In this episode of The 314 Podcast, host Sarah Fenske talks with Julian Nicks, St. Louis’ chief recovery and transformation officer, who has spent the past year trying to help the city battle back from the deadly May 16, 2025, tornado. Along with Mayor Cara Spencer, Julian has taken heat for the city’s sluggish response to the devastation. He shares his thoughts on how we got here, what happens next, and how he was personally affected by the disaster. Then, SLM staff writer Ryan Krull shares the story behind a wild yarn involving a disgraced chiropractor, a lawyer who wasn’t a lawyer, and some of the area’s top political figures. Watch on YouTube and listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever podcasts are available. Love the show? Be sure to follow or subscribe.
”This is not a city question. This is a question of how a community, how our federal government, how our state government, and how our city government collectively respond to the tornado.” —JN
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You may also enjoy these SLM stories:
- The tornado that shook the heart of St. Louis
- Spencer’s tough task: Delivering abundance in a tornado-ravaged St. Louis
- How a pill-dispensing chiropractor’s trip in the ‘clown car’ led to 5 extra years in prison
- STL Recovers
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