Health on the Plains is a Kansas Health Institute podcast, hosted by Wyatt Beckman, KHI senior analyst. The podcast was launched in 2023, with a focus on health and well-being in rural Kansas. Episodes include engaging and nuanced conversations around topics impacting the health of individuals in less populated parts of the state. Episodes are released twice monthly and include guests representing a wide range of backgrounds who are focused on improving health for Kansans. Although conversation is focused on Kansas, topics are relevant to anyone living in rural America. The podcast is also available as a webcast on YouTube. To continue the conversation, check out our companion show, Health on the Plains Coffee Hour, for more insights and perspectives.
In this episode of Health on the Plains , Wyatt Beckman sits down with Chef Steve Smith, the innovative culinary mind behind a fresh approach to food and healing at Smith County Memorial Hospital, in Kansas.
Chef Steve shares how he’s transforming hospital dining by creating customized, nutritious meals designed to support patient health — a model rooted in the belief that food is medicine. His work doesn’t stop at the hospital doors. From a home meal delivery program to welcoming community members into the hospital’s on-site restaurant, Chef Steve has built a culinary ecosystem that nourishes the entire county.
Discover how this small rural hospital is leading big change, and why Chef Steve hopes this model of whole-person, community-centered nutrition can be replicated across Kansas and beyond.
Tune in to learn how good food — and good care — go hand in hand.
10 Nov 2025
All In for All Ages, with the Logan LIFE Center
Wyatt Beckman takes us to Logan, Kansas, to visit with Logan Intergenerational Family Education (LIFE) Center leaders, David Kirkendall and Teresa McComb. The first-of-its-kind center brings together students and nursing home residents to improve educational outcomes, create a greater sense of belonging and purpose among residents, and serve as a valuable resource for the entire community.
8 Aug 2025
What's There to Do in Abilene? With Julie Roller Weeks
In episode 14 of Health on the Plains, Wyatt Beckman visits Abilene to talk with Julie Roller Weeks, director of the Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau, about how positivity, pride and collaboration fuel rural community growth. Hear how Abilene attracts opportunities for health and beyond.
11 Oct 2024
Being a Catalyst for Health - Investing in Hopes and Dreams, with the Sunflower Foundation, episode 13
On Health on the Plains, episode 13, Wyatt Beckman takes us down the road in Topeka, to visit Sunflower Foundation leaders Brandon Skidmore and Elizabeth Burger. They discuss the history of the foundation and their new home on Healing Hill. They share their vision for improving the health of all Kansans by investing in people, places and ideas. They touch on some of their major projects, such as the investment in trails across the state. They also discuss their collaborative work in food as medicine and integrated health, and how those programs can address needs in rural Kansas. Lastly, they provide insights into how they consider investment opportunities to fulfill their mission of serving as a catalyst for the health of all Kansans.
13 Sept 2024
Rural Doesn't Mean Simple, with Dr. Robert Moser, episode 12
In part two of our conversation with Robert Moser, M.D., Health on the Plains host Wyatt Beckman discusses with Dr. Moser the potential of telemedicine and the importance of maternal health care in rural communities. They talk about the unique challenges of maintaining obstetrics skills among rural health professionals and the unique dynamics of physician recruitment in rural communities. This episode is part 2 of the conversation with Dr. Robert Moser. You may listen to part 1 in episode 11.
21 Aug 2024
Rural Realities and What They Mean for Health, with Dr. Bob Moser, episode 11
On Health on the Plains, episode 11, host Wyatt Beckman takes listeners to our very own Kansas Health Institute studio, for the first half of our visit with Robert Moser, M.D., who heads the Kansas Center for Rural Health. Dr. Moser discusses his experiences as a rural Kansan, practicing rural Kansas physician, county health director, cabinet secretary, founder of a rurally focused patient safety collaborative, rural medical school dean and director of the Kansas Center for Rural Health.
He shares the center's priority of helping rural health care providers efficiently implement evidence-based practices that promote quality care no matter where it's delivered in the state. Dr. Moser speaks to the local realities for rural physicians along with the importance of preparing the next generation of providers so they are supported and ready to care for rural Kansans. In the next episode, we'll continue the conversation with Dr. Moser, as we discuss the challenges of rural maternal health care and the opportunities presented by telehealth.
25 May 2024
Helping People Help Other People: The Role of a Rural Hospital Leader with Benjamin Anderson, episode 10
On Health on the Plains, episode 10, Host Wyatt Beckman takes listeners to Hutchinson, Kansas, to visit with Benjamin Anderson, President and CEO of Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. He emphasizes the need to develop leadership in rural health care. He addresses meeting the health care needs of the community while keeping work-life balance in focus and highlights innovations to improve population health through unique partnerships. He also discusses access to care and why he thought it was important to advocate for Medicaid expansion.
