ST. LOUIS, MO – November 10, 2026 (TheBrighterSideofBlue) Have you ever wondered what happens behind the scenes of a law enforcement podcast? Have you ever wanted to meet the police officers, investigators, and special guests who share their experiences and stories about St. Louis?
Now you have an opportunity to experience those conversations in person.
The Brighter Side of Blue Podcast invites the St. Louis community to visit its recording studio, located in the basement of Colombo’s Cafe & Tavern at 6487 Manchester Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri.
The podcast typically records every Thursday evening at approximately 6:00 p.m., and members of the public are welcome to stop by, watch the recording process, meet the podcast team, and interact with the guests who help make each episode memorable.
It is a chance to experience a locally produced podcast in a relaxed, neighborhood setting while getting to know people whose careers and personal experiences have helped shape the St. Louis community.
A Podcast Studio in the Heart of St. Louis
The Brighter Side of Blue is not recorded in a traditional television broadcasting facility or a corporate media studio.
Instead, the podcast is recorded in a basement studio inside Colombo’s Cafe & Tavern, a longtime St. Louis neighborhood establishment in the Dogtown area.
The location reflects the podcast’s personality: authentic, conversational, welcoming, and deeply connected to St. Louis.
Colombo’s Cafe & Tavern has been part of the local community since 1951, when brothers Mike and Tony Colombo opened the business. Today, Ryan and Greg Colombo continue the family tradition.
For more than seven decades, Colombo’s has provided a neighborhood gathering place where customers can enjoy food, drinks, sports, and conversation.
Now, the establishment has another distinction: it is home to a St. Louis podcast dedicated to preserving law enforcement history, sharing extraordinary experiences, and introducing audiences to the people behind some of the region’s most memorable stories.
The combination of a traditional neighborhood tavern and a modern podcast studio creates a distinctly St. Louis atmosphere.
Visitors can enjoy Colombo’s hospitality while experiencing a live podcast recording just downstairs.
Join Us Thursday Evenings Around 6:00 p.m.
One of the most exciting aspects of The Brighter Side of Blue is the opportunity for community members to attend a recording in person.
The podcast team typically gathers every Thursday evening around 6:00 p.m. to record episodes.
Visitors are welcome to come downstairs to the studio, watch the production, meet the hosts, and get acquainted with the guests appearing on the program.
Unlike watching a completed episode on YouTube or listening through a podcast platform, attending a recording provides a different perspective.
You can see how conversations develop, observe the personalities behind the microphones, and experience the humor, storytelling, and spontaneous moments that make the program entertaining.
Some episodes involve serious discussions about criminal investigations, public safety, and the sacrifices made by law enforcement officers.
Others feature humorous memories, unusual experiences, fascinating personalities, and stories that may never have appeared in a newspaper or television report.
The atmosphere is intended to be welcoming rather than formal.
Visitors should remember that recording is taking place and be respectful of the hosts, guests, equipment, and production process.
Because recording schedules and guest arrangements can occasionally change, we recommend checking the podcast’s website or contacting the team before making a special trip.
Meet the People Behind the Microphones
The Brighter Side of Blue was founded by current and retired law enforcement officers who wanted to create a platform for sharing experiences that often receive little attention in traditional news coverage.
The podcast team includes:
- Danny Howard, a retired major with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.
- Jim “JJ” Joyner, a lieutenant with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.
- Tommy Sawyer, a retired St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department detective.
- John Frank, a retired St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department sergeant who also produces the podcast.
Together, the team brings decades of law enforcement experience and firsthand knowledge of the people, investigations, neighborhoods, and events that have influenced St. Louis.
Their conversations frequently go beyond conventional interviews.
Guests are encouraged to explain their experiences in their own words, share memories, reflect on difficult situations, and discuss the lessons learned throughout their careers.
The result is a program that combines history, personal storytelling, humor, and serious conversations about policing and the criminal justice system.
For visitors attending a recording, meeting the hosts offers an opportunity to connect with the people building the program.
Meet the Guests and Hear Their Stories
One defining characteristic of The Brighter Side of Blue is the variety of people invited to participate.
The podcast has featured law enforcement officers, retired investigators, prosecutors, attorneys, public officials, journalists, and individuals whose lives have been affected by the criminal justice system.
Some guests have spent decades investigating violent crimes.
Others have worked on high-profile cases, served in specialized police units, held leadership positions, or experienced significant events in St. Louis history.
The program also explores stories involving victims, wrongful convictions, criminal justice decisions, and people whose lives have changed because of their encounters with the legal system.
Each guest brings a different perspective.
For those attending a Thursday recording, meeting a guest can be particularly interesting.
Someone who has spent years reading about a criminal investigation might find themselves in the same room as a person who worked on the case.
A retired police officer may recognize a former colleague.
A younger visitor interested in law enforcement might hear a firsthand account of what the profession actually involves.
Not every conversation is about crime.
Many episodes explore friendship, leadership, mentorship, family, career changes, personal challenges, and the lighter moments that help people cope with demanding professions.
Guests and their availability vary from week to week, and opportunities for personal interaction depend on the recording schedule and the guest’s preferences.
Preserving St. Louis Law Enforcement History
The Brighter Side of Blue is about more than producing entertaining weekly episodes.
An important part of its mission is preserving stories that might otherwise be lost.
St. Louis has a long and complicated law enforcement history.
Generations of police officers, detectives, federal agents, prosecutors, and other criminal justice professionals have participated in investigations and events that shaped the region.
