

St. Louis on the Air
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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Nov 26, 2025 • 12min
Decision looms in St. Louis sheriff removal case
The trial in the Missouri attorney general’s case that could remove St. Louis Sheriff Alfred Montgomery from office came to a close on Tuesday, with more than 30 witnesses testifying over the course of a week. STLPR’s Visuals Editor Brian Munoz joins the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air to discuss.

Nov 26, 2025 • 27min
St. Louis County’s health director wants to preserve clinics amid budget crunch
St. Louis County officials are grappling with a major budgetary hole, one that includes a roughly $20 million deficit for the county’s health department. But while acknowledging the perilous financial times for the county, St. Louis County Director of Public Health Dr. Kanika Cunningham is pushing back against the idea that the county should shutter some of its Federally Qualified Health Center Look-a-Like health clinics as a way to save money. Cunningham joined the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air.

Nov 25, 2025 • 28min
Contemporary Art Museum celebrates 30 years of teen art in ‘We Find Ourselves’
Thirty years ago, a group of St. Louis teens walked into the Forum of Contemporary Art, sparking youth programs that have since reached more than 30,000 young people. Now the Contemporary Art Museum, a new exhibit, “We Find Ourselves: 30 Years of Teens Making Art,” looks back on that legacy and showcases new works by emerging artists in St. Louis. We talk with Roseann Weiss, founder of one of the early teen programs, Juan William Chavez, artist and former teen program participant, and CAM education manager Miriam Ruiz. The exhibit is on display until Feb. 8, 2026.

Nov 25, 2025 • 22min
The holidays can be stressful. A St. Louis psychologist offers tips on protecting your peace
For many people, the holiday season is the most wonderful time of the year. But even the most heartwarming Thanksgiving meal with loved ones can come with sides of social obligation, financial strain and expectation. St. Louis clinical psychologist Dr. Marva Robinson shares advice on connecting with family, managing expectations and making the most of your holiday celebrations.

Nov 24, 2025 • 50min
A little less conversation, a lot more consequences for 'Elvis' judge in St. Louis County
In Charles County, Elvis has left the courtroom. That’s thanks to an official Missouri disciplinary commission whose decision is forcing the retirement of Judge Matthew Thornhill. Thornhill drew complaints for his habit of dressing up as Elvis in the courtroom, wearing an Elvis wig and making jokes about Elvis to litigants. In this month’s Legal Roundtable, our experts react to the judge’s unusual retirement and discuss other cases. That includes an update on the bizarre case of Bar PM: Two years ago, a police SUV collided with the bar in south St. Louis. The city charged the bar’s owner with assault after the accident, but last month dropped the criminal charge.

Nov 21, 2025 • 25min
Bates’ passion for music production, horror inspired her album ‘The Terrible Tales of Mother Goose’
Bates is a self proclaimed music and horror fanatic. The St. Louis rapper’s latest album, “The Terrible Tales of Mother Goose” blends her love of music and scary stories by flipping classic nursery rhymes with twisted origins and showcasing her expansive music tastes with her lyricism. She takes us behind the scenes of her fifth album and she shares her future plans of becoming a music executive producer.

Nov 21, 2025 • 26min
Sensual and rebellious – this month’s new music round up highlights St. Louis’ take on R&B
November’s new music roundup is full of R&B bangers.. Alternative R&B tracks like “Mistakes” by Brock Seals and Nate Fox blend jazz and hip-hop with soulful vocals. Latoya Sharen’s “90’s R&B Love (Remix), featuring The HamilTones, takes us on a romantic trip back in time. Along with the music highlights, singer-songwriter Alexia Simone joins host Elaine Cha and music show producer and originator Miya Norfleet to discuss their picks for this month’s top tracks. Check out our November new music playlist. .

Nov 21, 2025 • 23min
There are few pigeons in St. Louis. Research shows it’s due to design
Pigeons are assumed to be common in most urban areas, but St. Louis does not have as many of these birds compared to other major cities. Washington University researchers have found that urban design and planning has a lot to do with that pigeon disparity, which highlights what’s missing in the city’s ecosystem. Postdoctoral fellow Elizabeth Carlen shares why a lack of pedestrians is the culprit, and how curiosity about minimal pigeon sightings in St. Louis landed her and her research partners in Madrid, Spain.

Nov 20, 2025 • 27min
Why there’s no such thing as an ‘authentic’ taco
In reviews of Mexican restaurants across St. Louis, you’ll find numerous mentions of “authenticity.” But what makes a Mexican dish, like the taco, truly authentic? For Ignacio M. Sánchez Prado, that’s asking the wrong question. In his new book, “Taco,” Sánchez Prado challenges the idea of authentic food by exploring how migration and modernity have shaped the taco from its origins as a working-class staple in Mexico to a transnational icon that comes in many different textures and flavors.

Nov 19, 2025 • 24min
Trans voices take center stage in St. Louis play ‘Just Human’
A documentary-style play opening this week in St. Louis presents the experiences of transgender people and allies in their own words. Jamie Linson, a clinical psychologist, wrote the play after conducting more than 30 interviews with trans people and their families. The result is “Just Human: Transgender Lives in the 2020s.” Along with Linson, we talk with performer Jordan Braxton about playing herself, how the show confronts the harsh reality facing trans people face in Missouri, and how it also showcases the ways trans people find joy in their lives.


