St. Louis on the Air

In 1993, a turtle whose shell grew around a discarded plastic 6-pack ring was found in the St. Louis region. She was named Peanut, and she’s become one of the best-known animal ambassadors for litter awareness ever since. We celebrate Peanut’s 40th birthday and talk about her story with her caretaker, Missouri Department of Conservation naturalist Matthew Cavanaugh. Tierra Curry of the Center for Biological Diversity and David Mizejewskiv of the National Wildlife Federation also join the conversation to discuss the power of individual animals’ stories, like Peanut’s, to promote social change.

Missouri AFL-CIO President Jake Hummel, who heads the state's umbrella organization for most unions, said organized labor wants to see candidates who protect workers. On the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, Hummel discusses the state of labor in Missouri and its relevance in local and state politics.

Third-party candidates often struggle to gain traction in a political system dominated by Republicans and Democrats. Jared Young, a businessman from Webb City, is seeking Missouri’s U.S. Senate seat as a member of the newly formed Better Party. On the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air we hear why, and talk with St. Louis University political science professor Christopher Duncan about the role and relevance of third parties.

Reporters from Reuters investigating the impact of radioactive waste near West Lake Landfill tracked down dozens of former and current residents of Spanish Village in Bridgeton, finding more than 30 people diagnosed “with types of cancer that have been linked to radiation.” Two members of the team that produced it, reporters Michelle Conlin and Mike Pell, discuss their findings, and how a little-known federal agency is has become “a shield for polluters.”

Museums only show about 2% of their collections to the public. Archivist and entrepreneur Emma Prince deals with the other 98%. Prince talks about founding the St. Louis-based company Backlog, and describes its work building archives for libraries, schools and other organizations, and helping individuals learn about their family history.

Self-care is often marketed as an individual, consumption-driven activity. Soul Spa Collective, a new wellness group in St. Louis, is challenging that. Collective co-founders Jessica Wernli and Steven Hunt talk about the group’s Self Care Sunday series, and its focus on promoting self-care practices that prioritize community connection.

Music at the Intersection is back for its third year — and they are bringing living legends and beloved local acts on stage together. Acts include Chaka Khan, Black Pumas, Chingy and Keyon Harrold. Kranzberg Arts Foundation’s Chris Hansen, executive director, and Larry Morris, director of programs and partnerships, shared what audiences can expect during the festival.

Many educators say their districts aren’t supplying everything their students need. Non-profit groups, community organizations and even the courts are stepping in to help meet needs across the Midwest, but education advocates say it’s not a long-term solution.

The St. Louis Mural Project is bringing 28 new murals to St. Louis. Tracey Morgan of the Regional Arts Commission discusses how the federally funded project is meant to highlight the city’s history and encourage economic growth. Three artists also share about the murals they have painted in various parts of the city.

Even before some 19,000 St. Louis Public Schools students started the 2024-25 school year yesterday, questions have swirled about the district’s leadership, its financial stability, and its capacity to get students to and from school. STLPR reporter Lacretia Wimbley discusses the challenges facing the district.

Frog hunting has connected Missourians to one another and served as a food source for generations. STLPR reporter Lauren Brennecke describes its hows and whys, including what folks who dismiss or disparage the longtime practice miss about its cultural importance.

St. Louis has another football team that can claim the title of "Greatest Show on Turf." Last month, after a thrilling comeback against the Boston Breakers, the St. Louis SLAM won its fifth Women's Football Alliance championship. The team's players aren't paid like NFL players— but they hit hard and play to win. Player-turned-coach Myrt Davis and second-year running back Jada Humphreys share their love of the game, and what it takes to keep football thriving in St. Louis.

The iconic Route 66 is approaching its 100th birthday. To celebrate the historic ‘Mother Road’, the State Historical Society of Missouri is working to collect items and anecdotes from around the state to build an exhibit that opens to the public in 2026. Researchers Katie Seal and Sean Rost talk about the stories they want to collect and why the highway remains a source of nostalgia decades later.

