Positively Radioactive
Four years ago I sat in Colorado, contemplating the ongoing racial upheavals dividing our country, while watching a virtual RadioActive gala, tears occasionally streaming down my face. Reflecting again on that socially distanced time somehow made this year’s RadioActive event for KCUR 89.3 even more poignant. After fits and starts, it was the first year this event felt fully, fully back. (Which I heard on repeat from many guests that evening.)
More than a thousand KCUR fans—the largest attendance in the event’s history—gathered at the glittering Loews Kansas City Hotel to celebrate and support public radio. We heard from this year’s dynamic and energetic co-chairs, Kim Jones & Shelly Freeman and Doug Anning & Kirk Isenhour. The general manager of KCUR, Sarah Morris, delivered compelling remarks that touched on something I think so many of us feel right now: news fatigue. I was so moved, in fact, that I suggested at our wrap-up meeting (yes, I shamelessly serve on this fine event’s organizing committee) that the video should be incorporated into a future KCUR fundraising email. (If the radio bosses agree, I’ll be sure to share with you on my Insta.) Fatigue aside, we were reminded by Sarah that more than a thousand NPR affiliate stations dot our diverse and decentralized nation—from urban to rural, red to blue. While 99 percent of the U.S. population lives inside a station radius, one thing listeners (or online readers) will never experience is a paywall. That blanket accessibility is a rarity in today’s media landscape, and perhaps something that many of us take for granted. These stations are a vital asset to our communities and our informed democracy.
Overheard: “There is nothing worse than a burned-out candle at a dinner table.”
Though Sarah was a tough act to follow, the legendary Ari Shapiro was, unsurprisingly, up to the task. For those unfamiliar (I implore you to get familiar!), Ari has hosted NPR’s flagship program All Things Considered since 2015, in addition to holding several previous correspondent roles. His work has won three national Edward R. Murrow awards for outstanding achievement in broadcast and digital journalism. His first book, The Best Strangers in the World: Stories from a Life Spent Listening, was a New York Times bestseller upon its release last year. On the side, Ari also tours with the band Pink Martini and performs in a traveling cabaret show with actor Alan Cumming. Oh—and since his visit to KC, he is the newest host of The Mole, which is now streaming on Netflix.
At first blush, this all seems like one big bio hodgepodge. But the connecting thread for Ari is a love of storytelling and connecting with an audience. In his fireside chat with the managing editor of NPR’s Midwest Newsroom, Holly Edgell, Ari talked about this appetite for storytelling.
His passion for public radio can be traced back to high school when he volunteered to answer phones for his local station’s pledge drive. He didn’t have money to donate, so he wanted to donate his time. So wise. With no early journalism background or training, he was rejected as an NPR intern applicant. Eventually, though, he made it to NPR. The circuitous route developed his belief that we aren’t destined to be one thing or in one place, but that if we pursue our curiosities—whatever they may be—we will find the path that’s right for us that we may not have otherwise known existed. I certainly know that to be true.
Ari is humbly cognizant that he has been entrusted with this storied national treasure (All Things Considered) and is continuously thinking about ways to not only protect it, but also maintain its relevance and move it forward. He views the program as an important vehicle for seeing the world through the eyes of someone different from you, despite societal encouragement to retreat to comfortable belief corners and echo chambers. Ari sees his job as one of illuminating and building bridges of understanding across divides of perceived differences. And all we need to do is listen. His listening, observation, and consideration has been fundamental to his nearly two decades of sensitive and compelling reporting at NPR. As he put it, listening can be a powerful act of care. It allows us to reach across divides and see the world from a different perspective. It’s a skill we all possess.
Across this engaging conversation, we dined on an exceptional meal of steak and salmon paired with a delightful summer salad. My favorite auctioneer, Tanna Guthrie, (with a bit of audience encouragement from Ari) managed to pull in a record-breaking $200k for the event’s fund-a-need. Those funds are entirely directed to the Aviva Okeson-Haberman Internship Program—ensuring that a future generation of reporters, editors, and digital creators can be paid for their work. Guests were also able to bid on something incredibly unique to RadioActive: “Adventures.” Or you might call them RadioActivities. Everything from guided trips to Paris and DC (including to the NPR headquarters) to happy hours, broadcast tours, and charcuterie making with various KCUR personalities. I won a beekeeping tour—with MO Hives and KCUR’s Brian Ellison—that includes suiting up and harvesting honey!
Following the program, we nibbled on desserts and refilled our cocktails. Live music by The Crossroad Sound filled the ballroom with a new energy and guests danced for hours until the lights flipped on. Now that’s RadioActive.
Spotted: Julie & Pete Brown, Regina Nouhan & John Eck, Sara Rowland, Mary Bloch, Michael Fields, Madeline McDonough & Cyd Slayton, Karen & Jack Holland, Tom Corbin, Robin Boswell, Jamila & Dr. Michael Weaver, Jane & Keith Gard, Kimberly & Tyler Enders, Kevin Bryant & Tom Suther, Guy Townsend, Kelly Anders, Kristopher Dabner, Sloane Simmons, Barry Eisenhart, Mike Sigler, Greg Oborny, Jan Kyle, Michael Hopkins, Becky Loboda, Carol Logan, Katie & Jared Campbell, Kiran Chandra, Troy Lillebo, Katie Gerson, Eric Thomas & Jonathan Gregory, Mitch Weber, Adam Gebhardt, Godfrey Riddle, Kathy Dowell, Martha Atlas, James Maiden, Largo Callenbach, David Fulk, Peggy Lowe, Brian Ellison, Kady & Steve Kraske, Clarate Heckler, Geneviève Des Marteau
Hot Gossip: Who was saving his number in someone’s phone and realized it was already saved as “White Boy LOL”?
