A People's History of Kansas City

A People's History of Kansas City

KCUR Studios

Episodes 72
Avg. Duration 32m
Activity Highly Active
Apple Rating 4.8 (216)
Since Jan 2020
Latest Episode May 2026

Publishing Details

Schedule
Monthly
Format
Episodic
Consistency
73%
Hosting
www.kcur.org

Contact & Outreach

About This Podcast

The podcast about the everyday heroes, renegades and visionaries who shaped Kansas City and the region. If these stories aren't told, they're in danger of fading into the past. Made by Suzanne Hogan, Mackenzie Martin and KCUR Studios.

Explore Statistics

Recent Episodes

Why Kansas City won the World Cup

May 27, 2026 39m

Kansas City’s efforts to host the World Cup go back all the way to 1988. Now the tournament is finally here, after four years of preparations that not only reshaped the metro’s infrastructure, but…

Carving Kansas City out from limestone

Apr 29, 2026 38m

Bluffs up to 120 feet tall once hugged the Missouri River by Kansas City — making it difficult to traverse the landscape and expand the growing town. So in the mid-1800s, a Catholic priest named…

How women made the U.S. a soccer powerhouse

Mar 25, 2026 42m

With the Current’s trailblazing stadium, women’s soccer staked its claim as a vital part of Kansas City’s local identity. The women’s game is a central reason why this city will host the 2026 FIFA…

Reclaiming the right to jaywalk

Feb 17, 2026 27m

Kansas City, Missouri, became the first major city in the country to repeal its anti-jaywalking ordinance, after research found that tickets were being disproportionately issued to Black men. It’s a…

When jaywalking became a crime

Jan 29, 2026 26m

Kansas City was not only the birthplace of the term “jaywalking,” it also became the first city in the U.S. to arrest people for such a crime. Fueled by auto industry propaganda, this decision set…

Leila’s Hair Museum lives on

Dec 17, 2025 27m

Since 1956, Leila Cohoon had amassed the world’s largest collection of hair art and jewelry — intricate works made of human hair. Her museum in Independence, Missouri, was the only one of its kind.…

Lamar Hunt and the dream of U.S. soccer

Nov 19, 2025 37m

As the United States prepares for the 2026 World Cup, it's hard to remember that professional soccer in this country once felt like an impossible dream. But one Kansas City businessman, better known…

Are tornado urban legends like the ‘Tonganoxie Split’ real?

Oct 21, 2025 27m

For decades, urban legends have held that tornadoes seem to “split” around certain cities, like Tonganoxie, Kansas, or avoid sacred places, like Burnett’s Mound in Topeka. Mackenzie Martin and Maya…

This mural defies fascists

Oct 08, 2025 30m

Artist Luis Quintanilla fled Spain to escape fascism and civil war, but most of his work did not survive. Today, only two of his murals remain in the world, one of which sits in an otherwise ordinary…

A mystery in Marion: Who was behind the newspaper raid?

Aug 11, 2025 27m

On a Friday morning in rural Kansas, the publisher of a tiny local newspaper hears a knock at the door. It’s the police — with a search warrant. Within minutes, they’re inside his home, seizing his…

PHKC Live! Test your Missouri history knowledge with us

Aug 06, 2025 2m

A People’s History of Kansas City is hitting the streets near you for several in-person bingo extravaganzas! Hosts Suzanne Hogan and Mackenzie Martin will be in North Kansas City on August 21, south…

Bob Dole, the ADA, and the power of collective activism

Jul 16, 2025 35m

Signed 35 years ago this month, the Americans with Disabilities Act was the world’s first comprehensive civil rights law for people with disabilities — guaranteeing equal opportunity in public…

The immigrants who made us a soccer city

Jun 25, 2025 28m

Kansas City is preparing to welcome soccer fans from all around the world for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It’s the smallest host city in North America, and has a lot of work left to get ready. But how…

A publishing house for lesbians, by lesbians

May 21, 2025 40m

As the gay rights movement began picking up steam in the 1970s, Barbara Grier co-founded the largest lesbian publishing company in the world — right from her Kansas City home. KCUR's Olivia Hewitt…

Can Kansas City repair what Highway 71 destroyed?

Apr 30, 2025 35m

Bruce R. Watkins Drive is an iconic, 10-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 71 that displaced thousands of people in Kansas City. It divided communities, sparked a movement and led to a rare compromise that…

Rebuilding Kansas City's relationship with its public schools

Mar 27, 2025 36m

Kansas City is asking voters to buy into its public school system for the first time in nearly 60 years. Even after Kansas City Public Schools regained accreditation and turned around student…

Why Kansas City’s football team became the Chiefs

Feb 06, 2025 18m

As Kansas City celebrates the Chiefs’ third consecutive Super Bowl appearance, the team name, logo, and some problematic fan customs like the “tomahawk chop” are once again being broadcast worldwide.…

How popcorn and movie theaters met

Jan 16, 2025 27m

Popcorn and movie theaters are inseparable today. But a century ago, cinemas actually banned the beloved treat for being cheap and messy. As Mackenzie Martin reports, a Kansas City widow named Julia…

Searching for Nora Holt’s stolen music

Dec 16, 2024 32m

Nora Holt was the first Black person in the United States to earn a master’s degree in music. A prolific composer of more than 200 musical pieces and a club-hopping socialite, she once wrote a…

Want a hit song? Give Dana Suesse 12 minutes

Nov 12, 2024 28m

Kansas City composer Dana Suesse was behind some of the most popular American music of the 1930s. Nicknamed “the girl Gershwin,” Suesse’s songs like “You Oughta Be In Pictures” and “My Silent Love”…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does A People's History of Kansas City have?

A People's History of Kansas City has published 72 episodes since January 2020, covering topics in Education, History.

Is A People's History of Kansas City still active?

A People's History of Kansas City is currently highly active with new episodes monthly. Average episode length is 32m.

How do I contact A People's History of Kansas City for sponsorship or guest appearances?

Sign up on Grep.FM to access contact details for A People's History of Kansas City, including email and social media links.

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