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THE 314 PODCAST LIVE

Bill McClellan Reflects on Storied Career with Sarah Fenske

JUNE 16, 2026 | THE SHELDON

On June 16, St. Louis Magazine brought The 314 Podcast to life with its first-ever live recording, held in The Sheldon’s Ballroom.

To kick off the evening, guests were treated to a bit of friendly competition. In a surprise appearance, Mayor Cara Spencer joined SLM Editor Ryan Krull on stage for a live trivia showdown, with audience members playing along from their phones.

The main event featured a one-on-one conversation between podcast host and SLM executive editor Sarah Fenske and special guest Bill McClellan, the longtime St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist known for his beloved storytelling and frequent appearances on Donnybrook. In a rare personal interview, McClellan reflected on his life, career, and the city he has chronicled for decades.

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About the Speakers

Bill Mcclellan

Bill McClellan, Guest

Bill McClellan was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago. After leaving the University of Illinois, he was drafted into the Marine Corps, and later moved to Phoenix, where he attended Arizona State University and worked at the Phoenix Gazette. In 1979, he married his wife, Mary, and relocated to St. Louis, where he joined the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and began writing a column in 1983. He and Mary have two children and five grandchildren.
Sarah Fenske

Sarah Fenske, Host

Sarah Fenske is the executive editor at St. Louis Magazine. She manages news and business coverage and edits The Daily newsletter. She’s been a reporter, columnist, newspaper editor, and radio host, and she is currently host of the monthly Legal Roundtable on St. Louis Public Radio and a panelist on Nine PBS’ Donnybrook. She lives in the city, where she attempts to juggle herding her kids to sports practice and swapping political gossip over a good martini. Read the latest from Fenske.
Ryan Krull

Ryan Krull, Guest

Ryan Krull is a staff writer at St. Louis Magazine, writing for the The Daily newsletter. A graduate of the University of Missouri-St. Louis, he taught there for many years before joining the staff of the Riverfront Times, where he was a reporter for the last years of the paper’s life. He lives near Tower Grove Park in the city with his wife and son. Read the latest from Krull.


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