Real Humans By Gina Kaufmann

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The coronavirus has changed everything about how we live in Kansas City. KCUR's Gina Kaufmann brings you personal essays about how we're all adapting to a very different world.

KCUR Studios


    • May 15, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 10m AVG DURATION
    • 68 EPISODES

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    Latest episodes from Real Humans By Gina Kaufmann

    A Midwest goodbye

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2022 10:30


    For the last two years, the real humans of Kansas City have given us strength. They've helped us realize that when the outlook appears grim, daring to imagine a way forward isn't fanciful or naïve.

    I want to tell you about my hometown

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2022 13:52


    Kansas City has taught me that you don't love a city by seeing only the parts that make you comfortable. Telling stories about this place for two decades allowed me to understand its quirks, its flaws, its strengths and its heartaches.

    Kansas City vs. the bus

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2022 14:17


    Despite long wait times between buses, confusing route changes and other inconveniences, these Kansas Citians use public transit not because they have to, but because they want to. Here's why that matters.

    A bus rider in a car city

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2022 11:08


    Despite being designed for cars, Kansas City is home to people who rely on the bus every day. We spent a day riding along with Richard Heimer to learn what's working and what's not in our public transit system.

    'We're just your neighbors'

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2022 12:15


    Kansas Citians stirred by horrific scenes from Ukraine are reaching out to Sofia Khan with offers to help refugees who might move here. But Khan is still trying to meet the needs of immigrants from Afghanistan, who began arriving here by the hundreds in October — without the same outpouring of support.

    Why Vi Tran stopped trying to prove himself

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2022 13:12


    Even at the height of his professional success as an actor, playwright and venue owner, Vi Tran struggled to pause long enough to enjoy his achievements. Since the pandemic hit, he's grown clearer about what it takes to live well as an artist — and he's started to demand it.

    A book list for rebel teens

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2022 5:06


    Are there books that contain ideas so crucial for understanding that it's dangerous not to read them? We reached out to Kansas City's biggest book-readers and change-makers to find out what titles they'd put on such a reading list.

    Annel Alvarez didn't mean to start a dance troupe

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2022 12:19


    A year ago, Grupo Folklórico Izcalli consisted of a few friends dancing in a park to lift the haze of new motherhood. After an impressive first season — including a halftime show at Arrowhead Stadium — they vow to keep doing it for fun, but also to keep getting bigger.

    Church of the Birkenstock

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2022 13:00


    Mick Ranney started selling and repairing Birkenstocks in Lawrence, Kansas, decades ago. The brand's popularity has ebbed and flowed — although its current wave of fashion cred is proving more enduring than any before. Throughout it all, Ranney has stayed a "true believer" in shoes worth fixing.

    Kansas City rent is still too damn high

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2022 12:03


    A Midtown "townie" priced off of her bus line. A retiree on fixed income forced out of her home of 17 years. Kansas City renters are facing substantial rent hikes, with serious repercussions.

    The rogue trash picker-uppers of Kansas City

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2022 12:35


    Stray garbage covers the ground in city parks and on boulevards. But because there's nobody tasked with picking up litter, regular Kansas Citians are taking matters into their own hands.

    Ameerah at the mic again

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2022 14:09


    Ameerah Sanders is returning to Kansas City's standup scene after going through a breakup, political disillusionment and a solo cross-country odyssey. The experience taught her how much more she has to offer — not to others, but to herself.

    How to walk out of school

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2022 11:41


    In January, high school students walked out of their Columbia, Missouri, classrooms to pressure their school board to reinstate a mask mandate. With COVID prevention policies expiring statewide, their experience — and a whole history of student-led walkouts — might prove instructive.

    Adib Khorram deserves better than a book ban

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2022 10:55


    In his novels, Kansas City author Adib Khorram shows aspects of his life that were "erased" from his own high school curricula. His main characters are Iranian, or gay, or both; they sing in boy bands and play soccer. Except now his work is being targeted by book-banning campaigns.

    Where everybody knows you're vaccinated

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2022 10:14


    In the absence of citywide mask and vaccine mandates, this cozy West Bottoms restaurant put its own rules in place. For Kansas Citians who don't want to ignore COVID precautions, The Campground offers a rare chance to take a break from their worries. “It's not that hard,” the owner says. “It really isn't.”

    A phone rings by the hospital bed

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2022 12:07


    With Kansas City hospitals caring for a record number of COVID patients, it's hard right now to address everyone's medical needs, let alone spiritual ones. Chaplains navigate health protocols and technological limitations, while still finding holiness "in places and circumstances most folks don't."

