What does it really take to keep the arts alive in Kansas — and why does it matter more than you might think?Sarah VanLanduyt wears a lot of hats. As Executive Director of the Arts Council of Johnson County, a Kansas Arts Commissioner, and Board Chair of the Kansas Arts Network, she's one of the people quietly fighting to make sure the creative industries across the state have the funding, infrastructure, and advocacy they need to thrive. In this conversation, we unpack how arts funding actually works at the state level, why artists need advocates in their corner, and how the Kansas Arts Network has built something remarkable in just a few years.HIGHLIGHTSSarah's winding path from history and museum management into the arts world — and why the two have more in common than you'd thinkHow the Arts Council of Johnson County operates between the nonprofit and government worlds with just a team of twoThe Kansas Arts Commission's grant funding model and why it's a dollar-for-dollar match with local communitiesHow Sarah helped grow the Kansas Arts Commission budget from roughly $100,000 to significantly more through grassroots advocacyThe Kansas Arts Network annual conference and the culture of openness and collaboration it's built across the stateWhy the arts are more than aesthetic — they support mental health, workforce development, veteran transition, and community identityThe importance of artists and policy thinkers working together to communicate a compelling storyKansas outlaws: the Dalton Gang, John Wesley Hardin, Henry Newton Brown, William Quantrill, the Bloody Benders, and Mysterious Dave Mather — plus two truths and a lie for eachCHAPTERS0:00 – Intro: The Pale Blue Dot Pin & Carl Sagan1:50 – Welcome & Guest Tease3:30 – Meet Sarah VanLanduyt4:07 – Sarah's Kansas Roots & Journey5:20 – Why the Arts? Her Unexpected Path7:57 – The Arts Council of Johnson County: Mission & Work10:12 – The Kansas Arts Commission: Funding & Sarah's Role15:03 – The Kansas Arts Network & Statewide Collaboration23:36 – Avoiding Burnout & Refueling the Tank25:52 – Hope for the Future of Arts in Kansas27:01 – Making the Case for Arts to Legislators29:26 – How Art Sparks Community Connection34:08 – Where in the Rectangle: Outlaws of the Old West34:48 – The Dalton Gang & Coffeyville37:21 – John Wesley Hardin in Abilene39:18 – Henry Newton Brown: Marshall Turned Outlaw41:37 – William Quantrill & the Lawrence Raid44:25 – The Bloody Benders: Kansas' Frontier Horror Story46:23 – Mysterious Dave Mather of Dodge City50:39 – Outro & How to Bring Ask a Kansan to Your OrganizationRESOURCESArts Council of Johnson County: https://www.artsjoco.orgKansas Arts Commission: https://www.kansascommerce.gov/program/kansas-creative-arts-and-industries-commission-kcaic/Kansas Arts Network: https://kansasartsnetwork.orgSalina Arts & Humanities: https://www.salinaarts.comLearn more about the podcast at askakansan.com!This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net

What if becoming a mom didn't just change your schedule — it changed you at your core? I sat down with Taryn Zweygardt, a therapist specializing in perinatal mental health and co-owner of Flourish, to talk about the identity shifts, the mental load, the perfectionism, and the ADHD diagnoses that so many of us didn't see coming — until motherhood cracked us open and showed us what was really there.This is a conversation for anyone who has ever wondered why it feels so hard, why they feel so different, or why the life they carefully organized before kids suddenly feels like it belongs to a stranger.HighlightsMotherhood often doesn't feel "natural" at first — and the shame that comes with that is real and incredibly commonBecoming a mom can act like a rock thrown into a still pond, bringing everything that's settled at the bottom rising to the surfaceSociety sells us a timeline — married, then kids, then house — but the cost of following that script without self-reflection can be highBoth Taryn and Audra were diagnosed