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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.
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Wanda Sykes is most known for her stand-up prowess, comedic roles and activism on and off the stage. Sykes steps into a new kind of spotlight as a dramatic actor in “Undercard,” portraying Cheryl “No Mercy” Stewart: a former boxing champ and trainer trying to reconnect with the 21-year-old son she gave up when he was a child because of alcoholism. She joined “St. Louis on the Air” to discuss the role, her life and career, and what the Trailblazer Achievement Award from St. Louis International Film Festival means to her.
The reign of Mughal emperor of India Akbar the Great was more than four centuries ago, but for Dances of India President Nartana Premachandra, the story of his court — and its welcoming of all nationalities, religions and perspectives — is as salient as ever. She shares some of that history in her original dance-theater production, “Nine Jewels: Music, Art, & Splendor in the Court of Akbar the Great,” which takes the stage this weekend as part of Dances of India’s 48th annual performance.
St. Louis-based writer Daniel Blake Smith turned his 2018 novel “Mr. Wonderful” into a feature film starring the late Michael Madsen of “Reservoir Dogs” and “Kill Bill” fame. Ahead of its St. Louis premiere at the St. Louis International Film Festival on Tuesday, Smith talks with St. Louis Public Radio’s Chad Davis about the film, its personal roots and Madsen’s legacy.
The federal government shutdown has stretched into the longest in U.S. history, with ripple effects across the country — from unpaid federal workers to stalled safety net benefits. STLPR politics correspondent Jason Rosenbaum sat down with U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt in his Washington, D.C. office to talk about the shutdown’s impact, immigration policy and more. Jason then talks with Elaine Cha to add context and analysis.
Since its introduction in 1977, lethal injection has been the most commonly used method of execution by states with the death penalty. While it’s often viewed as more humane than other methods, when the curtain is pulled back, it is tainted with error, ineptitude and secrecy that has led to many botched executions and unnecessary suffering. University of Richmond law professor and death penalty scholar Corinna Barrett Lain’s debut book “Secrets of the Killing State” explores the secretive world of lethal injection in Missouri and throughout the U.S.
St. Louis’ restaurant scene had a “long-awaited” month. Nicky Slices finally opened its brick-and-mortar location — and sold out almost immediately. New spots like Extra Wavy and Prohibition brought fresh life to vacant spaces near Lafayette Square. And the supper club Mainlander reopened in its new location. We dig into the latest openings and closings with STLPR’s Jessica Rogen and Abby Llorico.
Animal shelters in the St. Louis region are facing unprecedented overcrowding as the number of surrendered and abandoned pets continues to grow. The Center for Animal Rescue and Enrichment of St. Louis reported a 64% increase in the amount of animals taken in between 2023 and 2024, and shelter staff are currently struggling to take care of more than 100 dogs in a facility that has capacity for 61. Unfortunately, they’re not alone in their struggle. Leaders with CARE-STL, Gateway Pet Guardians in East St. Louis, and St. Louis County Pet Adoption Center share the reasons behind the crisis and what residents and lawmakers can do to help.
Visual storytellers and creatives like filmmaker Cami Thomas are breathing life into the region’s TV and film industry by drawing in the attention of larger production companies. With her narrative short “Keenelan,” Thomas hopes to foster the region’s economic growth and civic pride, and introduce St. Louis to a national audience. Thomas and “Keenelan” editor Jazzy Kettenacker share a behind-the-scenes look into the romantic comedy ahead of its showing at this year’s St. Louis International Film Festival.
Journalist Jesse Bogan of the Marshall Project reports on the case of Megan Jolly, a 52-year-old woman who has been jailed at the St. Charles County Justice Center for nearly two years. Jolly is among more than 500 Missouri defendants deemed mentally incompetent to stand trial and are waiting for a state-mandated treatment to restore competency. The backlog has surged since 2013, leaving many in limbo. Bogan discusses why the Missouri Department of Mental Health is “continually at absolute bed capacity for competency restoration”. He also gives further details on Jolly and other defendants awaiting psychiatric treatment.
