Walk into Real Media in Overland Park, and you’ll immediately sense it’s not your typical marketing firm. Yes, there are cameras, lights, and editing bays. But there’s also a full music studio, a podcasting setup, a photo studio, and, soon, a virtual production set. It’s the kind of creative playground you’d expect to find in Los Angeles or New York, yet it’s right here in the Midwest. At the center of it all is founder and owner Brad Burrow, a musician-turned-entrepreneur whose passion for storytelling has shaped everything his company touches.
“I grew up in a family of entrepreneurs,” Burrow says. “My stepdad owned a well servicing business, and my dad worked for Ewing Kauffman at Marion Labs. I was surrounded by that entrepreneurial spirit.” Music was his personal entry point into creativity. Paying his way through college by playing in bands, he spent hours in recording studios writing and producing original songs. That early love of sound and performance, he explains, eventually became the foundation for his approach to video and storytelling. “Music is still a key element in what we do at Real Media,” he says. “It really impacts emotion in a way most people overlook.”
For Burrow, storytelling is never accidental; it’s intentional. “Audience is number one,” he insists. Every project begins with deep research into who the audience is, what they care about, and where they can be reached. From there, he and his team craft scripts, visuals, humor, seriousness, and music with precision. “We call it storytelling with purpose,” he explains. “Yes, it’s creative, but there’s always an end goal in mind—whether it’s motivating someone to buy, donate, or simply connect.”
That philosophy has fueled Real Media since its start in 1997. In nearly three decades, Burrow has witnessed the rise of digital platforms, the decline of traditional television, and now the explosion of AI-driven content creation. Yet his guiding principle hasn’t wavered: create content that resonates. “Tools change, but the need to move people emotionally never goes away,” he says.
Real Media is more than a video production shop. It’s a full-service media company with the rare ability to handle every element of communication under one roof. From feature film work, including a project for Lucasfilm, to live streaming events, motion graphics, podcasts, and animation, the team has built a reputation for doing it all at the highest level.
“The great thing about having all of those capabilities in one place is that we can design entire strategies for clients,” Burrow explains. A brand may need a podcast, a series of social media clips, and a live-streamed event—all tied together with the same messaging. Rather than juggling multiple vendors, Real Media delivers everything seamlessly. “There really isn’t anyone else in the Midwest who can do all of this in one place,” he says proudly.
That combination of talent and tools has led to some remarkable opportunities. In 2018, Real Media created an augmented reality opening sequence for NBC Sports’ Super Bowl broadcast, the first of its kind. More recently, the company handled ADR recording for the latest Star Wars film.
One of the projects closest to Burrow’s heart is If Not For Them, a 10-episode documentary series chronicling the untold history of women’s basketball before Title IX. Partnering with executive producer Brenda VanLengen, Real Media has filmed more than 100 interviews with pioneering athletes and coaches who laid the groundwork for today’s women’s game.
“This is legacy work,” Burrow says. “We’re preserving history. Meeting these incredible women who changed the trajectory of sports has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career.” The project is now in post-production, with plans to land on a major streaming platform such as Netflix or ESPN.
Burrow has seen firsthand how the right story can transform a business. He recalls producing a series of TV spots for ABM, a home services company. By centering the campaign around trust, humor, and relatable characters, Real Media helped the company double its revenue in a single year. In another campaign for City Union Mission, the team crafted a powerful, wordless spot that raised $3.5 million in just 45 days.
“These are stories that don’t just look good,” Burrow emphasizes. “They actually move the needle.”
Though Real Media has collaborated with national brands and global entertainment companies, Burrow is proud of his Kansas City base. “We have Midwest values,” he says. “We work hard, we’re service-oriented, and we give back.” The company supports local organizations and ministries with pro bono work, believing that storytelling is a tool every mission-driven group should have access to.
Looking ahead, Burrow sees growth in virtual set production and larger-scale documentary and feature film projects. But no matter how big the stage, he says his goals remain the same: to tell meaningful stories, to help clients succeed, and to leave a legacy of generosity.
For Burrow, that guiding philosophy fuels both his business and his art. Whether he’s crafting a Super Bowl opener, preserving the history of women’s basketball, or producing a podcast for a local brand, the mission is the same: to create stories that connect, inspire, and move people. And in the process, he’s building not just a company, but a legacy of impact that stretches far beyond Kansas City.