St. Louis on the Air

Sam Goodwin was just thirteen countries away from reaching his goal of visiting every country when he traveled to Syria. His visit took a wrong turn when he was wrongfully accused of espionage and held in the country’s notorious prison system. Goodwin’s forthcoming book about his captivity shares the ways coincidence and connection led to his release.

50 years after the Endangered Species Act was passed, the Missouri Botanical Garden continues their plant conservation efforts within the garden grounds and in the wild. Matthew Albrecht, director of Missouri Botanical Garden’s Center for Conservation and Sustainable Development, and Becky Sucher, senior manager of the garden’s Living Collections share the successes in plant conservation and how the noticeably changing weather patterns affects their work at the garden and in the field.

2023 was a year of change in St. Louis politics as Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner resigned from an office in turmoil and the Board of Aldermen was cut in half. STLPR journalists Jason Rosenbaum, Brian Munoz, Will Bauer, Rachel Lippmann and Sarah Kellogg break down the top political stories of the year.

The St. Louis Board of Aldermen went through a major political and structural transformation in 2023. St. Louis Board of Aldermen President Megan Green discusses some of the highlights of the past year and what to expect from her aldermanic colleagues in 2024.

On Monday morning, a St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officer drove his SUV through the front wall of a local gay bar. The incident ended with Bar:PM co-owner Chad Morris in handcuffs, under arrest and charged with felony assault. Attorneys Mark Smith, Kalila Jackson and Dave Roland discuss this case, and others, in this Legal Roundtable episode.

Yes, radio stations have photojournalists — and they’re vital to the stories St. Louis Public Radio produces. Interim Digital Editor Brian Munoz and photojournalist Tristen Rouse have wrapped up collecting STLPR’s “Year in Photos.” They join the show to discuss what happens behind the lens, and how it’s led to some of their favorite images among the thousands they’ve captured in 2023.

In this encore, listen back to our September interview with columnist and commentator Michael Harriot. Harriot's debut book, “Black AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America,” offers a compelling retelling of American history. Harriot discusses why he tackled a sweeping retelling of American history, and also shares his experiences from covering protests in Ferguson in 2014 and St. Louis in 2017.

St. Louis-based dining critics & food writers dish on STL’s 2023 trends and highlights, and talk about what’s to come in 2024. Guests include Meera Nagarajan (Sauce Magazine), Ian Froeb (St. Louis Post-Dispatch), and Holly Fann (Eater, St. Louis Magazine).

On Oct. 25, more than a dozen of Fatima Elkabti’s family members were killed in Gaza City in a single Israeli airstrike. The war is taking a toll on the Palestinian American, wife and mother. And, it comes at a time when the Washington University creative writing grad is writing a book that’s preserving her family’s history of displacement — and drawing parallels to today.

In 2023, we said goodbye to a number of remarkable people who lived and worked in the St. Louis region. In this episode, we honor those we lost this year by listening back to conversations with them or by hearing from those who knew them well.

When war erupted in the Gaza Strip, Linda Badran decided it was time to co-found a local chapter of the non-profit aid group Palestine Children’s Relief Fund. She wants to rally fellow St. Louisans who want to see an end to the war and contribute to the healing, and recovery, of the thousands of children being harmed by violence.

In its 68th season, the St. Louis Chamber Chorus is taking a musical tour around the globe. This Sunday’s concert at the Second Presbyterian Church in the Central West End adds to that theme and will feature the premiere of “Seeking You,” a new Christmas song composed by Kerensa Briggs that uses text from a poem of the same name by Charles Anthony Silvestri. Briggs and St. Louis Chamber Chorus Artistic Director Philip Barnes join the show.

The new book “Black St. Louis” explores the life of Black people, from the founding of the city to the start of the 21st century. Through colorful imagery and detailed documentation, co-authors Calvin Riley and NiNi Harris tell the stories of enslaved people, night-club owners, soldiers and everyday Black St. Louisans.

Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis are using nature as inspiration to combat the growing problem of plastic pollution. In this encore episode, we learn how they’re using a $3.6 million grant to develop sustainably sourced plastics by mimicking natural materials like spider silk fibers.

