Topeka Talk: Community Conversations

In this episode of the Topeka Talk podcast, hosts Gretchen Spiker and India Yarborough wrap up their three-part series about how funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, commonly known as ARPA, are supporting local programs and making an impact in Topeka. If you missed the first two episodes, be sure to give them a listen! In this final episode of season two, Spiker and Yarborough are joined by Pam Evans, director of marketing and development for Family Service & Guidance Center, who shares how FSGC—a leader in children's mental health—benefitted from the funds and was able to open up its new Youth Crisis & Recovery Center. They talk about the new center, services available under its roof, and how FSGC is serving kids and families in the region. Stick around for the end of the episode to hear final thoughts on the ARPA process from Topeka City Council member Christina Valdivia-Alcala. It's an important community conversation you won't want to miss!

In this episode of the Topeka Talk podcast, hosts Gretchen Spiker and India Yarborough sit down with one of the local recipients of funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, commonly known as ARPA. This episode is the second installment in a three-part series about how $10 million in ARPA grants are impacting social services in the Topeka area. Today's guest is Chris Palmer, executive director of Cornerstone of Topeka. Palmer talks with the hosts about housing needs in the city—especially for individuals who are unhoused and those who are working but live below the poverty line—and dives into how ARPA funding allocated to Cornerstone is helping bridge the gap between housing need and inventory. Listen in to learn more from this community conversation you don't want to miss!

In this episode of the Topeka Talk podcast, hosts Gretchen Spiker and India Yarborough kick off a three-episode series about how funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, commonly known as ARPA, is impacting social services in the Topeka area. It's been about a year since the City of Topeka, through its governing body, allocated $10 million in ARPA funding to community organizations in Kansas' capital city. In episode one of the series, Spiker and Yarborough sit down with Topeka City Council member Spencer Duncan, who helped spearhead the city's grant allocation process, to learn more about the local dissemination of ARPA funding, which key focus area emerged, and much more. Following the conversation with Duncan is an interview with Sarah Elsen, executive director of Child Care Aware of Eastern Kansas, who dives into how ARPA funding will impact child care providers, and families seeking care, in Topeka. Listen in to learn more from two community conversations you don't want to miss! 

In this episode of the Topeka Talk podcast, hosts Gretchen Spiker and India Yarborough talk with two special guests about the funding supports available for small businesses in the Topeka area. Spiker and Yarborough are joined by Stephanie Norwood, GO Topeka's director of entrepreneurship and small business, and Pedro Concepcion, a local small business owner behind favorites like The Wheel Barrel in Topeka's NOTO Arts & Entertainment District and K.I.T. Solutions, which supports many other local establishments. As a past recipient of GO Topeka Small Business Incentives, Concepcion shares his perspective on the program and how incentives open new doors for entrepreneurs. Norwood, meanwhile, gives listeners the inside scoop on how GO Topeka's Small Business Incentives program works. Whether you're a small business owner looking to grow or simply a curious consumer, listen to our latest episode to learn how Topeka helps business owners succeed!

In this episode of the Topeka Talk podcast, hosts Gretchen Spiker and India Yarborough cover the Topeka Area Sports Commission, a committee formed in 2022 to advance sports offerings in the greater Topeka area. The pair is joined by Jake Farrant, owner and CEO of Mammoth Sports Construction and chair of TASC, and Mike Bell, of Visit Topeka, who serves as TASC director. They dish on the creation of TASC, their focus on both youth and adult sports, how to address local facility needs, and so much more! It's a community conversation you don't want to miss. Listen today for a peek at the sports commission's game plan — and follow TASC on social media to keep up with their progress along the way!

In this episode of the Topeka Talk podcast, hosts Gretchen Spiker and India Yarborough sit down with Washburn University President Dr. JuliAnn Mazachek and Dr. Alan Bearman, Washburn's vice president for strategic enrollment management. Following an exciting university announcement about new scholarship opportunities for Shawnee County students, they talk through what these scholarships provide, how they seek to address local talent needs, and so much more — including what may be on the horizon for this Topeka institution. Listen today to learn all about Washburn's effort to keep homegrown talent home.

In this episode of the Topeka Talk podcast, hosts Gretchen Spiker and India Yarborough sit down with Matt McGivern, president of Senne Company, our community's Top City Small Business of the Year! They dive into the company's history, past and future projects, community impact and more. This episode also introduces listeners to the other winners of Topeka and Shawnee County's 2023 Small Business Awards held in early May. Listen today to hear about the amazing work being done by a variety of local small businesses, and visit GoTopeka.com/small-business-awards for more on this annual community event!

In this episode of the Topeka Talk podcast, hosts Gretchen Spiker and India Yarborough sit down with two leaders at the Washburn Institute of Technology — Mike Strohschein, dean, and Pam Masters, director of health occupations. Together, they talk all things Washburn Tech, including what programs the school offers, how the technical college is helping address the area's talent needs, and so much more! Listen to learn all about it. Then, visit WashburnTech.edu to explore the institute's programs for yourself! 