On Tuesday, Missouri's Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft confirmed that the fate of abortion rights in the state will be decided on the ballot in November --- but how we got here tells us a lot about the state of Missouri's politics. St. Louis Public Radio statehouse reporter Sarah Kellogg discuses the fight to put abortion on the ballot, and how the initiative petition process survived opposition from the same official who certified its collection of voter signatures,

Carl Phillips was day-drinking last year when he found out he won the Pulitzer Prize in poetry. The recently-retired Washington University professor is now out with a new book, “Scattered Snows, to the North.” STLPR arts & culture senior reporter Jeremy D. Goodwin talks with Phillips about the prestigious recognition and his new book, “Scattered Snows, to the North.”

PBS’ “The Great American Recipe” introduced viewers to St. Louis’ own Adjo Honsu, chef/owner of the food truck Fufu n’ Sauce. Her mission to share her Togolese cuisine and culture with others put her alongside seven other home-trained chefs from across the U.S. competing, sharpening their skills, and telling their familial and culinary stories — and she won!

Dr. Amjad Musleh, an emergency medicine and intensive care physician at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, volunteered at one of the last functioning hospitals in Gaza last month. He shares why he went to an active war zone to treat Palestinian war victims and how he saw extraordinary examples of human resilience.

Few editions of the Olympics can out-crazy the 1904 Games hosted in St. Louis. Adam Kloppe, public historian at the Missouri Historical Society, shares the many ways St. Louis left its mark on Olympic history — including its hot mess of a marathon and being the first modern Games to award a medal to an African American athlete.

Standardized K-12 media literacy education is scarce in schools across the country. But with an ever-evolving media landscape, navigating today’s information overflow with skill is crucial. Three students – high school seniors Charlie Meyers and Diego Perez Palomino, and college freshman Aylah Hopper – share what they think is the best approach to teaching young people how to critically engage with the media they consume and create. We’ll also hear from Donnell Probst, deputy director of the National Association of Media Literacy Education, about the importance of media literacy education.

There are about 415 St. Louis area restaurants, entertainment venues, stores and more highlighted in the second edition of “Lost Treasures of St. Louis.” Among other gone-but-not-forgotten entries, the coffee table book features the floating McDonalds, St. Louis Arena and Famous-Barr. In this encore segment from December 2023, co-author Cameron Collins — and listeners — share their memories about the Millennium Hotel, Casa Gallardo and the Admiral.

Many people found their power and voices in the midst of the Ferguson Uprising. Some used streaming technology as they found themselves defining their own class of media, with no editors and no rules. They brought the story of the Ferguson Uprising live to our computers and smartphones. This episode of STLPR’s podcast “We Live Here,” explores their dispatches from the frontlines that kept viewers up to date while the national news played catch up. Their stories didn’t end in 2014, though, as many of them continued to demonstrate for causes in the St. Louis area to the present or until their deaths.

On Wednesday, August 6, St. Louis Public Radio and NPR news co-hosted "Ferguson and Beyond: A Community Conversation 10 Years Later" at Greater St. Mark Family Church, just miles from the epicenter of protests sparked by the killing of Michael Brown, Jr. by a Ferguson police officer in August 2014. This episode presents highlights from that event, with a panel and audience Q&A moderated by NPR “Morning Edition” host Michel Martin and a special performance by St. Louis spoken word artist, poet, and community arts educator Pacia Elaine Anderson.

In this encore presentation, St. Louis librarians Tammy Albohaire and Ted Reidy share their book recommendations for the summer.

Missouri Republicans and Democrats wrapped up a historic primary on Tuesday night. Perhaps the most consequential result was St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell toppling Congresswoman Cori Bush — a big loss for St. Louis’ progressive faction and a win for supporters of Israel. University of Missouri-St. Louis political science professor Anita Manion and STLPR’s Sarah Kellogg join the “Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air” to break down election results and what they mean for Missouri and St. Louis’ political future.

Mole is a staple of Mexican cuisine, but what’s special about this sauce isn’t just its flavors — chilis, nuts, fruits, chocolate — it's where those tastes come from. Sauce Magazine writer Ileana Martinez explored four local restaurants serving their own, region-specific takes on the staple. Angel Jimenez Gutierrez, co-owner of the Mexican restaurant Malinche in Ellisville, discusses why mole never leaves his menu — and how the dish reminds him of home.

Urban design, tax incentives and landscaping can make racial and economic inequality worse in suburbs like Ferguson. Patty Heyda, a professor of architecture and urban design at Washington University, talks about her new book “Radical Atlas of Ferguson, USA”. She shares what mapping Ferguson — in more than 100 different ways — reveals about how cities are unjustly built.

