Épisodes

  • Episode 65 : Kolsch & Quiet

    Episode 65 : Kolsch & Quiet
    Oct 22 2026

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    So THIS Happened, the Wichita podcast hosted by Jen Cole and Rachel Chappelle, packed up the mics and hit the road for Episode 65. Destination: Walnut River Brewing Company in El Dorado, Kansas, for an on-location conversation with part owner BJ Hunt.


    Pull up a stool. This one has a brothel upstairs, Hoveround races in a pink sombrero, 78 tiny beers, a bar fight on opening night, and the reason the water in El Dorado makes such good beer. Oh, and a T-shirt idea we're not letting go of.


    🍻 This or That: Brewery Edition — flights vs. full pints (and the night of 78 tiny taster glasses), seasonal vs. year-round, and why trivia beats live music at Walnut River (a music-licensing PSA every local business needs to hear). Plus a bonus round of everyone's top three concerts.


    🏠 From Living Room to Brewery — Walnut River opened in July 2013 in what was Rick's living room. BJ's first reaction to Rick's beer: "This doesn't suck." Early days meant 700 square feet behind a flea market, a $50 Craigslist bar top, and after-hours Hoveround races in a pink sombrero.


    🚪 If These Walls Could Talk — From 1923 until just after the war, the upstairs was Goldie's place, one of three brothels in El Dorado. Police let it stay open while they shut down illegal beer joints. Full circle. 🍺


    💧 Why El Dorado? The water. Rick studied 35 water quality reports, and the Flint Hills limestone makes it perfect for brewing. The Walnut River fills El Dorado Lake, which is where the name comes from.


    🏆 The Big Wins — Warbeard's first tap night at Lizard's Lounge (bar fight included), September 13 as Warbeard Day in El Dorado, the second-largest brewery in Kansas, and Warbeard ranked in the top 25 in the world.


    🔮 What's Next — a new building with event space, brewing for other breweries, and new beers next year including a cherry sour and Unicorn Poofs, a cotton candy sour 🦄


    📅 Catch Walnut River This Fall

    - Fri., Oct. 23: Brew Ha-Ha at Vaerus Aviation (Forbes Field), Topeka, benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Shawnee County

    - Sat., Nov. 7: Cody's Lagerfest at Central Standard Brewing's Funkatorium, Wichita, supporting mental health


    📍 Walnut River Brewing Company — 111 W. Locust, El Dorado, Kansas. Open Tuesday through Sunday. walnutriverbrewing.com

    Full transparency: Walnut River is the first official client of Backspace Media, Jen's marketing company.


    🥂 Thank you to our Sip Squad Sponsors: Vu Events (It had to be Vu!), Colour Thairapy and Backspace Media.

    🛍️ Merch: https://www.bonfire.com/store/so-this-happened-store/


    So THIS Happened is Wichita's podcast for real talk, local culture, and the occasional Taylor Swift spiral. Hosted by Jen Cole and Rachel Chappelle. New episodes drop weekly — find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.



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    1 h et 17 min
  • Episode 64 : A Haunting Figure

