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
Jan 24, 2022 • 12min
Olympian credits St. Louis speedskating scene for his start
Speedskater Ian Quinn heads to the Winter Games in Beijing on Thursday. He discusses his humble beginnings as an 8-year-old kid in St. Louis and the changes he made to win a spot on the Olympic team after two previous attempts.
Jan 24, 2022 • 18min
A Red Circle aims to open a grocery store owned and operated by north county residents
North St. Louis County residents lack options for high quality, affordable produce. A Red Circle is raising money for something its executive director believes will help meet the need: a community-owned and operated grocery store.
Jan 21, 2022 • 29min
‘Don’t stay quiet’ — and other lessons Herculaneum’s cleanup offers decades later
The former director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources discusses the unprecedented buyout effort in lead-contaminated Herculaneum, Missouri, in 2003 — and what we can learn from that effort today.
Jan 21, 2022 • 20min
A former police chief explores how the system failed her sister — and rural Missouri
Former Winfield, Missouri, police chief Betty Frizzell discusses how a toxic stew of mental illness, opioid abuse and domestic violence set her family on a tragic path — and her efforts to fight for her sister, who is now serving a life sentence for murder.
Jan 20, 2022 • 20min
‘The people of St. Louis want to recycle,’ says alderwoman
St. Louis has gone without a curbside recycling program for eight months now. 28th Ward Alderwoman Heather Navarro discusses what it will take for the city to again separate recyclables from trash.
Jan 20, 2022 • 32min
What happened to Tonka? Missouri chimp at center of court battle is missing — or dead
A federal judge in St. Louis has spent years dealing with the case of the Missouri Primate Foundation, a Festus-based breeding compound where chimps were allegedly held in squalid conditions. Now the legal battle has a new focus: Did celebrity chimp Tonka die, or was he spirited away in violation of court orders?
Jan 20, 2022 • 20min
Wash U program shows occupational therapy can be a powerful tool for homeless shelters
Occupational therapy students help St. Louis’ homeless residents learn life skills, from setting goals to shopping. Washington University Assistant Professor Quinn Tyminski discusses the program’s benefits to both students and those they serve.
Jan 19, 2022 • 1h 29min
Special Coverage: Missouri Gov. Mike Parson’s State of the State Address, Democratic response
Listen to our special coverage of Gov. Mike Parson’s annual State of the State Address and the Democratic response from state Sen. Lauren Arthur. STLPR host Sarah Fenske guides our coverage along with statehouse reporter Sarah Kellogg and political correspondent Jo Mannies.
Jan 19, 2022 • 25min
STL's collaborative food scene earns a place in Eater’s list of where to eat in 2022
Bernie Lee of Akar and Kurt Bellon of Izumi discuss the communal St. Louis food scene, how it’s changed in the past few years — and how it feels to be recognized as an international hot spot for food.
Jan 19, 2022 • 7min
Bonus: Listen to wolves at the Endangered Wolf Center howl at the full moon
Wolves are often villainized in media and folklore. The Endangered Wolf Center in Eureka, Missouri is on a mission to break that stereotype. Among other programs, the center invites people on wolf howls to learn more about these shy animals.