23 Apr 2024
Getting Grants and Getting Things Done, episode 9
On Episode 9, host Wyatt Beckman returns to Liberal, Kansas to meet Kay Burtzloff, founder and president of the Liberal Area Coalition for Families. She discusses the creation of the coalition and its continued success of acquiring grant funds and investing in programs to benefit southwest Kansans. Find out how a rural coalition approaches planning for the future.
18 Mar 2024
Sustaining Rural Culture with the Kansas Sampler Foundation, episode 8
On Episode 8, host Wyatt Beckman take listeners to Inman, Kansas, to visit with Marci Penner and Sarah Green, co-directors of the Kansas Sampler Foundation, to learn how the foundation is working to sustain rural culture by promoting communities and resources that highlight the unique stories of Kansans.
26 Feb 2024
Health on the Plains, episode 7: Learning from the unique blend of cultures in southwest Kansas
On Episode 7, host Wyatt Beckman takes listeners to Liberal, Kansas to meet Clarissa Carrillo Martinez, a multifaceted, dynamic community leader in southwest Kansas. She shares her personal experiences growing up in Liberal and serving the community, highlighting the importance of understanding and learning from the unique blend of cultures in southwest Kansas.
9 Feb 2024
Health on the Plains, episode 6: Looking back and to the road ahead
On Episode 6, host Wyatt Beckman takes listeners on a look back at the first five episodes of Health on the Plains. Since the show got started in September 2023, we’ve heard from a wide range of leaders and doers in rural Kansas, as they’ve addressed the health-related needs in their communities. Guests have shared not just the challenges, but how they’re tackling issues head on and seeing success. Wyatt offers a preview of upcoming episodes that will take him to southwest and south-central Kansas. Thanks to our listeners who continue to check out new and earlier episodes.
4 Jan 2024
Health on the Plains, episode 5: Setting the PACE for Aging in Rural Kansas with Emilie Rains
On Episode 5, host Wyatt Beckman takes listeners to McPherson, Kansas, to meet Bluestem PACE Executive Director Emilie Rains. We get a look at the innovative PACE model, which stands for Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, and what it can mean for rural Kansans. Emilie discusses the organization’s unique approach to helping older adults live in their homes and communities, while also providing a hub for health-related services and social engagement. She discusses the specific challenges of health care and in-home support for older adults in rural Kansas.
5 Dec 2023
Health on the Plains, episode 4: The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation’s Health Priorities with Chairman Zeke Rupnick
On Episode 4, host Wyatt Beckman takes listeners to The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, in northeast Kansas. He visits with Tribal Council Chairman Joseph “Zeke” Rupnick, who shares the importance of honoring the Nation’s past while paving a way towards improved health for its members now and for the future. Chairman Rupnick shares how the Nation addressed the COVID-19 pandemic and reflects on the challenges and opportunities for bridging the gap between health needs and access to care in the community. We also get a look at The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation’s expanded health centers that are focused both on medical and behavioral health. Lastly, Chairman Rupnick and Wyatt discuss the interconnectedness of health care, economic development and community well-being, highlighting the need for innovative approaches and creativity in rural settings operating on limited resources.
2 Nov 2023
Health on the Plains, episode 3: Building Partnerships for Better Health with Dan Duling
On Episode 3, host Wyatt Beckman takes listeners to Pittsburg, Kansas, where he talks with Dan Duling, Vice President of Community Partnerships for Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas. Dan shares his journey from educator to health care leadership. He discusses the challenges and opportunities in rural Kansas to grow a health center that meets the needs of its patients and leverages community partnerships to support the whole person – with behavioral health services, food and nutrition and transportation.
13 Oct 2023
Health on the Plains, episode 2: Thriving in Rural Kansas with Lisse Regehr
On Episode 2, host Wyatt Beckman takes listeners to Allen County, Kansas where he talks with Lisse Regehr, President and CEO of Thrive Allen County. She shares how her rural health advocacy organization is working relentlessly to make Allen County the healthiest rural community in the state - one that thrives physically, socially, emotionally and fiscally. Hear how Thrive Allen County is pursuing innovative ideas, intertwining economic development and health, building community capacity and bringing partners together to rally around a shared vision of health.
26 Sept 2023
Health on the Plains, episode 1: Exploring Rural Identity with Matt Perrier
Health on the Plains Host Wyatt Beckman takes listeners to southeast Kansas where talks with Matt Perrier, a fifth-generation rancher and Kansas Health Institute board member based in Eureka, Kansas. This episode delves into Matt and his family’s journey and commitment to rural life, exploring the challenges and opportunities faced by rural communities and future generations. Matt provides a thoughtful examination of rural identity and some of the misconceptions and generalizations surrounding what may often be perceived as a "simple" way of life in rural Kansas.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 8 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
4
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
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