Bryant Wigger
Executive Chef of Tavernonna at the Hotel Phillips, husband to Danielle, father to four-year-old Easton, and 18-month-old Callie.
What's your passion?
My passion for the past 23 years has been cooking and traveling. I started cooking in college when that was the only job in the town at the time. I started washing dishes and then moved to the pantry line. From there, I just realized that I enjoyed it then kept finding more jobs at better places. I moved to So Cal in 1999 and worked through restaurants, hotels, from Ritz Carlton to Four Seasons. I opened two restaurants and then moved back to Kansas City to be closer to my parents and to give my children a small-town life and to spend time with Grandma and Grandpa. Since then, my wife and I were privileged to travel to Italy, Germany, France, Spain, Thailand, Singapore, Bali, Taiwan, and Costa Rica. Traveling and meeting these people, tasting the food, and immersing ourselves in the culture has become our passion. When I started cooking I always strove to work at the best places. After traveling, I have learned that cooking food that helps to bring people together and celebrate family is what I enjoy the most.
What would you say from your soapbox?
Help others and embrace all cultures. There are people who have nothing and they are happier than people who have. We need to embrace each other no matter our background or beliefs. We are all human no matter where we come from.
Bryan Busby
Chief Meteorologist - KMBC/KCWE, Timpanist for the Liberty Symphony Orchestra, partner to Cynthia, and father of cats, Glaze, Sparky, and Wylie
What is your passion and how did you find it?
Aside from communicating weather forecasts, music is my biggest passion. I enjoy listening to, playing, or even conducting orchestras. I can lose myself and my cares in music.
Meteorology and music both found me about the same time. Meteorology was born out of a fear of thunderstorms and wanting to learn more about what causes them. So at the age of 8, I wrote my local TV meteorologist with questions, and he invited me down to the station to meet him. I did that once a year through school and although he is retired now, I still keep in touch with him. I have made it a point to pass this mentoring onto the next generation. I am blessed to say I have about 40 proteges all across the country as TV meteorologists. Some from the northland are now working in other cities (Doug Heady in Joplin and most recently Jordan Evans in Waco). Some are even here at other stations now competing against me, Joe Lauria, Garry Frank, Alex Countee (at Fox 4), Erin Little, Brett Anthony. (KCTV-5)
About that same time also at 8, Mom and Dad started me in piano lessons and I started playing trumpet in the school band that year.
What did you discover during the last two months of quarantine?
Perspective. It is odd that I do my job in front of an inanimate object - a camera. On an intellectual level, I know that it is the conduit to living beings, but it is strange in a way to "talk" to a machine 10 feet away from me. It wasn't until social distancing became the norm that I more fully understood the importance of connecting with others.
I have been out and about since I have been safely broadcasting from the studio rather than from home. On my way to work, I will see people at the gas station or grocery store. People are happy to have any interaction with people - they crave it. I am blessed that even through the mask, they recognize me and want to say, "Thank you for your forecasts. It is just 3 minutes of normalcy that I depend on to get me through this." That is humbling.
The other thing I discovered is that tomorrow is not guaranteed. I have always been a model railroad buff. I talked about putting in a G scale garden railroad in the backyard. Now, I am actually taking steps to make that dream a reality.
Adam Roberts
Co-owner of the Screenland Armour, Tapcade, partner to Ashley Cox, and dog pal of Ripley, the pitbull.
What is your passion and how did you find it?
Filmmaking and film watching. As a young boy, I was allowed to go to the video store each weekend and rent whatever I wanted. This was the early days of the internet so I was digging for deep cuts and discovering the first wave of independent filmmakers coming out of the early 90s and learning that I could make films myself if I wanted. So, I saved up and purchased some crummy VHS cameras off eBay and began filming whatever I could and editing between two VCRs, I was probably 13 at the time. The movies weren't good but it began to evolve my passion from movie-watcher to filmmaker.
What new interests did you explore or discover during quarantine?
I created a Patreon and began hosting virtual watch parties and other content. I'm still learning but it's been fun discovering new abilities to keep the conversation alive.
If you could tell past self one thing, what would it be? You're not wrong in thinking that working for someone else sucks. You can do whatever you want, so keep believing in yourself, even if no one else does.
What would you say from your soapbox?
It's an election year. We are in one of the most difficult times in our lifetime with the ripple effects of COVID19. People on all sides of the political spectrum need to vote and let their voice be heard. If anything is evident it's that many of our leaders are not representing us. As a small business owner, I have been failed by state and federal governments who have left us out in the cold and with no real relief. Each and every week I have written or called my local and state reps demanding action and letting my voice be heard. So, register to vote. If you are passionate about something or have a unique position, let that be heard. Register at vote.gov.
Brent Miller
Co-Owner of Screenland and Tapcade, husband, father, boss, and friend
What is your passion and how did you find it?
I would say my biggest passion is creating things. Adam and I have done everything from creating a business concept and physically building it from the ground up, all the way to collaborating with local breweries on beer recipes and having it sold in stores.
Given a free weekend night, where are you going and what are you doing? You would probably find my wife and me on a date. One of our favorites is going to Tapcade prior to a concert and then Colony afterward for cocktails.
Isaac Collins
Owner, Yogurtini Shoal Creek, husband to Rachel, dog pal to Charlie and Kobe.
What is your passion and how did you find it?
Seeing people realize and step into their full potential and calling. I found it through years of soul searching, seminars, and talking to mentors.
What new interests did you explore or discover during the last two months?
I've dabbled in dog training and the vegan lifestyle.
If you could tell past self one thing, what would it be?
Mental health is as or more important than physical health.