The Rundown with Rene Knott

This week on The Rundown with Rene Knott , brought to you by Marnita Strafford of Lincoln Heritage Funeral Advantage, Rene sits down with Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge, Executive Director of St. Louis Lambert International Airport. They discuss leadership, public service, and the future of one of our region’s most important gateways. From airport operations to regional growth and connection, this convers...

THIS WEEK ON THE RUNDOWN Alderman Shane Cohn joins Rene Knott for a conversation about public service, city leadership, and the future of St. Louis. From neighborhood concerns to the larger issues shaping city government, Cohn shares insight into what it takes to serve at the local level and work toward progress that impacts everyday residents. This conversation explores civic engagement, communit...

On this episode of The Rundown with Rene Knott , Rene sits down with Kwofe Coleman , President & CEO of the Municipal Theatre Association of St. Louis, for a powerful conversation about the past, present, and future of The Muny . As one of St. Louis’ most treasured cultural institutions, The Muny represents more than world-class performances under the stars. It represents generations of memori...

In this episode of The Rundown, Rene Knott sits down with Congressman Wesley Bell, who represents Missouri's 1st Congressional District. From his roots in public service to the halls of Congress, Bell reflects on the challenges facing St. Louis, the importance of leadership, and the responsibility of representing a diverse and dynamic community on the national stage. The conversation explores...

Pastor Brent Roam joins Rene Knott for a thought-provoking conversation about faith, leadership, and the future of St. Louis. A Rhodes Scholar, attorney, and Lead Pastor of One Family Church, Brent shares his journey from practicing law to leading one of the region's most diverse and growing congregations. Together, they discuss the role of faith in public life, building bridges across commun...

Cori Bush joins Rene Knott for an engaging conversation about leadership, public service, and the future of St. Louis. From grassroots organizing to representing Missouri in Congress, Bush reflects on the experiences that shaped her journey, the lessons learned along the way, and the challenges and opportunities facing our communities today. Together, they discuss community empowerment, economic d...

Chris Hansen, Executive Director of the Kranzberg Arts Foundation, joins Rene Knott for an insightful conversation about the power of arts, culture, and community development in St. Louis. From the continued transformation of the Grand Center Arts District into a nationally recognized cultural destination to the growing impact of Music at the Intersection, Hansen shares how strategic investments i...

In this episode of The Rundown , Rene Knott sits down with Tish Period — nationally recognized vocalist, songwriter, and one of the most commanding voices in soul and R&B today. From The Voice to The Tamron Hall Show , Tish reflects on the discipline, perseverance, and passion behind her journey. She also shares the surreal moment TLC showed up to watch her perform their music live — a full-ci...

In this episode of The Rundown , Rene Knott sits down with Eric Rhone — producer, manager, entrepreneur, and co-founder of A Bird and A Bear Entertainment. From selling candy as a kid to building an entertainment company alongside Cedric the Entertainer, Eric reflects on a journey fueled by faith, friendship, and taking chances. What started as a college roommate connection turned into a decades-l...

Past the streets of St. Louis to World Champion In this episode of The Rundown with Rene Knott, Devon Alexander shares how boxing saved his life. He opens up about the sacrifices behind becoming a champion, the mindset he carried into his first world title fight, and the emotional moment he finally held the championship belt after years of hard work and discipline. Today, through his foundation, D...

In this episode of The Rundown, Rene Knott sits down with Pascal, Executive Producer and Host of The Pascal Show. At the center of the conversation is one word: authenticity. Whether he’s live streaming for hours or hosting on air, Pascal doesn’t perform—he shows up as himself. And that realness is exactly what connects with audiences around the world. From directing music videos in St. Louis to b...

In this episode of The Rundown , Dr. LaTonia Collins Smith, the 21st President of Harris-Stowe State University, joins the conversation to address the institution’s challenges amid potential state funding cuts. The discussion explores the real impact these reductions could have on academic programs, student support, and the future of the university. Through powerful personal stories, the conversat...

In this episode of The Rundown, Rene Knott sits down with former Cardinals slugger Matt Adams.  Nicknamed “Big City,” Adams made his mark in St. Louis with clutch hits and towering home runs after being drafted in 2009.  He opens up about the mental side of the game, the intensity of the 2013 season, and what it really takes to succeed at the highest level. From perseverance to confidence to simpl...