    Episode 64 : A Haunting Figure
    Oct 15 2026
    Send us Fan MailA Haunting FigureSo THIS Happened, the Wichita podcast hosted by Jen Cole and Rachel Chappelle, is back at studio number one (Jen’s dining room table) for the first just-us episode in a while. With red wine in hand, the two catch up on a haunting night at Ballet Wichita’s Spirit Bride, a grand opening weekend at Urban Nails in Andover, a brand-new chapter of events for Jen, and Rachel’s house getting ready for her niece’s arrival.Plus: a Trend Decoder that finally stumps Rachel, and a Hits Different deep dive into Taylor Swift’s “willow” that turns out to be a little more red flag than witchy.🍷 BACK AT STUDIO NUMBER ONEAfter a month of Sip Squad Sessions and guest episodes around town, Jen and Rachel are back where it all started. Tonight’s red wine comes from a wine pull at the Holiday Galleria preview night with friend Hannah Crickman. And yes, they showed up wearing the same merch shirt. Totally unplanned.🔍 TREND DECODERJen picked two trends with intentionally tricky titles, and it worked.Trend #1: “Out & In My Control”Rachel’s guesses ranged from life-coach wisdom to the driver in front of her who brakes whenever they feel like it. The reveal: a flat lay with a cup of coffee labeled “in my control,” surrounded by everything that isn’t (agendas, dentist appointments, the kids’ schedules). Out of their control right now: schedules, gas prices, and Jen’s car. In their control: morning coffee. Rachel’s bedside coffee station remains the most lit thing Jen has ever seen. Coffee is the alarm clock.Trend #2: “Rock, Paper, Scissors”Rachel went through the Powerpuff Girls, boardroom mind games, and a rock, paper, scissors food relay she’s seen online (not a fan). The real trend: a service-business format where one hand is your service and the other is the DIY shortcut your customer is tempted to try instead, like a full color transformation vs. box dye at 11 p.m. Final score: two out of four. The streak is broken, and the seasons are changing.“As the guy on Project Runway says, ‘Make it work.’” — Rachel🩰 BALLET WICHITA’S SPIRIT BRIDEFriday night, Jen and Rachel had front-row seats for Ballet Wichita’s Spirit Bride at Newman University, a haunting spin on the classic Giselle. Neither knew the storyline going in, and both walked out in awe.Highlights: Día de los Muertos-inspired costumes, glow-in-the-dark floral headbands, an altar at the side of the stage, a cursed bracelet, and spirit brides who held completely blank faces the entire time. The ending mirrored the beginning, with the bride returning as a haunting figure over the man who won her heart. Bravo to the whole cast and crew, and to Hannah Crickman, who captured it all as the official photographer.The night wrapped with an after-the-curtain meetup at Goldfinch, almost exactly one year after Dracula first introduced the two to the Ballet Wichita family. Missed Spirit Bride? Don’t miss The Nutcracker this December.“I loved that she was at the end a haunting figure over him.” — Rachel🎃 GIVE HALLOWEEN A MINUTEA quick plea from Rachel to every store with a Christmas aisle already up: can we give Halloween a little more gumption? The hosts propose a Halloween Galleria. Junior League, call us.💅 URBAN NAILS GRAND OPENING WEEKENDJen was hired by Na of Urban Nails in Andover to handle event logistics, content creation, and social media for her grand opening weekend. After seven years of hard work and two beautiful salons, Na deserved a celebration, and Andover showed up.Friday: a ribbon cutting plus Maci of Bound 2 Brew with her cinnamon roll pumpkin coffee (a holiday in a cup). Saturday: tours, raffles, and a Coffee Daze pop-up with lavender matcha. Sunday: the big bash, with a bouquet bar, a mimosa bar, cookies by 145 Cookies, and an incredible traditional performance from All Saints Dragon and Lion Dancing.Rachel, her sister-in-law Kayla, and friend Shareika came out for the final day. The salon is stunning, spotless, and home to some seriously top-notch pedicure chairs. Rachel’s already booking her next appointment.💼 EVENTS ARE JEN’S LIFE NOWJen’s officially in her events era. She just launched her first event as Head of Fun and Fundraising with ICT SOS, she’s creating content for Vu Events through Backspace Media, and she’s handling social media for Walnut River Brewing Company. Her new coffee rotation: Coffee Daze, Larcher’s Market, and Greater Grounds near the ICT SOS office.And there’s even more wedding energy on the way: Jen’s bonus daughter, Josie, asked her to be mother of the bride. This weekend, Jen and her mother-in-law, Brenda, head to Oklahoma City for wedding dress shopping.“It’s a lot of work, but it’s so much fun. I am having the time of my life.” — Jen👶 NESTING SEASONRachel’s house is getting ready for her niece, who may be arriving sooner than expected. That means Goodwill runs, clearing out the office for family...
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    1 h et 6 min
  • Episode 63 : Turn Your Burner Down