    Are we canceling everything again?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2022 11:10


    When she first postponed her wedding in 2020, Lauren Hughes focused on the privilege of safety. "It's just a party," she thought. But planning a once-in-a-lifetime event, three times, during global crisis has given her perspective on what matters.

    Carry Nation was right

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2022 11:19


    For more than a century, Carry Nation's Prohibition rampages have inspired mockery. What we've missed, though, is the story of a disenfranchised person getting fed up and demanding more from the leaders charged with protecting her. "You wouldn't give me the vote," she said, "so I had to use a rock."

    How ‘Encanto' taught me to ditch ambition

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2022 12:47


    In the two years I've spent talking to Kansas Citians about how the pandemic has changed their lives and beliefs, I've heard a lot about the pressures that people want to let go. Even in 2022, that's proving easier said than done. Can a Disney song put us on the right path?

    The long-lost Christmas tape

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 26, 2021 13:57


    In the mid-2000s, Kansas City musician Billy Smith was combing thrift stores when he stumbled upon a random tape in an old-school reel-to-reel tape recorder. What came next was a series of magical coincidences that turned strangers into family.

    Kansas City, land of cinnamon rolls

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2021 13:30


    Cinnamon rolls are ubiquitous on Kansas City menus, whether you're at a greasy-spoon diner, high-end bakery, fancy restaurant, coffee shop or deli. They come baked or fried, round or square, iced or plain, for dessert — or served on the side with fried chicken or chili.

    Painting a brighter day for Quindaro

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2021 10:58


    Lucky Easterwood has been painting murals in Kansas City, Kansas, since 1996. Each of his paintings are intended as a message of optimism for this specific community: "If it was quick to die, it can be quick to rebuild."

    Where's the vinyl?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2021 14:25


    It's hard to get a record made right now, unless you're Adele. But what, exactly, are the "supply chain issues" keeping vinyl out of indie bands' hands? The experience of Kansas City band Frogpond offers an illuminating look into this complex problem.

    A pandemic taught Kadesh Flow to love his birthday

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2021 9:36


    Musician Ryan Davis — known to fans as Kadesh Flow — didn't just survive a brutal year. The hip-hop performer is climbing up from a low place feeling stronger, more joyful, and more deserving of love than before.

    Return of Franksgiving

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2021 9:59


    Lee Meisel of Leeway Franks has been going hard for 18 months, and he's ready to take a breath. His revived Franksgiving — a casual holiday meal at his small restaurant — will reflect that by embracing togetherness, simplicity, and a heightened appreciation for enough.

    Krazy the garden cat

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2021 10:48


    Until she died this past July, Krazy was a full-time resident at the Kauffman Memorial Garden — protecting beautiful blooms from Brush Creek vermin by night, befriending visitors by day. But the gardener who tamed her remembers that, when Krazy arrived 18 years ago as a young feral cat, "she was just mean."

    ‘You're going to see my face'

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2021 10:18


    After losing her apartment, Amanda Finley sought refuge at a Missouri campsite she calls her "happy place." Even as much of the country returns to normal, she's working to remind people that COVID long-haulers are still coping with illness and income loss.

    The kids who hate shots — but can't wait for their vaccine

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2021 9:05


    With COVID-19 vaccines imminent for children ages 5-11, I wanted to see how Kansas City kids felt about their shots. But I also heard something more: fears about the disease that's changed their lives, and impatience from long-promised parties, trips and concerts.

    The new rules for dining out

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2021 13:26


    The custom of dining out has completely transformed over the course of the pandemic. So what's the new etiquette? Kansas City servers and bartenders share their first-hand advice on how to stay cool with your wait staff, hosts, and fellow customers.

    Kansas City rent is too damn high

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2021 10:07


    A Midtown "townie" priced off of her bus line. A retiree on fixed income forced out of her home of 17 years. Kansas City renters are facing substantial rent hikes, with serious repercussions.

    Are We Finally Going Back To Movie Theaters?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2021 10:31


    Kansas City once again has a second local movie theater standing, after B&B Theatres opened a new location in the former Alamo Drafthouse space. But after a year adapting to home-viewing, it's unclear how fast crowds are coming back.

    This Lakota Runner Is Done Hiding Her Identity

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2021 8:03


    The captain of the Haskell Indian Nations University women's cross-country team no longer feels shy about her Lakota identity. "That's who I am," she says. "I shouldn't have to cover that up to make you comfortable."

