PODCAST · news
St. Louis on the Air
by St. Louis Public Radio
St. Louis on the Air creates a unique space where guests and listeners can share ideas and opinions with respect and honesty. Whether exploring issues and challenges confronting our region, discussing the latest innovations in science and technology, taking a closer look at our history or talking with authors, artists and musicians, St. Louis on the Air brings you the stories of St. Louis and the people who live, work and create in our region.
Episodes
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Why a decades-old community arts program in St. Louis has gone independent
Almost 30 years after its creation, the Community Arts Training Institute has become an independent nonprofit. The institute’s fellowship program focuses on making social and civic change through the arts. Program co-director and CAT alum Pacia Elaine Anderson and founding board secretary Roseann...
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‘Constitution’ at the Rep mingles the personal and political
What does the Constitution mean to you? Heidi Schreck explores that question in her Pulitzer Prize-finalist play, “What the Constitution Means to Me.” Drawing on her own childhood experience competing in debate contests about the Constitution, Schreck examines how her understanding of the…
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Housing professional receives award for her work to improve livability of St. Louis homes
As part of its annual Spark Prize, the Missouri Foundation for Health is awarding $1.5 million to 12 people who work to improve health and well-being in Missouri. That includes Jessica Gaines of Kendall Developments and Dream Builders 4 Equity, who is receiving $200,000 for her efforts to...
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How a pair of 9-foot-tall goddesses tell the story of preservation in St. Louis
This year, Eric Ellingsen became the first full-time executive director of National Building Arts Center. A former professor of landscape architecture, Ellingsen has taken over the vision of a sprawling museum dedicated to the physical legacy of America’s buildings, factories and other marvels of...
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Social art project connects St. Louis immigrants to new foods and people
As part of Counterpublic’s 2026 “Coyote Time” exhibition, the cafeteria at the International Institute of St. Louis has become the site of a pop-up art installation by Thai conceptual artist Rirkrit Tiravanija. The project includes Nepalese artist Jeena Gurung and Kabul Burger food truck owner...
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A new plan aims to help St. Louis combat extreme urban heat
Concrete, bricks and urban infrastructure can trap heat, making St. Louis significantly hotter than surrounding areas. As extreme heat and the effects of climate change become more common, local organizations are stepping in to create a plan to help the city adapt. Missouri Coalition for the...
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Why older homeowners need thousands to fix their homes in St. Louis
Thousands of older homeowners in the St. Louis region face costly repairs that threaten their ability to stay in their homes. A study led by University of Missouri–St. Louis housing expert Todd Swanstrom found that homes owned by adults 60 and older needed an average of $13,000 in critical…
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After 50 years of storytelling, Bobby Norfolk still has spooky tales to tell
St. Louis native and three-time Emmy Award winner Bobby Norfolk has spent five decades telling stories, from the locally-produced television show “Gator Tales” to performing at storytelling festivals throughout the country. Norfolk talks about how he became a professional storyteller, his early...
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Zimmerman and Hancock chart different courses for St. Louis County’s turbulent budget
The Democratic and Republican nominees for St. Louis County executive agree on a key issue: Missouri’s most populous county is in a dire budgetary situation. During a joint appearance on “The Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air,” Democrat Jake Zimmerman and Republican Dennis Hancock...
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Songs to get through heartbreak and real life horrors — all by St. Louis musicians
It got moody and introspective in month’s new music round up. Ryan Brown, also known as Big Esco, joined producer Miya Norfleet and host Elaine Cha to talk about their local favorites for the month including the funky sounds of singer/songwriter Frankie DoWop, post-grunge stylings of Yuppy and...
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Lizzie Weber’s ‘Wraiths in the Wake’ is a haunting journey of lingering loss and release
The emotional weight of loss and isolation and resilience are the hallmark of singer-songwriter Lizzie Weber’s new album “Wraiths in the Wake.” The darker tones, haunting vocals, and expressive lyrics tell the tale of Weber’s life experiences during the pandemic and suffering a miscarriage. She...
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How orange groves and a tiger attack inspired two sisters to launch Golden Gems in St. Louis
Ten years ago, sisters Susan Logsdon and Amanda Helman founded Golden Gems. What started as a “side hustle” family business venture turned into a successful brand that celebrates being authentic and unapologetic. Logsdon and Helman share how family lore and their Florida upbringing show up in…
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St. Louis helped create public bathrooms. There's still room for improvement
Bryant Simon’s new book "For Customers Only" explores the history of public bathrooms in the U.S. It’s a story marked by inequality — with several St. Louis ties throughout the centuries. Simon talks about past and present bathroom discrimination, the golden age of public restrooms in the late...