    Episode 63 : Turn Your Burner Down
    Oct 8 2026
    Send us Fan MailChef Audra Bell of NICHE, the National Institute for Culinary and Hospitality Education at WSU Tech, joins Jen Cole and Rachel Chappelle on So THIS Happened, the Wichita podcast for real talk and local culture. Her hands-on evening cooking classes in downtown Wichita are open to anyone. No application, no culinary background, nothing to prove.Recorded inside the brand-new WSU Tech Multimedia Studio, this episode covers the five French mother sauces, the knife mistakes Chef Audra spots in the first ten minutes of every class, and the one kitchen tip that would save most failed dinners: turn your burner down.🎲 THIS OR THAT: KITCHEN EDITIONFresh blood in the This or That chair! A few highlights:- Follow the recipe or wing it? Chef Audra: "Recipes are suggestions." (Baking is a different story.)- Sweet or savory? Savory all around. Chef Audra measures with her heart, Jen brought up buffalo sauce and Chiefs game-day chili, and Rachel would rather have a glass of wine for dessert.- Cooking for a crowd or for one? The chef feeds everyone, including the random teenagers at the door. Rachel champions girl dinner (pickled okra, goat cheese, Project Runway).- Cooking show binge or in-person class? Chef Audra can't watch without critiquing ("there's no way that cooked in 45 minutes"), but Nailed It gets a pass.🏛️ INSIDE NICHE: CULINARY SCHOOL BOOT CAMPNICHE lives in the historic Henry's building at 124 S. Broadway in downtown Wichita, with a student-run restaurant, a food hall and a coffee spot. The public classes run like a culinary school boot camp: you get an apron, tie your hair back, set up your station and learn the how and why behind every step, just like the full-time students do.Chef Audra also talked about "chaos management": staying calm when your skillet is literally on fire, and why the skills you learn in a kitchen carry over into the rest of your life. Plus, the husband-and-wife class that turned into marriage counseling. 😂🔥 CHEF AUDRA'S HOT TIP"Eight times out of 10, on the stovetop, a dish fails because their burner's too hot. Just turn it down."Your knob has 10 settings. Use them.🥄 THE FIVE MOTHER SAUCES, DEMYSTIFIEDMaster these five bases and you can make almost anything:- Béchamel: your white sauce, the start of mac and cheese and white gravy- Tomato: we all know this one- Espagnole: not tomato! A rich brown sauce, think brown gravy- Hollandaise: egg tempering and all the butter- Velouté: "a white sauce and a brown sauce had a baby" (another chef would kill her for saying that)If you only learn one, make it béchamel. Biscuits and gravy, mac and cheese, lasagna: "there's 100,000 different ways you can spin it." The class dish that surprises people most is the humble vinaigrette. Four pantry ingredients, impossible to mess up, and "champagne vinaigrette" sounds very fancy. 🥂🔪 KNIFE SKILLS: JUST ENOUGH CONFIDENCE TO BE DANGEROUSThe first thing Chef Audra notices in any class is how people hold a knife. Grip it with your knuckles wrapped and your thumb in the groove, no finger on top of the blade, and definitely no choking up on it like a bat. (Yes, there's a red Sharpie involved.)Her advice if you only take one class this fall: start with Knife Skills. "That's half the reason people won't cook." Once you know how to hold a knife and which one to use, cooking stops feeling intimidating. And you still cook and eat a full dish in class.👩‍🍳 OPEN TO ANYONE. SERIOUSLY.Chef Audra has taught 12-year-olds alongside their parents and an 80-something guest who was "chopping circles around everybody." Skill levels get paired up, from home cooks to people who "use their oven to store sweaters."The twist: no recipes during class. Everything is prepped mise en place style, the whole room cooks at the same pace by sight, smell and sound, and you get the recipes at the end to take home.📅 UPCOMING CLASSES AT NICHEThursdays, 6:30–8:30 PM | 124 S. Broadway, downtown Wichita- Knife Skills ($80): Thursday, October 15 and Thursday, November 19- Culinary Foundations: Kitchen Mastery & Modern Sauces ($85): Thursday, November 5Register at gettrained.wsutech.edu. No application, just pick a date.Seasonal classes run through December, with pies, French pastry and a holiday beef Wellington.👯 PLANNING A GROUP NIGHT?NICHE also builds custom classes for girls' nights, date nights, coworker outings or a houseful of visiting family, from chicken fingers and mac and cheese all the way to beef Wellington and duchess potatoes. Reach out to NICHE with your dates, ideas and budget, and they'll build a class around your group.⏱️ CHAPTERS00:00 Welcome to the ShockStarter studio + sponsors02:00 This or That: Kitchen Edition13:50 Walking into NICHE16:30 Chaos management in a teaching kitchen19:20 The marriage counseling cooking class21:00 Why Chef Audra teaches22:00 Hot tip: turn your burner down23:15 What she notices in the first 10 minutes25:15 The five mother sauces27:20 Why ...
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    51 min
  • Episode 62 : A Place Where the Misfits Fit

