St. Louis on the Air

Founded as a response to St. Louis’ “stagnation” in 2001, BioSTL has spent more than two decades fostering high-tech startups in medicine and agriculture. Donn Rubin, founding president and CEO BioSTL, discusses the origin of BioSTL, its success stories, and the upcoming Trilateral AgriFood Symposium with Israel and the United Arab Emirates.

Environmentalists and parents of Jana Elementary students are concerned about a study that shows radioactive contamination from World War II-era nuclear waste in nearby Coldwater Creek. STLPR education reporter Kate Grumke, Missouri Coalition for the Environment Executive Director Jared Opsal and Community Outreach Specialist Christen Commusso discuss what’s next — and steps the Army Corps of Engineers should take to reverse the damage.

Jessica Hicklin served 26 years in a maximum security facility for a murder she committed at 16-years-old. While incarcerated, Hicklin taught herself to code and worked on building skills she could utilize once out of prison. Now, nine months after her release, she's excited to bring that same opportunity to others with UnLocked Labs, which she cofounded with Haley Shoaf.

A student and a teacher were killed Monday morning at Central Visual & Performing Arts High School in south St. Louis. Police also shot and killed the 19-year-old suspect. We talk with STLPR Education Reporter Kate Grumke and Midwest Newsroom Managing Editor Holly Edgell about this breaking news story.

One hundred years ago, physicist Arthur Holly Compton made his Nobel prize-winning discovery related to X-rays at Washington University in St. Louis. Erik Henriksen, an associate professor of physics at Washington University, shares how Compton’s discovery paved the way for quantum mechanics and modern day astrophysics.

People living near a company that did work for the Navy had no idea that a toxic solvent, disposed of improperly, had made its way into their drinking water – until a public apology from the state in 2019. Reporters Eric Schmid and Steve Vockrodt discuss their investigation into how and why this happened.

In 1872, the Missouri Republican newspaper heralded the arrival of St. Louis' newest park beneath the headline: "A New Lung to the City." Now, Tower Grove Park is celebrating its 150th anniversary. Local author Amanda Doyle joins the show. Her new book is “Tower Grove Park: Common Ground & Grateful Shade Since 1872.”

Can you gain mindfulness from an app? Enlightenment from a smartphone? That may work for some people, but, for Daigaku Rumme, a Zen master and teacher at the Confluence Zen Center in St. Louis, the journey was one measured in decades of study and devotion. After living as a Zen monk in Japan, Rumme says the wisdom of Zen is as relevant today as it ever was. Rumme joins St. Louis on the Air to discuss mindfulness, apps, and tips for staying in the present.

A group of cyclists hopes a recent satirical installation on South Grand brings attention to the issue of pedestrian safety in St. Louis. Cyclist Sean Milford describes the actions he wants to see local leaders take to reduce traffic violence in the region.

Societal norms condition us to fear death and avoid grief, but local groups like the STL Death Cafe and St. Louis’ first End of Life Festival encourage people to lean into such topics. The host of STL Death Cafe, Tracy Gomillion, and grief educator Eileen Wolfington talk about destigmatizing the taboo of talking about death, dying and grief.

For years, the Metro East town of Granite City mandated evictions against entire households in response to any arrest, even against a guest or family member. Critics of Granite City’s crime-free housing ordinance say they will continue to oppose it, despite a recent ruling by a federal judge upholding the controversial law. Sam Gedge, an attorney with the Institute for Justice, discusses the group’s civil rights lawsuit over the ordinance. Also joining is Debi Brumit, who faced an eviction order after her daughter was arrested in Granite City, and Kevin Link, a former Granite City landlord who opposes the ordinance.

In her new memoir, Congresswoman Cori Bush recalls early life lessons about segregation and discrimination in St. Louis and her experience as a survivor of domestic and sexual assault. The book details Bush’s life from her childhood in north St. Louis County to the night of her primary victory in 2020 that made her Missouri’s first Black congresswoman-elect. She reflects on the book’s content, and the process of writing it, in this episode.

Shalon Gates has been homeschooling her four kids off and on for more than a decade in Ferguson. Academically, all of her kids are thriving in her classroom. But some of her kids are ready to close this chapter for good. -- We're proud to bring you this guest podcast: the third and final episode of "Doin' It Our Way" with STLPR's Marissanne Lewis-Thompson. To listen to all "Doin' It Our Way" episodes right now, search for the podcast on this podcast platform.