In the second Topeka Talk episode of Season 2, hosts Gretchen Spiker and India Yarborough are joined by Wrylie Guffey and Shanna Simpson, lead animal curators at the Topeka Zoo! The pair dishes details of the zoo's newest exhibit, Giraffe & Friends, which will be the largest habitat in its history. Listen to learn what you can expect from the new experience, and for a few fun facts about the zoo's furry friends, including how they get their names! For more on the zoo, visit TopekaZoo.org. 

To kick off Season 2 of Topeka Talk: Community Conversations, hosts Gretchen Spiker and India Yarborough sit down with Ernestor De La Rosa, the City of Topeka's first Chief Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Officer. Listen now to learn about Ernestor's path to finding Topeka, his plans and hopes for the role, and so much more! To contact the city's DEI Office, visit Topeka.org/dei/. P.S. We've got a great season ahead with lots of meaningful conversations in store, so be sure to stick around!

In this episode of Topeka Talk: Community Conversations, hosts Gretchen Spiker and India Yarborough wrap up Season 1 of the show with a roundup of the festive activities happening in Topeka/Shawnee County this holiday season! Listen to learn about what's popping up in December 2022 and to hear their plans for Topeka Talk Season 2. Check back here again in early February for more from the Topeka Talk podcast!

In this episode of Topeka Talk: Community Conversations, hosts Gretchen Spiker and India Yarborough take the show on the road for a collaborative episode with the South by East Podcast! Recorded in South by East's Studio 104, you'll learn about that studio space, and how it aims to help everyone from the video expert to the podcast newbie hone their skills — all for an affordable price. Johnathan Sublet and Brail Watson, both pastors at a local church, also share the details of a new project called the Ford Center. So how will the Ford Center, once a church, be transformed into a space that lowers hurdles for growth and innovation in the city of Topeka? Give this episode a listen to find out!

In this episode of Topeka Talk: Community Conversations, hosts Gretchen Spiker and India Yarborough are joined by guests Michelle Cuevas-Stubblefield, SVP of strategy for the Greater Topeka Partnership, and Tara Dimick, owner and publisher of TK Business Magazine and a Momentum 2027 tri-chair. The two women helped bring Topeka/Shawnee County's first community strategy, Momentum 2022, to fruition, and as the plan sunsets this year, they'll be helping to implement Momentum 2027, the community's next five-year holistic plan for growth. Listen now to learn about some of Momentum 2022's wins, what Momentum 2027 is all about, and how community members can get involved!

In this episode of Topeka Talk: Community Conversations, hosts Gretchen Spiker and India Yarborough take their show on the road! This episode was recorded at the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library's new Level 2 Tech Center, a community workspace that features two recording studios, a fully equipped digital art studio, meeting rooms, workstations with computer access, and much more. Library CEO Marie Pyko and Emerging Technologies Librarian Todd Smith join Spiker and Yarborough for a conversation about all the center has to offer. No matter one's skill level, this tech center aims to be a resource for all.

In this episode of Topeka Talk: Community Conversations, hosts Gretchen Spiker and India Yarborough sit down with Topeka City Council member Karen Hiller and volunteers from Omni Circle Group to talk about a new citywide initiative designed to improve local property appearance, reduce vacant structures and support safer neighborhoods. Listen today to learn more about how Topeka is working to change its culture of property maintenance!

In this episode of Topeka Talk: Community Conversations, hosts Gretchen Spiker and India Yarborough sit down with Rhett Flood, executive director of Forge Young Talent, and Cody Burger, chair of this year's TopCity Interns program. The group chats about Topeka's citywide intern initiative, current talent attraction efforts in the capital city, how young professionals can get involved in the community, and much more. Listen today to learn about some of the innovative programs moving Topeka and Shawnee County forward!

In this episode of Topeka Talk: Community Conversations, hosts Gretchen Spiker and India Yarborough sit down with Topeka Mayor Mike Padilla and area resident Norma Avery, president of the Topeka Family & Friends Juneteenth Celebration. During their conversation, Mayor Padilla teases a special Juneteenth proclamation he plans to make at an upcoming Topeka City Council meeting, and Avery shares everything you need to know about this year's local Juneteenth celebrations — plus, a little history about how she founded the family and friends celebration nearly 10 years ago. Give it a listen!

In episode one of Topeka Talk: Community Conversations, hosts Gretchen Spiker and India Yarborough sit down with Visit Topeka president Sean Dixon and local small-business-and-events advocate Alison Beebe, who manages the ever-growing Facebook group Topcityflavorista Local Eats & Events! Their conversations touch on Topeka tourism and its impact in the area, the success of Topeka Dino Days, and how a community can rally behind tourism campaigns and business endeavors. Check it out!