St. Louis on the Air

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.