Hail Caesar!
I never miss my annual visit to the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival in the bucolic, verdant plaza that is Southmoreland Park. This year, I was a guest of my dear friend and avid HASF supporter, Amy Embry. Somehow, we managed to attend on what turned out to be (I’m told) the most beautiful evening of this year’s season. Typically, I would pack a blanket and picnic basket full of bevs and bites. However, with the Good Will Society membership (beginning at just $250), we were able to enjoy front-row, reserved seats at this otherwise completely free and open-seating event. Additionally, society members can enjoy the pre-festival and intermission times inside the GWS patrons’ tent—complete with sofas and wine. On this occasion, the volunteer bartenders happened to be dear friends Barb Bloch and Deanna Diebolt.
Ragusa’s Italian Café’s food truck was back for another year, and I couldn’t resist that savory meatball crepe. Forgoing the dessert crepe, I opted instead to share a bag of Butterfluff Popcorn kettle corn. And what’s a visit to the park without Veuve Clicquot? We brought our own bottles, natch.
As for the production, this year’s was a classic: Julius Caesar. The world of ancient Rome burst to life before us with captivating performances by (among numerous others) John Rensenhouse as Julius Caesar, Chioma Anyanwu as Calpurnia, Craig Lindsay as Cinna, Bruce Roach as Cicero, Jacques Roy as Cassius, and Matt Rappaport as Brutus. It’s a story of a republic and its citizens who hold differing views about the type of government they want and by whom it should be led. Amidst that turmoil, there is an assassination—of Caesar. It is striking how a story written by William Shakespeare 425 years ago, based on events that occurred more than two thousand years ago, can have such relevance and parallels to our modern world. It’s no wonder that adolescents are (I hope) still taught Shakespeare.
Bravo, once again, to the executive artistic director, Sidonie Garrett.
Overheard: “We’re taking an exploratory pre-trip because Princess is questioning the hotel we’ve selected.”
Testing… 1, 2, 3…
When approached by the wonderful folks at the iconic Betty Rae’s Ice Cream about envisioning a custom creation to mark the occasion of their new test kitchen location—I screamed. For ice cream, of course.
Betty Rae’s new location in Merriam—it’s fourth—also serves as the company’s centralized production facility and visionary test kitchen. As growth for the nine-year-old company continues, increased production capacity was necessary. This year alone, planned production will increase 300 percent, partially due to the pickup of pint containers by local Cosentino Price Chopper stores. With the test kitchen on-site, Merriam customers will be the first to experience new flavors and provide real-time feedback as recipes are considered for wider rollout to locations in the River Market, Waldo, and Olathe. The Merriam store will rotate new test flavors monthly.
And that’s where I popped in. Though I have my heart set on a future collaboration for an entirely new ice cream flavor (trust—I have ideas!), for this endeavor, I opted to work around one of Betty Rae’s 26 existing core flavors. As a hyper-enthusiastic fan of their Joe’s KC BBQ & burnt ends ice cream, I aimed for something in that vein. Something quirky, counterintuitive, and of course delicious. Starting—of all places—with the garnish, I thought through numerous potential toppings and flavor profiles ahead of my initial visit. I shared my idea with the test kitchen team in what felt like a Wonka-world fantasy. They didn’t laugh, scoff, or even blink. We tested a variety of preparation techniques and landed on what was most attractive and satisfying.
The result: Paris on the Plains. Crème brûlée ice cream is coated and topped with lightly crushed Guy’s kettle chips, resting inside a fresh, crepe-style waffle cone. Salted caramel drizzle provides a gooey version of a traditional crème brûlée’s caramelized sugar coating. And finally, the pièce de resistance. Floating atop this ebullient creation is a single kettle chip garnished with a dollop of caviar. Magnifique. In my view, it is the perfect combination of salty and sweet, decadent and unassuming, cosmopolitan and Midwestern.
You can try it for yourself for a very limited time—only at the Merriam test kitchen location—during the month of August (check social media for exact dates). And like everything at Betty Rae’s, they’ll further customize to your preference—whether that be a cup vs. a cone, or even sans caviar if you’re not feeling Frenchy (or fancy).
Many thanks to the thoughtful and open-minded team at Betty Rae’s. And to my dear mother, who served not only as my initial creative sounding board but taught my sisters and me the subversive art of tucking potato chips into lunchtime sandwiches. That first bite at Betty Rae’s was a flood of memories—childhood lunch boxes, crepes under the Eiffel Tower, and the occasional Michelin-starred masterpiece—all wrapped inside a cone. I hope you get to enjoy one.
Hot Gossip: Who was hit by a 6’4” man on a scooter carrying a giant poodle and ended up face down in the middle of 51st St. and 5th Ave in NYC? (She’s fine!)
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So, KC—where do you want to go? XO
email: dlair@inkansascity.com | Instagram: @damianlair #OurManINKC