The 314 Podcast

In this special episode of  The 314 Podcast , recorded before a sold-out audience at The Sheldon, host  Sarah Fenske  talks with Bill McClellan, the legendary columnist at the  Post-Dispatch  and founding panelist at Nine PBS’  Donnybrook , about his storied career in local journalism. Bill discusses his work as a columnist, his battle with cancer, and some of h...

In this episode of  The 314 Podcast , host  Sarah Fenske  talks with Diane Lochner and Emily Howard, two longtime employees recently tapped to join the ownership group of  PGAV Destinations . The St. Louis-based firm is behind many of the biggest aquariums and coolest attractions in the world, and they share how being in the city is actually the firm’s secret weapon. Then...

In this episode of  The 314 Podcast , host  Sarah Fenske  talks with Martha Garcia Kampen, president and CEO of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro St. Louis. The Latino community in St. Louis has seen huge growth. Garcia Kampen shares her thoughts on what’s driving that—and why she’s not worried that the federal immigration crackdown will set back the region...

In this episode of  The 314 Podcast , host  Sarah Fenske  talks with Dr. Tim Miller, co-director of the ALS Center and a professor of neurology at WashU Medicine, on the  major breakthrough  his team recently made in their quest to find a cure for ALS—and how it could also portend a cure for Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases. Then, Sarah chats wi...

In this episode of  The 314 Podcast , host  Sarah Fenske  talks with Kevin McKernan, who went from teaching high school to founding The Improv Shop to owning a portfolio of only-in-St. Louis originals: Epiphany Lanes, Donut Drive-In, Blackthorn Pub, and Cafe Manhattan. Kevin explains how growing up in South City helped inspire his appreciation for these neighborhood businesses&mdash...

In this episode of  The 314 Podcast , host  Sarah Fenske  talks with  Julian Nicks , St. Louis’ chief recovery and transformation officer, who has spent the past year trying to help the city battle back from the deadly May 16, 2025, tornado. Along with Mayor Cara Spencer, Julian has taken heat for the city’s sluggish response to the devastation. He shares his though...

In this episode of  The 314 Podcast , host  Sarah Fenske  talks with Amy Shaw, CEO of  Nine PBS , which is thriving even after public television stations across the country were stripped of all their federal funding. Amy shared what she believes has been the key to the station’s success, why it’s embarking on a major capital campaign now, and why St. Louis has made...

In this episode of The 314 Podcast , host Sarah Fenske talks with Gabe Gore, the St. Louis circuit attorney widely credited with restoring order to what had been a “rudderless ship of chaos” under predecessor Kim Gardner. Gore talked about what makes prosecution harder than it used to be, his priorities going forward, and his personal story as a kid from Detroit abruptly transplanted a...

In this episode of The 314 Podcast , host Sarah Fenske talks with Lúcia G. Lohmann, president and director of the Missouri Botanical Garden . A native of Brazil, Lohmann explains her vision to make the garden provide more education to locals—and what drew her back to St. Louis after more than 20 years away. Then, Sarah chats with SLM staff writer Ryan Krull about a controversial group...

In this episode of  The 314 Podcast , host  Sarah Fenske  talks with  Nahuel Fefer , who worked at City Hall under four mayors, most recently as executive director of the Community Development Administration. The native of Argentina explains what’s broken in St. Louis city government—and his ideas for city-county unification. Then, Sarah chats with  SLM  s...

In this episode of The 314 Podcast , host Sarah Fenske talks with Haliday Douglas, CEO of the St. Louis Education Fund, which harnesses private dollars to help St. Louis Public Schools students. Douglas discusses how teachers at SLPS helped change his life—and propel him to Harvard—and the work his nonprofit is doing to give kids a chance at upward economic mobility. Then, Sarah chats...

In this episode of  The 314 Podcast , host  Sarah Fenske  talks with Fred Wellman, who is running against six-term U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner (R-Ballwin). A U.S. Army veteran, political consultant, and podcast host, Wellman discusses why he thinks this could be Democrats’ year, why his opponent is like a jellyfish, and what brought him back to St. Louis after decades away. Then, Sar...

