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Most Eye-Opening Donnybrook Interviews of 2020

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2020 saw many of us adjust the way we work, and that applied to the cast of Donnybrook as well. For years, five local media personalities have sat closely around a table in Studio B at the Nine Network, and debated the local politics and public affairs of the day. When the pandemic hit, our producers and crew were able to shift gears quickly, and keep Donnybrook on the air each week, with the Donnybrookers sitting around the virtual ZOOM table now. The table may not be seeing any use lately, but the Donnybrook debates still rage on.

Due to the format change, Nine was not able to continue “Donnybrook Your Turn”, our live show where callers and social media followers share their thoughts in real time with the group. Instead, the show shifted to “Donnybrook Next Up”, where we invite an individual into the hot seat to answer questions in their area of expertise. So many of these interviews have been memorable, but 5 of them stand out as being the most "eye opening" of the year.

#5

There aren't many success stories that you can find that are as local as Jim McKelvey. Ladue High School and Washington University graduate who goes on to be a co-founder of Square, Inc, Third Degree Glass Factory, and LaunchCode. The billionaire businessman is also a prolific philanthropist, and shared his views on innovation and entrepreneurship.

Nine Network
Donnybrook | May 28, 2020 | Full Episode

Charlie Brennan debates via Zoom with Bill McClellan, Wendy Wiese, Alvin Reid and Ray Hartmann. In the second half-hour, the panel is joined by Jim McKelvey, co-founder of Square, LaunchCode, and Third Degree Glass Factory.

#4

Donnybrooks interview with Sgt. Heather Taylor, President of the Ethical Society of Police, was literally eye opening for us as she opened the show by announcing her formal resignation from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Her imminent retirement was well known, but she sat down with us the very same day she officially submitted, and proceeded to give a very honest and insightful interview on the state of the police force in the region.

Nine Network
Donnybrook | September 10, 2020 | Full Episode

Charlie Brennan debates via Zoom with Bill McClellan, Wendy Wiese, Alvin Reid and Ray Hartmann. In the second half-hour, the panel is joined by Detective Sergeant Heather Taylor from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and president of the Ethical Society of Police.

#3

In August, Bob Clark, Founder and Executive Chairman of Clayco joined the Donnybrookers over Zoom, where he gave some very honest assessments of the business community and the fractured nature of local efforts, drawing comparisons against successful civic progress groups in cities like Atlanta and Chicago. What's most eye opening about this interview, is that it happened merely 2 months before many of the local civic organizations in St. Louis merged together into Greater St. Louis, Inc. Maybe they were all listening to this Donnybrook episode?

Nine Network
Donnybrook | August 13, 2020 | Full Episode

Charlie Brennan debates via Zoom with Bill McClellan, Wendy Wiese, Alvin Reid and Ray Hartmann. In the second half-hour, the panel is joined by. Bob Clark, Executive Chairman and Founder of Clayco.

#2

We can all agree that St. Louis Cardinals broadcaster Mike Shannon really is a local treasure. That is why it was such a joy to host him on Donnybrook back in July, the same day as the return of Major League Baseball in 2020. Story after story he told made out eyes widen with laughter and nostalgia. Even his choice of Zoom background was eye-opening, reaffirming the belief that Mike Shannon is an otherworldly personality that we are lucky to have in our town.

Nine Network
Donnybrook | July 23, 2020 | Full Episode

Charlie Brennan debates via Zoom with Bill McClellan, Wendy Wiese, Alvin Reid and Ray Hartmann. In the second half-hour, the panel is joined by St. Louis Cardinals radio broadcaster Mike Shannon.

#1

This year, nothing was more eye-opening than the fact that a well respected doctor had to come on our show and speak for 30 minutes on the impact that a worldwide pandemic was having on our local region, and how we could all play a role in saving lives. 2020's most eye opening Donnybrook interview comes courtesy of the only person to appear twice in the hot seat this past year, Dr. Alex Garza, head of the St. Louis Pandemic Task Force.

Nine Network
Donnybrook | July 9, 2020 | Full Episode

Charlie Brennan debates via Zoom with Bill McClellan, Wendy Wiese, Alvin Reid and Ray Hartmann. In the second half-hour, the panel is joined by Dr. Alex Garza, head of the St Louis Pandemic Task Force.