Cover of Kansas City Bucket List Podcast

Kansas City Bucket List Podcast

Kansas City Bucket List Podcast

By: Mindy Hargesheimer
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🎙️ Telling the stories of the local people and businesses that make Kansas City amazing, one conversation at a time! 🎧 New episodes streaming on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts!2026 Social Sciences Travel Writing & Commentary
Episodes
  • Meet Teal Man: KC Current's Ultimate Fan

    Meet Teal Man: KC Current's Ultimate Fan
    13 Oct 2026
    He's teal from head to toe, his beard is pure glitter, and he's at nearly every KC Current home match. Richard Harper, aka Teal Man, shares how a former band teacher from Fort Scott became one of Kansas City's most recognizable sports fans. Mindy met Richard at the Kansas City Diamonds media day and knew she had to get him on the show. He showed up fully teal'd out. In this episode, Teal Man shares where the whole look started: face paint in his college marching band, then holiday-parade glitter beards to win over his middle school students. It took off about five years ago, when a PA announcement at a Monarchs game led him to the KC Current. He walks through his full get-ready routine, from the primer and layers of paint to his homemade glitter blend and the plastic-wrap trick that saves his sink. He also explains why the kilt is a nod to his mom's family heritage and to Kansas City's Irish Fest. Richard also talks about growing up hard of hearing and reading lips by age three, and why he wouldn't change it. He shares how his mom, his biggest role model, raised him to champion equality and women's sports. He explains what TEAL stands for (Trust, Entertainment, Accepting, Love) and why being whimsical in a serious world matters. He tells the stories behind filming an Amazon Prime "No Matter How You Fan" commercial in Montreal, working as a background extra on Ted Lasso, and partnering with United Way. He describes the community feel at CPKC Stadium and his big dream of making Teal Man a full-time gig. He closes with his Kansas City bucket list and his idea of a perfect KC day around the Plaza. Key topics: How Teal Man was born, from marching band face paint to KC Current superfan The full glitter beard and body paint process, and how it comes off Growing up hard of hearing and finding his passion for music Raised by a trailblazing mom and a lifelong love of women's sports United Way partnership, Waymaker Awards, and United Way 211 Amazon Prime commercial in Montreal and a Ted Lasso cameo Why the KC Current game-day experience at CPKC Stadium feels like home The Berkley Riverfront, River Market, and loving life on the Country Club Plaza His KC bucket list: 1587 Prime, Broadway-style shows, Helzberg Hall movie concerts, and more His perfect KC day: Kauffman Memorial Garden, Milwaukee Delicatessen, The Dub, and a Current match Links & Mentions: Richard Harper / Teal Man thattealguy@gmail.com Kansas City Current Love this episode? Follow the Kansas City Bucket List Podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts so you never miss a local adventure. Leave us a 5-star rating and review, and share this episode with the KC Current fan in your life. And if you spot Teal Man at a match, say hi! CHAPTERS: 0:00 – Intro: Teal Man joins the show 1:56 – How it all started with the KC Current 3:21 – Mom, Fort Scott roots, and a love of women's sports 7:13 – The origin story: marching band face paint and the first glitter beards 11:59 – Moving to KC, his wife's theater career, and teaching adaptive music 16:49 – Leaving education for transportation to make room for Teal Man 19:02 – How long it takes to get ready: the full paint and glitter routine 26:57 – Building the look: the kilt, shoes, scarves, and retired gear 32:43 – Fan gifts, paintings, and the "King Richard" portrait 34:13 – The first match in full teal and what kids say 37:05 – Mascot or superfan? Becoming an ambassador for women's sports 39:43 – Getting recognized out of costume, and the story behind "Uncle Dick" 44:28 – Teal Man's relationship with the KC Current 46:40 – United Way partnership, Waymaker Awards, and United Way 211 51:12 – Big dreams: making Teal Man a full-time gig 52:41 – Filming an Amazon Prime commercial in Montreal 55:41 – Game-day energy and the supporters section 56:42 – The Longs, KC Current 2, and Brittany Mahomes 1:01:02 – Background extra on Ted Lasso 1:02:15 – Who is Richard Harper without the paint? 1:04:26 – Life lessons from Dad and why the beard means patience 1:06:47 – What makes a KC Current match at CPKC Stadium special 1:09:34 – How the Current has impacted Kansas City 1:11:08 – Choosing to do good: blood donation and paying it forward 1:14:14 – Growing up hard of hearing 1:19:40 – The music that moves him most 1:22:08 – Taking it all off, plus the finishing touches 1:25:37 – Glitter in weird places and life near the Berkley Riverfront 1:28:33 – The riverfront development, River Market, and the streetcar 1:30:29 – Social Symphony KC, D&D, and what TEAL stands for 1:34:41 – Richard's Kansas City bucket list 1:38:44 – A perfect day in KC as Richard Thank you to our podcast host, sponsor and media partner, Real Media! Visit RealMediaKC.com to learn more about their full service audio and video services!
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    1 hr and 49 min
  • Kansas City Orthodontist Dr. Jay Joshi on Smiles, Braces, Mouth Tape & Airway Health

