Um, that's how people will find us.

Gus Applequist: And if you've made it to this point in the podcast, you are in the 1%, the golden. You're a golden listener. We'll send you, I can't, that's probably trademarked by Radio Kansas, so I can't say that.

Golden listener. Oh, is that a thing? Yeah, that's their whole thing, which bravo to them.

Sydney Collins: But you're a silver, platinum, platinum's. Better than gold. You're a platinum listener.

Gus Applequist: Yeah. So this is just for you. Oh. Thanks for tuning in. Just rambling. Okay.