By Paul Thompson

Northeast News

The Northeast News is thankful to be able to continue producing the Northeast Newscast on behalf of the Historic Northeast community. We also understand that we wouldn’t be able to do so without the continued participation of interview subjects, so we wanted to take some time this week to thank our interviewees – while highlighting some of our favorite episodes. Without further ado, here’s a few Northeast Newscast episodes we are especially thankful for this holiday season.

– Episode 3 w/ Missouri State Representative Ingrid Burnett

The podcast was still in it’s infancy when we were able to convince District 19 State Representative Ingrid Burnett to participate. She couldn’t possibly have known what to expect – we were essentially flying by the seat of our pants at that point – but the interview ended up being a wide-ranging discussion on all of the happenings around the state capitol in Jefferson City. Burnett acquitted herself well – proving to be knowledgeable on a variety of issues – and was an engaging interview subject. The interview set a high bar for what the Northeast Newscast could become, and remains well worth a listen, especially as legislators gearing up for the 2018 legislative session, which begins with pre-filing on December 1.

-Episode 11 w/ KCMO Illegal Dumping Investigator Alan Ashurst

For the first time, I took the podcast out into the field for Episode 11. For the episode, I went on a ride-along for an “A Day in the Life” experience with KCMO Illegal Dumping Investigator Alan Ashurst. This episode stands out not only because of the new format, though; Ashurst is an incredibly fun interview, and his dedication to his craft is palpable. Before the ride-along, I had little idea what an Illegal Dumping Investigator does on a day-to-day basis. Ashurst explained it all in rich detail: pointing out some of the dozens of camouflaged cameras he’s rigged up all over the city, detailing some of the dangerous scenarios he has found himself in, describing the frustration of a job that oftentimes doesn’t yield actionable results, and laying out his pitch for a reality show based on his life. After spending an afternoon with the gregarious Ashurst, the idea seemed plausible.

-Episode 17 w/Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II

Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II has been the only interviewee on the Northeast Newscast who has a street named in his honor, so the idea of a sit-down was initially daunting. But I prepared dutifully for the interview, which touched on a series of important topics: the historic violent crime surge in Kansas City, the recent shooting attack against Congressional Republicans during a practice ahead of the annual Congressional baseball game, the Trump administration’s travel ban, and much more. Cleaver was surprisingly open,  even discussing his lack of a relationship with Missouri Governor Eric Greitens. I was proud of the interview, and somewhat shocked that I didn’t completely blow it (though I suppose I should let you be the judge of that).

-Episode 24 w/ Animal Control Officer Chris Harriman

The production process for this episode – another “Day in the Life” feature, this time with KCMO animal control officer Chris Harriman – was probably the longest and most arduous in the (admittedly limited) history of the Northeast Newscast. I spent the better part of an afternoon riding around with Harriman, and recorded several hours of audio that needed to be spliced together to form a consistent narrative. Thanks in large part to Harriman, the episode worked. He was thoughtful, passionate, and dedicated. After one emotional encounter, Harriman turned into the interviewer, questioning me about how the call was handled. In an act of coincidence bordering on fate, an audit of the Animal Health and Public Safety department was released (literally) during the interview, leading to a powerful and passionate conclusion in which Harriman addressed the audit head-on.

These aren’t the only episodes worth re-listening to, of course, but they’re well worth the time investment. Through 34 episodes, we’ve had the opportunity to interview dozens of community leaders who are making a real difference in Kansas City, so we encourage anyone interested to check out all of our previous episodes. For your convenience, we’ve included them all below.