St. Louis on the Air

The HBO series "Chimp Crazy" has brought international attention to U.S. roadside zoos that offer exotic animal encounters. It also brought renewed attention to Missouri resident Tonia Haddix, who kidnapped a chimpanzee named Tonka in 2021 and lied about his death in court. PETA lawyer Brittany Peet shares insights on “Chimp Crazy” and the legal issues that Haddix now faces. Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation executive director Bob Baker also joins the conversation to discuss how Missouri exotic animal laws have allowed facilities like Haddix’s to sell chimpanzees in the entertainment industry and the exotic pet trade.

Math can be a dry and daunting subject for many students. Educator and author Kendall Ware decided to change it up with his math textbook, “Solving for Freedom,” which teaches the principles of algebra and features portraits of Black history makers. Ware talks about why making math relatable helps students succeed.

Eden Theological Seminary’s Praxis Cohorts program focuses on bringing people of faith together around locally-anchored community work and fostering relationships during the contentious 2024 election season. Steve Lawler, founding director of the Walker Institute of Leadership, shares anecdotes about Praxis Cohorts’ impact and details about its “Faithful Responses to the 2024 Election” breakfast panel on September 5.

A social media trend about what it means to be “demure and mindful” is playing out against the background of Society of Human Resource Management March 2024 findings that two-thirds of workers have experienced or witnessed incivility at the workplace within the last month of that spring study. The Modern School of Manners founder Asha Hornaday and WashU professor of organizational behavior Hillary Anger Elfenbein discuss why folks are ruder and how to manage poor manners and low emotional intelligence.

For many years, the U.S. Postal Service has worked with hatcheries to ship live birds across the country. Special handling and priority mail designed to meet specific timing standards are required — but delays are resulting in the delivery of dead birds. Investigative reporter Kavahn Mansouri of NPR’s Midwest Newsroom reports on the problems and their impacts.

Whether you love exploring regional delicacies, or tearing into a long-marinated rotisserie chicken, the latest issue of Sauce Magazine has something for you. We talk to Sauce Magazine managing editor Iain Shaw about Brasas, a new Peruvian rotisserie chicken restaurant and the latest project from Jalea chef/owner Andrew Cisneros. Meanwhile, Sauce Magazine writer Ileana Martinez has continued her culinary journey through Central American cuisine, highlighting dishes from Honduras and Nicaragua served at Sbor K-Trancho, Merendero Las Catrachitas, and Fritanga Nicaraguan Cuisine.

A visit to Ted Drewes Frozen Custard is a quintessential St. Louis experience on par with visiting the St. Louis Zoo or Muny – or going to a Cardinals game. The custard shop – with one on Chippewa and one on South Grand – has been in business for nearly 100 years and running the business for much of it was Ted Drewes Jr. He died earlier this week at the age of 96. St. Louis Magazine food writer Cheryl Baehr and listeners share their memories.

In St. Louis, trivia is no trivial thing. It’s ingrained in the region’s culture, from school gyms to neighborhood bars. Dan Dillon, long-time trivia emcee and author of “The Ultimate St. Louis Trivia Quiz” talks about the origins of trivia and its enduring popularity. Andi Barrett, a former bar trivia host and current player, shares how St. Louis’ bar trivia scene has grown, especially post-pandemic.

The Mark Twain National Forest encompasses more than 1.5 million acres in central and southern Missouri. Managing that vast wilderness for both conservation and recreation is a large task that takes a team of U.S. Forest Service employees in seven district offices. Vince Keeler was recently appointed as the supervisor and discusses his background, goals for the forest, and how he intends to make Missouri home.

St. Louis University assistant professor Sarah Adam is the first woman to make the USA's Paralympics wheelchair rugby team. Adams shares what it means to represent her country, and women, as an elite athlete at the 2024 Summer Games in Paris — and one of her biggest fans explains why Adam’s story embodies the spirit of the Olympics and her chosen profession: occupational therapy.