Erica Sawyer

Jun 7, 2024 | urban-plains.com | Caleb Smith |Daniel Bauer |Erica Sawyer

Here in the Midwest, each state has its own charm. In this podcast series, we sat down with members of the Urban Plains team to showcase the uniqueness of each Midwest state. We have conversations about defining the land, music festivals, and queer music artists, all right here in the Midwest. Does the Midwest have the best music fests? We talked with our UP Art Director Caleb to discuss more on the story he wrote about different music venues in every Midwest state.

Jun 7, 2024 | urban-plains.com | Erica Sawyer |Andrew Kennard

How are young people responding to a crisis that may feel unsolvable? Younger Americans—Gen Z adults and Millennials—are more likely to take action on climate change than older adults. But at the same time, more than half of 16 to 25 year-olds in a 10-nation study said they believe “humanity is doomed.” On this episode of the Urban Plains Podcast, a college student majoring in sustainability talks with a student who doesn’t think there’s much the average person can do about climate change.

May 24, 2024 | urban-plains.com | Erica Sawyer

Stick It In Your Ear is a record store that holds a special place in the hearts of people in Springfield, Missouri. Learn about how this independent vinyl shop stays relevant in a digital world, all while cultivating a community for music lovers in the southern part of the Midwest. Stick it in your ear and turn it up!

Apr 22, 2024 | urban-plains.com | Erica Sawyer

Munk Rivers is a “yearncore” indie band that is made up of brother/sister duo Charlotte and Tucker Judkins, and Drake University students Izzy Marx and Max Green. Watch this DIY band practice, write, and play shows—all while trying to find their footing in the Midwest music scene. To learn more about what goes into producing music independently, read Stay Yearning here.

Apr 10, 2024 | urban-plains.com | Erica Sawyer

Rolla, Missouri, looks like it doesn’t offer much. A Wal-Mart. A dispensary. A few fast-food joints. Easy access to Lake of the Ozarks a few miles west. But for the students of Missouri University of Science and Technology, there’s a safe haven tucked in a seemingly nondescript dorm building. KMNR is an independent radio station.