Rosati-Kain High School and St. Mary's High School in St. Louis are slated for closure at the end of the school year. The announcement from St. Louis Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski stunned many in the community. In this episode, we talk with STLPR reporter Kate Grumke about this news and efforts by some to keep the schools open.

Black men and boys are often blamed for rising crime in St. Louis, including the current “Kia Boyz” trend linked to hundreds of car thefts in the region. But lack of resources is a key factor, says Sean Joe, founder and Principal Director of HomeGrown StL. Joe joins the show to discuss the need for greater support for young Black men and boys. We also hear from Kaelan Mayfield, a former worker at a juvenile detention facility, who shares his experience trying to help young people at risk for recidivism.

Author Ridley Pearson has his name stamped in St. Louis’ Walk of Fame, but his imagination soars when it comes to Disney villains. Ridley discusses his latest book, “Cautionary Tales,” a collection of scary stories featuring the baddest, most evil personalities from the Disney canon — and in ways even the biggest Disney fans won’t expect.

Miquilaue Young always intended to home-school her seven kids. More than a decade into her home-schooling journey, the kids are fully immersed in their tailor-made school experience. It’s something Miquilaue wishes she had. -- We're proud to bring you this guest podcast: the second episode of "Doin' It Our Way" with STLPR's Marissanne Lewis-Thompson. To listen to all "Doin' It Our Way" episodes right now, search for the podcast on this podcast platform.

In the early 1990s, a series of grotesque murders terrorized St. Louis. The serial killer became known as the “Package Killer'' for the manner in which the victims’ bodies were abandoned. Then the killer seemingly disappeared, until this week, when prosecutors charged Gary Muehlberg with multiple counts of murder. In this episode, we hear from the detective who stayed on the case and the reporter who brought new attention to its details.

At the start of the pandemic, Black families chose to homeschool five times more than any other racial group in the U.S. In the first of three episodes of "Doin’ It Our Way," STLPR's Marissanne Lewis-Thompson explores why more Black parents in St. Louis are ditching traditional schools and taking a chance on themselves. -- We're proud to bring you this guest podcast. To listen to all "Doin' It Our Way" episodes right now, search for the podcast on this podcast platform.

For years, Black parents frustrated by traditional schools have been pulling their children out of classrooms to educate them at home — and that decision is becoming more common. St. Louis Public Radio's new podcast Doin' It Our Way explores why Black families in the St. Louis region are choosing to home-school. Host and STLPR newscaster Marissanne Lewis-Thompson joins SLOTA to talk about the process of reporting the new podcast, and what she's learned about how these families are managing to do education — their way.

With a commanding lead in National League Central, the Cardinals are marching toward the playoffs. Benjamin Hochman, sports columnist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, discusses the 2022 season so far and where the team might be headed in coming weeks.

A growing St. Louis startup, Decide Technologies, is extensively tied to disinformation websites, including the likes of the Gateway Pundit, which is also based in St. Louis. Reporter Paul Wagman discusses his investigation into Decide, and how the startup's business model is funding and profiting from websites across the "alt right" spectrum.

St. Louis has a police problem. In some of its wealthiest neighborhoods, uniformed police officers, riding in SUVs marked “police,” are being offered bonuses for investigating crimes and arresting criminals. But the offers aren’t coming from their department, but from a private security company called The City’s Finest. That’s just one of the details uncovered in an investigation published in ProPublica this week by St. Louis-based reporter Jeremy Kohler. Kohler joins St. Louis on the Air to discuss his findings, and what the spread of these private security forces says about the state of policing in St. Louis.

After three challenging years, Wildlife Rescue Center in Ballwin, Missouri invites the public to their first open house since 2019. Executive director Kim Rutledge explains how extreme storms, COVID-19, and avian flu impacted the rescue center, and why it is especially important to see the center in action right now.

After years of outcry, new basketball courts are scheduled to make their debut next year in St. Louis’ two largest parks: Forest Park and Tower Grove Park. It’s not easy to find basketball hoops in St. Louis’ parks, and many people think that’s by design — to keep Black youth out of seemingly wealthier neighborhoods. And, in Forest Park, plans to build courts seem stuck in a nine-step process. In this special episode, producer Miya Norfleet talks with St. Louisans and park leadership about how access to basketball courts tells the story of St. Louis’ past and hopes for the future.

