St. Louis on the Air

Michael Brown Jr. has become a symbol and a gateway for people to talk about racial injustice and policing. St. Louis Public Radio's podcast "We Live Here" returns for a special season 10 years after Brown's killing. In this episode, we explore how people view Brown’s legacy, what young adults today know about his story and how his memory has shaped new conversations about race and justice.

Tuesday’s primaries could be one of the most important elections in Missouri’s modern history. Republicans will choose candidates for five statewide posts — including governor — who will be favored in November. Democratic voters will decide whether to send U.S. Rep. Cori Bush back to Washington and pick their candidates for U.S. Senate and governor. STLPR’s Sarah Kellogg and Jo Mannies join the “Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air” to discuss the key races.

Springfield businessman Mike Hamra has never run for office before, but the CEO of a company that franchises restaurants says his private sector experience makes him a compelling choice for Missouri governor. Hamra joins the “Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air” to discuss his bid for the Democratic nomination ahead of Tuesday’s primary election.

Before Parkway West graduate Elizabeth Franklin turned 18, she wrote for the school paper as a form of civic action and got named Missouri’s Student Journalist of 2024 along the way. Franklin shares how she uses journalism to challenge stereotypes about St. Louis and why she wants more young people to make their voices heard.

Jeremy Boyer is part of the fabric that makes going to a Cardinals or Blues games special. He’s delighted millions of fans over the years as an organist for both teams. Now, he’s racking up millions of views on TikTok for his in-game renditions of artists like Kendrick Lamar and Taylor Swift.

It’s been 10 years since Michael Brown Jr. was killed and the Ferguson Uprising that followed. To honor that history and reflect on where St. Louis is today, St. Louis Public Radio is bringing back the podcast “We Live Here” for a special season that reflects on the truths that Ferguson exposed, why there still is an open wound a decade later and how community members continue to push for a better future. “We Live Here” host Chad Davis talks with Elaine Cha about upcoming episodes which drop weekly starting Aug. 1.

Mike Isaacson, executive producer and artistic director for the Muny, talks about the premieres of “Waitress” and “In the Heights” during its 106th season, and what each musical’s directors and lead performers bring to the stage.

When Cheeraz Gormon’s younger brother, John, was murdered in a domestic violence altercation, she turned to writing and poetry to channel her grief. While she sought support and comfort from family and friends, she realized there was a lack of holistic approaches and resources for those mourning the loss of their siblings. Gormon has since founded the Sibling Support Network to foster community with others with similar experiences.

The 2024 election season is unprecedented, and that includes how slang and memes are shaping campaign messages. To break down why people are talking about Kamala Harris falling out of a coconut tree, and how the album “Brat” by pop musician Charli XCX is involved, we hear from Sophie Hurwitz of Mother Jones, SLU professor Keli Jackson, and STLPR’s Jason Rosenbaum discuss how memes matter in political discourse.

Historian John C. McManus’ latest book opens with Gen. Douglas MacArthur aboard the USS Boise plunging through the deep blue waters of the South China Sea in January 1945. In this encore conversation, we hear from about the Missouri S&T professor’s book, “To the End of the Earth: The US Army and the Downfall of Japan, 1945.” The book completes his trilogy that focuses on the U.S. Army during the Pacific War.