In the 1930s, the St. Louis sky was frequently darkened with coal smoke so dense that it could block out the sun for days at a time. Many cities in the country faced some form of this problem, but none of them solved it until 1941 — when St. Louis showed off its clear, blue skies. Journalist Bob Wyss, author of “Black Gold: The Rise, Reign and Fall of American Coal,” takes us inside St. Louis’ fight against coal. Joining the talk is local historian Andrew Theising to share insight on the role of Raymond Tucker, who became a key opponent of coal in the years before he became the city’s mayor. Theising is the author of the 2024 book, "Mid-Mod Mayor: How Raymond Tucker Shaped St. Louis."
As the federal government shutdown continues, people in the St. Louis region are stepping up to get food into people’s homes. Yet even with strong community support, local organizations can only fill a fraction of the gap left by suspended federal aid. Operation Food Search CEO Kristen Wild shares how she and her partners have prepared for an influx of clients seeking their help and what she wants more people to understand about food insecurity in the region.
American politics is littered with trends, coincidences, and dare we say … curses? Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg discuss those that seem to plague Missouri politics, including the curse of the Missouri House Speaker’s office, the Missouri Democrats 41.7% curse, why a woman has never won the Missouri governorship, and more.
When Missouri Republicans made a bid to redraw the state’s congressional lines ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, many of them didn’t expect the logistical nightmare that has ensued. The map is being challenged by lawsuits and a petition to bring it to a statewide vote. That effort is making headway — and it’s looking increasingly likely that enough signatures will be gathered. Jason Rosenbaum speaks with Missouri lawmakers and activists about how this unexpectedly complex redistricting plan might shake out on “The Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air.”
Witchcraft is where former St. Louis County councilwoman Kelli Dunaway found empowerment. Soon after stepping down as councilwoman in 2024, she launched Legal Witchcraft. The new venture combines her experiences as an attorney and witch to provide personal development counseling through tarot card readings, moon phase classes and shadow work. Dunaway shares how she found witchcraft before leaving her position as a lawmaker, and how she helps people find magic and power in their own lives.
In September, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents raided a St. Peters restaurant and arrested more than a dozen workers.They have now spent weeks detained and awaiting deportation. Attorney Jim Hacking, who represents ten of the workers, discusses the lead-up to the raid, the legal process so far, and why authorities are detaining people even though they have pending asylum cases and work authorizations.
We revisit our May conversation with Mary Lacanlale, an ethnomusicologist at California State University, about the role of the Philippine Constabulary Band at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis. Lacanlale’s great-grandfather, Pedro B. Navarro was a key member of the band during the monthslong event. Lacanlale’s book, “Instruments of Empire,” detailed the experiences of the band members. They were among hundreds of Filipinos who took part in the World’s Fair, though many were put on display for attendees to demonstrate the “savage” culture of the Philippines. Lacanlale also shares a new story from Pedro Navarro’s time in St. Louis — involving an incident when the lights went out in the middle of a performance.
Día de Muertos traditions can be seen as macabre, but in actuality, Day of the Dead observances are joyous celebrations of life. The practice of remembering loved ones after they have passed is also one that resonates with people everywhere. In this episode, we learn about the rich history of Día de Muertos from historian and Latinos en Axión STL podcast host Leticia Seitz and actress Carmen García. STLPR Engagement Producer Paola Rodriguez also describes the first digital ofrenda, which launches Friday, October 31.
People with low- to moderate-incomes have less access to credit because they either don’t have a credit score or their score is lower than average. Research shows that such individuals tend to use credit with higher borrowing costs, like payday loans, that increase the likelihood of debt, delinquency and bankruptcy. Liz Deichmann of the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank discusses her research on the credit barrier and what can be done about it. We also hear from two women who struggled with their own credit and were able to get help from local resources.
Missouri is one of several states where state officials are working quickly to redraw voting maps to benefit the Trump administration and congressional Republicans before the next election. Those efforts have hit multiple legal obstacles in the Show Me State, including lawsuits and a looming referendum. How these legal battles end could decide the political future of Missouri, and even the country. Erica Slater, Nannette Baker and Michael Wolff analyze those possibilities for this month’s Legal Roundtable. The panel also dives into the latest developments in a lawsuit against Bayer, a new lawsuit from a victim of the 2022 CVPA school shooting against BJC Healthcare, and more.
Sixty years ago, a construction crew added the final section to the very top of the Gateway Arch. In recognition of its 60th anniversary, we talk with two local historians about the monument’s place in American history, its influence on international architecture and labor movements, and why the Arch is still considered a modern engineering marvel today. We also explore what existed on the riverfront before the monument was constructed.
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