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How a WashU student opened a vending machine for textured hair products on campus
A Washington University student has opened TheHairVault, a vending machine selling textured hair products, with the help of a beauty shop owner. TheHairVault fills a gap on campus, where students have limited access to products for textured hair. Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts fashion...
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Young St. Louis performers take on a professional opera production
Young St. Louis performers are getting a firsthand look at professional opera through a new production of “Joshua’s Boots,” a story about a Black teenager who leaves the South after the Civil War to build a new life in the West. The cast, ages 14 to 22, includes students from throughout the…
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Why millions have watched a hot dog touch a radio tower in St. Charles
A father and son's experiments involving a hot dog and a 12,000-watt AM radio tower in St. Charles have captivated the internet. Radio engineer Joe Geerling and his son, Jeff Geerling, who has more than a million followers on his tech-focused YouTube channel, discuss their fascination with AM…
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New exhibit explores baseball’s impact on St. Louis — and St. Louis’ impact on the sport
From St. Louis’ first known baseball game in 1860 to the Cardinals’ legendary 2011 World Series victory, the new Missouri History Museum exhibit “St. Louis at Bat: 100 Moments in Baseball History” explores the ways America’s pastime has shaped St. Louis culture — and how the region’s teams,...
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St. Louis County Police Chief Juan Cox on the promotion he never planned to seek
Metro East native Col. Juan Cox started his career with the St. Louis County Police Department 30 years ago. He’s now a few months into his tenure as the department’s chief. Cox recently sat down with STLPR justice reporter Rachel Lippman to talk about why he decided to apply for the position...
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Lincoln University alumni and students sue Missouri alleging nearly $362M underfunding
Students and alumni of Lincoln University are suing Missouri, alleging the state has illegally underfunded the historically Black university for years. The lawsuit argues Missouri failed to provide Lincoln with funding required under the federal Morrill Act. STLPR politics correspondent Jason...
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Here’s what St. Louis restaurants opened and closed in September 2026
Across the St. Louis region, restaurants are popping up, holding grand openings, and, in some cases, making drastic changes to their locations and even menus. It's a sign of a food scene where things are always changing, from downtown St. Louis, to O'Fallon Illinois. On this episode, STLPR…
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Retiring Ritenour leader Chris Kilbride reflects on challenges facing St. Louis area schools
Almost 30 years ago, Chris Kilbride started his career as a teacher at the Ritenour School District. He's spent the last 15 years as the district's superintendent. Next year, his retirement will mark the end of one of the longest serving superintendents in the St. Louis region. In this episode,...
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As Missouri scrutinizes prediction markets, Kalshi says it’s different from sportsbooks
Prediction markets have become prominent in the last couple years, especially as they enlist sports stars to advertise their products. But greater scrutiny is also coming with the increased notoriety. Many states, including Illinois and Missouri, contend companies like Kalshi are effectively...
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Top takeaways from Missouri’s long, frustrating and confusing redistricting push
The U.S. Supreme Court delivered an unambiguous ruling last week: Missouri has to use a congressional map passed in 2022. That decision was a stunning blow to a Donald Trump-backed effort to draw Congressman Emanuel Cleaver out of office before the 2026 midterm elections. STLPR’s Jason Rosenbaum...
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Latvian composer visits St. Louis for a world premiere — and to visit a famous poet’s grave
The St. Louis Chamber Chorus opens its 71st season Sunday, Oct. 4, with the world premiere of a work by renowned Latvian composer Ēriks Ešenvalds at the 2nd Baptist Church in Richmond Heights. Ešenvalds has written for the chorus three times, but this is his first visit to St. Louis for a…
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How tree advocates and trauma informed healers seek to improve St. Louis’ relationship with trees
Last year’s May tornado displaced hundreds of people and destroyed thousands of trees in St. Louis’ north side — an area with predominately Black neighborhoods where the tree canopy is historically thin. The devastation highlighted a disconnect between the Black St. Louisans and trees due to...
