The Blue: Recent Episodes
Press Express LLC
This player hosts The Blue with Joe Garritano and Steve Taylor. It also hosts periodic News Updates from Press Express LLC.
Professor Emeritus at Webster University and Editor of Webster Kirkwood Times talks with Joe Garritano and Steve Taylor about his book American Roadkill.
Bearsun is walking from California to New York City to raise awareness for causes close to his furry heart. The lovable mascot reached Wildwood, Mo yesterday.
Bearsun spoke at length to Steve Taylor (wayward pundit) and Joe Garritano (Councilman, Ward 8) of The Blue, a podcast hosted by Wildwood Matters.
The trans humanoid, bruin avatar of goodwill spoke with The Blue about his motivation, and what his journey has taught him about humanity along the way. "It's strange but the suit helps people to look beyond their differences," said Bearsun. "What are they going to be mad at me about, being too furry?"
Bearsun told The Blue that people just want to be happy and have a good life. He also shared some poignant analogies to costume maintenance and mental health.
"This particular episode had some technical problems, but we were scrambling at the last minute to book the bear." said Taylor. "The content is too good not to share, even with some audio glitches."
Circle of Concern's Executive Director talks with Joe and Steve about increased service to families during COVID and how people can request aid or offer to volunteer.
Tony Messenger talks with Joe and Steve about his new book Profit and Punishment to be released this December by McMillan press. Tony talks about the criminalization of poverty and criminal justice reform.
Messenger also talks about a recent settlement of a First Amendment lawsuit in Wildwood.
The Reverend Dr. Chris Keating talks about faith and community during increased social isolation and political and social upheaval. A pavilion is also discussed.
Wildwood Mayor, Jim Bowlin, talks about the priorities he and the city council have mapped out for his second term. He talks with THE BLUE about the balanced budget he proposed and was passed unanimously by the council and how it comports with efforts such as rural internet and erosion control.
Councilman Rob Rambaud discusses how his family history goes back to 1869 in what is now Wildwood. He discusses progress on bringing rural internet to the city. He also discusses a distillery that was reportedly found on his old family farm.
In this short interview Benjamin Brown, owner of Satchmo's who made headlines for spearheading a challenge on the behalf of restaurants in St. Louis County against restrictions on dining in service talks about how he used perishable inventory to make community donations.
State Representative DeGroot joins THE BLUE to discuss the status of his bill to protect resident's data. The bill, HB 362 was inspired by THE BLUE hosts Joe Garritano and Steve Taylor. DeGroot suggests THE BLUE come to committee hearings to track the progress of the bill.
Physician Scientist and council member Dr. Ken Remy talks with THE BLUE about the recent spike in COVID hospitalizations and a possible public health emergency.
Wildwood is known for its environmental genesis, but it was creeks and hydrology in particular that inspired the city's incorporation. Now Wildwood residents are facing loss of property and even homes to creek erosion. Dr. Hammer talks with THE BLUE about what is at stake and how the erosion task force is taking the problem on.
Jo Mannies has reported on politics in Missouri for over four decades. She has worked at the Post-Dispatch Washington Bureau, The Beacon and National Public Radio. Mannies talks about special rules for casting a ballot in Missouri during COVID. Mannies discusses how the national race may effect our local contests including the race for Missouri's Second Congressional District between incumbent Ann Wagner and Jill Schupp, Wagner's most difficult challenge to date. The St. Louis County Executive race and Amendment 3 are also discussed.
The Blue interviews Dawn Chapman a cofounder of Just Moms STL. Just Mom's is fighting to clean up radioactive waste in the West Lake Landfill left over from the production of the fuel for the first atomic bomb that was refined in St. Louis.
Chapman discusses residents rights to know about hazardous waste sites including an old Bliss waste site in Wildwood.
Dawn Chapman was featured on HBO's Atomic Homefront, which is a documentary about her group's struggle.
The Blue interviews Joe Harl of the Archeological Research Center of St. Louis about Wildwood's ancient past as well as more recent history with historic grave sites.
Joseph Mangano discusses the St. Louis Cold War baby tooth study and how his organization and Harvard University plan to continue public health studies. The original study helped bring about the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Mangano also discusses the dangers of nuclear power. Joseph Mangano is with Radiation and Public Health Study, which may be found at radiation.org.
Interview with eyewitness to the 8/22/2020 small plane crash at Parkway West Middle School in Chesterfield Missouri.
Joe Garritano and Steve Taylor talk with Rockwood's school district's communication coordinator, David Morrison, about what was behind the district's recent decision to go all online for the beginning of its fall semester. They discuss what led to the decision and what students and parents might expect with a newer approach to online learning as well as resources that may help with emotional and academic challenges.
Joe Garritano and Steve Taylor talk with West Newsmagazine reporter, Jeff Bricker, about COVID and sports and pushback against Sam Page's claim that sports was the leading source of COVID infection. Bricker also talks about his new book, "Six Shots", a mystery based in St. Louis to be released this September. He also talks about the unique nature of Wildwood politics, and the importance of local media.