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
Nov 4, 2021 • 29min
What ‘first responder’ status means for 911 dispatchers in St. Louis County
A dispatcher explains how the St. Louis County Police Department is paving the way for centers across the region to formally recognize 911 dispatchers as first responders.
Nov 3, 2021 • 19min
In ‘Ferguson Rises,’ Michael Brown Sr. finds resilience after tragedy
The documentary film "Ferguson Rises" focuses on Michael Brown Sr. in the five years after the death of his son. Filmmaker Mobolaji Olambiwonnu discusses the film ahead of its showing at the St. Louis International Film Festival.
Nov 3, 2021 • 14min
How the quest to make Augusta the next Napa has left some residents uneasy
Augusta is seeing a big increase in economic development. While it seems like a positive change for the small St. Charles County town, some residents worry that too much is happening too quickly.
Nov 3, 2021 • 20min
While the world shouts, Zadie Smith wants to whisper in your ear
British-born writer Zadie Smith comes to town this week as the 54th recipient of the St. Louis Literary Award. She discusses everything from death, anger and the COVID-19 pandemic to her first foray into writing a historical novel.
Nov 2, 2021 • 23min
Teens seeking abortions in Illinois won’t need parental notification in 2022
The Illinois legislature has repealed parental notification laws for abortion — one of the state’s last abortion restrictions. An abortion provider discusses why she pushed for the repeal, and how it will affect her practice.
Nov 2, 2021 • 14min
How a Clayton-raised filmmaker landed Scorsese for her feature debut ‘The Oratorio’
After growing up in the St. Louis area, Mary Anne Rothberg wound up in New York City, in the advertising industry. But in recent years, she’s shifted to documentary films — and her very first feature-length one features Martin Scorsese on camera.
Nov 2, 2021 • 16min
For 54 years, SLU’s literary award has connected big-name writers and St. Louis audiences
Since 1967, the St. Louis Literary Award has brought heavy hitters to town, including Shelby Foote, Eudora Welty and Chinua Achebe. Executive director Ted Ibur discusses the award’s history and what it’s like to deal with writers such as Margaret Atwood and Stephen Sondheim.
Nov 1, 2021 • 20min
We need to talk about mental health and college kids, Wash U psychiatrist says
Washington University’s Dr. Jessi Gold says the COVID-19 crisis has been particularly hard on college students, and yet they are often not part of the conversation about pandemic impacts. Gold joins us for a look at what is happening on campus — and what can be done.
Nov 1, 2021 • 30min
‘Recovering engineer’ Charles Marohn has a few ideas for St. Louis
The Strong Towns founder and former engineer discusses what his former profession gets wrong, what makes streets safer and why St. Louis is, in one key way, a “tragedy” — albeit one that could still be fixed.
Oct 29, 2021 • 24min
In St. Louis, a search for solutions as drivers keep killing pedestrians
Pedestrian deaths have spiked in St. Louis in recent months. Tiffanie Stanfield and Xandi Barrett discuss what they’re each doing to prevent such traffic violence.
