St. Louis on the Air

A 2018 study by the National Low Income Housing Coalition showed that a St. Louisan who earns minimum wage would have to work 81 hours per week in order to afford a modest apartment. That reality is part of what Esther Shin describes as a "national affordable-housing challenge" stretching from San Francisco to New York City.

Host Don Marsh discusses the results of the St. Louis primary election in which race for president of the Board of Aldermen is the most high profile.

Roughly 850,000 people are facing food insecurity in the state of Missouri alone – and that includes about 220,000 kids. Representatives from Food Outreach, Operation Food Search and the St. Louis Area Foodbank discuss the issue and their distinctive efforts to address it.

Mardi Gras one of St. Louis’ biggest events, but it’s even bigger in cities across the county and world. The holiday dates back to the middle ages and has evolved over time. Host Don Marsh explores Mardi Gras festivities here in St. Louis and Brazil, where the holiday is referred to as Carnival.

Many average Americans aren’t seeing the kinds of refunds they expected in the wake of President Trump’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act – instead, it’s wealthier people that are tending to see larger refunds. That’s according to Lance Weiss, a certified public accountant and partner with SFW Partners, LLC in St. Louis.

Host Don Marsh talks about some of the latest additions to the St. Louis region’s food-and-beverage community with Sauce Magazine managing editor Catherine Klene and staff writer Matt Sorrell.

At a United Methodist Church conference in St. Louis, delegates from around the world narrowly voted to uphold a ban on same-sex weddings and on ordaining LGBTQ clergy. We talk with STLPR reporter Shahla Farzan about the conference and with two Methodists about the decision.

Host Don Marsh talks with two St. Louisans directly impacted by adoption – and by the Missouri Adoptee Rights Act, which thousands of people have taken advantage of since the legislation passed in 2016. Patti Naumann is a lineal descendant of a deceased Missouri adoptee, and Jason Reckamp is an adoptee who recently connected with his birth parents after many years of searching.

<p>Taulby Roach, who started as CEO and president of Bi-State Development about two months ago, discusses the state of public transit in the St. Louis region.</p>

<p><em>St. Louis on the Air’s</em> latest Sound Bites segment with <a href="https://www.saucemagazine.com/">Sauce Magazine</a> explores how local chocolatiers create confections ranging from truffles and sauces to classic chocolate bars – and what makes them different from mass-produced chocolates from companies such as Mars and Hershey’s.</p> <p> </p>

<p>A new volume co-edited by Harris-Stowe State University's Mark Abbott and Washington University's Catalina Freixas features a variety of locally based conversations, as well as essays by current and former St. Louisans in response to those conversations, reflecting on the experience of segregation in America and ways to address it.</p>

<p>Locally based musicians Ms Hy-C and the Fresh Start band caught international attention when they won first place in the 2019 International Blues Challenge held in Memphis last month. Host Don Marsh talks with several of the band members: lead singer Jacinta Branch-Griffin – also known as Ms Hy-C – as well as guitar player Thomas “Tommie” Johnson and drummer Tyrone McCain.</p>

<p>Joining host Don Marsh for in-depth analysis in this segment are Mark Smith, J.D., associate vice chancellor of students at Washington University; William Freivogel, J.D., journalism professor at Southern Illinois University Carbondale; and Donna Harper, J.D., partner at Sedey Harper Westhoff P.C.</p>

<p>The local sporting goods store Johnny Mac's announced it was being acquired by a Texas company and will close its retail locations. The company's president Bob McArthur joins host Don Marsh to discuss his memories from the store and the difficulties for local businesses competing with online retailers. </p> <p> </p> <p> </p>

<p>The local sporting goods store Johnny Mac's announced it was being acquired by a Texas company and will close its retail locations. The company's president Bob McArthur joins host Don Marsh to discuss his memories from the store and the difficulties for local businesses competing with online retailers. </p> <p> </p> <p> </p>

<p>Our weekly Behind the Headlines segment is an update to a story we brought you Monday about civil asset forfeiture. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously on the matter earlier this week.</p>

<p>We listen to excerpts of a May 2, 2007 conversation with Ben Abell, a tongue-in-cheek pledge drive skit from decades ago and listener reflections.</p>

<p>Host Don Marsh talks to three guests about the benefits of dance therapy – also known as movement therapy –for cancer patients.</p>

<p>Last month, NBC premiered Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s show “Titan Games,” a reality television program where men and women compete in emotional and daunting physical challenges. Tonight, the semi-finalists will compete and inch one step closer to the final prize –among them is native St. Louisan Derik Scott. The 30-year-old attorney joins host Don Marsh to talk about his participation in the athletic competition. </p>

<p>The Marvel hit “Black Panther” brought the fictional country of Wakanda to the big screen and showcased exuberant sub-Saharan African culture – and St. Louis native Kevin Mayes was a part of that process. Mayes is a clothing designer who served as the head tailor for the film’s costumes, helping bring the visions of designer Ruth E. Carter to life. </p>

