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
Apr 25, 2022 • 20min
The Missouri History Museum’s Jefferson statue gets context — and grapples with slavery
Thomas Jefferson’s complex history is now being acknowledged with interpretive panels in front of the Missouri History Museum’s sculpture of the third president. Jody Sowell of the Missouri Historical Museum and history professor Priscilla Dowden-White discuss why the time was right to add context to the 1913 statue — and what we can take from Jefferson’s story.
Apr 22, 2022 • 23min
For SLU prof Rachel Greenwald Smith, compromise is not a virtue
In this encore episode, Professor Rachel Greenwald Smith discusses her provocative new book of essays “On Compromise: Art, Politics, and the Fate of an American Ideal,” how she handles strange bedfellows and how her free-wheeling childhood left her wanting more.
Apr 22, 2022 • 31min
Missouri was the nation’s ‘puppy mill capital’ — but advocates fought back
For years, Missouri was known for its problem dog breeders. In this encore episode, advocates explain what changed after legislation cracked down on the industry — and where they still see room for improvement in the Show Me State.
Apr 21, 2022 • 18min
Small St. Louis business faces eviction for $160 million development
St. Louis developer Green Street’s $160 million redevelopment of the historic Armory building in Midtown seeks to erase St. Louis Woodworks, which faces eviction in less than a month from its home of 20 years. St. Louis Woodworks owner Steve Rothschild says the developer has gone too far. The developer says only that it will “continue to abide by the rulings of the courts."
Apr 21, 2022 • 18min
Creve Coeur resident finishes her 15th Boston Marathon at 77
Bonnie Bence came to running late in life, but she has made up for lost time. She’s now completed 31 marathons, including her 15th Boston Marathon this week at age 77. She shares what she’s learned in the nearly two decades she’s ran marathons.
Apr 21, 2022 • 16min
Gay men should be allowed to donate blood without celibacy rules, exec says
Men who have sex with men face restrictions for donating blood, including a three-month celibacy period. One Midwestern blood donation organization is hoping to change the regulations. Pete Vox of ImpactLife explains the historic reasons for the prohibition and what he sees as a common-sense alternative.
Apr 20, 2022 • 16min
Analyzing Mayor Tishaura Jones' State of the City — and big pledge to north St. Louis
STLPR reporter Rachel Lippmann breaks down last night's State of the City address, in which St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones vowed to invest $150 million in federal funds in the city’s north side, promised a 3% raise and $1 million in paid family leave for city employees, and announced that alley pickup for recycling should resume in May.
Apr 20, 2022 • 23min
How a gay St. Louis pastor triggered a war within the Presbyterian Church in America
For nearly 20 years, Greg Johnson has pastored Memorial Presbyterian Church in St. Louis. Recently, the PCA attempted to ban clergy like him for identifying as gay. It failed, but another attempt is likely at the 2022 general assembly. Johnson shares his story and why he thinks evangelical churches need to shift their tone towards the LGBTQ community.
Apr 20, 2022 • 15min
Ballwin artist’s Ukrainian Easter eggs are a hit
Katherine Alexander discusses how she turned to the art of pysanky after leaving her career in music education — and found both a creative outlet and a big following on Tik Tok. She’s now using Ukrainian Easter eggs to raise money for Ukraine.
Apr 19, 2022 • 24min
St. Louis environmentalists honored for 2022 Earth Day celebration
St. Louis Earth Day Festival is back in Forest Park after a two-year hiatus. Jess Watson, the executive director of earthday365, and Sierra Club partner Leah Clyburn give a preview of the event and discuss what environmental justice looks like for the St. Louis region.