In 2018, writer Robert Langellier and botanist Neal Humke cut down every tree across 19 acres in Pioneer Forest. Their aim was to restore one of the Ozarks' rarest ecosystems: a glade. While it may seem counterintuitive to cut down trees in a time of climate change, restoring glades helps ensure biodiversity. In this encore episode, Langellier talks about the conservation effort. Humke, land stewardship coordinator for the L-A-D Foundation (which privately owns the land in the Pioneer Forest) discusses the non-profits’ work there and the importance of glades.

Congress is poised to give final approval to the National Defense Authorization Act, a customarily popular and bipartisan bill. But, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley voted “no” and he’s accusing congressional leadership of abandoning St. Louis-area victims poisoned by nuclear contamination from the Manhattan Project. Hawley talks with STLPR senior environmental reporter Kate Grumke about his opposition to the bill.

December 8 was the last day for the staff of The Southern Illinoisan. Its new owner, Paxton Media Group, eliminated the entire staff of unionized workers. The decision blindsided its longtime workers, and marks the end of an era. Former editor-in-chief Jackson Brandhorst discusses what happened at The Southern, what's been lost, and where the paper's former journalists and staff go from here.

Hollywood film producer and director Reginald Hudlin is the mind and energy behind cult classics “House Party” and “Boomerang” as well as “Marshall,” starring the late Chadwick Boseman. He also has producing credits on the Quentin Taratino film “Django Unchained.” Hudlin credits his interests in the arts to his upbringing in East St. Louis, Illinois. STLPR arts and culture senior reporter Jeremy D. Goodwin sat down with Hudlin to talk about his childhood heroes, his take on how Hollywood’s reception of Black stories have evolved overtime, and his new movie “Candy Cane Lane,” starring Eddie Murphy.

Children of immigrants often face heritage language loss. St. Louis parents and community members are taking practical steps to maintain linguistic and cultural connection across generations.

John Goodman has worked in Hollywood for nearly 50 years, but he’s always kept St. Louis close to his heart. The Affton native will be in town on Dec.17 for the Repertory Theater of St. Louis' “Rally for The Rep.” The benefit show’s proceeds will help the theater raise $2.5M to make up for its current budget shortfall. In this episode, Goodman reflects on the power of theater performance, his career highlights, and how growing up in St. Louis has informed many of his movie and television roles over the years.

Ki Chapman was searching for a way to get active and found her way back to a favorite childhood pastime — jumping double Dutch. Since discovering the 40+ Double Dutch Club, she’s become the captain of the St. Louis chapter double Dutch is more than just a game. For Chapman, it’s shown her new ways to give back to her community and connected her with jumpers across the country.

In October, the City of St. Louis made two national rankings for LBGTQ+ friendliness, but each list told a different story. One list named it among the most friendly to the queer community. The other list named St. Louis as one of the most unfriendly. We explore what’s behind that discrepancy with panelists Avi Ivaturi, peer support organizer at St. Louis Queer Support Helpline; Midwest Rainbow Research Institute Executive Director Inoru Morris; and Nick Dunne, LGBTQIA+ and Arts Liaison for the City of St. Louis.

Isaiah Maxi has been hiking all over Missouri’s state parks — and he's not doing it alone. He documents his journeys on his Facebook group, “The Journey to 100 Hiking Friends,” charting his connections across the state. We talked with him in March when he was about one-third of the way to his goal. This past weekend, he accomplished (and surpassed) his mission by meeting 113 new friends — and a total of six dogs.

Hamas' October 7 attack and the ongoing war in Israel is impacting St. Louis' Jewish community in different ways. Galit Lev-Harir was in Israel on October 7. She experienced the aftermath of Hamas’ campaign of massacres and kidnapping, and says supporting Israel has never been more important. Hineni founder Tasha Kaminsky and others have joined their voices with Palestinians in demanding a ceasefire, and an end to Israel's military response.

Missouri Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick recently got into a high-profile dispute with fellow Republican statewide — Attorney General Andrew Bailey. It was over a fiscal note the auditor’s office wrote about several initiative petitions that would legalize abortion. The Missouri Supreme Court sided with Fitzpatrick. In this excerpt of the Politically Speaking podcast with STLPR’s Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum, Fitzpatrick defends his actions, reflects on one year in office and more.

