Central Standard

Story of a Song is a monthly segment on KCUR's Central Standard in which local musicians tell the story behind a song they have written or are performing. The Band: Bummer The Song: "Bad News" The Songwriters: Matt Perrin and Mike Gustafson The Story: Bummer is a noise rock band. They're loud, the bass is hammering, the drums explode and the vocals scream at you. But their songs are reflections on relationships, animal cruelty and, in the case of “Bad News,” sexual assault at college. "You just

Mitch Schieber got into the shrimp farming business by chance. He does remodeling for a living, but he had been looking at different careers. Then, a couple of years ago, his daughter, who was in fifth grade, was doing a science experiment with brine shrimp. He started wondering if he could raise real shrimp. “And I’m thinking like in a garbage can in the garage, just for a hobby and just for bragging rights, a ‘hey, look what I’m doing’ sort of thing,” Schieber told guest host Brian Ellison on

It’s a misconception that we can’t get access to fresh seafood here in the landlocked Midwest. Locally, we can get catfish, trout and now shrimp grown in Oak Grove, Missouri. And fish wholesalers bring seafood from far-away oceans to KC. “Somewhere between what we’re able to get locally and what we’re able to bring in, we have a nice selection of seafood in Kansas City,” Food Critic Jenny Vergara told guest host Brian Ellison on KCUR’s Central Standard. Vergara, along with Food Critics Mary

A visit to a KCK restaurant that doesn't see geography as a barrier to serving fresh seafood, then we hear about an Oak Grove farm that's raising shrimp. Plus, KCUR's Food Critics search out the best seafood in and around KC. Guests: Carlos Falcon, chef/owner, Jarocho Pescados y MariscosMitch Schieber, KC ShrimpCharles Ferruzza, The Independent and Shawnee Mission PostMary Bloch, Around the BlockJenny Vergara, Feast Magazine

A look at what's going on at this week's TechWeek conference in KC. Plus, an encore interview with the CEO of KC-based EyeVerify, which just sold for a lot of money (reportedly $100 million) to Alibaba. Guests: Bobby Burch, Editor, Startland NewsToby Rush, CEO and founder of EyeVerify

Colleges are attracting more students than ever before. And when they get there from rural or urban settings, from diverse backgrounds, they have to figure out — some for the first time — how to deal with difference. Guests: Katherine Mangan, Senior Reporter, Chronicle of Higher EducationCharles Patrick Burke, Year 2 student, UMKC School of MedicineCJ Pulluaim, senior at UMKCXiaochan Wang, senior at KU

Coloring books, dodgeball, spelling bees . . . Kids' activities are all the rage for adults these days. Kansas City actor and writer David Wayne Reed has hopped on the bandwagon and, with an ArtsKC Inspiration Grant, launched a new live storytelling event called "Shelf Life." We hear about the project — think "The Moth meets Antiques Roadshow" — and we get a sneak preview of the first event. Guest: David Wayne Reed, actor and writer, Shelf Life

After the Civil War, freed slaves fled the South, but not everyone went North. Many thousands came to start farms and towns in rural, western Kansas — a movement that has lasting impact on agriculture and culture to this day. Guests: Crystal Bradshaw, descendant of Exoduster movement, author Eliza: A Generational Journey, Kansas University studentDr. JohnElla Holmes, 4th generation descendant of Nicodemus, KS, former Kansas-State University professor, director of Nicodemus Camp

Around a year ago, Bishop James Johnston came to Kansas City to lead the Catholics of northwest Missouri at a challenging time. He came in with an agenda not of his choosing: to clean up the mess of the sexual abuse scandal that engulfed his predecessor. But he also has hopes and priorities of his own. Bishop Johnston spoke with guest host Brian Ellison on KCUR’s Central Standard about what his job entails, and about his journey from electrical engineer to getting the call from the Vatican to

It's this season's most compelling made-for-TV drama: The 2016 election. From costumes to stage sets to the use of music and more, we explore the role of political theater. How do candidates present themselves on stage and screen for drama ... or comedy? Guests: David Martin, staff writer, The PitchSteven Jacques, author, Advance ManHeidi Van, founder/producing artistic director, The FishtankEric Rosen, artistic director, Kansas City Repertory Theater

Recently, Google Maps started showing "areas of interest" in an orange color on the app. KC's areas of interested included the Plaza and Crown Center. Not included: 18th and Vine or the ruins of Quindaro in KCK. We explore the ways that computer algorithms could reflect someone's prejudice or assumptions — or perhaps just reinforce our own. Guests: Jess Rezac, Director of Digital Engagement, American Jazz MuseumLouis Byrd, President, Mellie BlueCheptoo Kositany-Buckner, Director, American Jazz

It's a familiar sight in airplanes today: hordes of people, trying to avoid the checked baggage fee, struggling to shove their wheelie suitcases in an overhead compartment. But a KU professor says that checked baggage fees not only are improving an airline's bottom line — they also make the flying experience better. Guest: Mazhar Arikan, Assistant Professor, School of Business, University of Kansas

It seems as if nearly every culture has some version of dumplings: a sweet or savory filling surrounded by dough and either fried, boiled, steamed or baked. They’re inexpensive, tasty and versatile; they can be served on their own with a dipping sauce or in soup … or in some cases, with the soup inside the dumpling. “Every culture really enjoys something doughy, and I think it’s that carb-y lift that we get from it,” Food Critic Jill Silva told guest host Brian Ellison on KCUR's Central Standard

From empanadas to samosas and dumplings (and dessert versions), our Food Critics search out the best dough-wrapped dishes in and around KC. Plus, an interview about Nepalese dumplings live from the Ethnic Enrichment Festival, a primer on kolaches and how love led one restaurant owner to KC, where she serves up Jamaican patties. Guests: Charles Ferruzza, The IndependentMary Bloch, Around the BlockJill Silva, The Kansas City StarNiranjan Shrestha, main cook, Nepal booth, 2016 Ethnic Enrichment

An excerpt from Ghost Notes, a new music podcast in KC. Host Hannah Copeland talks with local bassist and composer Jeff Harshbarger. Guest: Jeff Harshbarger