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Legal Roundtable: The collapse of Missouri’s election map was a ‘stress test’ for rule of law
A three-time losing streak at the U.S. Supreme Court has turned Missouri’s upcoming election into national news — and a disappointment to President Trump. On this Legal Roundtable edition of the show, a panel of expert attorneys discuss the rulings, counter-rulings and controversies — including…
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‘Meet Me’: Why choosing a school in St. Louis is so complicated
About half of the school-aged kids in St. Louis don’t attend the city’s public school district. St. Louis parents face an overwhelming number of school options: magnet, neighborhood, gifted, charter, parochial, private or homeschool. In the latest episode of our “Meet Me” podcast, host Luis…
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Extra: Listeners share their Forest Park memories
Last week, we talked with Amanda Doyle and Cameron Collins, co-authors of the new coffee-table book, “Forest Park: St. Louis’s Gathering Place Since 1876.” Our phone lines were full, so after the show, we kept the conversation going. Hear listeners share their favorite memories of spending time…
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Tips on taking photos of wildlife from a Missouri nature photographer
You don’t have to go far to experience awe for the beauty and power of nature. That’s what wildlife photographer Noppadol Paothong takes away from his more than 25 years spent in the field. Ahead of his Oct. 9 talk in St. Louis, “Conservation in Focus: Lessons from a Life in Photography,” the...
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Shake Shack founder Danny Meyer draws on his St. Louis roots in new book
St. Louis native and Shake Shack founder Danny Meyer reflects on the people and experiences that have shaped his career in restaurants, from growing up in the St. Louis area to a conversation with his uncle that changed the course of his life. Ahead of his book launch event at St. Louis County...
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New book traces the 150-year history of Forest Park as St. Louis’ crown jewel
For 150 years, Forest Park has been many things to many St. Louisans: a place to walk, play, gather, escape the heat, visit a museum, see an animal at the zoo or simply find a quiet place to read. But the history of the park also tells a larger story about the city itself. Amanda Doyle and…
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How MidAmerica Clean Future Alliance works with communities to rid waterways of plastic waste
The St. Louis-based nonprofit MidAmerica Clean Future Alliance aims to reduce plastic pollution — from food and beverage containers to tires — along the Mississippi River. Executive director Jennifer Wendt and community engagement specialist Caran Hanks talk about their community-driven approach…
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Redistricting saga continues as the US Supreme Court considers Missouri’s congressional maps
A federal appeals court ruled on Monday that Missouri must use a congressional map passed last year for this November’s election. That order goes against what the Missouri and U.S. Supreme Courts ordered earlier this month. STLPR politics correspondent Jason Rosenbaum shares the various legal...
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An attempt to stop water from going to homeless people sparks protest, reflection and action
A now-retracted letter asking some St. Louis businesses to stop giving water to homeless people elicited significant backlash last week. The letter highlighted ongoing gaps in the region’s shelter and social safety support system. To explore what happened on South Grand, why the letter drew...
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Why workers at Union Loafers and Alamo Drafthouse want to unionize
Service industry professionals across St. Louis are fighting to make their voices heard by filing for unionization. In 2022, local Starbucks workers filed to form a union. Now two more groups of employees have joined their ranks. Within days of each other, workers at Alamo Drafthouse and Union...
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Proposal to provide subsidies to at-home parents misses the mark, St. Louis sociologist says
The Trump administration is weighing a policy change that would redirect federal childcare funds from low-income, working parents to married couples with a stay-at-home parent. Washington University sociologist Caitlyn Collins says the move doesn’t reflect the will or needs of the American…
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New poll shows Donald Trump’s popularity taking a hit throughout Missouri
For nearly a decade, President Donald Trump’s popularity in Missouri was a boon for the state’s Republican Party. But new poll numbers from St. Louis University and YouGov show that the GOP chief executive is on shaky ground, especially as concerns about the economy and the Iran War are on…
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Missourians mobilizing again for fight over future of abortion rights
Two years ago, Missourians legalized abortion — and repealed one of the strictest bans on the procedure in the country. Now, Missouri Republicans who oppose abortion rights are hoping voters will take to a proposal, known as Amendment 3, that places a near-total ban into the constitution.…
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Missouri Supreme Court faces GOP wrath after redistricting decision
The Missouri Supreme Court made a number of precedent-setting decisions this year when it comes to congressional redistricting. And they’ve also held the state’s GOP secretary of state in contempt for disobeying one of their rulings. These actions have prompted blowback from Missouri Republicans,...
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Smidley’s Conor Murphy blends ABBA and Broken Social Scene in new album 'Murphy Horse'
A year after the St. Louis post-hardcore band Foxing announced its indefinite hiatus, singer/songwriter Conor Murphy is making music inspired by what he listens to, in his spare time, in his other band, Smidley. The optimistic tunes and oftentimes melancholy lyrics of “Murphy Horse” — Smidley’s...