In this episode of  The 314 Podcast , host  Sarah Fenske  talks with  Nicholas Phillips  and  Samir Knox,  the two reporters anchoring  St. Louis Magazine ’s new  Economic Mobility Lab  funded by the James S. McDonnell Foundation. They discuss Nick’s new story about a high-achieving young man who went from a working class background to...

In this episode of  The 314 Podcast , host  Sarah Fenske  talks with Giles Oldroyd, the British scientist who recently took over as president of the  Donald Danforth Plant Science Center . He talks about settling into Missouri, responding to federal cuts hitting the not-for-profit research institute, and St. Louis’ role as an agtech hub. Then, Sarah chats with  SLM &...

In this episode of  The 314 Podcast , host  Sarah Fenske  talks with Ron Kitchens, who became the CEO of Greater St. Louis Inc. in November and is already making some big changes. He shares his thoughts on the city/county divide and what the city should do with its portion of the Rams settlement funds. He also opens up on why he originally turned down the chance to come to St. Louis...

In this episode of  The 314 Podcast , host  Sarah Fenske  talks with Cara Spencer, who’s been on a wild ride in her first year as the mayor of St. Louis. Spencer talks about how she’s working to improve city services even while grappling with tornados, snowfall, and fire. Then, Sarah chats with  SLM  staff writer  Ryan Krull  about how MoDOT’s f...

In this episode of  The 314 Podcast , host  Sarah Fenske  talks with Alan Greenblatt, former editor of  Governing  magazine. The Webster Groves-based Greenblatt, who  quit his job  rather than kill a story criticizing the Trump administration, discusses self-censorship, the national media’s myopia, and the reaction to his decision. Then, Sarah chats with&nb...

In this episode of  The 314 Podcast , host  Sarah Fenske  talks with St. Louis Sports Commission president Marc Schreiber about his nonprofit’s work selling St. Louis to the organizers of sporting events—and an idea they have that would allow the privately funded nonprofit to better compete with their taxpayer-supported rivals in other cities. Then, Sarah chats with&nbsp...

In this episode of  The 314 Podcast , host  Sarah Fenske  talks with former state representative  Peter Merideth  about his family’s decision to move from the city of St. Louis to St. Louis County—and what city leaders could do to prevent the flight of families like his. Then, Sarah chats with  SLM  staff writer Ryan Krull about a St. Louis prosecutor...

In this episode of  The 314 Podcast , host  Sarah Fenske  talks with Steve Smith, CEO of development firm  New + Found , about his efforts to bring vibrancy to downtown and Midtown—and why Smith is worried that the two big data centers proposed for sites near his thriving City Foundry project could slow the neighborhood’s momentum. Then, Sarah chats with  SLM &...

In this episode of  The 314 Podcast , host  Sarah Fenske  talks with NewsNation anchor Leland Vittert, who shares how growing up with autism and enduring bullying at some top St. Louis prep schools helped prepare him for the “viper pit” of TV journalism in Washington, D.C.—and discusses being let go from Fox News over his aggressive questioning of President Donald...

In this episode of The 314 Podcast , host Sarah Fenske talks with Marie-Hélène Bernard, president and CEO of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra , on the eve of its return to Powell Hall after a $140 million renovation. A native of Quebec who moved here from Boston, Marie-Hélène explains how the SLSO pulled off the project on time and on budget—and what made her fall...

In this episode of  The 314 Podcast , host  Sarah Fenske  talks with state Senator Brian Williams. The University City Democrat explains how he’s been able to forge connections with people far different from him, how he’d run the county differently than County Executive Sam Page, and what he sees as a big missed opportunity during Kansas City’s interstate stadium b...

In this episode of  The 314 Podcast , host  Sarah Fenske  talks with Dara Eskridge and surprises her with this year’s  Visionary Award . The CEO of  Invest STL  discusses how she immediately got to work helping North City in the aftermath of the May 16 tornado, what it will take to get enough resources to make tornado victims whole, and why it’s imperative...

In this episode of  The 314 Podcast , host  Sarah Fenske  talks with Michael Staenberg about his ambitious development now under construction in Chesterfield. Downtown Chesterfield will bring city-style living to the acreage that previously held Chesterfield Mall. The founder and President of  The Staenberg Group  explains his vision for the project, what drives his genero...