<p>Host Don Marsh talks with incumbent President Lewis Reed, who has held the seat since 2007, along with two key challengers, Alderwoman Megan Green, who currently represents the city’s 15th Ward, and state Senator Jamilah Nasheed, whose 5th District includes the eastern half of St. Louis.</p>

<p>A recent study of American teenagers showed a big jump in nicotine vaping among young people in 2018. Even as many steer clear of other substance-related activities such as binge drinking and drug use, the number of teens who are vaping has more than doubled since 2017. "The data shows that one in five middle schoolers are using these products and one in three high school [students] are using these products, so those are incredibly concerning numbers,” Dr. Patricia Cavazos-Rehg said during Tuesday’s <em>St. Louis on the Air </em>Cavazos-Rehg, who is an associate professor in the Washington University School of Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry, told host Don Marsh there’s a need for more education about vaping – and its risks – among both teens and their caregivers.</p>

<p>Host Don Marsh discusses the current state of the St. Louis Fire Department, touching on various recent initiatives as well as challenges ahead. Joining him for the conversation are Chief Dennis Jenkerson and Capt. Garon Mosby.</p>

<p>Host Don Marsh delves into the way in which police departments use civil asset forfeiture as well as its legal implications. St. Louis Public Radio city politics reporter Rachel Lippmann and legal expert William Freivogel join the discussion. </p>

<p style="line-height: 21.0pt;"><span style= "color: #3d3d3d; letter-spacing: .05pt;">Host Don Marsh talks with Caitlyn Collins, author of "Making Motherhood Work: How Women Manage Careers and Caregiving." </span><span style= "color: #3d3d3d; letter-spacing: .05pt;">The newly released book looks at working mothers' daily lives and the revolution in public policy and culture needed to improve them.</span></p> <p style= "line-height: 21.0pt; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1.5625rem; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: .4px;"> </p>

<p>St. Louis Public reporters Ryan Delaney and Lindsay Toler talk about the effects of cyberbullying and its impact a one local family as well as the challenges in trying to get cyberbullying removed. Tina Meier, whose 13-year-old daughter Megan took her own life in 2006 after she was bullied online, joins the conversation. Tina established the Megan Meier Foundation in 2007 to wage a campaign against cyberbullying.</p>

<p>The St. Louis Public Radio newsroom has been fielding a wide range of questions from listeners the past few weeks concerning Better Together’s recently unveiled proposal for a reunification of St. Louis and St. Louis County. Host Don Marsh and several STLPR journalists aim to provide answers to a number of those Curious Louis queries that haven’t already been answered.</p>

<p>For more than 30 years, Steven Woolf has been at the heart of the Repertory Theater of St. Louis. Since taking the helm as artistic director in 1986, Woolf oversaw three decades of productions and directed 47 shows. He joins host Don Marsh to reflect on his career, and to discuss his last production at The Rep – “Oslo.”</p>

<p>Constance Gully, CEO of Parents as Teachers, joins host Don Marsh to talk about the national (with local roots) organization’s efforts to promote optimal early development in children by educating and engaging parents and guardians.</p>

<p>Host Don Marsh talks with Quincy Troupe about his friendship with Miles Davis, stories about the jazz great and a review of some of his music.</p>

<p>If a child faces abuse, neglect and/or household dysfunction early on life, those experiences can later affect how they form relationships with others. Some may resort to treating others in harsh ways, reflecting what they perceive as something that “resembles love.</p> <p>Stephen Zwolak, founder and CEO of LUME Institute and executive director of University City Children’s Center, and Joshua Carlson, a licensed clinical social worker in Illinois and associate director of The Knowledge Center at Chaddock, explain to help intervene and address children struggling with challenging behavior. </p> <p> </p>

<p>The Selfie Room just made its debut in downtown St. Louis, offering the latest evidence of a seemingly ever-present selfie phenomenon. The museum’s mission is to “bring people together by taking photos with fun, whimsical backdrops” that comprise its interactive art exhibits. In this episode, host Don Marsh talks with Selfie Room co-owner Erica Klotz about what visitors can expect at the new entertainment destination – and also discusses the broader cultural landscape that surrounds it. Amber Hinsley, an associate professor in the Department of Communication at St. Louis University, and Jennifer Siciliani, a University of Missouri-St. Louis psychology professor in the area of behavioral neuroscience, also participate in the conversation.</p>

<p>While the art of persuasion and the study of public discourse have enriched human civilization for millennia, negative connotations frequently surround contemporary notions of rhetoric. Politicians are dismissed as "all rhetoric, no action," and talking heads on TV make everyday people sigh over "all the rhetoric" of the 24-hour news cycle. But for those who conduct research in the academic field of rhetoric – and anyone interested in the work that words can do – the term "rhetoric" still holds great hope and possibility for society. Host Don Marsh talks with two local scholars, Lauren Obermark and Paul Lynch, about cultural understandings of rhetoric, its positive uses and the ever-shifting ways in which humans communicate.</p>