with ADHD after becoming mothers, and motherhood was the thing that illuminated itThe mental load isn't just "feeling busy" — it's a specific and invisible weight that needs to be named, shared, and actively redistributedAsking for help requires being direct — "I'm overwhelmed" isn't enough; specific asks like "Can you handle dinner on Tuesdays?" are what actually shift the loadThe "hell yes or hell no" framework is a powerful filter for deciding what deserves your limited capacityNot every ball is glass — knowing which ones are plastic (and can bounce if dropped) is a game-changer for managing motherhood and business simultaneouslyStandards can and should shift with seasons — giving yourself permission to let the grass grow a little longer isn't failure, it's wisdomChapters1:03 — Motherhood Changes Everything2:08 — Expectations vs. Reality3:02 — When It Doesn't Feel Natural4:42 — Normalizing the Hard Parts7:03 — Social Media and Real Life8:45 — Identity After Becoming Mom10:23 — Perfectionism and ADHD Revealed11:53 — Her Motherhood Timeline17:27 — The Pond Rock Metaphor20:49 — Choosing Your Parenting Path22:51 — Trust Your Parenting Gut23:17 — ADHD Meets Business24:38 — Capacity and Boundaries26:48 — Hell Yes or Hell No28:43 — Mental Load Reality29:31 — Asking for Direct Help31:36 — Sharing the Invisible Work34:09 — Fair Play in Practice36:58 — Glass vs. Plastic Balls38:13 — Standards for This Season39:06 — Closing Advice and Where to Find HerResources MentionedReproductively Speaking podcast — hosted by Taryn ZweygardtTZ Therapy — Taryn's therapy practiceFlourish — Taryn's collective (also on Instagram: @flourishict)Taryn on Instagram: @tztherapyWant to learn more?The ThreadBe sure to follow me @audradinell on Instagram and LinkedInThis show is part of the ICT Podcast Network.Disclaimer: we may receive a small commission on any products purchased through the links used in this episode. I only recommend tools and resources I actually use and find valuable.

What if the biggest mistake in your side hustle isn't what you're selling — it's who you're trying to sell it to? Trying to reach everyone is one of the most common traps side hustlers fall into. When you're chasing every dollar, you end up connecting with no one. This episode is about getting razor sharp on your Ideal Client Profile (ICP) — and why going narrower actually makes you more powerful, not less. We walk through a simple but transformational exercise called the Five Whys that takes you from surface-level demographics to the deep human motivations that actually drive buying decisions. Whether you're a consultant, a web developer, or someone who builds backyard patios, this concept will change the way you market and sell.HighlightsWhy trying to sell to everyone is a fast track to selling to no oneWhat an Ideal Client Profile (ICP) actually is — and what it isn'tWhy demographics are a starting point, not the destinationThe Five Whys method: a simple framework for uncovering what really drives your ideal clientReal-world examples: a business consultant, a web developer, and a patio builder — all using the Five Whys to find the human story behind the saleWhy ROI isn't always about money — and how to communicate peace, joy, and ease as real valueA 10-minute action step to create your first ICP todayChapters0:00 — The Big Mistake1:02 — Why You Need an ICP2:09 — Focus Beats Scattered Marketing4:15 — Demographics Aren't Enough5:14 — The Five Whys Method5:31 — Example: Consultant to Family Time7:24 — Example: Web Developer to Survival8:23 — Example: Patio Builder to Community10:35 — Speak to Emotion, Not Price12:10 — ROI Beyond Money — Peace and Joy14:52 — Your 10-Minute ICP Exercise16:09 — Name Your Avatar and Take Action16:59 — Wrap Up and Next TimeBe sure to subscribe and leave us a review!For more information about The Side-Hustle Dad, visit our website at https://thesidehustle.dadRemember, build the business, but be the dad!This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net.

