Deliece Hofen is the founder of Braden’s Hope for Childhood Cancer, a Kansas City nonprofit working to raise awareness & funds for childhood cancer research to advance cures for children.

Deliece’s son Braden was diagnosed with Stage IV Neuroblastoma when he was just three and given little chance to live. When Deliece faced her own simultaneous breast cancer diagnosis, she saw firsthand how stark the difference was between her clear path forward and the question marks faced by those fighting childhood cancer due to lack of funding and research. Now 20, Braden is in remission and continues to defy odds. Since its founding in 2010, "Braden's Hope” has raised millions of dollars for research into the fight against the leading cause of death among children.

This is a remarkable story of perseverance, hope, and the power of our Kansas City community.

Kerry Browne and her husband John McClain are 4th generation owners of the historic Browne’s Irish Marketplace, the oldest Irish business in the world outside of Ireland & the oldest retail business in Kansas City.

Located in Midtown, Browne’s is known for its warm hospitality, curated Irish imports and authentic Irish food and drink.

Only ½ of 1% of all businesses last for 100 years. We sit down with Kerry and John to talk about how Browne’s has thrived for nearly a century and a half: through two pandemics, two World Wars, Prohibition (rumor has it Pendergast himself was a Browne’s regular), the Depression, and every downswing of the economy since.

Their secret? Good old Irish resilience, and an incredible community — one that warmly includes everyone who walks in the front door.

We’re also joined by Kerry and John’s oldest son Ian, along with loyal Browne's supporter Pete McCluskey, who serves with Kerry on the board of both the St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Kansas City Irish Fest and shares their stories. This crew represents everything Irish here in Kansas City as they carry on the incredible legacy of the immigrants who helped build this city we love. Slainté!

Kelly Tastove is the Operations Manager & Donor Relations Manager of the Symphony in the Flint Hills, a 20 year tradition bringing the Kansas City Symphony to various ranches across Kansas’s tallgrass prairie for a celebration of music, art, and the unique ecology of the Flint Hills. The signature event is at the top of every Kansan’s bucket list.

For attendees, the event is idyllic. But behind the scenes, Kelly and her team, their volunteers, and the ranchers offering up their land have navigated the impossible to make the magic happen - bringing the Kansas City Symphony to the middle of the prairie and hosting 7,500 guests with no orchestra shell, no power, no sound system, no parking, no restrooms, no food, & no water, and praying Mother Nature cooperates!

In today’s episode, we cover everything from the birthday party that started it all, to the history of the land and the mission of the nonprofit, the behind the scenes details that have made the event possible & what’s in store after this summer’s final concert. It’s a fascinating look at one of our region’s most unique celebrations & ecological treasures - one more reason “there’s just something about Kansas City”!

Dana Wright and Scott Parks have been covering news in Kansas City for a combined 60 years, and their award-winning talk show, “Dana & Parks”, has been running on 98.1 KMBZ for going-on 15 years.

In today’s episode, the talk show duo explain how they originally connected and why they feel listeners can relate to what they hear every weekday from 2-6pm. Anxiety, diet yoyo, even Scott’s battle with alcoholism — they go deep into their relationship, their life stories, and why they'd never leave Kansas City.

Between the laughs and the tears, you’ll understand why they are one of the Top 10 radio talk shows in the country.

Two more reasons why, “There's Just Something About Kansas City."

Do you need someone to brighten your day?
Randy Miller, Kansas City’s original “shock jock”, is just what the doctor ordered. His incredible career has seen more ups and downs than a Worlds of Fun roller coaster and he’s still going strong. His redemption tour includes randymillerradio.com and the National Defense Network on Armed Forces Radio, where he’s interviewed everyone from Tom Hanks and Mark Wahlberg to Eric Stonestreet and Keanu Reeves. He’s even written a book about his days on Kansas City Radio. Get ready to laugh!

Jasper “JJ” Mirabile is an Italian chef and owner of the beloved 70 year old Kansas City staple Jasper’s Restaurant. He’s also a cookbook author and the host of Live from Jasper’s Kitchen, a cooking show on KCMO radio.

If it’s Italian food, it’s Jasper’s! JJ has been in the kitchen and the dining room of his award-winning Italian restaurant since the 70’s, but his roots go back to 1930 when his grandparents emigrated from Sicily. This episode is an incredible journey filled with the love of food and family. Even though Jasper collaborates with the greatest chefs from around the world, he has never forgotten the Old World touch that sets his restaurant apart. Sit back and enjoy the feast. Mangiare!

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Dr. Kirk McCullough is a Kansas City Orthopaedic Surgeon who’s been named FIFA Venue Medical Officer for the 2026 World Cup.

After suffering several knee injuries during his high school and college careers, his life’s path was set to help injured athletes recover and return to their sport. But Dr. McCullough didn’t stop there. He collaborated with other orthopedic experts and biomechanical engineers to develop better footwear to help prevent sports injuries in the first place.

This episode is a fascinating look inside the world of sports medicine. After stops in Nashville, Charlotte and Cleveland, Dr. McCullough couldn’t wait to get back home because, “There’s Just Something About Kansas City!”

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Pam Kramer is the CEO of KC2026, the nonprofit established to lead the planning and activation of the FIFA World Cup 26™ in Kansas City. She’s also a Jeff City native who spent years mingling the worlds of sports and business at Sprint, the Kansas City Chiefs, KC Current, and the Kansas City Sports Commission.

Now, Pam is at the forefront of preparations for soccer fans from all over the world to descend upon Kansas City for the 2026 World Cup. After witnessing the 1994 World Cup while working for Sprint, Pam was perfectly positioned to lead Kansas City’s efforts to coordinate what will be the biggest event of any kind in KC history.

Get the latest update on where things stand, including how the World Cup is already bringing our region together and the impact it will have on our city’s future. Just 500 days until the world finds out what we already know, “There's Just Something About Kansas City!”

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