Topeka Partnership Podcast: News and Updates for Members

In this episode of the Topeka Talk podcast, hosts Gretchen Spiker and India Yarborough wrap up their three-part series about how funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, commonly known as ARPA, are supporting local programs and making an impact in Topeka. If you missed the first two episodes, be sure to give them a listen! In this final episode of season two, Spiker and Yarborough are joined by Pam Evans, director of marketing and ...

In this episode of the Topeka Talk podcast, hosts Gretchen Spiker and India Yarborough sit down with one of the local recipients of funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, commonly known as ARPA. This episode is the second installment in a three-part series about how $10 million in ARPA grants are impacting social services in the Topeka area. Today's guest is Chris Palmer, executive director of Cornerstone of Topeka. Palmer talk...

In this episode of the Topeka Talk podcast, hosts Gretchen Spiker and India Yarborough kick off a three-episode series about how funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, commonly known as ARPA, is impacting social services in the Topeka area. It's been about a year since the City of Topeka, through its governing body, allocated $10 million in ARPA funding to community organizations in Kansas' capital city. In episode one of the s...

In this episode of the Topeka Talk podcast, hosts Gretchen Spiker and India Yarborough talk with two special guests about the funding supports available for small businesses in the Topeka area. Spiker and Yarborough are joined by Stephanie Norwood, GO Topeka's director of entrepreneurship and small business, and Pedro Concepcion, a local small business owner behind favorites like The Wheel Barrel in Topeka's NOTO Arts & Entertainme...

In this episode of the Topeka Talk podcast, hosts Gretchen Spiker and India Yarborough cover the Topeka Area Sports Commission, a committee formed in 2022 to advance sports offerings in the greater Topeka area. The pair is joined by Jake Farrant, owner and CEO of Mammoth Sports Construction and chair of TASC, and Mike Bell, of Visit Topeka, who serves as TASC director. They dish on the creation of TASC, their focus on both youth an...

In this episode of the Topeka Talk podcast, hosts Gretchen Spiker and India Yarborough sit down with Washburn University President Dr. JuliAnn Mazachek and Dr. Alan Bearman, Washburn's vice president for strategic enrollment management. Following an exciting university announcement about new scholarship opportunities for Shawnee County students, they talk through what these scholarships provide, how they seek to address local talen...

In this episode of the Topeka Talk podcast, hosts Gretchen Spiker and India Yarborough sit down with Matt McGivern, president of Senne Company, our community's Top City Small Business of the Year! They dive into the company's history, past and future projects, community impact and more. This episode also introduces listeners to the other winners of Topeka and Shawnee County's 2023 Small Business Awards held in early May. Listen tod...

In this episode of the Topeka Talk podcast, hosts Gretchen Spiker and India Yarborough sit down with two leaders at the Washburn Institute of Technology — Mike Strohschein, dean, and Pam Masters, director of health occupations. Together, they talk all things Washburn Tech, including what programs the school offers, how the technical college is helping address the area's talent needs, and so much more! Listen to learn all about it. ...

In the second Topeka Talk episode of Season 2, hosts Gretchen Spiker and India Yarborough are joined by Wrylie Guffey and Shanna Simpson, lead animal curators at the Topeka Zoo! The pair dishes details of the zoo's newest exhibit, Giraffe & Friends, which will be the largest habitat in its history. Listen to learn what you can expect from the new experience, and for a few fun facts about the zoo's furry friends, including how they ...

To kick off Season 2 of Topeka Talk: Community Conversations, hosts Gretchen Spiker and India Yarborough sit down with Ernestor De La Rosa, the City of Topeka's first Chief Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Officer. Listen now to learn about Ernestor's path to finding Topeka, his plans and hopes for the role, and so much more! To contact the city's DEI Office, visit Topeka.org/dei/.

P.S. We've got a great season ahead with lots ...

In this episode of Topeka Talk: Community Conversations, hosts Gretchen Spiker and India Yarborough take the show on the road for a collaborative episode with the South by East Podcast! Recorded in South by East’s Studio 104, you’ll learn about that studio space, and how it aims to help everyone from the video expert to the podcast newbie hone their skills — all for an affordable price. Johnathan Sublet and Brail Watson, both pasto...

In this episode of Topeka Talk: Community Conversations, hosts Gretchen Spiker and India Yarborough are joined by guests Michelle Cuevas-Stubblefield, SVP of strategy for the Greater Topeka Partnership, and Tara Dimick, owner and publisher of TK Business Magazine and a Momentum 2027 tri-chair. The two women helped bring Topeka/Shawnee County’s first community strategy, Momentum 2022, to fruition, and as the plan sunsets this year, ...

In this episode of Topeka Talk: Community Conversations, hosts Gretchen Spiker and India Yarborough take their show on the road! This episode was recorded at the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library's new Level 2 Tech Center, a community workspace that features two recording studios, a fully equipped digital art studio, meeting rooms, workstations with computer access, and much more. Library CEO Marie Pyko and Emerging Technologi...

In this episode of Topeka Talk: Community Conversations, hosts Gretchen Spiker and India Yarborough sit down with Topeka City Council member Karen Hiller and volunteers from Omni Circle Group to talk about a new citywide initiative designed to improve local property appearance, reduce vacant structures and support safer neighborhoods. Listen today to learn more about how Topeka is working to change its culture of property maintenan...

In this episode of Topeka Talk: Community Conversations, hosts Gretchen Spiker and India Yarborough sit down with Rhett Flood, executive director of Forge Young Talent, and Cody Burger, chair of this year's TopCity Interns program. The group chats about Topeka's citywide intern initiative, current talent attraction efforts in the capital city, how young professionals can get involved in the community, and much more. Listen today to...

In episode one of Topeka Talk: Community Conversations, hosts Gretchen Spiker and India Yarborough sit down with Visit Topeka president Sean Dixon and local small-business-and-events advocate Alison Beebe, who manages the ever-growing Facebook group Topcityflavorista Local Eats & Events! Their conversations touch on Topeka tourism and its impact in the area, the success of Topeka Dino Days, and how a community can rally behind tour...