    Episode 62 : A Place Where the Misfits Fit
    Oct 1 2026
    Send us Fan MailSo THIS Happened is Wichita's podcast for real talk, local culture, and the occasional Taylor Swift spiral — and this week, hosts Jen Cole and Rachel Chappelle traded their usual couch for a live audience at the B-29 DOC Hangar in Wichita, Kansas, for a special episode behind the curtain of Richard O'Brien's Rocky Horror Show Wichita. Joining them: Jesse Bourque, Ryan Schafer, and Brent McNulty, the team bringing Rocky Horror Wichita to life this October — plus a surprise appearance from cast member Justin Noel Hall.This wasn't just an episode — it was a full Sip Squad takeover, recorded live in front of a crowd, with a lot of wine, a lot of laughs, and a genuine love letter to Tim Curry along the way.🍷 This or That: Backstage EditionBefore diving into the good stuff, the group played a few rounds of This or That, Rocky Horror style — and the answers said a lot about who's who on this production.- Opening night jitters or closing night nostalgia? Brent and Jesse both landed on closing night nostalgia; Ryan and Rachel went with opening night energy- Start from scratch or revive something beloved? A near-unanimous vote for reviving something beloved — with Rocky Horror as the obvious exception to Brent's usual "give me a blank slate" instinct- Behind-the-scenes chaos or front-of-house polish? Everyone on this stage is, by their own admission, a chaos lover — "chaos is my love language," according to Brent📖 Jesse Bourque: The Origin StoryJesse Bourque is the person at the center of how Rocky Horror Wichita came to be. His Rocky Horror origin story starts at the Crown Uptown Theatre, where he saw his first production as a very confused Rocky Horror virgin (his words). What followed was years of costume contests, a viewing on Broadway, and a realization in 2026 that no one in Wichita was producing the show that year.So he called Brent McNulty. Brent's response? "Do you have the rights?" Jesse didn't yet — but that conversation is what got Rocky Horror Wichita moving. (He also may have forgotten to mention the commitment to his now-wife Annika for a few weeks. She found out, got on board anyway, and has since designed the entire Rocky Horror Wichita digital presence by hand — no AI involved.)Jesse's advice for first-timers going into the show: don't take yourself too seriously, dress in costume, get the after-party ticket, and remember you have exactly one job for the night — have a good time.🎬 Ryan Schafer: The Director's VisionRyan Schafer is directing this production — and he's played Brad himself, twice, at the Crown Uptown. That performer's-eye view is shaping how he directs now, from the comedy to the show's more heartfelt, unexpectedly sincere moments in the second act.Ryan's vision for the show: sexy, grungy, campy, funny, and welcoming — a space where people can be their truest selves without judgment. And this year's production carries an extra layer of meaning: it's a love letter to Tim Curry, whose performance made Rocky Horror what it is, following his passing this year.🏗️ Brent McNulty: Turning a Hangar into a TheaterBrent McNulty is running tech and production — which means turning the B-29 DOC Hangar (built to house a bomber, not a Broadway-style production) into a full immersive theater experience, complete with atmospheric lighting, cocktails, food, and a live band with zero prerecorded music or AI involved.Brent's also thinking long-term: this isn't a one-off. The goal is for the B-29 DOC Hangar to become the permanent home of Rocky Horror Wichita, growing bigger and bolder every year.Asked whether the show's motto — "Don't Dream It, Be It" — lands differently for him on the production side, Brent didn't hesitate: this has genuinely been a dream come true, and a chance to bring live theater into a hangar built to educate people about aviation history.🎉 Surprise Guest: Justin Noel HallPartway through the episode, cast member Justin Noel Hall — who plays Rocky himself — got pulled up for an impromptu chat. This is his first musical theater role (he's usually a musician in the pit), and he has Jesse Bourque to thank (or blame) for talking him into auditioning. His audition included a dance call cold-reading the Time Warp choreography with almost no prep. He survived. He's thriving. He plans to keep the gold shorts.🎟️ Tickets, Dates & How to Go- Richard O'Brien's Rocky Horror Show Wichita runs seven performances over six nights this October at the B-29 DOC Hangar- Snag 15% off Tier 1 and Tier 2 opening night tickets when you use code SPOOKYSIPSQUAD at checkout- A special midnight show is happening on Halloween night — perfect for parents who want to trick-or-treat first, then come see the show- The after-party "Haunted Hangar" dance party with the cast is happening October 30th- Blue Moon Catering is providing food, so guests can grab dinner, a drink, and a show all in one nightTickets and full show info: ...
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    50 min
  • Episode 61 : Fair Words

