In Our Town with Tom Carlson

Join Tom for a discussion with Brett Foster, City of Springfield's Traffic Engineer, and Mandy Buettgen-Quinn, the mastermind behind SGF Yields and SafeAcross, Springfield's groundbreaking pedestrian safety initiative. Discover the secrets behind their award-winning program, gain insights into creating safer urban driving environments, and hear inspiring stories of community collaboration. Learn h...

Join us as Tom uncovers the wisdom and vision that drives John Beuerlein's dedication to empowering students and shaping the future of education at this 150 year old university. Whether you're an educator, a student, or simply curious about the future of higher learning, this episode promises a thought-provoking exploration of leadership in academia.  

Scott's candid storytelling offers a rare glimpse into the evolution of an industry titan, tracing his footsteps from the roots of The Ozarks Jubilee to navigating the ever-evolving landscape of the entertainment business. He shares stories of stars encountered along the way including Chet Atkins, Ralph Foster, Alan Jackson, Charlie Daniels among a constellation of many others. Dive deeper into Sc...

In this episode of "In Our Town," we delve into the heart of Springfield's iconic Route 66 Festival, a spectacular event set to captivate the town and draw in a massive crowd of 75,000 enthusiasts including visitors from every state and from 18 countries. Get ready to rev up your engines as we explore the rich automotive history and much more with the city's Director of Public Information, Cora Sc...

Step into the captivating world of wildlife as we embark on an extraordinary journey through time with Mike Crocker, soon to retire and has spent an awe-inspiring 47 years at the Dickerson Park Zoo as its superintendent, caring for over 400 species of animals. Mike shares his remarkable experiences, touching stories, and insights that have shaped the zoo's past and will pave the way for its exciti...

Brian Weiler, Director of the SGF-Branson Airport, joins Tom to discuss the phenomenal growth of the airport, its future, Brian's wish list and tips for travelers. 

Nadia Cavner and Jeff Tiegs discuss their efforts to rescue victims of sex trafficking from the Middle East to the US to Springfield. 

In addition to exploring common dream symbols and using dreams as a problem solving tool, Tom and Nicole discuss her first book "How Dreams Speak" as well as the the process for getting a book published. 

The city landfill is filling more quickly than expected and one reason is people throw away many things that can be recycled. Laurie Davis, with Springfield's Department of Environmental Services, joins Tom to discuss the ins and outs of recycling.

Daily Citizen reporters Jackie Rehwald and Steve Pokin join Tom to discuss their investigation of domestic violence in Greene County. While abuse affects thousands of lives here every year, many people still don't believe it's widespread or much of an issue.  

Regina Greer Cooper, executive director of the Springfield-Greene County Library District, provides insights into the contentious issue of banning books, shedding light on new Missouri regulations and the potential impact on both library patrons and librarians.

Brian Fogle, president of the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, talks with Tom about the organization's humble beginnings, its extraordinary growth and impact on Southwest Missouri as CFO approaches its 50th anniversary.

Springfield author Nancy Allen shares her nonlinear career path, from high school activist to trial lawyer to becoming a bestselling author of legal thrillers. 

Greene County Clerk Shane Schoeller provides an overview on Missouri elections procedures, as well as processes implemented to maintain election integrity, as voters prepare for the April 4 municipal elections.  

Local historian and realtor Richard Crabtree discusses how past development has shaped Springfield, its neighborhoods and some of the present challenges facing the city's future growth.

Fine art photographer Julie Blackmon discusses inspiration, her approach to making images and the trajectory of her career with Kansas City gallerist Bill Haw of Haw Contemporary.   

Tom visits with Judge Michael Cordonnier about career highlights — and his thoughts about the current and future of Missouri's judicial system — as Cordonnier nears retirement after 15 years on the bench, including the last five years as presiding judge for Greene County Circuit Courts.  

Kim and Tom Prater join Tom to discuss the ongoing capital campaign for the Springfield Art Museum, and the importance of having a strong art presence in the community. They share how they became art collectors and the common ways Forward SGF and artists will impact and shape the future of Springfield.

Rachel Anderson, the director of Missouri State University's eFactory, speaks with host Tom about Springfield's fastest-growing resource center for startups, the history and evolution of the incubator and coworking space, and the rise of the Midwest's entrepreneurship scene. Learn about how the community around the Efactory, Anderson's roots in Springfield, Mo. and more.  

What exactly is "quality of place" in Springfield? Tim Rosenbury, director of quality of place initiatives for the city of Springfield, speaks with host Tom Carlson about long-term community development plans in store for our city and discusses what he sees as the most important aspects of life in a thriving place to live.

Author and expert on Ozarks Judaism Mara W. Cohen Ioannides shares insights on writing about and studying Judaism in the area and her experience coming to Springfield, which led her to teaching at Missouri State University. Tune in for a deep dive into the Jewish merchant history of Springfield.

Christina Ford and the Rebound Foundation have educated more than 1,000 kids about safe relationships and helped women get back on their feet after surviving domestic abuse. Christina and Tom discuss Ford's own experience with abuse and how her work quickly rose to prominence and was embraced in the Springfield community.