In the 1960s, St. Louis nearly became one of the most magical places on earth. A planned Disneyland, called the Riverfront Square, captured imaginations as local leaders sought to strike a deal with Walt Disney himself — until that deal went bibbidi, bobbidi, bust. In this encore episode from May 2024, writer Devin Thomas O'Shea reminds us of what the canceled Disney attraction might have been, the disputed reasons why the plan fell apart (no, it wasn't just over beer), and the problematic characters and mythologized storytelling that the park would have been designed around.

This Friday marks 10 years since Michael Brown Jr. was shot and killed by a white police officer in Ferguson. His death sparked a global movement calling for police accountability and an end to racial injustice. In this contributed episode, STLPR reporter Marissanne Lewis-Thompson talks with Michael Brown Sr. and Cal Brown about their son’s legacy and how they turned their pain into helping others.

Michael Brown Jr. has become a symbol and a gateway for people to talk about racial injustice and policing. St. Louis Public Radio's podcast "We Live Here" returns for a special season 10 years after Brown's killing. In this episode, we explore how people view Brown’s legacy, what young adults today know about his story and how his memory has shaped new conversations about race and justice.

Tuesday’s primaries could be one of the most important elections in Missouri’s modern history. Republicans will choose candidates for five statewide posts — including governor — who will be favored in November. Democratic voters will decide whether to send U.S. Rep. Cori Bush back to Washington and pick their candidates for U.S. Senate and governor. STLPR’s Sarah Kellogg and Jo Mannies join the “Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air” to discuss the key races.

Springfield businessman Mike Hamra has never run for office before, but the CEO of a company that franchises restaurants says his private sector experience makes him a compelling choice for Missouri governor. Hamra joins the “Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air” to discuss his bid for the Democratic nomination ahead of Tuesday’s primary election.

Before Parkway West graduate Elizabeth Franklin turned 18, she wrote for the school paper as a form of civic action and got named Missouri’s Student Journalist of 2024 along the way. Franklin shares how she uses journalism to challenge stereotypes about St. Louis and why she wants more young people to make their voices heard.

Jeremy Boyer is part of the fabric that makes going to a Cardinals or Blues games special. He’s delighted millions of fans over the years as an organist for both teams. Now, he’s racking up millions of views on TikTok for his in-game renditions of artists like Kendrick Lamar and Taylor Swift.

It’s been 10 years since Michael Brown Jr. was killed and the Ferguson Uprising that followed. To honor that history and reflect on where St. Louis is today, St. Louis Public Radio is bringing back the podcast “We Live Here” for a special season that reflects on the truths that Ferguson exposed, why there still is an open wound a decade later and how community members continue to push for a better future. “We Live Here” host Chad Davis talks with Elaine Cha about upcoming episodes which drop weekly starting Aug. 1.

Mike Isaacson, executive producer and artistic director for the Muny, talks about the premieres of “Waitress” and “In the Heights” during its 106th season, and what each musical’s directors and lead performers bring to the stage.

When Cheeraz Gormon’s younger brother, John, was murdered in a domestic violence altercation, she turned to writing and poetry to channel her grief. While she sought support and comfort from family and friends, she realized there was a lack of holistic approaches and resources for those mourning the loss of their siblings. Gormon has since founded the Sibling Support Network to foster community with others with similar experiences.

The 2024 election season is unprecedented, and that includes how slang and memes are shaping campaign messages. To break down why people are talking about Kamala Harris falling out of a coconut tree, and how the album “Brat” by pop musician Charli XCX is involved, we hear from Sophie Hurwitz of Mother Jones, SLU professor Keli Jackson, and STLPR’s Jason Rosenbaum discuss how memes matter in political discourse.

Historian John C. McManus’ latest book opens with Gen. Douglas MacArthur aboard the USS Boise plunging through the deep blue waters of the South China Sea in January 1945. In this encore conversation, we hear from about the Missouri S&T professor’s book, “To the End of the Earth: The US Army and the Downfall of Japan, 1945.” The book completes his trilogy that focuses on the U.S. Army during the Pacific War.

