As ESU Happy Hours continue to salute America’s 250th birthday, we turn to the great state of Connecticut. By the mid-to-late 1700’s, western Connecticut had developed as a quiet, agricultural “backwater,” landlocked and insulated from the politics and secessionist turmoil of the big colonial cities. Nevertheless, during the Revolutionary War, Connecticut earned the nickname “The Provisions State,” by supplying vast amounts of meat, grain, clothing, and weaponry to General George Washington’s Continental Army, and was second only to Massachusetts in the number of men serving in the war.

In this sharp, soulful, and unfiltered follow-up to Pimps & Preachers, Dr. Nicole Price—aka the original Holy, Educated Muthaf*cka—calls in the over-functioners, the peacemakers, and the brilliant-but-exhausted humans who are tired of being “nice” when what’s needed is real. Rooted in radical empathy, this session explores how to stay spiritually grounded, emotionally clear, and intellectually sharp—even when you’re surrounded by noise, nonsense, or outright foolishness. Because real empathy isn’t about absorbing every emotion in the room—it’s about knowing where to focus your energy.

Join us for one of our favorite social events of the year—a tea party celebrating King Charles III’s upcoming 78th birthday in November. It’s an ESU Tea Party with plenty of charm, delicious treats, and a setting fit for a king.

Despite there being no logical reason to say the opposite of what you mean, and many people dismissing sarcasm as maladaptive, full of contempt, and “bad for you”, its use is ubiquitous. So, why would anybody use verbal irony and sarcasm, if we risk not only being misunderstood, but possibly worse? Newer science says that irony is actually good for you! It can help regulate emotions, foster creativity, and manage social relationships. This lecture will discuss science related to sarcasm, from examples and prevalence of sarcasm in the world around us, what happens in your brain when you encounter it, and how we can use this communicative superpower to our advantage.

From the greatest storyteller of all time, The Linda Hall Library presents the 1999 movie version of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. This free morning showing of Shakespeare’s most romantic comedy features an all-star cast headed by Christian Bale, Michelle Pfeiffer, Kevin Kline, Calista Flockhart, Stanley Tucci, and Rupert Everett.

Philadelphia, PA., America’s first capital, held a pivotal role as the cradle of American democracy. When George Washington took the oath of office in 1789, Philadelphia had the largest free […]

Unlike commercial radio stations, 90.9 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. 

Daniel Boone (1734-1820) was an American pioneer, trailblazer, outdoorsman, revolutionary, and adventurer whose frontier exploits made him one of the first folk heroes of the United States. The story of the early settlement of Kentucky is well documented, and Daniel Boone is most famous for his exploration and settlement of what is now the U.S. state of Kentucky, which was then beyond the western borders of the Thirteen Colonies.

AI is all around us—recognizing faces in photos, transcribing speech, answering questions, writing essays, generating code, and much more. But rapidly improving AI is poised to play a much bigger role in all our lives.

In this lecture, Melanie Mitchell, a complexity scientist at the Santa Fe Institute and a highly regarded expert in artificial intelligence, will describe how contemporary AI works, how “intelligent” it really is, and what our expectations—and concerns—about its near-term and long-term prospects should be.

The question may be met with chagrin by traditionalists, but to some, the identity of William Shakespeare is not positively decided. Dr. Felicia Londré, Ph.D, presents a thought-provoking analysis on the Shakespeare authorship question. This free lecture program is at 10:00 am on Thursday, October 29, 2026, on the campus of the University of Missouri at Kansas City. Location on campus to be announced on our website in August. In the meantime, please save the date.

Film buffs will be delighted as The Linda Hall Library presents this 1953 version of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. This free morning showing of Shakespeare’s classic has an all-star cast including Marlon Brando as Mark Antony, James Mason as Brutus, John Gielgud as Cassius, Louis Calhern as Julius Caesar, Greer Garson as Calpurnia, and Deborah Kerr as Portia. Directed by the legendary Joseph L. Mankiewicz.

The Bach Aria Soloists ensemble brings a rare glimpse into the private lives of six women composers from the 11th century through modern times. The program “In Her Own Words,” pairs their groundbreaking music through their letters, journals, and published works with the spoken word by the captivating guest actor Cinnamon Schultz Paulette—a powerful celebration of these extraordinary creators. Experience history through the voices of leading women composers.