In this episode of The Rundown with Rene Knott, Rene sits down with April Simpson and Darius Bradford, two familiar voices in St. Louis media who are bringing a fresh, energetic dynamic to morning radio. What starts as a fun and lively conversation quickly turns into something deeper. April opens up about her very public health battle, including her brain tumor diagnosis and recovery, and how fait...

In this episode of The Rundown with Rene Knott, Rene sits down with Morgan Casey, one of the most influential event curators in St. Louis, for a conversation about risk, authenticity, and building something from nothing. What started as a hobby while working full-time quickly turned into a thriving career creating some of the most unique and talked-about events in the city. Morgan shares how she t...

In this episode of The Rundown with Rene Knott , Rene sits down with Chris Krehmeyer , President and CEO of Beyond Housing, for a powerful conversation about community, equity, and what it really takes to create lasting change in St. Louis.  Krehmeyer breaks down why solving issues like housing, education, health, and economic development can’t happen in isolation—and why real progress only comes...

In this episode of The Rundown with Rene Knott, Rene sits down with St. Louis farmer and entrepreneur Gibran Jones for a powerful conversation about food, health, and access. Jones shares how growing up in North St. Louis led him back to the land, and how that journey turned into Confluence Farms, a 240-acre operation focused on bringing fresh, whole foods to communities that need them most. The d...

Happy 314 Day, St. Louis! In this special episode of The Rundown with Rene Knott, Rene celebrates the city by taking viewers inside one of its most iconic events — Nelly’s Black & White Ball, a night where the best of St. Louis comes together for a powerful cause. Recorded at the event, this episode features conversations with Nelly, community leaders, entertainers, athletes, and changemakers...

In this episode of The Rundown with Rene Knott , Rene sits down with world-renowned performance coach and motivational speaker Ben Newman for a powerful conversation about purpose, discipline, and the mindset behind sustained success.  Newman shares the deeply personal story behind what he calls “The Burn” —the internal fire that pushes people to live with urgency and intention. For him, that burn...

In this episode of The Rundown with Rene Knott , Rene sits down with Orvin Kimbrough, the President and CEO of Midwest BankCentre, for a powerful conversation about resilience, leadership, and purpose.  Kimbrough shares his deeply personal journey from growing up in North St. Louis and navigating foster care after the loss of his mother, to eventually becoming the leader of a major bank. Along the...

This may be the most emotional and important episode of The Rundown with Rene Knott to date. Rene sits down with Don from Just Moms STL and Danielle from the St. Louis County Executive’s office to discuss the lasting impact of Manhattan Project nuclear waste in North County — and what justice looks like more than seventy years later. They talk about generational cancer diagnoses, homes being demol...

For more than forty years, Wiley Price III captured historical events in St. Louis as the staff photographer for the St. Louis American. Now that he's retired, he's enjoying himself immensely. On this episode of The Rundown with Rene Knott, Price talks about his years behind the camera lens and tells the stories of the moments he witnessed and photographed. Listen to the legend behind th...

In this episode of The Rundown with Rene Knott, Rene sits down with Build-A-Bear founder Maxine Clark for a conversation about basketball, vision, and reinvention. Clark reflects on how growing up playing basketball shaped her confidence, leadership style, and drive to win.  She shares the story behind launching Build-A-Bear by listening to kids, and how she’s now transforming the Delmar Divine in...

Hey look! There's a house! You may know David Lemon from his popular videos highlighting some of St. Louis’ most interesting homes, or from his podcast Overarching. He'd love to help you buy or sell your home. In this episode of The Rundown with Rene Knott, Rene sits down with Lemon for a thoughtful conversation about storytelling, real estate, and why advocating for the City of St. Loui...

In this episode of The Rundown with Rene Knott, Rene sits down with longtime St. Louis sports columnist Ben Hochman for a wide-ranging conversation about sports, writing, nostalgia, and perspective. Hochman reflects on growing up in the 80s and 90s, becoming the voice of the fan, navigating changes in St. Louis sports, and the lessons he’d give his younger self about confidence, comparison, and ru...