St. Louis on the Air

In 2025, the Deaconess Foundation partnered with St. Louis nonprofit Vision for Children at Risk to launch the NextGen Grantmaking Initiative. The approach reimagines philanthropy by placing decision-making power in the hands of young people. Led by VCR’s Youth Advisory Council, the initiative awarded a total of $100,000 to five local programs dedicated to community-building, housing, mental health services, and substance use intervention for young people. Alicia Selmon, a Harris Stowe State University junior, describes how she and fellow VCR Youth Advisory Council peers approached the grantmaking process. Rob Donnelly, founder and executive director of Opportunity House — one of the initiative’s awardees — speaks to how NextGen Grantmakers has impacted his organization's work providing long-term housing and mental health support to queer young people ages 17-24.

A single word can make or break a legal argument. That happened recently in the Missouri Supreme Court, where debate over the meaning of the word “when” led to a major ruling on Missouri’s congressional map. On this March edition of the Legal Roundtable, our panel of expert attorneys unpacks the ruling — and what the word “when” really means in the eyes of the law. They also discuss the unusual case of a journalist arrested for recording portions of a trial, a crime bill that could make it easier for courts to charge juveniles as adults, a new lawsuit filed by the former superintendent of St. Louis Public Schools, and more.

The father-and-son team behind Dogtown Pizza, a family-owned frozen pizza business in St. Louis, sit down for a candid conversation. On STLPR's podcast "Meet Me," they discuss the early challenges of building the company and how, years later, they worked together to dramatically expand it. They also share a heart-to-heart about the son’s plans to step away from the business and pursue his own dreams.

St. Louis educator and rapper Zeus Rebel Waters is uniting his three passions under one roof: music, community and sweets. Sweets by Sweet Waters opened its doors in St. Ann in January. With it, Waters aims to provide a third space for people of all ages to come together and create. In this episode, he talks about his dreams for his shop, his new album and tour, and his work to build literacy and creativity in the community through his “Reading with Rappers” program, mobile library and his nonprofit summer camp.

With disparities in menopause care — particularly among African American women and those in rural areas — menopause research remains understudied. Dr. Makeba Williams, an obstetrician-gynecologist and certified menopause practitioner, discusses why perimenopause is still overlooked and what research is underway now.

The songs in Ricky Montgomery’s debut album “Montgomery Ricky” are more vulnerable than most — they sound as if they were ripped directly from his personal journal. Now, 10 years after its release, the album’s biggest hits “Mr. Loverman” and “Line Without a Hook” are gaining newfound notoriety. In this episode, he shares the stories behind his music and the inspiration behind his 10th anniversary tour, which begins March 26 in St. Louis.

If life’s hustle has you looking for a reset, St. Louis has a hidden solution. Labyrinths throughout the region can provide a unique, meditative escape. Robert Fishbone, labyrinth designer, artist and owner of “On the Wall Productions,” shares how these spaces offer a unique way to unwind.

Spring has officially sprung — so what’s up with the frost wilting gardens and frustrating gardeners? Missouri Botanical Garden’s Daria McKelvey and University of Missouri Extension’s Eliza Pessereau share their do’s and don’ts for spring gardening and offer words of encouragement for those working to revive their cold and wilted plants.

Before her release in 2024, Patty Prewitt had spent more years in Missouri prisons than any other female inmate. She’s now a college graduate, published author and advocate for better treatment for parents and children impacted by incarceration. During a recent visit to St. Louis, Prewitt discussed her many years in prison, the letters she wrote to her children and friends, and why she turned them into a memoir. Prewitt was joined by her daughter, Jane Prewitt Watkins, who was just 16 when her mother was convicted of murder and sentenced to 50 years in prison.

Democratic Sen. Tracy McCreery and Republican state Rep. George Hruza join “The Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air” to preview the second half of the 2026 legislative session. The St. Louis County legislators will discuss efforts to end the state’s income tax – and how some under the radar issues may loom large throughout the spring.