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
Mentioned books
Jun 22, 2022 • 23min
Why Ste. Genevieve County residents are battling to stop a silica mine
NexGen Silica hopes to locate a 249-acre mine next to residential homes and popular conservation areas, including Hawn State Park. Residents explain how they’re fighting to protect their health and water from the mine — and the precedent they hope to set for other places with silica deposits.
Jun 22, 2022 • 7min
How Steve’s Hot Dogs began serving St. Louis’ official hot dog
The St. Louis Board of Aldermen presented Steve's Hot Dogs with a resolution declaring its St. Louis hot dog as the “Official Hot Dog of St. Louis.” Owner Steve Ewing explains the impetus — and the inspiration.
Jun 22, 2022 • 24min
Mayor Jones sees guidance from ARPA survey — and opportunity for change
In her first one-on-one interview since the indictment of three city officials, St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones discusses results from the city’s ARPA survey, which sought input on spending the remaining $249 million allotment in COVID-19 relief funds. Jones also shares thoughts on the opportunity for incentive reform.
Jun 21, 2022 • 52min
Why a Missouri couple’s car sex may have Geico on the hook for $5.2 million
The Legal Roundtable discusses a high-profile case that could see Geico paying millions after a Missouri woman had sex in a car, as well as a lawsuit filed by a graduate student alleging Southern Illinois University Edwardsville wrongly ordered her to stay away from her classmates, and more.
Jun 17, 2022 • 19min
Story Stitchers continue to ‘Pick the City Up’ for Juneteenth
For nine years, the St. Louis Story Stitchers have told stories from their lives using rap, rhythm, spoken word, singing, and dance. Youth Programming Coordinator Branden Lewis and singer She'kinah Taylor preview of the arts collective’s Juneteenth performances.
Jun 17, 2022 • 21min
BJC surgery resident learned from the best: Her dad
Dr. Sophia Roberts is a resident training to become a cardiothoracic surgeon — a rarity for females in the U.S. As if that wasn’t unique enough, she’s following in her dad’s footsteps. Dr. Harold Roberts is himself a cardiothoracic surgeon for more than 30 years. In honor of Father’s Day, the duo discussed their relationship and what it’s like to work at Barnes-Jewish Hospital together.
Jun 17, 2022 • 15min
How scammers pretending to be St. Louis police robbed Clementine’s Creamery
Homegrown ice cream company Clementine’s Creamery fell prey to an elaborate scam last week — one that owner Tamara Keefe explained had actually been attempted in the past at a different location. She explains how the scam artists tricked her employee — and why other businesses should be on the lookout.
Jun 15, 2022 • 29min
Religious colleges in Missouri have ‘a license to discriminate.’ A lawsuit aims to revoke it
Andrew Hartzler discusses his politically prominent aunt, U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler, and why he’s joined a class-action lawsuit filed by LGBTQ students seeking to end an exemption in civil rights that allows anti-gay discrimination in religious colleges.
Jun 15, 2022 • 24min
New play highlights Club Riviera — one of the biggest Black nightclubs in the 40s
Club Riviera rivaled the Cotton Club in Harlem and attracted the biggest jazz acts of the day, including Nat King Cole and Duke Ellington. A new play “Live at the Riviera” aims to retell its origin story before it’s lost in history. Director Thomasina Clarke and Playwright Freeman Cole share how they collected oral histories to piece together events.
Jun 14, 2022 • 30min
How KSDK anchor Michelle Li turned the #VeryAsian hashtag into a movement
After St. Louis news anchor Michelle Li mentioned eating dumplings on a New Year’s broadcast, a viewer chastised her for being “very Asian.” She’s now turned that viral moment into a movement with the Very Asian Foundation. She discusses the organization’s push for schools and libraries to build and maintain robust Asian American youth literature collections.