“Kia Boyz” are trending on social media, and that trend has hit St. Louis’ streets. Sgt. Tracy Panus of St. Louis County Police Department joins St. Louis on the Air to provide an update on the official response to the rash of thefts targeting Kia and Hyundai cars. She also shares advice on what motorists can do to protect their property.

This summer, St. Louis County tried to obtain a “gag order” against a lawyer suing its animal shelter. That attorney, Mark Pedroli, discusses his lawsuits against the shelter — and why the county sought to silence him. We also hear from Mandy Zatorski, who was fired from her manager position at the shelter in 2020. Zatorski argues that the shelter hasn’t improved since then, and cautions that privatizing the shelter could only cover up the problems instead of solving them.

Next week, St. Louis’ New Jewish Theatre will open the world premiere of “The Bee Play”. The play addresses climate change through the eyes of Carver Washington, a young beekeeper in the Bronx. St. Louis musician and actor Miles Brenton joins St. Louis On The Air to discuss his experience as the first actor to bring Carver Washington to the stage.

“Dangerous Women” is a new exhibit that features two leaders of the labor movement, Fannie Sellins and Mary Harris Jones a.k.a. Mother Jones. The exhibit debuts 103 years after Sellins was killed at a labor strike in Pennsylvania. Mother Jones Heritage Project director Rosemary Feurer joins the show to share the impact St. Louis had on both women.

Shortly before the newest basketball court in St. Louis was finished, the group who built it was raided by the FBI. The African People’s Socialist Party is accused of being linked to a Russian conspiracy to spread disinformation and promote Russian propaganda. The leaders of the party, Chairman Omali Yeshitela and Deputy Chair Ona Zené Yeshitela, respond to the allegations of conspiracy and explain what brought their group to St. Louis in the first place.

As teachers, kids, and parents head back to school, area districts are dealing with teacher and staff shortages. But it’s not all bad news — This is the first school year in which kids of all ages are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Also, thanks to St. Louis voters, the city’s public schools will now have 160 million dollars to spend on building upgrades. Education reporter Kate Grumke talks about what back-to-school looks like this year.

Finding quality Indian food in St. Louis is made easy with the help of Sauce Magazine Executive Editor Meera Nagarajan. Nagarajan gave us the rundown of her favorite Indian spots to find staples like naan and samosas.

Podcast Description: Bobby Bostic’s talents recently drew a crowd to a poetry reading of several works. The prolific writer and poet is serving a 241-year sentence in prison — a shocking punishment that has drawn attention from local and national criminal justice advocates. In November, Bostic will finally leave prison on parole. This episode features reflections from Bostic, and Ronnie Amiyn of the Freedom Community Center shares his own experience understanding the redeeming qualities of art in prison.

In the Metro East city of Cahokia Heights, sewer and stormwater systems are often so full that raw sewage seeps into residents’ yards. The city has experienced chronic flooding for two decades, but on August 3, Illinois announced it would spend $21 million to finally fix the problem. Reacting to the news, we hear from resident Sheila Gladney and researcher José Constantine, an assistant professor of geosciences at Williams College.

The floodwaters may be gone, but residents in the St. Louis region are still picking up the pieces after historic flooding in late July. In the weeks since, hundreds of flood victims were forced to wait hours at overcrowded aid centers. Now, more help is on the way: This week, teams from FEMA canvassed areas that were hit hard by extreme weather. STLPR reporter Jeremy Goodwin shares his observations from the first day of canvassing, and we hear from two flood victims about their needs as they wait for more resources.

STL Fringe Fest spotlights stage acts that are far from the mainstream. In its 11th year, the festival boasts their largest playbill yet with over 40 acts scheduled in venues across St. Louis. St. Lou Fringe president and artistic director Matthew Kerns and comedian Mollie Ambrugey joins St. Louis on the Air to discuss the importance of uplifting local indie artists as audiences and performers return to theaters.

August 15 marks the one year anniversary of Zamzama Safi’s escape from Afghanistan. The former translator for U.S. forces discusses her new life in St. Peters, Missouri, and her continued worry for her family still living in Afghanistan.

