He's teal from head to toe, his beard is pure glitter, and he's at nearly every KC Current home match. Richard Harper, aka Teal Man, shares how a former band teacher from Fort Scott became one of Kansas City's most recognizable sports fans.
Mindy met Richard at the Kansas City Diamonds media day and knew she had to get him on the show. He showed up fully teal'd out. In this episode, Teal Man shares where the whole look started: face paint in his college marching band, then holiday-parade glitter beards to win over his middle school students. It took off about five years ago, when a PA announcement at a Monarchs game led him to the KC Current. He walks through his full get-ready routine, from the primer and layers of paint to his homemade glitter blend and the plastic-wrap trick that saves his sink. He also explains why the kilt is a nod to his mom's family heritage and to Kansas City's Irish Fest.
Richard also talks about growing up hard of hearing and reading lips by age three, and why he wouldn't change it. He shares how his mom, his biggest role model, raised him to champion equality and women's sports. He explains what TEAL stands for (Trust, Entertainment, Accepting, Love) and why being whimsical in a serious world matters. He tells the stories behind filming an Amazon Prime "No Matter How You Fan" commercial in Montreal, working as a background extra on Ted Lasso, and partnering with United Way. He describes the community feel at CPKC Stadium and his big dream of making Teal Man a full-time gig. He closes with his Kansas City bucket list and his idea of a perfect KC day around the Plaza.
Key topics:
How Teal Man was born, from marching band face paint to KC Current superfan
The full glitter beard and body paint process, and how it comes off
Growing up hard of hearing and finding his passion for music
Raised by a trailblazing mom and a lifelong love of women's sports
United Way partnership, Waymaker Awards, and United Way 211
Amazon Prime commercial in Montreal and a Ted Lasso cameo
Why the KC Current game-day experience at CPKC Stadium feels like home
The Berkley Riverfront, River Market, and loving life on the Country Club Plaza
His KC bucket list: 1587 Prime, Broadway-style shows, Helzberg Hall movie concerts, and more
His perfect KC day: Kauffman Memorial Garden, Milwaukee Delicatessen, The Dub, and a Current match
Links & Mentions:
Richard Harper / Teal Man
thattealguy@gmail.com
Kansas City Current
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CHAPTERS:
0:00 – Intro: Teal Man joins the show
1:56 – How it all started with the KC Current
3:21 – Mom, Fort Scott roots, and a love of women's sports
7:13 – The origin story: marching band face paint and the first glitter beards
11:59 – Moving to KC, his wife's theater career, and teaching adaptive music
16:49 – Leaving education for transportation to make room for Teal Man
19:02 – How long it takes to get ready: the full paint and glitter routine
26:57 – Building the look: the kilt, shoes, scarves, and retired gear
32:43 – Fan gifts, paintings, and the "King Richard" portrait
34:13 – The first match in full teal and what kids say
37:05 – Mascot or superfan? Becoming an ambassador for women's sports
39:43 – Getting recognized out of costume, and the story behind "Uncle Dick"
44:28 – Teal Man's relationship with the KC Current
46:40 – United Way partnership, Waymaker Awards, and United Way 211
51:12 – Big dreams: making Teal Man a full-time gig
52:41 – Filming an Amazon Prime commercial in Montreal
55:41 – Game-day energy and the supporters section
56:42 – The Longs, KC Current 2, and Brittany Mahomes
1:01:02 – Background extra on Ted Lasso
1:02:15 – Who is Richard Harper without the paint?
1:04:26 – Life lessons from Dad and why the beard means patience
1:06:47 – What makes a KC Current match at CPKC Stadium special
1:09:34 – How the Current has impacted Kansas City
1:11:08 – Choosing to do good: blood donation and paying it forward
1:14:14 – Growing up hard of hearing
1:19:40 – The music that moves him most
1:22:08 – Taking it all off, plus the finishing touches
1:25:37 – Glitter in weird places and life near the Berkley Riverfront
1:28:33 – The riverfront development, River Market, and the streetcar
1:30:29 – Social Symphony KC, D&D, and what TEAL stands for
1:34:41 – Richard's Kansas City bucket list
1:38:44 – A perfect day in KC as Richard
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