What do a "Survivor" winner and an air guitar champion have in common? They're both Kansas Citians who competed in the new show "99 to Beat."

Why it matters: KC showed up in a big way during the show's premiere on Wednesday, and contestants celebrated with a watch party at Chicken N Pickle in Overland Park.

• I joined in the fun and spoke with the local TV stars about how they represented their hometown.

Zoom in: Our contestants were Danni Boatwright, winner of "Survivor: Guatemala," and Cole Lindbergh.

• "Nothing has been so simple, yet so difficult," Boatwright says in episode one's opening sequence.

📺 The show

How it works: The first episode begins with 100 contestants competing in wacky challenges that appear simple but become pressurized by their surprising difficulty, the heightened environment and the stakes — a $1 million prize.

• Most challenges whittle the field down one elimination at a time, but the final battle showed 13 players the door. The show's mantra is "Don't finish last."
• "Because of the circumstances… you don't get a chance to fight for your life like you do on 'Survivor,'" Boatwright tells Axios. "Mentally, it was harder."
• "This show is like a giant adrenaline spike every few minutes," Lindbergh says.

💬 Travis' thought bubble: I did a balloon challenge at the watch party that seemed easy, but the proximity to my fellow contestants and the screaming of those watching set me on edge.

What we're watching: New episodes air Wednesdays at 8pm on Fox, Hulu and Disney+.

❤️ Repping KC

Boatwright was known on "Survivor" for wearing a big red cowboy hat emblazoned with "KC," as well as a red and yellow bedazzled jersey in her later season.

• She says "99 to Beat" wouldn't let her rep Kansas City gear, but they liked her "baseball mom theme," so she wore special earrings and decked herself out in red.
• "Kansas City is so special, and they really support their own," she says. "It's just so awesome to come from a city that has such a big heart like that."
• Lindbergh says there was a watch party in New York, but he and Boatwright wanted to have one in their hometown.

Keep reading: Their ideal days in KC

The Paella Mix, serving authentic Spanish dishes, opened yesterday in the City Market.

Why it matters: The new business adds yet another lunchtime flavor to an area known for its lively scene of worldly cuisines.

Context: Paella is a traditional rice and meat dish seasoned with saffron and cooked on a wide, shallow pan.

• The bottom forms a caramelized crust of toasted rice called socarrat, which owner and chef Carlos Saura says is essential for true paella.

Zoom in: Saura is from Seville, and his wife is from Kansas City. He says family, his passion for hospitality, and the World Cup gave him all the reasons he needed to open a restaurant.

• "I'm pretty sure, 100%, Spain will be" in the quarterfinals, one of which will be in KC, Saura told Axios in July.

Fun fact: The architecture in Seville, a sister city to KC, played a big role in the aesthetic of our Country Club Plaza. And in Seville, Avenida de Kansas City runs through the city center.

Dig in: The food at Paella Mix is made with high-quality olive oil and imported ingredients, like the Ñora pepper.

The vibe: Blue and white tabletops imported from Spain give the spot a festive feel. Greenery hangs from the lights and pictures paint Spanish scenes.

💬 Travis' thought bubble: When I visited Spain, I was most impressed by all the colors. Paella Mix does a good job of re-creating the country's vibrancy in its decor — and even its flavors.

• True story: None of the paella I had abroad stands up to Saura's cooking.

What's next: Paella Mix will eventually offer tapas and sangria.

If you go: It's currently open every day for lunch, but Saura says he plans to open some days for dinner in October.

🖊️ Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe said yesterday he will sign the congressional redistricting bill despite several lawsuits challenging its constitutionality. (KSHB)

• Go deeper: Missouri Republicans are trying to split KC into three districts

🦫 Construction on the long-awaited Buc-ee's is set to begin next week in Kansas City, Kansas. The $95 million gas station project is expected to take two years. (FOX4)

🎨 Chappell Roan is getting her own massive mural along Broadway Boulevard near Valentine Road in Midtown. The Missouri-born artist is performing two shows in Kansas City next weekend. (KCTV5)

Prebiotic soft drinks have been popping off, but their "gut-friendly" health claims have landed at least one of them in court.

Why it matters: Most prebiotic sodas contain the fiber inulin, which experts say can be hard to digest and — according to early animal studies and a case study — potentially carcinogenic.

Driving the news: Today's the deadline to submit a claim for a class action settlement if you bought Poppi between Jan. 23, 2020 and July 18, 2025.

Catch up quick: The company was named in a class action lawsuit last year and agreed to a settlement that includes an $8.9 million fund for payments to consumers.

Yes, but: Poppi denied the claim that its marketing overstated the amount of prebiotic fiber and gut health benefits the drink offers or that any members of the class suffered any injury or are entitled to monetary or other relief, according to the settlement page.

💬 Travis' thought bubble: I drank my first Poppi minutes before Axios reporters Carrie and Carly published this article.

• When I hurriedly messaged them, Carly put me at ease: "Just don't drink 10," she told me.