Mike Schrand is our new Morning Edition host.
Schrand’s neither new to the mic nor St. Louis Public Radio. In fact, he started his radio career at our station 30 years ago. Since then, he served as producer, host, engineer, traffic director, announcer, program director, and most recently, program and operations manager. After previous Morning Edition host Geri Mitchell left the station for a new opportunity at WAMU in Washington D.C., Mike briefly covered the mornings.
Morning newscaster Wayne Pratt is happy to have Schrand back as host.
“Mike is a great broadcaster, a fun and professional co-worker, and—most importantly—quality person. The rapport he has built with St. Louis Public Radio listeners over the years brings our version of Morning Edition to another level. I'm thrilled to be working with him. He also makes a mean pot of coffee and appreciates the music of Blue Rodeo,” said Pratt.
Schrand appreciates good music. He’s a musician who writes, sings, and plays bass in the local roots quartet Salt of the Earth.
Pratt and Schrand arrive at the station between 4:15 and 4:40 a.m. Neither is a morning person, so mutual respect for good coffee and good bands—not to mention love for public radio—are important to morning show symbiosis. So is mutual respect for each other’s talents.
“It’s always a good feeling to come in to the station in the wee hours of the morning and know Wayne’s here,” Schrand said. “He’s as consistently professional as anyone I’ve met, yet is an enjoyable and fun person with whom to spend an early morning broadcasting.”
Schrand also appreciates Pratt’s expertise as a veteran journalist and editor. “He’s the single best editor I know. Any time an intern has a nagging issue with news copy, I know Wayne will have the best answer. I’m really looking forward to working with him on a regular basis.”
You can join Mike and Wayne for Morning Edition on weekdays from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. Listen live on your radio, online at stlpublicradio.org, on the St. Louis Public Radio or NPR One apps, or by asking your Alexa-enabled device to “Play St. Louis Public Radio.”