Welcome to the Topeka Insider! We're not just another podcast – we're a media powerhouse dedicated to shining a light and changing the narrative on our Capital City. Join us, as we try amplify the voices of local entrepreneurs, business owners, city officials and thought leaders that are shaping the future of Topeka.

ALL EPISODES
Topeka Insider: The Journey of a Local Podcast's First Year | Justin & Jon

Topeka Insider: The Journey of a Local Podcast's First Year | Justin & Jon

Discover how the Topeka Insider podcast went from a shared vision to a local storytelling platform celebrating Topeka’s people, businesses, and potential. One year in, the hosts reflect on growth, com...

Redefining Growth and the Future of Topeka | Molly Howey

Redefining Growth and the Future of Topeka | Molly Howey

CEO Molly Howey shares how Topeka is redefining what economic development looks like—through collaboration, innovation, and quality of life.

The Long Game: 20 Years From Walk-On To Washburn University Head Football Coach | Zach Watkins

The Long Game: 20 Years From Walk-On To Washburn University Head Football Coach | Zach Watkins

New Washburn head coach Zach Watkins is redefining Ichabod football—from culture shifts and recruiting strategy to community outreach and player development.

Topeka’s Airports: Engines of Growth and Transformation | Curtis Sneden

Topeka’s Airports: Engines of Growth and Transformation | Curtis Sneden

Topeka’s airports are poised for a major comeback—with plans for commercial flights, aviation jobs, and regional growth. Here’s how MTAA is charting a new course for the city’s future.

Giving Topeka’s Small Businesses a Voice: Transforming Topeka's Small Business Landscape | India Yarbrough

Giving Topeka’s Small Businesses a Voice: Transforming Topeka's Small Business Landscape | India Yarbrough

From newsroom deadlines to nonprofit spotlights, India Yarbrough is using public relations to give small businesses in Topeka the platform they deserve. Her firm, Local Lens PR, is redefining how the ...

Coaching the Whole Player: Blueprint for Success at Washburn | Brett Ballard

Coaching the Whole Player: Blueprint for Success at Washburn | Brett Ballard

Brett Ballard’s coaching story is one of opportunity, resilience, and purpose. From his start as a walk-on at KU under Roy Williams to cutting down nets as Washburn’s head coach, Ballard has crafted a...

Conservation in Action: How the Topeka Zoo is Saving Endangered Species Around the World | Dennis Dinwiddie

Conservation in Action: How the Topeka Zoo is Saving Endangered Species Around the World | Dennis Dinwiddie

From Sumatra to Kansas, the Topeka Zoo is making a global impact. Learn how conservation director Dennis Dinwiddie is turning a small zoo into a big player in wildlife preservation.

The Transformation of Topeka: How a City Rebuilt Its Identity from the Inside Out | Matt Pivarnik

The Transformation of Topeka: How a City Rebuilt Its Identity from the Inside Out | Matt Pivarnik

When Matt Pivarnik arrived in Topeka in 2016, the city was grappling with low morale and self-image. Under his leadership at the Greater Topeka Partnership, Topeka became the first city to measure its...

Through the Lens: Photojournalism, Topeka, and Capturing Moments That Matter | Evert Nelson

Through the Lens: Photojournalism, Topeka, and Capturing Moments That Matter | Evert Nelson

Evert Nelson, chief photojournalist at the Topeka Capital-Journal, joins the Topeka Insider podcast to reflect on his journey in photojournalism—from capturing fireworks inside the Colorado Rockies st...

Lighting Up Our Community: Inside Topeka Zoo Lights | Cynthia McCarvel
Topeka InsiderDecember 12, 2025
33
00:30:4321.14 MB

Lighting Up Our Community: Inside Topeka Zoo Lights | Cynthia McCarvel

We sat down with Cynthia McCarvel, Strategic Partnerships Director at the Topeka Zoo, to unpack how Zoo Lights grew from a winter idea into a citywide ...

How Learning Languages Builds Community And Opportunity | Dr. Pilar Mejía
Topeka InsiderNovember 28, 2025
32
01:06:2645.67 MB

How Learning Languages Builds Community And Opportunity | Dr. Pilar Mejía

We trace Pilar’s path from Columbia to Topeka and explore how language, culture, and community shape learning. Dual language classrooms, the seal of bi...

Beyond the Comments: What It Really Takes To Communicate For Topeka | Dan Garrett
Topeka InsiderNovember 14, 2025
31
00:48:2433.28 MB

Beyond the Comments: What It Really Takes To Communicate For Topeka | Dan Garrett

We talk with Dan Garrett, Director of Communications and Media Relations for the City of Topeka, about how a modern city communicates through storms, p...

From Bean To Bar: How Hazel Hill Builds Flavor, Wins Awards, And Serves A City | Nick Xidis
Topeka InsiderOctober 31, 2025
30
01:07:3946.5 MB

From Bean To Bar: How Hazel Hill Builds Flavor, Wins Awards, And Serves A City | Nick Xidis

We sit down with Hazel Hill’s Nick Xidis to explore award-winning bean-to-bar chocolate, the craft behind single origins, and why serving people is the...

How The Topeka Community Foundation is Driving Lasting Change | Marsha Pope
Topeka InsiderOctober 17, 2025
29
00:40:4828.06 MB

How The Topeka Community Foundation is Driving Lasting Change | Marsha Pope

We talk with Marsha Pope about how the Topeka Community Foundation grew from a $10,000 idea to a $120 million engine for local change and why the team ...

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