Lee's Summit Town Hall

Teens step forward to lead community convos on mental health

In a little bit of a twist, host Nick Parker hands the reins to local Lee’s Summit West Senior Ellie Johnson, who talks with ReDiscover’s Jennifer Craig and LSPD Officer Amanda Geno about the upcoming community forum on mental health scheduled for 6 p.m. April 22 at the Missouri Innovation Campus. This episode was edited by Lee’s Summit Junior Charlie Parker. Both Johnson and Parker are part of the I Can Relate podcast project. 

A business with an unexpected, yet rewarding focus on care for special needs kids

Their chiropractic business isn't exactly what they thought it would be. She didn't plan on developing a passion helping young patients and he had no idea the directions his study and budding network would take him. Today, Doctors Alex and Lauren Nelson operate HML Functional Care in Lee's Summit and have a budding practice focusing on providing a holistic and collaborative approach to caring for kids with special needs. The duo drop by The Vault for an open conversation with host Nick Parker on their business and approach to healthcare.

Passion for music and the arts leads new director to Lee's Summit and its symphony orchestra

Listen in on his resume, and you may start to wonder how Gary Good wound up in our midwest hamlet as the new executive director of the Lee's Summit Symphony. First off, we'll apologize, he's not all that new anymore. He's actually been here almost year, Nick and Liesl are just late getting him on the show. Good enters the vault to share his story of a career in music and the path to Lee's Summit. He also previews this weekend's performance at The Pavilion at John Knox Village and offers a bit of his vision for the future of the Symphony.

1, 2, 3 o’clock, 4 o’clock Shamrock!

We're gonna shamrock around the clock tonight… OK, it’s not tonight. But on the morning of Saturday, March 16, Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street invites local families to join them for a new St. Patrick’s day event — Shamrock the Block. Events Director Julie Cook returns to The Vault to talk about creating the new event and what entertainment will be available.

Making weekend plans and visiting with an old friend

Liesl's out this week, but Nick's back to highlight a few local events coming up this weekend before kicking back with one of his favorite interviews from the podcast, Theron Denson — aka The Black Diamond. Hint-hint, there's some rumors Theron has a couple of big announcements coming soon so stay tuned. But for now, if you missed it last year, hears a conversation with the Lee's Summit resident and experiences gathered through his life as Neil Diamond tribute artist.

The power of Information, voices and inclusion

"Get over it and tell the stories..." If there's been a theme for host Nick Parker the last week or so, it's been to stop making things about himself. The point was driven home in a conversation with Lee's Summit resident and community activist Vanessa Hickman and his fear appearing phony while featuring black residents during Black History Month. The appropriate reprimand leads to a open and frank conversation between the two in this week's episode kicking off Black History Month in Lee's Summit.

Finding the right spot at the right time

Everyone knows two of the main keys for business success lie in both timing and location. For Sarah Boehnlein and Lisa McConnell, this couldn't have been more true as they moved into a new downtown Lee's Summit home just in time for the holiday rush. Their two businesses, TruKC and Boss Babe Balloon Co. respectively, took over the former Ivy and Sparrow space on Third Street just before the holiday shopping season started and they haven't looked back — of course, the popularity of anything celebrating the Kansas City Chiefs or Taylor Swift hasn't hurt business either. The two visited the vault this week for a conversation with hosts Nick Parker and Liesl Hays on moving downtown and building their businesses.

Ashley Muffitt and Square One's mission to build a community of resources for area entrepreneurs

In this lively episode of Lee's Summit Town Hall podcast, hosts Nick Parker and Liesl Hayes bring their dynamic chemistry to the forefront as they explore the vibrant local business scene. Ashley Muffitt, from Mid-Continent Public Library and Square One, joins the discussion, shedding light on a mission to support small businesses and entrepreneurs. The conversation delves into the resources offered by Square One, emphasizing the importance of planning and goal-setting for business success. With a perfect blend of entertainment and valuable insights, this episode is a must-listen for those seeking a dose of local flair and entrepreneurial wisdom.

You gotta look back before you move forward

In their first full week back since breaking for the holidays, winter travel, snow (errrrrr, AMI) days, etc., hosts Nick Parker and Liesl Hays take a few minutes to look back at what happened in 2023 and ahead to some of what they're planning for the podcast in 2024. And then, they offer up a replay from one of their favorite episodes of last year...

Fair warning, this episode includes what could be a tough conversation for some, including it seems hosts Nick Parker and Liesl Hays. But, we promise it's worth listening to and we hope, it provides a service for those who have, or are currently going through, the cancer journey. October was Breast Cancer Awareness Month and in this episode, we welcome Kara Gutierrez, owner of Spot On Beauty, and Karen Reinert, a local cancer survivor, into the vault. Much of Kara's work centers around using her skills as a tattoo artist to create 3D nipple tattoos for survivors, or covering up scars, or providing other artwork as survivors work there way through the trauma of discovering, treating and surviving breast cancer. Joining her on the show is Karen, a recent client and survivor.

Monday NewsLink: LSR7 BOE ballot changes, MLK celebration& Christmas continues!

In the latest episode of the Lee's Summit Town Hall podcast, hosts Nick Parker and Liesl Hays bring listeners up to speed on the upcoming April election, revealing changes in the Board of Education ballot. As the election draws near, the hosts promise in-depth coverage of contested races for school board, city council, and municipal judge positions. The episode also highlights the City of Lee's Summit's annual MLK celebration, emphasizing the theme "Living the Dream" and spreading hope, courage, and unity. Despite some delays, the hosts extend the holiday spirit by continuing to give away favorite things, with Santa's approval to keep the Christmas joy alive throughout the year. To stay informed about local events, listeners are encouraged to sign up for the podcast's weekly NewsLink email and follow their Instagram and Facebook pages for chances to win exciting prizes in January.