

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 1, 2022 • 19min
For local artists, NFTs present opportunities — even as they upend the art world
St. Louis artists have started selling NFTs, and it’s helped them make money and get their work out to a wider audience. Many people say the digital tokens are hopelessly speculative — but one expert says their success points out the underlying nature of the art market in general.

Apr 1, 2022 • 32min
Pro & Con: How Prop R would affect St. Louis’ Board of Aldermen
Prop R would shift ward redistricting in St. Louis into civilian hands and require new disclosures for aldermen. Jami Cox, the policy chair for Reform St. Louis, makes the case for Prop R, while former alderwoman Heather Navarro shares her concerns about the changes it would bring.

Mar 31, 2022 • 51min
Legal Roundtable discusses St. Louis’ fight over qualified immunity, missed deadlines and more
Attorneys Bevis Schock, Nicole Gorovsky and Connie McFarland-Butler discuss a copyright infringement claim against U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, St. Louis’ aggressive defense of cops accused of civil rights abuses, and more. Editor’s note: During the on-air discussion of AG Eric Schmitt’s case against the Lee’s Summit school district, we wrongly indicated that the judge had granted default judgment to the district; instead, the case is still pending. We regret the error.

Mar 30, 2022 • 24min
She gave her kidney to a high school acquaintance — and it changed his life
John “JT” Thomas was an otherwise healthy 20-year-old when he was diagnosed with kidney failure in 2012. He discusses a life-changing kidney donation alongside his living donor, Niki Nickeson, a former high school acquaintance who felt compelled to give a kidney.

Mar 30, 2022 • 28min
‘Shawnee Showdown’ details how activists stopped the clearcutting of an Illinois forest
Three decades ago, the Shawnee National Forest was the focus of fierce battles over commercial logging on public lands. A new documentary by filmmaker Cade Bursell revisits that history and calls attention to new efforts to preserve the forest. Bursell discusses the film alongside longtime environmental activist John Wallace.

Mar 29, 2022 • 26min
Recordings reveal secrets of St. Louis’ exploration of airport privatization
Attorney Mark Pedroli and journalist Steve Vockrodt discuss revelations and share highlights from the 50-plus hours of recordings that capture meetings of the working group exploring leasing St. Louis’ airport to a for-profit entity.

Mar 29, 2022 • 27min
Former refugee returns to Ukraine’s border on a solo humanitarian mission
St. Louisan Gene Litvin traveled to Poland this month to help Ukrainians fleeing the war. Litvin, who himself left Ukraine in the 1990s as a Jewish refugee, shares what he saw, how he raised $20,000 to aid Ukraine and where he spent the money.

Mar 28, 2022 • 22min
A Missouri archivist's favorite documents, from the Camp Jackson affair to Kate Chopin
Missouri History Museum archivist Dennis Northcott discusses some of his favorite handwritten letters in the museum archives, including eyewitness accounts of a deadly incident in St. Louis during the Civil War and the terrible train accident that killed the father of future author Kate Chopin.

Mar 28, 2022 • 26min
With V15Able, Letisha Wexstten wants to help disabled people get jobs
Born without arms, Letisha Wexstten achieved YouTube fame by showing people all the things she can do — drive a car, bake a cake and more. Now, she wants to help other disabled people demonstrate what they can do via her online career development platform V15Able, which links people with disabilities to employers.

Mar 28, 2022 • 6min
92-year-old MoDOT manager Shirley Norris gets the best fan mail ever
MoDOT engineer Shirley Norris earned the admiration of people around the country after we interviewed her about her career as the state’s oldest full-time employee. Producer Kayla Drake checks in as she receives a surprise package from someone who was touched by her story.


