![](https://i0.wp.com/hutchtribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Screenshot-2025-01-25-005253.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
CAPTION: Kari Mailloux speaks at the beginning of the 21st edition of Talk20 Hutch at the Hutchinson Public Library Friday evening. CREDIT SCREEN CAPTURE FROM TALK20 HUTCH
By Emmie Boese
The 21st edition of Talk20 Hutch featured titles such as Zoe’s Moxy, Adventure’s with Alpha Gal (Don’t Get Bit By A Tick) and Do We Live Our Values?
The 21st edition took place on Friday, Jan. 24 at Hutchinson Public Library.
Talk20 Hutch is organized by Jackson Swearer, Ryan Diehl, Gregg Wamsley and Kari Mailloux. The Talk20 Hutch format was inspired by PechaKucha 20×20 which consists of presenting 20 images within a slideshow setting with 20 seconds per slide. The total presentation adds up to six minutes and forty seconds. The Talk20 format in Hutchinson consists of 10 presenters who share a story, expertise or interest in a narrative format.
“Every time somebody gets up there and tells their story it kind of speaks from the heart and I’m just so grateful that they said yes to do it,” Mailloux said. “So I guess that’s the pervasive feeling that I have. I’m so grateful to live in this community with everybody and I hope that others feel the same.”
Several presenters provided insight on giving back to the community and the importance of teaching all community members to lead. Phil Auxier’s presentation was titled “What Makes Leadership Reno County Unique.” Leadership Reno County provides a leadership skills training experience.
One of Auxier’s points in his presentation featured the concept of technical versus adaptive challenges. He used the analogy of a thermostat to explain why the act of leadership is important in a community.
“Bitter cold may mean that there is apathy in our community and they don’t care about a certain issue,” Auxier said. “Too hot and we can’t even talk about that issue but some heat can move us into productivity. So in all of this we believe that our community is going to flourish when everyone leads.”
Mailloux said that it’s important for the audience to hear themes connected to leadership and giving back to the community.
“Like Phil said, I believe leadership is an activity not a position and that it’s going to take all of us to make the community we want to live in and so I think to witness it and even if you weren’t prepared for it to hear that as a theme,” Mailloux said. “Even Megan (Dr. Megan Bartley) saying she kind of realized there was a gap in the literature and in her work was just like, oh, and now I have to fill it and I just hope that more people get inspired by that. The team at Main Street Yoga found a gap and then filled it so I see that luckily in my job all the time but it’s just so exciting to share with other people, too.”
Bartley created a nonprofit called Kitchen Hero Academy which is called KHA for short. She created a free, comprehensive, manualized, 10-week summer garden-to-table cooking skills program for middle school students as her doctoral capstone in occupational therapy. She said she recognized that there is food insecurity in Reno County.
The manual for KHA is published and contains a supplemental KHA workbook and cookbook. Dr. Bartley presented qualitative data that proves KHA is giving back to Reno County children. Some data points she included were self-advocacy and conflict resolution skills.
“I’m a dreamer and I dream God-sized dreams,” Bartley said. “Now that the manual is published and the curriculum is for sale I’d love to see KHA support more communities across Kansas, the country, and the world.”
The 22nd edition of Talk20 Hutch will be held on Friday, July 25, 2025, at the Hutchinson Public Library. Those who are interested in presenting or would like to nominate someone else should contact Talk20 Hutch at talk20hutch.com. All presentations from the 21st edition will be available on talk20hutch.com as well.