Former U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt joined Tom Carlson to enjoy a little bit of history, and added his perspective to the Trump administration's recent moves about tariffs and other foreign policy details.

The ongoing search for a new Springfield city manager raises questions that are largely going unanswered. The city declined to offer anyone to speak to the process; likewise from the firm handling the search process.

What we do know is that the city has hired the same firm which recommended departed City Manager Jason Gage. The city has agreed to pay the firm $35,000 for its services, which seems to be a small amount if the firm is going to do an extensive search.

This week’s podcast hosts three well-known retired Springfieldians: Clif Smart, Missouri State University; Steve Edwards, CoxHealth; and Tom Finnie, City of Springfield.

Tune in to hear the comments and observations of these three men who had extensive experience running large organizations and make up your own mind about the process. Many council people over the years have agreed that the selection of a city manager is the single most important decision they will make as our elected representatives.

The O’Reilly name is known across the country as a dominant auto parts retailer, but in Springfield it has a deeper meaning. Along with their service in the automotive industry, O’Reilly Auto Parts has been instrumental in funding a wide variety of charitable work in the Ozarks addressing needs such as child and family services, food insecurity, homelessness and healthcare services.

In this episode, host Tom Carlson and Executive Vice Chairman of the Board David O’Reilly discuss the history of family business, the significant impact of the O’Reillys’ philanthropy on nonprofits across the Ozarks and predictions of what the future of the company will look like.

As the Nov. 5 general election fast approaches, voters will consider whether or not to adopt a proposed ¾-cent sales tax that would fund public safety initiatives and projects consistent with Springfield's comprehensive plan, Forward SGF. For some, this potential funding is a clear solution to gaps in the city budget while others have aired concerns about the lack of specificity when it comes to the plans the tax will go toward.

In this special election season episode, host Tom Carlson moderates a debate between former Citizens Committee co-chair Tom Prater and business owner Andrew Baird as they discuss the pros and cons of the tax.

More than 100,000 Springfieldians visit one or more of the 10 branches of the Springfield-Greene County Library District each year, but many of us may not know the inner workings of this crucial public service for our community. Luckily, Executive Director Ed Walton is an open book.

In this episode, host Tom Carlson sits down with Walton to discuss future construction plans and initiatives to increase digital resources within the library system, the challenges that come with book bans and housing "controversial" materials in a polarized political climate and how the district aims to meet the needs of all library patrons.

As Missouri State University students return to campus for the 2024 fall semester, another newcomer is joining their ranks. President Richard "Biff" Williams has just begun his tenure at the university this year, but he already has big plans about what this chapter will hold for the MSU.

In this episode, President Williams joins host Tom Carlson to discuss his past at Utah Tech University, the strengths and challenges that come with taking the helm at MSU and what he hopes to achieve with the Bears' acceptance into Conference USA and the potential university-wide application of AI.