    Kansas City Orthodontist Dr. Jay Joshi on Smiles, Braces, Mouth Tape & Airway Health
    5 Oct 2026
    Why should every 7-year-old get an orthodontic screening, and is mouth tape actually a good idea? Dr. Jay Joshi of Stay Smiling Orthodontics in Overland Park and Lenexa makes orthodontics fun and clears up the myths. Mindy sits down with the orthodontist her own daughter goes to, and they get into all the things you'd never think to ask. Dr. Joshi grew up in St. Louis, went through braces, headgear, and an expander himself, studied psychology, picked UMKC over the Ivy League, and then (with a big push from his wife) chose Kansas City over St. Louis. Now he's on a mission to make the orthodontist's office warm, welcoming, and anything but stuffy. From the airway warning signs parents miss to the truth about veneers, looksmaxxing, and mewing, this episode is packed with info for parents with little ones and for adults thinking about braces again (his oldest patient is 81!). Plus, you'll hear what's on Dr. Joshi's personal Kansas City bucket list, from local beer to a James Beard-nominated Overland Park chef. In this episode: The difference between a dentist and an orthodontist (and why you don't need a referral)Why every kid should be screened around age 7, and why screening doesn't mean treatmentPhase 1 vs. Phase 2: why some kids get braces twiceMetal, ceramic, gold braces, and clear aligners, plus how TikTok brought metal braces backThumb sucking, mouth breathing, snoring, grinding, bedwetting, and the link between airway and ADHDIs mouth tape OK for kids? Dr. Joshi's takePalate expanders: when they help and when to see an ENT firstGLP-1s like Ozempic, medications, and your gums and salivaMouthwash, fluoride vs. hydroxyapatite, and whether to floss or brush firstMyofunctional therapy explainedAdult orthodontics, veneers vs. "natural veneers," and what makes a great smileSocial media myths: lower jaw expansion, looksmaxxing, mewing, and MARPEsDr. Joshi's Kansas City bucket list Whether you're a Kansas City parent, an adult who skipped your retainer for a couple decades, or just love learning from local experts, this one's for you. LINKS & MENTIONS Dr. Jay Joshi / Stay Smiling Orthodontics Stay Smiling Orthodontics on Instagram Kansas City Bucket List on Instagram Kansas City Bucket List Love the show? Follow Kansas City Bucket List on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode, leave us a 5-star rating and review, and share this episode with a KC parent who needs it. It helps more Kansas City voices reach more listeners! CHAPTERS 0:00 – Intro and what's ahead 1:58 – Meet Dr. Jay Joshi: St. Louis roots and growing up around medicine 6:31 – His own braces, headgear, and expander story 9:08 – From psychology major to dental school 12:24 – Choosing UMKC over the Ivy League 15:04 – Why orthodontics, and building a warmer office experience 18:18 – Las Vegas residency, an MBA, and choosing KC over St. Louis 20:28 – KC art tangent: Riff Raff painting live at his wedding 22:10 – Dentist vs. orthodontist: what's the difference? 25:24 – The physics of moving teeth 26:59 – Why every kid should be screened at age 7 29:25 – Smiles, confidence, and making kids feel at ease 33:33 – Types of braces: metal, ceramic, gold, and aligners 36:04 – How long braces take 36:39 – Phase 1 vs. Phase 2: why some kids get braces twice 39:53 – Free screenings and consultations 40:37 – Adult orthodontics (his oldest patient is 81!) 42:24 – Veneers vs. "natural veneers" 44:43 – Two offices: Overland Park and Lenexa 49:41 – Thumb sucking, mouth breathing, and airway 52:38 – Warning signs: ADHD, bedwetting, grinding 55:42 – Long-term effects: TMJ and grinding in adults 57:15 – Mouth tape: yes or no? 59:41 – Airway, ENTs, and why not everyone needs an expander 1:04:44 – GLP-1s, Ozempic, medications, and your gums 1:08:56 – Mouthwash, fluoride, and floss-or-brush first 1:11:43 – Myofunctional therapy explained 1:14:23 – Expander history and new 3D tech 1:16:04 – Is a consultation worth it? 1:17:41 – Myth busting: lower expansion, looksmaxxing, mewing, and MARPEs 1:21:34 – What makes a great smile 1:22:27 – Adult habits and teeth grinding 1:23:39 – Rapid fire: teeth-falling-out dreams 1:24:14 – Dr. Joshi's Kansas City bucket list 1:25:18 – His ideal day off 1:26:32 – Where to find Stay Smiling, plus a brave patient story 1:29:16 – Outro Thank you to our podcast host, sponsor and media partner, Real Media! Visit RealMediaKC.com to learn more about their full service audio and video services!
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    1 hr and 30 min
  • Kansas City's Wild History: Pendergast, BBQ & the Man Who Made KC