After four years out of office, former Missouri state Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal is trying to make a comeback in the closely-watched 1st Congressional District contest that includes incumbent Cori Bush and St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell. Chappelle-Nadal joins "The Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air" host Jason Rosenbaum to discuss her campaign.

Since he announced his second bid for the U.S. Senate in early 2023, Independence attorney Lucas Kunce has been the consistent frontrunner in the Democratic race to take on U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley. He joins "The Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air" host Jason Rosenbaum to share why he thinks he's the best candidate to take on the role.

Radio personality and media veteran Tammie Holland passed away July 20, 2024 at the age of 53 after a three-year fight against cancer. Her long time friends and former colleagues Arika Parr and Tony Scott reflect on Holland’s legacy, career, and impact on St. Louis.

Christopher Dunn has spent 34 years in prison for what multiple judges have deemed a wrongful conviction. Earlier this week, a St. Louis Circuit judge ordered Dunn’s release — yet he remains behind bars. STLPR reporter Lacretia Wimbley discusses why Dunn is still not free and what comes next. We also listen back to a conversation with Dunn taped earlier this year, just days after St. Louis Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore announced that his investigation showed evidence Dunn was innocent.

When Parkway School District teachers Mike Steep and Matt Wall aren’t in the classroom, the long-time friends and musicians are playing wide-ranging tunes from the 1990s and early 2000s with their cover band, DadBod. Their shows have become a space to reminisce about the music of their adolescence along with their faithful fans – some of which are fellow teachers and former students. Mike and Matt discuss the origins of DadBod and why seeing former students at their shows isn’t as awkward as one might think.

The Rooted initiative started by Invest STL gives Black and low-income residents of the West End and Visitation Park neighborhoods $20,000 to invest in their homes and community. The program aims to help residents stay in their neighborhoods amidst rising concerns about nearby developments. Invest STL CEO Dara Eskridge explains how the non-profit’s wealth-building program works and why it is getting national attention.

Growing up in St. Louis in the 1950s and 60s, Lee Hendrix was taught to fear the Mississippi River. But the sense of adventure it offered ended up being the seed that became a five decade career of piloting boats on the Mississippi. Hendrix discusses his new book, <a href="https://www.upress.state.ms.us/Books/P/Peep-Light">“Peep Light”</a>, where he shares stories about the dangerous work of starting as a deckhand and later ascending to the pilothouse. He also talks about what it was like to pilot passenger vessels, including the grand American Queen, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ largest towboat, the MV Mississippi.

Yesterday, President Joe Biden announced that he’d no longer seek re-election this November. He also endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as nominee for the Democratic Party. People in the St. Louis region share a broad range of reactions to this historic political moment: relief, disappointment, uncertainty — and even, hopefulness.

A panel of attorneys discuss local and regional legal issues, including the latest on the Bar: PM lawsuit, allegations by a chess star against the U.S. Chess Federation, and, why a Wendy’s restaurant in Bridgeton is paying $5 million to a former worker who was a victim of sexual assault on the job.

Of all U.S. states, Missouri has more miles of the Cherokee Trail of Tears. A new episode of the film series “My Ozarks” tells the story of Erin Whitson, an archaeologist who researches her hometown’s connections to the brutal history of Cherokee removal. Whitson talks about her intentional approach to uncovering that history in Steelville, Missouri. Sharon Benoit, a member of Cherokee Keetoowah Tribe of Oklahoma, also joins the conversation to explain why she worked with Whitson, and what makes preserving her ancestors' history so important.

Social media has put art and entertainment from all corners of the world in the literal palm of your hand. Manga and anime – Japanese comic books and cartoons – really started hitting mainstream American bookshelves and screens starting in the 1990’s, and cross-cultural exchange has resulted in the development of distinct subcultures, including “blerds” or Black nerds. Shawn “Rab” Fentress, a St. Louis born and raised content creator, is part of the popularization of Blerd culture. He has accumulated hundreds of thousands of followers online for his distinct voice-overs of anime shows, which he calls “hood dubs,” and found success in creating online content with Nappy Boy Network, founded by rapper and singer T-Pain.

St. Louis’ Asian American community celebrates recent work to bring light to the lives and contributions of early Chinese immigrants to St. Louis, including an honorary street-naming in the city and the 100th anniversary of a Chinese gravesite at Valhalla Cemetery.