There was a time when what happened in Kansas was front page news on the east coast. This week, Sydney and Gus sit down with historian Dr. Kristen Epps, professor at Kansas State University and editor of Kansas History: A Journal of the Central Plains, to dig into Bleeding Kansas, the people slavery's expansion actually affected, and why the messy, complicated version of our state's story matters more than the tidy one. Kristen shares how she stumbled into Kansas history research, what it's really like editing an academic journal, and the wildest things she's found in dusty courthouse archives (John Brown's actual handwriting included). She also gives us a first look at her upcoming narrative history of Kansas, co-written with Jim Leiker, and reflects on resilience, reform movements, and why she finds hope in the next generation as the country marks its 250th anniversary. Plus, Sydney closes it out with an America 250-themed round of obscure Kansas facts covering everything from the Exodusters to ancient camels.HighlightsKristen Epps introduces herself as an "adopted Kansan" and explains her path from the Pacific Northwest and Colorado to becoming a Kansas historian.She edits Kansas History: A Journal of the Central Plains, a peer-reviewed publication jointly run by the Kansas Historical Society and K-State.Her book, Slavery on the Periphery, centers enslaved people's experiences rather than treating slavery as purely a political debate.A breakdown of what Bleeding Kansas actually was, including the Kansas-Nebraska Act, popular sovereignty, and the violence that followed.Confirmation that enslaved people did live in Kansas, including at the Shawnee Methodist Mission, Fort Scott, and Fort Leavenworth.Research stories from the archives, including finding Abraham Lincoln's signature and reading John Brown's surprisingly ordinary letters.A preview of Kristen's upcoming narrative history of Kansas with co-author Jim Leiker, out in early 2027 from the University Press of Kansas.Reflections on resilience through Kansas history, from the Dust Bowl to the decades-long fight for women's suffrage (won in Kansas in 1912).Kristen's thoughts on why history matters heading into America's 250th anniversary, and where she finds hope in today's college students.Sydney's America 250-themed Kansas trivia: the Exoduster migration, prehistoric camel fossils, a Kansas doctor's role in founding modern EMS, and the tiny town of Speed, Kansas hosting a Hot Wheels anniversary event.Chapters0:00 – Garden Bounty1:44 – Podcast Intro and Guest Tease3:05 – Meet Historian Kristen Epps4:09 – Why Kansas History Matters8:40 – Inside the Kansas History Journal10:49 – Becoming a Historian and Editor11:59 – Slavery on the Periphery12:50 – What Was Bleeding Kansas15:11 – Enslaved People in Kansas16:20 – Researching Hidden Histories19:08 – Archives Not Just Google21:29 – Letters from John Brown and Others23:38 – History Hits Home24:39 – Writing Kansas For Everyone26:26 – From Ancient Seas To Today27:35 – Resilience And Many Kansases31:38 – America 250 And Civic Duty33:17 – Why History Matters35:20 – Finding Hope In Community38:25 – Post Interview Reflections40:00 – Exodusters Black Migration41:41 – Camels And Prehistory42:24 – Kansas And Modern EMS45:39 – Speed Kansas Hot Wheels46:48 – Episode Wrap And FarewellResources MentionedSlavery on the Periphery by Kristen EppsKansas History: A Journal of the Central Plains https://www.kansashistory.gov/p/kansas-history/12443Kansas Historical Society: https://www.kansashistory.gov/Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared DiamondLearn more about the podcast at askakansan.com!This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net

What if the real reset you need this year isn't about a new planner or another five-year plan — but about getting brutally honest with who you are right now? In this solo episode, I'm walking through the psychology-backed "fresh start effect" and sharing the three lessons I'm personally carrying into the second half of 2026: why the real work always starts internally, why it's time to let go of who you used to be (and what used to work for you), and why choosing to believe life is happening for you — not to you — can change everything about how you move through overwhelm.HighlightsThe "fresh start effect" is a real psychological phenomenon — meaningful dates and transitions (New Year's, birthdays, Mondays) boost our motivation to pursue goals by giving us psychological distance and a mental clean slate.Lesson one: no matter the goal, the work always starts internally — chasing external milestones (a new job, a relationship, a certain income) means your sense of purpose stays tied to a constantly moving goalpost.Practices that support "internal work" include therapy, examining thought patterns, meditation, journaling, self-compassion, and visualization.Lesson two: get honest about who you are now, not who you were 6 months or 10 years ago — habits and structures that worked in a past season (like working from home) may no longer serve you.Lesson three: life happens for you, not to you — reframing overwhelm as something you have agency over, rather than a fixed state, helps break negative patterns.A personal story about a birthday slumber party with her team, where a bracelet reading "for you" became a symbol of choosing agency over victimhood.Chapters1:04 — Fresh Start Effect2:33 — Midyear Reset Setup3:19 — Work Starts Within5:28 — Tools For Inner Work8:07 — Be Honest Now9:48 — Life Happens For You11:02 — Breaking Overwhelm12:60 — Three Lessons Recap14:02 — Wrap Up And ShareWant 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.