Research on women’s health has been underfunded for decades. As central as it is to human life, the reproductive process is especially poorly understood by scientists. Washington University bioengineer Michelle Oyen argues that it’s critical for scientists to study women’s health, and she hopes her research will contribute to improved maternal and fetal health outcomes.

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. Stories about the Millennium Hotel, Casa Gallardo, and the Admiral are also shared. Co-author Cameron Collins — and listeners — share their memories.

Brian Owens and his father, Thomas, became internet darlings 10 years ago with a YouTube video of them performing a rendition of “A Change is Gonna Come.” That video has gained more than 107 million views and landed them on the Today Show in June. Now, the Owenses are hitting the stage as a supporting act for jazz sensation Samara Joy. Brian and Thomas Owens preview their “Duets With Dad” show and upcoming album set to release on Father’s Day 2024.

In Madison County, Illinois, an apprenticeship program helps students with disabilities build skills for work – and life – after they graduate. The program has shown success, and now leaders hope their model gets implemented elsewhere. The coordinator of the program at Collinsville High School, a parent whose son went through the program, and STLPR reporter Will Bauer join the show.

A new lawsuit against the University of Missouri claims the university’s healthcare system violated disability law by refusing to provide certain gender-affirming care to two transgender boys. Attorneys Nicole Gorovsky, Patti Williams and Arindam Kar discuss this case in this November 2023 edition of the Legal Roundtable. They also tackle other legal questions, including whether the city of St. Louis owes compensation to a man it accidentally held in jail for eight months after the charges against him were dropped.

The “wanted” policy in the St. Louis region allows police to make an arrest without a warrant or knowledge about the person they're arresting. Tim Reinhardt experienced that first-hand, and is now suing the Chesterfield Police Department. Reinhardt’s attorney, Jack Waldron, calls the wanted system a “substitute for doing police work.” Maureen Hanlon of ArchCity Defenders provides an update on what changed a year after a federal appeals court found the wanted policy legal but “fraught with the risk of violating the Constitution.”

This year alone Arch Grants has awarded over $1.8 million to local startups and small businesses. Since 2012, the organization has backed and mentored hundreds of companies to attract and retain promising businesses — and to breathe new life into St. Louis’ economy. Arch Grants Executive Director Gabe Angieri and 2023 Arch Grants recipient Pierre Paul, the CEO and founder of We Hear You, share how these investments can benefit the entire region.

With the end of 2023 approaching and cold weather keeping us indoors, what better time to dig into some of the best books of the year? Jennifer Alexander of St. Louis County Library and Ted Reidy of St. Louis Public Library share their top picks.

Abortion rights supporters scored a legal victory last week when the Missouri Supreme Court declined to take up cases regarding ballot summaries and costs for initiative petitions that would put making abortion legal in front of Missouri voters. STLPR Politics Correspondent Jason Rosenbaum discusses recent developments and a timeline for when voters may be able to cast a ballot on this issue.

“Missouri Weird & Wonderful” presents readers of all ages with a kid-friendly tour through the Show Me State. Author Amanda E. Doyle and illustrator Dan Zettwoch, two longtime St. Louisans, discuss highlights from the book, which closes with a scavenger hunt for famous Missouri people and things.

StoryCorps’ Great Thanksgiving Listen encourages people to talk and listen to one another over the holiday break. These conversations can be between any two people and they help build an oral history of what life is like today. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jonathan Ahl and Miya Norfleet shared some of the conversations recorded in the StoryCorps’ Airstream trailer this fall in St. Louis.

Brown recluse spiders are infamous for their necrotic venom. But how dangerous are they, really? Missouri Botanical Garden senior entomologist Tad Yankoski says the arachnids get an unnecessarily bad wrap. He shares why you should stop worrying about brown recluses and learn to appreciate the spider.

Holiday shopping is here, and trying to figure out what to get, and where, can be overwhelming. Black Friday deals traditionally draw shoppers to big box stores and massive e-commerce sites, but small business owners want consumers to consider shopping local for their gift giving needs. Lisa Potts, vice-president of Delmar Main Street, and serial entrepreneur Dallas Holland join the show to share the benefits of shopping local and keeping dollars close to community.

