One Building, One Dream

About this episode

Five years ago Lauren Pusateri and her husband bought a 100 year old fraternal hall on Linwood Boulevard. Now she is turning it into a production studio that Kansas City's photographers, filmmakers and creative teams can share, and her plans are sitting with the city. This episode we are joined by Lauren Pusateri, a commercial photographer, motion director, and creative director based in Kansas City. She leads concept-driven campaigns for brands who want images that actually move people, not just fill layouts. Through Lauren Pusateri Productions, her female-focused content studio in Kansas City's West Bottoms, she runs projects end to end. A throughline in Lauren's work is women building things on their own terms. She and Wes walk through what it takes to bring an old building back to life as a first time, owner occupied project: finding the right person to ask at City Hall, the plan review meter that reads 12 percent complete, banks that would rather see apartments than a dance hall, and the advice she would give the next person who tries. Wes on why owner occupiers matter to a livable neighborhood, drama free basic services, and the Midtown and West Bottoms comeback. To see her work or hire the studio, go to laurenpusateri.com or find her on Instagram at @lauren.pusateri . Wes Rogers is a Kansas City councilman running for mayor. Believe in KC is an honest conversation with the people who make this town worth believing in. Watch or listen wherever you find your podcasts.