THINK AND DRINK
where the curious gather.
Our goal is to create a "third place" for the Kansas City community—an unplugged, in-person environment where curiosity is celebrated and attention is undivided. This ongoing lecture series delivers a wide array of topics that generate fresh perspectives, ideas, and discussion. These community-driven events are powered by a collaboration between UMKC, Linda Hall Library, The Third Place Historian, New Colossus Advisors, and Casual Animal Brewing Company.
What to expect
Think and Drink events are held every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month at Casual Animal Brewing Company in Kansas City’s East Crossroads. On occasion, events are held offsite at our partner locations including Linda Hall Library and UMKC. All lectures are free to the public and there are no assigned seats. Seating is first come, first served with a maximum seating capacity of 125 before standing room only. As a community event, it is encouraged that tables be shared among multiple parties. Come to learn, make new friends, and stay curious!
upcoming events
September 17 - Hidden in Plain Sight: The Story of LGBTQ Kansas City
Speaker: Joel Barrett, Creator and Producer of the KC Rainbow Tour
The LGBTQ rights movement did not begin on the coasts and slowly make its way inland. Kansas City was not a passive observer of history. It was a participant and a pioneer. Courageous and creative people in the heartland were organizing, building culture, and creating safe spaces long before many realize. This fast-paced talk shares the bold stories, hidden spaces, and resilient leaders who built community here in Kansas City and how the KC Rainbow Tour brings that history to life. Explore historical stories and places like Womontown, The Liberty Memorial, Soakies black gay bar, the Phoenix Society and more.
October 1 - Why Public Radio Matters For Music Lovers
Speaker: Michelle Bacon, Content Manager, 90.9 The Bridge
Unlike commercial stations, The Bridge is 100% programmed by Kansas City music lovers and funded by members, giving the freedom to include local, community and undiscovered voices on their airwaves. They’ll discuss their process of choosing music for playlists, as well as how the public radio model differs from other stations, and how their fundraising model is evolving. Attendees will experience first-hand their process of picking music for rotation by playing snippets of songs and having the crowd “vote” on their favorites. Don’t miss this exploration of local public media and the work The Bridge does as a radio station to elevate local and underserved artists, while highlighting what’s happening in the community around us.
October 15 - Why do we love being scared? The science of fear.
Speaker: Dr. Westley Youngren, UMKC
Fear is one of the most powerful and universal human experiences—but what actually happens in our bodies when we become afraid? This talk explores the science of fear, from the neural circuits that detect threats to the surprising reasons we sometimes seek out fear for fun. Join us as we explore the biological and social phenomenon of fear and discover why being scared can be both terrifying and fascinating!
NOVEMBER 5 - Rescued Horses Healing Heroes
Speaker: Julie Baker, M.Ed., Founder and Executive Director at Horses & Heroes Inc.
Every week, veterans, police officers, firefighters, and paramedics arrive at Horses & Heroes carrying burdens that are often invisible. Many have spent years protecting others while silently battling PTSD, anxiety, depression, and isolation. Here, in the quiet presence of rescued horses who have also survived trauma and abandonment, they discover something many thought was no longer possible—safety, connection, and hope. Join us for this special Veteran’s Day-themed talk exploring Horses & Heroes (H&H), a Kansas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that brings together two healing journeys—rescued horses overcoming hardship and veterans, first responders, and their families recovering from trauma. Learn how Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) provides a trauma-responsive, experiential approach that engages the brain and body to help individuals rebuild trust, regulate emotions, and rediscover connection.
NOVEMBER 19 - COMING SOON
Speaker: Ken Sofer, Founder & Principal, New Colossus Advisors; UMKC Foreign Policy Professor
SESSION DETAILS COMING SOON.
DECEMBER 3 - Myths & Realities: What Crime Trends Actually Tell Us And What Kansas City Is Doing About It
Speaker: Dr. Marijana (Maja) Kotlaja, Senior Associate III, Justice System Partners
Most of what people think they know about crime comes from headlines, not data. And when you look at the data, across countries and across decades, the story is remarkably different from the narrative in the media. Crime rates have dropped dramatically over the past 30 years, yet public fear keeps climbing. Why? This presentation digs into that disconnect by looking into the common myths about who commits crime, whether punitive policies actually reduce crime, and how media coverage distorts our perception of safety. Then we shift to what the research tells us actually works and open up a conversation about community-level strategies that everyday people can use to make their neighborhoods safer.
DECEMBER 17 - Scrooge’s Politics of Humbug: Reading A Christmas Carol In Its Historical and Spiritual Context
Speaker: Dr. Stephen Himes, Teacher and Author, Living Literature
Today, we recognize A Christmas Carol as a morality tale about greed, with Charles Dickens becoming “The Man Who Invented Christmas” by discovering the Christmas spirit to write a hit. But, in its 1843 context, Dickens’s novella is a deeply political response to the horrors of the Industrial Revolution, the exploitative rise of the British Empire, and the political reaction to the New Poor Law of 1834. Dickens issued a Christian appeal to his middle class readers, drawing upon Dante for its famous Past, Present, Yet to Come structure. And, drawing upon Christmas’ roots as a winter solstice festival, Dickens borrowed archetypes from Celtic folklore for the spirits of Scrooge’s epiphany. It’s not just the most popular story in the English language: When considered in its historical, political, economic, and religious context, A Christmas Carol is a Great Work of Literature.