Do you actually have a sales process — or are you just winging it? If you can't explain your sales process step by step, you're leaving money on the table. Control in your business starts with a clear, defined, and repeatable sales process — one that's been written down, tested, tracked, and measured. Whether you're a solopreneur just getting started or you've been at this for years, this episode will challenge you to get honest about where your process stands and give you the tools to improve it starting today.HighlightsIf you don't have a sales process, you don't have control — and most business owners mistake a process problem for a sales problemEvery business, regardless of size, needs a consistent and documented sales process to get consistent resultsYou must track every step of the sales process — not just total sales — so you know exactly where things are breaking downYour process will evolve over time, and that's a good thing — but you can't improve what you haven't definedThe real shortcut in sales is completing the sales process, not skipping steps in itA real estate company with a 33-step sales process shows just how powerful a thorough follow-up system can beA documented sales process makes it possible to coach a new salesperson and pinpoint exactly where they need helpMarketing and sales are not the same thing — marketing brings people to the door, sales takes them through itYou already have a sales process; it just hasn't been written down yetChapters0:34 — Welcome and Big Question1:47 — Why Sales Needs Process3:01 — Track Every Step3:46 — Evolve and Follow the System6:13 — Real Estate 33-Step Example7:47 — Scale With Coaching and Systems8:33 — Define Your Process10:35 — Sales vs. Marketing12:22 — Final Challenge and WrapWant to get more help from Lee with your business? Visit her website: https://leegray.actioncoach.com/This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network. For more information, visit ictpod.net.

What do fire, bison, and star bonds have in common? They're all part of this week's conversation about the Flint Hills — and honestly, it's one of those episodes that makes you want to book a trip to Manhattan, Kansas immediately. We sat down with Stephen Bridenstine, Director of the Flint Hills Discovery Center, to talk about what it really takes to understand one of the most unique — and misunderstood — landscapes in America. Stephen came to Kansas by choice (his words), and 12 years later, he's still here and still learning. HighlightsA young sports broadcaster from Quinter, Kansas is going viral for taking audience-submitted phrases and slipping them seamlessly into live play-by-play — and it is absolutely worth your timeStephen Bridenstine moved to Manhattan, Kansas sight unseen, driving a moving van down Highway 177 with everything he owned — and the first thing he saw was the Flint Hills Discovery CenterThe Flint Hills Discovery Center isn't just a history museum or a nature center — it intentionally tells an interconnected story spanning 13,500 years of human and natural historyRanching in the Flint Hills actually mimics what bison did for thousands of years — and it's essential to the health of the tallgrass prairie ecosystemFire isn't a threat to the Flint Hills. It's a tool. Stephen once had to explain this live on the Weather Channel.The Discovery Center's star bond project was so successful, the bonds were paid off years ahead of schedule — which funded a second museum right across the streetThe Flint Hills Festival draws over 9,000 attendees and is the one day per year the Discovery Center is free to the publicThe Flint Hills covers 4 million acres — roughly the size of New Jersey — stretching from the Nebraska border to OklahomaSydney went to boarding school in Missouri, where a third of her class was international students. Gus's claim to fame was "most likely to do something sciencey."Chapters0:00 – Hilarious Sports Broadcaster from Quinter2:42 – Podcast Intro & Guest Tease3:15 – Meet Stephen Bridenstine3:48 – Kansan by Choice: Stephen's Story5:34 – Life in a College Town8:15 – From the Park Service to Museum Work11:13 – Inside the Flint Hills Discovery Center11:49 – Exhibits and Visitor Flow15:42 – From Educator to Director19:33 – Learning the Flint Hills22:35 – Flint Hills Festival Highlights25:55 – How the Discovery Center Was Built28:29 – Downtown Redevelopment Wins30:22 – Planning a Flint Hills Trip31:33 – Public Prairie Access Tips33:43 – Stay Overnight and Explore34:36 – Ranching Mimics Bison37:13 – Fire as a Tool38:14 – Discovery Center Events40:07 – Kid-Friendly Highlights at the Center41:10 – Celebrity Guessing Game (Kansas Edition)49:20 – Scholars Bowl Deep Cuts51:38 – Final Thanks and PlugsResources MentionedFlint Hills Discovery Center — Manhattan, KansasTallgrass Prairie National Preserve — Strong City, Kansas (National Park Service & The Nature Conservancy)From the Land of Kansas — Kansas-made products program (featured in Episode 53)SB Mowing — Spencer, Kansas-based viral mowing content creatorBlank.in.a.ship — TikTok account of the Quinter sports broadcaster featured at the top of the episodeJim Richardson on Episode 20 of Ask A KansanLearn more about the podcast at askakansan.com!This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net