People in the St. Louis region are still reeling from the effects of flash flooding last week. In this episode, we hear from those affected. Also, Kayla Reed of Action St. Louis speaks to the lessons learned from the disaster and how best to provide support to those still recovering from flood damage.

For years, residents in University City believed a $190 million development wouldn’t force them to sell their homes through eminent domain. But in June, that’s exactly what developer Larry Chapman requested from the city council. Now, residents like Nichole Angieri are wondering if their homes are next. Bob’s Seafood founder Bob Mepham also joins the show to discuss how the same developer used eminent domain to close his business.

The study of ancient Egypt flourished in the late 1880s as archaeologists and historians sought to study the artifacts and tombs left behind. These early Egyptologists gathered in hotels to discuss what they found, creating “small, ephemeral communities,” writes Missouri University of Science and Technology history professor Kate Sheppard, who discusses her research and new book, “Tea on the Terrace.”

STLPR correspondents Jason Rosenbaum and Rachel Lippmann, and UMSL political scientist Anita Manion, dig into the results from Missouri’s primary elections and share insight on what’s likely in store for the general election in November.

St. Louis broke the record for the most rainfall ever recorded in a single day in the city on July 26. One person died. Hundreds of people, including Hazelwood resident Camila Cage, were rescued by first responders Tuesday morning. Cage joined St. Louis on the Air to discuss what she experienced as the waters rose. Also, St. Louis Public Radio reporter Sarah Fentem provided an update on the effects of the storm.

Two local anti-abortion advocates heralded the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. But they say their work isn’t done even though abortions are illegal in almost all instances in Missouri. This conversation follows one earlier in the week with two abortion rights supporters. Editor’s Note: The guests claimed that “contraceptives can cause what’s called abortifacients,” a drug that causes an abortion. That’s not true. Contraceptives, including Plan B, do not cause an abortion. They prevent fertilization. Pregnancy only occurs when a fertilized egg has been implanted in the wall of the uterus. A guest also claimed that “for a woman to take contraception of any form, it is not healthy for her.” The medical community agrees that while there are some risks associated with birth control, “all methods of contraception are considered okay for healthy women.”

The ability to read is fundamental to learning in all school subjects and every aspect of life. However, Missouri’s kids are ranked below 19 other states in fourth grade reading level. State Sen. Jill Schupp joined St. Louis on the Air to discuss what she and her fellow women State Senators are doing to support students that are struggling in reading, as well as a new children’s book she co-authored with every woman State Senator in Missouri’s history.

Adil Qaisar is ready for take-off. On July 30, the local comedian and the Terminal 5 comedy tour lands in St. Louis, bringing a diverse set of comics and backgrounds to the stage. Qaisar discusses his approach to comedy, the difference between being “a comedian who is Muslim” and “a Muslim comedian,” and more.

St. Louis Public Radio political correspondent and Politically Speaking podcast host Jason Rosenbaum breaks down the issues and challenges facing candidates in the upcoming Senate primary, as well as the race for the next St. Louis County Executive.

On this month’s Legal Roundtable, attorneys Eric Banks, Brenda Talent and Sarah Swatosh tackle three fresh rulings from 8th Circuit Court of Appeals that all concern the ways “qualified immunity” can protect government officials from being sued. The attorneys also dig into the impact of Missouri’s abortion laws, the new (and fiercely disputed) Homer G. Phillips hospital, and more. Sarah Fenske returns as guest host.

St. Louis-based DJ Alexis Tucci is in high demand throughout the country, her house music DJing has drawn a strong fanbase in the LGBTQ community. Tucci, a mother of two, Tucci talks about her career of nearly three decades — and what keeps her in St. Louis.

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, abortion rights organizers in St. Louis are working hard to disrupt the momentum of the anti-abortion movement. In this episode, Kennedy Moore from Pro-Choice Missouri and Brianna Chandler from WashU discuss how the reproductive freedom movement, abolition, climate justice, and trans rights are all enmeshed and how their work aims to empower people to take action.

Ten years after the first “Fluffy GRL summit,” Ebbi Nichole’s Fluffy GRL Movement continues to uplift body positivity... and having fun while doing it. Nichol discusses her founding of the movement, the rampant “miseducation” around body sizes, and next month’s “GRL Weekend” and pool party in St. Louis.