Central Standard

Kansas City artist and writer José Faus was getting ready for bed when he first saw the video of Philando Castile's death at the hands of a police officer in Minnesota. "There's sun coming in the car window," he remembers. "I see the glare, to the left the open window, the sky, the trees, the [gun] ... and then, the wound." He says he will never forget the crimson of the blood against Castile's white shirt. Listening to the faceless voices of Castile's girlfriend and the officer, seeing a gun

The violence and horror of cell phone videos of the recent police shootings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile have galvanized many Americans to question race relations and justice. We take a look back at iconic civil rights era photos, and then invite a psychologist and criminologist to explore the effect of images of violence, past and present, on our minds and our culture. Guests: Myles Cheadle, co-curator of "Through the Lens," Nelson-Atkins Museum of ArtSusan Wilson, clinical

These days, political discourse may feature the occasional soaring oratory, but more often, it comes down to talking heads yelling at each other. Maybe what the world needs now is the kind of politics found only in books. As we approach the 2016 presidential election, we take a moment to explore the best books about politics with KCUR's Bibliofiles. Guests:David Von Drehle, editor-at-large, Time magazineKaite Stover, The Kansas City Public LibraryJeffrey Ann Goudie, freelance book critic and

A few months ago, the Squad of Sisters — a local group dedicated to combating sexual violence — released a zine called "Worried About Westport." The photocopied booklet chronicles personal stories of sexual assault in the area. Westport is one of the most popular nightlife destinations in Kansas City, but is it safe? We ask, what do reports of sexual assault and rape throughout the city tell us about our culture, and what can we do to make our community safer? Guests: Helen Proctor, founding

Kansas City artist Ryan Wilks explored a wide range of gender and sexuality in the 12 large-scale portraits and interviews on display in the show Gender Treason at the Leedy-Voulkos Art Center. He and one of his painting subjects say the process of creating the art changed each of them. Guests: Ryan Wilks, artistAna Marcela Maldonado Morales, visual artist, tattoo artist, musician

An exit interview with Olympic gold medalist Shannon Vreeland, a swimmer from Overland Park, Kansas, just days after her career ended at the swimming trials in Omaha. We discuss how Kansas Citians make it from their initial training in local pools and gyms all the way to the Olympics,. Guests: Shannon Vreeland, world champion swimmerGreg Echlin, KCUR's sports reporter

Everybody seems to be talking about storytelling these days. That's music to our ears on Central Standard, where we're always looking for good, true tales about life in Kansas City. This past winter, KCUR sponsored a series of storytelling events at Pilgrim Chapel in Hyde Park, called FlameKC. We will be airing some of those stories over the next couple of weeks, starting with the first. Within the theme "Letting Go," Pilgrim Chapel director Andrew Johnson shared his story about parenting and

For the past few years, UMKC professor and nuclear physicist Anthony Caruso has been working with his students to elevate a local physics experiment into a major project protecting national security. We ask him about his portable neutron-detection device, and how it works in real life applications. Guest: Anthony Caruso, UMKC physics professor, Caruso-Paquette Group

We all have to work. But does your job have to be a daily grind, or can it be ... joyful? We check in with Kansas City native Cole Lindbergh, who worked his dream job as a games manager at Worlds of Fun for 12 years, and ask about how his life changed after he was profiled for This American Life in 2011. Guest: Cole Lindbergh, motivational speaker, former Worlds of Fun employee, featured in This American Life episode "Amusement Park"

Chuck Magerl grew up surrounded by family history. During Prohibition, his grandfather was sent to Leavenworth Penitentiary for distributing alcohol. One great-great grandfather was the sheriff of Jackson County, Missouri -- in 1869, the governor of Missouri sent a letter, authorizing him to capture Frank and Jesse James, dead or alive. Another ancestor ran a saloon in Kansas City; a ledger book shows he paid $7 per barrel of beer in 1909. And, Magerl has made history of his own. He was a

He was a pioneer in the local craft beer and artisanal food movement before those were really a thing. Meet Chuck Magerl, the man who worked to change the liquor laws in Kansas to open the Free State Brewing Company — the first legal brewery in the state after Prohibition. Guest: Chuck Magerl, founder, Free State Brewing Company, The Merc Co-op and WheatFields Bakery

Leeds Cemetery, which is out by I-435, near the stadiums, is a potter's field. Underneath the empty, grassy field are the bodies of people whose families were too poor to pay for funerals. We explore what happens to unclaimed bodies in Kansas City. Guests: Gloria Lundy, local resident whose grandfather is buried at LeedsBridget Anaya, manager, Charter Funerals

Inspired by a new exhibit at Union Station, which features preserved corpses, we explore our relationship with our bodies. Guests: Jane Gotch, choreographer, dancer and gyrotonic instructorMolly Kaderka, painter

The KCMO City Council is debating a $27 million improvement package for the historic Jazz District at 18th and Vine. We look at the ongoing effort to revitalize and enhance the area — and hear why it has special meaning for some Kansas Citians. Tonight's town hall meeting about the future of 18th and Vine starts at 6 p.m. at Centennial United Methodist Church. Guests: Steve Kraske, host of KCUR's Up To DateEric Wesson, staff writer/columnist, The Call

A look at Brexit and its impact across the globe, including here in KC. What's the professional and personal impact on people in the Midwest, and how will it affect our future? Guests: Raj Bhala, Associate Dean for International and Comparative Law, Rice Distinguished Professor, KU School of LawBart Dean, Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology at KUKim Noble, former KCUR announcer