Within Reason with Mike Matson

The Konza Prairie is a unique landmark of Kansas, environmental education director Jill Haukos joins us to answer our questions about the prairie and how we can maintain it.

Author, coach, and owner of Platinum & Company Lindsay Lowe joins us to talk about her journey and mission to teach people beyond just what they teach you in cosmetology school.

It's election day and retired state Senators Tom Hawk and Lana Oleen join us to talk about how art of governing has evolved.

Long time Manhattan lawyer joins us to talk about what's at stake on the the current ballot question that would change the Kansas Supreme Court.

With a campaign focusing on building unity, Reverend Adam Hamilton shares how his background has shaped his run for Senate.

Seeking a seat in the Kansas House, Stacy Kohlmeier joins us to talk about what inspired her run for office and what she hopes to see for the future of Kansas.

Cowboy culture isn't just about wearing a cool hat, Ron Wilson joins us to talk about the cowboy poets who capture the essence of western life.

Running for governor with the the belief that one person can make life a little better for her nearly three million neighbors, State Senator Cindy Holscher joins us to talk about her run and vision for Kansas.

Shaped by military service, community involvement, and repeated campaigns, Republican candidate Kaleb James joins us to talk about his second run for state legislature.

Making health care feel more human. Kaci Copas-Richardson and Shannon McMahon from Stormont Vail Health join us to talk about how volunteers are shaping the healthcare system.

While kids have been enjoying their summer,  Manhattan-Ogden school district has been preparing for the upcoming school year. Eric Reed, Manhattan-Ogden Superintendent joins us to talk about what to expect once August rolls around.

The Kansas Museum of History provides an overarching view of the rich and vibrant history that brought us up to now. Today, were joined by Sarah Bell, Director of the KMH, where she provides details on the updated renovations as well as what to look forward to when you visit.

Nurses are the first line of defense when it comes to any medical department, and it requires good training up front in order to provide that care. For the Flint Hills area, the nursing program at Manhattan Area Technical College aims to do just that. We're joined today by Easlyn Koch, Director of Nursing at MATC, as well as Louisa Asbury, a teacher of nursing at the college, in hopes to share what the nursing program looks like and to inspire a love of medicine in the next generation.

The Crisis Center in Manhattan provides a safe space for people escaping domestic violence and sexual assault, and act as a shield between victims and perpetrators. Today, Executive Director of the Center, Kathy Ray, joins the show to talk about what domestic violence might look like, ways to get out, and the services that they provide to victims and their families.

The military garrison is the backbone of any army installation, and that goes especially for the Big Red One. While combat units train to be ready to go at a moments notice, the garrison manages upkeep of base infrastructure and ensures that everyday functions never stop supporting our troops. We're joined today by Col. Jerry Nunziato, Commander of the Garrison at Fort Riley, where he hopes to convey how he keeps the gears oiled and moving.

Real tangible change takes a more than just ideals, it takes action and dedication. Today, we're joined by Bob Smith, a leading military historian who looks to educate on the steps taken by the continental army to secure their goals, as well as how those steps relate to our upcoming 250th anniversary.

With the 250th anniversary of The United States, it's important to remember that it's not just the thirteen original colonies that make up the history of America. We are joined today by Adam Hodge, Head of Reference at the Kansas State Historical Society. He hopes to share his love for history, and the new exhibit coming to the Historical Society titled "Kansas 1776"

On today's episode of Within Reason with Mike Matson, A quarter-century of public transit in this region Don't forget to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more in-depth interviews with community leaders.

As the democratic race grows closer, and the field grows wider, it's important to make sure each candidate gets their voice out there. We're joined today by democratic primary candidate Noah Taylor, who's running for the Kansas Senate seat. Today, Taylor hopes to share his goals if elected, and how he plans to fight for the Kansas electorate.

4th of July is just around the corner, and Wamego plans to celebrate with bang. We're joined today by Wamego's Boomtown USA volunteers, Chris Hupe and Neil Ebert, who are in charge of setting up the "Pyrotechnic Musical" for the big day. They hope to share what their job entails, and why they come back year after year to put on the community event.

One of the overlooked aspects of healthcare is the patient experience, creating an environment that makes a patients stay as easy and streamlined as possible. Today, we visit with Renea Wilson and Christie Bergeron, who manage the Patient Experience Team who aim to connect with their patients. They share the work that they put in in order to keep this system running, and how they hope to streamline the patient experience.

With the Manhattan Juneteenth celebration just around the corner, we have invited on two leaders of the celebration committee to share their perspective. Today, Committee Leaders Betti Jones and Zelia Wiley, join the show to share what the celebration means to them, and how they continue to grow the Juneteenth celebration.

With just 29 days until advanced voting opens for the 2026 primary election, it's important to start educating ourselves on possible candidates and prepare for voting. We invited Senate candidates on the show, and today were joined by Patrick Schmidt, a Democratic candidate for the United State Senate. As a current Kansas Senator, he joins the show to explain what he's hoping to accomplish if elected and how he plans to get there.