    Episode 61 : Fair Words
    Sep 24 2026

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    Episode 61 Show Notes — Fair Words
    Featuring Katy Munden Hays of Alegria Fair — recorded live at GROW Plant Bar

    So THIS Happened, Wichita's podcast for real talk and local culture, welcomed Katy Munden Hays of Alegria Fair to the mic for a live Sip Squad Session at GROW Plant Bar in downtown Wichita. Hosted by Jen Cole and Rachel Chappelle, this episode covers Katy's rebrand — bringing her fair trade business and her cause-marketing, ethical storytelling work together under one name — and what it looks like to build a more intentional life right here in Wichita, Kansas.

    LIVE AT GROW: A SIP SQUAD SESSION

    This one was recorded live in front of a Sip Squad audience at GROW Plant Bar's beautiful lounge space in downtown Wichita. Big thanks to everyone who came out to sip, cheer, and be part of the conversation in person — and to everyone tuning in from home.

    MEET KATY MUNDEN HAYS OF ALEGRIA FAIR

    Katy Munden Hays has spent the last year rebranding, bringing her fair trade business and her marketing-for-good work together under one name: Alegria Fair — Global Goods + Cause Marketing. Here's what that means:

    - Fair trade global goods: ethically sourced home goods and gifts, including pieces made from upcycled sari fabric, sold through regular pop-ups and market booths around Wichita
    - Marketing, branding, and content writing for nonprofits and good causes
    - Ethical Storytelling Labs — teaching trauma-informed, dignity-centered storytelling to nonprofits and organizations around Wichita
    - Marketing for Good, a conference she hosted in April bringing together people doing similar work in the community
    - Event planning including the Women Empowered Market (March) and a Nonprofit Party in the spring

    On the personal side, Katy talked about what intentional living looks like day to day — purposeful spending, food choices, getting outside, and biking with her husband Rob on Wichita's trails and new Douglas Avenue bike lanes.

    FAIR WORDS: THE BIG IDEA

    The episode's title comes straight from the conversation: fair trade means people are treated and paid fairly — so Katy believes we owe people fair words too. That's the thread connecting her fair trade work and her push for ethical, dignity-centered storytelling in Wichita's nonprofit and cause-marketing spaces.

    WHERE TO FIND ALEGRIA FAIR

    Instagram & Facebook: @alegriafair
    Katy's personal account: @katymundenhays
    Website: https://www.createalegria.com/
    Old Town Farm and Art Market — Saturdays, 8:00 AM–1:00 PM (10:00 AM–1:00 PM in November & December)
    Paramount Marketplace — Franklin & Woodlawn
    The Workroom — Ballroom Collective (upstairs)
    Alternative Gift Market — November 14

    JOIN US FOR THE NEXT SIP SQUAD SESSION!

    Sip Squad Sessions: Featuring Jovana & Tony of Vu Events
    Bubbles Champagne Bar | November 30 | 6:30 PM | Free — just show up!

    Come sip with us! Our next Sip Squad Session heads to Bubbles Champagne Bar to sit down with Jovana and Tony of Vu Events, our longtime Sip Squad sponsor. Wichita, mark your calendars.

    THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

    This episode's Sip Squad Session was brought to you by Vu Events (it had to be Vu!), Colour Thairapy Salon, and Backspace Media — with a huge thank-you to GROW Plant Bar for hosting us in downtown Wichita.

