The Arch City Report
A weekly news podcast covering the biggest stories from the St. Louis Business Journal.
Episodes
69 episodes
Could Libraries Pave the Way for a City-County Merger?
Retiring St. Louis Public Library CEO Waller McGuire says the city and county library systems could serve as a real-world test case for broader regional consolidation — an idea gaining renewed attention as local leaders weigh deeper cooperation...
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Season 1
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Episode 64
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22:01
Questions swirl around the Regional Arts Commission
The biggest funder of arts in St. Louis is under scrutiny. The Regional Arts Commission (RAC), established by Missouri lawmakers in 1985 to distribute grants for arts and culture, is now the subject of a state performance audit after whistleblo...
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Season 1
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Episode 63
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19:04
A city edict has building owners fuming
https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2026/02/27/mixed-use-development-metro-east-billion-star-bond.html
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Episode 62
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25:41
A $2B Metro East megaproject
Erik explores one of the most ambitious development projects in the St. Louis region's history—a proposed $2 billion retail and entertainment complex in Glen Carbon, Illinois.Joined by Kyle Anderson, Executive Director of the Leadership ...
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Season 1
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Episode 61
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26:17
The St. Louis tech firms that now have a voice
St. Louis has worked to establish itself as a tech hub, but much of the attention goes to startups and billion-dollar enterprises. Lost in the middle are established tech firms generating $1-100 million annually that quietly drive job growth an...
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Season 1
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Episode 60
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28:54
Charlie Brennan's ideas for St. Louis
Longtime media voice Charlie Brennan joins The Arch City Report this week to share stories from his travels, particularly what other cities get right, and how St. Louis can do better—from transit and safety to small civic fixes. &n...
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Season 1
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Episode 59
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28:39
Why David Hoffmann lost enthusiasm in Augusta
In an exclusive interview with the St. Louis Business Journal, billionaire David Hoffmann lifts the curtain on an ambitious plan linking media power, pro‑sports ownership and a St. Louis expansion spree. He hints at reshaping local journalism, ...
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Season 1
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Episode 58
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29:12
Bill DeWitt III on how — and why — to watch the Cardinals
This week, we’re joined by Cardinals President Bill DeWitt III to explain the team’s new direct-to-consumer streaming plan, the financial reality of modern baseball, looming stadium upgrades and what this year’s roster overhaul really means—for...
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Season 1
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Episode 57
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26:28
The next vision for Clayton
After a 25-story apartment project in Clayton was downsized to a 4-story bank branch, we sought to ask the question: What’s going on with development in the city. This week, we talk to Clayton’s new mayor to find out. SHOW NOTES: <...
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Season 1
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Episode 56
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20:00
The plan for South County mall
St. Louis' first big shopping mall could be getting a remake. This week, we talk to the County Councilman who is pushing the idea of turning South County Center into a youth sports facility, while examining the region’s vast collection of sport...
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Season 1
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Episode 55
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24:29
Inside downtown’s newest booster
Remember Downtown Now!? How about Downtown STL Inc., or any of the litany of other downtown advocacy organizations that have came and went over the years. Well, now there’s a new one, and its leader joins us this week to explain why he thinks t...
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Season 1
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Episode 54
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23:21
The big swing St. Louis won’t take
The Business Journal this year wants your big ideas for St. Louis. And to start, we’ll talk with someone who already thinks widely and deeply about St. Louis who also some big ideas of his own for how to tackle one of this region’s thorniest to...
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Season 1
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Episode 53
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26:45
The St. Louisan who bought America’s most controversial voting machines
Earlier this year, Dominion Voting Systems, the company that won more than $800 million in settlements from lawsuits against 2020 election deniers, was acquired by a St. Louisan. This week, we talk to the buyer of the company to learn why he’s ...
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Season 1
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Episode 52
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20:31
Best of the Arch City Report 2025
Happy holidays from all of us at The St. Louis Business Journal! On April 17th, the Art City Report offered a look into the early makings of Mayor Cara Spencer's administration, a brief forecast of an upcoming event on advanced manufactur...
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Season 1
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Episode 51
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20:27
How WashU is turning year of reckoning into opportunity
The Trump Administration’s crackdown on wokeness has put some of America’s elite academic institutions in crisis. But here in St. Louis, Chancellor Andrew Martin has become one of the leading voices for reform. This week, he sits down with the ...
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Season 1
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Episode 50
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37:59
Can St. Louis' crime statistics be changed?
A major downtown stakeholder is waging a campaign to get the FBI to change how it tallies crime statistics for St. Louis. It’s part of a wider series of efforts to revive downtown. This week, we offer details from an event focused solely on tho...
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Season 1
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Episode 49
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25:01
What Greater St. Louis Inc.’s new leader sees as his biggest task
This week's guest, Ron Kitchens, the new CEO of Greater St. Louis Inc., discusses his vision for the organization and the St. Louis region. He emphasizes the importance of job creation and economic growth, the need to reframe the national perce...
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Season 1
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Episode 48
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32:12
Inside Mayor Spencer’s plans to fix everything
At a Business Journal event, St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer offered insight and ideas for tackling some of St. Louis’ biggest challenges, from downtown to tornado recovery to fixing city schools. This week, we get into the details on some of her ...
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Season 1
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Episode 47
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30:44
EXTRA: Advance STL Live with St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer
Episode 47 EXTRA: Hear the full, hour-long discussion between St. Louis Mayor, Cara Spencer and Business Journal Editor Erik Siemers in front of a live audience.
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Season 1
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Episode 47
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1:05:05
Lambert airport’s car rental conundrum
Lambert airport is poised to get its biggest makeover ever, with a new $3 billion terminal. But one thing that won’t be part of it is a place where all rental car companies can operate, maybe walkable from that new terminal. Right now, rental c...
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Season 1
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Episode 46
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27:01
Mixed messages in Downtown St. Louis
Downtown St. Louis suffered a major loss last week when one of its highest-profile tenants announced it was leaving. But one of the leaders trying to turn the neighborhood around says everything is going just fine. This week, we go inside that ...
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Season 1
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Episode 45
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28:07
Some context for developments at Cortex
Since it was established in 2002, the city’s Cortex innovation district has been home to more than $2 billion in construction. This week, the CEO of the district tells us whether to expect more projects in coming years. Episode ...
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Season 1
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Episode 44
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27:43
What’s being done about St. Louis’ building bust?
St. Louis is again seeing fewer construction projects this year. The city for 2025 is roughly on target to match permit totals for last year, but those were down significantly from the past. The government’s development chief talks about why, a...
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Season 1
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Episode 43
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24:42
The red tape that keeps St. Louis from building
Homebuilders say the city of St. Louis’ permitting process and regulatory requirements have made building there too expensive and time consuming. This week, we explain how and why Mayor Cara Spencer is taking action to change city bureaucracy a...
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Season 1
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Episode 42
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20:43
Why this data center debate is different
Data centers, the plumbing of the internet age, have been around for decades. But one project in Midtown St. Louis has attracted fierce opposition. This week, we find out why this project is different.The conversation explores...
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Season 1
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Episode 41
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25:04