    Cancel Postpone Reschedule: The Pandemic-Wedding Dance

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2021 10:07


    When she first postponed her wedding in 2020, Lauren Hughes focused on the privilege of safety. "It's just a party," she thought. But planning a once-in-a-lifetime event, three times, during global crisis has given her perspective on what matters.

    A Voice Of Calm For Kansas City

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2021 10:11


    Renee Blanche started hosting KCUR's "Night Tides" 27 years ago this month. She found exactly what her listeners now seek: "That Sunday night space became an island in the storm of my life."

    A Tale Of Two Cities' Parks

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2021 11:27


    After spending most of my free time in parks for a year, I visited St. Louis and saw a city that related to its parks very differently. My attempts to understand why revealed a stark truth: Kansas City's parks were designed to separate people, not bring them together.

    Hong Zhang Knows We're All A Mess

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2021 8:30


    This Lawrence-based artist left China in 1998 for the freedom to make art her own way. But she says the current political moment, in America, requires something different: joining with others.

    The Most Curious Sandwich In Missouri

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2021 13:03


    The Real Humans podcast crew is off this week, so we're sharing this story from KCUR's new food podcast Hungry For MO. It's about chef Qui Tran — who immigrated with his family from Vietnam to St. Louis, and fell in love with a unique, oddly-named dish called the St. Paul sandwich.

    A Pandemic Taught Kadesh Flow To Love His Birthday

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2021 9:56


    Musician Ryan Davis — known to fans as Kadesh Flow — didn't just survive a brutal year. The hip-hop performer is climbing up from a low place feeling stronger, more joyful, and more deserving of love than before.

    Can We Have Class Outside?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2021 8:20


    While most districts spent the last year debating in-person vs. remote learning or going back and forth over masking policies, some schools focused on building classrooms in the great outdoors.

    Where To Get A Bomb Café De Olla

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2021 11:49


    When Irma Hernandez rented a desk inside a music store on Southwest Boulevard, she never dreamed the entire space would one day belong to her — or that her daughter would turn it into a Mexican coffee shop.

    We Make The Path By Biking

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2021 7:55


    Feeling confident and safe riding a bike on the street in Kansas City isn't easy. That's especially true for Black women. But Jassma Thomas of Independence is conquering her fears.

    You Don't Know When Grief Will Hit You

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2021 11:10


    To re-enter the world post-quarantine is to be confronted again with loss, something happening all around us due to "excess bereavement." Rebecca Pryor is one of many Kansas Citians facing that delayed grieving right now.

    Racing For Last Place On The Missouri River

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2021 12:26


    The MR340, a paddling race from Kansas City to St. Louis along the Missouri River, has a reputation for being not just difficult but crazy. After finishing last in 2020, one man is back for more—a real-life hero to "the average among us."

    Keeping The Fire Alive At LC's Bar-B-Q

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2021 8:57


    LC Richardson started his famous no-frills barbecue joint in 1986. His granddaughter, Tausha Hammett, worked the cash register before she was tall enough to see over it. Now she's ushering LC's into a new era.

    Finding Hope In A Peach Orchard

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 4, 2021 9:03


    Mark Angermayer used to be a pig farmer. When a back injury took that away, he forgot how to dream. His fruit orchard just south of Kansas City is a lesson in resilience and renewal.

    Pools For The People

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2021 7:24


    Everyone deserves a safe place to swim, but we live in a region of pool haves and have-nots: Kansas City, Kansas, has zero public pools open this summer, while Lenexa has three pools for one-third the population.

    The Story Of One Kansas City Block

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2021 7:32


    The 400 block of Delaware Street always had charm, but for the longest time, no foot traffic. I know because my dad ran a bookstore there in the 1990s — right before he died.

    Enrique Chi Wants Out Of The ‘Diversity Tent'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2021 8:56


    When concerts dried up last year, the band Making Movies went all over the U.S. to ask legendary musicians what makes their music "American." The resulting documentary airs July 1 on Kansas City PBS.

    Roger Shimomura's Takedown Of Asian Stereotypes

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2021 9:30


    Lawrence-based artist Roger Shimomura just received an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Kansas for his impact on the art world. The recognition comes as the 81-year-old's work takes on new resonance.

    The Introvert's Guide To Going Out Again

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2021 7:56


    All of the commentary about how introverts are going to have a hard time getting back out there is missing something important: There is more out there than just parties. I'm talking about bookstores, record stores, plant nurseries and art museums.

    How Do You Pandemic-Proof A Restaurant?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2021 9:49


    When these business owners hung closed signs on their doors, they didn't know if reopening day would come. Now Poi-O, Julep and Westside Local are flinging the doors back open, with the last year written all over some major transformations.

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