past events
2025
July 31 - Witch Hunts, Then and Now: The Second Red Scare to the MAGA-era Ideological Purges // Erica Benson, The Third Place Historian
August 21 - How Loneliness Gets Under the Skin // Dr. Daniel Maitland, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology and Counseling, University of Missouri – Kansas City
September 4 - Titans of Time: The Enchanted History of Humanity’s Fascination with Trees // Samantha Sanchez, Certified Professional Horticulturist and an ISA Certified Arborist®, Linda Hall Library Arboretum
September 18 - Bad BioDiversity in Pop Culture // Richard Glor, PhD. Associate Professor, KU
October 2 - Freedom to Read: Local Impacts of Book Bans and Censorship // Moderator: Erica Benson, The Third Place Historian // Panelists: Rebecca Parker, KCPS LIbrarian; Cori Smith, BLK + BRWN. Bookstore; Gillian Wilcox, ACLU-MO
October 16 - Sleep Paralysis Demons, Science or Fiction? // Dr. Westley Youngren, UMKC
November 6 - Bridging the Gap in Access to Healthcare for those Experiencing Homelessness: Go to the People // Jaynell (KK) Assmann, APRN-C, Founder and CEO Care Beyond the Boulevard
November 20 - Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: The History and Impact of Vehicles in Kansas City // Eric Ward, Linda Hall Library; Marisa McKay, Kansas City Automotive Museum; Patrick Lenahan, Yaeger Architecture, Inc.
December 4 - The Surprising & Jolly History of Santa and Christmas Traditions in America // Erica Benson, The Third Place Historian
December 18 - Crises to Watch in 2026: Humanitarian Need Amid Geopolitical Disorder // Ken Sofer, Founder & Principal, New Colossus Advisors; UMKC Foreign Policy Professor
2026
January 15 - Are you Wishing or Are you Hoping? Knowing the difference can be life-changing. // Michael S. Ternes, PhD; Assistant Professor; University of Missouri-Kansas City
February 5 - Pimps & Preachers: The Misconception of Empathy and Its Power // Dr. Nicole Price, Lively Paradox
February 19 - Black Kansas City From the Early Years to the Jazz Era and Monarchs // Dr. David Trowbridge, William T. Kemper Associate Research Professor of Digital and Public Humanities
March 5, 2026 - Distilling the Alchemy: The Research & Findings that Shaped Linda Hall Library's New Exhibit // Dr. Eric Dorfman, President and CEO of Linda Hall Library; Dr. Laurie Ellinghausen, Professor in the UMKC School of Humanities & Social Sciences; Ali Bustos, Multidisciplinary Artist
March 19, 2026- The Myth of the Artist: How Kansas City Creatives Really Make a Living // Cory Imig, Director of Alumni Relations and Professional Practice Center, Kansas City Art Institute
April 2, 2026 - The Wild Is Calling — And You’ve Got the Tool to Answer // Speaker: Nadina Galle, Ecological Engineer, National Geographic Explorer and Author of THE NATURE OF OUR CITIES
April 16, 2026 - Tortellini the Turtle and the Physics of “Bubble Butt”: How a National Defense Organization and the KC Zoo are Helping Injured Sea Turtles Dive Again // Speakers: Dan Bowen, Ph.D. – Sr. Fellow & Chief Scientist / Neiko Levenhagen, Ph.D. – Lead R&D Scientist Advanced Technology Development / Peter Roth – Sr. Mechanical Engineer / Holly Weber – Principal R&D Scientist, Materials Aging and Compatibility
May 7, 2026 - Fueling The Show: Inside the Nutrition Strategy of Major League Baseball // Erika Wincheski, Director of Sports Nutrition, Kansas City Royals
May 21, 2026 - How to Watch the World Cup Like You Know What You Are Doing // Blair Kerkoff, Sportswriter and host of Sportsbeat KC; Benny Feilhaber, Former Professional Soccer Midfielder and Current Coach
June 4, 2026 - Pints and Policy: The Documents that Built the Modern World // Cassie Pikarsky, Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Truman Library
There were no events June 5 - July 15 due to the World Cup events in Kansas City.
July 16, 2026 - August Primary Ballot Crash Course for Kansas & Missouri Voters // Moderator: Brian Ellison, Senior Political Analyst for KCUR 89.3 // Panelists: Myke Shaw: founder of Uwazi, a Civic Tech Platform, and KC Civic Hub // Laurel Burchfield: Advocacy Director at Mainstream Coalition in Kansas // Amy Slaybaugh: KC Regional Field and Outreach Coordinator of Respect MO Voters // Madeline Fox: News Director at KCUR 89.3
August 6 - The Forever Trade War and What It Means for Kansas City // Jack Zhang, Director of the Trade War Lab, University of Kansas
August 20 - The Holy, Educated Muthaf*cka: Tips & Tricks for Those Saddled by Midwest Nice (Part II of “Pimps & Preachers”) // Dr. Nicole Price, Founder—Lively Paradox
September 3 - The Science of Sarcasm // Dr. Valeria Pfeifer, Assistant Professor of Psychology and Counseling, University of Missouri-Kansas City