Many of those individuals eventually retire without having an opportunity to document their experiences publicly.
Their memories may include details about historic investigations, changing police practices, influential leaders, neighborhood relationships, and the challenges associated with protecting a major metropolitan area.
Through extended conversations, the podcast helps preserve some of those accounts.
These interviews offer personal recollections and perspectives that can complement official records and historical reporting.
The program also emphasizes recognizing officers who have made significant sacrifices and remembering those who lost their lives in the line of duty.
By recording these discussions and making them available online, The Brighter Side of Blue helps create an accessible collection of firsthand stories for future audiences.
A Different Way to Connect With Law Enforcement
Public discussions about policing frequently focus on controversial incidents, political disagreements, crime statistics, and departmental policies.
Those subjects matter, but they don’t represent every aspect of the profession.
The Brighter Side of Blue provides additional context by introducing audiences to individuals who have worked in law enforcement and allowing them to share their experiences.
The podcast’s four guiding themes are remembering sacrifices, humanizing the badge, recognizing influential personalities, and preserving stories that shaped the community.
Its guests may discuss difficult investigations, professional accomplishments, personal mistakes, emotional challenges, and moments of humor.
These conversations do not require every listener to agree with every opinion expressed.
Instead, the program creates an opportunity to hear firsthand perspectives and better understand the experiences of people connected to public safety and criminal justice.
Inviting members of the public into the studio adds another dimension to that mission.
It lets the audience see the people behind the program rather than experience the podcast only through a screen or headphones.
Colombo’s Cafe & Tavern: A St. Louis Tradition
The recording studio’s location also gives visitors an opportunity to discover or revisit one of St. Louis’ established neighborhood taverns.
Colombo’s Cafe & Tavern is located at 6487 Manchester Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63139.
The business offers a casual atmosphere with food, drinks, televised sports, and traditional tavern entertainment.
Its menu includes burgers, chicken wings, sandwiches, appetizers, and St. Louis-style pizza.
The restaurant also offers a selection of draft and bottled beer.
For podcast visitors, the location lets you combine an evening of local entertainment with a visit to a longtime neighborhood business.
You might stop in for something to eat before the recording, meet friends at the tavern, or spend time getting acquainted with the people who attend the podcast.
The studio is located downstairs in the basement, while Colombo’s continues operating as a neighborhood restaurant and tavern.
The relationship brings together two different St. Louis traditions: neighborhood hospitality and storytelling.
Watch the Podcast From Anywhere
Although visiting the studio offers a unique experience, audiences do not have to attend in person to enjoy The Brighter Side of Blue.
The program publishes recorded conversations through digital platforms, including YouTube and podcast services.
Video episodes let viewers watch the hosts and guests discuss investigations, professional experiences, historical events, and personal memories.
Audio episodes make the conversations accessible to listeners who prefer enjoying podcasts while commuting, working, exercising, or relaxing.
The program’s official website also provides information about the team, its mission, and recent episodes.
The Brighter Side of Blue began in 2023 and has developed an extensive collection of conversations about St. Louis law enforcement and related subjects.
Its growing digital archive lets audiences discover earlier interviews and revisit stories that continue to have historical or community significance.
An Open Invitation to the St. Louis Community
The Brighter Side of Blue welcomes the opportunity to connect with people who follow the podcast, support law enforcement, enjoy St. Louis history, or simply appreciate a good story.
You do not need to be a police officer, a retired investigator, or a criminal justice professional to be interested in the program.
Whether you have watched dozens of episodes or are discovering the podcast for the first time, visiting the studio offers a chance to experience the production from a different perspective.
Bring a friend, stop by Colombo’s, and see what happens behind the microphones.
You might hear an extraordinary story about a historic St. Louis investigation.
You might meet someone whose career helped shape the community.
Or you might simply enjoy an entertaining evening with people who appreciate conversation, history, and the personalities that make St. Louis unique.
The podcast’s basement studio is more than a place to record interviews.
It is a gathering place where experiences are shared, memories are preserved, and conversations become part of a growing record of St. Louis history.
And now, the community is invited to be part of that experience.
Visit The Brighter Side of Blue Studio
Podcast: The Brighter Side of Blue
Studio location: Basement of Colombo’s Cafe & Tavern
Address: 6487 Manchester Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63139
Typical recording day: Thursday evenings
Typical recording time: Approximately 6:00 p.m.
Visitors: Community members are welcome to watch recordings and meet the podcast team and guests, subject to recording arrangements.
Restaurant telephone: 314-647-2661
Podcast website: https://www.thebrightersideofblue.com/
Colombo’s website: https://colombosstlouisbar.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyxANUH2srMZdE_kOWpWTyg
Recording schedules, guest appearances, and visitor arrangements may change. Visitors are encouraged to confirm the upcoming recording before traveling to the studio.
Come Downstairs and Be Part of the Conversation
The next time Thursday evening rolls around, consider doing something different.
Visit Colombo’s Cafe & Tavern on Manchester Avenue, head downstairs to The Brighter Side of Blue studio, and experience a St. Louis podcast being recorded in person.
Meet the people behind the microphones. Discover the guests and their stories. Enjoy the atmosphere of a neighborhood establishment that has served St. Louis for generations.
Thursday evenings at approximately 6:00 p.m. at Colombo’s Cafe & Tavern.
We look forward to seeing you at The Brighter Side of Blue.