    Kansas City's Wild History: Pendergast, BBQ & the Man Who Made KC
    25 Sep 2026
    Gangsters, speakeasies, the birth of Kansas City barbecue, and the forgotten genius who put KC on the map. Historian Bill Nicks of HistoryKC takes us on a tour of Kansas City history you didn't learn in school. Bill Nicks is a self-proclaimed historian, first-person reenactor, and Kansas City tour guide with five characters in his closet: Octave Chanute, Wilbur Wright, Dr. James Naismith, President (and General) Eisenhower, and political boss Tom Pendergast. He says that means he never eats alone. Bill leads six-hour bus tours of Kansas City in character, from the wagon swales at Minor Park to Kaw Point, where Lewis and Clark camped, with lunch at the City Market along the way. In this episode we dig into the man Bill says "made Kansas City": Octave Chanute. He designed the Hannibal Bridge, the first railroad bridge over the Missouri River, laid out the original town of Lenexa, designed the stockyards, and mentored the Wright brothers. Then we get into the wide-open days of the Pendergast machine: vote fraud, Johnny Lazia, the Union Station Massacre, and a very convenient street-widening right before Prohibition. Bill also traces KC barbecue from Henry Perry's pushcart in the Garment District to Gates and Arthur Bryant's, and explains how a New Yorker writer and the old Kansas City A's helped make us the Barbecue Capital of the World. Along the way we bust a Union Station myth, tell the story behind Charlie Parker's "Yardbird" nickname, find out how the Country Club Plaza fountains got their start, and hear why Bill's favorite Kansas City spots are Kaw Point and the 8th Street Tunnel. And yes, there are bloopers, including the night a whole room of Riley County firefighters walked out on General Ike. Whether you're a lifelong Kansas Citian, a KU (University of Kansas) fan, a true crime buff, or planning your first trip to KC, this one belongs on your Kansas City bucket list. Key topics: - Octave Chanute, the Hannibal Bridge, and how Kansas City beat Leavenworth and St. Joe - Chanute's role in the Wright brothers' first flight - Bill's five historical characters and how he got started - His Kansas City and Lawrence (Dr. Naismith) bus tours - Tom Pendergast, Johnny Lazia, and KC's "wide open town" era - Prohibition, speakeasies, and the Union Station Massacre - The Kansas City Stockyards - The history of Kansas City barbecue: Henry Perry, Gates, Arthur Bryant's, Q39 - The World Cup, Fan Fest, and the Lenexa Barbecue Contest - Myth-busting the Union Station bullet holes - The Garment District and the Nelly Don kidnapping - 18th and Vine and Charlie Parker - The Country Club Plaza, J.C. Nichols, and the fountains - Walt Disney and Ernest Hemingway in Kansas City - Kaw Point and the 8th Street Tunnel - Why everyone should have a "20-minute Rotary talk" about their hobby Guest: Bill Nicks, HistoryKC Email: historykc@gmail.com Website: www.historykc.com LISTEN ON: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/18f1RGwssjqJLKK6Qk3SxW?si=qfjwisvkQNSEst3Nd36CHw Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kansas-city-bucket-list-podcast/id1867855646 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kansascitybucketlist Love this episode? Follow the Kansas City Bucket List Podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts so you never miss a new KC adventure. Leave a rating and review, and share this episode with the history buff, barbecue lover, or KU fan in your life. It helps more Kansas City stories reach more listeners. CHAPTERS 0:00 – Welcome Bill Nicks, historian and first-person reenactor 0:40 – Octave Chanute and the Hannibal Bridge 1:46 – Chanute, gliders, and the Wright brothers 4:32 – Chanute, Kansas, and laying out Lenexa 6:19 – How Bill became a first-person historian 7:44 – Bill's five characters: Wright, Naismith, Ike, and Pendergast 10:14 – Inside Bill's six-hour Kansas City history tour 12:39 – The Border War and Quantrill's raid on Lawrence 13:45 – Edutainment: "every town has interesting history" 15:21 – The world's largest sunflower collection 17:09 – From Lenexa Parks & Rec to 50 events a year 20:01 – The Dr. Naismith tour of Lawrence and Allen Fieldhouse 23:23 – Bloopers: firefighters walk out on General Ike 26:01 – Tom Pendergast, Johnny Lazia, and the Union Station Massacre 30:53 – KC's reputation as a "wide open town" 33:25 – Prohibition, speakeasies, and the Jefferson Hotel 36:07 – The Kansas City Stockyards 37:13 – Why isn't anything in KC named after Chanute? 41:23 – The history of Kansas City barbecue 45:49 – The World Cup, Fan Fest, and the Lenexa Barbecue Contest 49:05 – Q39 and competition barbecue 51:41 – Myth-busting the Union Station bullet holes 53:57 – The Garment District and the Nelly Don kidnapping 55:42 – Haunted and gangster tours 57:19 – 18th and Vine and Charlie Parker's "Yardbird" nickname 59:56 – The Country Club Plaza, J.C. Nichols, and the fountains 1:02:08 – A favorite tour memory 1:04:05 – Why first person? Plus Pendergast and Felix ...
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    1 hr and 21 min
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