Free Daily Podcast Summary
The Arch City Report: Daily Summaries Delivered
by St. Louis Business Journal
A weekly news podcast covering the biggest stories from the St. Louis Business Journal.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 2 days ago28 min
The power of getting people in the same room
What if the key to solving St. Louis's biggest challenges is simply getting the right people in the same room — and actually letting them talk?Erik sits down with Matt Homann, founder and CEO of Filament, a St. Louis-based company that makes meetings more productive. Filament has been tapped by the Regional Business Council to help convene downtown stakeholders who, despite doing good work, had likely never been in the same room together.Matt explains why Filament bans PowerPoint entirely, how simple exercises like "I wish, I wonder, I worry" unlock surprising consensus, and why breakthroughs happen when people stop delivering information and start thinking together.They also discuss Filament's annual Thinksgiving event (November 5th at Cortex Innovation District), where businesses and nonprofits are paired to tackle real strategic challenges — producing results like a nonprofit rebrand, new board members, and leadership skills employees bring back to the office.More info at thinksgivingday.comLearn more about Filament: meetfilament.com
- 1 weeks ago32 min
Business group pushes for city re-entry into county
Karen Branning, president and CEO of the Regional Business Council, joins the show to explain how the 100-CEO organization is stepping up on two of St. Louis' most pressing challenges. First, she details the RBC's downtown revitalization effort — a coalition of more than 30 organizations now in the middle of a six-month sprint targeting cleaner streets, increased police presence, a more active riverfront, and a better narrative for the city's core. Then, she breaks down the RBC's position on city-county regionalism: why a majority of its members support city re-entry into the county as the most realistic path forward, what lessons past failed attempts have taught, and what the business community can actually do to move the needle.
- 2 weeks ago26 min
The story behind St. Louis' hottest stock
ESCO Technologies has grown 240% in five years — but most St. Louisans have never heard of it.Business reporter Nathan Rubbelke joins host Erik Siemers to break down the surprising rise of ESCO Technologies, a St. Louis-based public company whose stock has surged from roughly $95 to over $330 a share in five years. With $1 billion in annual revenue and ambitions to double that by 2027, ESCO is drawing Wall Street attention it rarely sought before.Ribelky explains how CEO Brian Saylor — a 30-year company veteran — has transformed ESCO from a quiet holding company into a high-growth enterprise by doubling down on three sectors: aerospace and defense (including major U.S. Navy submarine contracts), utilities infrastructure, and radio frequency testing. His boldest moves: two record-breaking acquisitions — a $550 million maritime defense deal and a $2.3 billion utility purchase he'd been eyeing for a decade.Then, Jed Ellerbroek of Argent Capital Management puts ESCO's rise in broader context, explaining why St. Louis public companies are lagging national indexes — and what it would take for the region to close the gap.LINKS:https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2026/07/14/st-louis-stock-index-lags-national-averages-tech.html https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2026/07/14/esco-technologies-navy-defense-aerospace-stock.html
- 3 weeks ago26 min
Bayer’s St. Louis legacy: 10 years of litigation
en years after Bayer's landmark $63 billion acquisition of St. Louis-based Monsanto, the German pharmaceutical giant is finally seeing the legal tide turn — but the battle is far from over. In this episode, St. Louis Business Journal reporter Jim Drew joins host Erik to break down a recent flurry of major developments in Bayer's long-running Roundup litigation.The U.S. Supreme Court handed Bayer a decisive 7-2 victory, ruling that federal pesticide law preempts state-level "failure to warn" lawsuits — potentially clearing a path to dismiss tens of thousands of claims. At the same time, a St. Louis Circuit Court is weighing a proposed $7.25 billion class action settlement that would resolve 67,000 Roundup cases, even as a faction of cancer victims pushes back on the terms.We also look at Bayer's surprising move to create a separate business unit — Ruvian — to house its Roundup operations, raising questions about liability management and whether a full spinoff could be on the horizon. And as insurers fight back against Bayer's attempts to recoup billions in legal costs, we examine what the science still doesn't know about glyphosate — and why this story may be far from its final chapter.Cancer research continues as Supreme Court sides with Bayer on Roundup labelsJust a mBayer says Supreme Court ruling should dismiss 'vast majority' of Roundup lawsuitsoment...Judge delays Bayer's $7.25B Roundup settlement hearing amid objectionsJudge declares mistrial in Roundup lawsuit after US Supreme Court rulingBayer creates new unit for Roundup business, based in Creve CoeurInsurers attack Bayer bid for coverage (Round Up)
- Jul 2, 202631 min
Mayor Cara Spencer on downtown’s direction
St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer joins Erik and Jacob to take stock of downtown's momentum — and confront the city's toughest structural questions.Six months after calling on the business community to plant a flag downtown, Mayor Spencer returns to the Arch City Report to assess what's changed. With the Rams settlement bill moving through the Board of Aldermen — potentially allocating $55 million for downtown redevelopment, the riverfront, and North City — Spencer breaks down exactly how those dollars would be deployed and what private matching investment could follow.But the conversation quickly turns to the harder questions: a state-appointed police board demanding a 22% pay raise with 24-hour notice, the strain on city services from a declining tax base, and whether St. Louis can realistically meet all of its pressing needs without a bigger structural fix. Is it finally time for a serious conversation about city-county merger?Topics covered:Downtown development progress — Millennium site, Ballpark Village Phase 3, AT&T Tower, and Mansion HouseHow the $55M in Rams settlement funds would be allocated across downtown, the riverfront, and North CityThe city's role as facilitator vs. doer in redevelopmentThe breakdown with the state police board and the battle over officer pay and benefitsThe case for regionalizing government functions — and whether opposition to merger is softeningArch City Report is sponsored by Maryville University and Cass Commercial Bank.