Leadership isn't all kumbaya. The truth is, real leadership, the kind that moves the needle on something as daunting as closing the health gap, is risky. It requires disrupting the status quo, disappointing your own people, and absorbing the discomfort that comes with change. But as this episode makes clear, the cost of avoiding that risk is even higher.In this episode, hosts Ed O'Malley and Susan Kang are joined by returning guest Kenny Wilk to unpack why exercising leadership is inherently risky, what it looks like in practice and why the reward on the other side is worth it.HighlightsWhile many individuals placed in leadership roles believe they’re exercising leadership, it’s actually exceedingly rare. Leadership is risky because it’s about disruption, and how it requires disappointing your own people at a rate they can absorb. The risk-reward mismatch in health equity: the 30,000 Kansans with the most influence must take risk to benefit the people with the least, such as the ALICE population (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed).The remarkable turnaround of the University of Kansas Health System, from one of the worst-rated hospitals in the nation (below the 5th percentile in patient satisfaction) to consistently above the 90th percentile.Kenny's personal framework for staying motivated to lead on issues that don't directly benefit him: gratitude, paying it forward and finding deep satisfaction in others' success.The "Salad Week" story from the 2002 Kansas legislative budget crisis. A vivid example of leaders forcing uncomfortable conversations their own caucus didn't want to have.The Kansas Capitol restoration decision: why Kenny and Senate counterpart Steve Morris refused to defund it even in a financial crisis and why it paid off.Examples of risk in what Kansans experience every day, but could deliver a great payoff. How embracing the opportunity to challenge one another with different ideas can introduce new ways of thinking. Chapters1:19 – Review, Preview and Big Picture 2:57 – Introducing Chapter 10: [Leadership] is Risky5:33 – How Leadership Involves Disruption and Loss7:50 – Leadership Requires Disappointing Your Own People9:33 –  KHF Strategy as an Example12:21 – Risk vs. Reward in Health Equity14:31 – Kenny on the risks and transformation of the Kansas Health System16:14 – From Worst to Best: Culture Shift19:05 – Metrics and Momentum Wins21:07 – The Risky Turnaround Story23:08 – Pay It Forward Mindset26:19 – Hallmark Promotion Risk27:58 – Post-9/11 Budget Crisis30:14 – Salad Week Disruption32:55 – Capitol Restoration Resolve34:50 – Everyday Risk Examples37:10 – Acceptance and Pushback39:01 – Make Leadership Ubiquitous40:10 – Resources and Final Challenge42:45 – Closing and Next ChapterResourcesKansas Leadership Center (KLC) — kansasleadershipcenter.orgProud but Never Satisfied — book about the transformation of the University of Kansas Health System - https://www.kansashealthsystem.com/proud-but-never-satisfied University of Kansas Health System — kansashealthsystem.comLeading Health is an invitation to move the needle on Health in Kansas, and we invite you to join us in leading the way. Don’t have a copy of Leading Health? Claim your copy and learn more about the movement at kansashealth.org/leadinghealthAnd be sure to subscribe, and drop a comment to let us know what you think.