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Prepare for ‘Free4All’ with this month’s new music roundup
Free4All Music Showcase returns to Grand Center in November, and on this month’s new music round up, we share a teaser of the lineup. Free4All co-creator Joe Hess joins music show originator Miya Norfleet and host Elaine Cha to share his favorite new releases from just a few of the 100 artists...
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Why people raise monarch butterflies in captivity — and why scientists advise against it
Populations of migratory monarch butterflies have declined by an estimated 90% since the mid-1990s due to the loss of their natural habitat along their migration route. As monarchs fly through St. Louis on their way to Mexico, we hear from a St. Clair, Missouri, resident who is attempting to…
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A new ingredient will be in U.S. sunscreens soon. Here’s what to know
For years, Americans have been prevented from buying sunscreen with bemotrizinol, a chemical that’s long been an ingredient in sun protection lotions and creams in Europe, Asia, and Australia. This summer, an FDA approval put an end to those restrictions. Dr. Aubriana McEvoy, professor of...
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New photobook provides a ‘peculiar’ view of Forest Park
Jessica Page grew up behind the camera, following in her mother’s footsteps as she got older. Now, the portrait photographer has expanded her skillset to include nature photography. Her new book “Silver Lining” features up close photos of plants and plantscapes in Forest Park. Page talks about…
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With 911 dispatch center delayed, St. Louis faces slow response times
Although it was initially planned to open this year, a $45 million 911 dispatch center in St. Louis that will combine fire, police and EMS services will open after it finishes construction in “late fall” 2027. The announcement of the delay comes as the city’s 911 system is under scrutiny. We talk...
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STL-Style marks 16 years celebrating St. Louis — and poking fun at it
Twin brothers Jeff and Randy Vines have spent 16 years turning St. Louis pride into a business. The co-owners of STL-Style, the Cherokee Street shop known for its St. Louis-themed shirts, hoodies, hats and stickers, are celebrating their Sweet 16 after surviving Amazon, the pandemic, increased...
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To explore 1530s England, a St. Louis professor turned history into a game
In 1500s England, King Henry VIII was a force of disruption and reform. But in the classroom of UMSL professor Maureen Quigley, the king is a “non-playable character” in a game called Dissolution. Quigley designed the game as a way for players to experience the conflicts and decisions that…
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Missouri Botanical Garden’s rare book collection levels up with first edition Catesby texts
Missouri Botanical Garden’s Peter H. Raven Library is home to roughly 8,000 rare books dating back to 1464, including Charles Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species” and Carl Linnaeus’ “Species Plantarum 1st Edition.” In late August, the library added two more rare texts to their collection: the…
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A growing St. Louis restaurant empire is taking root in the Grove
Three new restaurants have opened in St. Louis’ Grove business district in the last three months, bringing diners Mexican flavors at Chico Bueno and Malo and a taste of the Italian Riviera at Baia. All three restaurants are backed by the same person: Jordan Goodman. STLPR’s Jessica Rogen talks…
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Hoskins agrees to use 2022 congressional map as Missouri Supreme Court finds him in contempt
Missouri’s redistricting battle took another turn Thursday as the U.S. Supreme Court halted a federal order allowing the state to use a Republican-backed 2025 congressional map, meaning the 2022 map will be used in the November election. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Denny Hoskins faced a…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
St. Louis on the Air creates a unique space where guests and listeners can share ideas and opinions with respect and honesty. Whether exploring issues and challenges confronting our region, discussing the latest innovations in science and technology, taking a closer look at our history or talking with authors, artists and musicians, St. Louis on the Air brings you the stories of St. Louis and the people who live, work and create in our region.
HOSTED BY
St. Louis Public Radio
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How many episodes does St. Louis on the Air have?
St. Louis on the Air currently has 1000 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is St. Louis on the Air about?
St. Louis on the Air creates a unique space where guests and listeners can share ideas and opinions with respect and honesty. Whether exploring issues and challenges confronting our region, discussing the latest innovations in science and technology, taking a closer look at our history or talking...
How often does St. Louis on the Air release new episodes?
St. Louis on the Air releases new episodes frequently with a large back catalog of 1000 episodes. Check the episode list for recent publication dates.
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You can listen to St. Louis on the Air on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts St. Louis on the Air?
St. Louis on the Air is created and hosted by St. Louis Public Radio.
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