Why Live Radio Still Matters: Mike Schrand on NPR, Music, Movies, and Loving St. Louis

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Feb 2

30 Years at NPR: Mike Schrand on Public Radio, Music, and the Soul of St. Louis

Mike Schrand has spent more than 30 years at St. Louis Public Radio — and his story is a masterclass in curiosity, creativity, and community.
In this episode of Mostly Superheroes, Mike joins Logan Janis for a wide-ranging conversation that moves from overnight jazz shifts and Morning Edition to songwriting, cult movies, and why St. Louis is “the world’s largest small town.”
We talk about the evolution of public radio, nonprofit journalism, and why live, local storytelling still matters in an on-demand world. Mike also opens up about his life as a musician — including his solo albums Late Bloomer and Things Have Changed — plus the role art plays in identity, family, and aging creatively.
Along the way, we dig into movie history filmed right here in St. Louis (Escape from New York), James Gunn stories, NPR programming, and what it really means to serve a community through sound.

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• 00:00:00 – Welcome & Why Mike Schrand’s Story Matters
• 00:01:00 – Nerd Culture, The Tick, and Illustrated Comics
• 00:03:20 – Discovering Public Radio in St. Louis
• 00:06:00 – Interning at St. Louis Public Radio in the 1980s
• 00:08:20 – Overnight Jazz Shifts & Learning Radio the Hard Way
• 00:10:45 – Legendary Jazz Stories and Late-Night Calls
• 00:13:00 – Behind the Scenes of Morning Edition
• 00:16:30 – Why Public Radio Feels Different
• 00:18:55 – Live Radio vs On-Demand Media
• 00:21:00 – Returning to St. Louis Public Radio Full-Time
• 00:23:00 – 30 Years at the Station & Career Reflections
• 00:25:00 – Program Director Years & Leadership Lessons
• 00:27:00 – Community, Third Spaces, and Local Radio
• 00:29:38 – Growing Up in St. Louis: Pizza Nights & Family Rituals
• 00:31:15 – Living in the City & Daily Life in St. Louis
• 00:32:01 – Parenting, Neurodiversity, and Family Routines
• 00:32:57 – Morning Radio Schedules & Family Balance
• 00:33:29 – Concerts, Off Broadway & the Arts Scene
• 00:33:47 – Life as a Musician & Creative Passion
• 00:34:24 – Father’s Advice: Art vs Stability
• 00:34:47 – Salt of the Earth: 23 Years & 7 Albums
• 00:35:12 – Solo Albums, Late Bloomer, and DIY Creation
• 00:36:00 – Experimenting with AI & Music Videos
• 00:36:44 – Sharing Original Music on the Podcast
• 00:37:00 – “Stranger”: Identity, Aging, and Self-Reflection
• 00:41:52 – “Jackknife”: Writing Through Family Trauma
• 00:44:52 – Movies, Media, and Personal Favorites
• 00:45:20 – James Gunn, St. Louis, and Small-World Stories
• 00:46:25 – Super, Troma Films & Early Filmmaking
• 00:48:14 – Media Consolidation & Why NPR Is Different
• 00:49:22 – “Just the Facts”: Public Radio Philosophy
• 00:50:05 – Network, The Dark Knight, and Media Power
• 00:51:22 – Alamo Drafthouse Event & Giveaway
• 00:54:03 – Escape from New York & St. Louis Film History
• 00:57:16 – Chain of Rocks Bridge Car Chase Story
• 00:58:59 – NPR Programming Highlights
• 01:02:28 – Career Reflection & Following Your Passions
• 01:05:17 – “The World’s Largest Small Town”
• 01:06:14 – Why New Voices Help Cities Grow
• 01:08:24 – Mike Schrand Sign-Off
• 01:09:00 – Credits & Support