Seg. 1: "Heartland" By Sarah Smarsh. Seg. 2: For The Birds

Your browser doesn’t support HTML5 audio

Segment 1: Growing up poor in the Heartland.

Local journalist and author Sarah Smarsh has been getting a lot of national attention for her new book, Heartland. On this episode, we chat with Smarsh about the forces that shaped her Kansas childhood.


Note: Our program spoke with Sarah the day after the 2016 Presidential Election. To hear that conversation, click here.

Segment 2, beginning at 36:52: The story behind "For the Birds," an Open Spaces art exhibit.

A young Kansas City artist has taken over an abandoned structure in Swope Park and has filled it with family scenes. Just one thing — the people all have bird heads.

  • Jillian Youngbird, artist

Copyright 2021 KCUR 89.3. To see more, visit KCUR 89.3.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
Gina’s background combines print and broadcast journalism, live event hosting and production, creative nonfiction writing and involvement in the arts. Early in her career, she followed a cultural beat for The Pitch, where she served as an editor and art writer in the early 2000s.
Melody Rowell