    So THIS Happened is Wichita's podcast for real talk, local culture, and the occasional Taylor Swift spiral. Hosted by Jen Cole and Rachel Chappelle. New episodes drop weekly — find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

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    56 min
  • Episode 60 : Say Yes to Yourself First

    Episode 60 : Say Yes to Yourself First
    Sep 17 2026

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    So THIS Happened is Wichita's podcast for real talk, real stories, and the occasional glass of wine — and this week Jen Cole and Rachel Chappelle sat down with Kelly, owner of Bridely Boutique, a bridal boutique in Wichita, Kansas, built on one simple idea: buying your wedding dress should feel like an experience, not a transaction.

    💍 Meet Kelly of Bridely Boutique
    After more than 30 years working in MRI and X-ray, Kelly took the leap and opened Bridely Boutique five years ago. Today it's one of Wichita's most beloved bridal boutiques, tucked into the historic Dockum Building at the corner of Douglas and Hillside — and it's picked up a Best of Wichita win nearly every year it's been open.

    ✨ The Leap
    Kelly spent months quietly researching the bridal industry before she told a single soul — not her husband, not her best friends, not her kids. What started as an idea she couldn't shake turned into a full business plan, a spreadsheet of every dress line in town, and eventually, the leap itself. She talks candidly about what it actually took to trust that instinct and go all in on an industry she'd never worked in.

    👗 Say Yes to Yourself First
    The heart of this episode is the philosophy Kelly built Bridely around: the bride's opinion comes first. Literally — there are no mirrors in her dressing rooms, so a bride sees her own reaction to a dress before anyone else's opinion can shape it. Kelly, Jen, and Rachel dig into how that one small design choice changed everything about the shopping experience, and why 'how does this dress make you feel?' is the only question that really matters.

    🥂 This or That Highlights
    Champagne while you shop, or besties-only opinions? Kelly's answer: champagne, every time (no liquor license required — mimosas beforehand work too)

    Classic and timeless, or trend of the moment? Kelly's a little bit of both — and yes, the basque waist is having a major moment right now
    Big group opinions or a tight, trusted circle? Kelly's take on managing dress-shopping entourages, big feelings, and second looks.

    💼 Five Years, Real Talk
    Five years of hiring, inventory, and marketing have taught Kelly a lot about herself as a business owner — including the hardest lesson of all: kindness is not the same thing as weakness. She and the hosts get into the mistakes that felt awful in the moment (looking at you, two identical dresses from two different companies), the ones that turned into blessings, and why summers — not what you'd think — are actually the hardest season in bridal.

    📣 Before You Go
    Find Bridely Boutique at bridelybrides.com or @bridelyboutique on Instagram and Facebook — 3200 East Douglas Avenue, at the corner of Douglas and Hillside in Wichita, Kansas

    Merch is live — Uncorked and Slightly Unhinged & Messy Is My Polished (10% of profits go to Ballet Wichita)

    This episode is brought to you by Vu Events (it had to be Vu!), Colour Thairapy, and Backspace Media — go show them some love


    Follow and subscribe on Spotify and YouTube so you never miss an episode

    So THIS happened. 🥂

    So THIS Happened is Wichita's podcast for real talk, local culture, and the occasional Taylor Swift spiral. Hosted by Jen Cole and Rachel Chappelle. New episodes drop weekly — find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

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    57 min
  • Episode 59 : Cool Girls Have Cool Jobs