- Jun 25, 202634 min
How a St. Louis Food Truck Became a James Beard Award Winner — and Reunited a Family
St. Louis chef Loryn Nalic — chef and co-owner of Balkan Treat Box and Telva at The Ridge — joins Veneta Rizvic to celebrate her 2026 James Beard Award win in the Best Chef Midwest category. Loryn shares what the win means to her, the deeply personal story behind Balkan Treat Box and how the restaurant helped reunite her husband Edo's family after years of separation, and her recent research trip to Bosnia where she trained at a legendary bakery. She also weighs in on the flourishing St. Louis dining scene, the "James Beard effect" on her business, and what the future might hold for her restaurants.https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2026/06/15/st-louisan-best-chef-james-beard-foundation-awards.htmlhttps://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/feature/arch-city-reportMentioned in this episode:Cass Commercial BankCass Commercial Bank...member FDIC. https://www.cassbank.com/
- Jun 18, 202630 min
Most Influential Business Women 2026 with Julie Murphy
The St. Louis Business Journal has announced its 2026 class of Most Influential Businesswomen — the 27th year of an awards program that has celebrated more than 530 women business leaders since 1999. Host Veneta Rizvic sits down with Julie Murphy, founder and managing principal of JFM Strategies and a 2025 honoree, who also served as a judge for this year's selection process. Julie shares insight into her 30-plus years navigating the intersection of government, business, and community development — from helping keep the National Geospatial Agency in St. Louis to revitalization projects at Laclede's Landing. She and Veneta also discuss a few of this year's honorees, what the judging process was really like, and what it truly means to be an influential businesswoman. The 2026 Most Influential Business Women luncheon takes place Thursday, August 13th, at the Ritz Carlton, St. Louis.Read more: www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/most-influential-business-womenNominate someone for 2027: www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/nominationMentioned in this episode:Cass Commercial BankCass Commercial Bank...member FDIC. https://www.cassbank.com/
- Jun 11, 202623 min
150 years of the Great Divorce
On the 150th anniversary of St. Louis’ “Great Divorce,” a decision many blame for the region’s long decline, a new conversation is emerging: Is reunification finally possible? This week I sit down with attorney and researcher Joe Blanner, who has spent a decade studying the 1876 split and its lasting consequences. We explore why past merger efforts have failed, why familiar problems keep resurfacing across generations, and whether today’s political and financial pressures create a true inflection point. With a new book in the works, Blanner makes the case for why this time might be different—and what it could take to finally bring the city and county back together.Mentioned in this episode:Cass Commercial BankCass Commercial Bank...member FDIC. https://www.cassbank.com/
Customized Recaps
AI-powered recaps with compact key takeaways, quotes, and insights.
Straight to Your Inbox
Get key takeaways from The Arch City Report in a 5-minute read.
Save Hours Every Week
Stay current on your favorite podcasts without falling behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Podzilla's The Arch City Report daily summary?
It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of The Arch City Report as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
How does the The Arch City Report podcast summary work?
When a new episode drops, our AI transcribes and analyzes it, then generates a personalized summary tailored to your interests and profession. It's delivered to your inbox every morning.
Is this an official The Arch City Report product?
No. Podzilla is an independent service that summarizes publicly available podcast content. We're not affiliated with or endorsed by St. Louis Business Journal.
Can I get summaries of other podcasts too?
Absolutely! The free plan covers up to 3 podcasts. Upgrade to Pro for 15, or Premium for 50. Browse our full catalog at /podcasts.
How often does The Arch City Report release new episodes?
The Arch City Report publishes weekly. Our AI generates a summary within hours of each new episode.
What topics does The Arch City Report cover?
The Arch City Report covers topics including News, Business. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
Start getting The Arch City Report summaries tomorrow morning.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.