At least 105 people have died behind Missouri prison bars this year, and that's just one sign that things are not right in the state's prisons. The Missouri Justice Coalition is holding a series of statewide town halls, with its most recent stop in St. Louis. The nonprofit’s founder and director Michelle Smith discusses what she's learned at the town halls, and shares her thoughts on the group's goals for legislation and what has to change in the state’s 21 prison

When Carol Daniel announced her retirement from KMOX in April, it signaled the end of a 40-year, award-filled career in media. But Daniel is back behind the mic as senior producer and host at Nine PBS. Carol Daniel’s new podcast, "Listen, St. Louis" premiered this month, with a focus on the region's complex challenges and the people working to address them. Carol reflects on her new role and what audiences can expect from her post-KMOX.

In the St. Louis region, eviction filings are happening at a faster rate than before the coronavirus pandemic. An in-depth report by journalist Mike Fitzgerald explores the reasons why. Fitzgerald discusses the current eviction crisis alongside Kennard Williams, organizing manager with the group Action St. Louis.

St. Louis County is going through a period of relative government tranquility, especially compared to past years. But county officials are still dealing with steep challenges, including a budgetary gap and lingering questions about collaborating with the City of St. Louis. On the latest episode of the “Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air,” St. Louis County Councilwoman Lisa Clancy talks about the county’s big challenges.

It’s been about five years since a serious proposal to combine St. Louis and St. Louis County was on the table. But interest in ending the so-called “Great Divorce” remains high, even though there are a lot of details to work out. We open our mailbag with St. Louis Public Radio reporter Chad Davis to discuss some of the opportunities and challenges for a city-county reunion.

Former U.S. Sen. Bill Bradley of New Jersey will return to the St. Louis area this weekend to receive the Stan Musial Lifetime Achievement Award for Sportsmanship. On the “Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air,” the Crystal City, Missouri, native and two-time NBA champion discusses his Jefferson County upbringing, his long-standing push for racial equity and whether he thinks the NBA will ever return to St. Louis.

New restaurants in the St. Louis region are enticing customers with a bevy of savory cocktails and fresh flavor combinations. Sauce Magazine Executive Editor Meera Nagarajan runs down her favorite new spots to eat and drink and shares how she and her team tackled the daunting task of tasting and ranking all 40 sandwiches at the Gramophone.

Clinical psychologist Dr. Marva Robinson discusses how to navigate complex family dynamics and divisive topics that may come up during gatherings this holiday season.

The St. Louis General Strike of 1877 was a pivotal moment in labor history. It involved hundreds of railroad, factory and transit workers who were able to grind commerce to a halt. A new play, “1877,” shares that story and premieres this week at the Missouri History Museum. Playwright Colin McLaughlin and actors Josh Mayfield and Courtnei Morris join the show.

The International Institute of St. Louis recently launched an effort to attract Latin American immigrants to the region. Their plans have garnered criticism from St. Charles County officials this week. Karlos Ramirez, vice president of the institute's Latino Outreach Program, talks about how immigrants can boost the city’s population and contribute to its workforce. International Institute President and CEO Arrey Obenson discusses how the St. Charles proposal hurts their efforts at creating a welcoming region.

The marathon hat trick is a goal that some committed distance runners aim for but few have achieved. To accomplish this feat runners must complete 100 marathons, a marathon in all 50 U.S. states, and a marathon on all seven continents. Fewer than 60 runners have completed the marathon hat trick and only three of them are Black. Two of those three are from St. Louis: Tony Reed and Lisa Davis. A documentary, “We Are Distance Runners: The Marathon Hat Trick,” is about their story and it screens Wednesday evening as part of the St. Louis International Film Festival.

Missouri shows little progress in cutting rates of new cancer cases, according to the latest American Lung Association report. The ALA also found the state ranked fourth in the nation for lung cancer patients receiving no treatment after diagnosis. Kavahn Mansouri, investigative reporter with the NPR Midwest Newsroom, and Laura Turner, advocacy director for the American Lung Association in Missouri, dig into these statistics and other takeaways from the report.