    Episode 59 : Cool Girls Have Cool Jobs
    Sep 10 2026
    Send us Fan MailSo THIS Happened is Wichita's podcast for real talk, local culture, and the occasional Taylor Swift spiral — and this week hosts Jen Cole and Rachel Chappelle are back in the Wichita studio for the first time in Season 2 with an episode that starts silly and ends up somewhere real.It's a just-us episode built around a theme they're calling “The Leap” — and a Trend Decoder comeback that turns into one of the most personal conversations this Wichita podcast has had all season.🎲 Trend Decoder Is Back!A fan-favorite segment returns from retirement: Jen feeds Rachel current Instagram/TikTok trends cold, and Rachel guesses what they actually mean before the reveal.“And for the lady…” — Rachel nails it on the first try (pampering, luscious experiences, treat-yourself energy) for a perfect score“Cool girls have cool jobs” — sends Rachel into an unforgettable teenage flashback involving a Domino's visor, an oversized T-shirt, and a pizza delivery to an ex-boyfriend's house that did not go smoothly. Bonus points awarded (a first!) for the tangent alone.💼 The LeapHere's the real news: Jen involuntarily left the job she'd held for the last couple of years — and, in the same stretch, relaunched her own company, Backspace Media.Backspace Media isn't new. Jen originally launched it in 2016 as a solo Wichita social media agency, with early clients that included a block car service and pre-launch social media support for Jenny Dawn Sellers' now-beloved urban winery and tasting room. She even ran a weekly Facebook Live show, Backspace Live Happy Hour, out of the back of the Hopping Gnome. The original run wound down when Jen went back to a stable 9-to-5 during her divorce — a story she says is common for women business owners who lose benefits tied to a spouse.Now she's building it back, on her own terms, with real clients already on the books. Jen and Rachel get honest about what it actually feels like to lose the security of a steady paycheck — the fear of perception, the pull toward “stability” that's really just cultural conditioning, and why alignment (not just a paycheck) matters more than either of them expected.A huge piece of what's carried Jen through the last month: community. Shoutout to Sophii Jones and Marissa of Jupiter House, Hannah Crickman, Sherieka, and Jovana Vu of Vu Events for some of the most motivating conversations of the year. Also featured: Amy of Elijah's Baby Bucket List, who challenged Jen to pitch a brand every single day and now checks in weekly asking how many rejections she racked up — tough love, Wichita-style.💇 Hair Dates 👉 Colour ThairapyJen and Rachel both have appointments with Jennifer Short of Colour Thairapy this Friday — expect content. And the timing is perfect, because the very next day is Tea Fest at Napster with their friend Nicola, just across the street from the salon.🍷 Small Sip: VinZant WinesA quick shoutout to VinZant Wines' rosé, picked up during a recent Bubbles run — filed away as an early, very cute idea for a future Valentine's Day gift.🤝 The First (Almost) DisagreementA very low-stakes moment of confusion over the date of Rocky Horror on the Rocks becomes this week's proof that Jen and Rachel really can survive anything — spoiler, it did not, in fact, ruin the friendship.🎶 Hits Different: “Ruin the Friendship” — Taylor SwiftThis week's pick is “Ruin the Friendship” from Life of a Showgirl — a song Rachel initially refused to even look up once she heard the title (“No, I won't do it”). Turns out it's not about them.Rachel's honest take: acoustic or full version, it's one of her least favorites on a pure listen — no shade, just not her vibe alone in the car. The conversation goes deeper from there: what it means to miss a moment with someone, the tension of loving someone who's already someone else's, and a real-life parallel from Jen's own middle school years.The song's actual backstory carries more weight than either of them expected going in — a story about loss, timing, and things left unsaid that reframes the whole episode's theme. The takeaway they land on: always answer the question. Do it anyway. Which, as it turns out, is exactly what Jen's been doing all along.📣 Before You GoMerch is live — Messy Is My Polished & Pairs Well with Champagne and Caviar Bumps (10% of profits go to Ballet Wichita)Sip Squad Session — September 21 at GROW, featuring Katy Munden Hayes of AlegriaRocky Horror on the Rocks — September 27 at B-29 Doc Hangar, in partnership with Rocky Horror Wichita. Tickets on Eventbrite, ~$23This episode is proudly supported by our Sip Squad sponsors: Vu Events, Colour Thairapy, and Backspace Media — we love you guysFollow and subscribe — Spotify & YouTube, so you never miss a momentSo THIS Happened is Wichita's podcast for real talk, local culture, and the occasional Taylor Swift spiral. Hosted by Jen Cole and Rachel Chappelle. New ...
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    1 h et 1 min
  • Episode 58 : Cultivate Wichita