Are those viral "tax hack" videos on your feed actually genius — or are they setting you up for an audit?Every week, social media serves up a fresh batch of financial advice that sounds too good to be true. In today’s episode, I break down some of the most popular tax strategy videos circulating right now, separating the solid concepts from the dangerous oversimplifications. From the real difference between how employees and business owners get taxed, to the rules around business travel write-offs and how debt is treated by the IRS — you'll walk away knowing exactly what questions to ask before you follow any advice you see online.HighlightsBusiness owners spend first, then pay taxes on net profit — employees pay taxes on gross income before they see a dimePhantom expenses like depreciation reduce your taxable income without cash ever leaving your business — and that's the powerful strategy most videos skip overYou can reimburse yourself as a business owner for home office use, mileage, and health insurance — expenses employees simply can't write offBusiness travel write-offs require intent proven before the trip, not after — the IRS looks at purpose and time spent, not just receiptsDebt is not taxable income — when you borrow money, it hits the balance sheet, not your P&L, so there's no tax event until you generate profitReal estate and stocks are taxed very differently from business income — savvy entrepreneurs use real estate to preserve wealth they've built through their businessA lot of the advice floating around online is good in concept — it just lacks the detail and documentation needed to hold up if you're auditedChapters0:00 – Welcome to Fabrice Reacts2:22 – Employees vs. Owners: How Taxes Work Differently2:57 – Phantom Expenses & Depreciation4:01 – Reimbursements and Write-Offs for Business Owners5:48 – Business Travel Write-Off Rules6:44 – Proving Intent and Documentation9:04 – Debt Is Not Taxable Income9:27 – P&L vs. Balance Sheet Basics11:49 – Real Estate, Stocks, and Business13:44 – Genius or Tax Fraud? Wrap-UpWant to keep more of what you earn? If you’re a 7-6-5 business owner ready to move from financial chaos to CFO-level comfort, visit www.simplifymynumbers.com to schedule a call with our team. Subscribe and leave a review on Apple or Spotify to help us grow the community, and be sure to share this episode with a fellow founder.This show is designed to be used for educational and informational purposes. For your own situation, be sure to contact a tax professional directly.This show is part of the ICT Podcast network. For more information, visit ictpod.net

What if the best hiking in Kansas has been right under your nose the whole time?Jeri Brungardt co-founded Women Hiking Kansas and Beyond in 2019 with a simple idea: stop losing track of friends who wanted to tag along on hikes and just make a Facebook group. What happened next surprised even her. Twelve strangers showed up to that first hike — none of them personal friends — and the group has grown to over 12,000 followers since. Jeri shares how the group scouts trails, what gear actually matters, why rattlesnakes dictate their summer schedule, and how hiking has become an unexpected source of community for women going through life's hardest moments.HighlightsWomen Hiking Kansas and Beyond started in 2019 and now has over 12,000 Facebook followers — grown entirely organically with no paid advertisingThe co-founders personally hike every trail before taking the group, checking parking, safety, and seasonal hazards like rattlesnakes at Horse Thief CanyonThey use the AllTrails app to discover new trails across the stateThe group is open to any female 12 and older; their oldest participant is in her upper 80s and outpaces most of the groupMonthly hikes are free; overnight trips charge a $20 fee managed through EventbriteTheir annual September trip to Estes Park, Colorado has been running every year since 2020Jeri recommends hiking poles for everyone — they reduce strain on your back and help probe water crossingsAlways bring sunscreen, a hat, water or electrolyte drinks, and a small first aid kitThe group has attracted women from 12 different states to their Colorado tripCindy Kuhnauer, the co-founder, also runs Fearless and Female, a self-defense business out of WichitaSydney defends Spangles with her whole chest (and eats it in the Walmart parking lot so her kids don't find out)Chapters0:00 — Madeline's softball ear muff situation2:13 — Podcast intro2:49 — Meet Jeri Brungardt3:25 — How Women Hiking Kansas and Beyond got started5:06 — How they pick trails and scout locations safely7:10 — What "hiking" actually means for this group8:02 — Upcoming Salina hike (Marty Bender Nature Area + Audubon Society)9:18 — Beginner tips: gear, shoes, water, and safety13:32 — Age range and the community the group has built15:31 — Jeri's personal hiking backstory17:17 — Favorite trails in Kansas17:07 — Trail diversity across Kansas19:57 — Jeri's backstory and career at Wesley Medical Center22:34 — The health benefits of walking23:52 — Beyond Kansas: Estes Park, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Kansas City26:26 — How much work goes into running the group (+ Eventbrite)31:04 — Rapid fire: shoes and hats32:27 — Weather safety and what to do when it's 100 degrees33:59 — Rails-to-Trails and connecting with other hiking groups36:42 — Hiking with kids and different trail personalities39:45 — Future plans for the group43:25 — How the group grew through COVID and the power of one Facebook page47:55 — Stories From a Hat: parking lots, prairie dogs, Spangles, and soup flights53:34 — Outro and where to find Ask a KansanResourcesWomen Hiking Kansas and Beyond — Facebook Group AllTrails — alltrails.com — trail-finding app mentioned by JeriKanopolis State ParkElk City State ParkMonument Rocks / Castle RockTallgrass Prairie National PreserveFearless and Female — self-defense business run by co-founder Cindy Coughenour, based in WichitaLearn more about the podcast at askakansan.com!This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net