<p>A two-night History Channel series, “Presidents at War,” will tell the stories of eight men who served in active duty and who would later become presidents of the United States. Host Don Marsh talks with military historian John McManus, a professor of history at Missouri S&T, who is featured in the show. In it, McManus specifically comments on the role of Dwight D. Eisenhower.</p>

<p>STLPR reporter Nancy Fowler talks about her story published earlier in the week about first-generation student Ngone Seck whose dental problems are presenting a roadblock. </p>

<p>STLPR reporter Nancy Fowler talks in-depth about her story published earlier in the week about Ngone Seck, a first-generation student at Washington University whose encountered dental problems.</p>

<p>St. Louis Public Radio investigative reporter Beth Hundsdorfer and longtime political reporter Jo Mannies offer analysis and context in light of what critics have called a "broadside attack" on Missouri Sunshine Law by state legislators.</p>

<p>Host Don Marsh talks up some of the latest additions to the St. Louis region’s food-and-beverage community. Joining Marsh for the Hit List segment are Sauce Magazine managing editor Heather Hughes and staff writer Adam Rothbarth.</p>

<p>In light of the controversy involving Virginia’s top leaders who recently admitted to appearing in blackface decades ago, longtime political reporter Jo Mannies joins host Don Marsh to reflect on her coverage of a similar case in Missouri in 1999, when a photo of then-Gov. Mel Carnahan in blackface – taken in 1960 – surfaced during Carnahan’s campaign for a seat in the U.S. Senate.</p>

<p>The southern border of the U.S., along with the people who live somewhere beyond it, can seem far removed from the St. Louis region. But for local Rabbi Susan Talve, who recently returned from Guatemala, the difficult situations facing many of America’s southern neighbors feel more urgent than ever.</p>

<p>"Crucible," the latest release from best-selling author James Rollins, is billed as a book that wrestles with deep questions about the future of humanity – a subject Rollins himself finds particularly disconcerting. "Doing the research [for the book] frightened me," the St. Louis native says. "And as a novelist, that's one way I get to sort of work through some of my fears – put it down on paper, try to make sense of it, try if I can to craft a happy ending, find some path through what’s coming next."</p>

<p>The St. Louis Chess Club is currently hosting its first international all-female chess tournament in an effort to expand opportunities for women to enter the male-dominated sport. Jennifer Shahada, a two-time U.S. women's chess champion, commentator and analyst explains the excitement behind the Cairns Cup tournament to St. Louis Public Radio editor Holly Edgell. </p>

<p>Veterans Kim Chamberlain and 100-year-old Marshall J. Phillips share some of their experiences of African-Americans in the U.S. military. Marvin Alonso Greer, the education and visitor experience lead for Soldiers Memorial Military Museum, also talks to host Don Marsh about how a local event will showcase the contributions of African-American soldiers coming home from World War I in 1919 – and beyond.</p>

<p>St. Louis-based rapper pinkcaravan! and her frequent collaborator Namesake, a Kansas City-based producer, share their inspiration behind their "sad-happy" tunes — what Namesake describes as "colorful … vibrant … upbeat, fun. A hard-bop life.” </p> <p> </p>

<p>Want to check out a telescope – or maybe a fishing pole? To hear Steve Campbell tell it, the local library’s probably got you covered. The director of the Scenic Regional Library serving nine eastern Missouri communities joins the talk show alongside Ferguson Public Library's Steve Bonner and JEMA's John Mueller.</p>

<p>A newly published Sharing America series titled "Fixed Odds" explores the effects of problem gambling on diverse communities across the U.S. Joining this episode to talk about it are Holly Edgell, who is St. Louis Public Radio’s race, identity and culture editor, and Dr. Timothy Fong, professor of addiction psychiatry and co-director of UCLA's Gambling Studies Program.</p>

<p>When David Patterson Silver Wolf refers to the U.S. opioid epidemic as part of a “disease of despair” and “a tough disease to treat,” he’s speaking from experience both professional and personal. The Washington University faculty member experienced substance-use disorder firsthand after growing up in a troubled home that quickly led him toward drugs and alcohol. Now, years later, he finds himself heading up the Brown School’s Community Academic Partnership on Addiction– a new effort aimed at addressing substance-use disorder among those struggling with it today.</p>

<p>February is Heart Health Month, and heart expert Dr. Andrew Kates, professor of medicine and cardiologist with the Washington University Heart Care Institute at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, returns to <em>St. Louis on the Air</em> to help explain various matters of the heart.</p>

<p>Ashley Denmark is a family medicine physician with BJC Healthcare. She grew up in Jennings, Missouri and at an early point in her life, her ambition to become a doctor as a black woman from Jennings was very much challenged. The physician talks to host Don Marsh about to her road to success and why she returned to St. Louis in an effort to inspire minority children to follow their dream careers and “normalize success.”</p>