    Episode 58 : Cultivate Wichita
    Sep 3 2026
    Send us Fan MailCultivating WichitaSo THIS Happened — Wichita's local culture and personal growth podcast, hosted by Jen Cole and Rachel Chappelle — traded wine glasses for teacups this episode. Recorded live at Mulberry Gallery inside Revolutsia (the shipping-container creative hub on Central Ave), Jen and Rachel sat down with Naquela of Planted Tea Shop, a Wichita-based tea and herbal education business, to talk tea culture, community, and how to build a life around slowing down.🍵 Meet Naquela of Planted Tea ShopNaquela moved back to Wichita from Thailand about five and a half years ago looking for a place to sit with a good cup of tea and get some work done — and couldn't find one. So she built it herself, starting with blending her own herbs and sharing them with curious friends. What started as pop-ups grew into educational workshops, a clinical herbalism education, and now Tea Fest — her biggest event yet.🎲 This or That: Tea & Herbal Ritual EditionHerbally and tea-themed for the first time ever on the show. A few highlights:Loose leaf vs. tea bag — loose leaf won in a landslide (fewer chemicals, more surface area, and it's just prettier)Morning ritual vs. afternoon wind-down — Naquela leans morning, with something that has "a little bit of perk" in itHot brew vs. cold brew — depends entirely on the herb: roots need heat, mucilaginous herbs like slippery elm need coldJen may have been quietly outed as a bag-tea girl. We're not naming names. (We're naming names.)🌱 Building Tea & Herbal Knowledge in WichitaNaquela's mission has always been education first — not just selling tea, but teaching people what it actually does. Her favorite surprising fact: lavender isn't just for aromatherapy, it's a genuine pain reliever, especially for cramps. Her biggest myth-buster for beginners: you don't need a 10-herb blend to get started. Pick one herb, learn how it makes you feel, and build from there.🫖 Communi-Tea, Not Just CustomersNaquela's newsletter is called Communi-tea (yes, the pun is fully intended), and it's where she shares behind-the-scenes stories — like the stack of herbal books passed down from her grandfather. It's part of a bigger philosophy: tea education as something shared and passed down, not gatekept. She remembers regulars by name and by what they came in looking for — real community, not just transactions.🔥 Workshops & Fire Cider SeasonNaquela's next workshop is a Fire Cider make-and-take — an herbal oxymel of roots, herbs, and vegetables infused in vinegar over several weeks, perfect for immune support heading into cold season. Sessions are September 13 and October 3 at Old Espresso To GoGo, across from Naftzger Park at St. Francis and Douglas. Everything's provided — just show up. Register on her website or social media.🍃 Tea Fest — Saturday, September 12Free and open to the whole community, 11 AM–3 PM at Naftzger Park. What to expect:~25 vendors — tea and herbal makers on one side, wellness and artisan makers on the otherA community art installation, "Leaves of Wichita" — paint a leaf and leave some encouragement for the cityA kids' painting station, live music at 1 PM, and food trucksFirst 50 visitors to the Planted Tea Shop booth get a Tea Fest passport — collect stamps around the park for a shot at prizesPresented with support from Downtown Wichita, the Wichita Area Arts Council, and Festive ICT.🥕 Old Town Farm & Art MarketThis is Naquela's first season as a vendor at the Old Town Farm and Art Market — Saturdays, 8 AM to noon, in Old Town Square. She calls it one of the most wholesome small-business communities she's found in Wichita, and yes, she leaves with something every single week.🌿 Easy Ways to StartNaquela's advice for anyone intimidated by tea or herbs: don't overthink it. Pick one moment in your day — a morning routine, a wind-down before bed — and build one simple ritual around it. Start with a single herb before you jump into a blend, so you actually know what's working for you.📣 Before You GoFind Naquela and Planted Tea Shop on Instagram and Facebook @plantedteashop, or at plantedteashop.comCatch Naquela's blends in person at Mulberry Gallery and at Sunflower Cafe and Collective on the west sideMark your calendar for Tea Fest — Saturday, September 12, 11 AM–3 PM, free to the communityThank you to Mulberry Gallery at Revolutsia for hosting us this episodeWant to be a guest on the pod? We're always open — reach out!So THIS Happened is a lifestyle and personal growth podcast hosted by Jen Cole and Rachel Chappelle, based in Wichita, Kansas. Each episode explores the moments, people, and ideas that shape how we live — from local Wichita stories to conversations about identity, community, and becoming. New episodes drop weekly. Find us everywhere you listen.Our podcast is proudly sponsored by Vu Events, Colour Thairapy and Backspace Media. Support the show
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    50 min