Live stock health can be just as important as your own personal gut health, especially as environmental stressors for cattle increase. Axiota Animal Health has been a leading local advocate working to improve the quality and lifespan of live stock, improving the quality of meat and bringing down overall costs. Today, we're joined by Axiota CEO Bill Weldon, who will share what steps his company has taken to provide these services and what he hopes to accomplish in the future.

Sometimes the only way to truly learn something is by doing it. For leadership opportunities, it's hard to find places that offer a risk free environment in order to learn what might be needed of them. However, the American Legion Boys State of Kansas they aim to fill that exact niche. Today's guests, Kyle Wheatley and Alexandro Garcia with the ALBS, join the show to share what opportunities they aim to provide, as well as how those opportunities have impacted the Flint Hills region.

In any community, expansion requires a bolstering of infrastructure in order to support that development and continued growth., and that is no different in the rapidly expanding Manhattan. We're joined today by the president and CEO of WTC Fiber, Jeff Wick, who is in charge of providing fiber internet to the Flint Hills region. Additionally, Wick also chairs on the economic development committee of the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce, and joins the show today to share his expertise in public development, and private public partnerships.

The Kansas State Edge 3.o proposal would expand the north campus with extravagant amenities aimed at boosting jobs, tourism, and private investment in Manhattan. Joe Knopp, a local Manhattan attorney, joins the show today to share his expertise on the project, and what possible outcomes of the new Edge 3.0 District could mean for the Flint Hills area.

The Flint Hills Metropolitan Planning Organization has been having conversations for years, but they have now started making some significant moves. Jared Tremblay, Director of the FHMPO, joins the show today to share what recent work has been done to make concrete steps towards a new connection as well as a recent study conducted to test connection viability.

As the gubernatorial primary grows closer, we have invited the candidates onto the show to share their positions, and how they plan to earn your vote. Today, we're joined by Vicki Schmidt, a republican candidate from the Topeka area gunning for the Governor's seat. She will share what she wants to see from her government, and how she plans to get those changes through.

Sarah Hancock and Erica Buckwalter, with he Friends of The Sunset Zoo, join the show today to share the joys of being a zoo keeper here in Manhattan, and how they inspire curiosity in the next generation.

As the school year wraps up, the USD 383 school board continues to work into the summer creating the best district possible for students. Today, President of the board, Jayme Morris-Hardeman joins the show to share how it feels to wrap up the 2025-26 school year, and what work will look like going into the summer months.

The Museum of Art and Light here in Manhattan is quickly becoming a local favorite of it's residents, and a crown jewel of the city. Today we're joined by Executive Director of MoAL Erin Dragotto, and Sydney Bouhaniche who is the Creative Director of Immersive Exhibhitions. They share what it means to them to get to share art with the community, and how the upcoming immersive Picasso exhibit will blend traditional art and modern technology.

As healthcare continues to be one of the fastest growing sectors within the US, hiring qualified nurses and doctors is one of the most important factors in providing the most comprehensive care possible. Today's guest, Terri Dean, Director of Talent Acquisition at Stormont Vail Health, joins the show to share what it takes to get qualified doctors to rural residents, and what she looks for in those qualified candidates.

As we get into Mental Health Awareness Month, we are joined by Pawnee Mental Health Services who provide community support for those struggling with mental illness. Mike Rezkalla, President and CEO of Pawnee Mental Health, as well as Community Services Director Shelli Schottler, join the show to share how PMHS provides that support, what they hope to accomplish in the future, and what people can do at home to improve their own mental health.

After three weeks into his stint as Manhattan City Commissioner, Andrew Von Lintel weathered a mental health episode due to both life and work stresses. As May is Mental Health Awareness month, Von Lintel joins the show to share what his experience was like, how he recovered, and what steps he's taken in order to maintain stability and public trust for the commission.

There are currently 13 candidates running in the Republican primary, gunning for the Governor's seat. That includes today's guest, Joy Eakins, who is a small business owner in Wichita. Joy shares what she would like to see from local government and what she's doing differently from other GOP candidates in order to secure her win.

As one of the oldest and biggest venues in the area, Wareham Hall is one of the crown jewels of Manhattan. As renovations continue to restore the theater, tons of planning and work hours has brought us just over a year away from reopening the doors. Today, Executive Director of the renovation project, Blade Mages joins the show to share how he's leading the creative effort behind the project.

As soldiers rotate to and from deployment, it becomes important to make the transition between civilian life and active duty as smooth as possible. Being ready and prepared for anything is the Big Red One's foremost mission, and today, Col. Matthew Kelly, as well as CMS Michael Gossman, join the show to talk about how they accomplish that goal.

Within Reason with Mike Matson: Molly Mendenhall + Kayla Knier, Kansas Statewide Homeless Coalition