A People's History of Kansas City
KCUR Studios
The podcast about the everyday heroes, renegades and visionaries who shaped Kansas City and the region. If these stories aren't told, they're in danger of fading into the past. Made by Suzanne Hogan, Mackenzie Martin and KCUR Studios.
Episodes
Mentioned books
May 18, 2021 • 39min
The battle over Mickey Mouse
Walt Disney gets most of the credit for creating Mickey Mouse. But few know the real story: Kansas City animator Ub Iwerks, Disney’s best friend, was the first to bring the iconic character to life. Then Mickey's success almost tore them apart for good.
Apr 13, 2021 • 31min
Where Missouri got its name
The history of the Missouria people and how a prolific Otoe-Missouria storyteller helped preserve a fading language.
Mar 23, 2021 • 32min
Kansas City's fierce women's rights champion
In the early 1900s, Sarah Lloyd Green was notorious for sticking it to the man as a feminist, suffragette and labor organizer in Kansas City. Her story isn't well known, but she was a champion for Black and white laundry workers and even started a waitress union.
Feb 23, 2021 • 34min
The first known female Buffalo Soldier
The story of Cathay Williams, a pioneer in the fight against race and gender discrimination. Growing up enslaved in Independence, Missouri, she disguised herself as a man in order to become a legendary Buffalo Soldier.
Feb 9, 2021 • 29min
Kansas City's barbecue king
The story behind the Black entrepreneur in the 1900s who made Kansas City barbecue a national treasure. Before Arthur Bryant and Ollie Gates, there was Henry Perry.
Jan 26, 2021 • 33min
Was Kansas City almost named Possum Trot?
People from Kansas City know that our city’s name can be confusing to outsiders, because there is more than one Kansas City. But how close were we to being called something else?
Jan 19, 2021 • 4min
Trailer: A People's History of Kansas City, Season 2
Season 2 of A People's History of Kansas City is finally here, and we're starting from the beginning of Kansas City's History.
May 22, 2020 • 3min
Be a history maker
An important message from the team behind A People's History of Kansas City.
Apr 30, 2020 • 30min
The Spanish flu of 1918 in Kansas City
A historian says Kansas City "blew it" in the 1918 flu pandemic. How a corrupt political system and the end of World War I led to a bungled response and an overwhelming loss of life.
Mar 19, 2020 • 26min
Jim the Wonder Dog
In Depression-era Missouri, Jim the Wonder Dog earned his name from his ability to predict the future, and answer questions that should be otherwise unanswerable for a dog (or even a person in some cases): from allegedly predicting the winner of the Kentucky Derby and the World Series to knowing the gender of unborn babies.
